Boudoir: Self.

So, after doing Boudoir shoots for a week or so, my husband was a little annoyed with me. "Why are you not doing any" he said jokingly. I was mortified. I just had a baby, I can't even remember a time feeling confident about my body. In the end, I figured, he married me so he must like what I have to offer :) I am very happy that I did. These are cropped for the purpose of modesty.


Photography & hair by Dolce Amore Studios.

Plumb

Skin: Philosophy Miracle Worker moisturizer, Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle eye cream.

Foundation: Dermablend Smooth Indulgence, Meteorites powder for face (beige chic 03).

Brows: Tarte "The Toolbox" in Dark.

Eyes: Concealer Base, Lancome eye shadows: Positive(Matte), Gaze (Shimmery pink), Garnet Sensation (Dark brown) & Guest List(Shimmery plumb). Lancome Le Crayon Khol eyeliner in back coffee (waterline & rim of eye) and in white Model & Co eyeliner(highlight under brow). Hourglass Superficial Lash Mascara in Carbon. Prescriptives Camouflage Cream concealer.

Cheeks: LORAC TANtalizer baked bronzer.

Lips: Smashbox Lip Enhancing gloss in Baby Doll Pink.

Boudoir: Amanda

Here is some more shots from the Boudoir sessions I did last month for Valentines Day. Amanda is full of energy and beauty, which are obvious by the outcome of this shoot. Enjoy!










Photography by Dolce Amore Studios

Greenery.

Happy Saint Get Wasted day. I will be celebrating by hanging out with my son at home and watching The Office. However, I will never miss an excuse to bust out the brights. Products used for this look:

Foundation: Dermablend Smooth Indulgence, Meteorites powder for face (beige chic 03).

Brows: Tarte "The Toolbox" in Dark.

Eyes: Base,(Shadows) MAC: Gallery Girl(dark green), Bright Side(white shimmer), Amber(bronze color) & Shimmermoss (teal green). Model & Co eyeliner in black (waterline & rim of eye) and in white (highlight under brow). Korres Provitamin B5& Rice Bran Mascara.

Cheeks: LORAC TANtalizer baked bronzer.

Lips: Mac lipstick in Angel, lip gloss in Oyster Girl.



Also, I wanted to share with you 'a few of my favorite greens' (feel free to sing that Sound of Music style to yourself) that don't cost many greens. You following?

OPO's GREEN-wich Village Polish $5.30


Sephora Collection Nano Eyeliner $5.00

Forever21 Plaid Check Wallet $7.50


Bed Head Control Freak $15.68

Saturday Snapshot

Please forgive my terrible bathroom lighting and crappy half broken camera skills :) This is just my basic, everyday 'Imma go to Target now' look. I promise more exciting looks in the future.

Foundation: Dermablend Smooth Indulgence, Lancome Dual Finish powder (Matte Nuet II).

Brows: Tarte "The Toolbox" in Dark.

Eyes: Base, (Eyeshadow) MAC: Seedy Pearl, Night train. Korres Provitamin B5& Rice Bran Mascara.

Cheeks: Too Faced bronzing powder, MAC Sunspill highlighter.

Lips: Base, Hard Candy lipstick in Fire Alarm, MAC lip balm in Honey Bare.

Fug.

Terrible eyebrows are one of my huge pet peeves. I spend 20 minutes on my eyebrows alone. I spend more time on my eyebrows then I spend on the rest of my entire face. I spend more time on my eyebrows than my c-section took. Yes, I am a little OCD. I am really in desperate need of a laugh today and on occasion when my husband & I are board we go toWacky Archives. Just go, you will not be disappointed.

Here are my favorites:








So I gotta know...do you know someone with brows as terrible as these? Feel free to post a picture in the comments...I wont tell :)

Orglamix

Currently seeking 12 step group for addiction to Etsy. I was meandering around there when I realized, I wonder if there are any small makeup companies on here? Booyahkasha.

I came across Orglamix and the next thing I knew I had two of their eye shadows on the way to my mailbox. Before receiving the products I thought, ‘what the hell they are inexpensive’ (Less that $12 for two shadows with shipping, I got one on sale) but I expected them to be like Bare Minerals which I am not usually too big a fan of because they fall all over the face and that just irritates me more than Celine Dion. I promptly received my order within a few days and was extremely pleased with the result. They are loose powder but highly pigmented, easy to work with and organic. Now I’m not the crunchiest person in the world but if organic is an option, I will take it. I like to mix things up sometimes and use a damp angle brush with loose powder shadows and apply in replacement of eyeliner. Plus, how can you argue with the cost($4.99)? You can’t. Just try…. Nope, fail.

Favorites:

Fressia


Mint


Midnight


I will definitely be trying some of the other products they offer in the future.

Award Winning

Sandra looked so gorgeous this Sunday at the Oscars. As soon as I saw her I need to know one thing, where do I buy that lipstick!? The answer:
Chanel Lipstick: Paris

Hello Pretty

Tarina Tarantino Launches New Cosmetics Line:
Tarina Tarantino Beauty

Celebrities, fashion stylists, and editors across the globe know Tarina Tarantino—the "Queen of Irreverent Luxury"—as the accessory designer who makes everything she touches sparkle. This fuchsia-tressed former makeup artist now shares her passion for self-expression and playfulness with a complete cosmetics collection, available only at Sephora. Inspired by her nostalgic-yet-modern jewelry line, Tarina developed innovative products with high-quality, color-rich formulas and luxurious packaging. TARINA TARANTINO will take girls of all ages on a fantastical journey, where they can express their own personal style and reveal their inner sparkle.-Sephora

Usually I give a giant WTF face to celebrity makeup lines but I would be lying if I said I didn't pee a little bit when I heard that Tarina was starting a makeup line. Maybe it is the creepy 5 year old inside me that still collects Hello Kitty crap.

Products I look forward to exploring:


Candy Cameo Fashion Collection
I mean, honestly...how freaking cute is this?


Dollskin Cheek


Pearl Glow Primer

Long Lashes Without the BackLash

TALIKA Lash Extender, $28
Get it now at Skin Store

When a couple girlfriends of mine told me about this product, I got so excited I nearly developed a twitch. Could it be? The solution to lengthening without all the fuss of fake lashes? Don't get me wrong, I love a fake pair as much as the next broad but this product seriously gives fake lashes a inferiority complex.

How to use:

-Simply apply your first coat of mascara per usual.
-Brush the TALIKA fiber wand over mascara while still wet. Pat the applicator on the external tips of your eyelashes. Look downwards when applying the to ensure no fibers fall into the eyes.
-Fibers attach to mascara to thinken and lengthen.
-Apply second coat and voila!

Benefits:

-Gives the appearance of natural looking eyelashes and smoothly adheres to the eyelashes after applying one coat of mascara.
-Fibers lengthen eyelashes producing spectacular results.
-Presented as classical mascara with a round brush, to allow for precise dosage and targeted application.

I know the $28 bucks seems steep, especially in this economy, but I would estimate this product lasting a minimum of a year (if applied every day). A little goes a long LONG way.

Boudoir: Maria

Maria was such a champ, she took these as a gift for her husband for Valentine's Day only THREE weeks after having her 2nd baby. Ya, she is a bad ass. I only have a few photos to share from this shoot BUT I love a girl with a nice set...of tattoos.







Photography by Dolce Amore Studios
Hair by Amanda Mendoza

ZOMG Alert.

Benefit Cosmetics: Confession of a Concealaholic
Sephora $36

I NEED THIS. YES.I.AM.YELLING! Benefit basically took my favorite products and made a beautiful bastard love child.

What it does:
Embrace your inner conceal-a-holic! Why fight it when you can hide it, conceal it, camouflage it, and cover it? This concealing and brightening kit has EVERYTHING you need to live happily ever after!

This set contains:
- 0.25 oz "That Gal" brightening face primer
- 2 x 0.04 oz Boi-ing industrial strength concealer in 01 Light (for fair complexions) and 02 Medium (medium complexions) for custom concealing
- 0.11 oz Erase Paste brightening camouflage for eyes and face in No. 2 (medium complexions)
- 0.03 oz Lemon Aid (sheer pale yellow) color correcting eyelid primer
- 0.03 oz Eye Bright (pale pink) instant eye brightener
- Concealer Brushes
- step-by-step lesson

Friday Funday

Honestly...this girl is hilarious. I could watch this a million times.

Trending: Red Lips

I have had a long time love affair with red lipstick. Ever since the first time I bought a Wet ‘n Wild Red Hot at the age of 14 and sashayed my way to school as though I was Marilyn Monroe herself. When it came to planning makeup for my wedding day, I only knew one thing- red lips are a must. There is a nasty rumor going around that has convinced many that they cannot partake in this trend. Nish-nish. Here are a few tips for rocking reds:

-Go easy on the eyes. Proper makeup is about proportion. When wearing reds I often do a soft smokey eye or just mascara & liner.

-Know your skin tone. If your complexion is pink, go for plumy reds. Yellow/orange skin tones look best with warmer tones. The darker your hair color, the deeper the red you can pull off.

-Build on a base. I always use Benefit’s Benetint lip stain and a hearty amount of lip liner as a base before applying my lipstick. This allows for less movement onto teeth and helps lips to last longer. If dry lips are an issue, I use basic Blistex on top with a lip brush.

-Play. If you buy a shade and it is a bust, try using a darker or lighter liner with it, or blend another lipstick to add depth. The best way to know what works is to rule out what doesn’t.

If I could only take 5 on a desert island:

M.A.C Ruby Woo

Nars Jungle Red

M.A.C Russian Red

Chanel Passion

Wet'n Wild 519A Red Hot

Candy Girl

Carol's Daughter's Candy Paint Lip Gloss $6.00 (Original Price $13.50)

Get it now at Sephora

What it is formulated to do: Delivers color and intense shine while hydrating, moisturizing and protecting the lips with shea butter, aloe vera and vitamin E.

I personally bought "Brick House" and I love it. It has a similar extra-sticky (I'm not going anywhere) consistency to MAC's lipglass if you are a fan of that.

Boudoir: Bride to Be

This shoot was specifically done as a wedding gift (for one obviously very lucky groom). Sorry, they have been cropped to keep things PG, as only a douche would post private photos on the internet :)









Photography by Dolce Amore Studios
Hair by Amanda Mendoza

Precious CARGO

Right now at Sephora.com you can find a plethora of CARGO product steals. I have yet to find an answer to my question, "Are they going out of business?!". My spendy sense tell me yes.


CARGO Lip Gloss Duo $10.00(Original price $20.00)


CARGO Botanical Lipsticks $10.00(Original price $20.00)
CARGO PlantLove™ Lipstick provides sheer color that is completely natural and contains a high-organic content. The innovative formula is infused with rich added-care ingredients and is housed in eco-certified packaging. Smooth and silky, it conditions and colors your pout to pucker perfection.

What makes this product even more amazing? CARGO will donate two dollars from the sale of every shade to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.


CARGO Eyeshadow Pallet $14.00(Original price $28.00)


CARGO Water Resistant Bronzer $14.00(Original price $28.00)
CARGO Water Resistant Bronzer is specifically formulated to help maintain a gorgeous bronze glow that stays put rain or shine. The specialized formula contains a unique silicone-coated talc that provides better adhesion to the skin and withstands water and perspiration. This bronzer offers a universally flattering medium bronze shade and micronized light diffusers work to ensure a gorgeously natural, non-shiny glow.

Steal Sighting:

Amazon.com
$6.50 (Original price $26.00)
Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25

What it does: Who needs makeup when you've got tan-i-tude? This bronze facial tint adds sun-free color to your complexion with a silky smooth finish. Easy to apply and wash off, this formula is the quickest way to create a custom tan.

Steal Sighting:

Sephora.com $10.00 ($54 Value)

Lust Dusters Trio - Moon Doggie, Big Daddy, GoGo Girl

What it is: A special collection of three shimmering loose powders for the eyes and face.

What it does: This collection of three shimmering loose powders for eyes and face adds a luminous glow to your features. Dust on the lids for totally showoff eyes or apply to cheekbones for an irresistible touch of glimmer. Go ahead, girl...dust on lust!

This set contains:
- Moon Doggie (mint green shimmer)
- Big Daddy (bronze shimmer)
- GoGo Girl (pale pink shimmer)
_________________________________________________

I love Benefit's showoff shadows for a few good reasons: high pigmentation, long lasting and easy to work with(wet & dry). Big Daddy & GoGo Girl can double as highlighters on cheek bones over blush or bronzer. Just dab your fan brush in the lid, lightly dust cheek bones and voila, epic glam.

Ceal the deal

I was elated when I heard Hard Candy was moving over to Wally World with a new recession friendly line, despite the inkling that the quality would lessen along with the price. Unforch, I was right, the quality is mediocre at best. The stand out product for me:

Hard Candy Nobody's Perfect Concealer Palette, Fair.
Walmart.com $8.00

I wish the texture was a little thicker but I love that I can mix these shades together to conceal a variety of problem areas on my face & under eye. On my next late night meander through Walmart I plan to swoop up a few of Hard Candy's nail polishes. You and I both know those plastic rings on top are awesome.

Blast From the Past:

1952.Times may have changed but I think you ladies still be workin' it.