Yummy411: Fragrance Review- Deseo by JLo

Deseo by Jennifer Lopez is the latest fragrance that I've acquired, mainly because I'm an overall J. Lo fan and secondly the bottle is mesmerizing. The blue and gold jeweled shaped bottle is such a gem to have!

The cheat review before you get my low down:
Fragrance: 4 (wasn't love at first whiff)
Bottle design: 5 (was love at first site)
Celebrity fragrance lemming: 5 (if you love J.Lo's stuff, you're sure to love this)
Price point: 5 (decent price for a dept. store fragrance, but in about 6 mos or so you'll see it at Target,etc.)
Overall: 5 (I like it. I should have waited for the holidays for the set!)


Now on to the heart of the matter, the scent, which I've been discussing with Talysha is great! I'll leave the analytical, more eloquent description to The Scented Salamander that explains my scentiments of this fragrance to a T! Although, I'll trust her comparisons to the other perfumes because I don't have those to compare it to.

"Notes of watery bamboo leaves, garden yuzu, Sicilian bergamot, freesia, star jasmine, pink geranium flower, orange blossom, french mimosa, warm amber, oak moss, sensual musks, creamy sandalwood, cedarwood, patchouli, and mineral accord."

The scent was inspired by a midnight walk in Lopez's flower garden just before a thunderstorm. I can definitely imagine that after the drydown. I like it as a mature twist to her line of tropical, fruity scents. Not too daring, pushy or 'fiesta' like , but calm and pleasantly flirty with the sweet notes staying ahead of the other notes. The creamy, woodsy scent always mellows a fragrance giving it a more mature feel. I was on the fence about it, but decided that I like it.

I took a cue from Plain Voice. Plain Voice is my 12 year old sister who usually gets stuck making cosmetic runs with me, because she likes 'to get out of the house and go to the mall' but of course those are on my terms... milling around the MAC counter, spending way too much time in the fragrance dept trying to score samples without actually buying something. LOL I'll be honest. I'm just indecisive as hell and want a stunning perfume that moves me instantly. Not something that I have to revisit and let it grow on me. Any how, I listen to Plain Voice because while I'm spending too much time being over analytical, she gives it to me straight, no chaser. Either she likes it or she doesn't without the experienced biases (it's too flowery, powdery, musky, etc.) Most people that may get a whiff of your fragrance don't sit and analyze it, they either think you smell great or... fragranted I guess LOL. Plain voice told me "eh it's okay, but it smelled 'churchy.' " WTH Plain Voice? So, is that a yes or no? She said she likes it, I just smelled like someone at church. (So much for the experienced bias LOL) So I took it to mean that, the fragrance smelled nice, mature, and comforting. You know as a child at church when you were finally reprimanded for talking to your friends through service and had to be quiet, you ended up falling asleep on grandma or auntie? Just a comforting, mature scent. Now, it doesn't smell like a grandma (though the older I get, the more I realize I'm seeing outside of the boxes that defines us.) My grandmother actually had my favorite Vera Wang on her dresser, so smelling like my grandmother isn't too bad.

I'm unsure why this debuted as a Spring fragrance as it's a bit warmer for me (creamy, wood) for that particular season, but the fruity notes that continue to mingle with my nose says it's acceptable, especially with the promotions showing JLo in a hammock with the beach bunny look. I'm thinking that this will be a year round scent for me.

Shop for Deseo at Macy's. EDP 1.7 fl. oz $46, 3.4 fl. oz $56

Have you tried it? What do you think? Will you purchase it?

Next up I'm looking forward to: Armani Emporio Diamonds, Lacoste A Touch of Pink, and Marc Jacobs Daisy. Possibly Elizabeth Arden Mediterranean (but it falls so close to Dior J'Adore that j'adore!) I know these are new, but this is how long it takes me to come around to these scents. [ETA] Tommy Hilfiger Dreaming. Any recommendations?

Yummy411: Eily Cut that Crease!

Cutting that crease refers to defining your own crease, sort of like the single line contouring and/or drag style of makeup. Simply fiyah! (for those of you that like dramatic makeup and makeup as art)


Youtuber Eily311
Thanks for putting me on Slvrlips!

Amazing work!

Youtuber Makeupholicliz

Yummy411: FOTD 2-23-2008

This weekend I went to a Makeup and Martini/Chocolate and Stilettos birthday party with Nikkia aka Slvrlips to help do makeup for the attendees. Lot'sa fun! Such a girly girl occassion. I love it!

This is what I wore:
FACE
Airmist foundation
Mineralized Skinfinish Natural

CHEEKS
Lightflush MSF
Harmony blush

EYES
UDPP base
Girl Friendly paint pot, second base
Exciting Loreal HiP pigment on lid
Soft Brown e/s in crease
Twinks in outer crease
Vanilla as highlight?
Howzat from Fafi eyes 1 quad on bottom lash
Fascinating eye kohl on water line
Loreal voluminous on top and bottom lashes
Bobbi Brown foundation, concealer and Select Cover concealers mixed to CONCEAL!!! LOL

LIPS
my new hot combo
Not So Innocent l/s
Hover lip liner
Sugar Trance l/g


** Also, I want to honor you guys request for tuts, but I never know what to do a tut on. If you all see a look that you like and want a tut on it... please ask!**







I got my hair done and I love it! I also love the new Milani Purple Passion nail polish that I'm wearing. So much fun especially at night. How's that for professional! LOL Unfortunately, the pic here shows variating shades because of angle and lighting.

Yummy411: 80's Look Challenge Starts!

Here are the participants:

Lakahna

Yummy411

The Muse

Beautyful Habit

Nilla Cookie

Divine Blackness

Seymone

Baby Doll

Mrs. Lynne

Rocketqueen

Slvrlips

Christiana Divine

Vanessa

MissJaclynRose

Thank you to all that signed up by Feb22!

Now, the guidelines: None really! Just take a walk down memory lane, post your 80's Look FOTD on March 31, 2008 and give us a little background on the look and what you used. Then, [ETA] link to other fellow participating bloggers and check them out to see what they may have looked like way back then. Hey, I was made in the 80's!!

Also, if you need any inspiration, check out Lakahna's post for a little help! I look forward to seeing all the bright and fun fotd's!!!

Kia

Yummy411: The work...

[ETA]
early FEBRUARY 2008
On models:
Cachet (left)
MAC Studio Fix Fluid and powder
Espresso in brows
concealer to prep, Milani Silver Bullet on lids, carbon in crease and outer v
lip balm and Ben Nye Lumiere Luxe powder in Cosmic violet on lips
Black radiance pink lipstick on cheeks
Ardell lashes (similar to demi wispies)
Black liner on top and bottom lids

Kelly (right)
Neutrogena foundation and powder
Tarte shimmer pigment on lid, Espresso e/s in crease and carbon on outer v
black liner on top and bottom lid
Warmed MSF on cheeks/contour
lip balm, MAC Pink fuschia pigment on lips
Ardell lashes (similar to demi wispies)

More to come!

Yummy411: Random Beauty

Eyes-Cash flow p/p, loreal HiP pigment in Exciting on lid and as highlight, Blue Storm e/s on the outer 1/3 of my lid and lower lashline, Ulta's Bisque e/s in my crease, and Twinks in my outer crease. Stubborn brown liner to line top lid, Wet n Wild white kohl to liner inner rim and Loreal Voluminous for the lashes.

Brows -Cork e/s to fill, concealer to sculpt.

Face-Airmist foundation (med dark), MSF Natural powder

Cheeks-(I was playing around in MAC and Sephora) Tarte's Bronze gel stain and Vervacious IPP on one cheek, Tarte's Sunkissed gel stain and Sassy IPP on the other.

Lips-Hover lipliner, 1N lipstick and Sugar Trance lipgloss

I'm challenging myself to do an FOTD for all the new makeup I've bought for myself to be encouraged to use it and not let it collect dust. Slvrlips (bka Nikkia) is joining me, so check her out for more FOTD's. Any more takers? Are you gonna hold us to it?

Please excuse my horrid dark circles in the pic above. Is this how I look (the pic below)? Well, this is how I feel.

I did conceal them, but I've been sleep deprived and uber tired for the past week. Besides, I'm in terrible lighting. Whatever, I have dark circles. Period. End of story.

Since Fafi, I've become a paint pot fanatic!! I tried a paint pot out as a base before when they originally debuted around the Novel Twist collection and it creased on me, so I was anti paint pot. I tried it with UDPP this time around and bingo! I'm a paint pot whore. Wednesday was a dreary day (cold weather, PMS-ing) and all I wanted was a paint pot from my fave MAC store. I attempted to go, but that mission was busted. Not having the opportunity to get the paint pot just killed everything. LOL! So what paint pots should I get from the permanent line? I have Perky and I loooove it!

I gave Mindy a visit. Can you tell? The brows aren't as symmetrical, but they are clean and that makes me super happy.

Slimshines in Bare and Voile have caught my attention. Naturally, I would pick Bare as VG5 has been my favorite forever. Bare falls right into that family of nude pinks with VG5 being a touch more brown. Voile appeals to the frost lover in me. Not So Innocent, Gel and 1N lipsticks are among my favorites. Gel and 1N lipsticks are truly the same thing. Voile is a clear gloss/balm with gold sparkle just in stick form. Great to top off other lipsticks, but I'm sure I'll wear it alone. Boring I know! I just need lippies that can wear great alone or with a full face of makeup. I'm a mom on the go or not really going anywhere. So I while I love color, my color has to work with my lifestyle.

Bare

Voile

On new MAC collections: MSF Natural Loose Powders and Strobe

MSF Natural lovers listen up!
I was talking to a MAC MA last night. He pumped up the new loose MSF powders that are coming out. After all, the pressed MSF powders applied with a kabuki brush were supposed to be all that. So what could make the loose powders any better? He said that the loose powder with the sponge applicatior gives more coverage and a more even application. He told me that the pressed powders are more sheer and that the kabuki doesn't apply as evenly as the sponge would. Say it isn't so? His opinion or fact? I guess we'll have to wait and find out! For those of you that love your MSF Natural powder as much as I do, are you intrigued?

The Strobe collection (3/2008) is supposed to give us the Strobe Cream (that's already part of the permanent line), strobe lotion (that's not as pearly or thick as the strobe cream) and 5 Strobe lipglasses.
I didn't quite like strobe cream because I felt it was a tad to creamy/oily for my taste and I love the iridescent look (of course that list of shimmers and bronzers has grown immensely!). Strobe cream didn't offer up enough. To give you an idea of how much I love iridescent sheen, I love MAC's hyperreal foundation, adding the loose beauty powder and pigments as highlights or mixing them in foundation. Yum! [ETA] I'm most excited about the strobe lipglasses. How will they compare to the 3d lipglasses? I couldn't find one to really appreciate in that line, since I'm a huge fan of Palatial lipglass that to my dismay was an LE item and no longer available. I love the green iridescence in that (Hence, my love for the High Top l/s from Fafi.)

Grrrrr... all of those times I've gone to the drugstore and have taken pics of products, I have yet to go back and actually purchase something! I don't want to miss out on the sale!

My Big Idea
I want to make a monthly event of meeting up for makeup shopping or something makeup related and drinks/dinner (ha! If I can afford it afterwards.) I figure once a month, I can make it fun, splurge, and stay focused with a budget. I'm headed over to meetup.com. If you are in the area and are interested, sign up!

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend! Got plans?

Yummy411: More Drugstore Beauty, My NYX Spot

The Drugstore Paparazzi is at it again, with the camera phone!

Revlon's new collection LE FINALLY! I hate that I'm finding this in the store and can't get info online. Update people, update! LOL

eyeshadows- In reality these were gorgeous! I wanted a few compacts!

blushes- These looked awesome as well. The names of the products are equally amusing!

lipgloss- These appear vibrant, funky and ready for Spring, but with lipglosses you just never know. Can't trust the promo pic!

glossy lip colors- Ehh..

I wanted to try some of these items, though I've never had much success with many Revlon products. The price tag on these babies were an upwards of $10! No thanks. However, Juvenescent posts weekly about drugstore deals, so I might check them out. Head over there if you want more info on where to shop and discounts!

NYX Cosmetics has been all the rave. I've gotten a few trios over the years and more recently single shadows. I liked them, but I wasn't super impressed until the single pearl shadows debuted. However, the power of a decent base breaks down barriers! Open doors! I've finally found my NYX spot. Nothing like Vanessa's with the brushes and the works, but close enough. I'd never seen NYX foundation, etc. It's 'local' (thanks to the beauty supply stores that set up shop in the urban malls LOL) As much as people talk about malls around the way, you find some of the best hidden gems in those places!

Questions on NYX colors? Check out Francine and her swatches of plenty of NYX shadows to get you revved up!

I actually picked up: (from top clockwise, applied dry) October Sky, Sweet Lagoon, and Cool Blue in an effort to dupe the McQueen collection that I passed up. I may just have to go ahead and go for the real thing, but I like these as well!

I have to do another fotd! I gave Mindy a visit and I'm on cloud 9!

Yummy411: Pretty in Lancome's Pixel Pink

The latest Lancome cult favorite was the Gucci Westman's Pixel Pink for Thakoon. I wanted in on the frenzy as I'm a makeup junkie, collector, etc. The pictures were inticing. A low maintenance, no fuss pink that can be as natural as you, but with a pop!

(photo credit)

Well I caved (thanks in part to Toya)....

(Please excuse the brows. I need an appointment with Mindy terribly so that she can save me from myself!) I think the color actually works in the pictures, but in real life the color is shifty, moisturizing (I think that is the code word for THIN) and more like a MAC glaze lipstick, particularly the ones we've seen with Fafi-- bright colors, but thin almost like a lipgloss. Pixel pink really pops. It is described as a sheer, wearable raspberry. I love color- bright, bold, soft or mute, but this color is not to my liking. I think the drawback is the formula that is used. In MAC terms, I prefer a amplified cream or satin, sometimes even a frost here and there. I just can't get down with colors that are loose all over the lips. (Will I hate Slimshines?) At times, the formula feels too thin for a liner to blend seamlessly, but not gel enough to be a lipgloss. In the pictures, I blotted my lips to take away the shine. This way, for me it's a bit more wearable, but unfortunately looks eaten away. Perhaps, I could have used a similar lipstick as a liner. The packaging is so pretty! I really want to love this. My first collector's edition Lancome Pout a Porter lippie. Any tips on making this work? You all know I tried priming my lips. I'll try a couple more of my neutral lipsticks as bases and liner and see what I come up with. Count down to a return........? By the way, I'm wearing Fashion Frenzy blush applied with a MAC #187 brush.

For: people who don't wear lipsticks a lot, but are looking for color in their spring makeup wardrobe.

Not for: those who prefer creamy to matte lipsticks

Yummy411: Valentine's Doom

I scared the children with this Thursday night. I wanted to do an fotd, but didn't know what. I wanted to use my Ben Nye Azalea eye shadow (shocking pink) but it didn't come out the way I wanted so the the blues and purples started to take over and infiltrated.... I can't remember all of what I used (no one really wants to know right?) I did so much fixing and correcting, ugh. However, I wanted to try the single line contouring on my lid (as you can see the defined line up there) and High Top l/s matched perfectly, a little too perfectly, but I think it's a nice color. Not for everyone, though. =/

Damned Valentine's Day...

Yummy411: Guerlain Fleur de Feu Eyeshadow Compact

I was browsing some Fafi over at Kiss and Makeup to find this Guerlain Fleur de Feu eyeshadow compact. *DROOL!* Oh it was quickly mopped up with the $57 price tag. Hmmm. I didn't get a V-day gift. Does that count if I splurge? Nah, not happening captain. Pretty though.

Yummy411: Every Man Jack

Introducing: EVERY MAN JACK!

When I saw this new product in Target as I perused the beauty and health sections, my interest was piqued. Wow, something new on the market to interest men in skincare and to help them enjoy getting clean! I wondered how it was faring on the market. Even though I was interested, I was afraid of the idea that any man in my life would start a bathing ritual that would some how be longer than mine. NOOOOOO! LOL

Enters EVERY MAN JACK. The line includes basics for men like soap, shaving cream and aftershave.. oh yeh and throw in the luxury item, the exfoliator. I know men love it, but they don't gush about it like we do. I had the opportunity to try this line. I have initial impressions and lasting ones. Initial: I was a bit overwhelmed by the strong citrus scent of the products, so naturally I let my dad do the honors! First time for a guy's opinion on Yummy411. I think after a guy uses the products though, it will smell great on his skin.

Enters my dad.

(me) "Dad are you Every Man Jack?"

(Dad) "Yes. My name is John and it is common in America for men named John to be called Jack."

My dad is an every man jack. No frills, no puddy. George is a manly name that he likes and as kids, he dressed us in jeans, plaid shirts and dark sweaters. No pink until Easter.

(me) "So Dad, what do you think?"

(Dad) "I really like the citrus smell. I love the bar soaps that look like wood."

Our house had to have shiny hard wood floors that he always tasked himself with annually it seemed.

Dad on the shave gel:

"This stuff is great. I've used Nivea and Gilette shaving creams and have turned back to soap, which worked as good if not better. Now this, is my new shaving cream! Such a smooth shave. No knicks or missed hairs. Everything is gone. This is so smooth. This can compete with anything out there. I didn't have to shave hard for a good shave. No turning back to soap."

Ew dad! Not plain bar soap on your face!

Dad on the bar soap:

(body bar citrus scrub) "I love this. Honestly, I do. It's a huge bar that fits in my hand perfectly. Not feminine where it slips out of my hand, curves and all. The wood look is cool to me. It has these grains in it that gives you a good scrub. I feel fresh and clean, like all of the dead skin is scrubbed off."

Dad on the body wash citrus scrub:

"It feels great, goes right with the soap. The bottle on this is interesting. I broke the top trying to open it, not realizing how it opened, but I finally got it. "

Dad on the face lotion:

"Not a greasy feel to this, but a little shine on my face that says I'm moisturized. I like that. I wish it smelled citrusy like the soap."

Lol, I think my dad was used to getting Vaseline slapped on his face as a kid during the winter. Every Man Jack says that it has methyl to soothe, marine extracts and shea butter to hydrate, and aloe + Vitamin E to protect. By the way, this was my favorite product because of the smell (Signature) It smelled like a man, but not harsh and brut!

Dad's overall feeling towards Every Man Jack:

"This stuff is great. I like taking care of my skin, but I don't want to go far to do it. No salons and spas for me. I love the smell and the packaging is nice. I can't really find any thing bad about this stuff. This isn't for the metrosexual man, but a manly man."

What does my dad know about metrosexuals? LOL

"I can't say it enough that I really can't find a con with these. I'm glad I can run back to Target for more. Where's the shampoo and conditioner?"

Thanks Dad. It's nothing more pleasing than when my dad finds something he likes, as he's the mellow type that usually settles so that others are comfortable or to not cause a hassle. Check out Every Man Jack's website. It's really cool and reads in 'guy talk.' He'd get a kick out of it.

Ladies, they even sell gift sets! Ehemm, excuse me that's 'gift kits' in guy talk that they use on the website lol. Darn! They even have a Valentine's Day set. And dad, they do sell shampoo and conditioner =)

Lasting impression for me: I love how this is made specifically for men.
The products aren't intimidating and they won't make a man think or feel 'girly'. Anything that impresses my dad THIS MUCH... it's a winner in my book!

Sold locally in Target.

Yummy411: Drugstore Beauty- New Milani

Look what I found. Vanessa alerted us to when Milani debuted the new single pot blushes again (repackaged), but randomly I came across some more stuff in my local CVS. I can appreciate this one location for having new stuff, but it's never the complete collection! I'm the beauty aisle paparazzi! Sorry for the nasty cam pics, but I can't really show up in the drugstore taking real pics!

New Runway Eye Shadow ($5.99 I believe). Great colors, but it reminded me of MAC lustre eye shadows looking at it through the packaging, which I hate. I might buy one, just to test for myself. Besides, having luck with the Fafi lustre shadows, I'm hopeful!

The newest mascaras, each having different functions. You all might have seen these popping up already. Interesting packaging. Catches your eye. I'm stuck to my Loreal Voluminous though.

A new brow Kit 'Brow Fix'. Two shading colors and a highlighter. I think it has an angle brush, tweezers and a sponge tip applicator.

Ooooh check these out. These have me intrigued. Glow Natural Liquid makeup cased in a tube with it's own brush applicator! ($8.49)

I just wanted to show you all this photo I caught with Belightful IPP showing off in all of its glory from yesterday's fotd. Please don' t go this heavy when using it, but you see what it can do.

Have you seen or tried any of these Milani products? Recommendations?? Let me (us) know!!

Yummy411: HAPPY VALENTINES DAY 2008

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Yummy411: FAFI!

Ladies, ladies!

FAFI is in stores now!

Over in the poll, you guys said that Fafi will be a better collection than Barbie. Now that it's out, are you guys right? I said Barbie would be the better collection... Chime in and let me hear your thoughts.

So, my haul:
Fafi eyes 2
Fascinating eye khol
High Top l/s
Not So Innocent l/s
Fun 'n Sexy l/s
Totally It l/g


My thoughts:

I didn't do any swatches or anything because a lot of other bloggers have done wonderful jobs with swatches. Check out Mrs. Lynne or Karen for details.

I passed on the Fafi eyes 1 because the colors are basic and 2 are repromotes. Granted I don't have them, but I know they are there. Hey, the champagne color in the quad looks exactly like Naked Lunch. I swatched them together. A part of me wants to get all of it now while it's in one package, as I do need to replace my Naked Lunch-- the only shadow that I've hit the pan on LOL Fafi eyes 2 has 3 lustre colors I believe. I HATE lustres!! However, an MA used the colors and they looked great. So I picked it up!

Fascinating eye khol.. I know, I know.. but my wet n wild serves well for every day looks, but when I want to be on and poppin for an evening look, Fascinating is up to the plate. My wet n wild fades, which is okay (it doesn't completely disappear), but I like drama sometimes with my looks.

The lipsticks- great great colors, but since they are glazes the pigmentation is a touch off and will ahve to be applied more than usual. What do I mean? When I tried to apply my Totally It lipglass over my Fun 'n Sexy lipstick, the lipstick shifted, not providing the full coverage. I wanted to add just a touch of gloss for added shine, but.. it all melded together. It's okay, but not preferred. I will probably use the lipstick by itself. Not so innocent seems like more of a frost (sorry I'm being too lazy to look it up) so it stayed better than the others. Fun 'n Sexy, a hot fuschia pink with blue duochrome? Think a 3d lipglass, but in a glaze lipstick formula... hot! Hight top lipstick- a deep berry with green reflects/shine.. awesome!! I'm so excited about this because it's so different! Not So Innocent- a pale pink with pink/gold duochrome/shimmer. Love this as a base color under a lipglass or with some pigment for more dimension.

The lipglass- Totally It was just a nice hot pink with some dimension. Different enough to add to the collection.. besides it's Fafi!

Other products:

Blushes- sheertone blushes... nice pigmented and matte. First brush on the cheek totally sheer, but added layers give a total burst of color. Be careful, it can be subtle or over the top Fafi. I think I'll be going back for these although, for a hot pink blush I've been lusting over Dollymix. Dollymix just has some shimmer and more dimension that the Fafi blushes. The blushes are fun to have and will do great for darker skintones!

Iridescent Pressed Powders- I own Belightful, which gives a nice sheen. A heavy hand and up close, it can cast a gray look (the silver sheen in it). Go light and use a #187 stippling brush. Beautiful! The others? Highly disappointed! The colors are sheertones again (reminds me of the beauty powders from balloonancy) but these have huge random glitter. When she put it on the high of my cheek, the glitter looked like bad fall out from maybe glitter on my eye. That type of thing... booo! I passed.

Paint pots- basic colors-- light pink, light tan... There was a turquoise color Rollickin, but I have two pots of Delphic fluidliner that could serve as the same base as I would use the paint pot for. I might however go back for Nice Vice and Perky. I'm going to give paint pots another go, as I've avoided them because they creased on me once when I used it as a base. This time I'll be trying UDPP under it and see how it works.

Smouldering I do not own and now I feel like I need it as part of my MAC staples... umm maybe LOL. Utterly Frivolous l/s and Cult Fave l/g is on the radar too, but they aren't must haves.

Packaging:

Yeh, it's kinda bootleg. The boxes, I can deal, but the labels wrapped around the top of a lip glass tube? Damn MAC. Oh well! I was enjoying the ride of the hype.

Overall:

Barbie reigns! It's a cool collection. Lippies and paint pots (if you're into them) are worth it. Congrats Fafi on another cool achievement!

And now on to the FOTD!

Used:

FACE

Airmist foundation

Mineralized Skinfinish Natural

EYES

Fafi eyes 2 quad

yellow on lid

orange in crease

Beauty burst on outer v

Magic Dust as highlight under browbone and inner corner

mystery eye khol to line upper lid

Fascinating eye khol on wet line

blue from Fafi quad on bottom lash

Loreal Voluminous mascara

Bobbi Brown foundation as concealer

CHEEKS

(whoa nelly! experimentation)

Orange Twink Glimmer shimmer

Sincere blush mixed with a touch of Ben Nye Azalea eye shadow (hot pink)

Belightful IPP

LIPS

Not So Innocent l/s

Fab n Flashy e/s

Totally It l/g

(my lips match a bit too much with my eyes for my taste, but IRL it was a beautiful blend of pink and orange)

Fab n flashy is hot on the lips! Rockin this in the summer!!! Check it out on the lips w/o Totally It l/g:

Yummy411: 80's Look Challenge!

Are you interested? Lakahna came up with a great idea for us beauty bloggers and friends to do an 80's makeup challenge. Show your interest for an 80's themed beauty blogger challenge by leaving a comment or emailing us by Feb22. If 10 people or more agree to the challenge, then it's a go! We'll post/contact you to inform you that you will be a participant. Tentative posting date for the 80's themed look is March 31st. If successful, we'll shoot for themes once per month!

What do you say?! (Great idea Lakahna!)

Yummy411: Sunday's FOTD

Here's another song that I love, though I have a love-hate relationship with these brats. (Thanks lil sis for keeping my playlist fresh LOL)

Used: (all MAC unless stated)

::FACE::

prep and prime 50

airmist foundation (medium?)

Golden pressed bronzer powder

::BROWS::

cork e/s to fill

concealer to shape

::EYES::

UDPP

yogurt by Ulta (lid)

trax (?) (crease)

a darker purple in outer crease

mystery kohl power to line top lid

faint light pink (above crease)

white wet n wild liner for waterline

styli style bronze liner on bottom lash line

a faint turquoise e/s on bottom lid

bobbi brown foundation to conceal under eyes

::LIPS::

taupe notch lipglass

How's your week going so far?

Yummy411: VDay Ideas

I'm sitting here listening to the above song. I know it's old, but I love it! I'm thinking about V day gifts (y'all know what the V stands for, LOL) I'm not sure if my S.O.S. indeed wants to celebrate this day and exchange gifts or what. I guess I don't care because the Fafi hype is over shadowing the day anyway! =p However, I'm still searching around for good ideas anyway.

I'm also sitting here chewing on French Kiss gum, trying it out to see if it lives up to its claims to be 'kissable 24/7'. Formulated by Dr. Katz, he studied bad breath in hopes of helping his daughter and came up with his TheraBreath Oral Care. Most sources say that the root of bad breath comes from the digestive track, but Dr. Katz believes that it stems from the bacteria on your tongue. With many products as part of oral care, the French Kiss gum is one of the easiest ways to try out the line. Will I really be ready for a french kiss after chewing this gum? I don't know, but I like the subtle fruity taste that doesn't seem to get stale after a while like regular minty gums. I'm not sure how effective it is as I'm constantly being ripped off by my fam members in search of some gum. Maybe it's the red, shiny, cool packaging attracting them LOL

Since I can't decide, I think I'll get some suggestions from Gifts.com. They have this cute little gift finder by relationship type. Maybe you can use the suggestions too if you haven't found that gift yet.

Yummy411: Product Review Shea Radiance

Yum! More whipped body butters! This time from another (local- to me at least) home grown company, Shea Radiance. I love that people are caring about their skin, caring about ingredients in products and coming up with some of the best solutions for dry and bothered skin. With shea butter being one Africa's best found secrets, the creators of Shea Radiance have whipped up some lush concotions with the moisturizer.

I had the opportunity to try the whipped body butter in Black Orchid. Similar to the smell and feel of a Carol's Daughter body butter, the richness and creaminess of this product leaves your skin feeling velvety soft. Some people may not be used to the amount of oil and moisture in this product, but when you suffer from severe dry skin that has a hard time in the winter, this body butter can feel very soothing.

I wasn't particularly keen on the Black Orchid smell, but there's no reason to not try this out in another fragrance. The body butter sales for $18.96 for an 8 oz jar or $22.76 for the 12 oz size.

I love supporting small businesses that care about the customers. Try one of the whipped butters or other products out for yourself! Visit Shearadiance.com to order or visit Beauty Out of Africa, creater Funlayo's beauty blog to see the latest happenings on Shea Radiance!

Yummy411: Product Review CoverGirl Tru Blend Foundation and LipColor

Ladies, I received some CoverGirl Tru Blend makeup to tell you all about! I'm excited about the new formula as it's been created to show off a better you! This foundation was formulated to show off the true beauty of your real skin and not just be a pigmented layer covering your face. It blends with the natural pigmentation of the skin for a more gorgeous skin.

This light weight, sheer to medium coverage foundation is oil free and comes in easily identifiable categories of shades by number. However, each number 1-6 has 3 shades giving you options for cool, neutral and warm tones.

I tried it and was honestly torn- if I wanted to show of my skin, I would just wear it bare or a little pressed powder, right? Besides, I like coverage that I can tell is really ummm covering. Then again, I liked the simple coverage, soaking up shine, but showing off my skin flawlessly. I like it for errands where I really don't want to wear makeup, but need to feed the makeup whore inside of me and wear something without looking too done up for my sweats. Being a liquid, I feel more confident that it won't just wipe or blow away like a powder.

So, my next TRUE test was on my sister Jess who is a few shades darker than me and just someone I can objectively get an outside view of. When she tried it on the first time, I was truly impressed.. really! It was her, but a better her-- not oily, a bit more even, totally natural! I was intrigued. I wasn't sure there was a shade for her, but she ultimately fit a number 6 (neutral). She possibly could go lighter, but that's how forgiving these sheer shades are.

But of course she had to SHOW us (per my demanding on a Saturday AM. lol)!

Before
Applying
After
After (with flash) Jess, don't look so excited to be on my blog, sheesh! LOL

See! This was a great foundation for her. She's doesn't really do makeup, so this was a perfect intro to foundation for her. She carries this in her makeup bag everyday. Most of the time I can't tell that she has it on. It keeps a lot of oil away, for someone with normal skin, super natural and great for low maintenance chicas that want some makeup options.

We've found that applying the foundation with a sponge gives a bit more coverage. Otherwise, for the super natural, but better look we suggest using the fingers (or at least sparingly with a brush or sponge.) This time we used a sponge (just because) but applied very little. With this foundation being oil free, a powder isn't needed. For ladies with a bit more oil and for those that want a touch more coverage, however, should use a finishing/sheer powder. The TruBlend line of makeup offers a powder and blush to go with your foundation that can be identified by number as well. So if you find that you are a 6 in the TruBlend foundation, your blush and pressed powder will be a 6.

This makeup is for those looking for a sheer to light-medium coverage or those with only few blemishes that don't need heavy coverage.

Have you tried this foundation? What do you think of the concept?