Stila: Road to Radiance Across the U.S.A.

Stila:Road to Radiance Across the U.S.A.

This summer and autumn Stila is putting out these compact, little "look books." There will be five total, and two have hit the market already. The first one, released in July, is called Road to Radiance Across the U.S.A. For a cool $10, you get a pretty pink and lavender look with 4 eye shadows and one of Stila's amazing convertible colors. I'll be doing a review and tutorial on each book in the series, so be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel for the latest!

Here's the breakdown and a link to the product-
Four Eye Shadows:
- Snow Bunny (shimmery champagne)
- Southern Belle (mauve)
- Valley Girl (pink)
- City Chick (alloy)
Convertible Color:
- Hibiscus

Drugstore Cowgirl: Green Smoke

Twisted Retro: Pink Lips

Twisted Retro: Pink Lips part 2

July 6, 2010

June 29, 2010

Nail polish fail! Last Thursday I went to my local ULTA and purchsed a few items, one of which was Sula's Paint and Peel nail polish in Ruby. I should have noticed that it was 50% off and passed up the offer, but noooo. I can't ignore a sale *sigh* I wish I had nice things to say about this polish, but I don't. The color of the polish in the bottle is a bright, hot, watermelon pink. The color of the polish once it dries on your nails is a primary to almost deep red. I wanted a bright pink, darnit! Then came the "setting" part. It never actually dried. The polish needs to be pliable for you to peel it off, and in doing so, the formula must be a little soft at all times. But if you have your hand in your pocket even a full day after you apply it, the polish is imprinted with the texture of what you touched. Even the "peel" part was not good. I tried to peel off the polish on my ring finger, and it took some of the upper layers of my nail with it. NOT cool. All in all, this one's a bust.

June 23, 2010

Recently I bought Smashbox's Photo Finish Primer in Light. By light, they mean it's less heavy than the original version of Photo Finish. It's perfect for oily skin or for summer time when your skin may see more moisture and humidity that at other times of the year. I've been testing it under my foundation for a week now, and it works as described! Without the primer, I would normally blot and re-powder by lunch time, but with this primer, I don't have to blot anything but my nose, and not until the end of the work day at that. Smashbox's Photo Finish in Light delivers!

June 21, 2010

Cover Girl Outlast Lipstain. What can I say? You either love it, or you hate it. No one has mixed feelings about this one. I have to say that I like them. They're easy to apply, make a great base of color for glosses or sheer lipsticks, and they last a good long time on me. I like to line my lips with the stain first, then fill in. It takes a minute or so to totally dry, but once it's dry, it's on for good. At the moment I have 2 shades: Flirty Nude and Berry Smooch. (Look for a tutorial featuring Berry Smooch this week!)

Drugstore Cowgirl: Neutrals

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What I used:
Revlon Photo Ready Foundation in Sand
N.Y.C. Translucent Loose Powder
L'Oreal Studio Secrets Eyeshadow Quad in Neutral
Cover Girl Perfect Blend Eye Liner in Black Brown
Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in Hazel
Physician's Formula Organic Wear Bronzer in Light
Milani Glimmer Stripes in Bronze Glimmer
L'Oreal Infallible Plumping Lip Gloss in Plumped Coral

June 16, 2010

I've been using this little quad for about a week now, and I have good things to say about it! Last week at my local drugstore, I purchased the L'Oreal Studio Secrets Eye Shadow Quad in Neutral. The colors are, as you can guess, neutrals. All browns and an ivory. The shadows are matte in finish and blend very easily on the eyelid. For the price I paid, it's a trusty, everyday quad for a trusty, everyday kind of look. You can't go wrong with neutrals no matter how conservative your job or school!

June 10, 2010

So you say, "Megan, what is the fabulous primer that you use under your Revlon Color Stay Foundation?" Well, I use MAC Prep and Prime Skin. It's of a slightly wet mousse consistency, and I've found that it's fairly moisturizing, too. If I'm going to use Skin, I don't put a moisturizer on beforehand. I don't need it, even though my 30-odd-year old skin is getting drier and drier due to my age. This moisturizes beautifully. It has a bit of luminescence to it, as well, so the matte of the Color Stay is brightened up with Skin underneath it. I take one small pump, apply it to my fingers and use my fingers to spread it on my face starting at the center of my face working outward. I'll take a second teeny-tiny pump and spread it around my forehead (it's massive!), and I'm ready for foundation. Prep and Prim Skin does a good job at glossing over fine lines and larger pores, and it makes applying even the most matte and full-coverage foundations far easier.

June 9, 2010

Yes, I gave in. I bought it. And I don't regret it. Not one bit. Every summer I fight the same battle. I work hard in the morning to create the effect of flawless skin, and every day out in the sticky southern summer heat, all my hard work melts from my face. *pouts* But this year, I thought I'd try something different. I went into my local drugstore and purchased a bottle of Revlon Color Stay Foundation. Upon first application, I found it went on too opaque for my taste, so the next day I used a primer under it. I applied with a cosmetic sponge in three dots - one on each cheek and one on my forehead. After spreading it around and stippling a little, I got my desired effect. And you know what? It doesn't melt off my face! Even in the the 94-degree with 80% humidity heat. Amazing!

June 8, 2010

For years I've been trying to find the Holy Grail of Undereye Concealers. After about 20 years of trying, I've come the closest in MAC's Studio Sculpt Concealer. I wear the NW 20 shade, but it comes in 15 shades total - far more than any drugstore brand. It also covers you whether you're on the warm side or on the cool side. Here's the technology direct from the site, "A creamy concealer that provides full coverage with a natural matte finish. Rich formulation allows you to use a micro-amount of product to even out skin. Water-resistant and long-wearing." I like to brush it on with a fluffy crease brush and pat it in with my finger. You only need a tiny little bit for great coverage, so your pot of concealer will last far longer than anything you've bought at a drugstore or discount retailer. It's definitely worth the price.

June 7, 2010

Lately, I've been using Maybelline's colorsensational lipstick in number 115 Pink Quartz. It's difficult to describe and impossible to forget. There was a time there a couple years ago when I couldn't wear Maybelline lipsticks. They had a scent that I just couldn't stomach, and it always made me a little sick. The scent has since changed, and I can wear it again! Pink Quartz is a blue-based pink with a noticable gold shimmer. The gold neutralizes the cool of the pink, and the pink cools down the warmth of the gold. I really like it for summer, as it's not too deep a color. It just looks really refreshing.

May 24, 2010

I am starting to plan out a video series that will give plain, easy to understand instructions on how to apply foundations, concealers, blush, bronzer, contour and highlight to be available on YouTube and this website soon. I'm mapping out the series right now and will begin filming tonight. I'll start with Part 2 of my Evening Skincare video, as it's been a long time coming! Yay for finishing old projects and starting new ones!

March 18, 2010

I'm going to be doing some test shots with the lovely Kirsten next weekend, and I'm really excited about it. I got a new palette of foundations from Graftobian, so I've been itching to try them out on film! Graftobian is a makeup company that makes cosmetics specifically for film and stage, and is high quality stuff! I tested a shade of the cream foundation on my face a few nights ago and slept in it (bad Megan!), and the stuff was still good the next morning.

January 7, 2010

Wow! There are great things happening at Pretty Makeup Design this early January, and I'm very excited about them! Even better is a new launch from MAC. It's called "All Ages, All Races, All Sexes," and it's a beautiful, all-nudes collection. What makes it wonderful is that it's geared toward everyone. I'm sooo stocking up on some great shades with this collection. Curious about it? Here's a link: http://tinyurl.com/ybbgxwj