Thursday, February 28, 2013

This is completely irrelevent, but.....

LOOK AT HOW CUTE HE IS!!!!!!!!!

This is Staravia. (Star for short) His flight suit came into today, and we put it on him so that he can start getting used to it. He's so pissed off and adorable! =D =D =D

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

FOTD: Beginning of my St. Patrick's Day Series

Alright, guys I'm starting a little series in honor of St. Patrick's Day. My husband is Scottish/Irish and so we love St. Patrick's Day. His favorite color is also green. This series is going to display my love of earthy colors and hopefully give you guys an idea for a look to wear to some St. Patrick's Day festivities! I hope you enjoy =) 



Eyes:
Pumpkin and Poppy cream eyeshadow in Louis (blended onto outer corner)
Pumpkin and Poppy Shire (crease, outer half of lid)
Pumpkin and Poppy Rebel (inner crease, blended around edge of shire in the crease)
Pumpkin and Poppy Put a Spell on You (outer corner)
Pumpkin and Poppy In the Buff (lid, inner corner)
Too Faced Bouquet Toss (brow bone)
Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips for Blue Eyes brown liner (lower water line and lashline)
Essence Long Lasting Eye Pencil in Hot Chocolate (upper lash line)
 Face:
ELF Mineral Infused Primer
Cowgirl Dirt Southern Belle Cream Foundation in Warm Three
Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Light
Pumpkin and Poppy contouring Powder in Oak Bark 
Wet N' Wild color Icon blush in Pearlescent Pink
Lips:
Wet N' Wild Megalast Lipstick in Just Peachy
Pumpkin and Poppy lip pencil in Never Was a Cornflake Girl

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

FOTD: Rebel


Sorry I looks so blah, guys! Allergies >.>

Eyes:
Nyx Eyeshadow Base in White
Pumpkin and Poppy Notre Dame (crease, lower lash line)
Pumpkin and Poppy Rebel (lid)
Too Faced Unveil (outer corner)
Too Faced Bouquet Toss (inner corner, brow)

Face:
ELF Mineral Infused Primer
Cowgirl Dirt Southern Belle Cream Foundation in Warm Three
Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Light
Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer
Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed

Lips:
ELF Matte Lip Color in Natural

Friday, February 15, 2013

The Dark Side of Beauty is having a Pumpkin and Poppy Giveaway!

You all know Pumpkin and Poppy is my favorite company. Here is a link to the giveaway so that you can enter! 

Grundy Mud (Villainess Soaps) and Quick Tip

I'm not even sorry.

I try to use a face mask about once every two weeks depending on what my skin is doing. I thought I'd review this one while I enjoy it ON MY FACE. Ahem.

Website claims: 
Clays to cleanse, herbs to nourish and soften, charcoal to detox and essential oils to tone, disinfect and reduce inflammation.
 Healing the very worst of inflamed, acneic, irritated, and infected skin.
Ingredients:
 Montmorillonite (French Green) Clay, Bentonite Clay, Althaea Officinalis (Marshmallow) Root Powder, Hydrastis Canadensis (Goldenseal Root) Powder, Lactuca Canadensis (Wild Lettuce) Powder, Petroselinum Crispum (Parsley) Powder, Spirulina (Blue Algae) Powder, Tanacetum Parthenium (Fever-few) Powder, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Leaf Powder, Activated Charcoal Powder, Vetiveria Zizanoides (Vetiver) Essential Oil, Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli) Essential Oil, Commiphora Myrrha (Myrrh) Essential Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower (Roman Chamomile) Essential Oil
$12 
2oz

I've had this mask for months. It lasts forever, because it's a powder. You use one teaspoon of powder and one tablespoon of water or toner (I've been using it with a toner) and leave this one for 15 minutes. I think it's a great value for the money since it lasts so long and contains all natural ingredients. 
I don't use this product too often, because my skin is dry and products that are intended for acne tend to dry me out. This one doesn't dry me out as long as I only use it once every two weeks. It leaves my skin feeling very soft and clean, and it helps reduce the size and redness of any active breakouts I may have. It also cleans out the pores which diminishes their appearance. It smells AMAZING. I've had the soap of the scent from this company, and it's my second favorite of the scents I've tried. (My very favorite being Bathory.) 
Villainess Soaps is a very cool company, and I recommend everyone check them out. I really enjoy the theme of the company and find it very interesting.

Quick Tip: If you have the flat "paintbrush" style foundation brushes and you have no use for them, you can use them to apply masks like this one. I find it very useful as it helps spread the product quickly and easily without having to use your hands. 

You can purchase Grundy Mud here.

I hope everyone has a great weekend =)

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer Review and Swatches




Website Claims:
We’ve combined the natural detoxifying effects of real cocoa powder with our signature bronzing pigments to create the ultimate matte bronzers. Perfectly suited for all skin tones, pale-to-deep, giving a touch of summer warmth all year-long. 
  • Matte Formula: Choose between the original Chocolate Soleil (deep matte bronze) and Milk Chocolate Soleil (light matte bronze) to achieve a perfect sun-kissed, shine-free glow.
  • Real Cocoa Powder: The neutral cocoa shade tones down red and evens skin tones, naturally, while exciting the senses with its signature chocolate scent.
  •  
    *Vegan-friendly 
    **Paraben-free
    .35oz
    $29

I've had this bronzer since the end of December, and I've used it every time I've done my makeup since I bought it. This isn't to say that I don't still love my Oak Bark contouring powder from Pumpkin and Poppy, but sometimes it's nice to give a product a break and try something new. (I have less than half of my Oak Bark left.) It's also nice to have something that's pressed. Sometimes it just makes things a little easier.
On with the review! This product is very soft in texture and very pigmented. Now, I've seen reviews that complain about Too Faced products being powdery, and they are. However, that doesn't make them bad quality. When working with more powdery products, it helps if you are a little more gentle with them. Pat or gently stipple your bush into more powdery products, and you will get a better result with less mess. As you can see from my photo of the powder, it just looks gently used even though I've been using it almost two months. Being gentle really pays off =)
This bronzer blends like a dream, and that's very important in a product like this. Especially on fair skin. As you can see in this swatch, this is a warmer toned powder. I have not had any problems with this looking orange or muddy on me. My skin is fair with yellow undertones. I do suggest that if you have more pink or neutral skin tones that you go into a Sephora or Ulta and test this on yourself before you commit to buying it.
This products does have a faint smell of coco, but it's nothing overpowering. I've not had any problems with break outs or skin irritation, and I've got sensitive skin..
If you want to spend $29 on a bronzer, I highly recommend this one. However, there are options out there at are just as good for a lower price. Pumpkin and Poppy has a warmer toned matte bronzer available for sale. It's the Tara Moisturizing Bronzer. I haven't tried it yet, but I've heard good things.

I hope everyone is having a great Valentine's Day. You can have a day full of love no matter your romantic situation. If you don't have a significant other, I encourage you to have a spa day or maybe just spend some time with friends and/or family. Life is what you make it.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

FOTD: Shiro and The All Natural Face


Eyes:
The All Natural Face Vegan Eyeshadow in Fairy Mist (crease)
Shiro Cosmetics eyeshadow in Housewife(lid)
Too Faced Unveil (outer corner)
Too Faced Bouquet Toss (inner corner, brow)
Too Faced I Do (lower lash line)
Pumpkin and Poppy cream eyeshadow in Inventor (upper lash line)

Face:
Elf Mineral Infused Primer
Cowgirl Dirt Southern Belle Cream Foundation in Warm Three
Tarte Maracuja Creasless Concealer in Light
Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer
Pumpkin and Poppy cream blush in Kim
Pumpkin and Poppy cream highlighter in Lady of Light

Monday, February 11, 2013

Getting Ready Video

I posted another video. This is basically of the look I did on my last post just without the glitter liner. I am going to try to get some editing software that isn't INFURIATING so I can cut out things like me moving the camera around. I'm learning! 

Saturday, February 9, 2013

FOTD: Pillbox and Glitter Liner

I just can't get away from P&P. I suppose this is a slightly more wearable version of the Ice Dance look I created if you exclude the glitter on the lower lash line. I hope you enjoy and that your weekend is splendid so far =) 

P.S. I hate how mascara looks on my lower lashes, but I had to put it on them because of the glitter getting on there. Also, I had already worn this makeup for a few hours and gone grocery shopping as well as vacuuming my house.  



Eyes:
P&P eyeshadow in Pillbox (lid)
P&P eyeshadow in Riviera (crease)
P&P eyeshadow in Not Finished (outer corner)
Too Faced Soul Mates (brow bone)
P&P cream shadow in Inventor (upper lash line)
Nyx Liquid Crystal Liner in Crystal Pewter (lower lash line) 

Face:
Cowgirl Dirt Southern Belle Cream Foundation in Warm Three
Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Light
Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer 
P&P cream highlighter in Lady of Light

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

SugarPill Heartbreaker Look

I've had this eye look in my head for that past few days, and I wanted to see what it would look like if I actually put it on my eyes. Be warned, I'm not wearing any face makeup in this, because I like to let my skin breathe. My skin is not the best, but I'm honestly not all that ashamed of it. I go out without makeup on all the time. Nobody's perfect. I'm pretty happy with out the look turned out, and I hope you enjoy. 
(Yes, I would wear this out =P)



Eyes:
NYX Eyeshadow Base in White\
Pumpkin and Poppy Oil Absorbing Mineral Veil (dusted generously over the base as this helps immensely with blended these very bright, pigmented colors)
Velocity (outer crease)
Mochi (inner crease)
Acidberry (lid)
2AM (low lashline)
For the outer corner, I just used a sparkly black an ELF palette I have
Too Faced Bouquet Toss (inner corner, brow bone)
Jordana Fabuliner (upper lashline)

Monday, February 4, 2013

How I Care for Tailbone Length Hair

I know you guys can't see this in any of my posts, but my hair is down to my tailbone. The longer your hair is, the easier it is to get dry, damaged ends that look awful. Since I've had super long hair for most of my life, I thought I would share with you how I keep it healthy.
I typically wash my hair once a week. You may think that's gross, but you're really not supposed to wash your hair too often since you're stripping it of natural oils when you wash it. I had to wean myself from washing my hair everyday. When I tell people I only wash my hair once a week, they almost always tell me that they CAN'T go without washing because they get such greasy scalps. I used to think that, too. If you wash your hair too often, your scalp starts producing extra oil to make up for what is being stripped. My solution to this was to gradually go longer and longer without washing my hair until I got up to a week. Start with every other day, then work up to every 3rd day, etc. I can go three days without washing and still be able to wear my hair down. After that, I put it in buns or braid it. I don't use a dry shampoo right now, because I can't find a cruelty free one that I like. Suggestions welcome! 
Anyway, I sort of have my hair on a schedule. I know that makes it sound super complicated and time consuming, but it's really not. I wash my hair on Saturdays since I attend church on Sunday mornings. I want my hair to be at it's best when we go, because that's usually when I see the most people. Depending on what my plans are, I will put some kind of hair treatment in my hair and leave it in for 1 or 2 days before I wash my hair. Right now, I rotate between coconut oil, sweet almond oil, and a hair mask I have from Ojon. I'm not sure if Ojon is involved in third party testing right now so, I'm not sure if I will be repurchasing that product. In all honesty, I feel the oils work better in my hair anyway. 
The shampoo I am using right now is the Avalon Organics Thickening Shampoo Biotin B Complex Therapy. I never usually stick to a certain shampoo. I use one until it's gone and then try a new one. I am liking this shampoo right now, though. The conditioner I am using is one that was gifted to me and is not cruelty free so, I'm just trying to get it out. I do still use a conditioner in my hair from the ears down even though I use a treatment prior to washing. It's very important to make sure that the ends are conditioned when the hair is as long as mine is. After washing, conditioning, and rinsing my hair, I towel dry a bit and use the Alba Botanica leave in conditioner. This is a great leave in conditioner, but I prefer ones I can spray into my hair. I am going to try the Giovanni one next. I then let my hair air dry. I very, very rarely use heat in my hair. I only blow dry it when it's super cold. My hair doesn't hold a curl. and it's also board straight so, heat  styling would be pointless anyway. I do want to try some steam rollers and my friends Kristy and Brianna really like, but that won't be for a while. 
Every time I go to get my hair trimmed, which is just when I feel like it needs to be, I get SO many compliments on how healthy my hair looks and feels. I hope some of these tips have helped you and that I've inspired you to try to wash your hair less often. =)

Sunday, February 3, 2013

FOTD: Gray and Peach

I haven't worn makeup in forever, and I just had to put some on today. We only went to the grocery store, but the process of getting ready is just relaxing to me. 
I think peach and gray go really well together especially in fair skin, and I wanted to show you guys what The All Natural Face cream blush in Juicy Peach looks like on the skin. For this look, I used the Too Faced Romantic Eye Collection and a shadow from Essence. I hope you enjoy!



Eyes:
Nyx Eyeshadow Base in White
Too Faced I do (crease, lower lash line)
Essence Eyeshadow in Cappuccino, Please (lid)
Too Faced Un-veil (outer corner)
Too Faced Soul Mates (inner corner, brow bone)

Face:
ELF Mineral Infused Primer
Cowgirl Dirt Southern Belle Cream Foundation in Warm Three
Tarte Maracuja Creaseless concealer in Light
OCC Skin Conceal in Y0
Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer
The All Natural Face Vegan Cream Blush in Juicy Peach
Pumpkin and Poppy cream highlighter in Lady of Light

Lips:
ELF Matte Lip Color in Natural
Pumpkin and Poppy Lip Pencil in Never Was A Cornflake Girl

I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend. Have a great week!