First Impression: Royal Care Cosmetics Brushes

Estee Lauder x Lilly Pulitzer

Hi guys! So recently Macy's reached out to me about sharing the amazing GWP Estee Lauder at Macy's has going on right now! With any $35 purchase, you receive a free Lily Pulitzer makeup bag as well as a bunch of samples, well worth it! The samples you choose are customizable to your liking as well, always an added bonus, and this bag is adorable. The gift with purchase includes a moisturizer, I got the Day Wear version, a lipstick/eyeshadow combo with a cute little Lilly eyeshadow compact (in either bronze shades or pinks, the lipstick I got was in shade Sugar Honey), a sample of Advanced Night Repair, (which if you don't own this product already this WILL convince you to purchase it immediately...literally like your face took a bath in sea of collagen and angel's tears), a travel size Take It Away makeup remover, and a sample size of their Sumptuous mascara.

Beauty Blunders: Volume 1 - Primers

After having drinks with a friend the other night and hearing her say "what's a primer?", I realized this is not the first time I've heard the question, and definitely won't be the last. But to me, I nearly choked on my drink. "HOW ARE YOU LIVING?!" Came to mind... A primer can change the whole base of your face while you apply your makeup, and how your shit's gonna last throughout your day (or night). So here, my beauty blundresses, is your guide to everything you need to know about primers. And also, some of my shameless recommendations of course.

In painting, a house or a canvas, a primer is considered a base coat for the paint you're about to apply. Picture that same mentality for your makeup. Primers can even out, prepare and even blur imperfections on your skin before you apply foundation or bb cream or whatever you use. They can come in many forms, either a gel or cream or liquid substance, and honestly, I apply mine with CLEAN fingers, but you can use a brush as well. Primers can be water-based, mineral-based or silicon-based, which you can choose what works for you. Most primers also have the added bonus of SPF in them, which you should be rocking daily people! There are also different finishes in various primers, skin color adjusting, mattefying, etc. and I switch mine up depending on the look I am going for.

An illuminating primer, such as That Gal by Benefit or Magic Lumi will brighten and infuse your makeup with a good type of shine and luminosity. I really like That Gal, but it is pinky toned, as brightening primers tend to be, so you might have to try out a few to see what works with your skin. I enjoy illuminating primers when I'm aiming for a dewy and bright look to my makeup.

A poreless or sometimes mattefying primer is my usual go-to option. A popular choice is Benefit's Porefessional, which is a flesh-toned cream, but I tend to go between my two favorites, high-end being Tarte's Clean Slate Poreless Primer and the (newer) Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser. Each of these are a clear, gel like consistency and feel like pearls when rubbed on the skin. They really give the effect of that "photoshopped" blurred skin look, minimizing pores and evening out and inconsistencies. These mattefying primers seem to work best with oily-to normal skin, so as not to cling to patchy areas of dry skin, but I do have dry skin episodes myself at times, and I can just use the primer in the areas I need to blur out, rather than over my entire face.

For dry skin, I've enjoyed the Laura Geller Spackle Primer on my winter days, but I don't find this to have the greatest longevity. I also have tried a sample of the Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Primer which I think is a great option, definitely lighter weight, as are all Smashbox primers (love!). I am obsessing over the Laura Mercier Radience Bronze Primer currently, which is really smooth and hydrating, with a bronzing tone to it, which really gives you a nice amount of color to your base, which is readily welcomed in this bleak season!

Guess what people, it doesn't stop with the skin. There's also the best thing since sliced bread, EYESHADOW primer. If you are wearing any form of eye makeup beyond mascara, liquid or gel liner, eyeshadow, matte or shimmer or smoky or neutral, you can not achieve optimum results without the holy grail item of eyeshadow primer. They can even out your eyelid color, reduce oilyness (which often leads to creasing or smudging eyeshadow) and even intensify the color of your product. There are two extremely popular eyeshadow primers starting with the Urban Decay Primer Potion, which comes in four finishes, I use Eden, a nude matte finish, and there's also Sin, a champagne shimmer, Greed, a yellow-gold, and Original, a clear drying nude. Second is Too Faced Shadow Insurance, which is lightweight and crease proof. If you're on a budget.... too bad, these are literally the be-all, end-all. Just kidding, but they're really the best. Perhaps try out the Elf Mineral Eyeshadow Primer, which I find to work pretty well and is only $1.00!! I also occasionally use eyeshadow bases, such as MAC Paint Pots or Maybelline Color Tattoos, but that's a whole other post. Prime on, ladies!

Summer Makeup Wishlist !

It's officially summertime now and there are quite a few things I am lusting over in the cosmetics department. I've compiled a list of products I have a summer crush on, that I think are just perfect for a fling with during these hotter months. They'll keep you looking like a beach babe and feeling like a rockstar, too bad my pockets will be completely empty after I purchase them all.


1. The Lancome x Alber Elbaz collection. Holyyyyy amazing. The packaging is so cool and gorgeous, and the colors are out of this world. I swatched all the palettes, ermagawhd, the largest bright color of each palette is good enough to have sex with. I especially was crazy about Mint Jolie, as I am partial to greens because of my eyes. Gah, duochrome hotness. $51
2. Benefit Stay Flawless 15-Hour Primer. I completely LOVE two of my other Benefit primers, Stay Don't Stray for shadows and That Gal for a luminizing face primer, so I am betting this one will make my collection happy. It is a hydrating stick form primer with a matte finish (interesting) that promises up to 15 hours of makeup stay power (doubtful) but, hey, who knows? I think the idea is original and it's formulated without parabens which is a plus, not to mention the precious packaging (kind of channeling Topshop makeup though, no?) $32
3. Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes Liner- originally designed for water ballet dancers, this liner promises to stay smudge proof and water proof, leaving your eyes sans-raccoon look and delivering gorgeous color (which can also be used as an eyeshadow) and it comes in 25 color options. Top of my list are 12L and 52L which is pictured, Lagoon Green. $18
4. Essie resort 2013 collection In the Cab-Ana. I already have Naughty Nautical from summer 2013, and Boom Boom Room from neons 2013, but I can't seem to find this one ANYWHERE. I have checked Target, Lengths, CVS, Ulta... ugh. Anyway, this is on my coveted list and the colors this year from all the collections are just so bright and gorgeous and, well, summery. I also am really loving Come Here! $8
5. Nars Sheer Glow Foundation- I am officially on the prowl for a new foundation, and if you know me or my blog, you know I am crazy about dewey skin. I have rather dry skin in some areas so anything that can make me look radiant and smooth and touchable is a must-have in my book. I've heard good things about this foundation and I have sampled it in Sephora many times, so I think I will definitely be picking it up. $42
6. YSL Rouge Volupté Shine - Yes, there are new shades! I really like the looks of Orange Impertinent, and Brun Insecure. The packaging on these babies is to die for, solid and gold and fabulous. The formula of these lipsticks is hydrating and smooth, like a chapstick, but the color payoff is really rich, but not over the top. Oh and it's made with fruit antioxidants, can't get enough right? $34
7. Urban Decay Chill Cooling and Hydrating Makeup Setting Spray. I tried this out in Ulta today. I am obsessed! It literally leaves a tingly cooling sensation, very pleasant and not at all uncomfortable, and dries pretty quickly as well, as it seemed quite lightweight. I haven't ever used De-Slick or Up All Night so I think I'd like to hear a few more reviews here and there before I invest, to make sure it really does what it says? I do like the hydrating, deweyness of it all though :) $29
8. Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee- another product I have been playing with here and there when I visit Sephora and I really think next time I'm going to jump in and get it. The formula in this little pot felt like a solid jelly, really nice and smooth, not goopy at all, and the color payoff was AMAZING, so pigmented and looked really nice in every shade when I swatched it. Smelled like my favorite scent too, coconut! Hence the name. My obsession. COCONUTCRAZY. Comes in 6 shades. $22

NYX Love in Paris Parisian Chic Palette

 Hey guys! So a little while ago I picked up one of the NYX Love in Paris palettes that everyone has been raving about for summer time, festivals, etc. It was really inexpensive (I think about $10) and I love NYX single shadows so I figured this was worth a shot. It came with 4 matte shades and 5 shimmer shades. The pigmentation in the colors is pretty nice, all except for maybe 2 colors. It's a nice and natural palette with both warm and cool neutrals that I think I could really make some nice looks with. I will say this though, the texture of these shadows leaves a lot to be desired. They're quite dry and almost flake up on application, brush or finger, which was disappointing and made them kind of hard to work with. I am spoiled by the buttery smooth texture of Urban Decay shadows which I'll remain ever faithful to, but if you don't have 50$ or so to splurge on those, this is a nice enough alternative.

Nails of the Day as of recently...

So this past month has been a fun month for my nails! Here are some of my favorite looks I have gotten done or done myself. I always post updated photos of my nails of the moment on my instagam: @angstyprincess, so follow me there! From top left clockwise:
» Orly First Kiss (pale peachy/pink) with accent finger in Orly Gumdrop (seafoam/Tiffany blue)
» OPI polish I can't recall the name, got them done at the salon, I'm sorry!
» Butter London Queen Vic
» Revlon Black Lingerie with OPI The "It" Color and Sinful Color's Snow Me White
» Essie Off the Shoulder
» Essie Matte About You topcoat (would anyone like a review of this?)

MAC Daddy's Little Girl and Boyfriend Stealer (Archie's Girls)

 

 At last! The long awaited limited edition collection has arrived at our doorsteps, for those of us beauty freaks who aren't VIP celebrity guru insiders just quite yet. The Archie's Girls collection just in time for Valentine's Day. Limited edition collections by MAC are something quite coveted by all beauty bloggers, but I try not to go too crazy unless I'm really wild about the actual PRODUCT not just the amazing cute wonderful packaging. In this particular case, both sides of it won, but I still remained responsible, purchasing only two lipsticks and one pearlmatte face powder (review to come). I will say though I might make a little trip to the MAC counter and pick up one more lippy from the Betty collection because they're just too good.

   

 Product pictures from the site-

left: Boyfriend Stealer (creamsheen) 

right: Daddy's Little Girl (satin)

  

One coat of Boyfriend Stealer, no flash.

 Swatch, no flash.

 Swatch, with flash.

So first up is Boyfriend Stealer, a deep wine/plum color with a sheer glossy finish. This really reminds me of a stain more than a regular lipstick. One quick coat of it doesn't really do the trick, it applies uneven as you can see, and sort of settles into the nooks and crannys. Layering this color and blotting it really has a nice pay off for a colour stain, and let me tell you, IT STAINS. This is not a color you will have to worry about fading off of your skin quickly. Perhaps a clear coat of gloss would look nice over the blotted color to even this vampy shade out if you aren't into the stained lip look. All in all, extremely wearable if you're willing to deal with application processes. A dupe for this would be Revlon's Va Va Violet.

 

One coat of Daddy's Little Girl, no flash.

 

 Swatch of Daddy's Little Girl, no flash.

Now THIS is a lipstick to go absolutely crazy over. It's PERFECT. I don't know how else to describe it. Daddy's Little Girl is a blue toned fuchsia/pink with a satin finish. It goes on so smooth and the color payoff is incredible. This is such a bright and happy color, perfect for day or night use, I can see myself creating a lot of looks paired with this lipstick. It also seems to be fairly long lasting, not as long as Boyfriend Stealer, but lasted me through a meal with just a light touch-up. I feel like this is a close match for Candy Yum Yum, and I will try and find dupes.

Both colors swatched once over next to each other.

Some little things..

I recently purchased a few things I just wanted to share with you guys, and let you know my thoughts.. Firstly, my hair is on the fine side so I try not to wash it every day to preserve some volume and body, hence my need for dry-shampoo. A friend recently recommended the Umberto Beverly Hills Dry Clean Shampoo and for only like $9 I figured it was worth a shot.

 

I will warn you dark-haired beauties like myself, this product does come out on the lighter side. But I found with brushing it through with a lightly dampened comb gets rid of the whiteness and doesn't leave my hair looking dull. So far, I like this product a lot. It really does the trick in making my hair look, feel and smell clean, even though it's not. It also doesn't feel heavy or sticky in my hair like some dry shampoos do. I got this at Target for those interested.

 Next up I made my monthly (ha, at least) stop to Ulta and grabbed some NYX products that were buy one get one half price. These are just the lippies I grabbed. From Left to right the swatches are Soft Matte Lip Creme in Stockholm, Mega Shine Lipgloss in Plush Red and Sweet Heart, and NYX Lipliner Pencil in Nude Beige and Natural.

 

 Here are some swatches without flash on the right, and with flash, left. The colors are all really nice of these products but I am not CRAZY about any of them to be honest. I love love love how the Matte Lipcream looks on my skin and it makes my lips velvety smooth, but the wear time is really short and it smudges around a lot. The lipgloss in Plush Red is probably my favorite, I wear it over the top of red lined lips or red lipsticks, makes it really pop. The lipgloss in Sweet Heart is a nice nude color but has a bit of frost that I am not too fond of, but nothing that is extremely noticeable. These glosses have an amazing scent, like smarties or something! The liners also work pretty well, but I feel as though my MAC lip liners apply a bit easier without pressing hard.

 My boyfriend and I went to Toronto last weekend to celebrate our 3rd anniversary! These were some amazing fashion books I found in this really cute bookstore while we were up there. And lastly, I 'll leave you with a doodle I did at work of my friend Sydney. Check out her blog! http://stellakittyflorence.blogspot.com

xox- Chelsea

Urban Decay Book of Shadows III

Just kidding!!! This is the Book of Shadows Vol. III Redux palette, it is only like a bit over a year old I believe and is limited edition. The colors are still amazing nonetheless. And I got it for a really reasonable price, of $35 at Ulta, so it was worth it to me. My Naked/Naked 2 palettes are literally holy grail can't live without them items so I know these colors will live up to the quality of other Urban Decay products. I am glad to have expanded my palette though, I don't have too many crazy shades outside of neutrals. When you break it down, each individual UD eyeshadow normally retails for $18 a pan! This set came with 16 colors for a fraction of that price, as well as a travel size Primer Potion and a black 24/7 Glide on Pencil, also worth $19. Anyway- here are the photos.

Left to Right: 

Oil Slick- smoky black with powdery consistency, quite a lot of fallout and medium pigmentation, good for layering. Fine glitter finish. Not truly dark black.

Uzi- My least favorite of the bunch. Extremely glittery which leads to lots of fallout, not very white as it looks in the pan, more of sheer glitter. Maybe would look good over other colors. Pretty sure it's discontinued now anyway.

Stray Dog- a really rich and smooth taupe color, very light shimmer, subtle pinkish undertones.

Mildew- nicely textured, shimmery moss colour. Hint of golden undertone, very wearable.

Midnight Cowboy Rides Again- large glitter, large fallout. Slightly similar to Stila Kitten but with way more shimmer. Perhaps would apply better wet. Still a pretty beige/champagne color.

SWF- extremely pigmented, cool frosted pink. Shimmer is pretty noticeable, smooth texture.

Last Call- a rich, bold plum color with great payoff. Red undertones, buttery consistency.

Rockstar- "Deep Aubergine", a dark, smoky purple with reddish shimmer undertones and good dimension.

Left to Right: 

Haight- a frosted bluish-teal, on the murky side, with medium pigmentation. Gorgeous color.

Maui Wowie- a khaki/goldish shde with silvery-gold shimmer, reminds me of bubbly champagne! Beware fallout though, seems like a glitterbomb.

Aquarius- a buttery, frosted, pale aqua/greenish color with beautiful payoff. Something a water nymph would wear.

Smog- little fallout, pigmented and metallic, nice cocktail of bronze, gold and brown.

Goddess- quite pigmented but chalky texture, a dark, shimmery, midnight blue. Would probably use wet, and not without primer.

Sin- silky formulation and blends amazing. Good to use as hilighter, or even base color. Shimmery nude with pink.

YDK- a cocoa, silvery taupe, smooth texture, glitter/shimmer with a cool tone.

Ecstacy- moderate pigmentation, definitely buildable. An iridescent and vibrant violet with pink undertones.

Review: Revlon Lipsticks!

So I love Revlon lipsticks! I have a ton, they have amazing color selections and are such a great affordable price.
Recently I got two new ones buy one get one 50% off at Walmart!

The colors are left; Va Va Violet and right, Black Cherry

The top picture is me wearing the Violet one. I actually don't like it at all. My lips have to be COMPLETELY dry for the color to even apply, and it goes on all streaky and uneven. Perhaps it's attempting to be a sheen-sheer-glossy color like thing but with a shade that dark and bold it just doesn't work well at all :( The bottom photo is of me wearing the Black Cherry and this one is a WINNER! The color applies dark, even and bold. It's so gorgeous, literally looks like a black cherry on my lips :3 So out of two, I give one a big thumbs up, and the other a frown. I am disappointed because I really want a dark blackish purple lipstick! Do you have any favorites??

Nail Polish Obsession

Okay so if you're anything like me... you LOVE nail polish. I currently have over 70 colors and counting. It's a sick and scary obsession. I literally cannot enter a drug store or any store carrying nail varnish without buying at least one, I'm serious. So after much experimentation and use of all different brands, I can tell you my personal opinion on each brand. Now this might vary from user to user, but this is just how I feel about these polishes.

OPI: By far, my favorite brand. Colors are always on point, drying usually as they do in the bottle. The brush is the perfect size for my nails and the formula goes on smooth, usually requiring maximum of 2 coats, usually more like one. runs about $8-$10 a bottle usually, but the Nicole by OPI polishes work just as well and are a bit cheaper! You can get those at Walmart even.
Revlon: My second favorite! Revlon brand nail polishes are cheap, only like $3-$4 at drugstores, which is amazing. The colors are usually true to bottle, and this goes on even smoother than OPI, I think. Really easy application, but usually takes two coats. Doesn't chip quickly with a top coat !! Really worth it for the price, and bottles are fairly large with a lot of polish. Some colors are a bit ~mature~ for my taste but there are a lot of fun and bright ones, and some metallics and glitter which are cool!
Essie: Now, don't get me wrong, Essie has some of THE best shades out there. And the names are so cute and clever. BUT I absolutely hate the brushes, they're way too fat, and the formula becomes quickly goopy and thick. Yuck! For the price, I guess it's worth buying one now and then for a cool color, but Essie also chips at rapid speed. Paint your nails the day you want that color to be shown, because by the next day or two they will have started to chip.
American Apparel: YUCK. HORRIBLE. First time using these, they work okay, pretty nice color selection too. But after the bottle is opened, forget about it. So gloopy and thick and gross. I can't even be bothered anymore.
China Glaze: I like to choose this polish when I get a manicure because I feel like it lasts longest besides OPI.. but the colors aren't always true to what they seem in the bottle which is disappointing sometimes. Brush applicator is okay, works fine for natural nails mostly.
Ulta: Good price... not the best formula. Chips easily and requires multiple coats. Some cool colors for cheap.

So yup! That's all I could think to list for now..These pictures shown are just a few of my latest nail-do's. I'll try and remember what shades I used?

Top Left: Essie's Bikini So Teeny Top Right: Revlon 310 Timeless, Revlon 919 Black Lingerie, American Apparel in Office, Sally Girl in White
Left: Essie Mojito Madness and Revlon 925 Gold Coin Right: Revlon 919 Black Lingerie, Revlon 640 Fearless and Sally Girl Gold Large Glitter Top Coat
Left: The tan part is American Apparel California Trooper Right: Cosmic nails used Revlon 919 Black Lingerie, China Glaze Pink Voltage, OPI Not Like the Movies, China Glaze For Audrey and various glitter top coats.

What are your favorite nail polish brands? Colors? Also.. if anyone would be interested in nail art tutorials, I might post a few! xox Chelsea