Madd Style Cosmetics: Sheer Sparkle Tutorial

I was playing around with some of my newest MSC additions and actually liked how this turned out! It looks so much more shimmery in person, and 'Fade Away' has such a beautiful blue-purple iridescence that was seemingly impossible for me to photograph. Even though the weather hasn't been on my side (at least for photographing makeup, anyway) I hope you will still enjoy this look I put together. <3

Here are the products I used to achieve this look:

Top left: Tick:Tock Cosmetics Infinity Eye Shadow Base in 'Milky Way' 

& Too Faced Shadow Insurance Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer

Middle left: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in 'Zero'

& theBalm 'What's Your Type?" mascara in 'the body builder'

Bottom left: bdellium tools green bambu brushes #777 & #781

Top &bottom right: MSC eyeshadow pigments in: 

Birf'day Suit, Frankenberry, The Zed Word, &Fade Away

Apply your eye shadow primer and eye shadow base :) I focus my base on the lid, but lightly bring it all the way up to the brow.

Next, using a shadow brush, apply 'Frankenberry' to the inner-most part of your lid. Use a lighter touch as you get closer to the center of the lid.

Still using your shadow brush (I continue to use the same shadow brush - I keep a paper towel handy &wipe my brush off between switching colors) apply 'The Zed Word' to the rest of your lid. Focus 'The Zed Word' more on the center of your lid, lighten your application toward the outer corner. You may want to overlap 'Frankenberry' a bit to help them blend a little better.

Next up is 'Fade Away' :) Apply using a shadow brush (or whichever brush works best for you!) to the outer corner of your lid, working slightly into the crease &blending with 'The Zed Word'

I then went ahead a blended my colors together a bit more and applied 'Birf'day Suit' above my crease, using my fluffy crease brush, to blend them out.

Apply your favorite eyeliner &mascara and you're all set! :)

(Since these shades are particularly sparkly.. I know, hard to tell in the photos :(... you may need to clean up some fall out! I usually just grab a q-tip and lightly dip it into a liquid makeup remover to clean up any mistakes!)

Thanks for viewing! <3

Birchbox: January 2013 (box #23)

My love/hate relationship with Birchbox will live another year ;) I decided to re-subscribe for now and I am actually pretty happy with my box this month! Here's a look at what I received:

(Insert from my box)

Pictured:

DDF - Acne Control Treatment

Embryolisse - Lait-Crème Concentrè

theBalm Cosmetics - Hot Mama

Aerie - Shimmer

LA FRESH - Waterproof Makeup Remover

&now, the close-ups!:

DDF Acne Control Treatment

I received a sample size (0.5 oz). A full size (1.7 oz) retails for $44, giving my sample a 'value' of about $12.94 (0.5 oz/1.7 oz * 44 = $12.94). I think this is actually a decently sized sample that will allow for multiple uses, &I'm looking forward to trying it out!

Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentrè

I received a sample size (5ml). A full size (30ml) retails for $16, giving my sample a 'value' of about $2.67 (5ml/30ml * 16 = $2.666). This is actually a really tiny sample.. especially for being such a multi-purpose product! I had never heard of this product before Birchbox but a lot of ladies are referring to it as a 'miracle cream' so I'm excited to see what all of the fuss is about. :) This cream can apparently be used as a primer, moisturizer, and even makeup remover!

theBalm Cosmetics Hot Mama

I received a cute little sample size (1.0g). A full size (7.08g) retails for $20, giving my sample a 'value' of about $2.82 (1.0g/7.08g * 20 = $2.82). I absolutely love theBalm and actually already own a full size of this! ;) Hot Mama can be used as an eyeshadow or a blush, making it that much better. Though it looks really small, this sample will go a long way and I think this is a perfect example of a 'deluxe' sample size. I've received other samples of theBalm products through beauty subs and I really love that their packaging for samples is always on par with their full size products and are always very generous.

Here's a size comparison of the sample I received and the full size I already own, and why I think the sample is 'cute' :)

(sample size from Birchbox on the left, full size on the right)

Aerie Shimmer

Received a little sample perfume vial, no size specification which doesn't surprise me as perfume samples are typically free anyhow. A full size retails for $39.95 (1.7oz).. however it appears to no longer be available from American Eagle/Aerie.

I don't even know what to think about that, haha. At least it was nicely wrapped (like a candy/treat) and smells a lot better than I expected? (a light scent with noticeable citrus and thankfully not over-powering when it comes to the vanilla!) :P

LA FRESH Waterproof Makeup Remover

Received a single use packet (1 wipe). A full size retails for $9.99 and contains 18 of these individually wrapped packets, or for the same price you can purchase a package of 24 wipes (not individually wrapped).  My individually wrapped packet, which is actually my 'lifestyle extra', has a 'value' of about $0.56 (1packet/18packets * 9.99 = $0.555).

This will come in handy for on-the-go use &although I don't wear waterproof mascara, I am curious to see how well this will remove Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils.. because those things are stubborn! :)

If you want to join in the Birchbox madness, I won't hold you back from signing up and using my referral link here. ha ha  Thanks for reading! <3

FTC: This subscription is paid for by myself/by my boyfriend. I am not being compensated to write this post, these are my honest opinions on the products and company. All photos of products and swatches were taken by me in natural lighting, and are unaltered aside from cropping/collaging!

Ipsy (formerly MyGlam): January 2013

My January Ipsy bag has arrived! The theme of the month is 'Super Stars' which I think is kinda cute but also terribly cheesy - however, I really do love the star pattern that they lined our makeup bags with (you'll see what I mean). :)
There were a couple varying products between subscribers this month. Ipsy sent out two different 'classic' Nailtini polish colors (either 'Bloody Mary' or 'Frappe') and three different SOHO brand cosmetic brushes (either a concealer brush, crease brush, or eyeliner brush).

Here's a look at my Ipsy bag and the products I received:

(Insert from inside the bag)

Pictured:

Pacifica - Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter

Nailtini - nail lacquer in 'Frappe'

Josie Maran - 100% Pure Argan Oil

Sexy Hair - Spray & Play Volumizing Hairspray

SOHO - crease brush

&now for the close-ups!:

Pacifica body butter in 'Tuscan Blood Orange'

The body butter is a deluxe sample/travel size (2.5 fl oz/73ml). It retails for $7 on their website and can be purchased here. I am absolutely in love with this scent (so much, actually, that I purchased their solid perfume in this fragrance.. hehe). I'm really happy to have discovered Pacifica - they are a cruelty-free brand, their products are vegan and made without: phthalates, parabens, sulfates, propylene glycol, benzene, GMOs, mineral oil, peanut oil, and triclosan. Basically everything they make is full of win ;)

Nailtini nail lacquer in 'Frappe'

Received a full size (.5 fl oz/15ml). Nailtini nail lacquers retail for $13 on their website, this shade (described as a 'sheer pale pink') can be purchased here. I'm not very familiar with this brand, though I did receive another one of their nail lacquers from a previous Ipsy/MyGlam bag. I never did give it a shot because it was mostly bar glitter (which I'm not terribly fond of) and because of their price range.. I, personally, don't see myself purchasing this brand in the future.  However, they are 3-free which is fantastic. :)

Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil

I received a deluxe sized sample (.17 fl oz/5ml). A full size (1.7 fl oz/50ml) retails for $48 and can be purchased here. (.17/1.7 * 48 = $4.80) I can't even begin to tell you how much this argan oil has changed saved my skin! I've had more breakouts/acne the past few years than I ever did as a teenager - and believe me when I tell you, I've tried everything. This is the first product I've used that has actually given me noticeable results (and quite literally) overnight. I actually purchased a Josie Maran gift set around the holidays and it contained a travel size of the argan oil - so, I already knew that I loved this product and couldn't be happier to receive a nice sized sample for a back up! :)

Here's a comparison of the deluxe sample I received in my Ipsy bag (.17 fl oz/5ml), and the actual travel size (.5 fl oz/15ml) which retails for $14.

(deluxe sample from Ipsy on the left, actual travel size on the right)

A little tiny bit of this oil goes a long way. I only use 4-5 small droplets to moisturize my face after washing, and I apply it while my face is still slightly damp by patting/pressing.

Sexy Hair 'Spray & Play' volumizing hairspray

Another deluxe sized sample (1.5oz/43g). This sample is actually a teeny tiny bit smaller than their actual travel sized Spray & Play (1.6oz/47g) that retails for $6 and can be purchased here. I found the size difference to be a bit strange.. oh well! I estimate the 'value' to be about $5.63 due to the sizing difference (1.5/1.6 * 6 = $5.625). I haven't had a chance to try this out yet, but I'm looking forward to it!

SOHO crease brush

Last but not least, I received a crease brush by SOHO. This brush retails at $8.99 according to their website here. However, I can't find this line of brushes available for purchase through any online retailers (Walgreens carries them in store only). The brush is much larger/fluffier in person and I will probably pass this on to someone who will get more use out of it.

My favorite part about the actual bag this month?...

...stars!

FTC: This subscription is paid for by myself/by my boyfriend. I am not being compensated to write this post, these are my honest opinions on the products and company. All photos of products and swatches were taken by me in natural lighting, and are unaltered aside from cropping/collaging!