Midnight Black Cat Eye Makeup Tutorial: Naked 2 Palette

I can't believe it's almost New Year's Eve! A holiday where late night parties and celebrations are the norm. What's more appropriate than a velvety midnight-black eye shadow look? I added a bit more drama to it by swooping out the outer corners into a sexy cat-eye. I LOVE it. Hope you guys do too.
And HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
What are your resolutions? Mine is to break my Coke Zero addiction and drink mostly water.
Not super exciting since that was my same resolution last year... But hey, It lasted a good three months last year. Maybe I can do better this time.

Products Used:
MAC Painterly Paint Pot
Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder
Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette
Loreal Carbon Black Lineur Intense
Stila Kajal Eye Liner in Sapphire
Armani Eyes to Kill Excess mascara
MAC Pro Longwear Eye Shadow in Carefree
MAC Lip Pencil in Dervish
Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy
Make Up For Ever gloss in S2
MAC Well Dressed blush

not shown in video:
Revlon Brow Fantasy in Dark Blonde
Neutrogena Healthy Skin liquid foundation

Updated Hair Care Routine & Fav Hair Products

Happy Friday everyone! I can't believe there's only 2 DAYS left until Christmas!! Crazy!
I know I'm excited to take a few days to spend with my family and relax at home.
Christmas will be really different for us this year because it's the first year I've actually hosted our Christmas dinner at my house. Let me just say, I have an unbelievable amount of food to make and things to do tonight and tomorrow to get everything ready.
Anyway, I wanted to do an updated hair care routine video since lots of you have been requesting it lately.

I've been getting so many questions about how I style my hair and keep it healthy- What type of products I use, how I keep it healthy, and most of all, how the heck I've managed to grow it so long so quickly.
While I don't have a magic product I use to make hair grow faster, I have got lots of tricks and tips that actually work to help keep it healthy and help it grow as long and quickly as possible.
I've also found some amazing products that work wonderfully for me.
Best part about my favorites? Most can be found at the drugstore.
...and the tips I have for you in the video, will actually help you save money if you color your hair lighter by allowing you to go longer between colorings. Saving money AND helping your hair look healthier. It's a no-brainer.

Here are a list of my favorite hair products I've been using lately. Also, be sure to check out the video below for a description of how I use each one, my actual hair routine, and lots of tips on how to prevent damage and keep your hair looking it's best.

Products mentioned in the video:
John Frieda Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Lightening Shampoo
John Frieda Sheer Blonde Color Renew Tone Correcting Shampoo
Pantene Beautiful Lengths Anti Breakage Conditioner
Alterna Hemp Color Hold Thickening Compound
Pantene Beautiful Lengths Replenishing Mask (deep conditioner)
John Frieda Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Controlled Lightening Spray
Alterna Caviar Color Hold Blonde Leave-In Conditioner
Pantene Beautiful Lengths Smoothing Balm
Alterna Caviar Color Hold Moisture Conditioner
Alterna Caviar Color Hold Blonde Shampoo
Tre Semme Tres Two Hairspray
Got2b Guardian Angel Heat Protect 'N Curl Curl Iron Spray
Tre Semme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo - forgot to mention this one in the video. Some of the best dry shampoo I've used. If I skip a day washing my hair, I spray it at the roots for some volume and it really makes my hair look freshly cleaned.

Holiday Gold Makeup Tutorial- Glamorous & Natural

Happy Holidays everyone!
For my holiday look this year, I knew I wanted to create it around a coppery gold eye. I've done some pretty over the top holiday looks over the years with the typical shimmer and glitz that usually comes with a holiday makeup tutorial, so I decided to make the color itself the focus, while still making it simple to do and very wearable.
This is definitely my go-to look for holiday parties this year (New Year's Eve included).
Hope you guys enjoy!


Products Used:
Urban Decay 24/7 liner in El Dorado
Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Lucky
MAC eye shadow in Bronze
MAC eye shadow in Mylar
MAC Pro Longwear eye shadow in Sunny Outlook
MAC Pro Longwear eye shadow in Carefree
Loreal Carbon Black Lineur Intense
Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara
MAC Well Dressed and Pinch O' Peach blush
NARS Laguna bronzer
MAC lipstick in Angel
MAC Lustreglass in Morning Glory

Winter Foundation Tips & Routine

The cold and dry winter weather can really do a number on your skin. Your favorite products that work perfectly for your skin in the warmer months may not work the same on your skin in the drier winter months.
Changing seasons means changing skin care routines.
Don't stop at just switching to a different moisturizer. Changing your actual foundation routine is just as much a part of your skin care than anything else. So by keeping a few things in mind, you can keep your skin looking healthy and perfect all winter long.

Here are my go-to tips for winter foundation:

-Use a primer (skip the ones labeled "matifying" if that's what you usually use and opt for a regular formula). Using a primer before foundation creates a "buffer" for any areas of drier skin that would normally catch the pigments in foundation and look yucky. So the invisible primer will catch them first. Sounds weird, but trust me. It works.
-Switch to a more moisturizing, nourishing foundation. If you normally use a foundation labeled "for oily skin", "oil control", or "matifying", switch it up to a formula for normal skin or one with a more natural finish. These usually are less drying.
-If you have patchy areas of dry skin that are difficult to get rid of, use a damp sponge (like a BeautyBlender) to apply foundation to reduce visible patchy and flaky areas.
-Go light on setting powder and switch to one with a more sheer and natural finish, like MAC Mineralized Skinifinish Natural (pressed), which is what I use year-round.
...and of course, the most important- Use a good moisturizer after cleansing your skin, before applying any makeup. I currently use the Origins Vitazing or the Jergens Natural Glow Faces SPF25.

Check out my step-by-step tutorial below for a demonstration of my winter foundation routine.

Perfect False Lashes Tutorial

Applying false lashes can be tricky.
Tutorials on the process can make it seem even trickier.
Trust me. I've posted a few false lash tutorials in my day that make the process seem pretty intense, I'm sure.
Let's face it, this one will probably seem intense too. haha

Basically, I wanted to do a false lash video that not only showed the process of getting the lashes prepped (glue, trimming, etc.) and applying them, but also showed the steps after. Which to me, are the most important.
Just because when I apply lashes, a few tricks I do afterward really make the lashes look amazing. There's nothing worse than taking the time to apply them, and then seeing gaps in the lashes or being able to see the "track". It ruins the whole look.
So check out the video below for all the tips you need to apply false lashes flawlessly and some tricks to keep them going strong all day and night.

NEW Urban Decay "Naked 2" Palette & Original Comparison

As most of you all know, the Urban Decay Naked palette has been a long-time favorite of mine.

As most of you all also know, I don't really accept "freebies" all that often, so when it was released to a lot of bloggers, I just wasn't into it.

I've got to say, when I heard there was going to be a second version released, I was a bit skeptical. I really felt like the original should kind of be left to stand alone. Surprisingly, I was not interested.
I know, crazy.

Then I started thinking.... I need this just because my readers will be curious about it! So then, my curiosity started to rise.
And last week, I ordered one for myself.

And I'm super happy I did :)

...other than the fact that the shade Half Baked is in both palettes. If they wanted to repeat a shade, it should have been Virgin, the best highlight shade ever. Or how about just make 12 totally different shades... haha

Here are my comparison photos and swatches of the original Naked and Naked 2 palettes. To see a full review and to hear my thoughts on the differences, each specific color, and packaging, check out my video at the bottom of the post.

original Naked (top), Naked 2 (bottom)

Naked 2

Yes, there is a swatch on the far left. It just doesn't show up on my skin because it matches

Original Naked Palette

**I ordered mine from the actual Urban Decay website. They sold out pretty quickly (uh, the day I ordered it... they apparently like seeing us squirm).
Which is kind of a genius marketing strategy. It makes everyone want them more.
I love Urban Decay, but seriously.
We all know Urban Decay is capable of creating enough palettes not to sell out, especially after the Naked madness during the original release (that went on for MONTHS). I really hope the whole restocking-selling out-restocking madness doesn't go on as long as it did last time so that all of you who want one can get one soon. After all, Urban Decay, I've got tutorials to make for my viewers, and if they want to buy one, they should be available. :)
You can also enter your email at the Urban Decay website and they'll let you know when they become available again, which is nice.
So no worries! Tutorials will come soon. I'm going to feel it out for a bit so that the tutorials don't just piss everyone off that wants one but don't have one due to the selling-out craze... haha So those will come when they're a little more readily-available.

Check out my full review below:

Monthly Favorites: November Edition

I'm kind of giddy about my favorites for November.

When I think of summarizing them, the only thing that comes to mind is that in November, I found an eye liner that possibly surpasses the awesome-ness of all my eye liners mentioned in my Favorite Eye Liners post/video.

If you know me at all, then you get the gravity of that statement.

And that there is really nothing left to say that will surpass that.