MAC 'A Novel Romance' eyeshadow quad + fotd

the new A Novel Romance collection from MAC boasts some gorgeous new products, including this quad of the same name. 

the A Novel Romance quad features four coordinating neutral grey, deep brown and green shades that i am more than loving for fall.

My Fantasy pale neutral olive {veluxe pearl}

Fall in Lust mid-tone cool grey mauve {frost}

Dance in the Dark deep blackened brown {matte}

Rising Passions greenish charcoal with gold pearl {velvet}

it's easy to to create many looks with these shadows and as with all MAC shadows, the pigment is fabulous and long-wearing.

for more info, and to see this beauty in person, visit your local MAC store, and of course you can find the entire A Novel Romance collection {while supplies last} until october 2, 2014 at maccosmetics.com.

product 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 :) 

summer beauty {fotd}: bronzed purple look

happy friday, beauties! 

hope you've had a fabulous week. it's been full of highs and lows for me. i won't elaborate, but i'm thankful to have many gorgeous distractions.

fotd inspiration: MAC Blooming Mad eye shadow and Worldly Wealth blush 

and if you guessed makeup to be among those distractions, you'd be right. :)

this overall bronzy look is perfect for the current season, and is definitely happy-making, thanks to the pop of purple on my eyes. i was inspired after receiving some new MAC products, especially Worldly Wealth powder blush and Blooming Mad eye shadow, both from the Moody Blooms collection. it's beyond easy, day-friendly, and can be worn for any occasion. with a bit more liner and some false lashes, it would even be a fabulous night look!

so here are the details…

foundation: 

Revlon ColorStay Makeup in Toast

concealer: 

MAC Studio Finish concealer in NW40; Miracle Skin Treat & Conceal* Eye and Face concealer in Tan {review coming soon}

powder: 

MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation in NC42; e.l.f. Mineral Booster in Sheer {review coming soon}

eyes: 

MAC eye shadows in Retrospeck, Artistic License*, Deep Fixation* and Blooming Mad*; dedre beauty Smudge Pencil in Baroque*; Physician's Formula Kohl Kajal Eyeliner *{black from the Nude Eyes Trio}; Mary Kay Lash Love mascara in Black

brows:

Votre Vu Arch de Triumphe* in Warm {used recently on Keri Russell}

cheeks: 

MAC Powder Blush in Worldly Wealth* 

lips:

MAC lip liner in Spice; e.l.f. Moisturizing Lipstick in Party in the Buff; butter LONDON LIPPY lipgloss in Stroppy*

have a gorgeous weekend!

*products sent to me from brand PR; all pics taken by me :)

MAC Sugarsweet Collection Swatches & FOTD

here are some swatches of the cute new MAC Sugarsweet collection and a FOTD below...


Shadesticks from left to right: Butternutty, Cakeshop, Lemon Chiffon, Penny, Red Velvet



eyeshadows top, left to right: Sugarshot, Dear Cupcake, bottom, left to right: Aquavert, Club, Stars and Rockets


lipsticks top, left to right: Bubbles, Touch; bottom, left to right: St Germain, Sweet Thing, Lollipop Loving



Tricolour Lipglass, left to right: Consume Me, Just Dessert, Simply Delicious, Tasty, Triple Yum



nail lacquer: Seasonal Peach


nail lacquer: Peppermint Patti


Mineralize Skinfinish, Perfect Topping, left, Refined, right



i wanted to show you a quick little "Sugarweet" look, so i had one of the gals at MAC create an eye look, and she added Skinfinish in Refined to my cheeks and Consume Me Tricolour Lipglass to my lips.




on my eyes, Shadesticks in Cakeshop and Lemon Chiffon on my lids to create a base, eyeshadows in Stars and Rockets (in the crease) and Club (at corners and on crease), Fluidline eyeliner in Dipdown, and Zoomlash mascara.

overall, i think this is such a fun collection. the colors are great for spring, and are really girly and sweet (no pun intended!). have you seen the Sugarsweet collection yet? if so, what do you think?


xo
pics taken by me :)

FOTD: My St. Patrick's Day Look

for st. patty's day, and since i'm not of fan of green lipstick (i know, ha ha), i decided to do a little green on the eyes. i haven't worn greens in awhile, so i welcomed the chance to do something a little different.

on my eyes: Wet N Wild Mega Eyes eyeshadow in Amazon Greens, L'Oreal HiP High Intensity Pigments Illuminating Highlighter (this item seems to be unavailable in stores anymore), MAC Eyeshadow in Texture, Wet N Wild Kohl Eyeliner in Deep Blue, Cargo Plant Love Eyeliner in Black, Maybelline the Colossal Volum Express Mascara layered over Maybelline Lash Stiletto (stay tuned for my video review!).

on my brows: Anastasia Brow Powder Duo in Medium Ash

on my face: Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Makeup in Bronze, Hourglass Veil Invisible Powder (this is another i have yet to officially review although it has been featured many times before here on BGM).

on my cheeks: Bobbi Brown Copper Diamond Shimmer Brick as a highlight and MAC Beauty Powder Blush in Ablaze (this was a limited edition color).

on my lips: J. Lynne Cosmetics Gloss Effects Lip Glaze in Sandra




xo
pics taken by me :)

FOTD: eye makeup look featuring NARS Jolie Poupee

the eyeshadow duo Jolie Poupee was featured in the Nars Holiday 2008 collection, and i have to say it is a fabulous duo of purple tones that can help create many different eye looks, like the ones below...





in the first photo, top left, i only washed the more pearlescent purple tone over my eyelid and lined my lower lashline with it. in the second pic, upper right, i deepened the purple and added the more blue-toned purple shade in the middle of my lid.

the lower left pic you see more of the blue-toned purple used on the inner part of my eyelid and the pearlescent purple was deepened more and applied into the crease. i also added more liner to add definition. the lower right pic is the blue-toned purple all over my entire lid and along the inner half of my lashline.

p.s.-- the light shadow you see is Bobbi Brown's Metallic eyeshadow in Glitz, the eyeliner is L'Oreal Infallible No Fail Eyeliner and the mascara is Maybelline XXL Extensions mascara with added coats of CG LashtBlast on top.

xo

FOTD: All-Natural Makeup

i like to mix-and-match my natural makeup with my not-so-natural makeup, but it is quite rare that i wear an entire face of natural makeup.


so what do you think?

foundation: The Body Shop's Nature's Minerals in shade 06

blush: TBS Nature's Minerals in Warm Copper and Mineral Essence Anywhere Face Color in Glow

eyeshadows: TBS Natural's Minerals in Radiant Graphite (on lids) and Mineral Essence shadow (on brow bone) in Mocha

eyeliners: Cargo Plant Love in Dark Brown and Black

lips: Mineral Essence lipstick in Rum Runner and L'Oreal Bare Naturale Gentle Lip Conditioner in Soft Mauve...



the only not-natural product i used was my mascara which was Maybelline's XXL Extensions.

xo

FOTD: My Thanksgiving Look

this fotd (face of the day) features the products i wore on thanksgiving day. i love them all, and have been using using often!

foundation and powder: Cover FX (stay tuned for the official review)

eyes: Bobbi Brown shadows from the Metallic eyeshadow collection (Sage and Glitz), Redpoint StayPut Eyeliner, CoverGirl Lash Blast

brows: Anastsia Brow Powder from the Six Piece Essential Kit

cheeks: Global Goddess Beauty Chai Cheek Color in Sattva and Redpoint Rejuvenating Bronzing Silk (not pictured).

lips: Bobbi Brown lipstick and Glitter Lip Balm in Heather Mauve and Copper Diamond, respectively.




xo

my first FOTD featuring the Bobbi Brown Mauve Face Palette

i've been having fun posting pics for you that are my own so you can see what products actually look like, what my hair really looks like and so on...

now i want to do what many bloggers do, but i myself have never done, an FOTD or Face of the Day. i don't think i'll do it everyday, but will do my best to get to it at least 1-2 times a month. sound good? i thought so!

so here's my first attempt, using Bobbi Browns fabulous Mauve Face Palette:

i am wearing the Mauve Blush on my cheeks and the Vintage Mauve Lip Color with the Dusty Mauve Creamy Lip Color over it.




























on my eyes, Navajo eyeshadow on my brow bone to eyebrow, Vintage eyeshadow on lids, Chocolate Mauve as liner and a little swept up on the outer eyelid and in the crease (shown with and without flash).

i am wearing Revlon Custom Creations foundation in Deep, Anastasia Go Brow and CoverGirl LashBlast mascara.



xo

photos taken by me :)