Halloween Inspiration: Cat Makeup Tutorials

I decided I'd do the good old cat for Halloween, since it's easy and fun and I have this super cute cat ear headband from Forever 21. I wanted to kick it up a notch and do a cat makeup look to really take the costume to the next level, so I searched for some tutorials and found these beautiful looks.

1. Last Minute Halloween Party Cat Makeup by fashionista804 on Youtube - a sultry, bold red lipped cat look that can be easily put together last minute.
2. Lion Halloween Makeup Tutorial by Jen @ From Head to Toe - this lion look can be easily adapted to a kitty cat and is more subtle and natural.
3. Sexy Cat Halloween Makeup by Julia @ MissChievous.tv - an intricate leopard print eye with two toned lips, that's one high fashion kitty!
4. Halloween Tutorial: Leopard Cat Makeup - by Makeup by Aggie - a more stylized leopard makeup look, very daring and costume makeup-like.

I am loving all of these beautiful looks and will be drawing inspiration from all of them. Which one is your favourite??

My Favourite Purple Products + Purple FOTD.

I Bought This

My favourite colour has changed a few times over the years. First I was all PINK FO LYFE, then I had a brief love affair with turquoise (which I still revisit from time to time), nowadays though it's ALL about the purple. Lilac, lavender, mauve, phlox (yep, that's a shade of purple!) you name it, I am obsessed with it.

Three of my go-to purple products have to be the following little gems - they're perfectly pigmented and were all under $10!

1. Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Darling

2. Milani COLOR BRILLIANCE eye pencil in #04 Purple
3. Confetti nail polish in Belle of the Ball

 I am SUPER in love with my Revlon Balm Stain. It's the perfect glossy purple and feels smooth and lightweight just like a lip balm. I notice that it stains to more of a magenta colour the longer you wear it. The Milani pencil is actually discontinued, but I love it so much that I use it every time I want a pop of purple liner. The nail polish I bought for a couple of dollars from CVS, win!

I actually asked my husband what I should do with my nails and he said "A purple fading into pink". So that's what I ended up doing.

For the nails, I did a sponged gradient using Belle of the Ball and a random unnamed pink Color Club polish. The ring is by my friend Amber from Angel's Boutique! I love it, it's super kawaii  >w<!!

I wore this makeup look to my niece's birthday party, something fun and different. I find that I've been incorporating purple into my makeup a lot more recently and I love it! It's also a perfect Fall colour :) Some of you may have seen if you follow me on Instagram and Twitter.. I love purple so much, I dyed my hair purple! I'll be posting about that very soon, as well as how to bleach dark brown hair without too much damage.

Hope you're all having a great week! It's been super hot here, when does the Fall weather kick in?? I'm ready!!

Bold Lashes, Pink and a bit of Glam: Photoshoot Makeup and Nails.

Wow, it feels like forever since I've blogged... Between 3 web design jobs, a kidney stone, 3 kids and just life in general, I haven't had time to edit photos or write at all. I haven't even been wearing makeup or doing my nails =_= Not that I have any nails to do at the moment, with the whole kidney stone ordeal (going to the hospital with excruciating back pain, being laid up in bed, taking care of the kids) I started biting my nails again and I currently only have 4 nails that aren't little nubby remnants. Luckily I received some imPRESS press on nails that I'll be trying later in the week (stay tuned!).

This past weekend I went over to help out the lovely Amber of Angel's Boutique with product photos for her new website. Amber makes beautiful jewelry and does decoden phone cases, pill boxes, contact cases and LOTS of other things. You might remember my post on her cases a while ago, she is super talented!

I had lots of fun being her model and wanted to show you my makeup and nails for the day.

Amber wanted pink and girly, with some dramatic lashes and a cat eye. I'm not so great at doing dramatic cat eyeliner, but I tried..... It's a mini cat eye. The lashes were a little more dramatic than I was expecting, but they look pretty good! They are Ardell 105 Black lashes and felt very soft and natural. I kept the rest of my makeup fairly light and neutral so as not to clash with the bright pink lips. The lipstick is a Kat Von D one that Amber had (she is a huge Kat Von D fan, although she insists she is not a stalker :p). I can't remember the name, but it's a creamy, opaque shade that I love! I may have to pick up some of her makeup. I'm also wearing my Macaron Brown circle lenses.

For my nails, I layered a sheer sparkly mother of pearl shade from Sinful Colors over ORLY Choreographed Chaos and placed a rhinestone at the top of the nail. On my ring finger I used China Glaze Glistening Snow and placed rhinestones in a flower design (ridiculously easy, but looks pretty). Because I had been biting my nails, the ones on my right hand are fake ones that I painted. My nails matched perfectly with this beautiful flower ring that Amber made!

Here's one of her cases, she actually took this to go and meet Kat Von D and showed her the case (which Kat loved!). I told you she was a big fan lol :)

I love the intricacy of her designs and all the little details she adds. Anyone can do decoden, but I think it takes talent to make really pretty designs and to make it all look clean and cohesive. They are super sturdy too :)

I had lots of fun hanging out with Amber, we have a shared love of Hello Kitty, Decoden and K-Dramas! Sorry I've been a little MIA, you can follow me on instagram or twitter for daily updates and I'll be doing a post with the rest of the photos from the photoshoot soon.

Summer, Sea & Sand Makeup Look

I Bought This Affiliate Links

Summer is my favourite season: long days, balmy nights, frosty drinks, lounging by the sea...

Huntington Beach, CA

I am desperately in need of some lounging by the ocean, possibly with a frozen piña colada; unfortunately, since we moved inland I don't live very close to the beach. I have been missing the sea and sand so much that I decided to do a beachy makeup look using my Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV. I got the Book of Shadows IV(4) palette on Hautelook a while ago and I absolutely love all the sparkly, shimmery beauteousness. Honestly I could just use Urban Decay shadows for the rest of my life and die happy☺♥ The shades in this Book of Shadows really remind me of the beach and the ocean, so it was the perfect palette for the look I was going for.

FOTD:

Face-

• Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream, No 31
• Smashbox Softlights & Blush Duo in Undercover: the Softlights to highlight my nose bridge and cheekbones and the blush on the apples of my cheeks
• ELF Studio Concealer Pencil & Brush in Light under my eyes

Eyes-

• NYX Auto Eyebrow pencil in Medium Brown
• Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin
• Urban Decay Hijack on the outer lower lashline
• Urban Decay Skimp on the inner lower lashline
• Urban Decay Zephyr on the inner eye/tear duct area
• Urban Decay Baked on the outer lid
• Urban Decay Midnight Cowgirl on the inner part of the lid
• Urban Decay Zephyr used to blend out to the browbone
• Dolly Wink Long Mascara
• GEO Angel Blue Circle Lenses

Lips-

• OCC Lip Tar in Yaoi, blended with a clear gloss

Can I just say that I am so addicted to OCC lip tars............. they are like magic in a little tube! I also have Anime and Hoochie and I want ALL the lip tars! I love that you can mix them with different things to get different looks, like this pink glossy look I have in this FOTD. 

Since the Generation Beauty event, I've been inspired to play a bit more with colour instead of just my usual neutral makeup. Granted, this is still pretty tame, but I'm trying! I follow so many amazing MUAs on instagram and I'm always awed by their perfect application of highly saturated shades; I need to work on my technique more so I can step my colour game up! Incidentally I wasn't even going anywhere the day I did this look, I ended up going.... grocery shopping. My husband came home just as I was about to go to the grocery store and was all "Where are you going? Are you meeting someone? Why are you so made up?"... I told him I was meeting my boyfriend on the side :p lol.

Photo Diary: recent manicures and makeup.

Just a quickie, to post some of the recent pics I've taken. It's weird, since I got my hair cut I'm more motivated to wear makeup. Check em out:



















Hope you had a great weekend!

Easy 3 Step Covergirl Makeup Look + P&G Most Loved Giveaway!

Press Sample

P&G is a pretty well known company, but many of you may not know just how many of your favourite brands are a part of the P&G family. She Speaks and P&G were kind enough to send me a huge box full of their 'Most Loved' products to try out, including these three from Covergirl:

1. LashBlast Volume Mascara 2. Perfect Point Pencil Eyeliner 3. Outlast Double Lipshine

I used these three products to do a simple natural makeup look.

1. Line upper lashline with the Perfect Point Pencil Eyeliner in Espresso and use the sponge end to smudge and blend outwards.
2. Apply 2 coats of LashBlast Volume Mascara in Black to both upper and lower lashes.
3. Apply the Outlast Double Lipshine in Sheerly Nude, first the colour and once it's set, the gloss on top.

I really liked all three of these Covergirl products! Click here for a mini review and a chance to win a huge box of P&G Goodies!

CLICK HERE FOR THE REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY!

Disclosure: Products are press samples received from She Speaks for review.

Feelin' Springy FOTD.

I am SO ready for Spring and Summer! Snow is nice and all, but warmer weather is...... wait a minute. I live in Southern Cali, wtf am I talking about? Ok, so it's always pretty warm here, but we did have a few weeks of really cold .. uh.. somewhat cold weather.

Whatever. I'm in the mood for bright colours and light makeup anyway, so here you go.

FOTD:

Face:

• Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream No. 31
• Benefit Hervana Blush

Eyes:

• elf Studio Eyebrow Kit in Medium
• Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Perversion
• Silk Lashes from Born Pretty Store
• stila eyeshadow in Karat
• Dolly Wink Volume Mascara
• Geo Angel Blue circle lenses

Lips:

• Maybelline Vivids Lipstick in Electric Orange
• Maybelline Baby Lips in Coral Crush

Shades of orange are in the air... Bright, vivid colours are so much fun and always make me feel good. If you're ever feeling down, a bright pop of colour will cheer you up! I think the Maybelline Vivids lipsticks are perfect for that.

Spring has officially sprung! It's almost Easter you guise! Somebody send me lots of Cadbury Creme Eggs, I can't find them anywhere here.. those little things are addictive, they're like crack but harder to find O_O

Pretty and Practical: A Wearable Date Look

As much as I love seeing all the beautiful, creative and unique Valentine's looks that get posted around this time, the best kind of date makeup (IMO) is classic, simple and wearable.

I did this look on my friend Desiree, soft shades of gold, brown and nudes, with a subtle pop of pinky peach on the cheeks. I wanted the look to be pretty and classic, while not clashing with her bright red dress. Nude, glossy lipstick is also great for a date, as a red lip is nice but not so practical for kissing ;)

GET THE LOOK:

Eyes:

• ALWAYS DO THE EYES FIRST! Then you can get rid of any eyeshadow fallout with concealer/foundation.
• First I applied Urban Decay Primer Potion all over the lid and undereye area.
• Then I applied the light beige shade of the Stila eyeshadow palette from the Blushing Beauty(warm) set, Karat, all over the lid.
• I took the Urban Decay shadow, Baked, which is a shimmery gold and applied it in the center of the lid
• Then I used the dark brown shade from the Stila palette, Bronze, and applied it in a v shape on the outer corner and crease.
• I used a fluffy blending brush and Karat to blend out any harsh lines and into the browbone.
• I lined the lower lashline with NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in French Fries and put a dab of Urban Decay loose pigment in Yeyo in the inner corners.
• Then I lined the upper lashline and the waterline with a black kohl liner (forgot which brand!) and did 2 coats of Maybelline The Falsies mascara on the upper and lower lashes.
• I filled out her eyebrows with the e.l.f Studio Brow Kit in medium and used an eyebrow brush to soften it up and make it look more natural.

Face:

• First I applied Benefit The POREfessional primer all over
• Then I used a sponge to apply Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow! foundation in Petal
• I used NYX Concealer Jar in Orange for her undereye area and e.l.f Studio Concealer Pencil & Brush in Light for redness and blemishes.
• I contoured under her cheeks and jawline with the bronzer from the e.l.f Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzer Powder in St Lucia.
• For blush, I layered Too Faced Full Bloom Lip & Cheek Creme Color in Prim & Poppy under Benefit Hervana Blush on the apples of her cheeks
• To set her makeup and give an airbrushed, flawless look, I dusted e.l.f Studio Translucent Matifying Powder all over with a big fluffy brush.

Lips:

• I wanted a nice, nude glossy colour, so I lined her lips with e.l.f Studio Lip Liner & Blending Brush in Nude Pink.
• Then I put Revlon Lip Butter in Creme Brulee and a clear gloss on top.

Layering the blush and the lip products ensures that they'll last longer!
 

I curled Desiree's hair with my curling iron and combed it out so it sat in soft waves around her face. I think it was the perfect look to offset the bright, lacy red dress :)

What do you prefer for a Date? Soft and pretty, or bold and striking? If you're single, you should still pamper the ones you love, your family, your girlfriends, yourself! Go on a spa date or get a mani/pedi and eat LOTS of chocolate.

Gold Eyes, Oxblood Lips. My New Year's Day Look.

Happy New Year! It's my first post for 2013 :D

SO we ended up having a quiet night in, watching movies and eating snacks. Unfortunately, by 9.30pm everyone was asleep on the couch except me!

You see this??? While most people were having a boozefest, my house was having a snoozefest =_=;; I didn't bother doing any NYE makeup, since we didn't go anywhere, but today I decided to a New Year's Day look :) My first FOTD for 2013!

The lipstick is actually a little bit darker & more burgundy IRL, more a true oxblood, like this picture:

FOTD

Face:

• Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream, No. 31
• elf Studio Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder, St Lucia

Eyes:

• Urban Decay Eyeshadow, Baked and Chopper
• stila Eyeshadow, Karat
• elf Studio Pigment Eyeshadow, Golden Goddess
• Eyeko Graffiti Eyeliner Pen
• Urban Decay Supercurl Curling Mascara

Lips:

• Wet n Wild Megalast Lipstick, Cherry Bomb

This look is simple, but vampy. I love gold and deep red together, and that oxblood shade is so hot right now..

We didn't even really do anything today, just went to the park with the kids. Yes, I am totally that mother at the park wearing ridiculously inappropriate makeup. Then again, sometimes I'm that mother wearing absolutely no makeup and with crazy hair shoved into a bun. Depends on how much sleep I got that night.

Just for kicks...

Yes, a collage of my face. Because you haven't seen it enough.

I'm sorry, you have to be subjected to so many vain pictures. Truly, I'm sorry (not really). It's been so long since I've put on a full face of makeup, I went a little overboard taking pictures.

I hope everyone had a funner NYE than I did!! Well I was ridiculously tired anyway, so if I didn't make myself stay up, I probably would have been asleep on the couch too.

Halloween Party! Cleopatra Costume, Makeup and Nails.

It's almost Halloween!! And that means Halloween parties :D

I went to one just this past Saturday and it was a lot of fun. Spooky sweet treats, crazy costumes and lots of creepy looking (but delicious) food. As I said previously, I decided to do a Cleopatra costume this year and I really liked the end result. It was super simple, just a black dress, gold sandals, wig, head dress, makeup and nail art. Most of the pieces I pulled from my wardrobe/makeup drawer, with the exception of the wig and head dress.

The classic Egyptian colours, gold and turquiose.

I also did my lips gold, mixing a gold pigment with clear lipgloss.

This didn't last through food though :(

Wearing my Ruby Queen Violet lenses!

Nail art.

Using Wet n Wild Black Creme and The Gold and the Beautiful, I did a black and gold glitter gradient, with a gold accent nail and a freehand painted Egyptian Ankh.

I got lots of nice comments on my costume from my beautiful friends :) A lot of them got decked out in costumes as well! Who says mamas can't dress up and have fun on Halloween? I don't usually drink, and can't at all right now (seeing as I am 8 months pregnant.... did I forget to mention that? :p), but I've never needed alcohol to have a good time. It's all about good food and great company!

Rosie the Red Devil and I :)

With Mita, Ms. Cat in the Hat. How adorable is this costume???

Mai & I.

Yes, she is wearing a Twister mat dress. She is Twister. We did not play Twister though.

I'm looking forward to dressing up again on Wednesday to take the kids out trick or treating. Honestly, I feel that Halloween is ALL about having fun with costumes and makeup (for me anyway), I don't enjoy getting candy and sweets as much as I did when I was a kid, so I have to find something to replace that excitement with lol.

What are your Halloween plans? Have you been to any Halloween parties yet?

I'll be posting more pics after Halloween! Looking forward to seeing other people's costumes, makeup and nail art too :)