New Haul: Rock & Republic/NYX

Hey guys, I know it's been a minute since I posted but I'm back and I promise to keep it up (forgive me). I just wanted to show you guys some swatches of my two latest purchases. I'm so addicted to eye shadow it's ridiculous. I purchased 5 shadows and a lip gloss from Hautelook and got my Nude on Nude palette from NYX I love it! I just cant find it in my heart to pay the $48 for the Urban Decay Naked Palette yet, who knows maybe someone who loves me will get me a gift card to Sephora or Ulta so I can get one :))...anywho..here's my new stuff yaay! Lol

First of all I would like to say I love the R&R symbol its so pretty..the big black box is what each of the shadows came in...i will probably be reusing the containers for something else..

The shadows i got were Electric (blue), Scorch (orange), Jaded (green), Paranoid (purple), and Fuel (gold-ish)

Here are the swatches (in order)...love love love the gold...great browbone color..

Here's a swatch of the gloss it's not so good..but the color is Train Wreck and it's pretty much a nude gold color...almost the same color as my skin..

I also got the NYX Nude on Nude palette...love all the colors...didn't swatch any though...if you want to see some swatches or a look with the palette leave a comment and i'll post some!

If you have the NYX palette let me know how you like it or if you have the Naked palette and this one let me know how it compares!

Until next time :)

Eyebrows: Favorite Tutorials and Giveaway {Closed}

I think everyone can agree that having the perfect brow takes your look a long way. You can wear no makeup and have freshly groomed brows and a little mascara and you still look great. On the other hand you can have a beautiful makeup look and if your brows aren't clean, it will throw your whole look off. I have had a long journey with trying to perfect my brow look and I think I am at peace with the way I do my brows for now. I just use a pencil to fill them in where it's needed and a little concealer to clean up the edges and i'm done.

There are different mediums you can use to perfect your brow look like pencils, brow powder, brow pens and brow gels. Pencils are good if you already have thick brows and you just need to fill in gaps here and there. If you have a bit thinner brow you may want to try a powder to give them definition and shape. Brow gels are used to hold the brow in place they come in clear or tinted. I'm not too familiar with brow pens, after some research it appears they do the same thing as the pencils you just have to be sure to use extremely light strokes when applying to avoid a harsh look.

Try and avoid drawing a straight line for eyebrows or making an unnaturally high arch if it's not in line with the natural shape of your brow. It's also good to remember that, as a makeup artist stated at a seminar I attended, your brows should be sisters not twins. They shouldn't look identical just similar..here's two of my favorite videos that helped me on my quest for the perfect brow I took a few tips from each video. Hope this helps!

and

Now for the giveaway details...the items I am giving away are the NYX Eyebrow Kit with Stencils and the NYX Eyebrow Push Up Bra. To enter the giveaway you just have to do is Follow my blog(if you aren't already) and comment under this post. Extra entry if you follow me on Twitter and RT the contest on your page. If you RT please leave your twitter id in your comment as well. So two things to enter follow and comment one extra entry if you retweet on twitter. Contest ends July 15th.

Good Luck! 

Update: Nioxin

Hey sugarplums, just wanted to give you an update on my 30 day Nioxin trial (I know i'm late). Close to the end of the 30 days I didn't see much change in my nails, but I did see a major change in my lashes! They have grown noticeably longer and thicker. It seems that you have to keep taking these supplements to keep the results because a few weeks after I stopped taking them I started seeing a bit of splitting in my nails again. Anywho, my take on Nioxin, try it, im sure everyones results will vary. I got the 30 day supply from Ulta Beauty for about $28.

I didn't buy it for my hair so I cant speak on the effectiveness of it in that area but if it grows the hair on your head the way it grew my lashes it should be promising. If you're interested in trying it you can click on the picture above it will take you to Amazon where you can purchase for $25.50.

New by Sigma: Eyeshadow Palettes

Hey sugarplums, if you haven't heard already Sigma has come out with three new eyeshadow palettes. Each palette is $35 and they each come with a dual ended brush! Sigma is known for their quality brushes so i'm sure these new palettes will live up to the Sigma standard. Deets below:

Bare

The Sigma Beauty BARE palette is a must for everyday use. Ideal to create classic neutral looks, BARE is perfect for accentuating your best features without too much color distraction. Highlight inner corners, emphasize your crease, brighten your brow bone and enhance your lash line.  With BARE’s color selection, you can easily create day and night looks seamlessly and as subtle or as bold as you wish.  BARE is perfect for a natural yet improved you! Includes Sigma Beauty’s best-selling E30 and E25 in a unique dual-ended brush.

Brush Closeup

Flare

The Sigma Beauty FLARE palette contains a beautiful combination of greens and purples, combined with browns and beiges that are perfect to create fun and colorful looks! This palette includes beautiful iridescent undertones, which offer a must have selection of bright, yet sophisticated hues. FLARE is perfect for those days when you want to highlight your eyes with fun and flirty colors! Includes Sigma Beauty’s best-selling E55 and E40 in a practical dual-ended brush. Brush Closeup

Dare

The Sigma Beauty DARE palette includes the perfect mix of vibrant and neutral shades represented by warm and cool tones. This palette contains beautiful yet unexpected hues from neutral corals to deep reds and includes surprisingly wearable yellow and gold tones. DARE allows you to create colorful looks that can be easily accentuated with bright or deep colors. Go from day to night in seconds! Includes Sigma Beauty’s best-selling E20 and E45 in an exclusive dual-ended brush.

Brush Closeup

For more details or to purchase one of these awesome new palettes visit the Sigma site here

Homemade Avocado Mask

While searching for fruits and vegetables you can eat for healthy skin, I came upon the article Feed Your Face: 10 Foods For Better Skin on lifescript.com. The article listed beneficial foods for your skin and also listed a moisturizing avacado mask you can make at home. If you have dry skin or just want to make your skin have a healthy glow I suggest you try this mask. The mask was a bit tingly on my skin but I have sensitive skin so that could be the reason. Otherwise I have no complaints. Here's what you need:

1 whole avacado
1tsp of flaxseed oil
1tsp of honey

first you peel and mash the avocado

then you add the honey and flaxseed oil and stir until creamy (finished product)

apply to face and leave on for 15-20 minutes then rinse with lukewarm water. After rinsing I used my Mary Kay Timewise Moisturizer, but you can use your favorite moisturizer of course. There was enough for two mask applications so I just put the rest in a jar to use for tomorrow.

Try the mask you'll love it! All ingredients purchased from Whole Foods.

Jesse's Girl Pigments-Haul/Look

I recently found out my local Rite Aid sold Jesse's Girl cosmetics. I hadn't tried any of their products before and they were decently priced at $3.99 each so of course I had to try them. There were several colors all of them pretty but I finally settled on the ones you see above. The pigments go on easy and pack on tons of color. The colors I purchased are:

Mardi Gras: Turquoise
Ultra Violet: Purple
Blue Moon: Blue

I swatched them here:

I did a simple eye look with the Ultra Violet and Blue Moon:

Love the colors. Will be going back to get more :)

Sedona Lace Beauty Bloggers Brush Giveaway

Hello sugarplums, Sedona Lace is currently having a giveaway on their 12 piece makeup brush set. The regular price for the brushes are $59.95 but you can sometimes catch them on sale for $49.99. I have never used any of their cosmetic brushes but I have heard good things about them. I have their 88 Matte Eyeshadow Palette which has beautiful colors, and also hosted a giveaway with the 88 Metal Eyeshadow Palette. I would love to win the pink professional set to be able to do a complete review with Sedona Lace products.

The makeup brushes come in a black set and a pink set and include the following brushes:

Powder Brush 376 This sculpted brush head with natural bristles, allows for more precise placement. Great rounded top for "all over" application of loose powder.

Duo Fibre Brush 813 This brush is known to add the finish of an "airbrush look" when using liquid foundation, not the best brush for creme foundations. The great natural bristles of this brush help with the application of blush, also used as a highlight brush.

Foundation Brush 727 The synthetic bristles on this brush are non-absorbing to help keep your foundation on your face and not on the brush! Tapered Oval head gently helps to blend the foundation into place. Works well with any Liquid/creme products, but works best with Sedona Lace's 10 color camouflage concealer palette.

Large Angled Contour Brush 850 This angled shaped brush works best when used for applying blushes. Used to apply cheek contour, could also be used wet as a foundation brush. These natural bristles are best when used with Sedona Lace's Contour and Blush Palette.

Concealer Brush 954 This Rounded flat shaped, thin precision tip brush with synthetic bristles allows flawless application of cream or liquid concealers underneath the eye or in hard to reach areas, like the inner eye or lash-line.

Medium Angled Shading Brush 407 This angled shape, yet flat with natural bristles brush, is best used underneath the eyebrow and inner corners of the eyes. Also great use for blending shadows outwards.

Small Angled Brush 561 This stiff natural bristled brush is angled to help create the perfect eye brow when filling in. This is an essential brush when applying gel or creme eyeliner.

Large Shader Brush 941 This flat shaped brush is ideal for applying eye shadow primer and creme formulas. Could also be used for concealers in precise areas. Natural bristles.

Tapered Blending Brush 863 This brush has a rounded and tapered top and a perfect size for applying and blending an all over shadow. Packs color into the lip and also blends for a soft result. These natural designed bristles are best when used with Sedona Lace's Ulta shimmer 88 palette/matte 88 palette and the 120 pro palette first edition.

Pencil Brush 904 This brush is name of natural bristles and is perfect for smudging out eye liner Great for applying color in the crease and outer corner of the eye. This brush can easily create a gorgeous 'smokey eye' look.

Eye Shading Brush 305 This brush has a soft rounded top to helps apply loose eye shadows and pigments. Ideal for packing on a lot of pigment and keeping an intense color. Natural bristles.

Eyeliner Brush 772 This extra fine brush with natural bristles helps give a precise line when applying liner You can view details of their giveaway on my sidebar just click on the photo of their brushes. Also you can follow Sedona Lace on Facebook and Twitter.