A Blogging Break

I have been pondering taking a break from my blog for awhile, so the time has come to do it. I am uncertain of how long, but I hope to start posting again after summer. Fall brings home school for me, so I am busy researching at the moment.

Here is just a sample of what is happening at my house right now:


Pull out the baby toys and a camera, and everyone suddenly appears! lol

Guerlain Nahema Rouge Automatique: So Right!

It is with great reluctance that I show you this bullet picture. It is a bit too red, but I haven't felt motivated enough to take a new one so:

Nahema is no exception to the wonderful Rouge Automatique formula. It truly feels like lip balm. The tube is also lightweight and much less bulky than I imagined. I should take a comparison picture one day. One day.....

Nahema is a sheer coral. It is slightly pinker on my lips than I expected, but I love it still. It reminds me of a sheer (and moisturizing) version of NARS Niagara.


I really love Rouge Automatiques and plan to indulge again when Sephora does their Friends & Family discount.

Nahema FOTD

Using the Bobbi Brown Tortoise Shell Palette again, and trying out Guerlain Rouge Automatique in Nahema. This is one swipe, but it can be built easily for more brightness.






FACE
Tarte Amazonian Clay Illuminating Serum
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua B10
MUFE HD Powder
Tarte Dark Circle Defense in Fair/Light
Benefit Powderflage
Tarte EmphasEyes Brow Pencil in Taupe

EYES
NARS Smudgeproof Base
BB Tortoise Shell Palette in Sand
-Hot Stone in crease
-Black Chocolate in outer V
-Ivory on brow bone
-Terracotta to blend out crease
-Desert Sand on lid
-Gold Bar on inner corners
BB Ivy Ink
L'Oreal Lash Out WP in black

CHEEKS
Dior Aurora

LIPS
Guerlain Nahema RA

Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Palette Swatches and Comparisons

I swatched the colors in Urban Decay 15th next to Naked and Book of Shadows 2 and 3. I don't have every color from the Book of Shadows after my depotting adventures though.

Let's start with the lighter shades:


Midnight Rodeo is close to Sidecar, but Sidecar has less glitter fallout. Midnight Rodeo is a bit deeper and more neutral than Sidecar.

Midnight 15 is very shimmery and shiny next to Virgin. It is also more silver. Midnight 15 is lighter than Sin.

Flow is peachier and lighter than Sin.

Chase is less warm and gold than Half Baked. It is more bronze than Toasted.



Deep End is more turquoise and less blue than Haight.

Half Truth is more blackened and less warm than Psychedelic Sister. It is deeper than AC/DC.


Deeper is more of a neutral brown compared to the warm bronze Smog.

Ace is deeper and less shimmery than Gunmetal.


MIA is a bit lighter and warmer than Darkhorse. It is deeper and more pigmented than Twice Baked.

Blackout is deeper and completely matte compared to Perversion. It is deeper than Creep and lacks the micro shimmer.

Blog Sale Updates

Added a few things to my blog sale this morning- the link is now in the upper right corner above my profile. Have a great weekend :)

Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Palette Swatches and Review

Yes, like a huge sucker I bought yet another Urban Decay palette. It was shiny.

Out of the plastic cover:

The shiny metal case comes encased in a velvet box.

I am so glad Urban Decay went with sleek useful packaging on this one. The eyeshadow pans are in an insert that lifts out. If you ever finish this palette, you will be left with a nice velvet lined box for jewelry or makeup. No goofy pop ups or bulky drawers here!

The side has nice scroll work that shows off the purple underneath. Fancy.

So freakin pretty. The combination of colors is awesome.

My OCD loves how they did a line of light neutrals, a line of colors, and a line of deeper neutrals. I enjoy order more than the average person. I am also liking the longer pan shape, just like the Naked Palette.

The colors really glow in the sun light.

Midnight Rodeo is a taupey brown with huge silver glitter chunks. The shame, Urban Decay! Midnight 15 is a light silvery taupe. Vanilla is a light golden white. Flow is a shimmery peach. Chase is a light bronze.

Tainted is a light pinkish purple with golden shimmer. Junkshow is a hot pink with a lilac flash. Omen is a purple with a blue iridescence. Evidence is a deep blackened shimmery blue. Deep End is a shimmery turquoise.

Deeper is a shimmery bronzed brown. MIA is a deep dark brown with a subtle shimmer. Ace is a deep gunmetal gray with shimmer. Blackout is a matte black. Half Truth is a dusty deep shimmery purple.

Overall this palette is great! Almost every color is full of pigment and applies smoothly in one swipe. I did think Evidence and Tainted were a tiny bit chalky compared to the others, but they still apply decently. I love the range of finishes- matte, satin, and high shimmer. Midnight Rodeo is the only one I found to have obnoxious glitter fallout.

If you love Urban Decay and aren't already overloaded with palettes, this is a must have. Tomorrow I will post comparisons with my Book of Shadows colors (the ones I still have from my depotting job) and my Naked Palette.

Bobbi Brown Sand Tortoise Shell Palette Swatches and Review

Being a ho for neutrals and a classic look, I think I am Bobbi Brown's target market. Bobbi always finds a way to make neutrals even more exciting and fresh.


This is the Sand Tortoise Shell Palette. There is also a Bronze Palette, which I reluctantly did not purchase.

It is a double layer set of matte and shimmer eye shadows.

The bottom pulls out like a little drawer.

I will tell you that of course I love the design, but my 7 year old son asked if he could have it when I was done. He thought it would be pretty cool to store things in.

Ivory is a softly matte white. Hot Stone s a matte gray taupe. Terracotta is a soft matte peach. Desert Sand is a smooth light gold shimmer.

Antique Rose is a matte brownish pink. Black Chocolate is a matte deep blackened brown. Sandy Rose is a shimmery beige taupe. Gold Bar is a super shimmery white gold.

There is not a dud in the bunch. All have great pigment and a smooth texture. They are all shades I would use regularly.

Bobbi says the palette is meant to layer colors until you reach the desired intensity without blending. I definitely blended, but these colors melt into each other perfectly. They don't blend away and lose their identity though.

One last look:

Win, huge win!

Peaceful Tortoise FOTD

I am using my new Bobbi Brown Sand Tortoise Palette which I am absolutely thrilled with, as well as my Tarte Peaceful blush.





FACE
Tarte Amazonian Clay Illuminating Serum
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua B10
MUFE HD Powder
Tarte Dark Circle Defense in Fair/Light
Benefit Powderflage
Tarte EmphasEyes Brow Pencil in Taupe

EYES
NARS Smudgeproof Base
BB Tortoise Shell Palette in Sand
-Antique Rose all over
-Black Chocolate in outer V
-Hot Stone in crease
-Ivory on brow bone
-Sandy Rose on lid
-Gold Bar on inner corner
MAC Blacktrack
L'Oreal Lash Out WP in black

CHEEKS
Tarte Peaceful AC blush

LIPS
Chanel Plumetis Rouge Coco
BB Peach Brightening Gloss

Bronzed Topkapi FOTD

Well, my old camera finally died for good. I am experimenting with my new one, but for the time being I am behind the learning curve. Here is a bronze eye look with Chanel Topkapi.






FACE
Tarte Amazonian Clay Illuminating Serum
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua B10
MUFE HD Powder
Tarte Dark Circle Defense in Fair/Light
Benefit Powderflage
Tarte EmphasEyes Brow Pencil in Taupe

EYES
NARS Smudgeproof Base
Chanel Topkapi
-bronze all over lid, crease, and lower lash line
-gold on inner corners
-deep brown in outer V
MAC Blacktrack
L'Oreal Lash Out WP in black

CHEEKS
RBR Sea of Showers
RBR Starina

LIPS
RBR Prey of Lust

Tarte Tickled Amazonian Clay Blush Swatches and Review

Tickled is another exclusive shade from a QVC set. I got this one on Ebay as well. It is a rosy color with a touch of brownish peach. It is a very natural looking flush.



"How does it compare to Tarte's other blushes?" you ask.....

Not quite as vibrant or pink as Blissful. Less reddish than Natural Beauty.


I think I am addicted to Tarte blush!