M.I.A

Hey, guys! I wont be blogging for a week (until January 2nd) so I'll see you then! Hope you all have a great Christmas & New Year.

xo,  Iv.

Jemma Kidd Make Up School | Cream Highlighter

Do you guys have a product you keep putting off buying and then you hear their being discontinued? Well, this was that product for me. The whole Youtube make up world was raving about the Jemma Kidd cream highlighters ever since summer (I think) and I was always intrigued. First, because I'm not one to use highlighter often since I tend to have combo oily skin. Second, I'd never used a cream highlighter. This product, from the packaging to the product itself, was always alluring to me. So when I heard Jemma Kidd were going to stop making make up I had to run a buy it. It was NOT easy finding this online, but I did manage to get a discount.

Sadly, I'm reviewing a discontinued product and it doesn't seem fair. However, let's just look at it as trying cream highlighters for the first time. This winter my skin took a turn for the dry road and it was damn annoying. I opted to use liquid products so I could prevent drying in areas. That means, cream concealers, blushes and now highlighters. Since my skin was lacking that nice glow/shine this highlighter came in handy. The application is nice a smooth, easy to blend. It gives a nice healthy glow without being too obnoxious. Think of it as a cream version of MAC's Soft and Gentle. The glow is warm with some pink undertones that look lovely on fair to olive skin types. Sorry if you can't find this product guys, but if you're afraid to try cream highlighters and have dry skin, you should definitely try some!

Lipstick Collection | Updated

It's that time again where I basically show you my lipstick collection and we can fawn over it. Hell, maybe even exchange some thoughts and what not. I love make up as a whole, but lipstick is definitely one of my top 3. I'm such a huge fan of any lipstick color as long as I can work it. Anyway, these are my lipsticks; please excuse how I change background on one of the groups but I forgot to shoot it with the others. 

NUDES

Revlon Creme Brule | Rimmel Nude Delight | Wet n Wild Bare It All | Limecrime Cosmopop | Revlon Smoked Peach | Topshop Dessert | NARS Honolulu Honey | MAC Honey Love | MAC Shy Girl

PINKS

NYX Strawberry Daiquiri | NYX Sweet Pink | MAC Viva Glam Gaga | Covergirl Eternal | L'Oreal Summer Rose | L'Oreal Sunset Angora | NYX Milan

BERRIES

 Covergirl Sultry | Make-Up Forever Intense 19 | MAC Twig

REDS

 Kat Von D Adora | L'Oreal True Red | MAC Ruby Woo | NYX Monte Carlo

PLUMS

 Urban Decay Apocalypse | Revlon Va Va Violet | MAC Diva | Wet n Wild 917B | Tom Ford Black Orchid | Kat Von D Oh My Goth | Wet n Wild Black Orchid

Playing With Purple | Eyes

I seldom use purple eyeshadows, even though they compliment brown eyes, I just don't seem drawn to them. However, feeling adventurous I decided to have some fun with one look and two lip colors.

I still don't think purple will be a permanent color for my shadow usage, but it's definitely something I'll be keeping in mind.

Products used:

Urban Decay- Last Call

Urban Decay- Hustle

MAC Face & Body- N3

Skin 79- BB Cream

Blending Brush

Rimmel Eyebrow Pen- Dark Brown

Maybelline- Falsies Mascara

Korres Blush- 42 Coral

Tom Ford- Black Orquid

MAC- Honey Love

NARS- Honolulu Honey

^A mix of both lipsticks^

MAC | Honey Love Alternative

There's seriously nothing better than finding a dupe or alternative to a higher end product. Especially when the alternative is way cheaper. In this case I found an alternative for MAC's Honey Love (my favorite nude lipstick). I say alternative because its a similar color but a bit darker, making it not a dupe. Anyway, I'm talking about Wet n' Wild's Bare It All (902C) matte lipstick. I mean, the similarities are very close, especially when applied. Plus, the price is less than $3 compared to $14.50! Bargaaaaaaain~

The texture of both is matte, although the Bare It All is a bit more drying on the lips than Honey Love. As I said, Bare It All is a bit darker than Honey Love but they both have that pink undertone. These are the types of nude that I find fit my lips and skin tone best. I still prefer Honey Love over Bare It All but its always nice to find a cheaper alternative. For those who like Honey Love but don't which to spend the money, you can check out the Wet n' Wild one. Regardless, you get a very flattering nude.

Wet n Wild on the left | MAC on the right

Stars and Stripes in the US Presidential Campaigns

**sponsored post**

Forget about Guy Fawkes and gunpowder, this November the fireworks are going

to be in red, white and blue, because November 6th will see the conclusion of the

American Presidential Election. Will it be another term for Barack Obama or will the

USA have a new President, Republican Mitt Romney?

And, on another tack, which celebrities have come out in support of each candidate?

Well, singer Katy Perry was seen dressed up as a ballot paper in a dress she wore

to perform at a Barack Obama Rally in Las Vegas recently.

And who did Katy celebrate her twenty-eighth birthday with this October? Only First

Lady Michelle Obama! An excited Perry tweeted “NOW my bday is complete! Lunch

with @MichelleObama #chicvote [sic]".

Another young celebrity Democrat is Lena Dunham, the talented writer, director

and star of HBO’s Girls. She has made a campaign video for Obama, and in it

encourages young people to vote for the first time and, if it’s their first time, it should

be for a “good man” like Obama.

Romney, on the other hand, has the likes of Meatloaf supporting him. The

substantial rock singer told a packed football stadium that “I want you to know that

there is one man who will stand tall in this country and fight the storm and bring the

United States back to what it should be…Governor Mitt Romney!”

He continued, “Mitt Romney has the backbone”. Passionate words there from the

Bat Out of Hell singer. Other famous Republican supporters include Adam Sandler

and Clint Eastwood, who made headlines of an unfortunate sort for the Republicans

with this surreal keynote ‘speech’ at their convention.

In fact, that video is a good example of the trivial nature of the campaign in general.

Even the nominees’ wives have not been immune from attacks, with Michelle Obama

pilloried for both the thrift and largesse of various outfits. In particular, she might find

it difficult to shop for ladies’ handbags until the economy has fully picked up again,

given the focus last year on her $1000 bag. It’s less than a week till polling day and,

though a high bar has been set, things could get even crazier as the two campaign

teams race to the finish line in the most important political contest of them all....

Textures | Skulls & Lace

It's been such a long time since I've done an outfit or fashion related post. To be honest, I feel somewhat rusty. What can I say? I just didn't have the energy to document my style... Anyway, one thing that's always fun to play around with is texture. When done right it can look pretty damn awesome. Here I played with a cheer blouse with gold skulls and a ivory lace layered short. I wanted something simple, monochromatic and modern. I played with (3) textures; faux leather, chiffon and lace. When it came to accessorizing I just went with my trusty Doc Martens with simple black stockings.

Top 5 Blushes

Doing the cheeks is definitely one of my favorite things to do when doing my make up. I decided to show you guys my top (5) blushes and tried to keep each color different but... What can I say? I love my nude blushes.

All of these are very blend able and pigmented. These are colors that compliment my skin tone the best and just add that flush of color I love. The best thing is how they're all pretty flexible when it comes to the application. There is no patchiness in the application and the color pay off is definitely build able. Also, the colors I chose are very low key and can be handled by pros and beginners. Since they're all pigmented you need a light hand when applying them, but the payoff is very lovely! These are definitely colors I reach for the most.

 Nyx- 02 Dusty Rose

Sleek- Life's A Peach

Tarte- Exposed

MAC- Oh So Fair

MAC- Tenderling

Kat Von D | Lock 'n Load Setting Mist

I've never been one for setting sprays or anything like that. I can safely say, in my books, MAC's setting spray was the only one I was aware of and as far as impressions went it didn't have a good one. To me, it was water and made me looked caked. Sure, I never bought one but I did try it at the store. Not very impressed. Needless to say I never thought I'd getting a setting mist/spray.

I preach about the importance of research. Researching products before buying will save you from ill spending money on crap. However with this I broke my rule and went with le gut. Let me say, I'm actually happy. Whilst checking concealers at Sephora for my mom, I ventured into the Kat Von D area. My purpose was to only check on the concealers from her line since I read they were quite good. Anyway, while my mom was testing the concealer I grabbed the mist and sprayed some on. After checking what was needed and such, I passed a mirror and saw that my face looked renewed. I'd been out for most of the day and my make up looked worn, but I must say that with the mist it just seemed like I had freshly applied make up again. No cakeyness or anything, just fresh. 

After trying it since getting it, its proven to be actually very good. I find it works better when applied after a long day, just to freshen up, rather than setting the make up when you first apply it in the morning. The smell is very nice, like cucumbers, and just adds to the actual joy of spraying it. It's a very refreshing mist that just tidies you up during the day. I swear, if they make a travel size I'm going to always have it with me.

Kiehl's | Rare Earth Skin Care

When it came to reviewing this, it proved to be very hard. Seeing that my skin just wasn't in a good place made me want to take note about every little change my skin had with these products all together. And regardless of the process being a satisfactory one it was still hard for me to sit down and write about it. Lets not even mention the fact that I was currently on my finals and had way too much to do. It just seemed that these products through my way a writer's block.

So, here I am making myself write this review, an honest one -as always-, whilst still trying to break that writer's block. I've been using the Rare Earth line for a month and some now. The changes in my skin (although not visible) started from the first use. The texture felt more velvety and soft, compared to the roughness I had prior. With time it proved to be working all very well. The routine created while using these products was easy to maintain, especially when it gave results. My skin was looking more vibrant and it felt less rough. The little bumps I had were receding and my break outs were very tamed when my period came around. All was good.

However, in these last few days my skin has slowly been going back to the way it was. Rough in some places and with bumps in other. Needless to say I was somewhat freaking out. I can't say why it was turning back, (I'm not a doctor ,but maybe it was getting accustomed to the products. Who knows. To save it I've had to switch up the products and add products from other brands too keep it interesting. Nothing too drastic, but it seems to be working for now.

All in all, the products proved to work. The price ranged (individually) is around $20 - $29, which is between drugstore and highend. I do not regret buying any of these products and would buy some again. Even though my skin was going back to how it was, it wasn't as bad. I still maintain a nice texture in my skin, although the bumps are annoying. Kiehl's is definitely a brand you should check out if you feel the need to better your skin, but be sure to research every single detail before buying. Remember, anything you put on your face can bring consequences, be them good or bad.

Fall Attire | November

Trying to cheer up while I get through my finals. It definitely feels like fall lately and I'm loving it. I can't wait to see Christmas lights and eating all the holiday food. I came up with this outfit because this is something I can't wait to wear. I can just see myself prancing around all cozy and warm in all this. It's such an easy, doable outfit that can be recreated by anyone anywhere. Yes, it's still hot here but during the night it's pretty 'chilly' and I could get away with something like this. 

What would be your go to fall attire?

Easy Concert Look | Dark Lips

NARS | Honolulu Honey

I caved and bought my first NARS lipstick and I can safely say, I may not buy more. It's not that I hate it, it's just not worth $24. Anyway, the color is one that I loved so much on Jen from Clothes Encounters called Honolulu Honey. The color is a muted peach/nude. It reminds me of how Lime Crimes Cosmo Pop looks when you blot it. It's a somewhat satin texture that doesn't dry the lips. I love the color, it gives such a lovely nude color to my lips, but the wear I get out of this is not impressive at all. I keep having to re-touch it every hour or two. I don't regret buying it but as much as I love the color I refuse to spend $24 more on it. I can't help but sometime feel NARS is a bit overpriced. 

What do you guys think of their lipsticks?

Korres | Quercetin & Oak Day Cream

This is the type of product I would probably never buy if it wasn't on sale. Luckily it was and I got it for $10. I've said before that my skin has been acting up lately, so I've been trying to do some damage control. My official plan was to use this day cream when I finished my Formula10.0.06 matte moisturizer, but since my skin acted out to the Origins spot remover I decided I needed a moisture boost. This day cream worked from the get go. It definitely helped my dry patches and brought them back to normal. Sadly, apart from that it's just an okay day cream. When you apply it you do get a firm sensation on your face. It's very uncomfortable if you cover the eyebrows, they really feel tight. However, being an antiageing and antiwrinkle products I'm very sure that the tightness is most welcomed. These types of products are good for slowing the wrinkling and aging process, so starting young never hurts. Overall, it's a products I wouldn't buy full price one I run out but if I saw it on sale I just might.

Origins | Super Spor Remover

There comes a time when a girl, who is obsessed with skin care, gets desperate. This time around it was me. I started getting blemishes all over my forehead and cheeks. At first I tried to brush it off but it didn't take long for me to get desperate. After going online and researching I decided to go with Origins Super Spot Remover and try it out. Mind you this is a product all the beauty bloggers were raving about. I say that I'm 50-50 with them. I see a lot of drawbacks that this product brings and I'm not quite sold if to buy it again. 

The product states quite clearly that drying will probably occur in the areas applied. This is most def. true. However, with me it manifested in the areas applied and more. I went from being a combination/oily skin to being dry as hell. I was getting desperate and thinking that even though my spots or blemishes where indeed going down, was it worth my face drying and cracking? My answer is no. I've had to adjust the usage on this product and it seems silly to have to adapt to something instead of it just fitting my routine. I still use it, yes; but now I use it sparsely and I make sure to moisturize accordingly. The thing that truly saved my skin was a red wine Korean face mask that helped replenish my skin and give it back the moisture is so lacked. 

I can't say I'm disappointed on the product. The product clearly states that drying will occur and I read it elsewhere before buying it. I knew what I was getting into before hand. Will I buy it again? Not likely.

OCC | Strumpet

OCC is a brand I've been stalking for about (2) years now, no joke. I've heard so many good things about their lip products and concealers and I always wanted to try them out. I'm a visual person, I like to check things out with my own hands before I decide on buying. This means I avoid online shopping unless I truly can't get my hands on it. Upon hearing that Sephora was going to be selling OCC I was beyond excited but knew I'd have to wait a long time before they actually had them in store here. When I went to Sephora a week ago to get a skin care product and spotted only (3) colors of the lip tars in the baskets in line and decided to get Strumpet.

Here's where the review gets serious and honest. OCC lip tars on not for everyone, in my opinion. You need patience, care and precision to be able to wield these babies. Patience because the lip tars will tend to bleed a bit at first giving you a mustache like the ones we get from drinking Kool Aid or grape juice. This means you're applying too much product even though you only used less than a pea size of the product. You literally need almost no product to cover the whole lips. This is where care and precision come in. You apply this with a lip brush and you have to be very careful because once this sets it sets. There will be no coming back unless you use make up remover with a q-tip or something like that. This is a product I do not recommend retouching during the day because: a. you really don't need to retouch it since it lasts a long time and b. because its messy to retouch it and you may stain something besides your lips. 

This is a product for the more experienced in make up or people who are willing to take the time to practice and play with it. That being said, the product itself is amazing. The stupidly small amount you need to cover the whole lip and the duration of the lip tar is amazing. I have eaten and gone out without even having to retouch my lips. You really need to double check and clean up anything because it will get on your teeth... trust me. My goal now is to get every damn lip tar ever made just because they are that good and will last me a long time. 

Let me know if you wish to see a video on how to apply the lip tar.

Urban Decay | Apocalypse

My last part of the mini haul I got from an Urban Decay sale was this lipstick. I was pretty excited with this since it was only $3 and I'm quite happy with it. The lipstick looks daunting for those who shy away from dark lips, but these lipsticks are actually sheer. It's build able but never loses that sheer factor, so if pigment is what you're looking for this is not it. The durability is average and it's very smooth on the lips. It's not a lipstick I'm constantly reaching for but I really do like it, not a fan of the packaging though. All in all is a good lipstick that I got on sale, but wouldn't have picked up at regular price.

Skin Care Routine

I've been feeling pretty nice about my skin lately and I thought I'd share my routine with you guys. I don't think my routine is too complex and hard to follow. Once you make up your own routine it's pretty easy to just go with it and actually stick to it. One of the things I had to face head on was the fact that good skin care doesn't only mean products but your way of life too. I could use all the products in the world but if I kept with my diet my skin would not improve. Ultimately this skin care journey has been interesting and surprising enough, not hard. 

Origins A Perfect World Cleanser- I use this twice a day (morning and night). I only use a pea size and lather it up. Twice a week I use this cleanser with my Sephora scrub brush.

St. Ives Green Tea Scrub- I use this once a week while bathing. I scrub it on leave it on for 10min and rinse it off.

Freemans Clay Mask in Mint and Lemon- I use this mask once a month to really get in my pores and clean up as much as I can. I apply it evenly around my whole face and leave it on until it dries.

Pond's Cleansing Towelettes in Evening Soothe- This is a very important product to have around. Every time I get home I have to take a towelette and clean my face with it as much as I can before cleansing. This doesn't take all the make up off but it helps provide a better canvas for when you use your cleanser. I also use it when I'm too lazy and sleepy to cleanse (shh).

Formula 10.0.06- Every morning I have to apply my moisturizer, even if I don't use make up that day, to make sure my skin is properly taken care of. 

Nuxe Reve de Miel- I have incredibly chapped lips so lip balms are a must. I use this twice a day (morning and night) to keep my lips in check as much as possible.

Yes to Carrots Night Cream- I apply this almost every night before I go to bed to but some hydration back into my face.

My Beauty Diary Red Vine Mask- Korean face masks are my new obsession and a must have on my book. I have to have a box of them in handy, which I use once a week. This red vine mask is so soothing and an anti-oxidant. I use this at night and when I take it off I don't apply any products and just let the moisture of the mask do its work. I wake up with less dull looking face. It's amazing!

Winged Liner Tutorial

Simple Fall Look

Urban Decay | YDK

Upon getting a newsletter that Urban Decay was having a sale I knew I just had to jump on the band wagon. Seeing as they don't ship here (which is a shame) I had to resort to my super flash texting skills so my aunt could ship them to me. True, UD sales don't have much to choose from, but the prices are very good and hard to pass on. I chose two things to try out, one which was this gorgeous eyeshadow called YDK. What attracted me was the lovely faded copper tone and how it was neutral.

One of the first things I noticed off the bat was how pigmented it was when I swatched it. No streaking and I didn't have to swatch twice. These are ups for me since it makes it easier to apply and blend, and most importantly it makes it quick. I rarely apply eye primer (to lazy to bother) and I'm happy to say I don't need it. I'm not a UD fan but I do love the small portion of products I do own from their label. This shadow is no exception. The color is a more subtle copy of the Maybelline color tattoo ones in Bad To The Bronze. The UD YDK is more light though which discards it as a dupe, and vice versa. I got this shadow for $6 so I'm incredibly happy with it and truly have nothing bad to say about it. I'll keep a look out for the next sale so I can include something for a giveaway.