Give away! ~Now CLOSED~

GIVE AWAY

I have reached 100 followers!

Thank you all so much for supporting my blog! 100 may not seem like alot to some but this is more than I had expected.

In celebration I will be hosting my very first *GIVE AWAY!!*

RULES

1. Must be a follower of my blog

2. On the bottom of this post please post a comment stating one summer make up, or skin essential you swear by

1 entry

*The first 103 followers on my blog get 2 entries automatically if entering for being amongst the first followers*

3. Post a link of my give away on your blog, and link back on to this post -1 additional entry

I will be choosing a winner randomly to make this fair using random.org

Give away ends on August 30th 12:00am Eastern Time

World Wide, anyone can enter

PRIZES~!

Stereo Rose MSF

When I had gotten my Stereo Rose (luckily) I snagged 2! I had about 86 followers at the time and thought this would be a great prize!

I was told from the SA at M.A.C that this was the last one in the store, and this was the last M.A.C store in NYC who had it in stock so I got super lucky ( never happens) and wanted to share

I know alot of people were unable to get this, so I hope this helps 1 other person =)

Majolica Majorca Mascara

Best Lengthening Asian Mascara I ever tried

Benefit Bad Gal Mascara in Plum (mini)

This is a small give away but I will add little items into the winners package as I collect them from now till the end of the time period.

This is my small token to say "thank you" all to my wonderful followers, old and new.

Good Luck!

July Faves

By Candle Light

Could I possibly love a highlighter more than my Dior Amber Diamond?

This provides a beautiful fine shimmer of peach and pink reflects.

The best highlighter I have ever used from MAC, or even... overall?

definite favorite, and still available, I highly recommend this it.

Also this is a cheaper than the now spreading famous Amber Diamond so

if you are weary about paying so much for a highlight, this is a good alternative.

Etude House Green Tea Cleanser

I bought this months ago on my trip to Asia and finally started using it.

Isn't the name and packaging adorable? It comes in a variety of

"types" I had chosen green tea. It comes out a mint colored cream and

has a light tea scent.

Like other Asian cleansers this foams like crazy. I love using it at night

to help remove my make up for a double cleanse.

Wish they sold Etude house in the states.

M.A.C's Happy together

The one item I had to go back to MAC for on my second trip from "In the Groove"

Passed on this because it looked boring but the online swatches were

tempting me and I had to go back

Thank goodness! it is BEAUTIFUL! I definitely love this item this month

and because of this will not be purchasing NARS Madly. I love

how the highlight is also a good product while the blush alone is well

pigmented. Together they create a gorgeous peachy sheen. The combination

of the two definitely seem "Happy Together"

Urban Decay Lip Stain in Envious

Blame laziness for my new found love for lip stains. I hate re applying

anything throughout the day esp lip products which seem to fade with every drink

or word spoken past your lips.

This lip stain I don't believe is the most outstanding on the market

but it is definitely a step up from the cover girl one I was using

previously. This stains your lips a very wearable red but can be

built up to a powerful lip

Powersurge Eye Pencil

Since I have sporting a stronger daily lip my daily black or brown liner may look like too much for a day look in the office. The solution, a beautiful light bronze. Blends nicely, and compliments reddish lips. I rim this around my eyes and smudge it a bit on my lower and upper lash lines. I do believe you need something on your eyes when you have red lips so that your face doesn't look too flat. Well my face anyway!

If you are not a person who likes to use white eyeliner to give your eyes a more

"awake" look, try this light bronze

Sorry for the lack of photos, my camera completely died

Natural Love

Ahh this season I have been loving the "natural looking" blush. Not the everyday pinks or peaches but the beige's, sands, and colors that seem to combine for the creation of a beautiful bronze mixed with a sheen of peach undertone.Wearable, and natural. More Sun tones

These are my favorites to wear with a bold lip color or more wild eyes.

Wavy hair flowing down completes the look for me

Warm Soul

Described as Mid toned beige with Gold Pearl

This is very glittery! comes off sheer and need a few swipes on the brush for color payoff but this is amazing on

pale skin to bring beautiful life, sunkissed but there are hints of red, coral, and terrecotta

in the background

Trace Gold

Gorgeous highlight on top of matte blushes but on it's own can look amazing in the summer. Gives you a glimmer

of a tan while slightly contouring.

Really brings out your cheekbones and can be used multi purpose as a highlight

Happy Together

The newest in my collection and the one I am loving beyond all others. The most pigmented of the bunch with a great highlight. Swirled together create a more peachy beige but I am thinking, it's love.

Gorgeous on people with yellow undertones

Prestige Skin Loving Minerals in 02 Natural

A drugstore brand and my very first neutral blush. I was quite satisfied with this for over a year. Amazingly well priced, pigmentation is ok. definitely need a few swipes with the brush and it is a little small but it is great for travel, effect is nice, and I recommend this item if you are on a budget. I own all the Prestige blush colors and this is definitely my favorite by far

Definitely would could consider NARS Madly but I think it may look too much like Happy Together, would anyone have both and confirm?

Swatches: Left-Right : Trace Gold, Warm Soul, 02 Natural, Happy Together (swirled together)

Dior's Ready to Glow~!

Ahhh so pretty! presenting my newest palette!

Part of Dior's newest collection. My very first Dior eye shadow palette. The colors are all perfect for summer/spring. Light, pigmented, and great for work!

The palette consists of a gun metal grey, light taupe, strong brown, shimmery pink, light shimmery peach

All of these colors look gorgeous for a great eye look, the colors are sheer but easy to blend and have a beautiful texture. I have heard this is Dior's new formulation, but don't quote me.

I love how this can create a sheer wash of metallic spring like colors, but if you are weary of wearing a pink or peach on the eye, the browns in this palette should help you ease into something more daring than what you are used to

This was my first time trying Dior shadows and they're beautiful. They have a very dewy almost moist texture when applied and blended

Swatches L-R

Gunmetal, Taupe, Brown, Pink, Peach

Jo Malone I think I love you!

I have been searching for my summer scent the last few days but in the end I knew where to go, the Jo Malone counter.

I had visited the JM counter a few months ago to & while there I was lucky enough to be given a handful of samples, and fell in love...

Don't these look lovely in the sun?

Ugh I always want to put my perfumes in the sun to reflect light, too bad it alters the scent!

I had so much trouble deciding between two scents Nectarine Blossom and Honey, and Orange Blossom

The SA told me they were both top sellers, and many people would buy both in conjunction, when I asked why she had informed that when layered together, they create an amazing scent. Out of curiosity I layered on the two and indeed "pretty" is how I would describe it

I walked in with the intent of buying one small perfume but left the two with two full sizes! (typical)

I had compensated myself with the belief I had actually bought three scents. Alone they are both lovely, but together create a beautiful combo, best of all, they are all reminiscent of summer!

Orange Blossom

The more subtle of the two

Desc on the website :

The scent of clementine leaves in the morning dew sparkles above a heart of orange blossom and water lily, transporting the wearer to a garden oasis.

When I tried this scent I was immediately wifted away to my childhood in our family garden with the wall of honey suckles we had growing. My brother and I spent many summers sipping on the natural honey from the flowers. I am sucker for anything that is reminiscent of those honeysuckles in the garden

Nectarine Blossom and Honey:

This one is brighter and fresher

Desc from the website:

A youthful and fruity fragrance, Nectarine Blossom & Honey is inspired by the delicious scent of just-ripening nectarines and a taste of refreshing peach sorbet. Mouthwatering nectarine and peach with hints of plum, blackcurrant and vetiver are combined with the sweet warmth of acacia honey in this truly seductive combination.

I just cannot describe it better than that!

If anyone is looking for a summer scent, I recommend trying out this counter

Shopping is my Cardio

Famous words from Carrie B

Summer has finally arrived! While I do exercise regularly I wanted to try some new things to change up my routine and work different parts of my body.

I had dedicded to try a new work out DVD. I had never bought one before but the one I chose was well recommended.

On the way to the shop to buy the DVD I passed by 5th ave...and picked up a few things ^^

Walked past the M.A.C store...

Blame the influxes of posts on MAC's newest collection "In the Groove" I had some doubts about the blush "Happy Together" but all the images were enough for me to run out get this before it was sold out

Happy Together by M.A.C

When I first saw this I was like I don't know... it looks brown... I have 1 brown blush and that's kinda enough for me but this is NOT BROWN. It is a gorgeous PEACH

When applied to the skin it sheers outs even though it is nicely pigmented for a mineral blush.

The more matte side is a peach with light undertones of brown, the shimmery side reminds me of a peachy version of by candle light! If you are trying to save money get this! the highlight is gorgeous on it's own. When swirled, I am gushing at the beautiful peach shimmery shade it creates.

Amazing for those with yellow/golden undertones!

Then passed by Sephora...

It seems everyone on my blogroll owns this blush!

Lover by Illamasqua

Peastel peach with just enough pink in it to not look straight like creamcile orange. When you need a highly pigmented matte blush, Illamasqua and NARS are a close race.

So pretty!!

I also bought a new brush - sorry I forgot the photo: Sephora Platinum Airbrush 55

This is always sold out so when I saw it in stock I grabbed one, have not tried it yet

Swatches!

Left -Right

MAC Happy Together matte side, highlight side, mixed together, Lover

Different lighting

I finally made it to the shop and picked this up, anyone try it ??

Recommended by Lollipop26 but this also had almost 2000 good reviews on Amazon!

Not really believing the 20 lbs in 30 days... but 3-5 would be amazing!

Was going to grab new sneakers and water bottle but it started to pour ( big surprise) so I rushed home to try this, only to find out my computer cant read this >< !! ugh need some tech help

Anyone else attempting to shape up a bit more for summer?

New Additions

Added some new summery colors to my collection!

New colors

Two of the nail polishes came out in the collection where everyone was collecting the lip glosses

Peach Petal

Lilac Pastelle

Pixi2woo listed this nail polish as one her favorites so I grabbed it.

Should I wear these nail polishes with the corresponding glosses? lol some make up fun, matching it up

My favorite nail polish is Essie's Mint Candy Apple but saw Revlon's version "Minted"

Mint Candy Apple seems to be more blue toned and Minted is definitely more green toned

I love all these pastel colors. I am still looking for the perfect pale yellow ( outside SH Yellow Kitty) any suggestions???

Hope you all enjoyed =)

MAC's In the Groove - Haul~!

When I saw the items being released for Mac's newest collection " In the Groove" I began bringing my lunch to work every, because I had to seriously start saving my pennies for all the items I wanted from this collection

The Damage

I have never bought so much from 1 collection

I actually wanted to stop buying make up for the remainder of July after my last little trip, but the words "Limited Edition" really seems to break my boundaries. Who knows when these will be re promoted? *Sigh* Mac I love/hate you

The MSF's! ( looks like the solar system )

I only owned 1 MSF prior this collection so I really want to try these out.

By Candlelight MSF

I really regretted not getting this when the Warm and Cozy Collection came out. I'm glad it was re promoted so soon. Gorgeous pink/peach champagne

Petticoat MSF

When originally released, I was not into MAC yet. After hearing so many satisfied customers with this item, I was happy to purchase. This looks like something I would have gravitated towards regardless

Pink shimmer with raspberry and gold veining

Stereo Rose MSF

THE most coveted item in this collection it seems. This sold out online within 2 hours in the states. Truthfully I bought this to see what the huge hype was about.

My MAC store was of course out of stock ( regardless of me walking in 15 minutes post opening..) but the lovely sales associate mentioned 1 MAC store still had some remaining. The one in Soho, the very last MAC store in the city ( not counter, did not check those) that had Stereo Rose in stock. Even MAC PRO was sold out. I reserved mine and picked it up same day.

The man at the Soho counter informed me I had gotten the last one! YAY! Last in the city!

( MAC store anyway ) Today I was oddly lucky!

A beautiful coral with gold shimmer, so pretty. I think this would go with many skin tones.

Hang Loose Mineralized Blush

I bought this because it reminded me of Moon River ( which I am totally coveting) applied to the skin it is a gorgeous pink frost but there is some lilac in it. Wearable light purple/pink frost blush. In my opinion this is prettier than the Azalea Blossom that came out in Spring Forecast.

I will used this mixed but you can of course use one side as a blush and one as a highlighter for a multi purpose item

MAC Mocha Blush -Matte

Just kinda wish listed so I grabbed this, when I bought this and Style I thought I was not getting Stereo Rose due to stock issues, I only found out about Soho when paying, happy I was. More of a mauve pink

MAC Style Blush-Frost

I bought MAC Peaches and regretted it. At the time I was choosing between Peaches and Style. Now that I have this, I feel far more satisfied. Very pretty orange shimmer. A wearable peach/orange

Jazz Lipstick Creme Sheen

This is the lipstick everyone seems to be talking about in this collection.

Wearable coral pink orange. Pretty cute for spring and summer. It grabs attention but its not attention grabbing. Does that make sense?

Swatches!!!!

Order from Right to left

By Candlelight, Petticoat, Stereo Rose, Hang Loose, Style, Mocha, Jazzed

Diff Lighting

Candlelight, Petticoat, Stereo Rose

Bottom to top: Hang Loose, Style, Mocha, Jazzed

Anyone else buy something from this collection? Hope you all share

Current Obsessions

Opening Ceremony Boots

God these are gorgeous to me

Bath and Body Works Twilight Woods

One of their newer scents- I bought almost the entire line after I took my first whiff

Watermelons for meals

Watermelon , I have pretty much been living on this stuff since NYC hit 90+

Revlon Scented Nail Polish in Gum Drop

Second to the right, my favorite color for summer

FIFA

Is anyone else watching this?? I know I am!

What are your current obsessions?

Credit:

Shoes 1, Shoes 2, Twilight, Watermelon, FIFA, Revlon

Small Haul and Benefit Goodies!

Stopped by Sephora to pick up a few goodies today!

I always have to get some blushers!

Another NARS for my collection - Amour a matte peachy pink, and an Illamasqua color in Tweak

Both are matte. Amour for a beautiful wash, natural look. Very wearable for those who do not like shimmers

Tweak I am really excited about. I had gained some color since summer has finally arrived here. I wanted something brighter than I usually tend to wear. Illamasqua blushes are so pigmented, really lovely! Use a stippling brush with a color like this for a great flush.

Urban Decay Lip Envy in Envious

My newest lip stain. I don't have many but I always enjoyed the idea. I am not a big fan of re applying a lipstick or gloss because I am lazy. Hopefully this lip stain lasts longs. A cherry tint.

Bare Essential Liner in Intense Black

I think this is a new product

Still on the search for the perfect pencil liner. Anyone have any recommendations. Previously I had been faithful to MUFE but my pencil is nearly out so I am trying this one. I want one that stays in place and does not smudge.

This liner comes with a twistable point, and a smudger brush on the back of the pencil to smoke out your look

Benefit Goodies!!

This month's 500 point perk at Sephora is really generous! I had 500 points for a few months and have never been interested in the "big" gift. This month I saw this and gladly cashed in the points. I have had a hit or miss relationship with Benefit but I always give them unlimited chances it seems!

Lipstick in Ladies Choice : Mauve pink

Crease less cream Shadow in R.S.V.P ( so glad this was in here! I was about to buy the full size!)

Benefit Posie tint - Really prefer this over Benetint

Benefit Stay don't Stray eye primer

Bad Girl Lash in Plum and Black

Basically these are all pretty popular items in great colors. I really like this month's point perk!

Swatches! All pink!

Left to right: R.S.V.P, Ladies Choice, Lip Envy, Amour, Tweak

Hope everyone has a great long weekend!!!! It is supposed to be 98 tomorrow in NYC! omg... I will be spending the day indoors playing with my make up! lol