Just a Life Update and Random Favorites

So today was my 18th birthday! It's funny how you look forward to certain events and expect them to feel a certain way, and then it's completely different. But in a good way. I desperately need to finish college applications! I've let them pile up, and now it's going to bite me. I want to go visit an old friend out of town, but I can't if I don't make some progress on college apps, Frankenstein for AP Lit, and The Moonstone for the literature club I lead at school. So much to do! I also have a few posts for this blog I need to write and already have pictures for, as well as needing to take photos for a separate post.

I don't see the posts as a chore though. I really enjoy it, and its a good break. I finally hit 20 followers, which I know isn't huge at all. It's really exciting to me, and I'm crossing my fingers for 50 one day...I don't really know how to make this better or how to get my blog out there (if you have any suggestions, please share!).

For my birthday (please comment if you want photos of a specific item), I received money and an Olay gift set (which comes with a year subscription to Allure!) from my grandparents. From my dad and mom, I received a new hairdryer, a bracelet/cuff with an amber stone, a gold necklace, and the famous House of Harlowe 1960 Stations necklace in Black Resin. It's so beautiful. The BF bought me flowers, some shea-infused socks because I always complain about cold feet, Lindt Dark Chocolate truffles (my favorite), and he made me a beautiful card and a batch of cupcakes. It was so cute. It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside just thinking about it hahaha.

My Random Favorites over the holiday:
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley- surprisingly good and easier to read than expected
Lindt Dark Chocolate Truffles
Bath and Body Works products in the Dark Kiss and Twilight Woods scents
lipstick
baking
necklaces!!!
Etsy.com
winter discounts
youtube

That's all for now lovelies!

Sincerely and with much love,

The Body Shop is having a huge sale!

This is what showed up in my email just now:

If you have somethings in mind, the $5 price tag is easily covered by the savings on the products. I usually don't buy anything from The Body Shop because the price is a little high for bath items. This however makes them highly reasonable!

Blush is the New Black's Giveaway

Another amazing  giveaway is hosted by Elise at the Blush is the New Black, and it is also open internationally!

Please enter: http://blushisthenewblack.blogspot.com/2010/12/giveaway-time.html

Pammy Blogs Beauty's Giveaway

Lovely Pammy, over at http://pammyblogsbeauty.blogspot.com, is having a fantastic giveaway for reaching 100 followers! Prizes include:

"Stila Lipglaze set: 8 beautiful Stila lipglazes!!! I soooo want to keep this for myself, but it is for my lucky winner!

• NYX The Runway Collection: Champagne and Caviar Palette: I love this palette so much that I bought another one for the giveaway!

• Maybelline The Falsies Mascara (Waterproof): Very Black I have actually not tried this yet, so I will be testing out the same time as this giveaway. But, have read very good reviews on this one! 

• 2 Essence Studio Nails: Nail Fashion Stickers: :You ladies know that I love essence cosmetics...so, I had to include an essence item in this giveaway
• • Bath and Body Works: Winter Candy Apple Antibacterial Hand Gel : Just something "festive"! :) "

And it's open internationally!

Go here to enter now!

http://pammyblogsbeauty.blogspot.com/2010/12/100-followers-giveaway.html

Christmas Haul 2010: Part 1

Hello, Lovelies! Haven't heard from me in a while? Sorry 'bout that. Not going to make excuses because we all know how life is, especially whil preparing for midterms (eek!). For Christmas, the only thing I asked for off the gift idea post was the Nars Beauty in a Box set, but it was no longer available when my mom told me to order it. I was so very disappointed. Then she told me I could buy something comparable, but from all of Sephora, I could not pick anything. I had wanted a variety of products and one lipgloss and an eyeshadow would not cut it. I looked at other gift sets, but nothing *really* caught my eye. So then I moved on to MAC's website and proceeded to shop the "Melissa" way by grabbing (or adding to my basket) every single thing I would like, which you can imagine took a good two hours. Then I went to my shopping cart and began to weed out slowly what was not absolutely, ahem, "necessary" (oh, materialism...curse you for my iniquities!). Finally after, no joke, hours spent agonizing on the perfect thing to get, I had my basket limited down to MAC Snob lipstick, MAC Contrast Eyeshadow, MAC Spirit lipstick, and MAC Dollymix powder blush. I could not limit that down to $50 for anything. It was too hard of a decision. Thus, I had the bright idea to look up NYX dupes for what I wanted most from MAC, as well as NYX versions of whatever my collection is missing. For examply, I know I want the MAC Snob lipstick, but I also generally want a bubble gum-toned blush. After completing my Cherry Culture order (a lot of NYX stuff was on sale so I was able to buy more- and I loveeeee that site), I felt pretty satisfied. So now I am waiting on that.

While I was still looking at the MAC website, I was looking up swatches on Google Images and saw a photo of a pigment called Vintage gold that was simultaneouly a bronze gold and green gold. It was a beauty. After research, I discovered it came out with the Cult of Cherry-Overrich Pigment Collection and was now only available at PRO stores. UGH. Never fear, I hunted it down across various reliable websites and managed to get my hands on it for $27 (it retialed at approx. $20). For some, I know I must seem crazy, but this jar will last forever. This will last me YEARS (5+ at the least). It's crazy how far the TINIEST dab will go. Crazy. It was my first pigment, and it is an Overrich meaning it's even smoother and more pigmented than standard pigments. I am so in love and so content with this purchase. It was worth every penny. It you are looking for some from this collection, I recommend Vintage Gold and Antique Greeen. Temptalia.com also has swatches of this collection which show the greenish hue better than my photos.

It reminds me of my favorite UD Eye liner shade- Stash

I bought this from makeuplover.ecrater.com. The shipping was superfast, and the packaging was really good. The seller also included this sample of MAC Cocomotion Pigment, which I don't know anything about. I think this color is very dupeable.

I also purchased two Victoria Secret Beauty Rush Glitter Eye Gels in Purple Pop and Strike Gold. I will have a review on these later. These are $7 each or 2 for $12.

On my wishlist I gave to my parents, I also asked for L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black, which is my favorite mascara. I finally finished mine. I will have a review on that in two weeks, because that's how long it takes to really work. The effect is pretty now, but much better in two weeks. The first time I bought it I thought, "This is crap!" But I pulled it out two weeks later and wow! I will put pictures of it now and two weeks from now. The second mascara I asked for was L'oreal Voluminous Million Lashes. I like it a lot, but I want to wait to review it because it might thicken also.

L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes is really neat in a few ways. I really love the glam gold packaging. Also, it has this design where it wipes extra product off the brush to reduce clumps (as seen in the picture above). Third, it clicks when fully shut, which is really satisfying for some reason haha.

I hope you enjoyed this! Please don't take it as bragging. I love to read these posts because they sometimes introduce you to products you haven't seen before or haven't given a second glance.

Much love,

Christmas Wishlist: Beauty Edition

Is anyone else as excited as I am that it's finally winter? I love everything about winter- brisk air, gloves, scarves, boots, coats, hats, hot chocolate, getting presents (great), giving presents that people really appreciate (better x10000), and just the overall cheer. Of course, in the beauty blogging world, wishlists are extremely popular, so I thought I would share mine. Please enjoy!

1) Bumpits

(source: www.bumpits.com)

While I first found these very strange, I now realize how life-saving they would be, especially the mini Bumpit. The mini ones can be used under bangs pulled back to make that cute little "poof". I also think the larger Bumpits would be fun to play around with. These are affordable and would make a good gift because I previously would not have bought these. However, if the recipient hates to go out of her comfort zone, you should probably skip this.

2) Essie nails polishes

You can never have enough nail polishes. My two favorite brands are Essie and Essence (irronic- "Ess-" begins both). Here are my top picks from the line ( I'm not including the shades I have and love- Shelter Island, Greenport, Island Hopping, and Sexy Divide). These polishes retail at $8.

-"Steel-ing the Scene"

(source: Essie.com)

-"Going Incognito"

(source: Essie.com)

3)Stila Adventurous in Aspen Travel Palette
Stila recently released a series of travel palettes themed around places like Moscow, Paris, Tokyo, etc. Each comes with four eyeshadows and one of their famed covertible color blushes. Adventurous in Aspen's e/s shades are "0.15 oz in Snow Angel (shimmering heather gray), Icicles (blue), Glisten (shimmering gold), and Ajax (black with gold sparkle), and the blush is in "Rosy (rose pink)." (source: Sephora.com)

4) Nars Lip Gloss in Turkish Delight

This is the famed gloss that Kim Kardashian usually wears in photos and is very complimentary on most skintones (or so they say). I'd like to give it a whirl. This would need to got to a friend who like makeup, or she might feel jipped. One lipgloss is $24.

(source: Google Images)

5) Nars Beauty in a Box

"This set contains:

- Essential Eye Palette - 5 x 0.05 oz Eyeshadow in Night Star (sheer peach with gold pearls), Galapagos (rich bronze with gold flecks), Nepal (rose with shimmer), Ondine (plum with gold shimmer), Thunderball (midnight gray) plus 0.03 oz Cream Shadow in Unconditional Love (peach beige shimmer)

- 0.28 oz Lip Gloss in Ophelia (strawberry nectar)

- 0.14 oz mini Multiple in Orgasm (peachy pink shimmer)

- 0.08 oz mini Bronzer in Laguna (brown with golden shimmer)" (source: sephora.com)

Ooh la la! I don't even know what to say about it. It's perfect! (except for the price- $69)

Harvest LOTD

Here's my toasty look for fall-

Step 1: Use a warm brown base. I used Loreal HIP Creamshadow Paint in 817 Heavy. Apply from upper lashline to just above crease, using ring finger.

Step 2: Apply a warm orange shade all over lid. I used the shade numbered "1" in this photo of the Coastal Scents Metal Mania Palette.

Step 3: Apply a medium toasted brown, such as the shade labeled "2" above all over where the orange was applied.

Step 4: Apply a deeper toasted brown to the entire crease, such as shade "3".

Step 5: Apply a lighter golden orange such as shade "4" to the inner corners.

Step 6: Apply a matte cream like shade "5" to the highlight and blend. Do not apply this to the inner corners.

Optional step: Use a dark brown such as NYX Dark Brown or black such as Urban Decay Perversion to outer crease and outer corner to darken it to your preference. I did this lightly.

Step 7: Apply concealer,  eyeliner and mascara- I used L'oreal Voluminous Carbon Black

The finished look:

Pre-eyeliner and mascara: 

                                                    

Completely Finished:

Love, 

Melissa the Dilettante

PLEASE VOTE!

"Fantasy" series won the last poll- now please vote on which you would like first!

Love ya,
Melissa the Dilettante

Nail Trend: Steely-Blue Nails

According to an article called "Will You Wear...: Steely-Blue Nails" in the December 2010 issue of Vogue magazine, many at Vogue have moved on from the "concrete/mushroom polish trend". Their newest love is blue. "Not navy-black (been there), not surf-punk neon (done that), but something veering between molten silver-gray and shimmering graphite." The article states that this is very inspired by all the metallics in NYC.

Personally, I am very excited about this. I have loved gunmetal and those "slate-blue" shades for at least two years if not more. In fact, it's always been one of my favorite shades for its depth and "simple complexity" (if that makes sense to anyone but me haha). My favorite converses are this color, and so is my favorite nail polish (what this post is mainly about) which I bought two years ago and is still going strong, Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in 42 Gunmetal. Here's a look:

What do you think? Are you getting tired of the beige (etc.) nail trend? Will you try the gray-blue spectrum for fall?

Love, 

Melissa the Dilettante

Beauty Questions: Orange Makeup?

I'm all for interpreting makeup differently, yet this photo from Givenchy's Spring 2011 Line scares me a little. Surprisingly, I would have assumed that orange eyeshadow would only look good on brown eyes, but it emphasizes this model's green eyes. Still, I can't imagine this being wearable especially not the lip and eye combo. However, a toned down version would certainly be a good way to play around with this look. What I do love in this photo is the dark powder liner applied only to the model's lower lashline. I would not have tried this, and I really think it looks great. The orange lips are a pass for me, because as most in the beauty world know, orange undertone make teeth look yellow and blue undertones make teeth look whiter. I wouldn't want my teeth to look yellow.

Will you be trying this trend this spring?

Urban Decay Book of Shadows III

Drumroll please.......I bought it! It was a purposeful accidental planned coincidence ;). I planned an after-school Ulta trip with some friends, and (honestly coincidental) it happened to be a Urban Decay event, where if you spent $40 on Urban Decay, you received a special gift! I signed up for a makeover using the palette and here is the result:

I didn't like the products she used on my face- I look too dewy. Gross. Oily-ish. Yuck.

Overall, I was really pleased. I especially liked the glitter on the inner bottom lash line. Cute! 

So I ended up buying the palette (which I was planning on buying the next day) that day so I could get the free gift. Here is the palette:

It's so beautiful. My free gift came in this pouch:

And consisted of a full size eyeshadow in Kiddie Pool and a lipgloss in Red Alert (?).

Are you planning on purchasing this palette? From seeing of owning any of the book of shadows, which has been your favorite? And finally, would you recommend the Naked Palette to someone who rarely wears neutral eyes?

All Made Up's Christmas Giveaway

OOOoooohhh! I am so excited for this giveaway. The prize list is incredible, and (shh!) I was almost so in love that I didn't post this, so my competition would be less.

http://mytopbeautybuys.blogspot.com/2010/11/christmas-giveaway.html

New Poll Up- You Pick the Upcoming Series

I want to know which series of makeup looks you would most like to see! If you don't like any of the choices or think of a better one- still vote but comment your suggestion below!

LOTD

Yesterday I went to the local park with my boyfriend, and we took some cute pictures. I wore a cranberry sweater and tied my makeup look to compliment it (not match it).

And before the next photo, let me fill you in. I tried to do those super huge anime buns ( I really wanted to do something different), and they looked good but very bizarre. They were just too over the top for the outfit, day, and occasion.

Cute, but I felt like Maleficent.

 Here is what I transformed that teased mess into:

The products I used are:

Maybelline Pure Makeup Classic Ivory Light 2

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer samplie in NW20 (using a damp concealer brush)

Jane Eye Zing in 02 Dazzle

NYX Eyeshadow Trio in Nude/Taupe/Dark Brown (I used Nude and Dark Brown)

Origins Halo Effect Illuminator

Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil in Rockstar and Zero

L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara

Maybelline The Falsies blackest black

Urban Decay Primer Potion

TAG: Nine Things I Am Grateful For

So this lovely tag is from A and C of The Fashion Spot blog. I've really been enjoying her helpful "The Daily Five" tips, as seen here. Please check her out and follow!
On with the tag:

Blessing #1
Redemption and Grace (my own views- please be respectful)
(Google Images)

Blessing #2
Knowledge and Learning
(Google Images)

Blessing #3
Creativity (Makeup, Art, Music, Fashion, Writing)
(Google Images)

Blessing #4
Love and Friendship (Family, Friends, Boyfriend)
(Google Images)

Blessing #5
Creation

(Google Images)

Blessing #6
Self- Expression

Blessing #7
Food
 (Google Images)

Blessing #8
Order

Blessing #9
Disorder (Spontaneity)

I tag Pretty Wonderful and anyone else- feel free to link the post in a comment below!

A Few Looks from Last Week

I used the Wet n Wild Palette in Vanity for these. I've really really been enjoying it for multiple looks.

For this look, I actually took the pictures after nine hours of wear so sadly, it's not nearly as pretty as when it was first applied for this look I used:

• Maybelline Mineral Power Powder Foundation in Light 2 Classic Ivory
• Stila Smudge Pot in Violet
• MAC E/S in Beautiful Iris
• MAC E/S in Electra
• MAC Pro Longwear Concealer sample in NW20
• Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in zero
• Loreal Voluminous Carbon Black
• Maybelline The Falsies in blackest black
• NYX e/s in Morocco
• Almay Blendable Eye Pencil in navy(?)
•