Archive for October 2013

EOTD- Soft Duochrome

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Hi folks!

I hope you had a safe and fun Halloween, if you celebrate it. I was really excited for the last two weeks but ended up not really in a celebratory mood today. So instead of awesome Halloween makeup, I went for a more normal looking EOTD.

Today I used a softer duochrome shade. Usually I want duochromes to be loud and vibrant but I've started to appreciate delicate duochrome/interference shades. It's sublime.

The stand out color is Femme Fatale Cosmetics Faerie Fire, a delicate cool lavender pink with some really nice green shimmer. I bought a bunch of samples over the summer while in my yearly BUY ALL THE GNARLY LOOSE SHADOWS phase and I should really post swatches... eventually.

Brows: Anastasia Brow Duo in Granite, Essence Lash & Brow Mascara
Eyes: LORAC Behind The Scenes Eye Primer, Rock & Republic Fatalistc, NYC Black Bean Jumbo Pencil, NARS Bali, Femme Fatale Faerie Fire, La Femme Eyeliner Sealer, LORAC After Party, Sigma Creme de Couture Lavender Honey, false lashes

Show Your Support for Love, Preview

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Hi folks!

Earlier this year I met the kind and wonderful Victoria from Serum No.5, a brand of hand mixed polishes with something for everyone- glitters, glow in the dark, even holos! I have swatches coming up in the next week but first I wanted to tell you about an upcoming event.

Victoria not only already contributes 20% of profits from polishes sold each month to different charitable organizations (is that not the best reason to shop for polish, ever?) but has organized an upcoming event called Love, Preview. Love, Preview is a 21+ beauty and fashion shopping event where proceeds will go to No Kid Hungry, an organization dedicated to eradicating childhood hunger in the United States.

No Kid Hungry strives to start or improve school breakfast programs, expand summer meals sites and helps families learn how to shop for and cook healthy meals on a tight budget. As of fall 2011, NKH has provided over 34 million meals to kids who need them.

Childhood hunger is a problem with ongoing consequences. Not only is it hurting kids now, but it also hurts their futures.

If you're in the L.A. area, the first annual Love, Preview will take place November 10, 2013, from 6pm-9pm at Shark Club located at 841 Baker Street, Costa Mesa, California 92626. Tickets are $10.59 (including transaction fees) and can be purchased online here. Be sure to select a brand, if any, that you're supporting! Tickets will also be available at the door for $15.

There are SO many amazing brands that will be there! Including:
-Serum No. 5
-Black Cat Lacquer
-PolishTBH
-Dandy Nails
-Jamberry Nails
-Lacquer Lust
-Lumina Lacquer
-Stylebiter Clothing
-Baby Bunz Boutique
... and many, many more. For a full list, click here.

If you're not in the L.A. area but still wanted to contribute, there is a Paypal widget at the bottom of the Love, Preview website. It's such a worthy cause! I really hope that if you live in that area, you can make it out for such a great event.

Mundane Mondays, Vol. XII: I Have a Kitten And Other Pictures

Monday, October 28, 2013

Hi folks! It's been a while since I had a Mundane Mondays post, where I feature things in my life outside of beauty and nails. Last weekend, I made brain cupcakes. I love, love, love baking but actually don't really eat what I bake. First type piping too! Devil's food cake with cream cheese frosting.

It's time for winter candles! Every time I go to Bath & Body Works to buy candles, I have Morgan sniff them to get his stamp of approval. He complains when I burn something for too long that he doesn't like. This time he insisted that we get Winter, that it was the best scent. Of course as soon as we get home and start burning it, he decides that it smells awful. Of course.

Went apple picking! Mostly I love apple foods. Apple cider donuts, apple and cream cheese tarts, apple cider. Get in my tummy.

We spent a weekend at Mammoth Lakes. Amazing view, right from the house. Unfortunately I had elevation sickness.

Last but not least, we have a new kitten! We've had her for about a month now, we wanted to get Widget a companion. A nice lady in San Jose was fostering kittens from two litters from stray cats. We brought home this lil' ginger. Her name is Gallifrey!

That's all for now. What fall activities have you been up to lately?

Rainbow Glitter Brows

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Hi folks!

I've had a really nasty cold that's been kicking my butt so I haven't really used makeup this last week. I was feeling better last night so I played around with over the top, ridiculous brows.

I first covered up my brows using the gluestick method. I then drew them in with black liquid eyeliner and applied a layer of DUO Brush On Lash Adhesive and hand placed each piece of glitter.

I'm not going to lie, I love how sparkly they are. Wish I could do this every single day of my life.

Have you been working on any Halloween looks?

Glam Polish - Now Available at Color4Nails!

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Hello! Tonight I have another brand of polishes that is available from Color4Nails, your friendly nail eCommerce that brings international indies to your finger tips (see what I did there?). Tonight I have two shades from Glam Polish, an Australian line perhaps best known for the use of bright satin/matte glitter.

Leap Frog. Three coats. What a whimsical polish! I love the aqua crelly base filled with neon green, yellow and pink glitter. It looks really squishy and extremely playful.

Candyland. One coat over Color Club Wicker Park. A clear base filled with all sorts of matte and satin glitters in a wide array of bright colors. This one really does remind me of sprinkles and what not. This polish sums up the Glam Polish look perfectly- super bright and extra adorable.

I really adore these two polishes. Seriously, every single Glam Polish is really cute, Rachel does no wrong! Some of the larger glitters settle a tiny bit but if you flip the bottle upside down for about a minute and shake lightly, it's a quick fix.

Glam Polish and other incredible indie lines are available now at Color4Nails.com. Some of the other shades that catch my eye are Ufo Oh No! and So Fluffy I'm Gonna Die.

What are you favorite Glam Polish shades?

Products featured are press samples. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Celestial Cosmetics Seven Kingdoms Collection

Monday, October 21, 2013

Hi folks!

Have I mentioned how much I love Game of Thrones and the Song of Ice and Fire book series? No? Well Color4Nails, your friendly US based indie eCommerce has collaborated with Celestial Cosmetics, an Australian indie brand to create the Seven Kingdoms Collection.

There are four multichrome shades and five thermals and I have five shades to show you today.

Mother of Dragons. Two coats. A bright flashy multichrome which is predominately red with flashes of orange and a more pinky fuchsia. Minimal brush strokes, nice opacity.

A Lannister Always Pays His Debt. A sheer yellow thermal with holo sparkle. Three coats over white. When exposed to extreme cold, it turns bright orange.

House Arryn. A sheer cornflower blue thermal with holo sparkle. Three coats over white, turns to purple when exposed to extreme cold.

Sapphires of Tarth. Two coats. This was so hard to capture, which is why I don't have my nice normal white background! It's a very flashy blue to purple multichrome. A little bit of brushstroke, not a big deal.

This last beauty is Iron Born. Three coats. It deserves three pictures. The first is warm, outdoors under the sun so that you can see the nice bit of holographic effect. The second is also outdoors so that you can see the thermal effect. When warm, it is a dusty lavender but once cooled it is a smokey taupe. The last shot is indoors and cold. I love this shade because it's very unusual, both as a thermal and as a holographic polish.

The multichromes and Iron Born really won my heart. I liked the other two thermals as well but it took a pretty big temperature change to see the "cold" color. Usually when I wash my hands, the cool water is enough to trigger it but I didn't see a change even running it under the coldest tap water, only when holding ice cold items right against the nail.

The Seven Kingdoms Collection is now available at Color4Nails priced at $12 each. Color4Nails also stocks many other international brands including indies from all over the world. Be sure to follow Color4Nails on Facebook and Instagram to catch the latest news and swatches!

Products featured were sent for review. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Sephora Friends & Family Wishlist

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Sephora F&F Wishlist by makeupwithdrawal featuring a foundation brush

Hi folks!

It's that time of year again, Sephora Friends & Family sale time! I made a wishlist but haven't narrowed it down quite yet as to will actually make it to my final cart.

Smashbox Photo Matte Anti Shine, $25. Since Urban Decay discontinued my Holy Grail De-Slick In A Tube, I thought I would give this a try.

Bite Beauty Best Bite Set 4x 0.05 fl. oz., $25. This is a fantastic deal because you're essentially getting two Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencils for the price of one! I'm thinking that one of those reds is wedding worthy.

SEPHORA COLLECTION 8 HR Mattifying Compact Foundation, $22. I've actually used up an entire compact already. I didn't end up blogging about it because they changed the packaging and I wasn't sure if they changed the formula. I really liked it (other than the pan smelling a little weird) so I'm ready to give it another go.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo, $23. My recent brow obsession has no bounds. Thinking about picking up this duo to replace my NARS Bali shadow that I've been using.

Formula X For Sephora Xplosives Top Coats, $13. These have just hit Sephora stores here in the US and I'm really curious about their indie-like appearance.

MAKE UP FOR EVER 272 Eyelash Brush, $12. Believe it or not, I've had a hard time finding a good quality spoolie. The Sonia Kashuk one looks really flimsy to me and I hate double sided brushes. Can't seem to think of many other options.

Urban Decay Vice Palette 2, $59. Let's be real here, Mimi. How many times did I use my Book of Shadows IV? Uhm, not enough times to justify it. Sigh. A gal can lust after pretty colors though, right?

BECCA The One Perfecting Brush, $49. Pretty steep price for a brush that looks similar in concept to the NARS Ita #21. I've been curious about this brush though, as BECCA claims that it's wonderful with powder, liquid and cream foundations. I wonder how it'd stack up against another "perfect" brush; my Shiseido Perfect Foundation Brush.

Are you lucky enough to have a pal or family member work for Sephora? Are you getting anything this year? Has anyone tried any of the products that I'm thinking about?

Messy Mansion Plate MM14

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Hi folks!

Tonight I have another plate from Messy Mansion. As I mentioned in my first review here, Messy Mansion is an Australian website that not only carries a lot of really cool plates from various lines, but also has their own line of plates with wonderfully detailed designs. This is MM14, a bird themed plate.

For the specifics on the plates, I urge you to refer to the more detailed first post. The gist is that these are large images and it helps to scrap very lightly for the best transfer.

There are so many different manicures one could do with this plate but I chose to use the full sized peacock feathers. I used Le Chat Dare to Wear Lily Pad, Ocean View and Violetta as my base gradient and then used Color Club Halo Hues Beyond to stamp.

It turned out really well if I do say so myself! Definitely be sure to check out all the beautiful designs that Messy Mansion has to offer. Remember, if you are international and only order plates, shipping is only$2.50! Splendid, no?

Which of the designs on this plate is your favorite?

Products featured were sent to me for review. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Polished by KPT Fall Collection

Hi folks!

Tomorrow at noon PST, Polished by KPT is having a restock so I wanted to share with you the fall collection. There are thermals, glitters, gold flakes and duochrome shimmer... this collection is packed with lovely things! There are nine shades so let's get started.

Blood As Thick As Gold. Two coats. A stunning unique thermal polish that transitions from nude when warm to a deep red that is also loaded with gold flakes. Simple to die for!

Harvest Moon. Two coats. A bright thermal with holo that transitions from a clear pinkish shade to an orangey coral. The holo is way more pronounced in daylight.

Amor. Three coats. A brighter coral jelly that glows in the dark! There are fun matte glitters inside.

Country Road. Two coats. A thermal that transitions from rich brown when cool to a tawny gold when warm. Loaded with shimmer.

La Catrina. Two coats. Transitions from a fern green when cool to a translucent light purpley taupe when warm with flecks throughout. This one reminds me of a succulent. Incredible!

Starry Night. Two coats. A Blue jelly filled with blue glitter, glass fleck, silver hex, moon and star glitter. So incredibly sparkly!

Nightcrawler. Two coats. Another stunning shade. This is a light smokey blue when warm and navy when cool. It's also filled with duochrome glass fleck that looks pink/blue.

Corrupted Soul. One coat over black creme. A glitter topper filled with all sorts of various glitter in a clear base.

Gloomy October. Two coats. An off white crelly with somber glitter throughout.

All the shades were around two coats and I have to say, no one does thermals like Polished by KPT! Seriously, they are so incredibly unique. In a world with so many indie brands, it amazes me that not only did Katherine create nine polishes for a fall collection but it was nine completely different shades that are so unlike anything I've ever seen before.

Check the Polished by KPT store at noon on Oct. 19th PST for the restock! You'll want to hurry, these beauties sell out in a matter of minutes, no joke. You can use "MAKEUPWITHDRAWAL" for 15% off your order, you lucky royal reader you! Be sure to follow @polishedbykpt on Instagram for all the latest updates.

Review: Sibu Repair & Protect Sea Buckthorn Daytime Facial Cream

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Good evening!

Today I have a product from Sibu Beauty, a line of products made with the increasingly popular sea buckthorn berry. I was glad to be able to try the Repair & Protect Sea Buckthorn Daytime Facial Cream because I'm always on the lookout for a nourishing cream to ensure that my skin is hydrated so that it can always provide a smooth base for my makeup.

Curious about the sea buckthorn berry? It grows in the harsh elevated climate that is the Himalayas and is loaded with Omega-7, a monounsaturated fat that has been linked to numerous skin and hair benefits. The nice thing is that not only is Sibu Beauty employ fair trade practices in Tibet to harvest this beauty berry, the line is also cruelty free and vegan.

This cream is lightweight and fragrance free (slightly plant like smell) and sinks into skin readily. It really creates a nice smooth and supple surface for makeup primer, foundation, etc. It has a slight waxy texture but it's really slight and I honestly stop noticing after a few minutes (especially with makeup on top). I think this textures is indicative of how it creates a really effective barrier for keeping the moisture inside your skin, especially if layer over other hydrating products like hyarulonic acid serums and toners, like I do. The effect is especially noticeable on my dry jaw and cheeks which can become easily chapped by wind. At the end of the day, my skin still feels really soft after using the Repair & Protect Daytime Facial Cream.

This cream is packaged in a sturdy frosted glass pump bottle. Alas, the cap wasn't as travel friendly as the rest of the bottle and broke after my first overnight trip. I appreciate that the cream does not have sunscreen as I'm allergic to to many chemical sunscreens, which makes finding day creams challenging.

The Sibu Beauty Repair & Protect Daytime Facial Cream is $20.95 for 1 fl. oz. and can be purchased here.

What's your current favorite daytime facial cream?

Products featured were press samples. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Winstonia Store October Grab Bag and Manicure

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Hi folks!

This month's Winstonia Grab Bag is pretty nifty. Take a look.

Link: http://winstoniastore.com/grab-bag

Available date: October 7th, 2013

End date: October 31st, 2013

Price: $10 - free U.S. standard shipping. Priority and international services are available during checkout.

Items included:

Glow in the dark nail beads. These are like rounded nonmetal studs that glow in the dark!

Two pairs of tweezers. Excellent for placing small 3D elements on nails. Be sure to keep the caps though, they are SHARP!

Gold Metal Skulls and glue.

Water Decals- Flowered Skulls. I absolutely love this set, they're so cool!

Temporary Eyeliners.

Cute Charlie Chaplin water decals.

Definitely a bag I wouldn't want to miss out on. I think that everything in this bag is great, the eyeliner I'm a little iffy on because they don't fit my lids all that well in terms of curvature. The tweezers are really useful and the decals are ridiculously cute. The skulls are pretty wicked sweet as well.

Here's my first manicure that I created with the flowering skulls! I used OPI My Boyfriend Scales Walls. I then stamped on flowers using OPI Monsooner or Later, OPI The "It" Color and OPI Chopsticking to My Story and Winstonia Series 1 Plate 04 (not included, but it's a steal at just $4.95). The water decals applied really easily, just like temporary tattoos. Overall, definitely pleased with this manicure!

What do you think of the products in this month's bag? Are you in love with the water decals like I am?

Products featured were press samples. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.