I've been featured on edk.dolce!

I'm thrilled to share with you all some exciting news.  I was a featured follower on edk.dolce!  Please read my feature HERE.  In the post, I share information about myself; including beauty inspirations and my top beauty products.  This fabulous and generous feature follower program created by El'Aundra is designed to help drive traffic to your blog - especially great for new bloggers like myself.  Many different genres of bloggers can be featured including:  beauty, fashion, personal,  and health/fitness.  

Getting featured is easy, simply fill out the appropriate form and send it to her via email  For more information and details, please click HERE.

Happy Reading!

FOTD: Halloween Kitty

I am a leopard-print enthusiast!  When I saw these cute little leopard kitty ears with accessories I had to have them.  So, last night at my son's school Halloween party , I indulged my leopard love.  Please read on for a list of products used:

Face:

Primer:  Dr. Brandt Pores No More

Foundation:  Lancome Teint Idole Fresh Wear in Bisque 9W

Concealer:  Bobbi Brown Creamy - Beige

Blush:  MAC Eversun

Highlight:  MAC So Ceylon

Eyes:

Primer:  Urban Decay Primer Potion

Eyeliner:  A combination of:  Lancome Artliner in Noir, MUFE black liquid, and Victoria Secret Beauty Rush in Platinumania

Mascara:  Maybelline The Falsies in Black Drama

Brows:  MAC brow crayon in Lingering

Lips:

Mac Lipstick in Angel and Estee Lauder in Pinkberry

Nose/Whiskers:

Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil in Zero

My younger son went as "Bling" and my older son went as a "Gangsta" - LOL!

Recent Lusts and Cravings

Wishing on a Star...

Awhile back, I used to have a "dream board" that I would keep in my bedroom and post images of all of my wants and desires.  Pictures of clothes, bags, makeup, shoes, perfume, etc. would fill my own personal little fantasy board.  I've let that go in recent months, but I think it's time I re-institute it.  As I like to say to myself- "Dream Bigger Baby."  

Here are some images of my most recent wishes and wants:

Hype - Clover Alena Shoulder Bag

Gucci Guilty EDP

Adrienne Vittadini Glenfiddich Boots

Hype Gold Pedal Cuff

Rock & Republic Crystal Bronzer/Highlighter Duo

Once a nude lip lover, always a nude lip lover

YSL Rouge Pur Couture #6Rose Bergamasque

So, I made a promise to myself a bit ago, that I would not purchase any more nude lipsticks-ever again.  With a supply of nude lippies to last me more than a lifetime, I was sure this promise would be quite easy to keep.  "My stash is saturated with a plethora of nudes", I quipped to myself as I perused the YSL counter recently.  "Walk away," I silently shouted in my mind over and over.  Alas, the temptation was too great and I caved.  I purchased the new YSL Rouge Pur Couture in #6 (Rose Bergamasque).  The price point is $30.

I must say that I am rather pleased with my purchase.  The formula is divine.  The lipstick glides on with a satiny smoothness.  Of course, the faint rose YSL smell is ever-present. The pigmentation is lovely, and dare I say, more wearable than any of the nudes I have been using in my current rotation.  This lipstick has more of a rose undertone to it which gives it a depth to the color that does not wash you out.

While I still adore my YSL Rouge Volupte in #2, I believe this one is more appropriate for fall.  Here's a side by side comparison of the two.  As you can see, the Couture #6 definitely has more of a rosy pink pigmentation to it. 

Now, I really promise, no more nudes (until the next time of course).

YSL Rouge Couture #6 w/ Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker on top

Found: Drugstore Makeup Treasures

Much to both my husband's and my wallet's chagrin, I am usually a high-end makeup snob.  Mind you, that is not simply because I prefer to spend a profusion of money on makeup.  It is merely a necessity, as time and again, I have been disheartened by the quality of drugstore makeup.  

The good news is, due to my determination (okay, and maybe lack of willpower), I have discovered some drugstore gems worth mentioning. 

1.  Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat:

Absolutely extends the life of a mani or pedi.  This top coat dries quickly and leaves a super glossy shine too.   I found this at my local Harmon beauty supply.

2.  NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss (Beige):
To be honest, I am pretty enamored with the NYX line in general.  Great pigmentation and color selection all around, plus the prices can't be beat!  I have found a few duds in the line (hello NYX jumbo pencil in black bean-total mess), but in general I have been pleased with my purchases.  I purchase most of my NYX cosmetics at Harmon.  As far as this lip gloss goes, it is a pretty shade of natural pink (despite the name) that goes with everything!

3.  NYX Sheer Gloss (Vintage):

Very pretty milky pink with a sheer
shimmer.  The smell to me is more tolerable than the other NYX glosses.  This one reminds me of grapes (whereas the Mega Shine glosses smell like cherry medicine).  Love this gloss paired on top of nude lipsticks- including NYX Pumpkin Pie and MAC Peachstock.

4.  NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss (Smokey Look):
As I have previously reviewed this (read here) I will keep this short- great peachy nude.

5.  NXY Lip Gloss Pallet (Pinky Promise):
Generous sized pallet in 5 variations of pink.  The pallet comes with a small lip brush.  I like to mix and match different shades to find the perfect look.  I believe I paid under $5 for this little gem- great value in my opinion.

6.  NYX Round Lipstick (Pumpkin Pie):

My latest favorite nude.  This shade glides on creamy and provides a peachy pink nude color to the lips.  When paired with a good nude liner, this lipstick is fairly long lasting.  I adore this one with NYX Smokey Look or MAC Creamsheen in BoyBait over it.

Wearing NYX Pumpkin PIe

7.  Maybelline The Falsies:
As previously mentioned in my last mascara post (here), I love to marry this with YSL Singulier mascara.  I adore the c-shaped soft wand on this one.  The formula is a bit wet and really lengthens my lashes, but I won't wear it alone (does not give any volume).  Again, paired with a volumizing mascara, this can really take your lashes to the dramatic look you desire.  I purchased this in CVS for under $8.

8.  Milani Baked Bronzer (Golden 06):

I couldn't be more thrilled with this purchase.  Milani has three shades of baked bronzers ranging from light to dark and I purchased the deepest shade.  The product is a beautiful marriage of bronzer and highlight (see the gold flecks in the image below).  The swirly marble design in very reminiscent of MAC's MSFs (at a much cheaper price tag).  The color payoff is good and the shimmery highlight is gorgeous.  The compact has a dual opening that houses a brush in the bottom compartment (okay to reapply on the go).  What I don't love about this- the abhorrent packing- it is cheap and mine came with a cracked plastic case.  The company uses a cheap piece of tape to hold the product together that leaves a glue residue.  Having said that, the pros out-way the cons on this one.  I purchased mine at CVS with a sale, buy one get one 50% off.

The greatest part to all of these little treasures is that each one one under $10 (some under $5).  What are some of your favorite drugstore buys?

FOTD: My Everyday Look

My go-to look usually involves winged black eyeliner, pop of color on my cheeks, and a nude lip.  When I am going out for a night on the town etc, I up the smoldering factor by loading up the mascara and/or falsies and variations of a smoky eye.  I love to play around with highlighters as I think they make a particular look very alluring.  Here's what I used today:

FACE:

• Primer:  Dr. Brandt Pores No More
• Foundation:  Lancome Teint Idole Fresh Wear in Bisque 9W (for my review of Teint Idole Fresh Wear click HERE)
• Concealer:  Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in Beige
• Cheeks:  MAC Beach Bronze, MAC Desirous (applied to the apples), MAC So Ceylon (to highlight)

EYES:

• Primer:  Too Faced Shadow Insurance
• Eyeliner:  Lancome Artliner in Noir 
• Eyeliner:  UD 24/7 Pencil in Zero (smudged on top of artliner)
• Mascara:  L'Oreal Voluminous in Carbon Black w/ Maybelline The Falsies on top
• Eyebrows:  MAC crayon in Lingering

LIPS:

• Liner:  MUFE in nude
• Lipstick:  MAC Peachstock
• Gloss:  NYX Smokey Look

Dazzled by Dallas (ShoeDazzle boots)

Dallas ShoeDazzle Boots

My new Dallas boots by ShoeDazzle have arrived and I am happy to report that I am in love this time around.  My first order from their website proved a bit underwhelming (for my previous review, click HERE).

For this order, I picked the Dallas style boot.  They are a brown faux leather, tall, and are adorned with gold studs.  The boot is both substantial and comfortable to wear. They look great paired with leggings or skinny jeans.  I paid $39.95 for them and that includes shipping and handling.  The one caveat to an otherwise great boot is that I feel the zipper is poorly made.  It gets a bit "caught", so to speak, when zipping and the quality of the zipper feels off.  I am hoping this doesn't prove to be a problem.

I look forward to rocking them throughout the fall.  I would love to know what boots everyone else has chosen for the season.

YSL Singulier & Maybelline The Falsies = WOW Lashes!

My favorite 5 words this week have been:  "Are you wearing false eyelashes?"  Well, no I'm not; however, I am THRILLED that you asked!!  So far, 3 people have asked me that in the last few days.  GLEE!  JOY!  LOVE!  My natural lashes are so non-existent, that for someone to mention my lashes is superlative!

I simply love to play around with mascara combos:  high-end, low-end, volumizing, lengthening, thickening- I try them all.  As a matter of fact, my first blog post was about mascara (read it here).  I covet bigger than life lashes.  It's a never ending journey to find THE ONE.

Here's my new favorite lash combo that garnered the false eyelash inquisitions:  YSL Singulier mascara paired with Maybelline The Falsies on top.  I think it has given me an almost perfect marriage of volume (thanks to the YSL) and length (thanks to the Maybelline).  The Singulier goes on a bit dry, but it is an outstanding base.  In contrast, The Falsies glides on wet and really adds to the overall effect.  Interestingly enough, I don't love either mascara on its own.  However, paired together, this lovely union of high-end mascara and low-end mascara really packs a punch!

I would love to hear some of your favorite mascara combos!

Blugirl Pretty Pink Heels: I'll Be Dreaming of you until Spring 2011

Blugirl Pink Heels- Spring 2011 Collection
(photo credit:  glamour.com)

Fall is my favorite season by far.  What I love most about this crisp season here in NYC is the fabulous wardrobe options:  hello tall boots and tights!!  This weekend proved a bit chilly and I was able to rock a great belted trench with black leggings and tall black boots.  I could barely contain my glee!

Then, of course, I stumbled upon the above photo from Blugirl's Spring 2011 collection and I immediately became sick for spring.  What's not to love about these princess pink, adorned, stacked heels?  They are going on my wish-list. I'll be dreaming in pink until then....