E.L.F. Cosmetics Beauty Books

Hey everyone!  So, I wasn't planning on a blog post today...BUT...I was at Walgreens earlier, and I came across E.L.F. Cosmetics Beauty Books.  Now, I bought some of these a couple of years ago, and I was NOT impressed. They were only $10.00 then, so I thought it was no big loss.  This year (this seems to be a Halloween thing) they are only $6.00!  I thought I would give then another try, and I bought three of them.  The ones I got are the Diva Beauty Book, the Wicked Beauty Book, and the Vampire Beauty Book.

They all come with a set of eyelashes and glue, 8 eye shadow colors, an eye pencil, a lip color, and a duel ended, sponge tip applicator. They also have a description of how to apply the makeup.

This is going to be pretty quick, as there are no color names, so I'm just going to post some pictures.

Let's get started!

The Diva Beauty Book

The Wicked Beauty Book

The Vampire Beauty Book

Overall, I am REALLY impressed with these!  The eye shadows are extremely pigmented, and blended very well. Just know that there are no matte colors in any of these books.   The only lip color I would never use is the black one from the Wicked Beauty Book, but the others are very wearable.  I'm not a fan of the eye pencil. It's really hard, and was tugging on my eyelid.  And I hate the applicator. But I haven't used a sponge tip in I don't know how long, so that was to be expected.  

For $6.00 you should really check these out!  Great for anyone who is just starting out with makeup, for young girls who just like to play, or for anyone that is on a tight budget.  

I hope y'all enjoyed this...let me know in the comments!  

Until next time! 

Review: IT Cosmetics

Hey everyone!  I've got a review for you today!  I went to Ulta and IT Cosmetics was there doing FREE makeovers!  Well, you know I couldn't resist that.  This is a brand that I have heard of, and I'm kind of familiar with it, but I have never had the opportunity to try it out.  Today I'm going to talk a little about my experience, and how I feel about their products...Let's get started!

The makeup artist that worked on me is named Jeffrey, and I really enjoyed him!  He was very personable, and just a lot of fun.  He was extremely knowledgeable about the products as well, and was prepared for any questions that I had.

IT Cosmetics was founder, Jamie Kernn Lima, works with leading plastic surgeons to develop innovative, clinically proven, problem solving products.  What this means, is that each product is infused with some kind of skin care benefit.

The first thing that Jeffrey did was prime my face with a mixture of No. 50 Serum Anti-Aging Collagen Veil Primer ($48.00) and Bye Bye Redness ($32.00).

Then, as my foundation, he used YSBB Your Skin But Better CC Cream with SPF 50+ in the color Light ($38.00).

The next step was setting my foundation with Bye Bye Pores loose finishing powder ($24.00)

He then went to work on my eyes.  First he used Brow Power Lift; the matte side as an eyeshadow base ($24.00).  He then used the Naturally Pretty Matte Luxe Transforming Eyeshadow Palette ($42.00) using the color Love all over my eye lid, and a mix of the colors All Heart and Iconic in my crease.

He lined my eyes with Liner Love gel eyeliner ($24.00) in Midnight Navy.

Jeffrey then applied Tightline Full Lash Length Black Mascara Primer ($24.00) to my lashes.  He did not use any additional mascara. What I like about this product is the teeny tiny brush allows you to get right up to your lash line without making a big mess.

He filled in my brows with Brow Power universal brow pencil ($24.00).

  
On my cheeks, he used Vitality Cheek Stain in Magical in Mauve ($24.00).

He lined my lips with YLBB Your Lips But Better Waterproof Lip Liner Stain in Rose ($20.00) and applied Vitality Lip Flush 4-in-1 Reviver Lipstick Stain in Pure Joy ($20.00).

Here is the finished look!

It didn't occur to me until about half way through the makeover that I should write about this, so I didn't take a "before" picture....sorry. :(

So, now that you know all of the products that were used, I'll tell you my feelings on them.  I love, love, LOVE the CC Cream and primers that he used!  It was full coverage, but it did not feel heavy at all.  And it LASTS!  I had it on for a good 8 hours before I took it off, and it still looked freshly applied.  This will definitely be something I go and purchase for myself.

The eyeshadows are beautiful, and applied really well, but they are not my cup of tea.  I like more bold colors (**cough cough** Urban Decay), but these are great for someone who is not as adventurous as myself.

I love the eyebrow pencil, and will be purchasing that as well.  It is universal, so ANYONE can use it...no matter what your hair color is.

So, in a nutshell, I love the "face" products, but can live without the "color" products.

I hope y'all enjoyed this review!  Let me know what you think!


DISCLAIMER: All of the product photos were taken from either the IT Cosmetics website, or Ulta's website.  

Urban Decay Naked Basics Tutorial

Hey everyone!  Today I'm doing a tutorial for you using the Urban Decay Naked Basics palette. I love this palette. It has 6 neutral shades, 5 of which are completely matte. 

This is my go-to palette for my "everyday" look, which is what I'm going to show you today, so let's get started! 

Start off with a clean face.  All I have done here is fill in my eyebrow. 

The first step is to prime your eyes.  I'm using Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in their anti-aging formula. 

 You want to smooth it all over your eyelid and up to the brow bone.  This creates a smooth surface.  Any artist knows that great art starts with a great canvas! 

Then take NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk. 

Put this all over your eyelid. 

Then smooth it out with your finger, taking it up toward the brow bone.  Using a white base will help the true colors of the eyeshadows to pop. 

Now for the fun stuff!  First, take the color Naked 2 (taupe matte) with a fluffy brush (highlighter brush from EcoTools). 

This is your transition color, so only put this lightly in your crease and bring it  up toward your brow bone. 

Then, take Walk of Shame (very light nude matte) with a flat eyeshadow brush (wet/dry brush from Bare Minerals). 

Sweep this all over your eyelid. 

Up next use Faint (warm, dusty brown matte) with a fluffy brush (Tapered Crease Defining brush from Bare Minerals). 

Put this VERY LIGHTLY into your crease and blending it out. 

Then, pick  up the darkest color in the palette, Crave (deepest, darkest black/brown matte) with a pencil brush (Tapered Crease Eye Shadow from Ulta).

Use this on the outer corner of your eyelid, and define your crease with it. 

Take a CLEAN fluffy brush (crease brush from Mary Kay). 

BLEND, BLEND, BLEND! You don't want this color to be too harsh.  You just want a little more definition in your crease and outer corner. 

Time to do some highlighting!  Take Foxy (cream bisque matte) with the same shadow brush you used for W.O.S. 

Put this in the inner corner and blend it into Walk of Shame. 

Take the lightest color Venus (soft, off white demi-matte) with a large eye shadow brush (Wide Eye Shadow brush from Ulta). 

You're going to press this right underneath the eyebrow, and blend it down into Naked 2. 

Take a brown eyeliner.  I'm using Twice Baked from Urban Decay, but it was a limited edition.  A comparable one would be Underground from Urban Decay. 

Draw a very thin line on your upper and lower lash lines. 

Take Venus again on a small angled brush (angle brush from Mary Kay). 

Sweep this color on the inner corner of the lower lash line, and blend it into the brown eyeliner. 

Curl your lashes. 

And add mascara.  I'm using Perversion by Urban Decay. 

Add some blush, and lipstick or gloss, and you have your finished look! 

I really hope y'all enjoyed this!  Let me know in the comments! I'll put links to all of the products I used below. 

Until next time! 

Naked Basics Palette

Primer Potion

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil

Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner

Perversion Mascara