Do you know what yesterday was? If you said “Thursday” then you get partial credit and a warning that nobody likes a smart aleck What “it”was in my neck of the woods was the counter launch for MAC’s To The Beach collection.

I went in about a week ago asking about the collection, since Karla at TNBTTGSY swatched them and made me want them SO BAD. Seriously, she swatches like nobody’s business. Anyhow, I was just dying for some of the collection and I hopped in to see if it was out yet. It wasn’t on the counter but my gal Jessica let me sift through the spanking new testers and pre-order what I wanted. You can bet your buns I went straight down after work yesterday to pick up my new babies. Good thing too, 3 of the 5 items I picked were already gone and the store had only been open for 3 hours! This is a really fun , not too bright(imho) collection and I will get tons of use out of my purchases.

For a full selection of swatches visit Karlas posts here and here. And click through at the end for my pictures as well

I nabbed Sweet & Punchy and Humid($14.50), two gorgeous shadows and Float on By($14.50), which is a beautiful dark green/turquoise eye pencil. Since no purchase is complete without lip color I also grabbed Lipglass in Splashing($14), a pretty pink, and a lipstick in Funbathing($14), a bronzed plum color. Funbathing is almost exactly a more sheer version of my favorite lipstick ever, MAC’s O. It’s a perfect way to wear my favorite color through summer and I’m so tickled that I just might have to go buy another one before it sells out. I highly suggest you run to your nearest MAC counter ASAP and give this collection a whirl, I love it. And hurry, some of these products are already sold out online! (more…)

So I’m sure you heard already, but Max Factor is discontinuing sales in the US. This means that a nice chunk of shelf space in some major retailers is left  open and waiting to be filled with something else fun and enticing.  At WalMart (at least in our local area), I was happily surprised to see this space filled with Hard Candy Cosmetics, a brand that’s been so difficult to find in recent years that I’ve heard many people asking if they’re even still around. Not only are they still here, their offerings have expanded greatly and the price point is exceptionally reasonable, averaging 6 bucks with a few slightly more expensive products.

After hemming and hawing a bit I finally decided to adopt a Walk The Line liquid eyeliner in Night Sky, a silvery gray liner loaded with multicolored glitter. The packaging claims two things: Dries fast, and stays put. I wouldn’t say I’m 100% behind either of those statements. I applied this liner as I usually do with a liquid liner, and by the time I left for work 20 minutes later it still wasn’t dry. I ended up with a line on my upper eyelid and I was not pleased. Next time a shot of cool air from my blow dryer will definitely be called for. If you have time and patience this could work better for you, but I work at 4 in the morning and thus have very little of either. I have to say that the glitter did seem to last pretty well, though the silvery base color faded quickly. Perhaps a regular liner not loaded with glitter would stay better, but I wasn’t what you’d call nuts about this one at all. (more…)

One of my favorite blogging friends Erin (The Cheap Chick) just asked for a list of our favorite beauty must-haves for Fall.  Mo’s post about current fall trends for eyes was awesome, as usual.  Here is my split second attempt at favorite fall beauty items:

For the dark lip look:

DuWop Private Red – a fabulous, deep red lipstick!

The smoky eye:

Smoke Out Eye Pencils from Urban Decay (on sale right now for $9)

Fun way to go smoky, and love, love, love Urban Decay’s eyeliners!

Thick, beautiful brows:

Anastasia’s All About Brows Kit

At a spa last week, the esthetician went wack-o threading my thick brows, and I am so sad! Thank goodness for this amazing brow kit – the tweezers really rock too.

Please feel free to chime in your favorite fall beauty items too!

Sephora recently announced new fall trends for ‘09, one of them being “The Cat Eye.”

My beauty fall forecast?

Although this retro-drama style eye is gorgeous, many will attempt and few will succeed at pulling of this feline-orbital look.  But don’t let me discourage you completely – experimentation with trends are adventurous and gals like Mo and DecoDiva will rock it!

You didn’t ask, but I am saying it anyway: (more…)

I’ve completely flipped over the newest cosmetic shades that were released this summer.  Urban Decay’s 24/7 Eye Pencil in Flipside (Bright Teal) $16 and Liquid Liner in Ecstasy (Bright Purple) $18 are beyond gorgeous for playing up your eyes!

The NARS Summer 2009 Makeup Collection includes the deepest, multi-dimensional teal eyeshadow, Tropic Single Eyeshadow ($22).  In combination with a stroke of a golden bronzer around your face, can you imagine a more amazing color duo than teal or electric purple to wear this summer?

To see Flipside in action follow this link to DecoDiva’s site where she shares her amazing makeup art skills:  Kiddie Pool, Uzi, Flipside, Electric & Sylvie FOTD.

Please discuss.

I am re-publishing this post today, both because I am feeling lazy, and because I just went over this technique with a friend this morning.  Actually, the REAL reason is to “ick” out Tracy because this picture looks like I am jabbing out my eye with a liner brush!  Enjoy.

Earlier this year, I mentioned one of my favorite eyeliner techniques using a flat eyeliner brush with a gel or liquid liner to create a very thin or tight line on your lashline.   The “tightline” is a fabulous technique for individuals who want to naturally enhance their lashes.

I use Laura Mercier’s flat liner brush with Bleu Marine and it stays on great and looks fabulous. If you have thin or sparse lashes this is an awesome way to define your eyes and make your lashes look thicker!

“with my Laura Mercier’s Flat Liner Brush I dot Bleu Marine eye liner above and below the lashes, to thicken my lash line and add some Oomph!  I think it turned out pretty cool, imho!  The brush in this position probably makes you cringe, and you need to be careful with it.  This liner technique just needs a steady hand and some practice.”

An excellent video to help demonstrate how to apply the tight eyeliner or “tightliner” technique in detail is found at:  http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=487834.

Kate from Megsmakeup.com mentioned that a thin eyeliner, like Tarte’s emphasEYES (that comes in chocolate, plum, green or black) is another way to create the tightline look.

No matter which eyeliner you choose, the tightliner technique is something you must try!

Being a sucker for deals and freebies, this offer from tarte cosmetics I cannot pass by.  And, it doesn’t hurt that I have been wanting to try some of tarte’s new lash products!

Until March 31st, 2009, if you purchase one of tarte’s lash couture products, such as their:

• lights, camera, lashes! 4-in-1 natural mascara,
• 4 day stay lash stain with Polyflexâ„¢ technology
• lash hugger eco-friendly natural mascara
• bottoms up lower lash mascara
• emphaseyes high definition eye pencil
• indelible wink liquid liner & shadow

You will receive tarte’s picture perfect eyelash curler free (a $15 value)!  Just enter the special promo code:  “CURLER” at checkout, offer expires 3.31.09.

So much makeup, so little time. 

Here is a list of my favorite cosmetic products for 2008, no small endeavor!  This past year I have  sampled more makeup than I have tried cumulatively in my entire life.  All of these beauty products passed my A+++ big cosmetic love status!

HD Invisible Cover Foundation ($40) - leaves my skin feeling natural, flawless and works well with my sensitive, break-out prone skin

For your amusement, I decided to list some of the beauty products that I reviewed  in 2008 that left me feeling less than enthusiastic.  We are all entitled to our opinion, and personally know individuals who adore many of these particular items, and if you are one of them, feel free to defend your beloved product.   Without further adieu, here are my list of beauty stinkers for ‘08:

• Lorac aquaPRIMEâ„¢ Oil-Free MakeupPrimer ($30) - Love the idea of not adding silicones, absorbed well into my skin, sure it added moisture, but felt like it was overpriced and didn’t notice any added benefits while using it.
• Clinique Superfit Makeup – too much shimmer in the formula for my taste, hard to blend, shade appeared slightly orange with my skintone.
• Urban Decay’s Transformaton Potion – Sloppy, hard to apply, and heaven forbid some drips into your eyes, OWIE!  Wanna create your own eyeliner using an eye-shadow or mineral makeup pigments?  Try this sealant with a bent eyeliner brush:  “Indelible” Eyeliner Sealant ($4 at Aromaleigh.com). 
• Blinc Kiss Me Mascara – Love the fact that this mascara doesn’t run or smudge, hated how my lashes appeared spidery and clumped together.  Difficult to remove.
• NP SET Eye shadow duo – found the color lacked vitality, overpriced, and difficult to apply.
• Ole Henricksen’s Red Tea Eye Cream – My eyes teared up for several minutes after using this, whatever is in it, my eyes do not like!
• Somme Institute Double Defense Sunscreen – Similar problem, the sunscreen seems to seep into my eyes and causes them to tear and sting.  Yes I need the sun protection, but can you make it so it won’t irriate my eyes?
• YSL’s Radiant Brush Foundation - The application brush stinks, the formula seemed too thin in its consistency, and my skin’s flakiness was magnified while wearing it.  

Any beauty products that you tried this year and ended up feeling disappointed?  Feel free to warn the rest of us!

For even more fun, check out Bionic Beauty’s Worst of 2008 and Beautiful Makeup Search’s 10 Things I’d Like to Forget.  You won’t want to miss out on these reads.