Azure Pop Tutorial

Metallic azure blue centered on matte brown smoky eyes.
We've all seen the Jason Wu F/W 2011 runway makeup, with the dark navy smoky eyes and bright metallic gold in the center of the lids.

I wasn't so much interested in re-creating the look as re-interpreting it with a different color scheme and softer, more wearable finish for real life. 
Step 1: Pack a matte cocoa brown to the outer and inner

Barry M Lip Paint 147 Peachy Pink: Review and Swatches!

Barry M Lip Paint 147 Peachy Pink
Barry M Peachy Pink Lip Paint is a lipstick that seems to have caused equal amounts of joy and disgruntlement among makeup aficionados. For one, it's one of the most beautiful peach-nude lip colors around. At the same time, it's one of the hardest to apply evenly due to the dry, slightly-cakey texture.
Swatches (L-to-R): Barry M Peachy Pink, Lime Crime Cosmopop,

Lime Crime Countessa Fluorescent Dupe: Barry M Vibrant Pink Review and Swatches!

 Barry M Lip Paint 62 Vibrant Pink

I've always considered Lime Crime's Countessa Fluorescent the Queen of Barbie Pinks. It's different from hot electric pinks and fuchsias like MAC's Candy Yum Yum in that it is a truer pink (as opposed to blue-based), not as deep, and almost highlighter-bright on the lips. 


Imagine my delight when my Barry M package included one that was extremely similar in

Featured Lip Shade: Barry M Baby Pink Lip Paint Review and Swatch!

Barry M Baby Pink Lip Paint worn over NYX Dolly Pink Liner
To continue in my individual reviews of Barry M Lip Paints, the second shade I'm reviewing is 100  Baby Pink, the center lipstick below (click to go to the haul post). This is probably the hardest to work with of the bunch, partly due to the texture but mostly due to the shade.
Barry M Lip Paints with flash in (L-to-R): 151 Sunset, 147

Weekend Lip Shade: Barry M Sunset Lip Paint Review and Swatch!

Swatches (L-to-R): NYX Indie Flick (matte), Barry M Sunset, Revlon Kiss Me Coral, NYX Haute Melon
I mentioned my Barry M haul a couple of days ago, and I've tested all of them in the last couple of days. Of the lot, I have to say #151 Sunset is probably my first recommendation, although I do really like most of the others as well.
Coral Lipsticks (L-to-R): NYX Haute Melon,Revlon Kiss Me Coral,

Lime Crime Chinchilla Opaque Grey Lipstick (Lip Noir Collection)

Lime Crime Chincilla Opaque Grey Lipstick
This strange lavender-grey lip shade has, for some very odd reason, become an obsession for me. I know I would likely never wear this out, but it makes me soooo curious! This is part of the Lip Noir Limited Edition collection, and is by far the most amazing shade within.
This would probably be great for toning down any lavender or pink lipsticks, but $16

BARRY M Lip Paint Haul and Swatches!

Barry M Lip Paints with flash in (L-to-R): 151 Sunset, 147 Peachy Pink, 100 Baby Pink, 62 Vibrant Pink, 52 Shocking Pink
Ahh... my beautiful babies have arrived from the UK. And the first thing I thought once I ripped off the plastic seals and uncapped these was, "Lime Crime!" 


And it's no wonder, as the brand is known for strong colors. Barry Ms come in matte black plastic tubes partially

How to Conceal: Undereye Circles

Unless you are one of those lucky souls who don't have very noticeable shadows around their eyes, you probably need a little concealment in that area.

THE MYTH?
Using a very light concealer to try to "brighten" dark circles. 

Because Black + White = Grey.
That light, bright under-eye effect you see on people like Kim Kardashian and J Lo comes mostly from dusting on a thick layer of paler

Full Foundation Routine: Easy and Quick!

I get excited about foundation tutorials. I don't get excited about foundation tutorials that make such a task seem like rocket science.



I'm guilty of posting a few of those in my day, I'm sure. Actually I'm positive.



So I really wanted to do an updated one showing you all that you can actually do a full foundation routine quick and easily using all the bells and whistles -- primer, foundation, concealer, setting powder... The works.

Just listing all of those things make me cringe because day to day, I like to keep things simple. But it dawned on me that these things are usually a part of my simple day to day look if I'm going out.



The best part? It only takes me a couple minutes to complete and the results last all day.



So if you want to see how quick and easy full foundation can actually be, or if you just want to check me out in my zero-makeup glory before things get rollin', check out a demo of my current foundation routine in the video below.



Products mentioned in the video:

Origins Vitazing Moisturizer

Garnier Anti-Dark Circle Undereye Roller (magic)

Too Faced Primed and Poreless

Sigma F84 brush (LOVE)

Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet+ liquid foundation, #40

MAC Studio Finish Concealer, NC20

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, Light Medium

NARS Laguna bronzer

NARS Orgasm blush

Weekend Hot Pink: NYX Cancun Pink Black Label Lipstick

NYX Cancun Pink is a bright, blue-based pink that is creamy, pigmented, and (to me) extremely beautiful. While some love has been shown to Hot Pink from the same Black Label range as a creamy version of MAC Candy Yum Yum, Cancun Pink is more opaque.

The bonus is that it also does not stain the lips the way NYX Hot Pink and Candy Yum Yum do.

L-to-R: NYX Paris, NYX Cancun Pink, MAC Pink

Behind the Scenes... Sigma Beauty Video Shoot with xSparkage!

Last week I had the opportunity to travel to Minneapolis again to film some makeup tutorials for Sigma Beauty with xSparkage. Leesha and I had a great time!



We filmed four videos- two looks each. I think they all came out awesome! I can't wait for you all to see them.

The videos should be available sometime in September. Don't worry, I'll let you guys know as soon as they're up!



Here are some behind-the-scenes photos from the shoot and the trip.

My super serious makeup face...

Aw look at us at the Mall of America! haha This picture is super cute to me for some reason.

We even had a fun last-minute meet-up at the mall! Thank you to all who came. It was so fun meeting all of you!

...and now, I'm going to end this post dramatically with a grainy, romantic photo of Leesha and I sharing s'mores at dinner one night...

xoxo,

Tiffany

Deal? Sephora Makeup Studio Blockbuster @ US$49.50

Deal? Sephora Makeup Studio Blockbuster @ US$49.50
(General Availability from early Oct' 11)
---
Yea or Nay?
This mega-kit from Sephora boasts 193 products.
- 96 eye shadow shades
- 84 shiny lip glosses
- 6 cream eyeliners
- 2 eyeliner pencils
- 3 blushes
- 1 bronzer
- 1 mascara
- 4 applicators




Quality-wise, I am not about to compare this with MAC or Urban Decay

Because Free Perfume is Always Fun... A Little Shopping Haul

I cannot tell you how excited I am every time I get my Ulta rewards certificate in the mail and I have enough for a free perfume. It's like I've won a major award or something.

Cue leg lamp clip.



I seriously haven't paid for a perfume in as long as I can remember. Which probably explains my shamefully large perfume collection.

So you can probably imagine my excitement when I had enough points for TWO free perfumes!

With still some points to spare.

Ok so enough about my love for freebies. So what? Free beauty products get me excited.

So along with proudly showing off my beautiful freebies, I thought I'd share a little haul from that same day and talk about some new MAC products I've been trying recently.

Big, Fat, Bombshell Lashes: Double-Lash Demo

Double-lashes; Ardell 122 over Ardell 110, worn with NYX matte lipstick in Sweet Pink 

A lot of movie starlets stack lashes for a real lush-lashed bombshell look. Unlike wearing a strip of full, showgirl lashes, stacked lashes are more irregular, more wispy, and somehow more subtly-glamorous looking.


Ardell 122s stacked over Ardell 110s.



Step 1: As a base, don't wear too much eye

Getting Fuller Lashes: Smoky Lash Trick

Black smoky liner with NYX Angel Blush, NYX Tea Rose lipstick (with Angel blush dusted over)

Mascara can lengthen and thicken lashes to some extent, but if you have sparse lashes, piling on more layers of mascara is not going to fool anyone into thinking you have lush lashes. 
One of the ways to make you look like you have a fuller lash line is adding dark smokiness to the base of your

How to Conceal: Product and Tools Overview

Skin Food Salmon Darkcircle Concealer
Since there were some questions recently regarding concealing products and tips, I decided to do a 3-part general guide to Concealing for common problems like spots. uneven tones, and dark circles. 
Part 1: OverviewPart 2: Undereye ConcealingPart 3: Spot Concealing

PART 1: Concealer Overview

General Rule-of-Thumb: Concealer should itself be concealed

Back to School.... Back to School...

...or work.



What's genius about my back to school tips is that they are the SAME ones I would give for the working gal. So give this one a chance.

I'm totally guilty of overlooking these "back to school" type videos myself, just because, well... I'm not in school anymore.

But these tips are really great for everyone because it's all about creating a quick, easy, and long-wearing look that will take you through the day.



I get so many requests for a "back to school" makeup tutorial. Which to me, is kind of tricky because there are so many possibilities for a specific "back to school" look.

Even trickier, because in high school and college, girls are just beginning to really define their style. Some may be more comfortable wearing more makeup than others. Some may even go to schools with rules and restrictions on what kind and how much makeup can be worn.

That's when I realized that "back to school" makeup isn't defined by a specific look, but should really be all about ease and results.

In other words, something that will get you out the door fast and stay on all day.



Because at school, the last thing you should be worried about is touching up your makeup.



So here are some of my favorite tips for long-wearing makeup that is super easy and quick to apply. So whether you're a mascara and lip gloss gal, or if you love your eyeliner (like I did...every. single. day.), you can adjust these tips and the tutorial to suit you.



Yeah, you read that right. Come on, I was in to makeup. It was my thing.



Check out my video below for all my tips and the tutorial.





Then stop reading my blog and go do your homework.



xoxo, Tiffany

How to even out NYX Narcissus Lipstick, plus a tutorial!

Top-to-Bottom: NYX Narcissus Round Lipstick, Revlon Stormy Pink Matte Lipstick, layered for an even, opaque finish.
Narcissus is one of NYX's best-sellers, but I'm one of those who feel the texture leaves much to be desired. Unlike many of the creme formulas, Narcissus is a semi-shimmery, bright doll-pink which has been compared to MACs Viva Glam Gaga.
The problem is that the very-creamy,

Duping MAC Pink Nouveau

Top-to-Bottom: MAC Pink Nouveau, NYX Matte Summer Breeze, and  Etude House  VIP Girl PK009

If you don’t have access, or don’t want to pay so much for MAC’s Pink Nouveau, but want a bright pink, here are 2 quick options.
NYX Summer Breeze matte lipstick and Etude House VIP Girl PK009.Note they are not 100% dupes. I’d say they are about 90-95% similar. Both are a twinge less blue-toned than

Favorite Eye Pencils

Mattes (L-to-R): Revlon Matte Kohl Eyeliner in 05 Very Violet, Make Up Store Vanilla matte pencil,  Revlon Matte Kohl  Eyeliner in 04 Pure White, The Body Shop Special Edition Kajal Eyeliner #01


 Revlon Matte Kohls are great because they are so strong and opaque, but creamy enough to apply without tugging too much on your skin. I like Very Violet along the upper lash line in a colorful

Wearing Lavender / Purple Lips!

L-to-R: MAC Up The Amp Lipstick, Lime Crime Airborne Unicorn Lipstick, MAC Going Casual Cremesheen Glass, MAC English Accents Lipglass (L.E.), NYX Power (round) lipstick

I love lavender lips. And by purple/lavender, I don’t mean purplish or cool-toned pinks. I mean REALLY purple. 
TIP: The lighter the shade, the more opaque the lip color should be, because glosses will creep and sink into

Wet n Wild Coloricon "Greed" Palette (Glam Look)

This is a second look featuring the Wet n Wild Coloricon Palette "Greed". Previously, I did a softer, more colorful look using the shimmery and coral-toned shades. This time, it's more a play on shapes and contrast than washes of color.

Step 1: Apply eyeshadow base over the lids, then black kohl pencil along the upper and lower lash lines. Smudge along the upper lids, and then re-line right at

Enchanting Teal Makeup Tutorial

Products Used:
Sigma Flare Palette
colors used: Crush, Oversee, Define, Publicize
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
Benefit They're Real mascara
Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Peaceful
MAC Lipglass in Nymphette

not shown:
Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet+ liquid foundation
Revlon Brow Fantasy in Dark Blonde

Some July Favorites!

It's that time again! My favorite beauty products I discovered (and rediscovered) during the month of July. Hope you like :)
In other news, Brad and I are thinking about starting a home blog. Thoughts?

Featured Lip Shade: NYX Haute Melon!

MAC Melon pigment on lids with NYX Haute Melon on lips

I love hot blue-based pinks for summer because they look so striking, but I do occasionally stray towards the corals.
And one of the most beautiful corals I have found recently is NYX's Haute Melon, a bright raspberry coral which is more flattering than the usual yellow-based corals shades.



NYX Haute Melon lipstick
The texture is

Burnished Bronze Smoky Eye

This is a look that uses two bronze/grey shades over a dark base, shaped into a soft cat eye. It plays on two neutral two-toned shades applied over a black base for a smoky effect.
Step 1: Apply a black base to the lids. I used a black khol pencil over the lids and spread it out with a flat synthetic brush. Make sure to extend at the outer corners and fade out into a faint wing.
Step 2: Apply a