Manicure Mondays-Rescue Beauty Lounge Moulin Rouge

Rescue Beauty Lounge (RBL)  Moulin Rouge is a chocolate infused burgundy color.  The website describes it as"black cherries wrapped in dark chocolate".  I think that about sums it up.  It was really difficult to capture this color in a photo because I wasn't able to get sufficient daylight.  The RBL formula is the best I have ever encountered.  It was smooth and opaque in 2 coats.  It dried very glossy, though I opted to wear a top coat of Seche Vite.  It lasted for about 5 days before it showed significant tip wear.

Tips To Making Your Fragrance Last

Quite frequently, we will put on our favorite fragrance only to have it fade 2 hours later.  Well I have a tip for making your fragrance last.  Dab a little Vaseline on the spots that you are going to place your fragrance. Then spray or dab your fragrance on those spots and this well help to prolong your fragrance.  I've been doing this lately and I honestly can still smell my fragrance once I get home from work (for reference, I work 8-5).  Because Vaseline doesn't have a smell, it will not interfere with your fragrance's notes. 

I passed this trick along to a co-worker and she also found that it prolonged her fragrance.  If you do not have Vaseline on hand, you can also use Rosebud Salve, that works just as well.  Do you have any tricks for making your fragrance last?

Manicure Mondays-China Glaze Goin' My Way

I've had this color since August and just now got around to wearing it.  China Glaze Goin' My Way is a bronzed brown with gold micro shimmer.  It is from their Vintage Vixen collection released last Fall.  It was very flattering to my skin tone and I got a few compliments on it.  It applied beautifully and was opaque in two coats.  It wore for four days before it started to chip.  And with the horribly grey skies we've had, I had to take an indoor photo with flash. 

More Rock & Republic...This Time Eyeshadow

Rock & Republic is having a crazy sale.  They have discounted their eyeshadows by 50% and then on top of that, they are offering a discount code for an additional 50% off your order.  That means I got their regularly $28 eyeshadows for $7!  I only got 3...to start with, but I will purchase more.  The quality does not disappoint.  Just like their blushes, the texture of these shadows are buttery smooth and silky.  And the pigmentation is remarkable. 

I ordered:

Lost (shimmer finish):  medium brown with gold and bronze shimmer
Diffused (satin finish):  medium taupe
Fatalistic (matte finish): flat black



Lost, Diffused, Fatalistic

 Just like with their blush, the packaging is very luxurious and you get a lot of product.  The shadows come in at 3 grams which is twice the size of a MAC shadow.  Rest assured, I will be purchasing more while their sale is still going on.  If you plan on taking advantage of the sale, use the code ROCKCOSMETICS to get an extra 50% off of your order. 

P.S.  Their shipping was great.  I ordered on Monday (MLK day) which was a holiday and received them this morning when I came into work.  I'm impressed!

Manicure Mondays-Essie Merino Cool

Essie Merino Cool is from their Fall 2010 collection.  It is grey purple, changing color depending on the light that you're in.  As always, the Essie formula was superb, only needing 2 coats for opacity.  And it wore like iron, it didn't even chip.  I ended up changing the color because I was ready for a change after 6 days.  I took two photos to show you the color change in different lights. The one above is artificial light, the one below is sunlight.

What's on your tips this week?

Newest Blush Acquisition-Rock & Republic Shameless

I'd heard a lot of rave reviews about Rock & Republic blushes so when Haute Look had a sale on them, I jumped.  See these blushes retail for $40, but Haute Look had them for $16.  Shameless was the only color that I purchased.  It is a rosy bronze color with shimmer finish.  It's one of those "goes with everything" colors.  The shimmer is not glittery at all, more of a nice glow on the cheeks.  This blush is very finely milled and has an incredibly silky texture.  It is very pigmented and not a lot of product is needed to achieve a healthy flush. 

The packaging is super luxurious in a metal casing with a large mirror and has a nice weight to it.  You get a lot of product at 9 grams.  I've taken a comparison photo to show you how much larger it is compared to a MAC blush which is 6 grams.

If you get a chance to catch these on Haute Look or any other discount site, scoop them up!  You can also frequently find these on sale at Rock & Republic for 50% off.

I've Been Tagged!

While checking my email this morning, I was pleasantly surprised to find an email from Dori of Kiss My Acetone telling me she tagged me for a Stylish Blogger Award.  I was so excited that I forgot I was at work for a second.  It feels really good to know people out there actually read (and like) my blog.  For me, this is a fun hobby and it totally feels great to be appreciated!  So thanks Dori for the tag!

These are the rules for the tag:

1. Thank and link the person who gave you the award
2. Share 7 things about yourself
3. Award 15 recently discovered bloggers
4. Contact these bloggers to tell them about the award

And without further ado...my 7 things

1. I absolutely can not sleep if any doors (closet, bedroom, or bathroom) are open in our room.  If I don't close them myself, I make my husband do it.  I have been that way since childhood when my dad would tell me about the "Boogie Man" in my closet.  I know no such thing exists, but it has stuck with me since childhood!  I know...weird.

2. I detest lettuce.  I can't stand anything about it, the texture, the taste, or the smell.  Especially the smell of hot lettuce!  It will ruin my appetite if it ends up on my plate.  Because of my disdain for lettuce, it made it pretty difficult to be a vegetarian, which I tried for about 3 months.

3. If allowed, I would be a career student.  I absolutely love school!  Not the college atmosphere, but the actual learning.  I thrive on it.  As if the 4 years of undergrad wasn't enough, I did 2 more years for accounting, and once I pass my CPA exam, I'm sure I'll find another reason to go back to school.  It drives my husband crazy! 

4. I can not eat leftovers that I have cooked.  If I've cooked it, it means I've tasted it multiple times while cooking it and I've eaten it at least once.  So when I'm hungry the next day, I don't want to eat it again.

5. I'd rather text than talk on the phone.  I know it's impersonal but after working all day, I just don't feel like talking on the phone.  I do make an effort on the weekends/holidays/birthdays but during the week I'm too mentally drained to hold a phone conversation.  I know...I'm working on it.

6. If my metabolism allowed, I would live strictly off of pizza and red velvet cake.  I could eat both everyday and not get tired of it.  I've never tried it, but if I could, I would.

7.  My beauty product obsession started with blush and has now trickled over to lipstick and nail polish.  I seriously have a problem and I have no plans to stop :-)  Which is good news for the blog!

Now here are the 15 blogs that I tag:
1. Short n Chic
2. Mocha Mish Mash
3. Candy Coated Tips
4. Nailspotting
5. Mouldy Fruit
6. Gloss Goss
7. amynicolaox
8. Addicted to all Things Pretty
9. Accidental Beauty
10. Phalanges Files
11. Glossy's Wardrobe
12. Polish Hoarder Disorder
13. Polish or Perish
14. Lextard
15. Makeup Republic

Now I read a ton of blogs and these were the first 15 that came to mind.

Manicure Mondays-Chanel Black Pearl

Oh how I love black pearls.  I love the iridescence of them.  And that is exactly what drew me into Chanel's Black Pearl.  It is a charcoal base with teal green shimmer through out.  When the light catches it, it looks just like the black pearls I lusted for while on vacation in Hawaii.  It was opaque in 2 coats.  This was my very first Chanel polish so I was a little worried when I'd heard that they don't wear well.  It happened to wear 5 days chip free for me.  I was glad because for $23, it better last!

My Current Obsession-Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb

I am currently recuperating from a nasty cold, but I wanted to share my latest obsession with you.  It is the infamous Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb.  I received this fragrance for Christmas and have become totally obsessed with it.  I have worn it everyday since I've received it.  It is a mix of Sambac Jasmine, Centifolia Rose, Cattleya Orchid, Ballerina Freesia, and Patchouli.  It just oozes sensuality.  It lasts all day and I am constantly getting compliments on the fragrance.   It is the most intoxicating scent!  Even my sister, who refuses to wear perfume, wants some now.  It is rather pricey at $100 for a 1.7 oz bottle but totally worth it.  For a less expensive alternative, Sephora sells a rollerball version for $22.

Manicure Mondays-Revlon Perplex

This is a very hard to find limited edition color from Revlon.  Perplex is a dupe for Chanel Paradoxal, which I do not own but wanted to.  The color is a greyed purple with subtle shimmer.  It is gorgeous!  The formula on this was superb!  It applied like butter and really only needed 1 coat, but I did 2 for good measure.  As always this is with Seche Vite top coat to add that glossiness.  The wear was phenomenal, lasting 6 days before chipping.  I don't know if all Revlon polishes are like this, but this one is a winner.  Get this color if you can find it.  I got mine at CVS.  Have you tried any Revlon polishes?

Best Of 2010-Beauty Edition

It's 2011!  And I hope this post finds you in the best of health and happiness.  With all of the "best of" list that pop up for the end of the year, I wanted do my own beauty edition.  These are the products that were truly my favorite products for 2010.

Skin Care:  I can't say enough about the Clarisonic Mia.  It was the best beauty related item that happened to me in 2010.  It has changed my skin for the best!

Face:  2010 was a great year for me and NARS.  I discovered my Holy Grail foundation in their Sheer Matte.  It is so worth the $42 price tag.  I also have a love affair with their blushes.  Truly some of the best on the market.  If you haven't already, treat yourself to a NARS blush in 2011!

Brushes:  My two favorite brushes in 2010 were the MAC 130 short duo fibre brush and the Essence of Beauty smokey wide brush.  The MAC 130 brush is outstanding for cream blush as well as liquid foundation!  I love how it blends out my cream blushes to provide such a natural looking flush.  The Essence of Beauty smokey wide brush is a drug store gem.  Sold only at CVS, the wide side is a perfect  brow bone highlight brush and the thin side is perfect for outer V work on the eye.

Eyes:  My go to shadows for 2010 has been MAC Woodwinked and Ricepaper.  Woodwinked is a great all over lid color, perfect to give you that "awake" look.  Ricepaper is the perfect natural looking brow bone highlighter for tan skin.

Mascara:  I fell in love with 2 mascaras in 2010 and I am on my second tube for both.  Lancome Hypnose mascara and L'Oreal Voluminous are both outstanding mascaras for volume.  I love them both!

Lips:  I have found my go to nude lip combo with MAC Viva Glam II and Spree lipglass.  Viva Glam II is a pinky brown, great for tan skin and Spree just gives it that extra glitz when applied over it!

Perfume:  I fell in love with Juicy Couture (the original) perfume.  So much that I have a purse size for my hand bag for touch ups.  It was my favorite daytime fragrance for 2010.

Nails:  Essie polish took the trophy this year for its superb formula and awesome staying power.  I can't get enough of Essie polish.  The absolute best top coat is hands down Seche Vite.  Talk about making a manicure last and giving that great glossy shine.  It is a must have for my manicures!

These products have been staples in my daily life for 2010.  What were your favorite beauty products for 2010?

Face Of The Day (Night)-NYE Black Smokey Eye

Happy New Year all!  Hope whatever you did to bring in the New Year was fun and safe!  I rarely go out on New Year's Eve, but last night was an exception.  My husband is a musician and he had a performance last night.  So I got (somewhat) dressed up and did a black smokey eye.  A black smokey eye is a departure from my normal smokey eye, which is grey/silver.  But it was NYE and I wanted to spice it up.  Now this picture was taken at about 2:30 am, so please excuse any tired/haggard looking expressions.

Products used:

Eyes:
-Urban Decay Primer Potion
-Maybelline eye studio black gel eyeliner all over the lid as a base
-Kat Von D Motorhead eyeshadow duo, the black side with no glitter on the lid and blended into the crease
-Urban Decay Buck blended to the brow bone to soften the black edges
-MAC Ricepaper as a highlight on the brow bone
-MAC Manila Paper in the inner tear duct
-L'Oreal Voluminous mascara
-Ardell #305 lashes on outer corner
-MAC Brun eyeshadow for brow filler

Face:
-MAC Select-Cover concealer in NW35
-MAC Mineralize Satinfinish liquid foundation in NC42
-MAC Darkly My Dear blush
-MAC Honour blush as a highlight
-MAC Prep + Prime translucent setting powder

Lips:
-NYX lip pencil in natural
-MAC Viva Glam II lipstick
-MAC Spree lipglass

I really liked the look.  It was appropriate for the occasion.  I would never wear that heavy of an eye for daytime.  How was your New Years Eve?