kim.

1

so sexy.

xoxo,

bella

lust: this bag!

photocredit

thats kim kardashian at an event in Monaco flaunting that absolutely stunning Lorraine Schwartz engagement ring, but what i'm more in love with is the gold Alexander McQueen clutch (buzz around the web is that its McQueen-i hope its right!).  The bag is absolutely covetable. 

xoxo,

bella

oh hello blogging world

I told you I couldn't stay away for too long, I'd miss it too much.  So anyways Im back! (for now at least) lol. Recently a good friend (and reader) of mine asked me about a dilemma that many women are puzzled with.  And trust me, its one that every one has dealt with at some point or another, and that is.....how to make your EYELINER stay put! First things first, it depends on what you are using, gel, liquid, and creme eyeliner are all fairly long lasting and it is their intended purpose to stay put on those lids!  But I'm talking about the waterline, what do you use there? Its an area where products have a higher tendency to run and melt, so I've decided that I'm going to go on a little eyeliner adventure and try out a few new pencil eyeliners to find which is best for long wearing waterline wear (redundant lol.)  A tip I do have though, regardless of whatever liner you have is that anything with a creme, soft kohl, that type of tendency will last oodles longer if set with powder.  So if you take a TINY amount of translucent or whatever powder you prefer and gently put it under NOT ON TOP OF where you put the eyeliner, it should stay put.  But anyways, I need to find a few more eyeliners to test out, I'm thinking three different ones should suffice.  So I'll definitely keep you guys up to date with that project. In other news I can finally say that I truly recommend the NYC Matte Bronzer in SUNNNY, I'm in love with this product.  To get the best application, in my opinion, take a dome shaped or a smaller blush brush, and start from where your cheekbones meet your hairline.  Then dab the product into the hollows of your cheeks right under where your cheekbones are, don't just brush it on, pat it in, it makes a huge difference, then if you want just add a bit more anywhere the sunlight would naturally hit you.  But this method does give you really flawless cheekbones and its a great contour. I love this bronzer! If anyone wants to know more about it, let me know :) Oh okay so in other news, I was at my local TJ Maxx the other day, and for those of you who are not familiar with that store, its a store which sells a variety of inexpensive designer labels for less (way less!)  And i found the most amazing shoes, for only $10, they are gorgeous and neutral and will complement so many looks, its great to find such deals when you least expect them.  The shoes are Seychelles which is a pretty expensive brand, and they went from somewhere in the $75-80 range down to $10.  Seriously guys, when you go to store like TJ Maxx or Marshalls, the most important thing to do is to look, and have a little patience, you never know what gems you'll find.  On a last and very exciting note,  I was just given the Urban Decay Hall of Fame Set ($20) by the most amazing person ever, thank you best friend! and lemme tell you guys, I AM IN LOVE (so far.)  The set comes with five of the company's most beloved products, and on the Urban Decay website its being sold for $20 (it was originally $29 i believe.)  Honestly, this set could have been worth way more, seeing as the XL Primer Potion it comes with retails for $23 by itself.  Now everything that the beauty world has hyped up about the Urban Decay Primer Potion, is pretty much accurate.  It is one of the best eyeshadow primers I've every used.  And it makes your shadows last for hours!  Okay so more on the Urban Decay Set in a later post, my fingers are aching from typing so much haha.  Thank you so much for reading everyone! :)

fun reads,

bella

ps: kim's my fave, by far.

images property of their respective owners.

super easy natural eye makeup remover! and review for wet n' wild mega eyes creme eye liner (MAC dupe)

hello lovely readers, i know its been a few days and I've just been busy with school and work and valentines day<3 haha but yeah so im back! And i've got a few amazing tips and tricks for you all.  I was watching the flawless Michelle Phan on You Tube (heres the link to her channel) and she made this video about a natural eye makeup remover so ofcourse i was intrigued, i love my high end stuff but im a sucker for organic.  Her tip was to use EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL not the regular kind ladies, EVOO, as Rachel Ray would say.  But she was right, I tried it out on the product I'm going to review next but seriously it works! It works better than my makeup remover actually lol so I'm super pleased with it.  Yay for natural fixes! But anyways after the gym, I stopped by Rite Aid yesterday, and let me tell you they have Jesse's Girl Cosmetics there! I never knew that, but i had seen it in a few of my fave guru's videos so I was pleased to find it in my local drugstore.   But anyways they were having a 40% off sale on Wet N' Wild Cosmetics, which as you all know, I'm all for using cheap alternatives if they are of good (or better) quality than their high end counterparts.  I picked up the Wet N' Wild Mega Eyes Creme Eye Liner in black for $2.80 (with tax), what a great price!  So i went home took it out of the packaging (its cruelty free btw, no animal testing), and immediately tried it out.  And boy was I impressed with this stuff, now I've used MAC's Fluidline in Blacktrack before i and i have to say that this is MUCH better.  I hate to say that but its true.  It's also way better than L'Oreal HiP Color Truth Cream Eyeliner in black, which retails for like $12 or something like that, the one i bought was dry, hard, and the brush was horrible.  But this eyeliner I'm in LOVE with.  It's very creamy, dries opaque and to a true matte finish, plus the brush actually works.  I prefer to use my own brushes but this one is not bad at all.  This liner stays put too, seriously it will not come off unless you use eye make up remover or the extra virgin olive oil I mentioned previously, but anyways Wet N' Wild creme eyeliner gets two thumbs up from me, I think I'll be using it today :)  (Thats just my opinion, I am not trying to endorse any products here!) 

lol obviously i love it so far, hence the usage :)

and heres what the liner looks like after 6 hours of work:

pretty amazing stuff :)

fun reads,

bella

ps: kim's vegas magazine look, its old i know but beautiful none the less.

Green+Gold Going Out Look

So if you need a look for a special occasion or something i think this would be perfect.  I got the inspiration for this look from one that julieg713 did on her YouTube Channel and I thought it was gorgeous! This is just my take on it, I hope you guys like it:
Products Used: CS 88 matte eyeshadow palette, CS 24 Karat Gold Mica pigment, CS synthetic shadow brush, Nars custard/ginger concealer duo, Smashbox photofinish primer light, Maybeline Lash Stiletto in Brown/Black, Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eyeliner in Black, Rimmel eye liner pencil in brown, CS italian badger round crease brush, FLIRT! cosmetics eyeshadow brush, Clinique Pair of Shades eyeshadow in Golden Lynx.

1. Start off with a clean palette, prime your eyes as you wish.  I just used my concealer mixed with a little bit of the Smashbox Primer which works pretty well for me.  Then apply the Clinique shadow in Golden Lynx or any color that is very similar to your skin tone all over the lid up to the brow bone.

2. Using the CS palette take the golden shimmery color and apply it to the inner corner of your eye up to about mid way on the lid, don't go to far up like you did with the first shade. Just pack on that really bright gold color onto that portion of your eye, next take a mid tone green and apply it to the outer corner blending in as you go in.  I know its gonna look like an explosion of color but the finished look is really pretty.

3.  Using a bright orange, take a tiny amount of color and take it from the top of the green to the brow bone, and blend it right in.  Take a lighter shade of green than the first and blend that in right in between the dark green and the gold, taking it up a little higher towards the brow bone. Blend as you go along.

4.  Apply a small amount of the gold mica on the middle of the lid to transition between the gold and the green, just be careful because it gets everywhere! After you let that set, take a shade lighter than your skin tone and apply it as a highlight right under your eyebrows, it'll give them a great little pop.  Apply your liquid liner, flicking it out a little higher than usual for added height and drama and also apply your mascara, wiggling the brush at the base for a darker product deposit, do the bottom lashes as well.  

5. Take the same green you were using on the top and apply it with a pencil brush to your bottom lashes about mid way starting from the outer v, then using the same gold you used on the top take it from your inner v to meet that green on your bottom lash line.  I used brown liner on my waterline to keep the look from becoming to dark, but i think black would look great as well. And just dust off the excess gold flecks or any product that got below your eyes and voila your done! A perfect look for any special occasion. 

fun reads,

bella

p.s.: i think kim k looks gorgeous here.

Random information: Make-Up Expiration & Organization

I was recently told about this tidbit, makeup as we all know (and would like to pretend not to know) expires.  Every single package comes with an expiration date of sorts, it's more of a general timeline. This little symbol seen on any package of make up:

for example: see the symbol with the open jar says "24M"

that indicates that after opening it, this product (which happens to be the NARS concealer duo) is good for 24 months or two years.

Around that time, you should check the product for a few key things:

-Consistency: if its still smooth, creamy, or powdery, thinks like concealer which have moisture in them don't last as long as lets say a powder.  Just check the consistency and make sure the formula's intact, especially if its going on your face.  If the formula has separated or is visibly odd looking, than the product has expired, and you should get a new one.

It also depends on what kind of product it is and the company which created it, some things last longer than others, but just check the back to be sure.

-Smell: If it smells funky, let it go.

Those are just some guidelines to go by.  I'll admit that I'm very torn with letting my makeup go, but if it prevents bacteria and infection getting on to my face or skin, its worth it.  Next time your out shopping just check and make sure what your buying will last for the price your paying.  Also go through the makeup you already have and (a bit reluctantly) get rid of the things which fall into the expired category. If its around the time of expiration and the product is fine than use your own judgement on when to get rid of it.  Items like mascara though run out quickly, so I find it easier to buy the smaller bottles or mini's because at least i know I'm going to use the entire thing by the time it expires.  Thats just my bit of advice, hope it helps!

Oh and my other topic of the day: ORGANIZATION-it seriously is so helpful!

By organizing your makeup and perfumes and whatever else, you get to see what you really have. It also reminds you to clean any dirty brushes, get rid of things you don't need, and have everything be much less messy for the future.  Plus, it looks really lovely.

My tips would be to get a small plastic drawer to hold some of your things, along with tins, bins, things of that sort.  Keep everything together by different categories, for me its: lip products, eye products, face, etc.  It really helps un-clutter everything, and makes the process of getting ready that much easier :) Btw, most supply stores, Target, Walmart, anything like that, will have little items that you can buy to organize your collection.  I found some things I thought were functional and cute:

from the top :

1. Small Countertop Drawer (6 pack) ($34.99) - Target

2. Itso Narrow Tray Purple ($3.99) - Target

3. Whitney Rectangular Drawer Organizer ($17.99) - Target

4. Sterile 6 Qt Drawers_Navy Blue (set of 12) ($36.00) - Walmart

I think that any girl can organize for optimal ease and comfort, plus cleanliness.

images property of their respective owners-this was just my opinion, i'm not endorsing any of these products.

fun reads,

bella

p.s. just sticking with Kim for the day ;)

Sorry i've been away! benefit beauty to go cosmetics set review :)

Hey guys, i've been really busy lately with a bunch of stuff in my personal life so this has gone to the wayside a little but i am back! lol i just want to thank anyone that still regularly checks this page, its greatly appreciated.  So the next item i wanna rave about is the Benefit Beauty To Go Bestsellers ($10 @ Sephora_limited time).  I actually really like this little set, and for the record it is VERY small, so please do not be shocked when you see it in person.  It's sitting in my bag right now and I've found that it does get use.  Personal favorite in whole set is the That Gal Brightening Primer ($28), this is the stuff i use when I'm feeling extremely lazy, and don't want/have the time to do my usual face routine.  I just put this on in conjunction with the Some Kinda Gorgeous ($28) and I am good to go.  My reason for liking the primer is that even though it is an alright primer it does brighten, so if the skin is feeling a bit lack luster just dab some of this on.  The foundation (some kinda gorgeous) is nice and very creamy but not full coverage, if you like sheer build-able coverage, I would recommend it.  Another item in the set is High Beam ($24) which is nicknamed supermodel in a model, i like it but i don't love it.  It is a lovely highlight, packed with shimmer, great for going out (in my opinion.) The glow is really lovely though, when it catches the lighting.  The final product included is Pose-Tint ($24), a cheek and lip stain.  I find this one to be subpar, it's a nice color, but the stain doesn't last very long at all.  It does give a very nice youthful glow though, so if your going for a very natural look this baby pink stain on the cheek might be nice.  Considering how many products you get to try out for such a cheap price, makes this kit worth it.  Another thing, you get .25 oz of the primer and the actual size only comes with .37, so you could get the full size primer amount plus a little more, if you bought two of these and still have $8 left over.  Overall i think that this set is great for travel and just for regular touchup, the packaging is adorable, and most women are guaranteed to like at least one of the products.  If you wanna try out this brand without the steep prices, this would be the way to go. (images property of their respective owners.)

fun reads,

bella

p.s. kim k is really very pretty ;)

Nars Blushes and the Custard and Ginger (steal!) concealer duo review and quick note about Kim K.

When I first started using NARS, I knew it would be a winner for me.  My first experience with the brand was with the famed Orgasm blush, which was unfortunately too light for me, but complemented my usual blush beautifully.  My second shot at the brand's lovely range of blushes was Amour, and trust me it was love at first sight with this one.  My Sephora Rep put it on, and I was immediately floored, it was beautiful! And with a very light hand, amour is a totally wearable shade, its actually my everyday shade, a little bit more product and it becomes a gorgeous complement to any nighttime look.  Another really gorgeous shade was Dolce Vita, which has a cult following on its own.  But my favorite blush is Amour. It's a true must try, all the blushes are beautiful, so just go over to your local Sephora or Nordstrom and check out the range, your sure to find one you like.  The price is a little steep, but your getting your moneys worth on this one, its twenty five bucks well spent.  The longevity and quality of the product itself is worth that much.  Needless to say I'm a big Nars fan, so when the Nars Concealer Duo in Custard and Ginger was on sale at Sephora for TEN dollars, opposed to its usual 30, i had to get it.  And thanks to an awesome friend, I did :) The concealer is better than expected!  Its actually very nice, the formula itself is super creamy and glides over skin, it doesn't settle into fine lines as much as other concealers.  It's pretty much what you'd expect to get for thirty dollars. The colors blend it really nicely, and when topped with a little bit of loose powder, last all day.  Your face will look nearly flawless, the concealer does its job well, covering things like small bumps to blotchiness and redness if necessary.  It's a really good buy and if you can still get your hands on it, I strongly recommend it.  One more thing about Nars, the packaging is so chic!  Its all the quality you'd expect from a high end line, and the products themselves actually deliver, making it a worthy investment.
Oh and one more thing, Kim Kardashian's fragrance has just been released exclusively to Sephora at the moment.  It's a fragrance I really want to try out, so if I can get my hands on it, I'll be sure to review it.  I love Kim on the show and her makeup is always flawless so its something to look forward too.  The perfume is supposed to be a "dark floral" scent.  More old glam than the lighter, fruiter fragrances out right now, so who knows, it might be a very welcome change, we shall see :)

fun reads,

bella

Nars Blushes: (from left to right) Orgasm, Amour, Dolce Vita

Kim K fragrance

and the lady herself, enjoy ;)

all images property of their respective owners,