LSD 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil by Urban Decay

Now, I already owned the 24/7 Glide-On eye pencil in LSD, having received it in the Eye Vault that Urban Decay released several years ago.  However, it took receiving the travel sized version in a recent Ulta GWP to bring it back into my awareness. 

A navy shimmer with bright turquoise micro-sparkle, I like the effect that LSD gives along the upper and lower lash lines.  That's about as much sparkle as I'm comfortable with, plus LSD does not really lay down smooth opaque color, as you can see in the swatch.

I wear contact lens but had no issue with LSD irritating my eyes or with the micro-glitter migrating.  In general, Urban Decay 24/7 pencils wear well on my oily lids, although I do experience slight smudging in the corners of my eyes after 4-5 hours of wear.  I attribute that to the oil from my lids, which breaks down pretty much everything.

In this look, I'm wearing Maybelline's Creamy Beige Color Tattoo cream shadow as an all over base, and LSD along the upper and lower lash lines.  I used Lorac's Front of the Line Pro liquid eyeliner in Navy along the upper lash line for a bit more definition.  I like how it turned out!

Manic Revolution Lipstick by Urban Decay

Manic was actually the second Revolution lipstick from Urban Decay that I acquired, way back in August of 2013.  I didn't wear it until the fall of 2014, however, as I guess I wasn't into it's "soft wine" color until then.  I'm actually really enjoying it now, however!

I find the Revolution lipstick formula of the ones I've tried (see reviews for Fiend, Catfight, and Rapture) to be nicely pigmented, comfortable to wear, and moderately moisturizing.  Wear time is about 3 hours, which is the norm for me.

Manic does have a slight pink shimmer to it, which makes it the only non-cream Revolution lipstick I've tried thus far.  The shimmer is subtle, giving the finish more of a sheen than the gloss of the creams.

Since I do most of my shopping online, I rely heavily on reviews and swatch pictures prior to purchase (and Temptalia's product grades, almost always), and Manic is a color that is somewhat unique to my coral and peachy pink dominated collection.  It works well with my fair by warm toned complexion, leaning neither too warm or too cool in tone.  I like, and am glad I broke it out of it's involuntary isolation.

I know Urban Decay is releasing a sheer, more balmy version of some of the Revolution lip colors this spring called Sheer Revolution.  Not sure if I'll pick up any of those, but I'm definitely a fan of the original version!

Vasanti Kajal Extreme Intense Eye Pencil in Rose Gold and Acure Lip Lush in Date Worthy Reviews

Rose Gold Kajal Extreme Intense Eye Pencil by Canadian brand Vasanti was one of my December Birchbox samples, and I'm really enjoying it as an eye brightener.  For a wide awake look, I rim my entire eye with Rose Gold and then proceed with the rest of my eye makeup.

The formula is very nice, as it glides on easily yet sets for a smudge free finish.  The color and formula reminds me of Tarte's SmolderEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner in Champagne, which was part of the 2012 LE holiday collection Eye Catchers set (review here).

Tarte Champagne

Rose Gold does lean more pink so they are not dupes, and both make for great eye highlighters.  Since Champagne was LE and no longer available, I'm glad to have the equally pretty Rose Gold in my arsenal.  Not that I will probably ever run out of any particularly eye pencil.  But still.

I'm also enjoying the Acure Lip Lush gloss in Date Worthy that was another December Birchbox sample.  The formula is thin but has some staying power, leaving my lips glossy and moisturized for a good 3 hours or so.  The color is sheer but does provide a light coral tan tint, taking it a bit beyond a clear gloss.  This is one of the few natural ingredient gloss formulas that is working for me, and at about $8 a tube, quite reasonably priced.  Good stuff.

Sigh.  Vacation is over and I'm back at work.  Which is not a bad thing, but I'm still switching mental gears.  Hope your New Year is treating you well!

This, That, and Goals for 2015?

I'm not sure what I want to accomplish in 2015.  There are a few things I do want to focus on to contribute to a more healthy lifestyle, and to that end I've been fine tuning my diet a bit and trying to up my activity level.  I'm incorporating more foods that have anti-inflammatory benefits, such as kale, salmon, blueberries, and ginger, and have been enjoying making smoothies for breakfast.  A typical breakfast smoothie recipe for me looks like:

Breakfast smoothie pre-blend

Greek yogurt or tofu
kale
half a banana
pineapple
blueberries
ginger root
flax seed or almonds (I eat the almonds with the smoothie, the flax seed I put in the smoothie)
parsley or celery or bell peppers
4-5 ice cubes

I got this as a gift with purchase when I bought a Babyliss Nano Titanium Portofino hair dryer from Ulta.  Probably one of the nicest GWP's I've ever gotten.  Makes for an easy to go breakfast on work days.

I did get a Fitbit for Christmas, which is helping me stay conscious that I need to MOVE MORE.  I've used pedometers in the past, but the convenience factor of the Fitbit with the online tracking are nice perks.  I'm pleased to see that I sleep like a rock (sleep efficiency 100%), despite waking up about once a night to shift due to hip pain. 

Typical dinner:  sauteed kale, broiled salmon, pita chips with hummus

Hip pain.  Sigh.  The technical term is Piriformis Syndrome, although I've not consulted a doctor for an official diagnosis yet.  It started a few months back and has not let up since, although it's forcing me back into my daily yoga routine, which does help.  Both mentally and physically.

Oh, and that standing desk that was part of last year's resolutions?  I've upgraded from stacked paper boxes to an actual standing desk, inherited from a co-worker that upgraded theirs.  I stand almost all day now, and when I do sit it's on a balance ball.  Prolonged sitting in a regular chair contributes to the Piriformis Syndrome, so that's out.

Okay, so my current 2015 goals look like:

• Eat healthy
• Daily yoga/pilates
• Move more

I'm sure my list will grow, but it's still a bit amorphous at the moment.  I'd love to hear what others goals are, perhaps I'll get inspired!

Maestro Fusion Blush #500 by Giorgio Armani

My exploration of Armani Beauty products continues with the Maestro Fusion Blush in 500.  It's a warm terracotta rose that looks intense in the bottle, but can be sheered out to a lovely flush of matte color that blends seamlessly into the skin. 

The formula is quite different than anything else I own, with it's pigment suspended in liquid.  Hence the dropper applicator, which I lightly tap on the back of my hand to pick up a pea sized drop.  I then use a small but dense brush to blend out on my hand first, and then my check.  That small amount is enough for both cheeks.

The liquid quickly dries down to a powder finish that works quite well on my oily skin.  The Maestro formula does contain alcohol, but considering I'm not wearing this everyday, I'm not concerned about any drying or detrimental effects on my skin (apparently, alcohol can inhibit collagen production). 

Initial blending

Fully blended out

The finish is matte without being flat, and the liquid formula did not disturb my foundation.  It's easy to blend out with a brush as long as you do some of the blending initially on another surface (hence why I blend on my hand first).

Available in only 3 shades (they can be blended to make your own custom colors, however) and pricey at $52, this is not a must have IMO, but I have been reaching for it quite a bit.  The bottle will last me a lifetime provided I don't drop and break it, so I consider it a worthwhile investment. 

NOTD: Scrangie 2.0 by Rescue Beauty Lounge

Scrangie 2.0 was part of The Blogger's Collection 2.0, released in 2013, and was inspired by the namesake's desire for a polish that evoked a black oil slick with a multifaceted ring visible in low light.  No easy feat there, and the "end result is a polish that contains isolated oil rings...the color of an oil base that floats on water with rainbow sparkles, it shifts from shade to shade depending on the light that is cast on it."

To me, it looks like tarnished brass, and it satisfies my love of brown polishes with a something little extra.  Rescue Beauty Lounge polishes are $20, and I like to pick up a few each year that speak to me.  I think founder and creator Ji Baek does such a great job of telling stories with her polishes, taking them to a whole different level.

Empties! Products I Finished in December

I can't believe 2014 is over, but it is.  Time flies and all that, but it really does seem to go faster the older you get.  I think there is a scientific explanation for that, but I can't remember what it is.  So, let's look at the products I finished in December instead, focusing on the ones I really liked :-)

Made it through a full sized Boscia Cool Cleansing Oil, and I quite liked it.  I honestly couldn't tell any cooling sensation, but it did a good job of removing my makeup and cleansing my skin.  I'd repurchase.

Scalp stimulator, anyone?  Sadly, I dropped the Phytopolleine Botanical Scalp Treatment on the floor, which broke the top of the ampoule off.  However, there as enough left to give it a good go, and I liked the cool/tingling sensation from the rosemary, sage, cypress, eucalyptus, and lemon oils in the formula. 

My all time favorite hair paste is natural ingredient based and quite inexpensive, Garnier's Pure Clean Finishing Paste.  This stuff is great, love it.  It took me a full year to use up the container, and even though I've got several other hair pastes I could use, I'm buying a new one of this.  It helps give my short hair piecy definition without weighing it down or making it feel dirty. 

The only item I wasn't happy with and threw out still full was the Maiyet Barneys New York perfume sample.  Described as a oriental floral with notes of myrrh, sandalwood, jasmine, indonesian patchouli leaf and bergamot, it did not appeal to me at all, to the point that I tried to scrub it off after I got to work.  Excellent staying power, I'll give it that.

Of the foil samples used up this month, there were a few that stood out (including an all time favorite, the DHC Head Oil), even based on the limited use I got from them.  The Capri Clear Moisturizing Spray (obviously the sample didn't spray) is 100% fractionated coconut oil, which is great for dry skin.  It was not greasy and soaked into my skin, leaving it soft and moisturized.  Very nice.

The other sample that stood out to me was the TriDerma MD Spot & Wrinkle Erasing Cream.  I've got several TriDerma products I've been using, and I like them all.  This reasonably priced cream ($24.99) contains rich botanicals, anti-oxidants, anti-irritants and five specialized brightening ingredients work to resurface skin naturally. 

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!