Fierce Femme FOTD: Really Red

One of my favorite bloggers, Mandy over at Prettymaking, posted a review today on one of my recent monthly favorites (see here) and top lipsticks ever, Revlon SuperLustrous Really Red. There is a lot to love here- it is really matte, really red, really long on wear time...generally really phenomenal. This is one of the only statement lip colors I feel confident rockin' for a full day because I know it can go a really long while without a touch up. Mandy reminded me that I had a FOTD featuring this gem in queue from when I wore it out bowling last week- check it out! 

Face

Maybelline SuperStay Makeup in Natural Beige

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer in Light

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in Sand

Cheeks 

Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush in Rose

LORAC Perfect Lit Oil Free Luminizing Powder in Spotlight

Eyes

UDPP

LORAC Perfect Lit Oil Free Luminizing Powder in Spotlight- dusted over lids

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eyeliner Pencil in Zero

wet N wild ColorIcon Eyeliner Pencil in White

Loreal Voluminous Millions of Lashes

Lips

Revlon SuperLustrous Lipstick in Really Red

 

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Posted in Fierce Femme Face of the Day

Fierce Femme FOTD & OOTD: Someone Like You (Adele inspired)

One of my favorite songs this season has been Adele's "Someone Like You." Not only is Adele a vocal powerhouse, but she is also absolutely, breath-takingly gorgeous. Additionally, I love seeing thick girls in the spot light, flaunting their talent and curves. This FOTD isn't a copy-cat look, but it is definitely heavily inspired by Adele's signature winged liner, white accents, and nude lips.

 

Face

Revlon ColorStay Foundation in Medium Beige (probably mixed with some illuminizer or lighter coverage foundation- I don't recall, sorry!)

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder

Hard Candy Glamoflauge in Light

Cheeks

NYX Cream Blush in Boho Chic

LORAC Spotlight Powder

Eyes

UDPP

UD Virgin (from Naked Palette)- on lid

Milani Infinite Liner in Everlast- winged liner on top

Wet n Wild ColorIcon Eyeliner in White- lower lash line and water line

NYX Eyeshadow in matte white (from a palette)- to set white liner

Loreal Voluminous Millions of Lashes

Lips

Revlon ColorBurst in Soft Nude

Revlon SuperLustrous Lipgloss in Peach Petal

Burgundy cami- Wet Seal

Fringe Crotchet Crop- PacSun

White Denim- Wet Seal (after Labor Day?!?!?!)

Boots- DSW

Do you like Adele? What is your favorite song by her?

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Posted in Adele , Fierce Femme Face of the Day , Fierce Femme Outfit of the Day , Power Femmes

Trick or Treat! My Biker Zombie Costume

Happy Halloween, my creepy ghouls!

I am totally obsessed with Halloween, and Alex and I had a fantastic time coming up with our costumes this year. We are attending this year's Halloween festivities as biker zombies! Our back story is that we were on a ride and got into a crash. While at the hospital, the town was taken over by zombies. When the hospital was infiltrated by zombies, we failed to escape and we now walk the night and feast on brains!

I did our makeup to look freshly dead, sallow, banged up, and hungry for human flesh. Here are a few shots of our costumes!

Happy Halloween! What are you dressing up as?

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Posted in Fierce Femme Face of the Day , Fierce Femme Outfit of the Day

Breast Cancer Awareness Month- FOTD & Self-Exams

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and bloggers have been doing their part by posting information and inspired FOTDs. For me, the standout post has been Jessica's from Getting Cheeky- not only was her FOTD simple and elegant, but she also reminded me of the importance of performing monthly breast self-exams. As Jessica argues, we spend countless hours a month applying cosmetics, yet often forget to take 15 minutes or so a month to focus on our health. 

It occurred to me, though, that I didn't even know how to properly perform a monthly breast exam. After a bit of research, I discovered  some helpful information. Although the Susan G. Koman Foundation does not endorse breast self-exams as a screening or diagnostic tool for breast cancer, it is nonetheless important to become familiar with your breasts. Doing so will allow you to detect changes and warning signs early. Of course, if you notice any changes, contact your doctor. For more info on breast self-exams, check out the Susan G. Koman Foundation's page on the subject. Moreover, here is a step-by-step guide on how to perform monthly breast self-exams. If you don't do them regularly, I implore you to start. I know I am. 

Here is the pink inspired FOTD I came up with for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I wanted this look to be bold (the goal is awareness, after all!). However, the look is much more subtle in pictures for some reason. I assure you that in person, this look was much more dramatic.

 Face

Revlon ColorStay in Medium Beige

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer in Light

Benefit Erase Paste in Medium

Maybelline Dream Matte in Sand

e.l.f. Cool Bronzer

Cheeks

NYX Cream Blush in Boho Chic

Hard Candy Face and Body Luminizer in Doll Face

Eyes

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Benefit Lemon-Aid

Wet n Wild I'm Getting Sunburned trio- pink on lid

Wet n Wild Spoiled Brat trio- bright pink in crease and along lower lash line

Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Pure- inner corners

Urban Decay 24/7 Glinde-On Eyeliner in Zero- upper lash line, tight line, lower water line

Loreal Voluminous Millions of Lashes

Lips

Revlon SuperLustrous Lipstick in Primrose

Tarina Trantino Gem Gloss in Disco Nap

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Posted in Fierce Femme Face of the Day , Health

Falling Leaves Tutorial

 Here in the Midwest, Autumn is finally starting to settle in. My partner and I adore this season, and we have relished in watching the leaves change colors and fall to the ground. The color palette of fiery reds, burnt oranges, crisp yellows, complex greens, and deep browns that we find outside our windows is perfect to pull into our makeup routines. Here is a step-by-step tutorial on how to recreate this eye look inspired by the falling leaves of Autumn. 

1) Apply primer and a base to your lids to ensure your shadows pop and last all day. I used UDPP and NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk.

2) Apply a yellow based gold shadow to the inner third of your lids and inner corners of your eye.I used UD's Half Baked from the Naked Palette.

3) Apply a burnt orange shade to the middle section of your lid, leaving the outer third free of shadow. I used Stila's eyeshadow in Ray. Using the side of your brush, gently blend the line where the gold and orange meet.

4) Apply a red shadow to the last outer third of your lid. I used UD's Gash. Using the edge of your brush,blend the line between the red and orange shadows. If you do not have a red shadow, a copper or deep brown would also look lovely!

5) With a clean fluffy blending brush, blend the hard line on the top of your lid. Be careful not the muddle the gradient of shades on your lids.

6) Using an angled eyeliner brush, apply a dark green shadow to your lower lash line. I used a gorgeous shimmery dark green from the Wet n Wild Comfort Zone palette (top pan in photo).

7) Blend a reddish brown shade into your crease. I used a really complex reddish-brown/green duochrome shade from the Wet n Wild Comfort Zone palette (bottom pan in the picture). This is a really unique shade- if you don't have anything like it, a deep brown or even the dark green we applied to our lower lash lines would work fine as well. If need be, touch up your lid with the gold, orange, and red shadows if you feel you have blended out some of the pigmentation.

8) Apply a brown eyeliner to your upper and lower lash line and tight line. I used UD's 24/7 Glide-On Pencil in Whiskey.

9) Curl those lashes and apply your favorite mascara. I used the e.l.f. essentials eyelash curler and Loreal Voluminous Millions of Lashes mascara.

10) Finish the look with a natural blush and a glossy nude lip. I opted for NYX Cream Blush in Boho Chic and Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick in Soft Nude lined with NYX lip liner in Ever and topped with Buxom Big & Healthy Lipgloss in Sandy.

 Happy Autumn!

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Posted in Fierce Femme Face of the Day , Tutorial

My 'Finish It Up' Face

Several of my makeup items are approaching the end of their lifespans. I have been so eager to finish these products up that I have been trying to use them as much as possible. In conjunction with one another, these nearly empty products make for a relaxed and simple look for days when I don't have anything I want to get dolled up for. Look forward to seeking some of these products in October's Sayonara Products post!

'Finish it Up' Product Status

(Clockwise, starting in upper left corner)

LORAC Perfectly Lit Oil Free Luminizing Powder in Spotlight- This highlighter has also doubled as a sheer champagne eyeshadow. Nearly scraping the pan on this one!

Urban Decay 27/7 Glide-On Pencil in Zero- Look at that little nub! I am on my last sharpening.

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original- This sample size has maybe two uses left.

Tarina Tarantino Gem Gloss in Disco Nap- Give me a week or two of only using this gloss, and it is sayonara!

e.l.f. Mineral Lipstick in Runway Pink- The bullet is totally broken, but I like the color too much to just toss it and I rarely use the lipsticks I depot.

Bronzer from the Sephora Sculpting Disk- While the highlighter remains virtually untouched, the setting powder is completely gone and the bronzer is disappearing fast!

EOS Smooth Sphere Lip Balm- The sphere is nearly flat!

NARS Orgasm Illuminator- After what feels like 1,000 years, this deluxe sample is almost out.

Revlon PhotoReady Concealer- I am literally scraping at the tube!

Tarte Cheek Tint in Glam- This one has a fair bit of life yet, but it is getting kinda old and I need to use it up!

Unmentioned products used to create this look:

Revlon ColorStay Foundation in Warm Golden

Loreal Voluminous Millions of Lashes Mascara in Black

Are any of your products on their last leg? 

How do you commit to using up a product?

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Posted in Fierce Femme Face of the Day

Fierce Femme FOTD & OOTD: Taking on Challenges

My classes have been kicking my butt lately, and last week I was feeling less than confident in my capabilities. After a few days of self pity, I channeled my inner power femme and dressed to the nines for my most difficult class. While it may sound like a silly method to some, outfitting myself in my favorite duds and completing the look with fierce hair and makeup actually does help me get into the right mindset to take on challenges. Here is what I wore that day: neutral yet luminous makeup, a teased high bun, and a killer outfit (if I do say so myself!). Oh, and it worked- I totally rocked that class :)

Face

Revlon ColorStay in Warm Golden

mixed w/ Sephora Perfecting Tinted Moisturizer and NARS Orgasm Illuminator

Bronzer from Sephora Sculpting Disk

Cheeks

Tarte Amazonian Clay Long Wearing 12 Hr Blush in Exposed

LORAC Perfectly Lit Oil Free Luminizing Powder in Spotlight

Eyes

Urban Decay Primer Potion

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Iced Mocha

UD Sidecar on lid (Naked Palette)

UD Smog in crease and lower last line (Naked Palette)

UD Virgin in inner corner and brow bone (Naked Palette)

UD 24/7 Gline-On Eyeliner in Zero on upper lash line and tight line

Loreal Voluminous Millions of Lashes in Black

Lips

Sephora Collection Lip Attitude in 19 Innocent Beige

Make your own animation

Black Top- Wet Seal
Red Paper Bag Waist Skirt- Urban Outfitters
Leopard Tights- Urban Outfitters
Black Ankle Boots- DSW
Gold Chain Necklace- Thrifted

How do you prepare for a challenging day?

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Posted in Fierce Femme Face of the Day , Fierce Femme Outfit of the Day

Urban Decay Liquid Liner in Gash

 Red eye makeup is certainly not for everyone. However, I absolutely adore it. After scouring the web for a red liquid liner, I discovered Urban Decay's Liquid Liner in Gash. I have Gash as an eyeshadow and it is a phenomenal metallic red-copper shade, so I knew I had to have this liner. The only problem: this shade is discontinued, and it appears that UD is phasing out this whole range. Thankfully I was able to arrange a swap on Makeup Alley and this gem is finally in my possession. If you love red eyes (I'm lookin' at you, Mandy!), then you need to hunt down this liner before it is officially no more!

Here it is in action. This seriously might be my favorite look ever.

(Please ignore my insane eyebrows and the hairs stuck in my lashes!)

 

In case your'e wondering, here is a complete list of products used to acheive this look:

Face

A combo of: Sephora Perfecting Tinted Moisturizer in medium Peach, Estee Lauder Double Wear in Dusk, and Tarte Amazonian Clay Illuminating Serum

Revlon PhotoReady Concealer in Medium Light

Sephora Sculpting Disk Bronzer

Cheeks

Tarte Amazonian Clay Long Wearing 12 Hour Blush in Exposed (lovelovelovelove)

MAC MSF in Pearl

Lips

Revlon ColorBurst lipstick in Soft Nude

How do you feel about red on the eyes? 

Anyone have any red shadow or liner recommendations for me?

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Posted in Fierce Femme Face of the Day , Urban Decay