Battle of the Nude/Neutral Palettes: Too Faced Natural Eye Kit

Ready for round two of the Battle of the Nude/Neutral Palettes on What’s On My Face? My first post in this series focused on the Urban Decay Naked Palette (which I consider the holy grail of all nude/neutral palettes), and this one will be all about the Too Faced Natural Eye Kit — another higher-end offering that some have compared to the UD Naked palette.

I bought this palette I believe in September, when I was on the hunt for the UD Naked palette and couldn’t find it anywhere! I stopped in my local ULTA and asked if they had any in (of course they didn’t!), and the salesgirl recommended that I try this palette instead for a similar product.

Here’s the inside of the palette. First big difference from UD Naked? Fewer shadows. Another difference? No mirror or coordinating eyeliner! But, I like this one because it’s got three sets of coordinating three shadows that you can use to create looks (Day, Classic, Fashion), which they have detailed on cards that come inside the top of the kit.

You of course don’t have to use the shadows in the ways they’ve described on the cards, but it’s helpful if you’re new to eye makeup and have no clue what to put where. The good thing is that all the shades are really complementary and blend well together. You can use the lid color in the Classic row, add the Day crease color and top off with the Fashion outer v/darker shade, and you’re good to go!

On to the swatches!

I swatched the shadows according to the “looks” in the palette. Left to right -

First set of three – Day

• Heaven (which you can barely see, but this one is great for inner corner and brow highlight)
• Velvet Revolver (a really great taupe-y crease shade)
• Sexspresso (a deep matte brown…love this for outer v and to set brown eyeliner)

Second set of three – Classic

• Silk Teddy (a shimmery champagne that is amazing for all over the lid)
• Push Up (this one is a shimmery medium brown and intended for the crease, but since I like a matte crease, I usually stick with Velvet Revolver and use Push Up to darken the outer third of my lid)
• Erotica (a deep brown with shimmers…this one works well for the outer v)

Final set of three – Fashion

• Nude Beach (whoaaaaa, this one is glittery! I use this sparingly, here and there, to add some fun shimmer to my lid but I don’t think I’d use this all over my lid, especially not for a daytime work look. Guess that’s why it’s in the Fashion lineup!)
• Honey Pot (love this one! It’s comparable to Half Baked in the UD Naked palette, and I love to apply it in the center of my lid to add some dimension and shine to my eye look)
• Cocoa Puff (you can’t really see the shimmer in the swatch, but this is a deeper brown with some fun gold glitter)

My favorite shades in the palette are probably Velvet Revolver (not the most interesting but definitely the one I get the most use out of), Honey Pot (so much fun to experiment with how you wear this one…can be part of a really bronze/gold eye look or a fun, unexpected pop of color) and Erotica (it’s deep and dark, but it’s also got a nice shimmer that makes it perfect for outer v).

Here are a few ways that I’ve used the Too Faced Natural Eye Kit to create neutral eye looks:

Here, I used a combo of Heaven and Silk Teddy all over the lid, placed Push Up in the outer corner, and brushed Velvet Revolver in the crease. I also used Sexspresso to set my brown eyeliner. Oh, and Heaven as an inner corner and brow highlight.

This one is pretty similar to the one above, but I’ve used Honey Pot as well, in the middle of my lid, blended out, and also in the inner corner for an unexpected touch of gold highlight (which you might not be able to detect in the pic).

So, final thoughts? I really do like this palette and am happy that I bought it before UD Naked. I think it does a similar job as UD Naked and offers some comparable shades. Of course, if you’re picking one of the two, definitely go for UD Naked — it’s in the same price range (around $45 for UD and $35 for TF) and it offers more shadows, plus 2 liners and a mirrored palette. But, if you’re like me and couldn’t find the UD Naked, this Too Faced palette is a good second choice.

Up next in the Battle of the Nude/Neutral Palettes? The final post, complete with drugstore options and dupes!

Fall fashion! Office attire OOTD

Baby, it’s cold outside! Or, I wish it were. Here in Texas, it’s still warm, but I’m dressing like it’s fall in protest, hoping that the weather will get the picture and cool off already! Here’s a recent OOTD in my Fall Fashion series, this time featuring something a bit dressier, appropriate if you work in an office setting like me.

Super simple but definitely pulled together with a bit of flair! I’m wearing a Converse brand dark blue button-down top from Target. I love this top because it’s like a traditional button-down, but on the sides, there’s a bit of stretchy material that makes it super comfy.

See the stretch? Awesome! I’ve got a ton of these shirts in different shades. When you find something classic and basic like that that fits well, buy it in every color!

Here’s a better look at my skirt and shoes. The skirt is by Adrienne Vittadini, and I bought it on crazy clearance from ROSS or Marshall’s. And the shoes are also from Target…they’re wedges by Merona, and they don’t stay on my feet very well, but they’re cute and add a bit of height.

A great fall polish on my nails — OPILucerne-tainly Look Marvelous. It’s a great foil-y silver shimmer and holds up really well.

Here’s a better look at my face and a bit of my scarf, which was a great find at Forever 21 — it was in one of those bins by the register where they get you with the impulse purchases! But this actually will work really well in my wardrobe, since I don’t have really colorful, patterned scarfs except for this one.

Nothing too crazy happening with my makeup or earrings, just my regular routine of Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup with eye makeup from my Urban Decay Naked Palette (reviewed here!), and on my ears, some silver balls from Forever 21.

I really liked this outfit because it was super simple, but it looked really pulled together and chic. Now, let’s all say a little prayer for some chilly weather so I can start wearing more scarves and winter coats!

Battle of the Nude/Neutral Palettes: Urban Decay Naked Palette

It’s no secret.

I love a good, neutral eye look. I’ll occasionally go for a more smokey look, but for the most part, I keep it nude (on my eyes!).

I feel like it’s what looks best on me — a good, neutral eye look opens up your whole face and makes you look more awake. Plus, it’s safe to wear no matter where you are — work, school, running errands — because you don’t look too “done up” but it gives you a little extra something where you’re not completely au natural.

So, it’s safe so say that I’ve invested some money in nude/neutral eyeshadow, and recently, I’ve been using several different palettes specifically created for neutral eye lovers like me! This is the first in a series of posts I’m going to call…Battle of the Nude/Neutral Palettes!

Today, I’m focusing on the Urban Decay Naked Palette…

Urban Decay Naked palette (which was the hardest to find! Sold out almost everywhere, and I thought I was going to have to pay an arm and a leg for it on ebay, but I did finally find it in person at a Sephora inside my local JC Penney!)

Here’s a closer look at the inside of the palette:

I love each and every single one of these shadows, and the dual 24/7 eyeliner pencil is amazing. The “go to” shadows for me in this palette are Virgin, Sin, Buck, Toasted and Hustle. Right there, that is a beautiful neutral eye combo, from highlight to all over lid color to crease to outer v and shadow/liner.

And the swatches…

Left to right – Virgin, Sin, Naked, Sidecar, Buck, Half Baked, Smog, Darkhorse

Left to right – Toasted, Hustle, Creep, Gunmetal

Here are a couple of looks I’ve done with this palette. I’ve used this almost every single day since I bought it, whether by itself or in combination with other shadows.

What’s good about this palette?
Just about everything! The quality of the shadows is amazing, so creamy and blendable. The shadows all work together, so you can use several together in a look or just one or two for a wash of color. Truthfully, if you’re a neutral eye lover like me, with this palette, you really don’t need any other eyeshadows.

What’s bad about this palette?
Not too much. The price tag might be a bit steep, but it’s such a great investment at $44 dollars. It is a bit difficult to find right now, but I’ve heard Urban Decay is including this palette in its permanent line, so maybe after the hype has worn down, it’ll be easier to get.

Next post in this series will focus on the TooFaced Natural Eye Kit! I’ll also have some drugstore neutral eye options, including possible dupes for shades in the UD and TF palettes!

Fall Fashion – OOTD #2 (all buttoned-up!)

I love fall…it’s my favorite season for clothes, like I’ve said. So, you get more OOTDs because I’m having more fun getting dressed! This one is from a weekend or so ago, but it’s still appropriate for the current weather. I might throw a light cardigan on since it’s about 7 or so degrees chillier, but otherwise, it’s perfect for the crisp autumn air!

The top is a super cute button-down with a twist…ruffles! Ruffles are still very trendy right now and add a feminine flair to this otherwise neutral top. Got it for around $15 at Marshalls. I’m wearing a brown cami underneath (even though the shirt is a button-down, I still felt like I needed something underneath…I’m always worried about the space in between the buttons!) The jeans are the same as what I wore in my previous Fall Fashion OOTD — The Flirty skinny jeans from Old Navy.

And on my feet? Gladiator sandals from Forever21! I got these over the summer for under $8 (liked them so much I bought them in black and brown!), and the weather was still warm enough to wear sandals instead of boots. Love that I still can show off my pedi for another week or two!

They zip up the back…love these shoes!

This is what I call my “lazy hairdo” — it’s what I do when I want my hair out of my face and off my neck, but I don’t want to put any effort into it. My hair is so super duper long right now!

Since my hair was up, I wanted to wear a pair of dangly earrings. These are from Kohls and they’re Mudd.

I wish I could remember what exactly is on my face, but I’m 99.9 percent sure it’s a combo of Revlon ColorStay in 150 Buff, MAC eyeshadow in Gesso in the inner corners, a bunch of shades from Urban Decay Naked Palette, and on my lips? Eeek, totally no clue. I do something different there almost every day because I have a billion lip products!

And a closer look at my face! Lots more Fall Fashion posts to come! Hope you’re enjoying the amazing weather, wherever you are!

Fall Fashion – OOTD #1

It’s beginning to feel a lot like….fall! I love the cool weather, where it’s no longer hot and humid, but it’s not so cold that being outdoors is unbearable. Autumn is my favorite season, by far. It’s got the best holidays, and definitely the best possibilities for fashion.

Here’s a recent Outfit of the Day so you can get some ideas for how to dress in the cooler weather.

I LOVE browns and earth tones in the fall. Right now, purples and burgundies are really trendy. You can see that my OOTD is featuring a deep, chocolate brown, but the same top would be adorable in a dark violet, maybe with black skinny jeans and boots.

The top is a tunic-style short-sleeved sweater from Forever 21 — a great deal at only $9.99! This is an awesome basic piece to have for fall, and even into winter weather (especially if you live in a state like Texas where the two seasons aren’t that different, weather-wise). You can keep it casual like I did and pair with skinny jeans (mine are another steal of a deal from Old Navy…they’re The Flirt style and in a dark indigo wash), or you can dress it up with patterned tights and make it a standalone piece.

I tucked the skinny jeans into boots. These are a recent purchase from ROSS, and I can’t find a brand on them, but they’re just slouchy suede ankle boots in the same color as the tunic. I’ve seen these types of boots in lots of stores already this season, and I bet you can find something similar online, too.

I kept my accessories simple and added this super cute headband from Target that incorporates brown tones and adds some gold in there as well, bringing me to…

My earrings, which were a cheap-y but cute purchase, I think from Target. They’re little gold flowers with a jeweled center.

For my face, I kept the makeup light and natural, using Revlon ColorStay foundation (in Buff) and the Urban Decay Naked palette for my eyes, using mostly Virgin all-over the lid and popping a bit of Half Baked in the crease and outer v.

I’m going to continue to feature fall fashion OOTDs in the coming weeks, as the weather gets cooler and I find some great deals on staples you need in your closet this season, as well as some trendy pieces here and there.

Face of the Day! featuring Urban Decay Naked palette

This one’s a little belated, from about a week ago, but I’m wearing the same shirt and makeup today so consider it current!

Here’s what I’m wearing..

• Milani Secret Cover Concealer in Warm Beige
• Revlon ColorStay Active in Buff (love this stuff! Amazing staying power.)
• e.l.f. HD powder (to set my concealer and foundation)
• NARS bronzer in Laguna
• NARS blush in Orgasm
• e.l.f Shimmering Facial Whip in Spotlight (this is a shimmery white cream highlight that I dab on my cheekbones, above the cupid’s bow, on my brow bone and in the inner corners of my eyes)

• e.l.f Eyelid Primer (I use this to, duh, prime my eyes so my eyeshadow is long-lasting.)
• MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study (And, I use this in combo with the eyelid primer as an eye base to make my lids have an even starting point for shadow.)
• Urban Decay Naked Palette – Virgin all over lid to brow, Sin in outer corner (aaah, I LOVE LOVE LOVE this palette. I am going to post all about it, and other neutral palettes, soon. Swatches and dupes to come!)
• Victoria’s Secret Private Beach in outer corner and crease
• UD Naked Palette – Naked in crease, Buck in outer corner, Toasted as brow highlight – blend, Darkhorse in outer corner
• Whiskey liner (from UD Naked Palette)
• Curl lashes
• CoverGirl LashBlast Fusion
• Loreal HIP Jelly Balm in Plush
• Loreal HIP Shine Struck Liquid Lipcolor in Pretentious

Quick CVS Haul – 90% off makeup!

I made 2 trips to 2 different CVS stores after work today. The first one still had items from the 50-75% off beauty sale — score, I thought! This sale started back in the spring, and I’ve found some leftovers! I got a Maybelline ColorSensational lipstick in Born With It, and a Sally Hanson Natural Makeup Inspired by Carmindy lipstick in Lilac, both on clearance (and a $1 off coupon for the Maybelline lipstick!).

That’s the Born With It on the left and Lilac on the right. Born With It is a really pretty, sort of nude pink-y shade that I think will work nicely on my pale skin. Lilac is quite a bit more dramatic, with deep purple undertones. Still super pretty, though, and since I’m a fan of the Sally Hansen Natural Makeup lipsticks, I immediately tried it on…

I also got two CoverGirl Eye Enhancers shadows — one in Golden Sunrise and another in Brown Smolder — because I had two coupons for $2 off any CG product (and CVS was having a buy one, get one 50% off with CG).

So, nice kind of boring haul, right? I stopped by a different CVS just to see what they had, and as soon as I walked in, I saw a table with a sign that said “90% off” and wouldn’t you know…there were a few makeup products just begging to be bought.

And how much did it cost?

That’s right, just over $5 for 3 shadows and 2 blushes!

I’ve never tried Almay shadow before. I have a cream blush and a bronzer from them, which I like…nothing that’s holy grail, but they work for good everyday products. I got these shadows in the shades (l-r) Apricot, Ivory and Petal. You’d think this could create a nice neutral eye look, right? Maybe the Ivory all over the lid, with Apricot in the crease and Petal as a highlight. But when I got home and swatched them (and the CoverGirl shadows from my first CVS stop), I was a teeny bit disappointed (or as disappointed as you can get from not loving 80 cent eyeshadows).

The photo quality isn’t the best, but the Almay shadows really were not all that pigmented and were kind of chalky. But, I think I can work with them, and if I use an eye primer (like Urban Decay Primer Potion or e.l.f. Mineral Eye Primer) with a base (good ole MAC Paint Pot in Painterly), they might be OK. Left to right, that’s Almay Apricot (kind of a peachy bronze), Almay Ivory (the most pigmented of the 3…a shimmery off white), CoverGirl Golden Sunrise (I like this one…very bronze-y with a touch of gold), CoverGirl Brown Smolder (a rich, deep brown that I’ll use for defining the outer V of my eye), and Almay Petal (super sheer and frosty).

The mineral blushes I got will be fun to test out. I have a ton of blushes in my collection but rarely reach for anything other than NYC Blushable Creme Sticks topped with NARS Orgasm.

Maybelline Mineral Power blush in Gentle Pink. Got it for 95 cents!

The sticker says 50% off, but it rang up 90% off! Just like rock beats scissors, register beats sticker!

24.7 Minerals Anti-Aging Mineral Blush in Champagne. Not sure I love this as a blush, but it’ll probably be a pretty highlight color. I don’t know much about this brand, other than I first saw it in CVS maybe late last year, and soon enough, they had just about everything from the line 50% off (and now the leftovers at 90% off).

Don’t you love impromptu shopping trips that turn into major reasons to brag on how much you saved?

7/16/2010 – Outfit of the Day!

Happy Friday! For those of us who work a 40-hour week Monday through Friday, there’s nothing like the start of a weekend.

So, to celebrate the awesomeness that is Friday, here’s my first ever Outfit of the Day. I love these types of blog posts and YouTube videos, so I hope my fashion interests you.

This is actually my Outfit of the Evening…during the day, I wore exactly this, but I had on a shirt with the name of my employer, which I didn’t want to post, and didn’t want to wear when I went out after work, so only the top is different from the day look! We’re probably just going to go out to dinner, so I’m keeping it casual!

My shirt was an awesome find from our trip to Austin, TX, last week. We ate breakfast one day at Magnolia Cafe (which you MUST do if you go to Austin; everyone eats here!), and stopped by Prima Dora, a shop next door to Magnolia that had shirts for the restaurant for sale! I found this super cute, thin tee that’s black and has adorable pink flamingos on it! I thought it was apt since the meal I got at Magnolia was called The Flamingo.

The jeans are a gray wash from Banana Republic Outlet (we went to the massive outlet mall in San Marcos, TX, on our vacation last week…it was a sensory overload!), and the shoes are the brand nicole, purchased at ROSS a month or so ago.

Ruffles are really on trend right now, and I love how the leg of the jean hits my foot so that the little ruffles on the shoes just poke out a bit. So girly and pretty!

I got the headband at Target — they have a TON of really cute ones in stock right now, very sweet and stylish. This is second-day hair, so when I got ready this morning, it wasn’t giving me much volume, so I just stuck the headband on it, and bam — looks like I put a ton of effort to style, and I didn’t!

As for jewelry, I went simple on the earrings, since I’ve got the jeweled headband up top, too. These are probably my favorite earrings of all-time. They’re from Forever21, and they came in one of those sets of 3 pairs of earrings for $3ish. Just cute little white flowers, and I get a ton of compliments on them.

I also threw on this rosary bracelet that I got from a local vendor at a craft show a few months ago. (I lost her business card, though, so I can’t find her name. I don’t think she had a website or anything.) I think pink and gray work really well together.

And a quick face of the day, list-style!

Products used:

• Laura Gellar Spackle Tinted Under Makeup Primer (fantastic primer, gives you a nice base of color under foundation)
• Lancome Effacernes Waterproof Concealer (I dot this under my eyes and blend in before foundation)
• Milani Cosmetics Secret Cover Concealer Cream (I use this to cover up any redness, blemishes, discoloration, etc.)
• Physicians Formula Healthy Wear  SPF 50 Tinted Moisturizer in Fair to Light (Yes, the $0.74 score from my Target haul yesterday! Tested it out today, and I liked it. Very silky to apply, blended well, but I was left with a super dewy, almost oily finish — and I have dry skin! So, just set it with a powder, and it was fine.)
• MAC Just a Pinch Gel Blush – limited edition (Got this at the CCO in San Marcos outlet mall. I use it over foundation but under my finishing powder, then follow up after powder with a light wash of powder blush.)
• e.l.f. High Definition Powder (love this to set my foundation and cream products! It really softens the face and is not at all cake-y.)
• Almay bronzer in Sunkissed (I apply this with a light hand to my cheekbones, forehead and under my chin, just so I’m not so pasty white!)
• NARS blush in Orgasm (This truly is the perfect color, pinky-peach and makes you look so alive!)
• Laura Gellar Baked Body Frosting in Sugar Glow (this is the prettiest highlight! Goes above my cheekbones, on my browbone and in my cupid’s bow.)
• e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadow Primer (a total dupe for Urban Decay Primer Potion!)
• MAC Painterly Paint Pot (after the primer, this gives my lids a really even base to start applying shadow)
• MAC Phloof! (I use this eyeshadow all over the lid and in the inner corners, to open up my eyes and add some shine)
• Lancome Color Design Eyeshadow in Moccachino (I use my crease brush to softly blend this into the crease, adding some definition without making my lids too dark. Plus, it’s a matte, so it helps to balance out the shimmer of Phloof!)
• Smashbox Etch eyeshadow (Is this no longer sold in the Smashbox line? I got mine in a set through HauteLook so I’m not sure. Anyway, I tap a bit of this into my outer corners and blend to the middle of the lids.)
• Christian Siriano for Victoria’s Secret eyeshadow in Royalty (This was limited edition, and I bought at the VS outlet in San Marcos. It’s a gorgeous chocolate brown shade, and I use it to deepen the outer V.)
• Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eyeliner in Pure White (I line my waterline with this to open up my eyes and make me look wide awake!)
• Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner in Bold Brown (I line my upper and lower lash lines with this for definition.)
• Urban Decay Skyscraper Multi-Benefit Mascara (After curling my lashes, I apply this to my upper lashes. I have a mini-tube of this, and I love the control I have with the brush!)
• Upper Canada Naturally Lip Butter in Sweet Vanilla Fig (Holy gosh, I got this at a Buc-ees convenience store on the road during our vacation last week, and I LOVE it! Most conditioning lip butter ever, and I have super dry lips!)
• MAC Viva Glam Gaga lipstick (such a Barbie pink!)
• Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Lilac Pastelle (softens up the Gaga and gives me a baby pink pout)

Gosh, that looks like a lot in a bulleted list, doesn’t it? But remember, I’m doing a full face of makeup, and I’m not blessed enough to have such good skin that I can leave stuff out.

So that’s what I’m wearing tonight. Hope you like it! What did you wear today?