Blues Mama: FOTD + Baby Bump Reveal

Happy Hump Day, guys! I promised myself I wouldn't wait forever to share another FOTD here on the blog.  And since I rarely wear blue eyeshadow, I thought it would be nice to share today's look with you all. For some reason, I usually stick to neutral shades, pinks, or purples when it comes to adding color to my eyes. I even use a bit of green every now and again, but I can't remember the last time I've worn blue. So I pulled out my BH Cosmetics 120 Palette (1st edition), picked out a few turquoise shades that complimented the turquoise in my tank top (since I wanted to be bright like that), and rocked a neutral lippie using MAC Lipstick in Shy Girl and MAC Lipglass in Cultured. And I didn't care whether the eye would be daytime friendly or not, because I just wanted to be bold like that :-)

I wish I would have taken these pictures with my camera instead of my phone so you could get a better view of how intense the eyeshadows actually were. I'm sorry :( I'll make a note to take better pictures next time.

 Brows:

MAC Brow Pencil in Spiked

MAC Studio Fix Concealer in NC42

Eyes:

Ruby Kisses Eyeshadow Primer

BH Cosmetics 120 Eyeshadow Palette (1st Edition)

Avon Super Extend Liquid Eyeliner in Black

Avon Super Drama Mascara in Black

Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeliner in Dark Brown (bottom lash line)

Face: 

Avon Illuminating Face Perfector (primer)

Avon Perfect Wear Foundation in Toffee (discontinued)

MAC MSF in Dark

(Flush of) La Femme Blush in Golden Ruby

Lips:

NYX Slim Lip Pencil in Bloom

MAC Lipglass in Cultured 

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Shy Girl

And while I'm sharing, I decided to share a few full shots of today's look. I'm at my 25th week of pregnancy and realized that I haven't posted any pics of the baby bump yet!  So here goes nothing!  

Too bad I can't rock these heels for too long! 

Guess it will be sandal city for me the rest of this summer!

What fashions & makeup looks are you rocking this week?

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Purple Kisses: FOTD with MAC Heroine Lipstick

Okay, I'll admit it. It's been forever and a day since I've posted a FOTD here on the blog! And to get back into the groove of things, I decided to share today's look with you guys.  I reached for my beloved MAC Wonder Woman Defiance palette to play up my eyes and pulled out my MAC Heroine lipstick that I was so happy to FINALLY get from the MAC Spring 2013 Fashion Sets Collection. Talk about somebody being pressed to get a lipstick! But anyways, I came up with a basic look that's perfect for daytime wear/everyday wear. I even toned down the lippie by adding a gloss, making it more wearable for anytime. Check out the deets for today's look below and tell me what you think!

Brows:

MAC Brow Pencil in Spiked

Milani Brow Tint Pen in Dark Brown

MAC Studio Fix Concealer in NC42

Eyes:

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer

MAC Wonder Woman Eyeshadow Palette in Defiance

Avon Super Extend Liquid Eyeliner in Black

Avon Super Drama Mascara in Black

Avon Glimmerstick Chromes in Electric Pink (inner bottom lash)

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Whiskey (bottom lash corners)

Face: 

Avon Illuminating Face Perfector (primer)

Avon Perfect Wear Foundation in Toffee (discontinued)

MAC MSF in Dark

La Femme Blush in Mulberry (not pictured)

Lips:

NYX Slim Lip Pencil in Purple Rain

MAC Plushglass in I ♥ U (LE from the Quite Cute Collection)

MAC Matte Lipstick in Heroine

What eyeshadows and lip colors have you been reaching for lately?

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February Beauty Favorites

Hey ladies! Just wanted to do a quick post to share my beauty favorites for the month of February.  I was enjoying nude lips, plum lips (per usual), lilac pouts, mauve blush and products that helped give me a bit of a glow.  Check them out below!

I found myself applying The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost on the daily after my moisturizer and right before my primer (if I wore makeup).  It gave my face a radiant glow, makes it feel soft and silky, and smells so refreshing! The heavenly citrus-y smell is a great pick-me-up for the mornings also.  The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost can be purchased from The Body Shop.

Looking for something new to set my highlighted areas when applying foundation, I dug in my crate and brought out my Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder.  When I first got it, I only used it a few times to set my undereye concealer, but since I've been practicing to perfect my highlighting technique, I've found this most helpful. I purchased the Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder from Makeup Mania.  There are different sizes and shades available also.

Milani Baked Blush in Fantastico Mauve has become my favorite blush over the months.  It is my favorite from the Milani line, and I find myself reaching for it everyday! I just love the mauve/plum flush it gives my complexion when I apply it.  Milani Baked Blush in Fantastico Mauve can be found at the Milani website as well as most drugstores.

I've been using the Avon Magix Illuminating Face Perfector as a primer for a while now and I must say I'm loving it.  I love that it applies as a soft gel and dries to almost a powdery consistency-- this is the perfect canvas for my otherwise oily skin!  It helps my foundation to glide on smoothly and makes my skin feel so soft!  Avon Magix Illuminating Face Perfector can be purchased from the Avon website or from your local Avon Independent Sales Representative.

I didn't play with too much lip color in February, but when I did I was constantly grabbing for these products, especially Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Lipstick in Hot Plum.  It is the perfect plum lipstick! It has great pigment and is quite moisturizing.  Hot Plum has been my favorite lipstick this season so be prepared to see a couple of FOTDs featuring this lippie in the upcoming weeks!  Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Lipstick in Hot Plum could be purchased at virtually any drugstore.

  

If you saw my Valentine's Day FOTD on Instagram or Facebook, you will see that I pulled my MAC Lipglass in Pink Poodle out of the stash! I've been loving this hot pink gloss lately and almost forgot I had it! MAC Tinted Lipglass in Pink Poodle can be purchased from your local MAC counter or from the MAC website.

I've been loving the lilac-hued lips lately, so my go-to lipstick + lipgloss combination last month was Maybelline Color Whisper Lipstick in Oh La Lilac and Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Lilac Pastelle.  It's like these two products were made to be paired!  I love the soft look they give combined.  Both Maybelline Color Whisper Lipstick in Oh La Lilac and Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Lilac Pastelle can be purchased at most drugstores.

Now lastly, but certainly not least are the nude lippies I was into for the month of February.  Since I was most often wearing a neutral look everywhere I went, I stayed grabbing for these three lippies.

I most often wore MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Shy Girl (as it is one of my favorite nude lipsticks) and layered it with MAC Lipglass in Emancipation from the Wonder Woman LE Collection to make it last longer. Both were purchased from MAC, but Emancipation was LE and is no longer being sold.

NYX Mega Shine Lipgloss in Perfect is that rare nude that I keep in my purse. I love the doe-foot applicator and the fruity fragrance of the gloss. If I'm barely wearing anything at all, it's usually only an application or two of NYX Mega Shine Lipgloss in Perfect on my lips.  It can be purchased from Ulta, Cherry Culture, or the NYX website.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR 

CURRENT BEAUTY FAVORITES?

PLEASE SHARE IN THE COMMENTS!

Three Ways to Wear Red Lips

When it comes to a polished, classic makeup look, there's nothing that compares to a bold red lip.  Red lips demand attention and add a silent sexiness to an otherwise average look.  And contrary to popular belief, a beautiful red lip can be achieved by every woman--women of ALL shades.  Whether you prefer to wear a moisturizing, creamy formula of lipstick, a high-shine gloss, or a retro matte lipstick, you too can rock a powerful red lippie.  Here are my three favorite ways to achieve a red puckered pout:

The Sultry, Satin Way  

To achieve this lip look, I used Avon Ultra Color Rich Lipstick in Berry Berry Nice which retails for $7 on the Avon website. This lipstick's formula is creamy and moisturizing, all while providing opaque color. This is what makes it the easiest and most versatile way to rock the red lip.

For other creamy red lipstick options, check out Cover Girl Lip Perfection Lipstick in Hot, Burn, or Flame (depending on which red suits you best) or Milani Color Perfect Lipstick in Red Label or Red Velvet.  Cover Girl and Milani Lipsticks can be purchased at Ulta Beauty and various drugstores.

The High-Shine Gloss Way 

With this look, I used MAC Lipglass in Wicked Ways from the Venomous Villains collection.  It retailed for $14.50 at the time of purchase and was a limited edition lip gloss. Choosing to rock your red lips in gloss form is a great way to try a red lip without committing to using a lipstick.  Lip gloss is more buildable, as  you can apply just a bit or slather on as much as you like to achieve the intensity of color that you desire.

For other red lip gloss options, check out NYX Round Lip Gloss in True Red or Revlon ColorBurst Lip Gloss in Fire. Both can be purchased at Ulta Beauty and various drugstores.

The Classic Matte Way 

Of the three ways to rock a fierce red lip, this one is my favorite.  The matte red lip just exudes retro glam.  And it just wouldn't be right if I didn't rock my darling favorite matte lippie, MAC Ruby Woo, to sell you on wearing red lipstick.  MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick retails for $15 on the MAC website and is one of MAC's bestsellers for obvious reasons.  Just wearing this lipstick makes me feel like a supermodel or a socialite or some other sexy beast, I tell ya!

For other matte red lipstick options, check out Wet n Wild Mega Last in Stoplight Red, Revlon Matte Lipstick in Really Red, or NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl. Wet n Wild and Revlon lipsticks can be purchased at various drugstores while the NARS lip pencil is available at Sephora and the NARS website.

Warning: Don't Forget the Liner

To keep these lip looks in their truest red form, I've lined my lips with Avon Ultra Luxury Lipliner in Wildberry.  If you would like to tone your red lip down, however, you could use a brown liner such as NYX Slim Lip Pencil in Expresso or Iman Perfect Lip Pencil in Espresso.  Just be sure to blend the lip liner in well with the lipstick!

ARE YOU A FAN OF RED LIPSTICK?

SHARE YOUR FAVORITES IN THE COMMENTS!

November Beauty Favorites

I know it has been a long time since I've shared a monthly beauty favorites post with you guys.  But as I was looking at my vanity and thinking of how much I've been grabbing for certain items lately, I decided to get back in the swing of things.  Here are the beauty products I've been giving the most play in November.  

Miss Dre's Signature Look

Hey guys! I just wanted to do a quick share of my everyday look as of lately.  I don't wear makeup every single day, but on most days, this is my usual weekday look.

I purchased this lovely necklace from FWB !
Get yours here !

Here are the products I used:

MAC 187 Brush

Sigma Round Top Kabuki Brush

MAC Studio Fix Concealer (NC42)

mark. Good Riddance Hook-Up Concealer in Deep

e.l.f. Studio Concealer Brush

e.l.f. blush in Mellow Mauve

MAC Magically Cool Liquid Powder in Cajun

e.l.f. Complexion Brush

Avon Perfect Wear Foundation in Toffee/Caramel

e.l.f. Studio Eyeshadow "C" Brush

e.l.f. Studio Contour Brush

e.l.f. Blending Eye Brush

Avon SuperShock Intense Mascara

mark. On-The-Edge Liquid Eyeliner in Cleo

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

mark. Eyeshadow-Shinjuku (Super Flip Tokyo Kit)

mark. Eyeshadow-Plum Velvet (Super Flip Tokyo Kit)*

mark. Eyeshadow in Glitterati (Super Flip Kit)**

N.Y.C. Lipstick (cannot decipher the name)

Avon Lipliner in Plum Perfect

Avon SuperShock Lipgloss in Lilac Attack

*can also be found in current catalog

**now on sale for $7.99 at 

www.youravon.com/alee0230

Do you like this look?  What is your current signature look?

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Product Rave: Anew Clinical Advanced Dermabrasion System

I've only been using Avon's Anew Clinical Advanced Dermabrasion System for three short weeks, but I'm sold on it!  I've been looking for a product for the longest to help clear up the hyperpigmentation (i.e dark spots) on my face.  Finding the perfect product has been a lot of trial and error for years, because nothing ever really clears them up without drying out my face or giving me an ugly rash.  So I was skeptical about using this product in the beginning.  After reading lots of reviews, I finally got the nerve to try it for myself.  And I'm so glad that I did!

After your nightly cleanse, you are instructed to use this product 2-3 nights a week at each level for 2 weeks. For example, you would use the products 2-3 nights during your first two weeks at Level 1.  After 2 weeks, you would change the dial to level 2 and repeat this process until you reach Level 4.  In total, you are to use this product for 8 weeks for maximum results.

I am currently at the end of my 3rd week using this product.  So far, my face is smoother to the touch and my dark spots have lightened a lot.  They haven't disappeared completely, but they are noticeably fading.  My husband has been asking me for the last two weeks have I been doing something new.  He says I have "a glow or something" lol!

At Level 4 (in about 2-3 weeks) I will be giving you more updates on this product and actual pics of my progress.  This is what the product looks like:

Try the product for yourself by purchasing it at www.youravon.com/alee0230.  It is currently on sale for $20. You can also receive free direct shipping with your online order with a purchase of $30 or more.

NOTE:  Please know that I am honest about every product that I review.  Though I do sell Avon/mark. products, that does not affect my review on their products.  If I like them, I will tell you so.  If I do not like them, I will tell you that too.

Keri Hilson Inspired FOTD

I was inspired by Vonnie over at Socialite Dreams to participate in a celebrity inspired makeup challenge featuring Keri Hilson.  This was my first time trying to recreate a celebrity makeup look so I thought I would share it with you guys.

The Inspiration:

The Result:

Products Used:

mark. Good Riddance Hook Up Concealer in Medium Deep

Avon Perfect Wear Foundation in Toffee

MAC Magically Cool Liquid Powder in Cajun

mark. Good Glowing Blush in Cameo Glow

mark. Glowdacious  Illuminating Powder in Shimmied Up

Avon Glimmersticks in Blackest Black

e.l.f. Cream Eyeliner in Black

mark. Scanda-lash Hook Up Mascara in Black-Lash

e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadows in Golden and Caffeinated

Avon Ultra Luxury Lip Liner in Wildberry

MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick

Avon Glossy Delight Lipgloss in Luscious Raspberry

e.l.f. products can be purchased at: www.eyeslipsface.com

MAC products can be purchased at: www.maccosmetics.com

To see pics of the items used, check out my youtube video here:

What do you guys think?