FOTD: Neutral Eyes + Berry Lips

On the face:
~Pixi Flawless Beauty primer
~Avon Ideal Flawless tinted moisturizer in Light
~Avon Ideal Flawless CC color correcting pencil in Light
~Avon Ideal Flawless translucent loose powder

On the eyes:
~Avon Extra Lasting eyeshadow pencil in Shimmering Sand all over lid, inner corners and along lower lash line as a base.
~Avon True Color quad in Mocha Latte- shade 1 all over lid from lash line to brow bone, shade 2 through the crease, shade 3 on the outer half of the lid and lower lash line, and shade 4 in the outer corner of the eye and along upper and lower lash lines.
~Rimmel Scandal Eyes kohl eye liner in Nude on the waterline.
~Dior Diorshow Maximizer mascara primer
~L'oreal Voluminous Carbon Black mascara(1 coat)

On the cheeks:
~Avon Glow bronzer in Warm Glow
~e.l.f. studio blush in Mellow Mauve

On the lips:
~Avon Ultra Luxury lip liner in Rosebud
~Avon Ultra Color lipstick in Matte Berry
~Avon Ultra Glazewear lip gloss in Candy Pink

First Time DIY: Depotting Disaster!

So, for anyone who follows me on YouTube and saw my "Perfect Palette" tag video, you know that I have been wanting to depot all of my Avon True Color eyeshadow quads and actually make a palette out of the colors from that tag video to use for a pan that palette challenge next year. I've watched a lot of videos on depotting methods and one common theme throughout was that you need a lot of time and patience to depot more than a small handful of shadows...and I am in short supply of both time AND patience. Then I came across an old video from Wayne Goss where he just popped his shadows in the oven and when they came out he was quickly and easily able to pop the pans out of their packaging with a paring knife. So that's the method I decided to go with for my depotting adventure.

In his video, Wayne said he set his oven to 100 degrees centigrade. That's roughly 212 degrees here in the States, and since I can't set my oven to 212 degrees I decided I would go with 210 to be on the safe side. The video also stated to put the shadows in the oven for 2-5 minutes.

Round 1: 2 minutes at 210 degrees. Results: nothing. I couldn't pry up a single pan. Not one. Not even a little.

So back into the oven the shadows went for 5 more minutes.

And...well...I got the shadows out. Even with the extra 5 minutes in the oven the glue was still really strong under the pans. So strong that I broke the tip off the end of my paring knife(and never found it). So I thought, you know, maybe the oven's not hot enough.

So I put my next batch in at 215 degrees for 10 minutes.

And things went a little smoother...but not as smooth as I would've liked.

The shadows definitely came out easier this time, but I still struggled with them. I was happy that none of them had completely broke apart like with the first batch. Since it seemed like the temperature was hot enough, I did one more batch but left them in for 5 minutes longer(so 15 minutes at 215 degrees) in the hopes the glue would loosen enough that I could pry them out easily.

This time the shadows did come out much easier. Some I still had issues with, but overall they popped out without too much hassle and seemed(seemed being the key word here) to be intact and in good condition.

I wanted to do the project cheaply, so I stuck the shadows to the inside of an old CD case with double-sided permanent tape. Now I can easily see what shadows I'm grabbing for, and I didn't have to drop a pretty penny on a magnetic case.

Now, here's the kicker, those shadows with arrows next to them are the same shadows from the previous picture(where they look like they are still in pretty good condition). Since I have made this palette, the plum shade completely crumbled and I've had to repeatedly press it back together, the deep brown shadow broke and fell out on the floor when I opened the case, and one time when I closed the case that shimmery beige cracked all around the corner.

I now have to keep this palette laying flat, treat it with kid gloves, and use the lightest hand humanly possible with the shadows so that they don't fall apart anymore.

Needless to say, I won't be using the oven method to depot my shadows anymore!

FOTD: Neutral Smokey Eyes + Amethyst Lips

On the face:

~Ideal Flawless cream-to-powder foundation in Light Ivory
~Ideal Flawless CC color correcting pencils in Light and Light/Medium
~Extra Lasting eyeshadow pencil in Shimmering Sand(as highlighter)
~Ideal Flawless translucent loose powder

On the eyes:

~eyeshadow primer in Light Beige
~True Color 8-in-1 eyeshadow palette in Not So Neutral
~matte beige through the crease, and along lower lash line
~dove grey across the lid
~matte plum-burgundy on outer third of lid, and outer third of lower lash line
~matte black on outer quarter of lid
~gold on inner corners
~kohl liner in True Black
~lash conditioner and primer
~Super Shock Max mascara in Black

On the cheeks:
~True Color eyeshadow quad in Mocha Latte(#2 & #4 blended together) for contour
~Glow Bronzer in Warm Glow
~Smooth Minerals blush in Blushing Mauve

On the lips:

True Color Matte lipstick in Matte Amethyst

FOTD: Simple Sparkling Mauves

Products Used(all from Avon):
On the face:
Ideal Flawless tinted moisturizer in Light
Ideal Flawless CC color correcting pencils in Light and Light/Medium
Ideal Flawless loose powder in Translucent
Glow bronzer in Warm Glow

On the eyes:
Extra Lasting eyeshadow pencil in Amethyst
True Color eyeshadow quad in Barely There(shade #3)
True Color eyeshadow quad in Romantic Mauves(shades 1, 3, and 4)
Eye Dimensions eyeshadow in Sweetheart Plum(the middle shade)
Ultra Luxury eyeliner in Dark Brown
Super Shock Max mascara in Black

On the cheeks:
Glow bronzer in Warm Glow
Smooth Minerals blush in Copper Glow

On the lips:
Glimmersticks lip liner in Simply Spice
Ultra Color lipstick in Apricot Spice
Ultra Glazewear lip gloss in Crystal Lilac

FOTD: Blue Lashes + Coral Lips

On the face:
~Avon Ideal Flawless tinted moisturizer in Light
~Avon Ideal Flawless CC color corrector pencils in Light and Light/Medium
~Avon Ideal Flawless translucent loose powder

On the eyes:
~Avon Extra Lasting eyeshadow ink in Endless Purple
~Avon True Color eyeshadow quad in Purple Pop
~mark. No Place to Run eyeliner in Ultra Violet
~Avon Super Shock Brights mascara in Royal Shock

On the cheeks:
~Avon Glow bronzer in Warm Glow
~Avon Ideal Luminous blush in Antique Rose

On the lips:
~mark. All Butter Now lip treat in Coraltini

Swatch and Review: New Avon True Color Eyeshadow Quads

Recently, Avon launched four new True Color eyeshadow quads. All four quads are neutral and beautiful, and designed to be the perfect nude palettes for various skin tones. I will say right off the top that I am loving all of these new quads, and I really love that Avon has incorporated some color in with the neutrals as well!

The first quad is Naked Truth. This is the palest of the new quads and designed for light skin tones. Color #1 is Shimmering Beige and is a shimmering cream color with really good pigmentation. This color makes a really brow bone and inner corner color. Color #2 is Peach Sparkle, which is a pale peach with a satin finish and not much sparkle. This color is the least pigmented of the quad, but it's still pretty decent. Depending on the look you're going for it could make a good lid color or a blending/transition color for the crease. Color #3 is Glimmering Sand. This shade is a warm shimmering beige with a tiny hint of micro-fine champagne glitters in it. I like to use this color all over the lid if I'm doing a quick neutral look, and in the crease as a transition color for smokey eyes. Color #4 is Coffee, and is a gorgeous medium neutral shimmering brown.

The next quad is Barely There. This one was designed for light/medium skin tones. Color #1 is Soft Vanilla, and is a matte vanilla shadow with really good pigmentation. This one makes is a nice brow bone highlight color. Color #2 is Rose. This a matte, neutral pink shade. I love this color in the crease as a transitional color. Color #3 is Satin Taupe, which is a neutral taupe with some shimmer to it. This is a great all over lid color. Color #4 is Cool Coccoa, and is a dark neutral brown with a satin finish. The pigmentation of all four shades in this palette is really good.

The next quad is Go Natural, and is designed for medium skin tones. Color #1 is Shimmering Beige. This is the same color as the lightest shadow in the Naked Truth quad. Color #2 is Shimmering Stone. This shadow is a warm shimmering brown with golden undertones to it. I feel like this shadow is the least pigmented in this quad, but it's easily built up. Color #3 is Radiant Orange. This is a vibrant reddish-orange with a hint of shimmer to it. Very pigmented! This is one of my favorite colors from all of these new quads. Color #4 is Burnt Brown, and is a matte deep brown with plum undertones.

The last quad is Grin and Bare It. This one is designed for deeper skin tones. Color #1 is Bronzed. This shade is a golden bronze with a metallic finish. REALLY pretty all over lid color! Color #2 is Burnished Copper. This is a medium reddish brown with a satin finish. Color #3 is Patina, which is kind of an antique brass with greenish undertones and golden shimmer to it. Color #4 is Sahara Sunset, a deep cool brown with a satin finish and fine golden glitters here and there. This color is the least pigmented from this palette. I feel like this palette as a whole is a tiny bit less pigmented than the other quads, but all of the colors are easy to build up and blend.

Overall, I'm really impressed with the new additions to the True Color quad range. Though they were designed with certain skin tones in mind I think that most people would be able to use all of the colors in some way. Definitely give these new shadows from Avon a try if you are looking for some new neutrals!

Swatch and Review: Avon Eye Dimensions Eyeshadow Pt.2!

So, I loved the first two Eye Dimensions palettes that I picked up so much that over the last month I have picked up the other four! Here they are:

*side note: all swatches are dry, over bare skin

Sultry Smoke is a great neutral trio for doing a shimmering smokey eye. The top shade is a metallic silvery white with very fine silver glitters throughout. This shadow is pretty well pigmented and blends very easily. The middle shade is a shimmery taupe with tons of fine silver glitter throughout. The pigmentation of this shade is very good, and it blends really well. The bottom shadow is a matte black. It does seem like there is a tiny bit of shimmer to it, but that blends out on the skin leaving a matte finish. The pigmentation is decent, and it builds up and blends very easily.

Neutral Haze is also a gorgeous neutral palette for anyone that loves their brown shadows. The top shade is the same as the top shade from the Sultry Smoke trio, that shimmering, sparkly, silvery white. The middle shade is a beautiful metallic soft mauve. Excellent pigmentation and blendability! The bottom shade is a deep shimmering chocolate brown with fine bronze glitters throughout. Again, excellent pigmentation and blendability.

Bronze Star is such a fun palette! The top shade is a shimmery soft golden yellow with tons of fine golden glitters throughout. The pigmentation of this one is a little light but it almost suits it to not be heavily pigmented, it gives it a slightly ethereal feel:-) It builds and blends well. The middle shade is a metallic golden fern green. Excellent pigmentation and blends well. The bottom shade is metallic golden bronze. Again, excellent pigmentation and blends really well.

Diamante Purple is the only one of these palettes that I was not terribly impressed with. The top shade was impossible for me to pick up accurately with my camera. In the palette it looks like a shimmery white base shadow with a ton of fine silver and holographic glitters in it(only the silver glitter would pick up with my camera, so you will just have to imagine the swatch above having twice as much shimmer!). The texture of the shadow is drier than the rest of the shadows from this collection, and somehow it actually applies transparent? It's hard to see in the pic above but virtually none of the white from the base shadow shows up, so you just end up with a lot of sparkle and no actual color. I think this shadow will work great as one of those new sparkle overlay/topcoat type shadows that I've been seeing popping up all over the place, but if you are looking for that white base to translate to the eye it's not going to happen. The middle shade is this amazing shimmery medium violet with a slight pink shift in the pan. Unfortunately, this shadow is a little on the dry side too. It does show up true to color on the skin, but you really have to build it up to get the intensity you see in the pan. The bottom is a deeper shimmering violet with tons of fine purple sparkle throughout. Again, a little on the dry side so it has to be blended and built up a bit to get that same pan intensity. Even though this is my least favorite of the six, I did get an idea while swatching this for an easy sparkly purple smokey eye tutorial. So keep an eye out for that!:-)

All in all, I really love the colors in these Eye Dimensions palettes. The metallic shades are a dream to work with, buttery smooth and great pigmentation!

Swatches: Avon Ultra Glazewear Lip Gloss

I thought I would do a quick swatch post today of the new Avon Ultra Glazewear lip glosses that I have tried. I'm a big fan of the Glazewear glosses! They aren't sticky, tacky, or goopy feeling on the lips, and they come in a really good range of colors. I'm sure I will pick up more of these in the future, so you guys can expect to see some more swatches of these glosses!

Pale Peach is a sheer sparkly gloss. It has a very light, creamy peach base with fine light peach glitter in it. this one definitely won't impart much color on the lips, but it gives a really pretty shine and sparkle to the lips and is good for layering over peach, pink, and nude lipsticks.

Nude is a soft peachy nude with a very fine golden shimmer through it. I really love this color for every day wear on it's own, and it also layers well over nude, brown, peach, and pink lipsticks.

Tickled Pink is a light, neutral, shimmering pink with super fine pink and champagne shimmers to it. REALLY pretty pink gloss, absolutely love this one!

Citrus Shine is a SUPER sparkly peachy pink gloss. I took about a million pictures of this color and couldn't capture the sparkle just right. You can get the idea from the pic above, but there is just a ton of fine peach, pink, and golden shimmers throughout this gloss. The color is really similar to the Extra Lasting gloss in Forever Rose, but without the funky texture and weird smell that that gloss has. If you like very sparkly glosses I definitely recommend this one!

Crystal Lilac is a little bit more of a cooler toned pink gloss with a hint of shimmer to it. It is listed in the brochure as having a cream finish, and while the shimmer is very fine and faint, there is definitely a little shimmer there.

Palm Beach Pink is a warm medium pink, with fine golden champagne shimmers in it. Again, this one is listed as having a cream finish but there is clearly some shimmer in it.

Fiery Red is a vibrant red(GORGEOUS!) gloss. This one does have a cream finish with no shimmer to it. It's the most opaque out of the bunch, my natural lip color just barely peeks through. I love this gloss on it's own, and layered over bright red, orange, and hot pink lipsticks.

Have you guys tried any of the new Ultra Glazewear glosses? What are your favorite colors?

FOTD: Plum Winged Liner + Red Lips

On the face:
~Magix Advanced Cashmere finish foundation in Light Beige
~Extra Lasting concealer in Fair
~Smooth Minerals powder foundation in Transparent Glow

On the eyes:
~Extra Lasting eyeshadow pencil in Shimmering Sand
~True Color eyeshadow quad in Emerald Cut
~Super Shock gel eyeliner pencil in Plumful
~Super Shock Max mascara in Black

On the cheeks:
~Glow bronzer in Warm Glow

On the lips:
~Gkimmersticks lip liner in Red Brick
~Ultra Color lipsticks in Scarlet Siren, Berry Berry Nice, and Lava Love

FOTD: Muted Green Smokey Eye

On the face
~Graftobian HD Glamour Creme foundation in Ingenue and Vixen ~Ben Nye translucent face powder in fair

On the eyes
~Avon Big Color eye pencil in Smokey Sage on the lid as a shadow base
~Yaby shadow in Antique over the whole lid
~mark. shadow in Moss on the outer 1/3 of the lid and softly blended up into the crease, also along the lower lash line
~Yaby shadow in Firewood blended through the crease
~Pixi shadow in Gilded Olive blended into the outer corner of the eye
~Yaby shadow in Magic Timber on the inner corner of the eye
~Avon kohl liner in True Black used to tight line the eye
~Avon Super Shock Max mascara in Black on the lashes

On the cheeks
~Sephora MicroSmooth baked bronzer duo in Spicy Heat, used the matte side to lightly contour
~Avon Smooth Minerals blush in Blushing Mauve on the cheekbones

On the lips
~Starlooks lip liner in Bare to line and fill in the lips
~OCC Lip Tar in Kava Kava
~mark. Glow Baby Glow lip gloss in Peek-a-boo

FOTD: Bluish-Purple Smokey Eye

I decided to do a look today inspired by the beautiful blue-purple look done for the Jason Wu A/W 2013 runway:-)



On the face: I used Avon Extra Lasting foundation in Light Nude, Extra lasting concealer in Fair, Ideal Flawless concealer in Light/Medium, and Ideal Flawless loose powder in Translucent

On the eyes: I used Avon Extra Lasting eyeshadow pencil in Sapphire, True Color eyeshadow quad in Purple Pop, Kohl eye liner in Deep Violet, Perfect Eyebrow kit in Deep Brown, and Super Shock Max mascara in Black

On the cheeks: I used mark. Bronze Pro in Bronzed, and Just Blushing in Afterglow

On the lips: I used Avon Ultra Glazewear lip gloss in Pale Peach

How To Use the New True Color Eyeshadow Quads