drugstore discovery: Rimmel Scandal Eyes Shadow Paint

One of my favorite things to do is scope out new products at the drugstore- if you haven't noticed yet! However, lately all my drugstore have been displaying holiday gift bags and boxes so I didn't really notice any new displays. Then I went to Harmon (my local beauty store) and woah baby! I found a couple new products, but I wanted to focus on the Rimmel Scandal Eyes Shadow Paint first.

This product claims to be a long wear liquid eye shadow that lasts all day, and I got it in the shade Chestnut Taupe. This is a taupe shade that leans more towards purple (it is more purple than the swatch shows). On the left you can see the "paint" a little more sheered out and the right is a full on swatch.

This has a pretty thin consistency and does blend easily. It takes a minute to set and after that won't budge. This can definitely be layered to create a deeper or more subtle effect. As you can somewhat see in the swatch, this product is super metallic and shines.

There are quite a few shades in this line, but I was attracted to this one the most. I did see some highlight-like colors but I don't really like to put these types of products in my inner rim, as they tend to make that area a bit itchy. I would definitely check these out if they are displayed at your drugstore! I kind of see these as the more liquid version of the Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoos- both great additions to any collection!

So this was just my head's up to you about a new product I found. Look for more of these coming soon because I have noticed a lot of new collections coming out recently. Let me know if you have tried any of the other shades in this line and which are your favorites!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

the 5: a quick smokey eye

One thing I love doing is challenging myself, especially in the realm of makeup. I have gone from never wearing eyeshadow to switching up my eye look every day, and it's so fun! Something I really wanted to tackle is how to create a smokey eye including eyebrows using only five products...and I have triumphed and lived to talk about it! So without further ado, let me get started on what you need for this look!

First, I would suggest some kind primer and in this case I chose the Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze (swatched top, left). This product, specifically, will not only keep your shadows from creasing but also provide you with a bit of color on the lid. The next product, which also happens to be the star of this tutorial, is the Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow Quad in Natural Smokes (swatched in the order they will be used). This is a great, very universal quad with two shimmery and two matte shades that is practically necessary in anyone's makeup collection. You will also need a blending brush, and mine happens to be the Coastal Scents Classic Blender Natural- so very affordable! You will also need a brow pencil or powder to fill in your brows and the one I use is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Perfect Brow Pencil in Medium Brown. And finally, you will need a mascara, of course! I use the L'Oreal Double Extend Carbon Black Mascara because it includes both the primer and black mascara to give you beautiful, thick lashes. Okay, so now that we have gone through what we need, let's get on with the pictorial!

Start off with a clean eye and apply the Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze all over the lid and also the lower lash line. You do not want to take this past your crease. Then use the taupe shade (top left) from the Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow Quad in Natural Smokes and apply that all over the lid using the applicator provided in the palette.

Using that same applicator, take the bronze shade (below the taupe shade) from the quad and pat that into the outer corner taking it a bit into the crease and also on the lower lash line. Now it's time to blend, so using the Coastal Scents Classic Blender Natural I blended the crease out and also the lower lash line a bit. Now use your fingers to get a concentrated application of the cream shade from the quad and place that in the inner corner and under the brow bone.

Again using the tip of the applicator provided in the quad, take the deep matte brown and apply it as a liner. Obviously you can use a liquid or gel liner if you prefer, but I think lining the lash line with shadow makes it more wearable during the day. I then filled in my brows using the Anastasia Beverly Hills Perfect Brow Pencil in Medium Brown and finished off the look by applying the L'Oreal Double Extend Carbon Black Mascara.

This look is affordable and with some practice can become quite easy and not very time consuming! It's also very versatile, as it can be worn during the day or deepened a little for a night out! I hope you enjoyed this look and I wish you success in recreating it.

Also, I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and got everything you wished for! And if you don't celebrate, well then I hope you had a great day :D

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

Glam bag update: part 3

It is time to update you on the final batch of Glam bags, which includes the months of October, November and December. Like in the other ones (check out part 1 and part 2) I will only mention the products I really enjoyed, unless I didn't really have any favorites. I do plan on doing a "top Glam bag products" and "Glam bag fails"- possibly by different names- so look out for that soon! Now let's get started with October.

October 2013 Glam bag

Products I liked:

• Zoya Nail Polish in Mason- I love the formula of Zoya polishes and the color is beautiful, as well. It is a great metallic cranberry magenta and looks perfect for fall and winter.
• Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Dolly- this berry mauve with golden shimmer is the perfect natural shade with a kick to it! It tingles and applies so smoothly, giving you luscious pouty lips. I have really enjoyed this gloss!

November 2013 Glam bag

Products I liked:

• Starlooks Gem Eye Pencil in Amethyst- this silvery lilac pencil liner makes an amazing glittery base. I like layering shadow over it because it tones down the shimmer a bit, but still allows it to peek through. I did do a look with it but the pictures weren't really showing the beauty of the pencil...so annoying.
• pixi Beauty Bronzer in Subtly Suntouched- I didn't speak too highly of this product at first, but I decided to use it as a contour and surprisingly it worked great. I use this on days when I want a subtle contour because it is so light, and no, the shimmer does not show.
• HSI Professional Argan Oil Leave-In Hair Treatment- this is so nice. It is a hair oil that leaves my hair feeling silky and healthy. I use this on my wet hair, but it would also be lovely to tame any flyaways and frizzies.

December 2013 Glam bag

• I wasn't super crazy about any product this month. I have yet to try the Andrea Strip Lashes in 33 but I have no doubt they will look gorgeous. The pop Beauty Bright Up Your Life Eye Shadow Trio in Smokin' Hot is nice and pretty pigmented but they aren't shades I really find myself reaching for that often. 

So that's my update on how I felt about the Glam bag products. Let me know what your favorites were for the months of October, November and December- I'd love to know! Have a lovely Christmas Eve and Day, I hope you get everything you wished for and that you can see all your favorite relatives and friends! Love you all :)

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

Stila kitten set

I remember trying a sample of the Stila In the Light Palette, click here for an impression on that, and really enjoying the shade Kitten. Well I appeared not to be the only one, because Stila came out with a whole range of products modeled around the Kitten shade. One of my favorite things to do on Sephora.com and Ulta.com is to look at the sale section...and what did I see? A kit that had some of the Kitten-colored products, and at $25, I thought it was a steal! So of course my inner makeup junkie coerced me to get it.

So the kit comes in this cute little tin (I took the plastic insert out and put some extra mascaras in there). You end up getting four full sized products, Eye Shadow, All Over Shimmer Duo, Silk Shimmer Luxe Gloss and Lip Glaze- all, of course, in the shade Kitten.

Starting off with the eyeshadow, this is a beautiful champagne shade with lots of shimmer. I have so many of these but none seem to be exactly like this one. It really just opens up the eye and provides the most beautiful hint of glow. The eyeshadow itself has a pretty creamy texture and is very pigmented. One of my favorite things to do with the shadow (besides highlight the inner corner and under the brow) is to tap it in the center of my lid after my eye look is completed- it really is such a lovely effect!

Next to that is the All Over Shimmer Duo which comes with a sort of watered down version of Kitten and a bit of a deeper more bronze version of Kitten. Both are shimmery and feel like the eyeshadow. These both provide such a glowing effect on the top of the cheekbones. 

The final two products are the gloss and lip glaze. The gloss is very thick and I feel is meant more to highlight the lips over another lip product. It doesn't have very much color on its own but provides a lot of shimmer, not in a tacky way though. Even though there are visible glitter particles, it really doesn't show up that way on the lips. As for the gloss, this is a bit more pigmented (even than the picture lets on). It is kind of a bronzy nude, again, with those glitter particles that do not really show up on the lips. This also has a pretty thick consistency, but I wouldn't consider either of them uncomfortable. I think they are a bit sticky, but nothing too terrible.

If you like this shade but don't feel like dishing out the $18 for the single shadow, I really encourage you to get this kit (click here). I do see myself using some of these products more often, i.e. the shadow and highlight, but in the end it is worth it to me! Let me know if you own this shadow and what's your favorite way to wear it!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

December 2013 Glam bag

Already time for another Glam bag- I can't believe it...but I love it! So as you may know, I was so excited last month for what I was going to get and then I was kind of let down, so I tried not to have any expectations for December. And I guess that paid off, because I was actually very happy and surprised with this month's products!

Okay, first I want to talk about the bag. I just adore it! It's so cute and black (I love black) with a kind of quilted diamond pattern. The inside is blood red, making it that much more beautiful- maybe ipsy heard my complaints from last month and decided to step it up a notch. Now let's get to the products.

The first pictured product is the Be a Bombshell The One Stick in Flustered. I think this is supposed to be a product you can use on your lips and cheeks, and I got a red shade. This has a very creamy texture and seems to be very thin. I think this would be a beautiful blush color when blended out- I will definitely mention this in another post!

Next is the pop Beauty Bright Up Your Life Eye Shadow Trio in Smokin' Hot. I would consider this a classic smokey eye palette because it provides you with a very light silvery shade, a medium silver grey and a deep, almost black charcoal. All three shades have shimmer and are fairly pigmented. There is a bit of fallout but I think that is mainly due to the shimmer particles. This is definitely a handy trio to have!

The NYX Round Lipsticks are great products because of their shade variety and texture, and I happened to get the shade Apollo. This is literally a shimmery copper. I can't say I would ever wear this shade alone- it made me look like I was sick- but I do imagine this looking gorgeous in the center of a red lip. Time for some experimentation!

The fourth product I received is the Starrily Nail Polish in Bzzz Bzzz. This is a black and gold chunky glitter with a clear base. I haven't really tried this polish yet because I'm not quite sure what color to pair it with- suggestions anyone?

Last product, and possibly my favorite, is a pair of Ardell Strip Lashes in 33. These lashes are very full all the way around and will look gorgeous with a deep smokey eye for those extra special occasions...I'm thinking New Year's! It almost looks as if they are two sets of lashes on top of each other and are pretty much the same length the full way around. 

So if you couldn't tell through this post, I'm back to loving the Glam bag. We go through ups and downs but when it comes down to it, in the end I'll always know how I really feel about it. What did you get in your Glam bag? Let me know below!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

sample Saturday: Fekkai, Clinique, YSL

I'm bringing you another sample Saturday from some things I got through an Ulta order, black Friday and a friend. I don't know about you but I had to find some things to occupy myself with today since it is snowing outside- YAY! So you should be getting lots of posts coming up ;)

Starting with the Fekkai PrX Reparatives Conditioner, which claims to "transform dry, damaged hair into silky-soft locks with bounce" (taken off of packaging). I did like this conditioner. It has a vanilla scent to it and smoothes on nicely over the hair. Once you rinse it out, it does leave your hair feeling very soft, as well as when it is dried. I do imagine it doing well with damaged hair, however it is quite pricey and I personally feel that the Aussie Moist Conditioner does just as well.

A sample I got from going to Sephora on black Friday is the Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief. Upon application this had a gel like feeling, sort of like many of the primers. It gave my skin a very smooth finish and didn't look greasy or oily, which leads me to believe this is a water-based moisturizer. I did feel like I could put makeup on top of this without it breaking down, but at the same time I don't think it was as hydrating as its name claims. Although I generally have oily skin, I do like to use a very hydrating moisturizer at night to combat the possibility of dry patches and I honestly would not trust this product to do it. I would suggest this as a day to day moisturizer if you apply SPF over it, but not something that I would personally go out and get.

Lastly is a product that has been talked about in the beauty community for a long time- the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Radiant Touch. I got the shade 2 Luminous Ivory. This has a very light consistency and coverage concealer that can also be used to highlight all over the face. It can be built up a little bit to provide more coverage since it is so thin. I didn't notice it creasing on my and it did last all day without breakdown. If I ever decide to really splurge on a concealer, I really want to get this one because I really did like the effect it gave on my eyes and lately I have really been loving lesser coverage products that allow my skin to shine through. (In the picture- right- you can see the concealer applied to my left under-eye area, while the right has only foundation.)

I hope you stay warm and cozy under blankets if it is snowing by you, and if you have warm weather, then go enjoy it outside! Talk to you soon!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

candied plums eye look

I wasn't planning on taking an almost two week hiatus, but the weather along with some personal things left me no time to blog- so I'm squeezing this in now since today NJ had some sunny weather. And because this weather was so dull lately, I wanted to do this colorful eye look that is a bit out of my comfort zone!

Like always, I started off this look by priming my eyes and I used the Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer. This will make the shadows stand out more and keep them from creasing. As for shadows, I used the Too Faced Shadow Bon Bons Palette, but you can use any similar colors you have in your collection since it was a limited edition holiday palette from last year.

Starting off with a matte off-white, which is Vanilla in the palette, I put this in the inner corner of my eye and under the brow to highlight these areas. I didn't want this to be too stark because of the other colors I was using. Next I used the shade Cut the Cake, which is a matte lilac, and patted that all over the lid. I wanted this to be very concentrated so I layered this quite a bit. To give the crease some definition and a pop of color I used Candy Rose, a light pink with gold sparkles, in the crease. I wanted this to show through but not be obnoxious so I took this a bit higher in the crease and concentrated the color a bit more. Lastly, I took Framboise, a deep shimmery lilac, and patted that in to the outer-v and also took it up to the crease. This just gives your eye some more definition and completes the look. I also took this shade under the eye to line the lower lashes. To brighten that lilac color up a bit more, I went back in with Cut the Cake and patted that over the areas I had originally put it.

I then lined my eyes with the Lorac Front of the Line Pro and created a flick. I think this look would be really beautiful and more whimsical if you lined your upper lash line with a kohl liner and then blended it out with a black eye shadow...but I was running out of time! For my mascara, I used the Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes- which I have been really liking, may I add.

Pink is not typically a color I go for in terms of shadows so I was surprised to see how well this look pulled together. I really like it! I think if you make the colors more intense this could look beautiful for a night out- I was just going to work and didn't want to overdo it!

I hope you enjoyed this look and I wish you much success recreating it! Comment with pictures, if you'd like! Talk to you soon.

Stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: sample Saturday: Ren, YSL, Ojon

I finished a few more samples that I wanted to share with you. Some of these I was able to use a few times, so I formed a bit more of a complete opinion.

One of the samples that I got with one of my Sephora orders is the Ren Hydra-Calm Cleansing Milk. This is a cleanser with a thin consistency. It has a scent to it that I can't place- it reminds me of something you would smell in a hospital or at the doctor. However the scent doesn't linger long or isn't very potent. It removes your makeup including any eye makeup, but I can't confirm whether it removes waterproof mascara because I don't use it. After you have cleansed it does leave your skin feeling very soft and as if you just applied moisturizer. Also, it does remove all the makeup on your face. I think this would be great for people with very inflamed and dry skin, because of the way it soothes. Not something I would personally purchase because I didn't feel it worked any better than what I am doing right now.

A sample my friend gave me is the Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat Illuminating Foundation. I have been wanting to try this for a while, so I was really excited! This foundation has a very thin, runny consistency and a fruity/floral scent. I placed this all over my face with my fingers and then used a buffing brush to blend it. I noticed that it can stick a bit to dry patches but it isn't too drying. It has medium coverage and gives you a natural finish. It doesn't really "dry" so I would set it with a light powder to get rid of that tacky feeling.

As for staying power, it does pretty well. I only noticed a bit of oil in the t-zone, but like I mentioned before, I would set this with a powder. In the pictures you can see my bare face (top left), and then my face with the foundation as well as a close up. I don't think I will purchase this foundation because the coverage is a little too much for me- I like to have more of a light coverage foundation. Also, I don't like how it stays tacky.

My last sample is the Ojon Color Sustain Pro Fade Fighter. I'm not quite sure what this is supposed to be...a conditioner, a treatment? I really don't know, but I used it as a conditioner. This has a runny consistency and a musky perfume smell. I had to use a lot to to feel like I got my hair coated completely. Once I washed it out, it didn't leave my hair feeling soft like a normal conditioner would. However, when I blow dried my hair it did feel relatively soft. As for the claim that it protects your hair color- I can't really comment on that because I didn't use it long enough. Can't say I would buy this again.

I hope you have a lovely weekend and enjoyed all my non-stop November posts! I can't believe the month is already over! Look for more posts coming soon.

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: black Friday haul

I don't know about you, but I love going black Friday shopping. I mean, of course, there are great deals going on, but mostly I like to see the crazy people. Some of them are just NUTS! So every year my sister, her best friend and I go to the mall to check out the deals (and the people). I think this year I scored some sweet items, so I wanted to show you what I got!

Our first stop was Walmart, where unfortunately people got a little bit too crazy and police had to get involved- yikes. Luckily, we went after all that happened, just to check it out. I didn't end up getting anything there so off to the mall we went!

First stop, can you guess...Sephora! They had a bunch of $10 deals that I wanted to check out and I ended up getting the The Art of Shaving The 4 Elements of the Perfect Shave Kit as a present for my dad, as well as the philosophy Purity Made Simple 3-in-1 Cleanser for Face and Eyes (pictured, center). They had a lot of other cool kits, but none that I really felt I needed.

Next we stopped at Express. Here I got the Sexy Stretch Leggings in black and camo (pictured, center) and the Reversible V-Neck Racerback Cami in a blush and taupe-grey color (pictured, right). Everything was 50% off here, so I could've gone absolutely crazy but these were pieces that I wanted to add to my closet.

Our last stop was Old Navy, where everything was 50% off as well. We also came here again around noon today, so this is what I got on both trips. On the left you can see two Boyfriend V-Neck Cardis in a hunter green and a beige. I also got a pair of round crystal earrings and a Performance Fleece 1/2-Zip Pullover in a grey and aqua split, which you can see in the top right.

I'm excited to wear my purchases out and happy that black Friday is over. All that shopping, and standing in line, made me so tired! Let me know what deals you scored this year!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: L'Oreal Miracle Blur

For about a half a year now, the L'Oreal RevitaLift Miracle Blur Instant Skin Smoother Finishing Cream has been the talk of the town. I heard many good things about it, but at like $25 for a little bit more than an ounce I wasn't convinced by just reviews. Then one day, as I was walking around Walgreens scoping out new beauty products, I came across a mini version of this for only $7...so my immediate thought was "yes! I gotta try this".

This product has many claims so I want to mention some of those and then tell you how truthful I think L'Oreal is being.

• blends in seamlessly to create a perfectly smooth surface
• diffuses light on skin for a soft-focus blurring effect
• erases lines, wrinkles and reduces pore size visibility
• defend against future signs of aging
• and protect against sun rays.

So, let's crack down on this supposed miracle worker. When you first squeeze the product out of the tube it has a white tint and is very thick. When you rub it in it has a bit of a silicon feeling to it and is very easy to spread. It dries to a matte finish and doesn't feel sticky or anything, just like your skin. L'Oreal suggests to put this on after you cleanse and use your day cream, and you can use it under your makeup or alone. It does have a tiny hint of that typical sunscreen scent but it is basically unscented.

When I first got this, I just didn't believe it would "blur" your skin and make you look photo ready...but I can say with confidence that THAT is exactly what it does. In the top left picture, you can see a close up of my skin with only moisturizer. You can tell that my pores are visible and I have some redness going on, as well as some blemishes. The bottom left, is a close up of the Miracle Blur applied. You can see the pores are not as visible and the redness is toned down. In the picture on the right, I show you a side by side comparison- the left side has the Miracle Blur applied to it and the right does not. Also, the left side looks more matte. I was really just amazed (I had to ask my mom and sister to make sure I wasn't imagining things, lol!).

As for lines and wrinkles, that is not something I really struggle with but you can notice that the wrinkles under my eye on the left side are not as noticeable. The SPF 30 definitely helps with protection against sun rays, but I can't yet say if I feel that it defends against future signs of aging.

This picture shows the product applied to both sides, and I really like how it looks. I think if you want to go bare-faced but struggle with pores, redness and lines, you can slap this on and feel more confident walking out the door. Under makeup, it looks beautiful as well. Also, you can concentrate this on only certain areas to "blur" your problem sections. I think blending with your fingers suffices and to really fill in pores, use tapping motions.

As for staying power, this doesn't really make your makeup last any longer (not that it claims to). The packaging says to reapply every 2 hours if this is your main sunscreen- which for me, it is not.

I really do think this product is worth every penny, because it actually lives up to it's claims. I usually use very low coverage foundations to begin with but I wouldn't mind walking out of the house with this on and some mascara (I wouldn't mind walking out of the house completely bare either, but even just mascara gives you a boost of confidence). If you are weary, try the smaller size...$7 stand between you and perfectly blurred skin!

I hope you all had a lovely and safe Thanksgiving with your families, and got to enjoy a beautiful meal with each other!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: light matte smokey eye

I am a huge fan of dark shimmery smokey eyes, but sometimes I just want to take it down a notch and do something light and matte. Generally I don't like how a complete matte looks on me, but I really thought this looked beautiful!

To start off this look I primed my eyes with the Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base. This will help the look stay put all day. Then I took the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk and put that all over my lid. A white primer will help the white eye shadow look brighter and stand out more. I blended that out a little bit with my fingers to make it even.

For shadows, I first used the Balm Meet Matt(e) Nude Palette and took the shade Matt Malloy in the same places I applied this jumbo eye pencil as well as in the inner corner. I used patting motions to apply this shade because it will create the most opaque color. Then I took the L'Oreal Colour Riche Eye Shadow in Cuppa Joe and applied the top color in the crease to act as a guideline. 

Next going back to the Balm palette, I took the shades Matt Garcia and Matt Wood and applied those in my crease with a fluffy brush VERY VERY lightly. These shadows are very pigmented, so lightly tap the tip of your brush in them and go back for more if the look needs it. Then I took those same two colors onto the lower lash line using a pencil brush. Again, you want this to be pretty light.

For liner, I used the Starlooks Kohl Eye Pencil in Obsidian to create a general shape and then a black matte shadow to perfect the line. This gives the look some smokey-ness without looking too intense- I have really been loving this technique lately! I also lined my water line with the Rimmel ScandalEyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Nude to brighten the eyes up even further.

To complete the look I applied my mascara and also decided to go with falsies! I used the Revlon Fantasy Lengths Maximum Wear Eyelashes in the style Flirty. These are only a little bit longer than my natural lashes and are practically even in the middle and the outer corner. A style like this is a little bit more appropriate for daytime.

I hope you enjoyed this look, it was definitely a little something different for me. I do see myself wearing this look again though because it is daytime appropriate but still nice for "fancier" occasions!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: trash talk: episode 7

Today I am bringing you another episode of "trash talk"- or more commonly known as an empties/used up products post! A lot of these are deluxe sized samples that became part of my every day routine and really did take a while to finish.

The first product I finished- that was not part of my every day routine- is the Big Sexy Hair Powder Play which I got in my April Glam bag (you can see that post here). This is one of those volumizing powders that also gives your hair some texture. These types of products have become huge and I must say I didn't enjoy this one. The Got 2b POWDER'ful Volumizing Styling Powder works much better at give your hair some boost and volume.

Next is the H2O Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment that I got from my October Glam bag (click here to see that post). This deluxe sample lasted me about a month, so quite a good amount of time. I only used this at night since it claims to be hydrating, but I didn't notice any of that. This has a gel consistency that feels tacky on the face after application. It also takes a while to dry. I can't say I would repurchase this because I don't think this is moisturizing or hydrating at all.

In the center you can see the Lush Mint Julips Lip Scrub. Like the name suggests this is a sugar scrub for your lips that has a minty taste and smell. It is not overpowering and the scent doesn't linger after you use it. I think I mentioned this as a favorite at one point but after some consideration, my opinion kind of changed. The pot packaging makes this kind of unsanitary because you have to stick your finger in it every time you want to use it. I also feel that too much product goes to waste because the consistency is kind of dry. The pot will last you quite a while, even with every day use, which is nice. I do find using a toothbrush much more effective at removing all the dead skin, though.

The fourth product I have used up is the bareMinerals Matte SPF 15 Foundation. I also used up the Original formula of this, so I wanted to compare them to each other. I do think both of these mineral foundations apply very nicely and give a light to medium coverage. They both have a natural finish immediately after application, however the Original formula would get wayyyy too dewy on my oily skin throughout the day whereas the Matte formula kept my skin natural looking. I only had a little bit of oil in the t-zone with that one. I did notice that both of these can cake up in your wrinkles (in my case it happened to be between the brows) and they do emphasize dry skin/patches. The shades are very forgiving, even if they aren't a perfect match for your skin tone at the moment which was nice going from winter into spring. I did enjoy the Matte Foundation a lot and can see myself purchasing that again.

The next product is the pixi Flawless & Poreless Primer which I got in my February Glam bag (view that post here). Like I mentioned there, this primer doesn't have that silicone feel- it feels like a regular moisturizer. After using several application methods...patting, buffing, rubbing...this did nothing. My pores looked the same size they always do, my makeup didn't last any longer or apply nicer. I can't even say that it was moisturizing because I definitely would not use this without one. Honestly, it was just a flop.

Last, but not least, is the e.l.f. Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Bark. I don't even have to worry about finishing it because I have backups! I mentioned this in my favorite e.l.f. products post, click here, and continue to love it. It is a great lipstick formula that gives you the benefits of a gloss, as well, and not to mention this perfect color- I can't get enough!

I hope this gave you some insight as to what products I enjoy and others that are maybe not so suitable for me. Have you tried any of these products and loved or hated them? Please let me know, I love to hear how products work on other people...who knows, maybe I'm doing something wrong!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: 2 shadow look: neutral shimmer

Today I wanted to share with you another two shadow look. This one is very neutral, using two of my favorite drugstore palettes- which makes this look super affordable! Plus, these are shadows (and palettes) that are basically essentials in anyone's collection.

To get this look, I started off by priming my lids up to the brows with the Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer and then to give some extra staying power, as well as color, I used the Neutrogena Crease Proof Eye Shadow in Constant Copper.

Now let's get to shadows! I started off the ever popular CoverGirl Eye Enhancers 3-Kit Eyeshadow in Shimmering Sands, using the lightest shade all over my lid and also putting that in the inner corner to brighten up the eye. To give the crease some definition and also add dimension to the look, I used the darkest shade from the L'Oreal Colour Riche Eye Shadow in Cuppa Joe. I also added this shade to the lower lash line.

To finish this look I used the Lorac Front of the Line Pro to create a winged liner and then lined my lower water line with the Rimmer ScandalEyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Nude (not pictured). This opens up the eyes and makes you look wider awake. On my lips I am wearing the Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Lipstick in Lingerie Pink 7 to give myself a nude-pink pout!

Like I mentioned above, these shadows are great for any collection because they can be paired with anything...and I think you can never have too many neutral shades- at least that's what I keep telling myself and using as justification to buy more ;)!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: warm & cozy OOTD

I apologize for not posting yesterday, but I was just a little too busy. My family and I went to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in NYC- which was very cute and fun to see! I wanted to post my outfit for the night because it's putting together some pieces from a haul I did from Forever 21.

Top- boyfriend sweater from Forever 21
Bottoms- faux leather leggings from Forever 21
Shoes- black buckle boots from JustFab (last year)
Jewelry- bow earrings (not shown) from Charming Charlie's

You can find the links to the Forever 21 items, here. I couldn't believe how warm and comfy the sweater was, and not scratchy at all- I can't deal with scratchy! I think the pairing of a baggy sweater with the faux leather leggings dresses up the sweater and dresses down the leggings. Also the leggings gives the whole outfit some shape

I hope this gives you some insight as to how you can dress up an oversized sweater! Let me know how you pair leather leggings or baggy sweaters in the comments below!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: let's get Naked!: silver sparkle

With the release of the new Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette I decided to start a new series! This is going to be tutorials using the eyeshadows featured only in the Naked palettes. Some may be quick and simple, while others more intricate, but you will be able to create them using only the Naked palettes. So today I'm featuring a look using the Naked 2 Palette along with some other products. Let's get started!

I started off my look using the Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer, putting that all over my lid up to the brow bone. This will ensure that your shadows won't crease- but to give it some extra staying power, I used the Neutrogena Crease Proof Eye Shadow in Constant Copper but you can use any champagne colored base (or none at all).

Now, starting with the shadows- as I mentioned before I used only the Naked 2 Palette! Starting with the shade Tease (a mid-toned mauve) and blended that lightly in the crease. This gives the look some balance because it is matte. Next I took Verve (a light silver with shimmer) and packed that on the inner half of the lid and also the inner corner. Then I took Pistol (a mid-toned grey with shimmer) and put that in the outer half of the lid and also blended it up in to the crease a bit. I also blended this onto the lower lash line to give some definition there and create a bit of a shadow.

Lastly, I used the Starlooks Kohl Eye Pencil in Obsidian and drew a winged liner on. To set this and define the liner more I used Blackout (a matte black). And that's it! I love doing this light smokey eye because it can be appropriate for day or night- depending on how deep you make it!

On my lips I am wearing the CoverGirl Queen Collection Lip Color in Penelope Pink, which is just an adorable baby pink shade- I absolutely love it! Look for more posts in the series soon and have a lovely Saturday evening!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: back to basics: mixing foundations

Lately, one of my biggest makeup obsessions has been mixing my foundations. I know, I know...this sounds messy and like a big hassle- but it's really not! I think mixing your foundations can give you the exact coverage and finish you are looking for without having to trial hundreds of them to find the "perfect" one. Because in the end, isn't that what we all want? The foundation that will shrink our pores, make our skin look matte or glowing and youthful and hide all our flaws, but at the same time not look cakey (that's expecting quite a lot from a liquid!).

This is great if you are, say, more of an oily person but you want to use a dewy foundation or vice versa. Also, let's say you love a foundation but the shade is too deep or light for you- you can mix it with one that is lighter or darker to get the perfect shade! So let me show you what foundations I love mixing.

Pictured above are three matte full coverage foundations and then a dewy light to medium coverage one. Mixing a matte foundation with a dewy one allows me to wear a dewy foundation without looking or becoming too oily. Also, this thins out the coverage a little and can sometimes make full coverage foundations easier to work with. The three full coverage foundations I really enjoy are the Revlon Colorstay Makeup for Combination/Oily Skin, CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation and Revlon Colorstay Whipped Creme Makeup. The dewy foundation I usually  mix them with is the L'Oreal True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup.

Here I have the L'Oreal True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup in shade W1-2 on the left and the CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation in 810 Classic Ivory on the right. In the middle you can see these foundations mixed together- which you can do on your hands or by dotting the foundation on your face and then blending with a stipple or buffing brush.

You can tell a bit that one foundation is a little more yellow in undertone while the other leans more pink- mixing them can give you more of a neutral undertone, which is great for foundations that only come in one or the other.

The next set of foundations that I mix all have light to medium coverage but are either too light or too dark for me right now. The L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Makeup and Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation are both a light-medium coverage foundation that are a little too pale for me at this moment (not for long though), whereas the L'Oreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder Bare Skin Perfecting Makeup and Smashbox Camera Ready CC Cream are a few shades too deep.

On the right I have the Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation in N117 and mixed that (middle swatch) with the Smashbox Camera Ready CC Cream in Light/Medium on the right. This give me a little bit of a lighter coverage, but also allows me to wear both foundations even though you can see one is clearly too light and the other too dark.

I personally do not like putting foundation on the back of my hand- too messy for my liking- so I generally just dot each foundation on my face with my fingers. Like I mentioned above, I then usually stipple the foundation so the colors start to mix together with a buffing or stipple brush and then blend it all together in circular motions.

I hope this gave you some courage to mix a couple of your foundations. I would have never thought to do this before, but lately, it's giving me the perfect look! I could not be more satisfied!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: UD Naked 3!

Did you really think they would end it with the Naked 2?! Of course not- the phenomenon must go on! I'm talking about the highly anticipated Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette. Urban Decay posted a picture on instagram about 3 hours ago stating the availability of the new palette...and of course it has sold out already. Darn.

Photo courtesy of urbandecay.com

Urban Decay states that this palette has "12 never before-seen (and insanely beautiful) rose-hued neutrals". They range from light to dark and shimmery to matte shades, but definitely more shimmery ones. Just do a simple google search to see more pictures and soon enough, swatches.

I don't know about you but I wanted this palette the moment I heard they were creating it! Yes, I know I have a lot of neutrals already, but I have the Naked and Naked 2...so why skip this one?! I like that everything fits neatly into one palette, and you can create a lot of looks with these because both mattes and shimmers are included.

So naturally, I am on the waiting list to get this palette- we shall see how long it takes to restock! Are you going to get this palette or skipping out on the fad? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: 2 shadow look: brown & grey

Eyeshadow was not something I usually wore on a daily basis, but lately, I can see how much of a difference it really makes to your whole completed look. Putting on a little bit of eye shadow can make you look like you spent a whole lot of time on your makeup- when you really didn't! Today I wanted to show you this affordable brown and grey look I did, using only two eyeshadow shades!

Take any primer you want, I used the Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer, and apply that all over your lid and up to the brow bone (I'm trying to use this one up). I then took the Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Bikini-tini and applied that on the lid, stopping at the crease. I used this to give extra staying power to my primer- I have very oily eyelids. You can also use the Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Metal Eyeshadow in Barely Branded for a cheaper version, or any light champagne cream product that you may have at home!

Now, let's get to shadows. Like I mentioned above and the title implies, all you need is two eyeshadows to get this look! First I used the e.l.f. Essentials Brightening Eye Color in Brownstone (the lighter middle shade) and applied this lightly in the crease using a fluffy brush. This is a satin/shimmery taupe shade that adds definition in your crease without looking too sparkly. Next, I took the e.l.f. Essentials Brightening Eye Color in Drama (again, the lighter middle shade) and patted this all over my lid using a dense shadow brush. This does have some specks of glitter, but I do not recommend wetting the shadow because it becomes too dark for daytime. I then went back in with the shade from the Brownstone quad to deepen the crease a little and blend out the edges from the grey shade.

This is so easy to do and really gives you a completed eye look! You can add liquid liner if you'd like to- I used the Lorac Front of the Line Pro to create a winged eyeliner- or you can just apply mascara and you're good to go!

I will be doing more of these 2 shadow looks so keep an eye out for those! I hope this gave you some ideas of how to do your makeup if you're in a rush in the morning!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina

non-stop November: drugstore discovery: Revlon Colorburst Balms

I don't know if you have looked around your local drugstore lately, but there are a bunch of new products out! Some that I REALLY wanted to try included the Revlon Colorburst Balms, and after much searching, I was able to get my hands on a couple!

In an effort to keep my makeup collection at a reasonable amount...well, reasonable to me, haha...I only picked up two shades. They have come out with two formulas, a shiny one that they describe as a lacquer and a matte version. I have the shades Demure 105 and Standout 250, respectively.

So let me talk about the first shade, Demure- this is the lacquer formula. (Sorry for switching the lip swatches, but I think it is pretty obvious which swatch is which :P.) This is a very neutral light pink with golden shimmer particles, that are noticeable close up but not from a distance. It also has somewhat of a "glossy" finish. This glides on the lips really easily and if you are an experienced lipstick applicator you will probably be able to apply a shade like this without a mirror. It does feel a tad bit gritty after application, due to the shimmer.

As for staying power, this didn't do that amazingly (not that it claims to). The shine went away after about an hour of normal daily activities. There was some color left but that went away completely at approximately the 2 hour mark. Like I mentioned above though, this can be applied without a mirror since it is a lighter shade.

The other shade I got is Standout, and this is part of the matte collection. This is a deep berry red, a little deeper than the swatches show- perfect for the holiday season! This goes on so smoothly and although the tip is kind of large, I do find that I have a lot of control, even applying such a dark color. This is very pigmented and like the name implies, matte. Because of that is does feel a little bit drying after application, but nothing you couldn't expect from any other matte lip product.

Compared to the lacque balm, this has a much longer staying power. After application you can blot the lips or go about your day-to-day activities with only a little bit of residue rubbing off. When it wears, it does so from the inside of your lips first and leaves a stain on the outside of the lips. I assume that this is only because it is one of the darker shades in the matte collection.

Both of these have a minty smell like the other Revlon balm products. When compared to the L'Oreal Colour Riche Le Matte and La Laque lines, I would say the matte ones are similar though the Revlon has a bit of a thinner consistency. The lacquer balms though are not really comparable- the L'Oreal has a much longer staying power and keeps its shine the whole time, while the Revlon has a thinner consistency and doesn't stay on for as long.

I think these are definitely worth trying, even if you only pick up one color! I kind of prefer the matte ones, but I'm excited to see if they will come out with new colors (word is that this is going to be part of their permanent collection)! Let me know if you have tried these and what shades you enjoy!

Always stay happy and healthy! :) Tschüss, Katharina