T0XiC BEAUTY - Y0UR S0URCE F0R TUT0RiALS, MAKEUP REViEWS AND MORE!

It's been a big year for me so far!

2011-07-27T14:13:00.000-05:00

Hey everybody,
I know I really do fail at keeping this thing up to date. I tend to go through little updating spurts and then dont update for awhile, and I apologize! It's just things have been so busy!
Big news - I recently moved out on my own (to my first apartment) in June and I couldn't be happier! So I've been busy with work and school, trying to find a balance so I can do well and still be able to pay my bills. I'll be starting school full time in September so it will be my first month being in school full time and working part time. I hope I don't get TOO stressed.
Anyways, I'm going to attempt to post some more updates sometime soon. I seem to have a lot of down time lately, so it would be a perfect opportunity to do so. Lets see what I can come up with!

Stay tuned!

Revlon Scented Nailpolish - Gum Drop

2011-04-02T12:08:00.001-05:00

Stopped by Walmart the other day with a friend of mine to see if I could find any nailpolish colors that reminded me of spring. I just need to say that I personally loved the Nicole by OPI Justin Bieber collection. The colors are actually pretty! I thought they were a little costly though, at almost $10 a bottle..

Anyways, I ended up buying two Revlon polishes.

Revlon Scented Nailpolish - Gum Drop

These pictures are much better in terms of color accuracy; it's a lot harder to capture true color when a polish is metallic/shimmery.

Revlon Scented Nailpolish - Gum Drop

Scented? Yeah, weird I know. I thought it was strange, but that's not the reason I bought it. I really liked the pastel purple color. It's kind of like a lilac purple. The finish of this polish is more like a creme, there is no shimmer what so ever and it dries to a glossy finish.

However, I had a problem with how sheer this stuff was. Again, I needed at least 3-4 coats of color! Maybe I'm doing it wrong or something...but I'm not completely giving up on this polish because of that. I thought the color was very pretty and unique, and after a couple coats it looks very nice! I don't mind putting the extra time and effort into my nails, but this could be a problem for others.

As for the scented thing? IT ACTUALLY SMELLS GOOD when it dries! My nails smell like marshmallows. Or some form of candy. So, I definitely think this is a good pick when it comes to spring colors.

I paid about $4 or $5 CAD at Walmart for these. You can also find Revlon polishes at your local drugstore.

ORLY Nail Lacquer - It's Up to Blue

2011-03-30T17:39:00.001-05:00

Spring is finally here! The weather is starting to warm up in this chilly little city of mine, and the snow is finally starting to melt :) I thought I would celebrate by taking a break from all the deep and dark nail polishes I've been wearing all winter, and do something a little more bright and cheerful.
I would have really loved to do a spring inspired pastel color, but unfortunately I didn't have many on hand. This was suitable enough to ring in the spring season, because it reminded me of an Easter egg.
Eventually I may need to take a trip down to my local Sally's/Shoppers and see if China Glaze, Essie or any other brands have released any pretty new spring colors yet!

ORLY - It's Up to Blue

The pictures don't really do it justice. I tried all kinds of lighting to try and get the color as accurate as possible, but it was showing up a little more on the blue side in photos when it's really a beautiful turquoise. I had to edit the pictures to get the coloring as close as possible! This had a metallic finish, I'd say. It was difficult to pick up the really gorgeous shimmer this color has when you put it on. You can see a little bit in the pictures if you look closely. It also reflects really pretty in the light but I couldn't get that, either.

This is probably the most color accurate picture

Just a little disclaimer here: I don't have the most wonderfully maintained hands/nails ever, nor am I very good at painting them LOL. I'm sure I will get better as I post more of these. I'm also going to attempt to grow out my nails. But the line of work I'm in right now makes it difficult to have pretty hands and nails. So please, don't judge my for my poorly painted nails or chapped hands and ugly cuticles!

The only thing I didn't like about this nail polish was that it was really watery and thin. I had to apply 3-4 coats of color in order to get it to actually show up nicely. Add that in with a base coat and top coat, and wow that's a lot of coats of nail polish!

ORLY nail polishes are about $7.50, and are sold at Sally Beauty Supply (which is where I got mine), or you can order them online via their website http://www.orlybeauty.com/.

E.L.F Swatches - Eyeshadow quad, Studio Blush and Shimmer palette

2011-03-29T16:23:00.000-05:00

Here are a few swatches of the items I received in my E.L.F order a few days ago. All photos are taken in natural light, with no flash. As always, click the image to see the larger version.

Studio Blush - Candid Coral (left) and Peachy Keen (right)

Swatches of Studio blush

Studio Shimmer Palette

Shimmer palette wwatches, colors are in the same order as they are in the palette

Brightening Eye Color in Butternut

Swatches appear in the same order as they are in the quad

All items can be bought from E.L.F's website http://www.eyeslipsface.com. Studio items shown sell for $3.00 USD and the eyeshadow is $1.00 USD.

E.L.F Review & Swatches - Luscious Liquid Lipsticks

2011-03-28T00:25:00.001-05:00

E.L.F: Luscious Liquid Lipsticks
Where to buy: http://www.eyeslipsface.com/
Description [from website]: e.l.f Essentials Luscious Liquid Lipstick therapy is here. Intensive hydrating agents along with natural pigments leave lips with long-lasting color and moisture. This luscious liquid lipstick creates wearable color that flatters a multitude of skin tones and looks.
Price: $1.00 USD (approx. $.99 CAD)

I would like to start off by saying that I did not have very high expectations for these at all. I had read many reviews online before purchasing, some of them good but a lot of them bad! However, I figured if I ordered them and they didn't work well as lipsticks, I would at least have some new lip glosses I could use.

Quality: 4/5
The reason I gave these a 4 out of 5 is because they really don't perform that well as lipsticks. They tend to go on pretty sheer, which I kind of figured would happen. I found that with the deeper colors though, they gave a lot more of a color pay off. The formula of it was pretty good too, it went on a little on the thick side (which I really like), and felt great on the lips. It wasn't too sticky, but it made your lips feel really nice and smooth! It also had a kind of...pepperminty feel when I put it on. It didn't taste or smell like peppermint, but it made the lips tingle. It was very very slight, nothing like a lip plumper at all. It was kind of refreshing! The smell of the product is also pretty nice, too. The website's describe of the product claims that it is long lasting. I would have to disagree with this, as it wears more like a gloss and is not like a lipstick or stain at all.

Price/Value: 5/5
For $1.00, I honestly have nothing to complain about. Although the color pay off was a bit of a let down, it can still function as a really nice gloss. I doubt I would be able to find a gloss of similar quality for the same price tag, so that's why this gets a 5 out of 5 on this one.

Packaging: 3/5
The only thing I don't really like about these is the packaging. I'm not a fan of the twist bottoms to get the product out. I had to twist it at least 20 times the first time I used them, and I was freaked out that I would twist too much and it would waste a bunch of product. Also, not really liking the white fuzzy applicator...I find that it absorbs a lot of product and ends up wasting quite a bit of it.

Final Thoughts:
I would more then likely buy these again, just because they are so inexpensive and work great as glosses. The color pay off is very sheer, but I think this can be a good thing! You can wear them alone (for a little hint of color) or on top of a lipstick for a unique color combination. My favorite out of the three I bought would have to be perfect pink, as it gave me just the right amount of pink.

Overall Score: 12/15
All pictures taken in natural daylight with no flash, and swatched on bare lips.

FINALLY got my E.L.F haul!

2011-03-26T20:23:00.003-05:00

After waiting nearly a month, I finally received my E.L.F haul on Friday! It was kind of exciting though, because I didn't remember everything I had ordered until I received it. I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but when I get my packages it's kind of like Christmas :)

I managed to get swatches and pictures of most of the things I ordered, so expect an entry with those soon.

Anyways, here are some pictures of what I got to hold you over until then.

Click the 'read more' link for more pictures, and a list of what I bought!

I ordered:

Studio Powder Brush x2
Studio Angled Foundation Brush x2
Studio Small Precision Brush
Studio Angled Eyeliner Brush
Studio Blush in Candid Coral and Peachy Keen
Studio Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 in Nude
Studio Shimmer Palette
Essentials Foundation Brush x2
Essentials Concealer Brush x2
Essentials Defining Eye Brush
Essentials Eyeshadow Brush
Essentials Eyelash & Brow Wand x4
Essentials Liquid Eyeliner in black
Essentials Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Baby Lips, Perfect Pink and Raspberry
Essentials Zit Zapper

They also sent me one of their brightening eye color quads (in Butternut) for free as a gift! That was a nice little surprise!

Review - Coastal Scents Prism Palette

2011-03-07T19:45:00.002-06:00

Coastal Scents: Prism Palette

Where to buy: Coastal Scents Online - Prism Palette
Description [from website]: This palette truly is a Prism of Colors. Ranging from warm neutral tones, rich blues and greens, vibrant yellows and reds, flirty pinks and cool tones too. The colors in this case are perfect for everyday wear because the majority of them are matte. There are a few shades that are a true Satin finish, with only a hint of Shimmer. Highly pigmented shades, all shadows can also be applied wet for a deeper longer lasting effect.
Price: $19.95USD (approx. $19.42 CAD)

I ordered this palette because of the really awesome spectrum of colors. I own a lot of metallic/shimmery shades and was looking for some vibrant colors that were matte/non shimmery/sparkly finishes. Since I already owned the shimmer version of their original 88 palette, I was really happy when they came out with this! I did a comparison via the website using pictures of both palettes, and the prism palette seemed to be very different with brighter colors.

When I first received this, I was very impressed by the array of colors. Beautiful browns, yellows, greens, blues, purples, pinks and grays. The eyeshadows are roughly the size of a dime [see below for a picture], but for $20 it's totally worth it, considering that's close to what you would pay for one eyeshadow from any higher end line.
I swatched every single color on my arm (for swatch purposes, will be up in a later entry), so I think I can say I have a good grasp on how all of the colors in the palette are in terms of quality.
Like the above description said, there are definitely several different finishes included in the palette. This is both good, and bad. Why? Because some of the finishes are much better then others. I found that some of the colors swatched on very...chalky. However, there weren't very many that did this (thankfully!). Even so, I found that with a good base they went on a lot smoother. In terms of quality, I definitely wouldn't recommend wearing these eyeshadows without a base. I'm not knocking these eyeshadows because of that; I find that a lot of shadows just work better with a base. Some of the shadows did go one pretty pigmented without a base, though.
I ended up trying out a look with a few of the brown shades in the palette, and I must say I was impressed with the staying power as well! I used them on top of a base, of course. The colors pretty much looked the same at the end of the night as they did when I first put them on - there was very minimal fading. No smudging or anything at all, either.

Overall Thoughts:
I would definitely recommend this product. I think this is a really great palette, for beginners and for people who are looking to stock up their kits. The value is really amazing as well, as you are getting 88 eyeshadows for $20! You're paying roughly .23 cents for each eyeshadow - It's a steal!
The quality is also surprisingly great, the colors are very vibrant and beautiful with a great selection. The packaging is also very nice and sleek and great for storage; it fits into my traincase perfectly. Just a really great buy, in my opinion.

Quality: 4/5
Price/Value: 5/5
Packaging: 5/5
Overall Score: 14/15

Coastal Scents order came in!

2011-02-25T13:22:00.003-06:00

Hello bloggers!

Yesterday was exciting, I received one of my makeup packages in the mail! I also placed an order with La Senza and I received that package too :) I love getting packages, opening them up is like Christmas (even though I ordered it myself and know what's in them!).

My coastal scents order actually came pretty quickly, I was surprised! It arrived just before two weeks.

I received:

I was also really impressed because of the freebies they sent me. I love ordering with CS because they usually send little pigment samples along with your order. This time they sent me a cute little set of pink handled mini brushes! As well as a sample of one of their glitters. The brushes aren't anything special, they're not good quality or anything. But honestly I cannot complain about something they gave me for free. I'll find uses for them, I'm sure.

I'll be reviewing/swatching the products I have received so far in a future entry, and will probably post a video about it aswell. Keep checking back!

For now, here are some pictures in case you were curious about the palettes or brushes.

Click the 'read more' link for the rest of my haul, including more pictures and descriptions.

Prism palette (left) and Smokey Palette (right). Taken indoors in natural light, WITH flash.

Smokey Palette (left) and Prism palette (right). Taken outside in natural light, no flash.

Glitter sample. Taken outside in natural light, no flash.

The cute little brushes they sent me with my order.

Pro blending fluff brush (left) and detail mini brush (right)

The top I ordered from La Senza! It's sooo cute.
It's supposed to be a PJ top but I don't care, def wearing it as a regular shirt haha

xoxo,

Skincare 101 - How to Take Care of Your Skin

2011-02-18T15:30:00.008-06:00

Everybody knows that a flawless foundation application always starts with a well prepped canvas, which would be your skin. Taking good care of your skin will definitely benefit your appearance now, as well as in the future. In this entry, I'll take you through a step by step guide of my tips and tricks in order to take proper care of your skin. I discuss the proper techniques to use when cleansing the skin and how to choose a cleanser, whether or not toners are necessary, as well as other options you have to maintaining a beautiful complexion.

The products that I mention are just the products that I use personally, not reccomendations for you, as I don't know what skin type you have. You know yourself and your skin better than anyone! If you're uncertain, you can always check out one of your favourite local cosmetic or skincare counters, and they may be able to help you out in determining what skin type you have.

Now, I just wanted to mention - just because I use something and it works for me, does not mean that you will get the same results! Everyone's skin is unique and will react differently to products. So please do not go buying something just because I use it! Make sure you do your research and check out reviews online first, and this should be able to help you make an educated decision on whether or not you should buy a certain product. Makeup Alley (MUA) is one of my favourite websites for reviews.

Blemishes are usually caused by your skin's inability to get rid of old, dead skin cells. A good skincare system will aid in getting rid of the dead skin and help keep your skin feeling fresh, clean and radiant.
The first step in good skincare is always in making sure you keep your skin clean.

CLEANSING

1) Never, ever, EVER go to sleep with makeup on. Your skin will make you pay for this for weeks, trust me! Our skin is covered in pores, which allow us to sweat, and our facial skin also secrets sebum. Sebum is the natural way our skin gets moisturized. If you sleep with your makeup on, it causes sebum to build up inside your pore because it is blocked by the makeup, and this causes pimples. Also, you can get a really nasty eye infection from going to sleep with makeup on, so make sure you wash it all off!

2) Make sure you wash your hands before you wash your face. Washing your hands before you wash your face helps get rid of any germs, dirt or excess oils you may have on them. You definitely don’t want that stuff getting on your face!

3) Use a cleanser suitable to your skin type to wash your skin. You want something that is water solluable, not something you need to rub off your skin with a cloth. You also want to avoid using bars of soap, as these wil usually dry your skin out.
Some DO's and DON'Ts of cleansing:

DO use lukewarm water, NOT hot water! Hot water is damaging to your skin. It removes the oil and moisture from your skin, and can leave it dry and irritated. Want to open up your pores for a "deep cleanse"? Try putting some boiled water in a bowl and placing your head several inches above it. Drape a towel over your head. This steams your skin and opens up your pores!
DO try and get as much makeup off as possible before you use your cleanser. I usually use warm water and splash it on, or you can use some makeup removing cloths.
DON'T wash your face more than 2-3 times a day. Usually once in the morning and once at night, but if you feel like you need the extra wash then it's not going to kill you. Avoid any excess washing after that, use a toner for a fresh feeling instead.

4) Dry your face. DON'T rub your face when you dry it. Instead, pat your face dry with a clean cloth. Try to use a clean cloth every time you dry your face. Dirt builds up on used cloths, so try to use a fresh one everytime to prevent the dirt from getting on your skin after you wash it.

TONING

1) To be 100% honest, a toner isn't necessary for everyone. I swear by it because I have oily skin. I've also been using it for as long as I can remember, so it's just a part of my routine. Ultimately, it is up to you if you want to use toner or not.

2) Reasons why toner might be a good idea:

Removes any left over dirt or makeup, as well as any pollutants that might have been in the water you used to wash your face with
You will end up using less moisturizer, because if you apply your moisturizer after your toner, your skin will still be damp and will allow moisturizer to spread on a lot easier.
It's really good to have as a refresher during the day. You're not supposed to over wash your face, so if your skin is feeling kind of icky you can use toner instead of washing it.
Toners are meant to return your skin back to it's natural PH level, because cleansers are lower in PH than the skin

3) If you do choose to use a toner, put a small amount on a clean cotton pad and gently wipe your face with it.

MOISTURIZING

Alright, this is the part where I don't have many suggestions or reccomendations, just because your moisturizer is all about your skin type. I have oily skin that is prone to small breakouts, so I use the appropriate skincare. I use Proactiv's Reparing Lotion, and on top of that I use an oil free moisturizer. For day I use an oil control lotion with SPF, and at night I use a moisturizer for blemish prone skin.
Some tips:

ALWAYS use a daytime moisturizer with SPF in it! SPF 20+, at least. You want to protect your skin from the sun's rays so that in the future your skin will still look gorgeous, and for your health as well! The number one cause of wrinkles is sun damage, so never forget your SPF!
Moisturizer is a very important part of the skincare routine, regardless of skin type, so make sure you use one. They help seal moisture into your skin, keeping it hydrated. A lot of moisturizers also have other added benefits, like antioxidants.
Try not to use TOO much moisturizer, as this can clog your pores!

ONCE A WEEK

1) Exfoliate. Exfoliating your skin once a week will help keep the dead skin cells off, and keep your skin looking gorgeous and glowing. Look for a scrub with finer beads in it, like a microdermabrasion scrub. Bigger grains in some cheaper scrubs can actually tear your skin and cause more damage and blemishes, so stay away from those! If you have oilier skin, you can always increase your exfoliating to twice a week. You could also do a skin peel instead of exfoliating.

2) Face Mask. I usually do a face mask about once a week. I find it really helps provide my skin with what it is lacking at the time, and the type of mask I use always changes depending on my skin. Normally I stick with clay based masks because of my oily skin type, as it helps control the oil levels in my skin. If my skin is feeling particularly dry (as it does in the winter), I will use a hydrating mask. I usually leave these masks on for 10-15 minutes and then rinse off with warm water, dry my skin, then follow with a toner and moisturizer.

Before I do my mask I usually exfoliate anyways, so I tend to combine the two into one day so it's easier to remember.

Hopefully you found this little entry useful! Comment with any thoughts or suggestions you may have.
Thanks for reading!

New Look + Huge haul on the Way!

2011-02-11T16:50:00.006-06:00

Hi everyone!
I finally managed to finish the new layout after a LOT of frustration and googling. Surprisingly, I did everything without photoshop, yay! I definitely need to get on top of installing it on my laptop, though. Anyways, what does everyone think of the new layout? Does anybody have any suggestions for some more pages I can add onto the tabs up there? I've been trying to brainstorm but I'm coming up blank.

EDIT: Due to a problem with Paypal, my ELF order ended up not going through. So unfortunately, I won't be reordering until they have another really good promotion going on :( I'm very upset about this, because I really needed all those extra brushes.

I ordered a lot of 50 eyelashes (5 different styles) from eBay.From Camera Ready Cosmetics, I ordered some OOC lip tars. I am beyond excited to receive these! I got 5, primary colors and white and black so that I can mix colors instead of spending a million dollars on several tubes of the stuff. If I need to, I can always order more colors down the road. For now I got: Harlot, RX, Traffic, Feathered and Tarred.

I also placed an order at Coastal Scents for the Prism Palette, Smokey Palette, Destiny Detail Mini Brush, and Pro Blending Fluff Brush

It's nice to finally be stocking up my kit...buuut I think I'm going to need to hide my credit card for awhile!

Expect reviews on a lot of these products once I receive my order(s)! Stay tuned!

I Love Wal*Mart!

2011-02-11T00:10:00.009-06:00

Shopping at Wal*Mart is so underrated! I, for one, absolutely love that store and I don't think it gets the credibility it deserves. I've always found really cute things for an absolute steal of a price! I went there the other day with my mom and went on a little bit of a shopping spree, and I just thought I'd share ;)

Really cute plaid shirt that ties up at the side to give you a nice defined waist...will probably pair this with some black tights. It was $9.00!

I thought this dress was really cute! It's very retro and classy.

I've been needing accessories, as my collection is pretty small. Got this necklace on clearance for FIVE BUCKS!!

My first chunky ring. Kind of sad that I've never owned one before, but I thought this one was adorable, and for $10 you can't really go wrong!

SOOO CUTE. I looove rubber boots, and especially with our weather, they will come in handy soon!

Anybody else find anything nice there recently?

Also, I'm currently working on a new entry entitled 'Skin 101' - it's all about basic skin care and some tips on how to properly take care of your skin. Stay tuned!

Update on my life

2011-02-08T03:15:00.001-06:00

Hiiii everyone!

It's 3am and I can't sleep, so I figured I would come and write a blog entry to pass the time.

Between school three times a week and work the remaining days, I haven't had much time for anything lately. This includes making video tutorials. It's unfortunate, because I really wanted to keep up with making them! Midterms are coming up and I'm feeling overwhelmed, because I've had a recent turn of events that has been pretty time consuming!

Monday morning I had a minor surgery on my foot to remove a piece of glass that I had stepped on way back in December. Needless to say, I'm in quite a bit of pain. They made a pretty big/deep incision, which resulted in stitches to close it up. BUT the good news is, they FINALLY got it out! The doctor said I should be able to return to normal life by the end of the month. Thank goodness, because I've been missing my weekly exercise sessions! I recently scored some deals on a month of bootcamp and kickboxing, and I can't wait to use them. I get my stitches out in two weeks, so I guess we'll see how it's healing and go from there.

Anyways, I thought I would give you guys a little update on how I've been and what's been going on with me lately. I figure I will end this entry with some pictures! Enjoy :)

The piece of glass that caused all the trouble! I was surprised at how big it actually turned out to be, thought it would be a lot smaller.

My foot after the surgery...pretty swollen, and VERY sore :(

My "nurse". Haha.

xoxo,

Check out this awesome giveaway!

2011-02-06T13:51:00.003-06:00

Hey everyone!

I know it's been awhile, but I just wanted to take the time to make a quick post about an awesome contest going on @ Lauren Clark's blog.

She is giving away about $150 worth of Smashbox makeup!! Including an eyeshadow trio, lipgloss, softlights duo, highlighting powder, mascara, the mother earth palette and a sample of both the photofinish primer and tinted moisturizer!

Make sure you read the rules before you enter!|
You can find the contest entry here:

http://laurenclarkmakeup.blogspot.com/2011/01/smashbox-giveaway-contest.html

You can also find a link in my sidebar under 'Helpful Sites'.

Good luck!

Olive Smoke Tutorial

2010-10-31T14:45:00.011-05:00

First, I wanted to apologize for my over use of the word 'simple' in my tutorials. I promise the next one wont have me mention it at all! haha.

This is a pretty good look for going out at night either to the bar or club. It's a little different then a traditional smokey eye, as it has color to it.
This is what the finished product looks like:

Below is the tutorial to follow if you would like to recreate this look, as well as a list of all of the products I used on myself. I reccomend viewing this on youtube, as you will be able to watch in HD!

Click the 'read more' link to find out what I used!

FACE
* RCMA Foundation Palette
* NYC Concealor Palette
* Rimmel Stay Matte Powder
* MAC Sculpt and Shape powder in Accentuate and Sculpt
* Revlon Matte Blush in Perfectly Peach

EYES
* MAC Eye Brows in Spiked
* MAC Paintpot in Blackground
* Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Chains
* Kat Von D Palette in Beethoven (Lucifer - matte black)
* ELF Golden Bronzer (highlight color)
* Lise Watier Metamorfix (liquid transformer)
* Bonne Bell eyeliner in Black Ink
* Sephora liquid eyeliner in Black
* L'oreal Voluminous Mascara
* QUO Lashes

LIPS
*NARS Lipgloss in Striptease

BRUSHES
* MAC 226
* MAC 239SE
* Anabelle eyeshadow brush
* Flat tipped brush (no brand)

* items highlighted in red were the colors I used

** Not pictured: Bonnebell Eye pencil, Nars Lipgloss or any of the face items.

How to Clean your Brushes

2010-10-30T16:05:00.007-05:00

I just wanted to say I'm sooo sorry for being MIA for so long. As I mentioned in the video, it's my first year of university and I've been struggling to find time in my schedule to do ANYTHING, let alone make makeup tutorials! I'm finally settling into some sort of schedule, so I should have a little extra time here and there to do something. I'll try to be more frequent in posting videos!

This video focuses on two different methods you can use to clean your brushes. The first is deep cleansing, which is using a shampoo to thoroughly clean your brushes and leaving them to dry overnight. The second is spot cleaning, which is just using a spray brush cleanser to remove any makeup on the brushes as well as disinfect them. You would usually use this method in between makeup sessions.
As I also mentioned, there are many methods you can use to clean your brushes, and this is only one of them! Check out other videos on youtube to expand your understanding!

If you want to skip my talking and head straight into the tutorial, go to 3:02

Neutral Cut Crease w/ a POP of Color!

2010-09-05T00:09:00.005-05:00

Today I felt like experimenting with something I've only ever done once before...the cut crease! I had done it before on a model for a photoshoot (I posted the pictures here), but haven't tried again since then.
I also needed to post another tutorial on my youtube channel, and I was pretty bored at home all day, so it was the perfect opportunity.
This look was actually inspired by Louise Rowe from that new TV show Plain Jane...she wore something similar, neutrals on the lid and purple on the bottom. There was no cut crease, though.
This is the finished look:

Here is the tutorial! Remember to subscribe to my channel if you watch my videos!
Full list of products I used can be found at the end of this entry. :)

FACE
* MUFE HD Foundation
* Lancome Effacernes Concealer
* Rimmel Stay Matte Powder
* MAC Sculpt and Shape powder in Accentuate and Sculpt
* MAC Fleur Power blush
EYES
* MAC Eye Brows in Spiked
* Urban Decay Primer Potion
* MAC eyeshadow in Patina
* Lancome Stylo Waterproof in Cafe
* Kat Von D Palette in Beethoven (Leather - matte brown & Tequila - shimmery light gold)
* MAC Shadestick in Beige-ing
* Lise Watier Metamorfix (liquid transformer)
* Lancome eyeshadow in Trendy
* Bonne Bell eyeliner in Black Ink
* Sephora liquid eyeliner in Black
* Ebay lashes
LIPS
* MAC Underage lipgloss

xoxo,

Yet another photoshoot!

2010-08-30T15:13:00.006-05:00

've been getting more and more requests to do makeup for people and it's super exciting :) I did wedding makeup awhile ago, I'm just waiting on the photos for that one. But just recently I had someone also request my photography skills! I'm not that great of a photographer, so I was pretty surprised.

This was only my second time doing makeup on an asian girl, but I loooove the way it turned out. She looked GORGEOUS. But I love constructive criticism, so if you have any tips I would love to hear them!

Anyways, I've finally finished editing some of her pictures and this is how they turned out!

FACE
* MUFE HD foundation mixed with RCMA foundation to get the right color
* E.L.F Studio Warm Bronzer
* E.L.F Studio Blushed/Bronzed Duo (bronzer)
* Coastal Scents blush palette
* MAC Prep + Prime finishing powder

EYES
* UDPP
* Urban Decay eyeshadow in Chains
* MAC eyeshadow in Print
* MAC eyeshadow in Carbon
* MAC eyeshadow in Shroom
* MAC fluidline in Blacktrack
* Ebay lashes
* Joe eyebrow powder in black

LIPS
* NARS lipgloss in Dolce Vita
* NARS lipgloss in Striptease

Click the images for the larger versions!

Click the "read more" link for more pictures!!

Thanks for looking!

xoxo,

First Tutorial is up! Going from day to night...

2010-08-25T23:29:00.006-05:00

Just thought I would get on making my first tutorial, so I thought I would do a quick daytime and night time look, and show how to transition to the latter. It's quick, it's simple, and hopefully you learned something from watching :)

This is the look we are going for:

What I used:

FACE
* MUFE HD Foundation
* Rimmel Stay Matte Powder
* Rimmel Bronzing Powder
* MAC Fleur Power blush

EYES
* MAC Rubenesque paintpot
* Lancome Drape eyeshadow
* Bonne Bell eyeliner in black ink
* Anastasia Brow Duality in Shell and Lace
* Joe Brow Powder Duo in Black
* Sephora liquid eyeliner in Black
* Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara in Very Black

LIPS
* MAC Underage Lipglass

BRUSHES
* MAC 187
* MAC 217
* MAC 120
* Quo eye smudger brush
* Quo crease blender brush

xoxo,

New YouTube channel!

2010-08-25T22:47:00.007-05:00

Finally! I gave myself a kick in the butt and FINALLY created a youtube channel. I've been meaning to create more tutorials, but I found written tutorials took so much time...what with having to snap 1,00000 pictures, upload them to your computer, resize them, write out the instructions, draw diagrams, etc...
While with video you can just keep recording and cut out the bad stuff later ;)

Anyways, I created my first video not too long ago and just thought I would share.

You can find my channel here: http://www.youtube.com/t0xicbeautyy

xoxo,

Fun Photoshoot

2010-04-08T18:16:00.008-05:00

Finally, an update! haha. A friend of mine who is majoring in photography asked me to collaborate with her a couple of days ago. It wasn't really PLANNED, as in it didn't really have a theme, so that's why the makeup doesn't really match up. She just told me to have fun and do what I wanted. So, I did!

All credit for the photos goes to my lovely friend Brandy. If she had a site, I would link it.

MAYA:

Face
MAC Studio Fix in NC15
MAC Fleur Power
MAC Cheeky Bronze

Eyes
UDPP
MAC Patina
MAC Bronze
MAC Electric Eel
Sephora liquid eyeliner in black
Maybelline Lash Stiletto
Random lashes from Wal-Mart

KRISTINA:
Her makeup was inspired by Edie Sedgwick, and it is one of my favourite looks that I've done so far. Might I mention, I've NEVER done a cut crease before!? Sooo I super nervous about how it would turn out. Not bad for my first time.
Face
MAC Studio Fix in NC15
MAC Studio Concealor in NC15
MAC Prep+Prime powder
ELF Blushed/Bronzed Duo (the bronzer for contouring)
True Match blush

Eyes
UDPP
MAC Crystal Avalanche
MAC Carbon
Anabelle Kohl liner in Black
Sephora liquid eyeliner
Ardell Lashes

Lips
MAC Myth

MYSELF:

Face
MUFE HD foundation in 123
Lancome effacernes in Medium Bisque
MAC prep+prime powder
MAC Sunny By Nature
MAC Accentuate and Sculpt
MAC Fleur Power

Eyes
UDPP
MAC Goldmine
MAC Carbon
Anabelle kohl liner in black
Sephora liquid liner in black
L'oreal Voluminous mascara

Lips
Revlon Pink Pout matte l/s
MAC Fleshpot l/s
MAC Underage l/g

I take horrible pictures, that's why there's only one makeup shot aha

I would LOVE to hear any constructive criticism you guys might have. I haven't done many photoshoots and am always looking to better myself!

Since my friend posted these on facebook, I've gotten several requests to do makeup! I'm booked for a wedding social in May and a wedding in August :D I'm very excited!

Thanks for looking! :)

Small E.L.F Studio Haul from Winners!

2010-03-04T19:14:00.005-06:00

Hey everyone! Just wanted to share my little E.L.F haul from today. We got a bunch of stuff in at my work (Winners) and I was just dying to try a few things out, so I bought the ones I was most interested in. It would have worked out to about the same as ordering it online, anyways.

I got:
- E.L.F Studio Blushed/Bronzed Duo
- E.L.F Studio Warm Bronzer
- E.L.F Studio Golden Bronzer

Enjoy!

As usual, photos taken in natural light on NC30 skin.

More pictures after the jump!

It's actually Golden on the left, Warm on the right. My bad.

(all of the colors in the bronzer were mixed together)

Individual color swatches. L-R: Top Left color, Top right, Bottom left, bottom right. (look at previous images of bronzers for color comparasion)

Individual color swatches. L-R: Top Left color, Top right, Bottom left, bottom right. (look at previous images of bronzers for color comparasion)

I also picked up a really cute Betsey Johnson makeup bag:

And these hot little numbers!

Can't wait to wear 'em!

Small MAC Haul + Swatches!

2010-02-26T03:25:00.002-06:00

Hey everyone! I haven't been buying much makeup lately, but last week when I was looking at the MAC website, I bought a few things on a whim. I really wanted fleshpot lipstick, and somehow my underage l/g went missing so I really wanted to get a new one. I added a few more things on to get free shipping, and that's how this happened :P

I got:
- Fleshpot l/s
- Angel l/s
- Underage l/g
- Electric Eel e/s pan
- Very Violet e/s

Enjoy!

Photos taken in natural light, no flash, on NC30 skin!

More pictures after the jump!

xoxo,

I have definitely been on a looong hiatus...

2010-02-21T22:43:00.000-06:00

I don't think many people have been paying much attention to this blog anyways, but I feel terrible for neglecting it so much! It's been what, 8 months!?
Things had gotten busy/stressful for awhile, and in the process I stopped doing my makeup as much as I used to. Money has been tight and I haven't been able to splurge as much as I would like to, but I'm going to rekindle my passion for makeup. I definitely need to start wearing more of it again! If not during the week, at least on weekends lol
Anyways, long story short, you will definitely be hearing more from me! Keep checking back :)

Dark eyes - FOTD from May 29th, 2009

2009-06-03T11:41:00.001-05:00

I FINALLY figured out how to take better makeup shots! It's all about the natural light and digital macro modes, baby! :)

FACE
Lancome's La Base Pro (Primer)
Lancome's Effacernes Concealer
Dior Airflash Foundation
Lancome bronzer in Solaire
Dior Skinflash
MAC Sculpt and Shape powder in Accentuate and Sculpt
Coastal Scents blush (from the palette)

EYES
Lancome Poudre Sourcils pencil (brows)
Provici Shadow Magnet (base)
MAC Black Tied
MAC Patina
MAC Crystal Avalanche
Lancome stylo waterproof in noir
Lancome Hypnose Mascara (bottom lashes)
Quo Lashes

LIPS
MAC Blankety l/s
MAC Underage l/g

I was just trying out my new base, so it's not as blended as it should be cause I'm still getting a feel for it :P

Thanks for looking, more to come!

PRODUCT REVIEW - Estee Lauder's Idealist

2009-01-22T12:45:00.000-06:00

I was given a couple of Estee Lauder products to try out (Idealist, Night Repair, Day Wear), and I've been using them for the past week or so. I thought I would share my two cents about Idealist, since it's the only product so far that I feel a have a real grasp on. You'll see why, though!

A little background:
According to the website, Idealist claims to have pore diminishing technology that is supposed to make large pores disappear by treating their appearance from the inside out. It also claims to immediately begin dissolving away pore-clogging debris, as well as clear away dead skin cells. It's packed full of antioxidants, has 3x more glucosamin (a sugar-derived, non-acid re-finisher) than the previous formula and has chestnut extract (these apparently help to get rid of flakiness), and it's supposed to brighten your skin and fade the appearance of discoloration and dark spots.

Pricing:
1.0 OZ - $46.50
1.7 OZ - $73.00
3.4 OZ - $120.00

What I thought:
My initial thoughts of the serum was that it smells great, it's not overpowering or overly floral. It has a really nice citrus-y scent.
After putting it on, it instantly smoothed out my skin and made it feel silky and soft. It also reduced shine in my t-zone, which I liked.
However, the one downfall to this product is that it virtually has no long term effects, using it doesn't really benefit your skin, it just makes it look nice for the amount of time that you have it on. I didn't experience a change in my skin texture really, except that it actually got drier and flaky. I also got some blackheads, but I'm not sure if it's directly related to this product. My skin wasn't softer or more radiant. It does make your makeup go on nicely, though.
Long story short, it's basically just a primer.
For the price, I might be better off buying smashbox's primer! It's cheaper and does the same thing, in my opinion.
I'm glad I didn't buy, and I don't think I will end up doing so. I would rather splurge on a serum that actually has more promising long term effects.

UPDATE:
So, turns out this serum totally broke me out. My skin isn't sensitive at ALL, but I stopped using it and my skin cleared up instantly. So, I definitely am not considering buying this product lol

Bronze Smokey Eye Tutorial

2008-08-06T14:05:00.002-05:00

So to get this blog going, I thought I may as well post a tut I did awhile back (about October '07).
The look we'll be going for is this:

A nice bronze eye with a bit of smoke to it.

Products used:
1. Clean and Clear Oil-Free Oxygenating Light Moisturizer w/ SPF 15
2. MAC Prep + Prime
3. MAC studio fix fluid in NC30
4. Covergirl Professional Loose Powder in Translucent Medium
5. MAC blush in Plum Foolery
6. Smashbox softlights in shimmer
7. Elizabeth Arden Bronzer in Golden
8. Physician's Formula concealer stick in green (cancels out redness)
9. Physician's Formula concealer in yellow (cancels out blue, under eyes etc)
10. E.L.F lipgloss in Goddess
11. Bath & Body Works lipgloss w/ SPF 15 in Vanilla Sugar
12. MAC Lipstick in Blankety
13. Lipliner in a nude shade
14. MAC lustreglass in Love Nectar
15. Bonnebell eyeliner in black ink
16. Rimmel black liquid liner
17. XXL intense black mascara

Eyeshadows:
All are MAC.
- Shroom: Highlight, inner corners
- Amber lights: Entire lid, bottom lash line
- Bronze: crease, outer corners
- Espresso: brows, crease
- Carbon: outer V

Tools:
So most of the brushes I use are just some random no-name stuff I got about 2-3 years ago when I was first starting out. I took the liberty of referencing which MAC brushes they're similar to/you could use instead. I'm not incredibly familiar with the brushes or their sizes so bear with me.

1. MAC 187
2. Powder brush, similar to MAC 129 or 136
3. Small blush brush, maybe similar to MAC 109?
4. Angled brush, similar to MAC 168
5. Small e/s brush, similar to MAC 242
6. Medium/large sized e/s brush, similar to MAC 252, 249
7. Flat liner brush, similar to MAC 212
8. MAC 217
9. Crease brush, similar to MAC 249, 242, 272
10. Spoolie, MAC 204
11. Angled shader, similar to MAC 263, 208
12. Eyelash curler
13. Petri dish
14. Blending wedge
15. Hair spray

Okay! So now that we've got that out of the way, on to the tutorial! Let me just warn you now though, some of the pictures aren't very flattering haha
(Read more...)
*Just so you know, the main site isn't done yet...only one tutorial is up as of right now, which is why it's not listed in the side bar of my blog yet!

First post, finally!

2008-08-05T14:20:00.000-05:00

Sorry for not posting AT ALL, but I went away on a camping trip a few days after I made this...
I also spent the majority of my time working on a layout I liked, which took forever! But hopefully within the next couple of days you'll finally be seeing some activity on here. I start my new job at Lancome on Thursday, so hopefully I'll have some new insight to share with everyone afterwards :P
Anyways, keep checking for updates!

T0XiC BEAUTY - Y0UR S0URCE F0R TUT0RiALS, MAKEUP REViEWS AND MORE!

It's been a big year for me so far!

Revlon Scented Nailpolish - Gum Drop

ORLY Nail Lacquer - It's Up to Blue

E.L.F Swatches - Eyeshadow quad, Studio Blush and Shimmer palette

E.L.F Review & Swatches - Luscious Liquid Lipsticks

FINALLY got my E.L.F haul!

Review - Coastal Scents Prism Palette

Coastal Scents order came in!

Skincare 101 - How to Take Care of Your Skin

New Look + Huge haul on the Way!

I Love Wal*Mart!

Update on my life

Check out this awesome giveaway!

Olive Smoke Tutorial

How to Clean your Brushes

Neutral Cut Crease w/ a *POP* of Color!

Yet another photoshoot!

First Tutorial is up! Going from day to night...

New YouTube channel!

Fun Photoshoot

Small E.L.F Studio Haul from Winners!

Small MAC Haul + Swatches!

I have definitely been on a looong hiatus...

Dark eyes - FOTD from May 29th, 2009

PRODUCT REVIEW - Estee Lauder's Idealist

Bronze Smokey Eye Tutorial

First post, finally!

Neutral Cut Crease w/ a POP of Color!