Wearable Orange/Copper Eyeshadow

I have been obsessed with MAC's Brash eyeshadow from the Limited Edition discontinued Spiced Chocolate quad.  This happened last summer as well.  For some reason I find it works really well with a tan and especially with blue or green eyes.  I mentioned this quad in my MAC Favorite Eyeshadows YouTube video and thought I'd include some pics.  More vibrant and orange than Amber Lights, less red than Coppering, Brash is a unique color which applies beautifully.  I wish MAC would repromote this shadow but a similar color could be achieved by mixing the colors I just mentioned.  

Brash on eyes

MAC Face & Body C6 on face

& Myth + Jazzed lipsticks

Shown above is Brash blended out with MAC's Texture eyeshadow.  This combination creates a more wearable look for those intimidated by orange eyeshadows.  

For an evening look I usually load this eyeshadow on and add black liner to the lash line & waterline.

So does anyone else wear orange eyeshadow or makeup in general? I am planning on purchasing Nars Taj Mahal blush which I'm pretty excited about! 

Thanks for reading

♥ Nikki

& thanks for all the feedback on my new YT channel! More videos to come shortly http://www.youtube.com/cocobella21

Summer Daytime Look

Hey girls, sorry for my lack of posts, it's been a crazy but fun summer.

Hope everyone else is enjoying it!  So here is my everyday makeup look recently.  I'd say it's pretty bronzy but not over the top. To make this into a night time look I'd probably just add some chocolate brown shadow into the outer V and some false lashes.

Face

NARS Sheer Glow in Barcelona

Make Up Forever Concealer Palette #1

Chanel Bronze Universel as contour

♥ MAC Stereo Rose MSF ♥ as blush & highlight

Eyes

(my new favorite combination)

Arena + Naked Lunch on lid

Texture in crease

Orb on brow bone

Feline kohl power

all by MAC

Lips

MAC Saint German + Jazzed lipsticks

Dab of Smile Dazzleglass

& the swatches...

Starting at the top left

Orb, Arena & Texture

Orb looks matte and ashy on my hand but it is a satin & has a very pretty sheen on.  I've been trying to avoid shimmer or sparkle by the brow bone.Arena is also a satin which gives the most subtle but beautiful glow to my eyelids.  I can't believe I've never tried this eyeshadow before! Everyone was right about Texture eyeshadow, it's just gorgeous. 

Top Right

Stereo Rose MSF-recently released from In the Groove collection. 

If you can still get your hands on this, get it!!! I am kicking myself for not purchasing another...it's THAT beautiful. 

Jazzed lipstick & Smile Dazzleglass

Jewels 

Lisa Taubes 42" gold-fill chain

Sterling Silver Compass necklace from Target

David Smallcombe cuffs

Garnet & shell beaded bracelets made by me!

I'm working on posting some makeup and nail polish hauls and I have a ton of outfit of the days to upload. Till then, thanks for reading!

xoxo Nikki

Sparkly Summer Evening Look

Haha I don't know why I look so sad in these photos, I swear I'm not! 

Anyway here are a few shots of my going out makeup from the other night. 

Face

NARS Sheer Glow Barcelona (getting too light now)

Benefit Hoola as contour

Chanel Soliel Tan de Chanel #63

Illamasqua Tweak Blush

Benefit High Beam highlighter

Lips

Illamasqua Obey

Korres lip butter in Guava

Eyes

NARS Lola Lola on lid

NARS Mekong in outer V

MAC Soft Brown in crease

MAC Vanilla Pigment as brow highlight

& most importantly & sparkly

*Urban Decay Snatch eyeshadow* 

This is a gorgeous peachy pink color with silver glitter.  I'm not crazy about straight up glitter particles but I could deal with them for the night. This eyeshadow is gorgeous, it transformed my eye makeup from boring to glam. Snatch is from the Show Pony palette if you're wondering. 

I can not speak highly enough about Illamasqua products, especially Tweak Blush & my more recently purchased Obey lipstick.  They are must-haves for summer! 

Hopefully this will be my last post for a while using these NARS eyeshadows.  I made a new neutral MAC quad which I am obsessed with now.  They will be featured in my next FOTD.  

As stated previously my foundation is getting too light.  

Can anyone please suggest a new foundation to try out? Or should I stick with the Sheer Glow? I'm just afraid of it sliding off now that it's extremely hot outside!

Thanks for reading!

♥ Nikki

MAC To the Beach Event & Purchase

I attended the MAC To the Beach Event a week ago and it was very hectic to say the least.  

Although my friend and I were scheduled for 8:00p.m. we still had to wait on line outside of the store for about a half an hour.  Once inside the store, it was pure madness.  As you can see these are pretty disappointing photos of the products because we just could not get close enough. At least there were yummy cocktails & canapes.

I was really looking forward to this collection until I saw swatches online.  Everything just seemed okay, not spectacular.  The one item I knew I had to get was Marine Life High-Light Powder.  Although there is an overspray of gold, the gold shimmer only lasts through about 1 or 2 swipes.  After it wears off it is basically a two-tone matte powder.  

For me this isn't really a highlight powder but more of a blush.  

Swatches of the coral shade & the pink shade without the gold overspray.

For me this is the only product that really stood out in this collection.  I like it because of the versatility.  You can either wear it as a baby pink blush or highlight, a coral blush or swirl it together for a very pretty peachy shade. 

I was thinking about getting the darker cream bronzer Weekend because Beach Bronze was way too light for my skin (NW30) and contained so much glitter.  I may go back for Weekend but for now I am enjoying my Chanel Bronze Universel.

I will have pics soon of Marine Life on the cheeks! 

To the Beach is scheduled to come out in stores on Thursday in the U.S.

Are you planning on getting anything from this collection?

♥ Nikki

Ember Glow & Update

Hi guys! Hope everyone is doing well. Sorry I haven't updated recently.  I've been pretty busy with school work & work/work.  I also haven't purchased much makeup in the past month.  Aside from a few nail polishes, I have picked up a backup MAC Natural MSF & a Lipglass in Ember Glow.

I have a love/hate relationships with lip glosses but I am currently loving this one! It's such a pretty peach gloss with a hint of shimmer. If your MAC still has this in stock I suggest checking it out! (that is if you're not on GlossOut2010) 

It even matches my favorite nail polish- Essie's Van d'Go

On another note I have reached & surpassed 500 followers which is UNbelievable! Thank you so much everyone! I have a few items from Sephora & Shu Uemura ready for my next giveaway.  Once I purchase a few more items the Giveaway will be posted. 

Hopefully I will have some makeup hauls posted soon- I'm planning on checking out the new Chanel Summer Collection tomorrow after work & also taking advantage of Sephora's 15% off!
Thanks for reading,
♥ Nikki

Liberty of London Lips

The MAC Give me Liberty of London collection was released recently in the US. Some people hate the packaging (because of the pigeons) but I think it's so pretty. 

I only purchased 1 item because I am trying to buy things that I'm actually going to use, as I have too much unloved makeup...blog sale soon!

MAC PEACHSTOCK-Pro

I have to say I am loving these Pro lipsticks.  Last week it was Fleshpot & now Peachstock.  Peachstock is a satin finish lipstick but it is much creamier than any other Satin I have tried.

However this lippie is much darker/orangey toned than I was expecting.  Don't get me wrong I love it, but it doesn't look its best on me.  I've seen this lipstick alone look amazing on other women. 

However I like use Peachstock on top of Fleshpot.

I don't know if anyone can tell the difference but the photo on the left is Fleshpot worn on its own.  On the right is the Fleshpot/Peachstock combo & it is my new favorite nude lip!

Have you recently found any good lip combos?

Thanks for reading!

♥ Nikki

Viva Glam Gaga & Custom Eyeshadow

As you all know MAC released the Viva Glam Lady Gaga & Cyndi Lauper lipsticks yesterday in the U.S. & of course I had to book it straight to MAC after work.  Obviously I chose Viva Glam Gaga as I am a little obsessed with light pink lips.

Last night I randomly decided to do something a little different with my makeup. I applied the NYX jumbo pencil in Black Bean as a thick eyeliner and then tapped on MAC's Vellum eyeshadow (iridescent purple) on top. This was the color I got...

I think it looks like a combination of Deep Truth & Blue Flame. 

Both by MAC & neither which I own, so I was pretty happy with the result.

& here's the final look.

Black Bean +Vellum on the eyes

Illamasqua Rude on cheeks

& Gaga on lips 

Do you ever mix colors of eyeshadows liners or cream color bases?
If so, what's your favorite creation?
Thanks for reading & commenting!
♥ Nikki

What I'm Loving Right Now...Part III

I figured it's been a while since I've done one these posts, so here are my current favorite products.

♥ Bronzer from the E.l.f. studio line. Love this for contouring. The shimmer is barely there once applied. Only $3!

♥ E.l.f. Complexion Brush. Amazingly soft brush with the same low price.  I love using this for bronzer or blush or all over powder.

♥ Benefit Sugarbomb

A soft, glowy, shimmery face powder.  I would say this product is multi-purpose because you could use it as your blush or as a highlighter.  Personally I love it as a blush. It brings a subtle hint of pink & glow to my cheeks. Gorgeous!!

♥ MAC Feline Kohl Power. Blackest black pencil eyeliner.

Set it with Carbon or black eyeshadow & it lasts all day. Also great for smudging.

♥ YSL Singulier Mascara.

Love this because it separates & elongates my little lashes.

♥ NARS Sheer Glow (Barcelona)

Best foundation I've ever tried. Glowy yet matte all at once.

♥ MAC lustreglass in Pinkarat.

Applied over any lipstick this gloss looks beautiful.  It looks very sheer but leaves traces of gold flecks on your lips.

♥ Elf Concealer duo

 I bought this in the lightest shade & it works well for brightening up my dark circles. On really bad days I use this over MAC's studio finish concealer & you would never know.

♥ Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter

I use nightly all over my dry cracked hands. It is a little bit greasy but it is so moisturizing and soothing.

A closer look @ Sugarbomb

I've also been obsessed with Lush's The Olive Branch Shower Gel. Will be purchasing the big bottle ASAP :)

Thanks for reading!

♥ Nikki

Smokey Purple Look

I'm not sure if I ever posted a purple look, so here it goes.  I find that purples tones look great on everyone. Here are some (horrible quality) photos of how I've been doing my eye makeup. Although I am using a brighter color like purple, this is still a pretty subtle look that can be worn during the daytime I think. 

Eyes

MAC Crystal e/s

Urban Decay Flash e/s

MAC Brown Script in crease

 Nars Cordura outer v

MAC Vellum as highlight

I think pairing a cool purple with a warm brown such as MAC's Brown Script gives the look a nice contrast.

What are your favorite purple eyeshadows?

Thanks for reading,

♥ Nikki

Makeup Art Cosmetics Collection Haul & FOTD

MAC's new collection was released on Thursday and of course I headed straight to the mall after work to check it out.  It's a pretty large collection consisting of new Technakohl liners (my fav.), pigments, glitters, eyeshadows, lipsticks and lipglasses. 

I picked up the pigment in Brash & Bold, technakohl eyeliners in Artistic License and Full of Fuchsia.  I also got a sample of the Fuchsia glitter.  I don't normally wear neon or bright colors on my eyes but I thought this collection was really funky & fun.  I am loving the promo image (above left) by Marilyn Minter.  I would love to recreate something similar.  

My makeup for Saturday night was pretty much what I always do but with a pop of color.

:Eyes: 

Artistic License liner

Woodwinked, Ricepaper, 

Barry M. 53 & Brash from Spiced Chocolate Quad

:Cheeks:

Nars Super Orgasm blush

:Lips:

Creme Cup & 

Korres Jasmine Lip Butter

What are your thoughts on this collection? What will you be buying, if anything?  xox

Collective Haul

A little bit from here & there...

September Issues of Elle & Glamour

:MAC:

Ricepaper e/s

Crystal Avalanche e/s

Studio Finish Concealer NW25

Graphblack Technakohl Liner

Small Shadow Palette

:Ulta:

NYX Jumbo Pencil in French Fries

Loreal Collagen Mascara in Blackest Black

Urban Decay Primer Potion

OPI Barefoot in Barcelona

:TJ Maxx:

St. Moriz Self Tanner

:CVS:

Mederma Scar Gel

:H&M:

Sequin Beret

*OPI's new collection España was available at my local Ulta.  Let me just say that I am in loveee with this collection! I don't know why but I only purchased one polish but they are beautiful. The collection is made up of all Satin's- no shimmer. 

I picked up Barefoot in Barcelona; the lightest shade in the collection.  After painting one nail I realized that it is almost the exact color of my skin & unfortunately does not look too  good! This will definitely suit people with fairer or darker skin than me (NW30). 

I will be returning to Ulta soon to purchase Ate Berries in the Canaries, a gorgeous magenta (last polish on left half of page).  I suggest everyone to check out this collection! 

Swatches from top to bottom

NYX French Fries

MAC Ricepaper

MAC Crystal Avalanche

*This is my first NYX Jumbo pencil. The color is similar to MAC's Bronze eyeshadow.  These pencils are super creamy and pigmented.  Only downfall so far is that they crease.  Even with UDPP :(

* Onto the Loreal Collagen Mascara. This mascara works great for me!  My eyelashes don't hold a curl for anything until I tried this.  It makes lashes super thick and curly and beautiful.  Once again there is a downfall.  The darkest color is Blackest Black.  Sounds good right? Well compared to Carbon Black (swatch on right) it is more of a dark grey or soft black.  I love it nonetheless. 

*Lastly I had searched high and low for the St. Moriz self tanner.  I finally found it!! T.J. Maxx had 3 in stock..so I bought them all! Can't wait to try it out.  

If anyone would like an in-depth review on any of these products please let me know! Is anyone else excited about OPI's España collection? Thanks for reading, xox