Small Makeup Geek Haul

I love Marlena from Makeup Geek, especially ever since I read this article about her and her success with the brand.  I love a great story of how a businesswoman rose to the top.  Marlena recently uploaded a video on her channel informing us that 100% of the proceeds from one of her foiled eyeshadows, the color "Caitlin Rose" would be donated by the company to Batten disease efforts in honor of a friend of her family.  I decided to support and pick up the eyeshadow, along with a few others from the foiled collection.



Makeup Geek's foiled eyeshadows provide a metallic finish.  The eyeshadows are made with a liberal amount of oil to keep the texture smooth.  This hopefully won't be a problem for those who don't have naturally dry lids.

Untamed ($9.99 1.8 Grams/0.064 oz) is a bright coppery orange with warm undertones.  The foil effect on this shadow is very prominent and gorgeous.

Flame Thrower ($9.99 1.8 Grams/0.064 oz) is a warm copper color, much like a clean penny.  The foil on this shadow is also gorgeous and the pigmentation is vibrant.

Pegasus ($9.99 1.8 Grams/0.064 oz) is a bright aqua color with a silvery foiled finish.  It is quite sheer and cool toned.

Caitlin Rose ($9.99 1.8 Grams/0.064 oz) is an amethyst purple color with a blue pearlescent sheen.  It is a bit sheer and would need a bright base underneath to get the foiled effect out of it.

Generally I'm really happy with the colors I got.  Untamed and Flame Thrower, both beautiful sunset-y colors, are definitely my favorites.  I love how golden and vibrant they are.  However, Caitlin Rose and Pegasus were not as vibrant, as you can see in the swatches.  

 I'm super excited to try these out.  The colors are gorgeous.  As you can tell I'm growing my Makeup Geek eyeshadow collection.  I think I need two more to finish filling this palette.  If you have any suggestions for the next two I should buy, let me know!

Sigma Holiday Gift Guide

Sigma Brushes have become so popular, it's crazy!  But I too succumbed to the hype a few years ago.  Sigma brushes are of excellent quality and there is a brush for every possible need.  Sigma also has some gorgeous makeup items like palettes and blushes that I absolutely just love!  With the holidays and the upcoming Black Friday free shipping promotion, don't overlook Sigma for that makeup artist in your life.  Or maybe snag some treats for yourself?  Here are some products that I love or am lusting over from Sigma!

Travel Kit - Mrs. Bunny $75

I purchased this travel kit almost a year ago and to this day it still makes me incredibly happy to use it.  This travel kit provides all essential brushes you need to create a flawless face, making it perfect on the go.  The cute colors are to die for as well!  The brushes are synthetic--providing for an airbrushed finish to your makeup looks and also making them vegan friendly.

Sigmax Synthetic Precision Kit $57

I'm asking for this precision kit for both my birthday AND Christmas just because I want them so much!  These brushes are for precise use on the face to mimic the flawless finish that your fingertips would provide while putting on makeup.  These brushes are essential for perfect concealer blending, even application of face and eye primers, and accurate contouring.  This kit would be perfect for the advanced artist.

Flat Kabuki $21

If you follow the makeup world you know this is just about one of the most popular brushes out there.  Everyone loves this brush for liquid foundation application.  It is a super dense brush that is synthetic--providing for a gorgeous finish to the face, which makes your foundation look like skin!  

Paris Palette $49

I am in love with this gorgeous makeup palette!  It was created by a few beauty gurus who all went to Paris and collaborated to make an inspired palette.  The shades are so pigmented and rich and absolutely perfect for winter looks.  I am a huge advocate for this palette and love it so much.  The palette includes eight eyeshadows, two blushes, a highlighter, and 2 brushes.  There are so many products for the cost--it's just an all around GREAT deal!

Complete Kit - Copper $429

I am a sucker for anything that looks remotely rose gold.  This brush set is a must.  The copper tone is not only unique and gorgeous, but is a long-lasting trend that anyone would love in their brush set.  This set comes with 29 brushes for eyes, cheeks, face, lips--you name it!  The set is PERFECT and with the great quality of sigma brushes, the price is reasonable.

Be sure to check out Sigma before these items sell out!  There is a Black Friday promotion going on November 28-29 for free shipping off all orders!  Jump on this because Sigma rarely has free shipping deals!  And be sure to check out the website on December 2 for Cyber Monday!  Sigma will have a 20% off sale on select products!  I will update this post on November 25 to let you know if any of the products in my gift guide will be included in the sale!

*All photos curtesy of www.sigmabeauty.com

Julie G Nail Polish in Crushed Candy

I am absolutely obsessed with this Julie G nail polish from the Frosted Gumdrops line.  It is a beautiful purple silver color that shines like out of this world!  I did not add a top coat, but I bet it's super shiny with one!  The greatest thing about this polish is the lasting power.  Without a top coat, I was able to wash my hair rigorously and the polish remained in tact.  No sparkles missing!  This polish is literally the most gorgeous thing ever.  Get your hands on it at Rite Aid or online at Jesse's Girl.

Julie G Nail polish in Crushed Candy.  Look at that sparkle!

Julep Instant Warming Foot Scrub

Have you ever gotten one of those beauty subscription services and been absolutely astounded when you find something that is actually awesome?!  That's how I felt after using the Julep Instant Warming Foot Scrub.  This stuff is legit.

Hurry!  It's on sale right now for just $12.99!

I received this scrub in my Julep Maven Subscription box, which by the way is a monthly subscription where you get their awesome nail polishes for way cheaper than normal and they also throw in a full-sized skin care or beauty product from the brand.

The Instant Warming Foot Scrub is amazing.  It has a beautiful cucumber mint scent and has natural pumice, which is volcanic rock to help smooth out the roughness on your feet.  The scrub is also infused with chili pepper oil, which I imagine helps with the heating sensation!  When you rub the product into your hands, it instantly warms up!  It's a soothing, almost hot, type of feeling.  You just rub into your feet while in the shower, and your feet instantly feel smoother.  It is a great way to massage tired feet.  It is absolutely luxurious and a total pick-me-up while you're getting squeaky clean.

Welcome! MAC Tropical Taboo

Welcome to my new blog!  I have wanted to start a blog for quite some time, but with my life-consuming work schedule and my youtube hobby I wasn't quite sure when I could start.  I decided to start today.  I was a bit over-ambitious and decided to do a bunch of picture-taking and swatching because I just received my package from MAC with my new goodies from their Tropical Taboo collection.  I am not a big MAC collection person, but for some reason I felt compelled to participate in this one.  I love what I purchased.

Apparently the Tropical Taboo collection is inspired by latin beats.  The MAC website states that the collection is the:

"passion of samba in a shimmering colour collection pulsating with sensuality.  Give into the heat, beat, and exotic glamour of shades that define desire.  Be seduced by the lure of the Latin beat."

Well, I don't know about all that but here are my thoughts on the few items I purchased:

1.  Simmer Mineralized Blush $25 - This is a gorgeous berry-colored blush.  It provides a bit of gold dust, which highlights the face.  Wearing this blush defeats the need for a highlighter on the face.  It is beautiful and can easily be used for both a daytime and nighttime look.

2.  Gold Deposit Mineralized Skinfinish $30 - This is a gold highlighter that adds a beautiful golden dust to the face.  It is perfect for summertime, as the sunlight will bounce against this highlight and will make the skin glow.  A golden highlighter is essential in any makeup collection, and this one is a lovely choice.

3.  Adored Mineralized Skinfinish $30 - This highlighter is a bit of a pale chalky pink color.  It is very pretty, but is easily replaced by any light-colored highlight.  This color has a tendency to look somewhat ashy, so you have to be careful about how much you put on.  It does provide a pearly look, but again, just be careful.

4.  Fever Isle Cremesheen Glass $20 - This is a sheer wash of coral for the lips.  Although MAC describes it as "bright," in reality, it comes off quite sheer.  It is difficult to get amazing color payoff.  I do not think this is worth a buy, but it is nice for the workplace.

5.  Heroine Lip Pencil $15 - This lip pencil has been introduced before by MAC and often sells out, as is the case online for this collection.  It is a beautiful vibrant blue-toned purple color that will turn heads.

Simmer Mineralize Blush. Burnt Rose with Peach/Gold Pearl.

Gold Deposit Mineralized Skinfinish.  Soft Reflective Golden-bronze.

Adored Mineralized Skinfinish.  Coral with Light Beige Pearl.

Fever Isle Cremesheen Glass.  A Bright Red Coral.

Heroine Lip Pencil. Bright Purple.

Fever Isle Cremesheen Glass.

Simmer Mineralized Blush.

Adored Mineralize Skinfinish.

Gold Deposit Mineralized Skinfinish.

Heroine Lip Pencil.

Simmer Blush, Gold Deposit Mineralized Skinfinish, and Heroine Lip Pencil

Simmer Blush, Adored Mineralized Skinfinish, and Fever Isle Cremesheen Glass