LOOK: MAC Lotusland + Smoke&Diamonds

Hiya.

I did this look today kinda backwards, because I did my second 5mins makeup this morning (yays!) and then, later on, decided to add some eyeshadow and this is the combo I came up with.

Hope you like it. Mmmmm...

Products used:

FACE
*Smashbox Photo Finish Primer
*Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer: Medium/Olive
*MAC Full Coverage Foundation NC35 (as concealer and only where needed)
*NYC Smooth Mineral Foundation: Natural Medium
*MAC Powder Blush: X-Rocks

EYES
*MAC Paintpot in Painterly
*MAC E/S in Lotusland, Smoke & Diamonds, Carbon and Shroom
*MAC Mascara X in Black X
*L'OREAL HIP Black Eyeliner
*REVLON Brow Fantasy: Dark Brown

LIPS
*Sally Hansen Diamond Lip Treatment:
Pink Boutique

Vivan, Amen y Rían!
(Live, Love and Laugh!)

5 Minutes Beauty Makeover + Tips

I saw the challenges in YouTube and I wanted to do it. This has a reason of course: many of us are always looking how to look nice and pretty, spending less time in front of the mirror. For me the solution is a natural simple look, a way to look refreshed without wasting precious time.

After doing my experiment, I learned some things:

1. It's better to plan ahead what products you're going to use, so you don't spend time looking for them.
2. Love using multitasking products!

I made this video to show you how I did it. Ladies, there are no excuses to look terrible!

Tutorial: Long Lasting Nude Lips

This is how I do nude lips. =D




Vivan, Amen y Rían!
(Live, Love and Laugh!)

"Get happy" look: MAC Chrome Yellow+Paradisco+Coppering

I did this yesterday. I wanted a vibrant look, something that would make me remember the sun, which we haven't seen in quite a few days -- BTW, today the sun came out, yeys!. Since I don't use MAC's Chrome Yellow much, I picked it up and came up with this look.

I'm still deciding if I like it, maybe I will place the Chrome Yellow in the middle of the lid next time...

Products used:

FACE
SMASHBOX Photo Finish Primer
NEUTROGENA Healthy Skin Enhancer--Medium to Olive
MILANI Smooth Finish Even-Tone Powder Foundation--03 Natural
MAC Mineralize Blush -- Nuance
MAC Sculpt+Shape Powder in Bone Beige/Emphasize (only used Bone Beige as highlighter)

EYES
BENEFIT Lemon-Aid as base
MAC E/S in Chrome Yellow, Paradisco, Coppering, Gorgeous Gold and Shroom
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
MAC Plushlash Mascara in Plushblack
REVLON Brow Fantasy in Dark Brown

LIPS
CARMEX Lipbalm
MAC Tinted Lipglass in Lychee Luxe
L'OREAL Colour Riche Lipstick in 85o-Brazil Nut

As always, click on the pics to see larger versions of them.

=)

Vivan, amen y rían!
(Live, love and laugh!)

The storm that wasn't a storm but... =(

I know I haven't been blogging much in the past few days, I have a few reasons.

First, my husband is using the computer to finish some designs, which is really important for us. Second, we have been having a tough time in the country. It rained for more than 4 days, thanks to a system that brought lots and lots of water (I guess it's called a tropical wave--"onda tropical" in spanish) . Records were broken in terms of inches of water received in less than 24 hrs. Here are some pics:

The thing that caused so much rain.
Thank God it wasn't a hurricane...

Source: PrimeraHora.com

Under water...

Source: PrimeraHora.com


Source: PrimeraHora.com

Click HERE if you want to see some videos. Thank God this wasn't a Hurricane or even a Tropical Storm. My family is fine but there are so many people affected by the floodings, people who lost everything. I am already preparing bags of clothes and food... I am lucky, I know.



Vivan, Amen y Rían!
(Live, love and laugh!)

Foundations, Foundations!

If you're like me, you probably are always looking for the "perfect" foundation. In my case, that would be the one foundation that evens out my skin tone and helps to cover the blemishes and dark spots (aside from the concealer). It also mean, very important, that it will not clog my pores and cause my skin to breakout. And, of course! I have to get the perfect shade for my skin and hopefully it also has a low price.

From my experience, a high end foundation doesn't necessarily means better quality.

One of my favorite foundations has to be Revlon ColorStay Makeup, in both formulas. That thing rocks! In Puerto Rico we always have hot temperatures and super extra high humidity. It is terrible because you will be sweating before you even finish doing your makeup. ColorStay, as the names implies, just stay put. For long hours. Seriously. Revlon has a great selection of colors, you will likely find your perfect one. The price is fair, but better since you could find it at most drugstores in one of those BOGO free Revlon sales. I just got two for about $13.00!

Other foundation I like is Clinique's Superfit. It is very soft when you apply it, has kinda velvety finish and it also stays on my face for hours.

TotalBeauty.com has a nice article on foundations, you may find it interesting as I did. =)



Vivan, Amen y Rían!
(Live, Love and Laugh!)

LOOK: MAC Copperbeam+Naked-->FOTD on Video, LOL

I had many pics and was listening to John Lennon, so...yeah.

Vivan, Amen y Rían!
(Live, Love and Laugh!)

Tutorial: MAC Heritage Rouge+Golden Lemon+Royal Flush

The tutorial for the previous look.

Enjoy.

Look: MAC Heritage Rouge+Golden Lemon+Royal Flush

I've always loved the makeup style known as "arabic". I like to see Bollywood actresses all beautiful with their dramatic eyes (yeah, many pictures of them are photoshoped, but hey, the e/s combos are amazing!). I came up with this look after looking at many pictures and colors used in Indian clothing, which I truly loved.

FACE
No primer
NEUTROGENA Healthy Skin Enhancer--Medium to Olive
MILANI Smooth Finish Even-Tone Powder Foundation--03 Natural
MAC Powder Blush -- Breezy
L'OREAL Translucide Loose Powder in Translucent

EYES
Elyzabeth Arden Eye-Fix Primer
MAC P/M in Heritage Rouge, Royal Flush and Golden Lemon
MAC Glitter in Reflects Rust
MAC E/S in Shroom mixed with Vanilla
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
MAC Mascara X in Black X
L'OREAL Hip Eyeliner in Black
REVLON Brow Fantasy in Dark Brown

LIPS
CARMEX Lipbalm
REVLON Super Lustrous Lipstick in 300 Coffee Bean
MILANI Glossy Tubes Ultra Lip Shine - 01 Clear Shine

All the brushes used (on eyes only! LOL)
(Just washed them)

Hope you liked it!


Vivan, Amen y Rían!
(Live, Love and Laugh!)

How to make your own Tinted Moisturizer

I like TM for those hot humid days. I am using Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer right now, which is pretty good. But I think I will stick to making my own.

Making my own customized tinted moisturizer is really easy, I know this is a trick many ladies use since it's way more cheaper and hey, you can get your perfect shade and have a bit more coverage if you want to!

I hope you enjoy this tutorial.






Vivan, Amen y Rían!
(Live, Love and Laugh!)

My fight against uneven skintone

I have pimples and whiteheads and all that stuff that comes with having combination/oily skin. I deal with that, no prob. But my biggest fight is against uneven skin tone. Dark spots makes me so self conscious! I hate to go out without wearing at least a bit of concealer, I feel everybody is looking at me saying, wow, look at that skin(I know, maybe it's all in my head, but it bothers me).

It's all my fault, I know. I should have wear more sunscreen through out my teenager years and during my 20's. But in those days moisturizers with SPF weren't available as much as today and besides, it was cool to have a REAL tan all the time...stupid, yeah. =/

I have used many products, the so called fading cremes. None of them worked really. But finally (yeah!) I have found two products that seem to be helping my skin like no other. And they are so cheap! They are: Dermisa Skin Fade Cream and Equate Medicated Apricot Scrub.

I'll wish to tell you how I use them and have worked for me.

EQUATE MEDICATED APRICOT SCRUB

This is Walmart's generic version of the St. Ives Medicated Apricot Scrub. Okay, this stuff is amazing. I have used other scrubs, but none like this one. I've been using it every night for quite some time, after removing my makeup. I am careful to scrub my face softly, I know the risk of overdoing it with the scrubbing. My face is so soft after using this! It is medicated (meaning it has salicylic acid), so it helps with the stupid acne. I have huge pores and I assure you, I have never seen them so clean, LOL! It is so cheap, about $4.oo USD and it does the job wonderfully. Love it.

Again, if you decide to try this product, go soft with the scrubbing. You could end up inducing your skin to produce more oil and also irritate it.

DERMISA FADE SKIN CREAM

I also found this at Walmart, but I know mayor drugstores like Walgreens also sell it. This is the one and only fading cream that has helped with the dark spots right away. One of the first things I love about this cream is that my skin absorbs it very quickly, you don't get stuck with greasy stuff (like all of the others creams I have used before). That is very important for my oily areas, I hate to add more oily stuff that could clog my pores. The other things is that, although it says a person should expect results in 4 to 6 weeks, I've obtained results in less time. I see how the spots are less noticeable. That has never happened to me before. This product also has Vitamin C, which has helped to soften the texture of the skin. I think I will stick with this one. I bought it for about $12 in Walmart.

I feel so good with these products, I am posting photos of yours truly without any makeup. I am showing you the sides of my face so you can see what I'm talking about.

Great product. And it helps they are so cheap! I'm happy. =D


Vivan, Amen y Rían!
(Live, Love and Laugh!)

LOOK: Club+Bitter

Hi guys. I've been wanting to do this look for quite some time now, just never had the time...'til today!

This look is more for a night out on the town, party!!

I have to say I got inspired by watching some of JudeRivera's looks on her BLOG. Also, I applied the eye makeup following her technique, as shown on her tutorials. That lady is amazing!

AND the addition of glitter was inspired by my girl Márcia, a friend in Temptalia.com/Forums. She is gorgeous!

Hope you guys like it, it was fun for me. =D

FACE
Monistat Anti-Chaffing Gel (as primer)
Revlon Colorstay foundation
MAC Studio Fix Powder
Loreal Translucide Loose Powder
Wet n Wild Mega Pump Shimmer -- St. Tropez
MAC Mineralize Blush in Pleasantry

EYES
Almay Bright Eyes Eyebase+Concealer
MAC Paint Pot in Painterly
MAC Eyeshadows in Bitter, Juxt, Club, Carbon and Vanilla
MAC Blactrack Fluidline
MAC Plushlash Mascara in Plushblack
MAC Chartreuse Glitter

LIPS
Revlon Colorstay Lipstick in 320 Dreamy Dusk
Sally Hansen Lipnotic Gem Gloss in Embellished

NO FLASH











THE LIPS:


PICS WITH FLASH:

Vivan, Amen y Rían!
(Live, Love and Laugh!)

MAC Overrich Pigments have arrived!--Swatches

So I got my MAC Overrich pigments samples. AMAZING colors. True to Collection name, they are very rich and perfect for the fall season.

Swatches Swatches!!

Under bright fluorescent lighting:

Vivan, Amen y Rían!
(Live, Love and Laugh!)