It's better to give than receive

It's officially November, which means that some stores have already started their holiday set ups. November is also my birthday month, which means my favorite make up stores are offering me a free gift as a part of their frequent purchase programs, specifically Sephora and Ulta. Typically, I favor Ulta; they have better cash back rewards rather than points, I can get drugstore brand options and high end brands, and there are more Ultas available in the cities I frequent. But in terms of how they offer the birthday gift, Sephora wins.
 Usually, Sephora emails me about 2 weeks before my actual birthday and they usually left me grab one at anytime (as long as they are in stock). At one point in time in the past, I actually got 2 sets of the birthday gift due to a purchase at a Sephora in JcPenney then one immediately after at a separate Sephora location (my sister got me a gift card that I wanted to use for the Urban Decay blurring brush that was in stock at the JcPenney location, then my friend purchased the Sephora Cinderella palette at the actual Sephora).
 Ulta, however, sends out the email on my actual birthday and apparently you only have the birthday month to get it. And they won't let you get it early. I was in an Ulta today picking up a few things and asked if I could. The lady I spoke with was very apologetic but still a little disappointing. Of course, these stores could just not offer a free birthday gift at all. It's a nice perk to enjoy after all of the money I do end up spending at these stores, haha. I'm looking forward to picking up my free gifts from both stores, and will try to do a small write up on both options.

 Since it is November, it is also the start of National Novel Writing Month. While I have thought about writing novels in the past, I'm definitely more of a scribbler or dabbler, particularly of fanfiction. What I do enjoy is talking about beauty products and beauty stores and related items. So I'm trying an experiment: write a blog post for almost every day. I already have a few ideas floating around in my head and written down, so I hope whoever reads this enjoys my attempts to explain   much I enjoy make up. Feel free to add your thoughts or even requests for a certain topic or make up look. I'll do my best to accommodate!

Tahiti

2012

Oh man! How long has it been since I last updated? *nervous laugh*

Well, this year we're going to change that!

As a part of my New Year's resolution, I've decided to wear make up at least 5 days a week. I know, someone who loves as make up as much as I do doesn't do make up everyday?! I was feeling uninspired, so I think once I get in the groove of getting up, doing my make up, I'll have more ideas.

I do have so ideas coming up, like 5 products I'd repurchase, as well as recommend, and 5 products I will never again repurchase. I'm also thinking about doing looks based on songs, books, characters, etc., so that's something to look forward to!

I do have some looks that I did for this year's Texas Renaissance Festival that I'm pretty pleased with. I'll get those uploaded for you tomorrow.

Right now I'm actually on a NO BUY for eye shadow. I purchased an actual toolbox over the summer that I have ALREADY outgrown. As in, I can fit everything in there... except for my brush bag. So.. I need to actually start using my stuff, and finding out what I like and what works for me! Other items are okay, but eye shadow is OFF LIMITS. I think I'll add a make up collection picture/video to my list of possible entries to come up with.

All in all, I'm excited for 2012. I got a fancy make up mirror for Christmas, and lots of fun things to play with, so here's to making this year the prettiest yet! Haha!

Sarah

contest; update

Sorry I've been at bit absent. I've not really had a lot of inspiration for make up lately, but hopefully that will change with Christmas. (My sister got me UD's Naked Palette... and I can hardly wait to try it out!!) Plus, I also got accepted at the MAC Cosmetics community, so maybe I get some new stuff to play with soon.

Anyway, thought I'd share a few things:

First: AMAZING GIVEAWAY HERE! I'm a relatively new follower to Out in a Pout's blog, but she has regular sales posts, and had a really in-depth post about sun screen for us paler waifs, so she's already a gold star in my book. Check it out, follow her, etc. etc.

OH! Going back to my eyeliner conundrum: I picked up the Sonia Kashuk Bent Eyeliner brush, and some Maybelline Gel Liner, and POOF! Wonderful, cat eye liner goodness. Looks like I'll be investing in my gel liners in the future.

pink faerie

I apologize for being completely absent these last few weeks. I was gearing up for my traditional trek to TRF, as well as beginning my new position. My schedule was all over the place, and I'm just now getting to a the point where I may actually have time to get up and put ON make up before work, rather than running frantically about.

It's getting cold, so that means my skin has been like EEEE! and very dry. I use Mary Kay's TimeWise Moisturizer, though I think I may need to look for something else. I'm just not as satisfied with it as I once was. I'm also a horrible person, in that I don't moisturize every time I wash my face. I think once I get my routine down, I'll decide if I want to go with another moisturizer or not.

Anyway, down to some actual makeup!

I'd like to show off the look I did for the Texas Renaissance Festival's 1001 Dreams weekend, aka Faerie Weekend.

It was based off Petrilude's Truly Truly Outrageous! look from his YouTube Channel. If you haven't seen some of his stuff, go and check him out.. he does some AMAZING make up looks, some really basic, to the zombie looks he has featured for the Halloween season.

He did it with a teal and pink look, so since I was going with an overall pink theme for my faerie costume, I went with purple and yellow.

(I apologize for the poor quality of pictures. I completely forgot to take pictures until we were well into the park.)

The make up I used:

Face:

Mary Kay Medium coverage foundation in Ivory 104

Mary Kay mineral powder

Sephora buildable cover in light

Eyes:

Urban Decay Primer Potion in "Eden"

Purple: Urban Decay Psychedelic Sister (BOS III) & Ecstasy (BOS II), Shiro Cosmetics' Rattata

Yellow: Shiro Cosmetics' Dunsparce, Urban Decay Honey (Deluxe Shadow box)

White: Urban Decay Polyester Bride (Ammo shadow palette)

Highlighter: a vanilla shade from NYX's Runway Collection "Jazz Night" Palette

Eyeliner: Urban Decay 24/7 eye pencil "Ransom"

Maybelline XXL Pro Volume in "Very Black"

Face jewels from Hobby Lobby.

I didn't quite pull the color up as much as he did, which I think would made the look pop more. I was pulling from memory, as signal was kind of crap out in the camping area (did I mention we camped out?), and I couldn't pull up the video.

I also think my tools itself need some work. I have a set of brushes that are just basics from Mary Kay, but I have asked from some brushes from Sonia Kashuk for my birthday, which I hear are great quality brushes, while still being good for your money. We shall see!

I also have a lot of problem with mascara smudging as the day goes on. It doesn't matter what mascara I use, it always happens. I'm thinking its because of my application. I'm going to check with the girl whose got the most righteous mascara looks ever, my friend Megs, to see what I can do to prevent it.

A quick recommendation: Lipsticks & Lightsabers.

I stumbled on her blog through Shiro Cosmetics' Twitter, and she is absolutely fantastic. She wrote a rather hilarious blog about Michelle Phan, and how frustrating it is to be a geek today, when everyone considers themselves a geek. Oh, and she has some beautiful makeup looks and tutorials!

Anyway, I think this should satisfy myself for now.

Rambles: Eye liner

I would've liked to actually have a look for you today, being as it is kind of my first, real post.

Alas, I woke up later than I wanted, and had to do a bit of rushing out the door. Since I look like crap today, we'll just have a bit of a discussion post.

My favorite type of makeup is eye makeup. I'm an eyeshadow junkie. I probably own more eye shadows than is necessary, and I'm already planning to buy more. (Mac's Venomous Villains collection, anyone?) I've gotten a better grasp of blending eye shadow colors and creating looks, but one thing has eluded me: eye liner.

Don't get me wrong. I love eye liner. It makes my eyes seem much bigger, and can be a great enhancement to your look. I'm just... not very good at it.

I'm thinking it's my tools. I currently own two different kinds of eye liner: eye liner pencils, and ONE black liquid liner.

As you can see, the majority of my collection is Urban Decay, thanks to their 24/7 Collection, (which is no longer available, but they are offering the awesome 24/7 Jackpot collection), and their Book of Shadows palettes. I also have some Mary Kay, and a few other brands that I bought mainly for the color.

I love the wing style of eye liner, where is a very defined "wing" of eyeliner. I can't seem to master it. Almost all of the tutorials I've viewed on the subject recommend following the line of your lower lash out, and then defining from there. It just looks very weird to me when I try it.

And then I discovered... cream/gel eye liners. These I think I can work with.

The majority of cream/gel eye liners are basically pots of color, that you can apply with a brush, like this Sonia Kashuk Bent Eyeliner Brush, or the Mac 209 Eyeliner brush. I recently viewed a tutorial using the Bent Eyeliner brush, and I'm like hmm!

So, my fellow make up lovers.. what's your go to eye liner applying method? What do you like to use? Tips/tricks/comments are all appreciated!

Introduction.

Hello, everyone!

Welcome to my corner of the Internet. I'm a bit of an old hand when it comes to blogging, but definitely new to the concept of "beauty blogging". So here's a few things about me.

• 24 year old student, accounting focus
• Make up fan for many years
• Favorite brands include: Shiro Cosmestics, Mary Kay, Urban Decay
• Retail slave

The first time I *EVER* bought make up was when I was going into the 5th grade. My mom said I could buy make up with the money I made from watching a neighbor's pets. My dad took me up to Kmart and let me have at it. I pretty much didn't know what I was doing, and I kind of don't know what I'm doing today, although I know better than to buy some things.

I'm hoping to learn new things, and share the things that I've learned here. I also will be having contributors, because as I said before, I don't know everything. I love to learn new techniques, and find out what my friends are wearing! I have a great group of beautiful people who are kind enough to share what they know with me, so I do wish to impart that knowledge on other people.

I'm also a costumer, and make up for costuming is very different than from every day make up. I'll be sharing some looks I use when I dress up, and also some tutorials on how to create some fabulous gory, bloody stuff!

Thanks!

Tahiti