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Products Used:
Benefit F.Y.Eye primer
Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Skinny Jeans
MAC Smoke and Diamonds eye shadow
Typographic eye shadow
Carbon eye shadow
Mylar eye shadow
Urban Decay liquid liner in Perversion
MAC Plushlash mascara
Bronzing Powder in Solar Riche
NARS blush in Orgasm
MAC Colour Crafted lipstick

Products Used:
Benefit F.Y.Eye primer
MAC Lemon Chiffon Shadestick
NARS Kalahari eye shadow duo
NARS Habanera eye shadow duo
MAC Mylar eye shadow
Urban Decay Liquid Liner in Perversion
MAC Carbon eye shadow
MAC Plushlash Mascara
NARS Madly blush
MAC lipstick in A Rose Romance

LOVE this color! If you saw my Vegas haul video, this is the color I showed that I bought while I was there. So fun and perfect for summer!

These are just the products that I like that I really think gives the most natural effect, but still gives me good coverage.
Check out the video below to see these products in action :)




I have been using these products pretty much daily for the past 3 months or so. I definitely would not wear liquid foundation daily (because I HATE IT) but for some reason, this particular formula I've found wears really nicely and doesn't feel heavy. It gives such amazing results that I don't mind wearing it! As for primer, you may notice I don't mention one...I also TOTALLY forgot to mention this in the videooo (oops). Anyway, I used to swear by makeup primers before foundation and couldn't imagine NOT using one, but after I experienced some pretty heavy breakouts that were very out of the ordinary, I was very careful with what I put on my skin while it was healing. Primer was just an extra step that I cut out totally. Honestly, I haven't worn the stuff in almost 4 months and I swear, I think my makeup looks better without it. My skin is almost perfect again too, so I'm not messing with that! I think that for me, it's just unnecessary. However, when I do makeup on others, it's a step I rarely skip! Weird huh?? Anyway, here are my MUST-HAVE products for flawless, amazingly natural looking skin everyday.

*For any of you with questions about my skin care, that is a WHOLE other video and it's coming up soon ;)

- Make Up Forever Mat Velvet+ liquid foundation
I wear shade #40. Might seem a little dark, but I usually use a slightly darker, more yellow-toned foundation so that my face matches my body perfectly. Otherwise, my face is pale and pink and it totally doesn't match my body and neck which is more tan and slightly olive toned. ...You probably noticed that in the video!
Anyway, this stuff is AMAZING. The words "Mat Velvet+" are a little scary, yes, especially if you are after a more natural look and are scared of some of these thicker foundations that promise a matte finish and great coverage....I am! But this stuff, while it takes a VERY small amount to provide great coverage, is surprisingly very natural. Even in the Georgia humidity and sweltering summers, this stuff requires little to no touch ups all day (even with my oily skin). I've yet to find anything that compares. It's the best foundation I've ever used by a mile. My skin has also greatly improved since wearing it. Not that this stuff is what made it better, but it definitely did not interfere or cause any more breakouts while my skin healed. It's amazing. I like to apply it either with a damp BeautyBlender sponge, or any type of foundation brush. I find that with this formula, a more dense foundation brush that really buffs the product in makes for a more natural, blended finish.

-MAC Studio Finish Concealer
I wear shade NC20 which is more yellow based (as the NC MAC shades are). This is because I use this concealer on my face to cover redness and any reddish, darker spots left behind from old breakouts. This stuff is amazing. It holds up better than most concealers do on oily skin. I like to apply with either fingertips or any type of concealer brush.

-MAC Select Moisturecover Concealer
I wear shade NW20 which is more pink based. Since my undereye area is more shadowy and blue-ish, the more pink toned concealer neutralizes it better. I love this formula for my undereye area because it is very moisturizing and liquidy, so I don't have to tug on my undereye area or rub a lot to blend it in. I like to pat it on with my fingertips.

-Benefit Powderflage
This is an amazing product. I don't like to set undereye concealer with a typical powder because it can make for a cakey effect, but this stuff is designed to be used there and is very finely milled. I feel that because the undereye concealer I use is so moisturizing, it can leave behind a bit of a sticky finish which is a fallout magnet. It's a light pink powder that has a brightening effect and can be used on any skin tone. I like to apply it with a fluffy blending type brush. The Studio Gear #34 is my favorite because it's so soft for that area. It looks exactly like a MAC #224, but is of much softer fibers. I also like the MAC #225 for this (the brush used in the video, I believe it's discontinued)

-MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Natural
I use this as my finishing powder. Since it does deposit some color, I make sure to dust it on VERY lightly. However, it does leave a very natural finish. I use it with my #134 MAC brush, or just any type of fluffy brush.


Hope this was helpful for you guys!

Sometimes, vignettes are well thought out and executed to perfection. And sometimes, they just happen inadvertantly. This sweet little vignette occured when I made a couple of purchases from Our Cottage Garden and one from an Ebay auction. They arrived in the mail just before I had to leave for work and so I put the little dolls in the box that the findings and rose cards came in and figured I'd put them away later. The next day, I saw them sitting on the table and just smiled at how pretty (and pink) everything looked together. I still haven't gotten around to putting them away. I think I'll wait a little while longer and enjoy looking at them...while I wait, I'm going to pop on over to Bev's at How Sweet the Sound who hosts Pink Saturday and see what the other participants have to offer this week.

Until next time,

These are just swatches and pictures of some of the makeup items I purchased in Vegas. To see other things I bought as well, check out the video at the bottom :)

My blogger friend Jermaine at French-Kissed is so inspiring. She's always talking about her beautiful silverplate flatware that she picks up at the flea markets, thrift stores, wherever. I have some of these pieces that I inherited from a great aunt. There were a few forks in the Vintage pattern by Rogers. I'd only used them once. I was out antiquing one day and found a box of flatware priced at $1 a piece. I pawed through them, thinking of how proud Jermaine would be of me when I came across 4 stunning forks that I thought might compliment the pieces I had at home from my great aunt. Imagine my pleasant surprise when I got them home and found out they weren't just complimentary, but an exact match. Not that they needed to be, but I was so excited that they were the same. I polished the new ones and the old ones and my sugar shell and have to tell you that I have been smiling ever since. I can't wait to dine in elegance over some curried chicken and rice salad on the porch. Pretty cheap thrill at $4, don't you think?









Along that same line, this little glass compote holds a few of my favorite seashells from our recent Sanibel Island vacation. The beautiful pink shell cameo is a fairly new purchase from an estate sale. The carving is so lovely and the pink color on the shell is gorgeous. I have this sitting on my dresser where I pass it several times a day and smile, remembering a fun family vacation at the beach and appreciating the beauty of the shells.

Sometimes I have to remind myself that even though there are some phenomenally beautiful (and expensive) antiques out there, it is often these little unexpected and inexpensive treasures that elevate our homes from the mundane to the sublime and are good for a big grin each time we look at them. Can't ask for much more than that, can you?

Until next time,

Products Used:
MAC
Naked Lunch eye shadow
Soba eye shadow
Blanc Type eye shadow
Stila Kajal eye liner
Carbon eye shadow
Urban Decay Liquid Liner in Perversion
MAC Plushlash Mascara
Funtabulous Dazzleglass
Peachykeen powder blush
Josie Maran bronzing powder in Beach No. 1

I started doing this look and immediately thought "MERMAID!" The colors just remind me so much of a typical mermaid's colors.

Products used:
Benefit F.Y.Eye Primer
MAC
Delft Paint Pot
Steamy eye shadow
Aquavert eye shadow (llight frosted aqua)
Electric Eel eye shadow
Solar White eye shadow (light gold)
Blue Peep fluidline
Vanilla eye shadow
Urban Decay liquid liner in Perversion
MAC Plushlash Mascara
NYX False Lashes #132
MAC Hug Me lipstick
Spaced Out blush

I hope you and your family and friends have a great firecracker of a 4th of July! Eat lots of watermelon, drink lots of lemonade, watch lots of fireworks, and most of all, have FUN!

paulcostello.net

Alright, I admit the tie in was a little thin (okay, I've had Filo dough that was thicker!), but its the thought that counts, right? If you can break away from the fun, pop on over to Bev's at How Sweet the Sound to see how other folks do at the pink 4th of July post. I know I'm going to!

Until next time,

P.S. Is anyone else having trouble with scheduled posts not going off as scheduled? I've never had any trouble before but this is two Saturdays in a row.

Products Used:
Benefit F.Y.Eye Primer
NYX Jumbo Eye Shadow Pencil in Milk
MAC eye shadow:
Pink Venus
Seedy Pearl
Copperplate
Graphology
Poison Pen
Beautiful Iris
Soft Brown
Blanc Type

Urban Decay liquid liner in Perversion
NYX #123 false lashes
MAC blush in Tippy
MAC lipstick in A Rose Romance