YouTube Made Me Buy It – Part 2

Alright, y’all!  I’m back for Part Two of my YouTube Made Me Buy It series!  Sorry it took me so long!  This post has some seriously good stuff and a good portion of it is also seriously affordable!  Enjoy, lovelies!

Eye Shadow:

IMG_2931[1]

urban decay naked palette, elf mad for matte palette, colourpop super shock shadows

Urban Decay Naked Palette
This palette holds such a special place in my heart.  It was not only the first true palette that I ever invested in, but I purchased it specifically for my wedding (My hubs and I had a courthouse wedding and an intimate party for close friends and family afterwards, so I did my own makeup…maybe my DIY wedding is a post in the cards for a later time…)  But back to the point…I heard so many great things about this palette and to be quite honest, after purchasing it I know why.  But let’s also be real, it kind of hurt to spend more than $50 on an eye shadow palette.  Nevertheless, I find that you can create a lot of different looks with it and the colors are decently blend-able and there’s not a whole lot of kick up or fall out. I do find that there are certain colors I use more frequently than others, and a couple of them have hardly been touched, but isn’t that how it goes with palettes? Overall I reach for this palette when I know I want a neutral, simple look with maybe a little bit of glam, and it always works out.

Elf Mad for Matte
Oh goodness, where to start.  How about with TEN DOLLARS.  Let’s start there.  Elf products are SO affordable and the quality of their items tends to be pretty on-point, so when I heard about this launch I was so excited and ran out to get this one as fast as I could.  Point blank…this palette is BOMB.  The shadows are pressed so nicely that I hardly get any kick back at all or fall out (even less than the Urban Decay Naked), which means the product is going to last me a lot longer and that makes me happy, happy, happy.  The product name really gives you a good idea of what you can create if you only stick with this palette and use nothing else.  It has all matte shadows and all neutral colors.  I can use this on a no-makeup makeup day or create a beautiful matte smoky eye for a night out with ease.  Highly recommend!

ColourPop Super Shock
If you are a YouTube fan like I am, go check out Kathleen Lights’ channel.  She is such a sweetheart, is incredibly talented and I can thank her for introducing me to ColourPop cosmetics.  The company has a lot to pick from, but these super shock shadows come in singles and are only $5 each!  I purchased three colors off their website (only two are pictured above because one fell in the crevices of my car and I can. not. get. it out.).  I got two mattes and one shimmer.  These feel like no other eye shadows I’ve ever felt before.  As freaky as it sounds, they remind me of memory foam to the touch and at the same time, they kind of feel wet.  It seriously threw me off at first, but once I figured out how best to use them I fell in love.  The color payoff is incredible and I just love how unique they are.  Tip for success: use your fingers or a synthetic brush.

Mascara:

IMG_2939[1]

loreal lash paradise, too faced better than sex

Loreal Lash Paradise
So I’m just going to put this out there – I’m an all about lashes kind of gal.  I 100% go by the rule of “when you think you are done, keep going”.  I LOVE the look of super full, long lashes.  It tends to suit my eye shape best, what can I say?  Because of my great love for lashes, I’ve tried a whole heck of a lot of mascaras and, unfortunately, most of the ones that work best for me have also been more costly (see next product).  When I saw so many people talking about this product, I had kind of given up on drugstore mascara and I ignored the hype for a bit.  When I finally decided $10 couldn’t hurt that bad, I was so shocked.  This is hands down the best drugstore mascara I’ve ever used.  It gives luxury brands a run for their money.  Honestly.  The only downside that I can find so far is that my first tube dried up in about a month.  But keep in mind that I pile this stuff on, so a good bit of that issue may be due to me.  $10 a month still beats the heck out of what I could end up paying for high ends throughout the year.  Run and get ya some!

Too Faced Better Than Sex
I’ve already ruined it, haven’t I?   I love this mascara.  It may be $23 for .27 oz, but gosh dang it it’s so good.  It piles on so well.  The brush is so soft and works like a dream.  I get compliments on my lashes every time I use it.  I have no bad words.  I have heard that some people find that it flakes off during the course of a day, but I really haven’t had that problem.  If I’m being honest, Loreal Lash Paradise is super comparable to this one, it could actually be considered a dupe in my opinion, but there is just something about this mascara that keeps me coming back.  If you are ever just in the mood to do a good comparison, get both and comment below with what you think.  Am I crazy to keep spending $23 on mascara when I could go full-on dedicated to Loreal Lash Paradise?  Anyway, this stuff is worth it in my book.

So that does it for this post. Next time we’ll move on to blushes, bronzers, highlighters and lip products and I’ve got some GOODIES!

As I always will, I wish you blessings!  Talk soon.

YouTube Made Me Buy It – Part 1

Oh my goodness, y’all, I am SO excited for this post and to be back to the mrs. and the misc.!  I have a lot to catch you up on, and it will all come in time, but I’ve been dying to post a beauty review forever and today while getting ready I realized that I FINALLY have enough products to do a review of “YouTube Made Me Buy It” stuff.  So let’s get into it!

In order to keep this post reasonable in length, today is all about face products.  There’s lots more to come!  Look for those posts this Tuesday and Thursday!

Primers:

IMG_2932[1]

becca first light priming filter, too faced hangoverx, smashbox photo finish oil free foundation primer


Becca First Light Priming Filter
This primer is actually the newest to my {small} collection of primers.  It took me a long time to jump on the primer train, but this one, in my opinion, is worth EVERY PENNY.  It comes at a pretty hefty price tag of $38, but it gives my skin such a healthy “glow from within” look, doesn’t feel heavy and is so hydrating to the skin.  This one is a WIN.  Thank you YouTube for getting me hooked on a $38 primer.

Too Faced HangoveRx
Ah the infamous Too Faced HangoveRx.  {is it just me, or does the name of the product look really weird typed out…}.  This primer got a lot of hype!  I get it…it is incredibly hydrating and my makeup always looks good when I use it.  It basically does what it says it will and it smells like a tropical vacation, which is heavenly in my opinion.  If you don’t like the smell of coconut, you won’t like this primer.  Even at a price point of $32, I say this is a WIN.

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer
Okay, so I got this primer a LONG, and I do mean, LONG time ago, so my packaging is old. It claims to give a flawless finish, fill in lines and pores and prolong the wear of your make up.  At $36, I was expecting A LOT from this primer.  I’ve tried SO hard to love it, but I just don’t.  To me, it feels like straight-up silicone going on your face, and while it does a good job at blurring pores, I almost always break out after a day of wearing this one.  For me, this is a bust.

Foundations and Concealers:

img_29331.jpg

estee lauder double wear foundation, tarte shape tape, urban decan naked skin perfecter

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation
At almost $40, I’m gonna be honest, I was worried about this purchase.  No offense to Estee Lauder, but I kind of equated the brand to one that a more mature skinned woman would want {eh hem…Grandma}.  Well let me just say, Grandma got it right!  This foundation has quickly become a ride or die for me.  It gives a beautiful matte finish, but doesn’t make me look flat.  It doesn’t transfer, lasts forever and I can customize coverage depending on what kind of look I want to do.  I just honestly haven’t found many foundations that can double as a pretty light-makeup day foundation AND super-glam-fully-done makeup day.  Run, don’t walk.  It won’t disappoint and is worth the $$.

Tarte Shape Tape
Let’s not waste time here, okay.  This is the most full coverage, perfect finish, won’t crease, stays put concealer I have ever used.  It is not for days that I want a no-makeup makeup look because the coverage is no joke, but it is worth every bit of the hype and each one of your $25 buckaroos.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer
Longest. Name. Ever.  I heard about this $29 product on so many YouTube channels that when I ran out of whatever I had in my bag at the time, I went out and grabbed this one.  I feel like I loved it for hot minute, but then set it aside.  Don’t get me wrong, it does a good job at concealing, provides good coverage and feels really light weight, but I think I  finally succumb to the fact that it doesn’t last all day.  Maybe I’m not using it right and I’m definitely not going to let it go to waste, but it probably won’t be a repurchase for me.

Powders:

IMG_2934[1]

rcma no color powder, tarte smooth operator amazonian clay finishing powder

RCMA No-Color Powder
At $12, I completely understand why this powder is a cult favorite.  If you haven’t heard of it, it’s basically a filler-free, pigment-less powder that is so finely milled it becomes almost invisible after application.  Another perk, it doesn’t give you that ghostly white look in photos like some other setting powders can.  I use this to set my makeup almost every day and recently when I had my makeup professionally done for an event, they used it to bake my under eye area and it turned out flawless.  It comes in a weird container that I feel causes there to be some waste of product due to how you have to get it out, but I will absolutely be repurchasing it in the future.

Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder
Thirty-three dollars.  THIRTY. THREE!  Buying a translucent powder that cost that much gave me immediate heartburn, but it had really good reviews, so hey, ya only live once right?  I’m not sure if I used it wrong, but I thought this was going to be a favorite of mine until I was photographed while wearing it.  Hello, Casper!  It goes on like a dream and looks beautiful in person, but after spending what seemed like an hour trying to filter and edit what would have been a great picture except for my ghost-face, I don’t use this one anymore.  Bust.

Alright ladies, that is all I have for this post!  I apologize that a lot of the products I mentioned were high-end, but I promise I have a lot of SUPER affordable products coming up in the next couple of categories.  And just in case anyone is wondering, I get no kick back from purchases made using the links above.  I just included them to be helpful.

As always, I wish you blessings!

3D Mascara: Yes, It Works! (Long, Dark, Standout Lashes)

There’s not a whole lot to say on this because the photos are far more powerful than any words can be… See below. But it is worth mentioning that I am a known lash coveter. I’ve used Latisse (it works, but slowly); I’ve experimented with expensive lash extensions; and I’ve tried just about every mascara promising “your longest lashes ever.” I’m not easy to impress.

So, when my co-worker Rosemary started selling Younique Products and it’s 3D mascara, I asked her if I could try it (always the sceptic). I knew my Arkansas Bride readers would love to know if this “magic” mascara really worked, as it could be an amazing way to get the false lash look for bridals and the wedding day, without having to actually glue on fakies (and without worrying about one falling off!).

Rosemary agreed and so here is my official beauty review in pictures!

To use the 3D Mascara, you apply one coat regular mascara.

JUST MASCARA.

IMG_5162.JPG

This is the mascara I used.
IMG_5169.JPG

Then, using the 3D Mascara, you apply one coat of the gel to one eye, followed quickly by a light dusting of the fibers onto the same eye. Then, apply another layer of the gel to that eye to set the fibers. Repeat the same steps for eye #2.

3D MASCARA (1 Coat).

IMG_5163.JPG

Apply a second (or third) coat of gel and fibers, if desired. Basically you just play with it until you get it down and find the right length and VAVAVOOM for your eyes.

This is the 3D mascara: gel and fiber tubes. IMG_5167

3D MASCARA (2 Coats).

IMG_5164.JPG

SIDE BY SIDE

No Mascara v. 3D Mascara (2 coats)

IMG_5165.JPG

See it build in this series….

no mascara

IMG_5137.JPG

IMG_5132.JPG

3D mascara

IMG_5144.JPG

IMG_5142.JPGVerdict: It works! Shocking length! Takes a little practice to perfect tho…
Buy it here now if you want to try!

In My Suitcase: Bridal Week in New York City

Being an editor in the magazine biz — while not the most lucrative career — does have it’s perks. One in particular: Business trips. Usually my job doesn’t require these, as I run state and regional magazines, like Arkansas Bride. I mainly stay close to … Continue reading

Today’s Post from Mrs. & the Misc.

I was going to write a wonderfully insightful post today…    but I’m a new mom.

I was going to pump for my daughter three times today at the office…    but I’m a new working mom.

I was going to dry my hair this morning…     but I’m a new mom.

I was going to finish editing all these stories today…    but I’m a new working mom.

I was never gonna be like this when I had kids…      but I’m a new mom.

And I get it now.

The end.

Signed,
Mrs. Irvin

word cloud mom guilt DTB

work-at-home-mom-cartoon-271x300

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE MRS.

Wishing you the happiest of Thanksgivings, the yummiest of meals, and the thriftiest of Black Fridays!

XOXO
-Mrs.

20131128-173059.jpg

Update a mirror for $.99

I’ve had this old wrought iron mirror since college, it was a gift and to tell the truth it was never my favorite piece, so lately it has been sitting in the back of a closet, but a fresh coat of $.99 spray paint gave it a shabby chic update.

Before.

A Weekend with the Mrs: Improv Dessert

This gallery contains 10 photos.

  Maybe it’s my Dutch blood, or some unspoken essential to a girls weekend, but when we all decided to make recipes from scratch items already stocked in Lindsay’s pantry, I knew my dessert had to include chocolate. Here is what I came up with: chocolate cream … Continue reading

A Weekend with the Mrs: How to Make an Improv Cocktail

This gallery contains 9 photos.

This past weekend, Mrs. Christensen and Mrs. Fincher drove up from Dallas to visit me in Little Rock. It was just a weekend of no big plans, but lots of catching up and laughter. Friday night, Mrs. Christensen had a … Continue reading