Urban Decay Naked Palette 1, 2 or 3? Which one do I buy?

Hey Everyone!!

Recently, I was asked which Urban Decay Naked Palette would I buy? 1,2, or 3?

Here's my humble opinion:)

I own Naked 1. Best $52 I have ever spent on makeup. Naked 1 has been good to me. It's one of the best basic neutral palettes. You can create looks from the palette alone or use some of the colors from the palette with other palettes and shadows to create eye looks from bold to natural.

Naked 2, in my opinion, is very similar is color makeup and color dimensions of the Naked 1 palette but has added darker shades. Its a great palette for smoky eyes.

Naked 3 is the newest baby of the Naked collection. Its got some beautiful pinks and some unique colors only to that palette. I'm currently on the fence about it though. I don't know if I want a $52 palette of pink shades. However, I've seen some great looks created with Naked 3. Plus, I've been going through my palettes, and I don't have any colors similar to Naked 3 colors. I think I may go get it.:)

Consensus....

Definitely buy Naked 1 for classic colors and then pick between 2 and 3, if want another one.

Oh....and there is Naked Basics, a five shadow palette with basic matte neutrals. Some of those shades have said to be in the other Naked palettes or dupes in other palettes outside of Urban Decay. I would skip Naked Basics at $28 and go for the gusto with Naked 1 for $52.

If I could afford it, honestly, I would have all three. lol! I'm a makeup junkie but I'm a savvy in the pocket.:)

Maybelline Stormy Sahara, Untainted Spice and Maple Kiss ColorSensational Lip Color Review + Swatches.....

Disclosure: All products were purchased by me.

Hey Everyone!!

I'm so ready to talk about this Maybelline Colorsentional Nudes lipsticks! I was really, REALLY patient and waited for the lipstick to arrive at my local Walmart. Why? Because Maybelline lipsticks are $5.50 at my Walmart as opposed to 8.99 at Walgreens and CVS. Thank God the whole collection was permanent and not limited edition.

The wall display at my Walmart was not full of the entire collection, so grabbed a couple of colors I thought would work good on my skin.

 Stormy Sahara 945, Untainted Spice 950 and Maple Kiss 925.

 Stormy Sahara 945, Untainted Spice 950 and Maple Kiss 925.

 Swatched are Maple Kiss, Untainted Spice and Stormy Sahara.....

 Stormy Sahara

 Maple Kiss

Untainted Spice

Consensus....

Out of the three, Maple Kiss is my favorite. Untainted Spice is a good 2nd, bit too dark and dull for me but still pretty. Stormy Sahara was very odd to wear. I couldn't put my finger on it. I wore Stormy Sahara with a brown lip liner and pink lip liner and it just didn't feel right. I think it may be a bit too light and washes my face out. Stormy Sahara looked dull on me. It reminds me of my endless fight with Wet N' Wild 902C Bare It All. Bare It All and I do not get along but I'm always trying to make it work!!!

As soon as the display is full and complete, I'm going to back and check the other shades.

Favorite Beauty Hacks and Join the Beauty Hacks Pinterest Board!

Hey Everyone!!

In the last couple of weeks, I've become obsessed with "beauty hacks", exclusive, some times easier ways to apply and use beauty products. More than just a " beauty tip", beauty hacks give you access to ways to do treatments, clean tools and apply products that you may not have heard of or have been exclusive to beauty insiders or companies.

Pinterest is FULL on these amazing hacks, ranging from beauty to life to cooking to crafts and everything in between. I'm more interested in the beauty hacks, of course! Here are some of my favorites so far....

( source)

Want to see if your nails are dry?

After you've painted your nails, it's always so hard to tell when they are really dry. Sometimes they seem dry to the touch but 5 seconds later you have a dent in your nail. SOLUTION! When you think your nails are dry, just tap two of your nails together. If there is any resistance, your nails are not ready for you to be moving around a lot. If the nails don't stick to each other at all... you are good to go! (source)

Having a problem with a beauty product?

Never, ever hesitate to call a company if you have a problem with a product. They will often replace it by sending you a coupon for a free product. Keep the old ones so you can give them all the numbers from the product. (source)

I love these beauty hacks!!

So come over and join my Beauty+ Life Hacks Board and follow the board for more great beauty ideas to simplify your life!!

Click HERE to follow!!

Fresh Coat: Quick & Easy Valentine's Day Manicure with Essie Love To Love You and Revlon Girly.....

Disclosure: All products were purchased by me.

Hey Everyone!

I got another Valentine's Day, quick and easy, mani for you.

This one is more pink and girly but I did one with sexy reds and FISHNETS...click HERE to check that one out.

 On the index and pink finger is Sinful Colors Soul Mate. 

On the middle finger is Essie Love To Love You Nail Applique.

On the ring finger is a layering on Revlon Girly and Ruby Kisses HD polish in Show Stopper.

Took me about 15 minutes to complete and no time to dry using my best friend, a quick dry nail polish.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Maybelline Master Glaze Blush in Make It Mauve Review + Swatches.....

Disclosure: This product was purchased by me.

Hey Everyone!

After waiting, debating and watching a handful of YouTube video reviews, I finally bought  Maybellline Master Glaze Blush in Make It Mauve.

 I was too excited to use it, after I swatched it on my hand!!! Gorgeous!!

 Wearing Make It Mauve on my cheek. I apply a swipe then blend it in and then apply another swipe and blend it in for more intensity.

Consensus...

I like Master Glaze Blush but then I don't....here's why.

The color is gorgeous, perfect for women of color. One swipe on the cheek, blended with my fingers was sheer but the product is buildable. The consistency is like a stick foundation, goes on creamy but it needs to be set with a translucent powder or another blush. I found that a translucent powder washes the color out a bit, so a blush would be better. But what is the point of using a stick blush, when you have to set it with a powder blush?

This blush didn't last that long on me neither. I'm not that oily in the winter and I applied it over a BB Cream and they lasted maybe four hours, tops. Even set with powder, the lasting power didn't go up.

The price point was not my cup of tea for a drugstore product. They were $7.49 at my local Walmart and $8.99 up the street at my CVS. I don't care if that is under $10, $8-$9 blush at the drugstore is steep.

I actually bought another color, Pink Fever, which is a gorgeous bright pink swatched, but goes on my face more like a highlighter, a frosty pink.

**le sigh**

Review: tarte Colored Clay CC Primer in Tan......

Disclosure: This product was sent to me for review. I was not paid for this post and all of my opinions are honest.

Hey Everyone!

I received tarte Colored Clay CC (Color and Correct) Primer in Tan in my QVC special value  tarte Colored Clay Kit about two weeks ago. Even though the primer was in that exclusive kit, it is available for sale on tarte's website (fair and light are sold out).

Here are some specs per tarte's website on the primer:

Buff your way to complexion perfection with this revolutionary correcting stick! Infused with our new color correcting colored clay, this skinvigorating™ primer easily blends into skin for an even, all-over airbrushed look.

Product Performance:

This powerful, multi-tasking, skin perfector brightens skin, evens skin tone, blurs imperfections and neutralizes any redness or discolorations. The oil-free, talc-free formula soothes skin as it glides and blends effortlessly for a smooth, even finish. Its "hourglass" applicator design delivers the perfect balance of color correction and coverage to adjust to your skin. Use it before foundation as a color-correcting primer or alone as a light coverage for an all-over flawless look.

Powered By:

colored clay: specifically addresses individual skin & complexion concerns

- purple clay: brightens dull, lackluster skin

- green clay: neutralizes skin redness

I received Tan in my kit. The stick has two large skin tone sections and then two triangular slivers of purple clay to brighten skin and green clay to neutralize redness.

Here is a swatch of the CC primer on the back of my hand.

Consensus....

I love this primer and here's why....

Even though it is light as a swatch and light on my skin, meaning it doesn't match, it absolutely works perfectly under my foundation or BB Cream. It does give a brightening effect to the skin. I didn't see or experience any ashy undertones from the green or purple clay. The stick goes on smooth, all you need to do  is swipe it on your forehead, cheeks, down the nose, chin, around the nose and under the eyes and blend with a sponge or brush. Then apply foundation or BB cream for a flawless finish.

I will say, that it is really easy to overuse the product. No need for heavy handed-ness! Remember, only couple of swipes and good blending in the skin will work.

I stayed pretty oil free for about five or six hours with the CC primer, until I got that "glow", meaning I got a bit greasy. It is winter here and I'm not as oily so I will definitely try this product out when it gets warmer here in SC...which will probably be next month.:)

Fresh Coat: Valentine Day Nails with Wet N Wild I Red A Good Book + Sally Hansen Misbehaved......

Disclosure: All products were purchased by me.

Hey Everyone!

I think that my beauty resolution of "no new polish until June" had me in a major nail polish slump. Plus, I've been battling breaking and brittle nails which I've narrowed it down to water and my hands...in water that is causing the problem.

I love nail art. But I've learned over the years, I have no patience to do it myself. So I stick to the simple stuff, nail appliques and rhinestones.

I came up with this look that is perfect for Valentine's Day all by myself!

 The red polish is Wet N' Wild I Red A Good Book and the ring finger is Sally Hansen Real Nail Strips in Misbehaved.

Rhinestones are from Michael's....

Loving this look....I have one, maybe two more V-Day nails looks coming, so stay tuned!!

tarte color your world with shades of clay 7-piece collection in Tan + Swatches...

Disclosure: These were sent to me for consideration of review by the company.All my opinions are honest and I was not paid for this post.

Hey Everybody!

So, today, I have the tarte color your world with shades of clay 7 piece collection to show you. Its only available today(February 4, 2014), as a set, on QVC for $59.95. If you know anything about tarte special value sets on QVC, they are a STEAL. Seven piece kit with a full size products and brush for $60. Let's get into the specs....

TSV Price: $59.96 Includes: ·         colored clay CC primer ·         colored clay liquid foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15 *World-wide Launch ·         colored clay bronzer blush in pink bronze *World-wide Launch ·         colored clay eyeliner in black *World-wide Launch ·         lights, camera, lashes™ 4-in-1 mascara ·         LipSurgence™ lip gloss in true love*World-wide Launch ·         bamboo liquid foundation brush ·         makeup bag Available in fair, light, medium, tan, and deep

I was sent the Tan kit.

colored clay liquid foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 15

Tan is too light for me. I'm suppose to receive Dark soon, so when that comes in, I will update the post!

colored clay bronzer blush in pink bronze

The  clay bronzer/blush comes out more of a highlighter on my skin tone.

colored clay CC primer in Tan

 Tan actually blends really well into my skin. I promise to have full review on this later!

 lip surgence lip gloss in true love

lights, camera, lashes mascara in black and colored clay liner in black.

Go to QVC.com and order today if you are interested! Reviews on the CC primer and foundation soon!