Get Ready With Me Series Part 4 & Ulta Lip Crayon review

Welcome back!! I hope that everyone has had a great week!  I’m not going to lie, I am super excited for the weekend.  We have gone out of town for the last three weekends in a row! I feel like all I’ve done is pack, unpack, laundry, repeat!  I don’t know about anyone else, but being out of town can be exhausting!  I’m not complaining because I am really blessed to be able to be doing the things I’m doing, it just leads for busy weeks between work, and playing catch up from the weekend!

This weekend though, we have a wedding for one of the BF’s friends, that’s in town and that’s it!  I’m definitely looking forward to some down time!!

Now… onto the real reason you’re here!  The fourth and final installment of the Get Ready With Me and Review series!!  The last three weeks we have covered the look up to the point that my face look is done and we’re on to eyes and lips. 

If you missed the reviews, we’ve covered NYX HD Concealers (link), CoverGirl 3-in-1 Foundation (link), and HIKARI blush (link)

Today’s review will be on the Ulta Lip Crayon!!

Now, getting started on the look … I know some people do their make up in a different order, but I’ve always been a person who does my face, then eyes, and finish with lips.  Now that my face is done, let’s get started on the face!  Some of this may sound familiar because many of these products are ones that I used in my Every Day Smokey Eye look (link).  Today, however, I was going for a lighter look and so I left out some of the darker shades.

I start with the Mary Kay Eye primer – this happens to be what is in active rotation in my collection right now, I’ve used this for years!

Ulta eye shadow in Bermuda Sand - I apply this all over my eye lid and all the way up to my eye brow.  I use this shade pretty much every day.  Most of my eye looks have this as the base under everything!

Urban Decay eye shadow in Beware from the Oz Great & Powerful pallet - I take this on a big fluffy brush and apply it in my crease.

Urban Decay eye shadow in West from the Oz Great & Powerful pallet - I use this shadow to darken up my outer corner of my eye lid

I then go back in with Beware to buff out West and create a more natural transition.

Ulta eye shadow in Au Naturel – I also use this one every day. The light pink is the perfect shade to blend out the shadows and add just a bit of highlight under my brow.  Taking a big fluffy brush I buff and blend out the edge of the other shadows up to my eye brow. 

For my liner, I apply Revlon Color Stay eye liner in Brown to both my upper and lower lash line. Using the built in smudger to smudge out my lower lash line making sure to only going about 3/4 of the way into my inner corner.  I then use a brown eye shadow to set all of my liner to ensure it will stay all day.  Setting a pencile liner will also help soften any lines. 

Now the last part of my look… Mascara… and I am still using multiple mascaras.  I don’t think it’s possible to get one mascara that adds length, volume, and separates!  The three in rotation right now are:

Revlon Lash Potion by Grow Luscious in Blackened Brown

L'Oreal Paris Extra Volume Collagen Mascara in Black Brown

Almay One Coat, Get Up & Grow in Black Brown

Once my eyes are done, it’s now on to my lips…  Before I even start my makeup, I make sure to pay attention to my lips.  When I am applying my face moisturizer I also apply some to my lips.  Right now I just have a container of Carmex on my vanity that I apply.  This helps in a few ways.  First, by applying moisture to my lips, but also by creating a barrier.  This allows for me to apply all of my face products without staining my lips.  No one likes the foundation on your lips look!  Well, at least I don’t!  SO, once I’m done with all of my other makeup I wipe off my lips (this is usually because I’m brushing my teeth before work!) and then apply whatever lip look I’m going for.

A while back, I placed an Ulta order online and the thing I love about shopping online with Ulta is they send you samples.  Included in my order was a sample of Ulta’s Lip crayon. 

I was super excited when I opened the package and saw that it was a normal color and actually a color that I would purchase!  On top of that, it is a good product!  It has a good color pay out.  This shade is a my lips but better shade.  On top of that it’s creamy and lasts! 

The one thing I don’t like about some lip crayons are the ones that you have to sharpen!  Ugh, who has time for that!?  This one is in a tube that you just twist up when you need more.

This has become a staple in my routine.  It pretty much lives in my purse because I wear it almost every day to work and whenever I’m out and about and need to add some color.  It’s not a color that you really have to think about.  No liner or gloss needed.  Perfect for on the go application!

That’s it for my makeup!  As for my hair, it kept it simple. After blow drying I just used a straightener to quickly straighten out any kinks and to make sure that all of my ends were turned it.

Here's the before and after again!

Breaking it down into many blogs makes it seem like a lot of steps, but this is a really simple look.  Actually, it’s pretty close to my go to look when I just need to get out the door.  You look put together, but not overdone and it doesn’t take long to get out the door.

What does everyone thing of this series!? Is it something you’d like for me to do again?  Let me know!

Also – let me know if you have any products you want me to demo or review! I’m also up for suggestions!!

Are you ready for another review?!  I’ve been on a reviewing kick lately.  Lots of new things to share.  Next week I’m going to talk about Real Techniques’ Miracle Complexion Sponge and the best way I’ve found to clean it!

Until next time lovelies!

Xoxo,

Mikal-Anne

Get Ready With Me Series Part 3 & Hikari Blus Review

Welcome back!  Happy Friday!  We’ve successfully survived another week!! 

This blog is part three of the Get Ready With Me and Review series.  In a series of blogs, I've gone over what I've used to create the look you see below.  The last two weeks we have covered the NYX HD Concealers (link) and the CoverGirl 3-in-1 Foundation (link).  This week we will cover the HIKARI blush.

Now, before we get into the blush, I need to catch you up on the steps between the foundation and the blush.  As covered in the previous blogs, you know that I first use a concealer that matches my skin tone to conceal any problem areas, then I apply the foundation, and lastly I use a concealer that is a little lighter than my skin tone to lighten up areas of my face.  After all of that I apply something to set both the concealer and the liquid foundation.

To set my concealer I use Tarte Smooth Operator.  I got a small sample around the holidays with something I bought. It's perfect to set my concealer!

To set my foundation I use Revlon Nearly Naked Press Powder in 010 Fair.

Next I use NYX Matte Bronzer in Medium. This is a staple in my makeup routine.  I discovered it years ago and have probably used it with every single makeup application I’ve done since then.  I use this to do both bronzing and contouring.  I am not someone who does a very harsh contour.  This is mainly because I am so fair, that too harsh of a contour doesn’t look right. 

Finally, I apply the HIKARI blush in Tango.  I got this in my Ipsy bag back in April (link) and I’m not going to lie, when I saw it, I was very intimidated!  I think the best description for the color is an electric watermelon! I’m so glad that I didn’t let that get in the way of me trying the blush because I LOVE IT! 

This blush has such an amazing color pay out, but it would be really really easy to get that horrid 80’s blush look.  I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.  That super bright color applied very heavily to the cheeks.  That wasn’t even a good look then!

To avoid rolling around looking like someone who is trying to relive the 80’s; I have found the best way to apply this foundation is with a stippling blush.  This allows me to apply a sheer amount and build it up until I get the look I am going for. 

The color adds a nice pink to the cheeks and gives a healthy glow.  I think this shade is absolutely perfect for spring and summer!  I honestly think it would be good for most skin tones too.  It gives that pinched pink to your cheeks, almost as if they are naturally that color and you don’t have blush on at all.

After I apply my blush, I pair this with a bit of a highlight because the blush is completely matte.  This is great for people who have oily skin and want to stay away from the shimmery or sparkly shades.  Today I used the Mary Kay highlight, but I’m any highlight would do. 

Next week, for the final blog in this series, will cover what I did for my eye look and a review on the Ulta Lip Crayon that I got as a sample when I did my Ulta order.  If you’re interested in seeing the lip crayon, it’s included in the blog I did about my Walmart and Ulta haul (link).

Until next week!

Xoxo,

Mikal-Anne

Get Ready With Me Series Part 1 & NYX HD Concealers

Hello Lovelies! Today is going to be the first day of a series that I have never tried before.  This series will be a multi part blog, one each week, that follows along as I do a full face look.  It will essentially be a Get Ready With Me Post. But, the fun twist, I will be doing reviews along the way.

Below is a picture of my bare face look and then the finished look.  

This is such a simple look and is pretty close to the everyday smoke eye blog I posted a few posts ago (link), just a little bit lighter of an eye look. 

Let's get started!

So, a breakdown of the picture above.  The picture on the right is me with a bare face.  As you can see I have that traditional fair and freckled skin issues.  I struggle with some pretty intense under eye dark circles and my freckles tend to make my skin look a bit splotchy. All I have on in this picture would be my moisturizer and on this day I also had some extra sunscreen because I knew I was spending the day in the sun.  Many of my products already have SPF in them, but I like to add face specific sunscreen for some extra little punch of protection!  Gotta love being fair skinned! lol ... oh! I also have a foundation primer on.

I use two shades of the NYX HD Concealer.  I use the Beige shade very first. In the picture by the '1' I have applied the Beige shade in this step.  I have applied this in a few different ways.  I've used my beauty blender and also my Sigma flat top kabuki brush and i have found that I like to do a bit of a combination.  I use the little applicator to apply it under my eyes in a bit of a triangle shape to ensure I'm getting all of my dark circles covered.  I use my flat top kabuki brush to blend it in and then if I feel like I need to help it sink in a little more then I will use my beauty blender to kind of press it into my skin. This shade is a pretty good match for my skin tone already and definitely does a good job of covering those circles. 

After I apply the Beige shade I will then apply my foundation.  On this day I used the Covergirl 3-in-1 Foundation.  Next week's blog I will go over this and share my review of this product!  Stay tuned!

After I have applied my foundation, I will then use the Porcelain shade as an under eye highlight.  I apply this in the same way as the other shade.  I use the applicator to get the product on my face then then blend it out with the Sigma flat top kabuki brush.  I then go back in with my beauty blender to ensure that both the concealers and the foundation are blended well.

This may seem like a lot, but I promise it isn't!  I make sure to use my Tarte finishing powder to set my concealer.  Another important thing, when you are setting your foundation, try to stay away from where you've applied under eye concealer, this helps ensure you don't get a cakey look.

Now... what do I think...

I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!  Way to go NYX!  

If we're being honest, I'm not surprised at all because I don't think there is a NYX product that I've tried that I haven't liked.  The concealer does a good job of both covering up my dark circles, but it doesn't fade throughout the day or settle into any lines.  We all have those little lines around our eyes and in my opinion, nothing can age someone more than to have product settled into those lines.  

I know it seems like over kill that I use two shades of concealer and if I"m being honest, I don't always do this!  If I'm doing a quick look, I will apply my foundation and then just use the Porcelain shade to conceal and highlight and it works great!  

If you're interested in trying this out click here and you can head on over the the Ulta website to take a peek!

Make sure you come back next week to see the next etep and my review of the CoverGirl 3-in-1 Foundation!

I hope everyone has and amazing Independence Day weekend ahead!

Until next week!

xoxo,

Mikal-Anne

Smokey Everyday Face of the Day

Howdy howdy!  As I mentioned in my previous blog, last weekend I had a busy Saturday, visiting our local farmer's market with a friend, working in my garden, and heading to a graduation party for the daughter of a family friend.  When I was getting ready that morning, I knew I needed to do a full face look that would last all day.  When I say last day, I mean without a ton of touch up.  Cause, girls, I am not someone who is good at doing touch ups.  With the exception of my lip color, I don't often apply much after the initial application...  This is what I came up with!

Face makeup:

• Rimmel Fix & Perfect Pro Primer
• CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous, 3-in-1 Foundation in 820 Creamy Natural
• NYX HD Concealer in CW04 Beige - for covering up my dark circles
• NYX HD Concealer in CW01 Porcelain - for additional coverage but mainly to highlight my under eye
• Tarte Smooth Operator - to set my under eye concealer.  This is not picture above.  I got a small sample around the holidays with something I bought. It's perfect to set my concealer!
• Revlon Nearly Nake Press Powerder in 010 Fair - to set my foundation.  I apply this lightly all over my face, being careful to not apply where my concealer is.  If it catches where my concealer is, sometimes it can settle into lines. 
• NYX Matte Bronzer in Medium - I both bronze and contour  with this product.  
• HIKARI blush in Tango - Love love love this shade.  It's super pigmented so I apply with with a stipling brush to ensure I have a light hand with it.  I got this in my April Ipsy bag, check out the post here!
• Mary Kay highlight in Pink Stardust - I lightly apply this on the tops of my cheekbones.  Tango is a matte blush and sometimes I just want a little highlight on my cheeks!

Eye make up:

• Mary Kay Eye primer
• Ulta eye shadow in Bermuda Sand - I apply this all over my eye lid and all the way up to my eye brow.  I seriously love this shadow! I don't think I do a single eye look that doesn't start out with this shade.  It is great as a base and just as great all by it's self!  
• Urban Decay eye shadow in Beware from the Oz Great & Powerful pallet - I take this on a big fluffy brush and apply it in my crease.  I use this as a base to start darkening up my outer corner.  But because I apply it with a big fluffy brush it also sets down the shade to work as a transition shade. 
• Urban Decay eye shadow in West from the Oz Great & Powerful pallet - This is the dark shadow that I use to darken up my outer corner of my eye lid.  I place this from my outer corner inwards and start up into my crease.  This is a shade that can be really dramatic or an every day shade.  Just apply as much until you get the look you want.  I often time also bring this down onto my lower lash line to work as my eye liner on my lower lid.  It has a shimmer to it that is beautiful!
• Mary Kay eye shadow in Cooper Glow - Ah! This is such a beautiful shade! It's great for just adding a little extra kick to your eye look.  I take a big fluffy brush and use this to buff out the colors already in my outer corner in and crease.  It adds a little extra without looking like you've put whole other color into the mix.
• Ulta eye shadow in Au Naturel - This is another shadow that use in every look I do.  I take this on a big fluffy brush and I buff and blend out the edge of the other shadows up to my eye brow.  This is a good skin tone color that will make sure you don't have any harsh edges.
• Revlon Color Stay eye liner in Brown - I apply this on my upper lash line and my lower lash line.  Then I use the built in smudger to smudge out my lower lash line.  I only place this from my outer corner to about 3/4 of the way in.  I find on my eye, it is too harsh of a look to go all the way to my inner corner.
• Ulta eye shadow in a dark brown color - Sorry guys! I depotted this color and now I don't know what shade it is! This is a color that matches the eye liner I use on a daily basis.  I use this on an eye liner brush and use it to set the eye liner I have applied. This sets the pencil liner and also soften the edges.

Don't judge me, but I use three mascaras! Yes, three!  But the look I get, I just can't get with just one.  What I love is that with the three mascaras I get three different consistencies of mascara and brushes. This allows me to lengthen, built up volume, and ensure I don't end up with those spidery and clumpy lashes.  No girl has time for that!!

• Revlon Lash Potion by Grow Lusious in Blackened Brown
• L'Oreal Paris Extra Volume Collagen Mascara in Black Brown
• Almay One Coat, Get Up & Grow in Black Brown

Lips and Eyebrow Makeup:

• Chella Eyebrow Color Pencil in Tantalizing Taupe - I got this in my May Ipsy bag, read my blog about it here!
• Jane Iredale Bitty Brow Kit - I use the powder in this kit to soften the edges of the pencil
• Mary Key Eyebrow Gel
• NYX lip liner in Nude Pink
• Tarte LipSurgence in Romantic
• Tarte LipSurgence Lipglass in Visionary

Now, how did it all last... below is a picture I took at the graduation party.  I put on my makeup that morning around 9 am and this picture below is taken probably around 8 pm... 

• My my lip color has rubbed off.  We ate dinner and I never re-applied my lip color.  
• My hair - I had taken out my bobby pins that had the front of my hair pinned up because they were bothering me.  It rained and so the curls in my hair fell a bit flat
• My foundation and concealer has lasted, but my cheek color and bronzer has faded a bit..

Over all, I think this looks good figuring between applying it and this picture I had gone to the farmer's market, planted in my garden, and gone to the graduation party!  

What do you think!?  Would you want to try any of these products if you were looking for a long lasting look? .. I hope you enjoyed this look!  I wear this look often and these seem to be my go to products that I know I can count on!

xoxo,
Mikal-Anne

Ulta and Walmart Haul - Beauty Must Haves!

Happy Friday everyone! I hope that everyone survived the weekend in one piece! I am currently frantically preparing to be out of town this weekend.  The boyfriend is off to play in a tournament.. such is the life of a softball widow!! It's going to be a busy weekend!! 

Last week as I was getting ready one morning and realized that I was starting to run low on a few of my must have beauty products.  You know what I'm talking about, the products that you always have to have in your collection at all times!  This was also about the same time that I got a notice from Ebates that some of my stores were running a higher percent back.  I decided to take full advantage of this and pick up some things.

Want to take a peak at what I picked up....?

I picked up a few things from Ulta.  I have found that when I am ordering things over and over again, it's so super easy to just order online.  The order will just show up at my door step and it's just super easy!!  Here's what I got

• Olay Daily Face Cloths in Combination to Oil - I love these! I have been using these for years!  They take off all of my make up.  Eye make up encluded! It's awesome.  They are also really good for traveling because the cloths come pre loaded with cleanser and all you need is to add water and it will suds up.  Plus, with my sensitive ski, the fact that they don't irritate my skin is a major selling point!!
• Almay Get Up & Grow mascara in Black Brown - This is one of three, yes three, mascaras I use every day! It's got a brush that is full and separates your lashes
• Ulta Eye Shadow in Au Naturel - This is the PERFECT blending shade!!
• Ulta Eye Shadow in Bermuda Sand - I use this absolutely every day!  I use this as my base under every single eye look I do!  Plus! Ulta was running a buy two get two deal.  So, since I was already ordering two, I just ordered two more of these staple shades and now I have backups! Score!
• NYX HD Concealers in CW01 and CW04 - I am officially out of concealer so I have been on the hunt for some new ones to try.  I have seen a few good reviews for NYX's and thought I would have to try it out.
• Rimmel Fix & Perfect Primer - This stuff is awesome and it's at the drug store, does it get any better?!?!
• Samples - Redken Hair Treatment and Ulta Lip Color

Ok, so I did some researching and I compared what I needed at both Ulta and Walmart and found the best deals at both.  This is what I picked up at Walmart

• TRESemme Anti Breakage Shampoo
• TRESemme Volume Conditioner
• TRESemme Hair Spray - I have been using this for years years years!!! I don't forsee that changing
• Real Techniques Beauty Blender - This is awesome! It applies everything so nicely.  
• Revlon Lash Potion in Black Brown 
• L'Oreal Voluminous
• Tree Hut Scrub in Coconut Lime - Ah! This smells soooo good!
• Olay Fresh Effects Makeup Removing wipes - I got these in a sample box not too long ago and they are great and I thought they would be good for the upcoming traveling I have planned!
• Olay Daily facial Cloths - Ok, I needed just a little more to get free shipping.. so I added something that I will always need more of!

And there you have it!! Some of the must have products I just recently stocked back up on.. These are things that I always have to have and if I'm starting to run low... I immediately have to make sure that I have a back up ready to go when I do run out! I just can't live without it!

Monday Morning Coffee: Liebster Award

Good morning lovelies!  As you can probably tell, I had taken some time away from the blog.  If you follow me on twitter (link) you may know that I had a family member have some medical issues.  I spent some time with them and had to get back into the swing of things.  When I logged back into write today's Monday Morning Coffee post, I found a comment on my last Monday Morning Coffee talking about my mini weekend away (link).  The comment was from Janine Hill, writer of A Beautiful Whim (link),  nominating me for a Liebster Award! 

I'm not going to lie, I had to do some investigating because I wasn't sure what this award was! The award is given to bloggers by bloggers.  First, the person receiving the nomination answers eleven questions chosen by the person who nominated them. Second, you nominate other bloggers.  Lastly,  you come up with eleven more questions for the people you nominate to answer. 

This is such a fun concept! Connecting bloggers and giving them kudos for what they are doing it! I love it! This was such an amazing thing to find today! I write this blog because I enjoy sharing and I wonder if anyone is actually reading and gaining something from it.  Finding this comment from Janine was so heart warming!!  Please stop by A Beautiful Whim.  I hadn't read her blog before my nomination, but if only one thing comes out of this, I have found another blog to read! 

Now off to the questions!

1.  What is a cosmetic brand that you have always wanted to try but haven’t yet?

I must say I have to go with Make Up For Ever.  Everyone raves about the HD foundation and I really want to try it!  

2.  Do you wear false lashes and if so, what are your favorite lashes to wear?

I don't wear false lashes on a regular basis, but yes, I do wear them occasionally.  The ones I currently have in my make up drawer are the Ever Ez Lashes.  These are a combination of individual lashes and full strip lashes.  They are small clusters of lashes.  Way easier to apply than individual lashes but you have more control of the look then you do with a full strip false lash.  Easy to apply and easy to work with!

3.  What beauty product do you have in your collection right now that is your absolute favorite?

This one is a hard one! There are so many things that I love.  I actually had to go to my collection and look through it to decide. But I would have to say the Cover Girl 3-in-1 foundation.  It's truly amazing.  I can use this foundation to created both a medium and full coverage look.  Plus it's such a natural look!!

4.   What makeup brand has always been a disappointment to you?

I don't think I have ever had a brand where the whole brand has disappointed me.  I think that every line has it's amazing products and it's duds.  For this questions, I would have to pick Estee Lauder's Double Wear foundation.  It was a major disappointment for me.  I had seen many bloggers and YouTube vloggers rave about this product and it just didn't work for me!

5.   What is your favorite food?

Do I have to pick just one thing!? Haha, I come from a family of food lovers and there are so many options.  Anything that my Grandmother makes is truly amazing, but specifically she makes this BBQ chicken that is AMAZING! It practically falls off the bone.  Man, my mouth is watering thinking about it!!

6.  What is funniest or cutest question a child has ever asked you?

I can't currently think of a question I've been asked, but I can think of a statement.  Does that work? ... I was in a shoe store in our local mall and one of the sales associates was helping a lady and her son.  The boy was probably around 5.  This was right after Kung Fu Panda came out and he caught my attention because I heard him make karate noises.  As soon as I look over, he says to the sales associate, "Watch Out! I know Kung Fu!" It was so super cute! I love kids!

7.  What is the best liquid foundation that you have ever used?

Ok, so I think I should have read ahead and read all of the questions because now I'm going to duplicate my answer to #3.  This has to my the Cover Girl 3-in-1 foundation! I honestly think that everyone should have this in their collection! Plus, it's a drug store foundation. Can you say SCORE!?

8.  What is a smell that immediately reminds you of your childhood?

This one is easy! It's usually the smell of something cooking.  My mom makes a dish that we call Ranch Chicken.  It's chicken cooked in ranch and served with mashed potatoes.  Ugh, it's so good! Not healthy, but how many of the true comfort food dishes are?!

9.  How do you take the photos for your blog (camera, iphone, type of lighting, etc)?

Since I am a newbie at this, my photos are taken on my Iphone 5 and any lighting I have is usually natural lighting.  I should probably take the leap to a more professional set up, but for right now it's working.  I hope! :-)

10.  What is the next cosmetic product on your wish list that you are going to buy?

I am actually going to complete an Ulta order once I am done with this blog!  The new thing on my list to buy is the NYX HD Concealer.  

11.  What is an interesting fact that people would not likely know about the city or country that you live in?

I live in a fairly small town, Missoula, Montana. It is an amazing town. I love it.  If you ever have the opportunity to visit, please do.  There are a few things that are fun about this town, but for the football fans, it would probably have to be that John Elway lived here and played in our football program for young kids!

For those of you who are reality TV fans.  The Real Housewives of New York actually visited a upscale resort, Paws Up, that is just outside of Missoula in season 6 (I believe).  The town that they fly into is Missoula!

Now on to the blogs that I nominate! 

Sara McNultt (saramcnutt.blogspot.com)

Pores for Thought (poresforthought.com)

Living with a Boy - (http://www.livingwithaboy.com/)

Freckled Fox - (http://www.freckled-fox.com/) 

My Questions for you:
1. What inspired you to start blogging?

2. When you have had a bad day, what is the comfort meal you make?

3. What is a random or unknown fact about you?

4. If you had one day with unlimited funds, what would you do?

5. What make up product could you not live without?

6. What is one make up tip do you think everyone should know?

7. What is your favorite way to relax and unwind?

8. What is your most favorite moment (or moments) of your life so far?

9. Where do you find the inspirations for your blog posts?

10. What would be number one on your bucket list?

11. What is one thing you want readers to walk away with after reading your blog?

I am so excited to see the answers to my questions!  Thank you again Janine, this was so much fun to do!!

XOXO,

Mikal-Anne