Swatchfreak makeup collab: Dreamy Mermaid and Sultry Siren

 Yay! I'm so excited to bring you this much-anticipated collaboration post! (You can check out Tamara's post here!)

The story: A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away I was contacted by the extremely gorgeous, sweet, and talented Tamara of Swatchfreak to do a makeup collab; we tossed around some ideas and her idea of Siren/Mermaid was agreed on. I chose Siren and Tamara chose Mermaid, and we each made a design for the other. Since I'm bad at drawing, I enlisted my sister BeckyPennArt to help me! I told her exactly what I wanted and she made it appear like magic. :D

The Designs:

Mermaid design; concept by me, digital artwork by BeckyPennArt. We made a version with notes like the one below but it's kind of distracting so I posted the cleaner one, hehe.

Tamara's Siren design; she used real makeup and drew it by hand, how cool!

 After we sent each other our concept sketches, we agreed that creative license could be taken and we got busy planning and then sharing our looks. Check them out and please click for most detail!

The Dreamy Mermaid:

Tamara's Dreamy Mermaid, even more beautiful than I envisioned!♥

Mermaid eye close-up! I adore the colors and crushed-up seashell, Tamara's genius idea! The purple brow is also the exact color I imagined, it couldn't be more perfect.

Used products:

• Fyrinnae – Nevermore – on brow (applied with water)
• Sundara Cosmetics - Turmeric - in tearduct and outer under lash line area (from a company that don’t exist anymore )
• Darling Girl Cosmetics – Purple Haze* – Soft Focus Blush + Fyrinnae – Nevermore + Fyrinnae - Marshmallow Puffs - all three used to go from yellow area on lid to pink, to purple
• Fyrinnae – We’re All Mad Here – inner under lash line area
• Fyrinnae – Futuristic Glamrock – in crease
• Tick:Tock Cosmetics – Frozen in Time – for HL
• I’m not pretty sure what false lashes I used, but I think they are from Misslyn

 The Sultry Siren:

My Siren, complete with damp hair ;P

Siren eye close-up!

 Products:

 Since I did this look last September I don't remember exactly what-all products I used, but what I do remember is that I made the eye shape with Urban Decay Zero pencil and filled in the outer corner, crease, and under my eye. I went over the black with Lucky eyeshadow by Darling Girl Cosmetics, one of my fave eyeshadows. It's similar to Sugarpill's Lumi and looks amaaazing over a black base! I also used some black eyeshadow around the very edges to preserve the black like in the sketch. On my lid I used the popular Wet N' Wild eyeshadow color that is in several of their palettes; it's a warm brown with teal iridescence. I packed that heavily on my lid and blended it a little with the teal. Then I used a gold, I think it was Autumn by BFTE Cosmetics, on my inner lid, blended with the gold and coming down to a point at my tear duct. Under my lower lashline I used BFTE Patriot, a matte navy blue at the outer corner, and then more Lucky in the middle. I used Lucky again as my highlight shade from browbone to tear duct, and also patted some over the WnW brown to intensify the iridescence. Lashes are Ardell #139.

On my brow I used NYX and Sephora pencils in light and dark brown for the over-all shape, then combed through my brow hairs with some Darling Girl Glitter Glue and heavily applied the WnW brown-blue shade.

On my skin I think I just used Revlon Colorstay and mark. Powder Buff foundations, with some bronzer as a contour. I used Lucky again to highlight my cheekbone for an ethereal glow♥

My lips didn't quite turn out the way I wanted but I used NYX slim lip pencil in Black Berry, and OCC Lip Tar in RX (the blue one). Tamara had mentioned some gold at the cupid's bow so I used BFTE Autumn for that.

It was super hot and humid in my room and I started to feel sick so I didn't get to do both eyes, but I tried to hide it with my hair. :D

This was so much fun to do and I'm super grateful to Tamara for inviting me to participate! I also want to thank her for letting me use her cute little collage pics because I was too lazy to make my own. :)

Please go check out her blog, she does awesome makeup and take beautiful photos too!

http://swatchfreak.wordpress.com/

Thanks so much for reading!♥

 *Some or all images were lightly edited using Aperture and/or Photoshop; for details, please read the photo editing disclosure widget at the bottom of my right-side bar.

EOTD: Smokey Watermelon with Concrete Minerals and BFTE

 Here's a look I did a few nights ago; I'm calling it Smokey Watermelon. (Descriptive, isn't it?) lol

I was testing out some new products including a few samples my friend sent me, so this look was sort of for her. (Thanks Marisa!)

Once again, the pictures look dull when viewed on the page as-is, so please click to view them in full size and color! :)

Products:

-Lime Crime Shadow Helper

-Tick:Tock Cosmetics Infinity Eyeshadow Base in Black Hole

-Concrete Minerals Pro Matte shadow in Hi-Fi (pink in crease/outer corner)

-Concrete Minerals Pro Matte shadow in Gossip (green on lower lashline)

-BFTE Cosmetics shadow in Meteor Shower (black w/ multicolor sparkles on lid/lower lashline)

-BFTE Cosmetics shadows in Very Vanilla and Butt Naked (browbone/inner corner)

-Urban Decay "Perversion" eyeliner pencil (lid and waterline)

-Sephora white pencil (inner corner)

-Cover Girl Lash Perfection mascara

-NYX "Tear Drop" false lashes

-Coastal Scents 88 Palette (brown shades on brow)

-Cover Girl clear mascara (on brow)

Hi-Fi is amazing!! I don't have much experience with Concrete Minerals but I am very impressed with this shade; it is a saturated and vibrant color and blends like a dream<3 p="p">

I wasn't as thrilled with Gossip, the color seems more sheer than Hi-Fi and didn't really stick well to my lower lashline area, though I used a base. It seemed to get darker and duller after application which could have to do with my skintone and body chemistry, I do find this happens with certain shades. I wanted bold color but had a hard time getting it to stick while blending. I will say that this was my first time using these shadows so maybe I just need to practice application technique to get the most from the product.

I'm excited to try the other 2 Pro Matte colors my friend sent me so keep an eye out for that coming up soon!

**EDIT: Picture tutorial is up on Makeupbee!**

Thanks for reading!

*Some or all images were lightly edited using Aperture and/or Photoshop; for details, please read the photo editing disclosure widget at the bottom of my right-side bar.

Gorgeous Greens with BFTE and Urban Decay

Hello! I'm back again with a pretty little green look I did for Saint Patrick's Day!

I've always had a soft spot for greens; back when I first started experimenting more with makeup as an older teen, green was the first color I felt comfortable wearing in public. I kept it subtle, usually in the form of a cheap green eyeliner or tiny tube of cream shadow, courtesy of oldschool Wet N' Wild or NYC. For some reason I've always considered green to be almost a neutral, maybe because it's the color of grass and leaves.. it seemed earthy and natural.

Anyway, I really love how this look turned out; in fact I was almost giddy! Please keep reading for more info and don't forget to click the pics! :)

Products:

-Too Faced Shadow Insurance in Candlelight

-Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On pencil in Junkie (shimmering teal all over lid as base)

Beauty from the Earth shadows in:

-Atomic Teal (deep teal on lid)

-Gooseberry (shimmering light golden lime green blended out from Atomic Teal)

-Very Vanilla (matte vanilla shade all around edges and on browbone)

-Ornamental (pale gold, just a tiny bit above Gooseberry, mostly on outer browbone)

-Black (matte black over black liner on upper lid)

-Mississippi Mud (matte deep brown on brow)

-Truffle (matte medium brown on brow)

-Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On pencil in Perversion (upper liner and waterline)

-Shu Uemura curler

-Cover Girl Lash Perfection mascara in Very Black

-Hard Candy Glamoflauge in Light

-mark. Powder Buff in Nude

Maximize this pic and look closely in my pupil... see anything creepy? O_o

I didn't go out that night so I only did one eye :)

  I've been wanting to do this look for a few weeks; I discovered how good these colors looked together while picking which makeups to pack for vacation, and then I got sick ON vacation so I couldn't do it sooner. It turned out so well that I want to recreate it as a full-face look, maybe with a peachy lip or something. I've also been asked for a tutorial so that will probably be in the works as well; maybe even a video tutorial? :O

Old pic from 2006 of me wearing the green cream shadow I mentioned before; I've been trying to find a similar green ever since ;P

Thanks for reading!<3

*Disclaimer: Some or all images were LIGHTLY edited using Aperture; for details, please read the photo editing disclosure widget at the bottom of my right-side bar.

BFTE EOTD: Sugarplum

 BFTE EotD from a few nights ago. On their Facebook page Crystal asked about ideas for Christmas collections and someone suggested a Sugarplum one. I liked that idea and it made me think of this look :)

Products used:

-UDPP

-NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Oyster on lid as base (light pink with violet sheen)

 -Loreal Lineur Intense Carbon Black liquid liner pen

-Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On liner in Zero (waterline)

-Cover Girl Lash Perfection mascara in Very Black

-discontinued brown pencil on brow (finally ran out D;)

-medium brown from CS 88 palette (on brow)

-Coastal Scents Camouflage Concealer Palette, lightest shade (around eye)

-BFTE mineral foundation in Alabaster/Beige mix (around eye)

BFTE colors:

-Serene (pale lilac on inner 1/3 of lid)

-Starstruck (light pinkish purple with pink shimmer on middle of lid)

-Big Ego (deep blackened purple on outer corner and crease)

-Whisper (apricot/violet duochrome all over and around eye)

-Have a Heart (shimmery sparkly dark silver-grey on lower lashline)

-Very Vanilla (matte skin shade to blend and highlight browbone)

-Way Up High (matte white with gold sheen to highlight browbone)

-Triple Berry (sparkly purplish-magenta over black liquid liner)

-Moonlight (shimmery silver-white on tear duct)

The Java Eyemarker I've been nursing since I became a mark. rep like 3 1/2 years ago has finally kicked the bucket. My sister was using it and went "Oh! It just popped out.." I know it's unhealthy to use an eyeliner for that long but I couldn't bring myself to throw it out since they discontinued it a year or two ago. It's been my trusty go-to liner for daily casual eye looks. RIP, Java Eyemarker. :(

Now I need to find a replacement.. I talked my Mom into buying me the 2 limited UD liner sets for Christmas but I'm not allowed to have them yet so I guess I'll make do with black until then lol.

Thanks for reading and happy Monday! (Don't shoot me lol) >.<

Darling Girl Cosmetics: Rainbow Brite swatches (pic heavy!!)

I recently received my second order from Darling Girl Cosmetics and I'm excited to share what I got with you all! However I'm still trying to get decent pics of everything and there's a lot to cover, so it'll likely be a multi-post series. (Click for parts 2 and 3!)
This post will focus just on the Rainbow Brite collection. :D

(Pics are clickable!)

Rainbow Brite: Looks sherbety orange in bag, swatched on a black base it's a cotton candy pink. On-X: Looks similar both in bag and swatched; a dark black/purple base with multicolored sparkles.

Red Butler: Swatched over black base it's a glowing light red color with low sparkle. La La Orange: Over black base it's a gorgeous glowing orange with a tinge of pink. Also lower sparkle than the other colors, both of these are among my favorites of the collection!

Lucky: Probably the brightest shade of the bunch, it's a super-bright vibrant teal with lots of sparkles. Canary: A lemony yellow shade that has just enough gold in it to make me love it.

Buddy Blue: A pretty blue shade with a good amount of sparkle. Patty O'Green: Over black base it looks like a bright grass green, leaning a bit yellow, with lowish sparkle. I wasn't prepared for how beautiful this one is, looks sooo much better in person than the swatches I've seen!

Indigo: A glowing reddish-purple shade with low sparkle, also one of my favorites! Shy Violet: A blueish-purple shade.

Swatches!

Swatched dry with brushes over NYX Black Bean JEP (top) lotioned skin (middle) Darling Girl Glitter Glue (bottom):

L to R: Rainbow Brite, Red Butler, La La Orange, Canary, Patty O'Green, Lucky, Buddy Blue, Shy Violet, Indigo, On-X.

For kicks I decided to swatch the only other real duo shadow I own, which is Whisper from BFTE. As you can see, both the color and the finish are completely different, so if you have anything like Whisper in your collection you'd still be safe buying this set. Yay! :D

I tried to get multiple angles in different lighting situations; some with flash, some in daylight, etc. Of course the camera could never capture the true beauty of these babies, but hopefully these pics will give you some idea of the shade variations at least. They're all simply gorgeous, but I'd say the ones that attract me most are Red Butler, La La Orange, Lucky, Patty O'Green, and Indigo.

For a duo-lover my collection is rather puny, which is why I got these; there's something so intriguing about a versatile shadow that can change in so many ways depending on how you use it. Each color is like having 5 shadows in one, crazy!
I'm so glad I got this collection! The set of 10 bag samples only cost me $7 on sale so I would encourage checking them out, they're definitely worth it!

**Bonus swatches! I added these as an afterthought because they sort of show some other aspects of the colors. I took these yesterday or the day before.. but I didn't do all the colors. L to R: black liner from Sephora, lotioned skin, DG Glitter Glue.**

This shows patty O'Green in it's splendor! It really is a vibrant green, swatches do not do it justice. I didn't edit these pics at all!

Top: On-X Middle: Patty O'Green Bottom: Canary

L to R: La La Orange, Red Butler, Buddy Blue. Underside: Rainbow Brite.

I hope you enjoyed these pics, please look forward to the rest of my haul, coming soon!

Thanks for reading! ^,~