currently loving: Pür Minerals

i'm not going to lie, i've been under a lot of stress these past couple of weeks. in addition to the fact that my daughter and son are now in high school and middle school respectively, health issues i've been battling and trying to manage have been acting up. i've been more tired, scatter-brained and unfocused than i've been in months.

it hasn't been pretty.

thankfully, there are plenty of pretty, uplifting and positive things in my life {on and offline} that keep me focused on the good things and the fact that things will get better. :)

among those positive things, the following Pür Minerals products have become some of my favorite beauty goodies and have been getting lots of use in recent weeks. want to know more? take a look, beauties ~ you just might want to add these to your beauty wish list!

the Jupiter Palette ~ how gorgeous is this? i've had this set, inspired by the forthcoming movie, Jupiter Ascending {starring Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum}, for a few months. it's fabulous and is so versatile. i love that it features a beautiful assortment of eyeshadows, an eyeshadow brush, pink lip gloss in Galaxy {it lights up!}, and black liquid eye liner.

the eyeshadow shades include:

Majesty {pale taupe}
Destiny {cream}
Night Sky eye shadow {slate}
Jupiter eye shadow {rose}
Caine eye shadow {mocha}
Cosmos eye shadow {iridescent white}

to keep skin looking its best, the brand offers primers to prep skin and an amazing foundation to create a flawless face, suitable for wear anytime. i've been using all of them, as i mentioned, on most days and highly recommend!

the Correcting Primers are available in 5 formulas that address the most common concerns: oiliness, redness, dullness and rough texture, all while creating a smooth base that enhances skin tone and makes sure your makeup stays in place all day. i was sent the Prep & Perfect, Redness Reducer, and the oil-free Hydrate & Balance. i like them all, but since the weather has been on the warm side, i've relished the oil-free formula and its ability to keep shine at bay.

j'dore...

the last {but certainly not least} gem is the Pür Minerals Air Perfection CC Cushion Compact Foundation. this portable liquid foundation not only makes skin look beautiful but is also good for it! with its skin-benefitting ingredients {like antioxidant vitamin e and hydrating lauric acid}, application is beautiful, it covers effortlessly and i love how lightweight it feels on my skin.


what products have been keeping you cheery these days? be sure to discover more about the fab Pür Minerals brand at purminerals.com. 

products featured sent to me for review consideration; pics taken by me :)

3 easy ways i wear green eyeshadow

bonjour, beauties! hope you're enjoying your day…

since posting the Emerald Smoke eye look last week, i've been playing with variations of green and am loving it! while i'm not shy when it comes to playing up my eyes with different shades of makeup, i do, like many, sometimes fall into a routine. my go-to look is typically more suitable for day and neutral, but can easily be done with any color eyeshadows and liners.

the following looks are 3 ways i've been keeping my look fresh, using green shades...

the first green eye makeup look is definitely simple, with just a pop of color just under my eyes.

super simple and adds the perfect a hint of eye-opening drama: the cat eye. this look is a classic and always on trend!

and finally, the smoky eye look. this is always a fave of mine. keeping lips and cheeks neutral, this is a fun way to add color my face. to take it to night, i'd add lashes and punch up the lip color.

products i used for these looks:

Mary Kay eye shadows in Meadow Grass {cream}, Emerald and Lime {mineral eye shadows}
MAC Eyeshadow in Glamour Check!
Maybelline Master Smoky Liner Pencil in Emerald Fury
Wet N Wild eye liner in Green
Physicians Formula Kohl Kajal bronze eyeliner from Nude Eyes trio

tell me: what's your favorite eyeshadow shade to wear these days and what's your favorite way to wear it?

Mary Kay and MAC products sent to me for review consideration; i bought all other products mentioned; pics taken by me :) 

beauty review + swatches: Sleek i-Divine 'Oh-So Special' Palette

i recently purchased my first Sleek Makeup product, the Oh-So Special eyeshadow palette, and beauties...

it is fabulous!

not only is this palette gorgeous, but the quality is beyond what i expected {which, from all the reviews i've read and seen, is very good}...

the Sleek Makeup line is especially affordable and it was their reputation of producing good-quality products that led me to order this without ever having seen it in person, in a store. with these shades you can create multiple looks; the texture of each shadow is beautiful and the sleek packaging makes it easy to store.

the Oh-So Special Palette features 12 gorgeous shades that lean mostly to pink and brown shades, both shimmer and mattes; they all work beautifully together and also with other shadows i own and frequently wear. the smooth texture feels good and the pigment is great.

needless to say, this palette a new favorite of mine and i can't wait to get more! visit sleekmakeup.com to see all the i-Divine palettes and other makeup goodies the brand has to offer.

i bought this; pics taken by me :)

essence cosmetics 3D eyeshadow duos + stays no matter what collection

spring is a fabulous season, but kind of crazy if you think about it ~ the climate is completely different from state to state. it's sunny and warm here, but i have friends who are snowed in! in any case, it's still technically spring, so we should all be having fun with products in fun new shades, right?

as it turns out, essence cosmetics has released some ~ new 3D duo eyeshadows dare you to explore new dimensions and the STAYS no matter what collection wants you to revel in the ultimate staying power.

the 3D duo eyeshadows boast an ultra-light, high-coverage formula with a cool finish to create a most gorgeous, multi-dimensional effect.

from satin to metallic to shimmering, the six duos feature two perfectly aligned shades. colors include Irresistible Purr-ple, Irresistible Caramel Cream, Irresistible Chocolates {pictured above}; Irresistible First Love, Irresistible Smoky Eye and Irresistible Mermaid Kiss {pictured below}; when applied with a wet brush, they offer even more intense results.   

the essence STAYS no matter what collection includes:

 24h waterproof volume mascara...

 24h waterproof eyeliner pen...

and waterproof eye pencil.

i've read some very positive reviews about the STAYS collection, so i'm definitely looking forward to trying them out when it really starts to heat up this summer!

what do you think? have you tried or will you try any of the new shadows? the liners or mascara? let me know in the comments!

you can find essence cosmetics online at ulta.com

info and images courtesy of essence cosmetics

new melt-proof shadows from Smashbox

transfer-resistant, sweat-resistant and humidity-resistant, the new Smashbox Limitless 15 Hour Wear Cream Shadows promise to create alluring eye looks for day and smoldering ones for night...

available in 12 stunning shades to compliment every eye color, Limitless Shadows also boast a luxurious formula enriched with vitamins A and E {fabulous antioxidant protection}.

i'm looking forward to trying these shadows, especially in the days and weeks ahead that are increasing in temps. if they resist creasing, caking or flaking, they'll definitely make this beauty girl happy!

 visit Smashbox.com for more info and to order.

tell me: will these new shadows be on your summer must-have beauty list?

info and images courtesy of Smashbox

green beauty: 100% Pure Color Cosmetics

there's nothing i love better than knowing products i use are natural and good for my skin. while i realize that my fondness obsession love of beauty products means i won't always be using natural ingredients, i am always thrilled when i either find and purchase or am given the opportunity to try new green beauty goodies {in this case, the brand sent me products}.

the items i refer to are from 100% Pure, and let me say darlings, they are yummy, yummy.

i have reviewed the Tinted Moisturizer in the past, and this time i was able to try all the gorgeousness that came along with the luminous primer, fruit pigmented pot rouge {Rosy}, satin eye shadow {Halo} and flawless skin foundation {Toffee}.

by now, you've probably guessed that i am loving these products...

truly, it amazes me that these products are so incredibly pigmented and work as well, if not even better than a lot of chemical-filled products. i love that the primer left my skin feeling silky soft and the foundation is buildable, providing the coverage i wanted, where i wanted it. the shadow is as soft as satin, just at the name suggests and the pot rouge {isn't that such a fabulous, classic word? rouge...love it!} gave my cheeks the perfect flush of color right where i applied it.

another fabulous thing about 100% Pure products is that they're loaded with antioxidants and skin-loving ingredients {fruits, teas, vitamins} that help skin on a deeper level, hence the smile on my face! ;)

visit their website, 100percentpure.com, and discover for yourself these, and many other {like their body lotions!!} gems...

pics taken by me :)

Revlon ColorStay Sophisticated Grays Eye Collection

happy monday, beauties! hope you enjoyed a fabulous holiday weekend. did you get any yummy makeup and beauty goodies?

i received a few gems, but the one shadow palette i have been using a lot these days comes by way of a trip to Target i took a few weeks ago.



this Revlon ColorStay Eyeshadow Quad in Sterling Rose came with a ColorStay Eyeliner and was packaged as the Sophisticated Grays Collection. i was drawn to the classic shades because they're perfect for this season and beyond. three of the shades are pretty light, and all of the shades have a sheen to them, but i love mixing and matching the colors-- day to night looks are effortless!



i'm a huge fan of Revlon ColorStay eyeshadows and these didn't disappoint. the pigments of each shadow are good with fab blendability and wear. each color is classic and will easily transition into spring. the liner is mechanical (perfect for waterline application), and stays put all day!

Revlon is available at your favorite drug and mass retailers. be sure to visit revlon.com for more info.

xo
pics taken by me :)

MAC 'Going Bananas' Eyeshadow from the Dare to Wear Collection

a little over a month ago, i took the plunge and bought an eyeshadow color i never thought i'd wear. i had heard some good things about it, and, being the makeup junkie i am, was content with the idea of just collecting another LE eyeshadow from MAC if i didn't like the way it looked on me. the great thing is, it actually does look good and i love wearing it!

the color i'm talking about is called Going Bananas and it was one of many funky, bright shades in the Dare to Wear collection. this bright yellow isn't as bold on the eye as i thought it would be. it's finish is a frost, but not glittery and definitely not matte. on my eyes, it adds a nice pop of color and looks good with any other shade i choose to pair it with (who knew?)



the whole collection:

Dare to Wear Lipglass shades:

Dare to Dare-- light blue pink with multi-pearl
Bold & Brash-- bright red with multi-pearl
Ban This!-- deep purple with multi-pearl
Gimme That!-- bright fuchsia pink with pink pearl
So Bad-- mid-tone coral orange with pink and gold pearl
Wind Me Up-- dirty bronze with pink and gold pearl

Eyeshadows:

Louder, Please-- bright fuchsia (matte)
Free to Be-- creamy true coral (matte)
Going Bananas-- soft lemon yellow (frost)
Lime-- lime green (matte)
Sassy Grass-- bright grass green (matte)
Atlantic Blue-- bright violet blue (matte)
Crazy Cool-- pale frosty lavender (veluxe pearl)
Shock-a-holic-- deep purple (matte)
Aqua-- subdued, pale greyed aqua (matte)
Sky Blue-- robin's egg blue (frost)
Winkle-- mid-tone cornflower blue (satin)
Zingy-- bright sky blue (matte)

Dare to Wear is still available online (maccosmetics.com), but not much longer. if you're like me and sometimes procrastinate, you'll be happy to know that there still just maight be products left in stock at your local MAC even if there isn't a display out (trust me, i've done this many times in the past). :)

xo
pics taken by me :)

product craving: Urban Decay Naked Palette

i know i'm not the only one who wants the new Urban Decay Naked Palette. why? because it keeps selling out within seconds of becoming available again!

i'm totally kicking myself: i had my chance to order it via sephora.com** a little over a week ago (my local store sold out and won't be getting any replacements-- see the photo below, LOL!), but missed it-- now i have to wait again...



in any case, you'll find in this palette 12 full size eyeshadows in shades ranging from a pale champagne to a gorgeous deep charcoal. you'll also find a double-ended 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero (black) and Whiskey (brown), as well as a mini Primer Potion.

shadows include:

Virgin-- nude satin
Sin-- champagne shimmer
Naked-- buff matte
Sidecar-- beige sparkle
Buck-- nutmeg matte
Half Baked-- bronze
Smog-- golden brown shimmer
Darkhorse-- bronze-plum shimmer
Toasted-- taupe-bronze
Hustle-- mocha shimmer
Creep-- near-black metallic
Gunmetal-- dark grey metallic


tell me: are you craving this fabulous product like me, or do you already own it?

xo
**i'll keep checking the site daily. as soon as i have it, you'll be the first to know! ;)

My New Beauty Obsessions from Benefit Cosmetics

like you, any new beauty product is so exciting to have and use, but every once and awhile you get your hands on a product and you can't get enough of it. i just happen to have two new products that i am loving from Benefit: Creaseless Shadow/Liner in Birthday Suit, and their newest gloss, Ultra Shines Lip Shine in Wild Child.

i can't tell you how happy i am to have these in my beauty life!

i was introduced to these, and other goodies (see the pic above of her train case), by an old friend who just happens to be a makeup artist for Benefit! i was thrilled when i found this out because, while i have some experience with the brand, i always like to learn about products from someone who uses them all the time. so, needless to say, i was able to play with the products, ask lots of questions, and buy what i really liked (there were some other gems i picked too, so you'll be hearing about those soon).



these shadows are fab for the summer season-- the cream formula is super blendable, quickly transforms into a powder finish after being applied, and doesn't budge as the day goes on. they'll also definitely work to take me into the fall/winter season. i'm thinking Birthday Suit will keep my smokey eye looks looking fresh and radiant. :)




the Ultra Shines lippies are so lush and yummy on my lips. they aren't sticky and moisturize fabulously. the Wild Child shade is described as a glimmering amethyst and definitely not a color i would have chosen for myself. in its tube it looks so pretty-- not pink, not purple-- and quite bold, but on my lips is a great sheer-but-bright color. love!


me, wearing Wild Child-- excuse the up-the-nose shot, LOL!

of course, you don't have take my word for it-- discover these for yourself. visit your local Benefit beauty counter and have some fun! you can also find the Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow/Liner (available in 12 shades) and Ultra Shines Lip Shines (available in 5 gorgeous colors) online at benefitcosmetics.com and sephora.com.

xo
pics taken by me :)