Halloween!

Better late than never, right? (Um, right??) Halloween makeups! Quick, easy, and pretty darn cute, if I do say so!

So, things have been a bit hectic around here, but Halloween is my Christmas, so I decided I had to do at least a little something to get into the spirit. I spent half of the day at school with my (not so) little one, (deep sigh for 7-year-olds choosing thier own costumes!) so requirements were something that didn't take much time and was appropriate for wear elementary school kids. This is what I came up with!

I used Kryolan UV Aquacolor in Green mixed with a bit of MAC Face and Body in white and applied it in a rough rectangle over my eye with a stippling brush. I used a q-tip saturated with a bit of oh-so-handy Crealine (keep an eye out for an upcoming review) to clean up the edges of my little franken-patch. Then I lined around the edge of the patch and painted on black stitches and a wickedly slanted eyebrow using #00 and #2 round artist brushes (like those from Loew-Cornell) and Wolfe Hydrocolor in black.

To make things just a touch more sultry, I added some depth by placing black (Urban Decay Primer Potion, MAC Blackground Paint Pot and the old square NYX black shadow) to the lid, blending it into the crease and out over the orbital bone with a MAC 217 brush. I popped a special effects lens in my monster eye, added black mascara and a quick red lip (MAC Ruby Woo, on all night!) and I was out the door.

Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween! As I mentioned things have been crazy lately (finally got married, husband left his job to start his own business, my baby started 1st grade, room mom, Girl Scout leader, art-class assistant, dance/karate taxi service, need I go on...?) but I'm hoping to be able to carve out a bit of writing time to get back to this soon- I miss it and all of you!

Rise and SHINE!Pre-Prep for Your Best Early-Morning Face

For those of you who don't know, I am currently in the thickest thick of planning my upcoming wedding- less than 3 weeks to go (eeek)! Given my predilection to research, and of course my love of social media, you can bet I've been hitting the wedding forums pretty heavily. Recently, I happened upon a fellow bride-to-be wondering about how she should prep for an early morning photo shoot.

As I typed out my response on how to avoid common morning-time pitfalls (puffiness, redness, etc...) it occurred to me that my lovely (and, I apologize profusely, much neglected) readers may appreciate some tips too- after all, wedding or not, no one wants to leave the house looking like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man!

Here are my best tips and tricks for looking fabulous, no matter what your call time is:

• First and foremost, if you're gearing up for photos or a special occasion, don't expect most of these tips to take effect overnight. Though some will give more instant-gratification than others, in general, the further in advance you start, the better. 

• Take care of your skin! Remove all of your makeup before bed and moisturize well. Be especially careful to get all traces of eye makeup off, lest it migrate around and into your eyes at night. This can cause redness, puffiness and watery eyes, and though you may not even be able to see the traces left behind in the morning, they're there- and can cause subtle shadows that will make eyes appear smaller and darker (and for some reason, mascara left on overnight seems SO much harder to remove!) 

• Reduction of alcohol and salt, and of course, lots of water, can help to minimize puffiness. 

• Sleep on a satin pillow case- it reduces tug on the skin & hair and you'll wake less creased and ruffled.

• Sleeping with your head propped up with several pillows will keep fluids from settling in your face overnight (which causes puffiness).

• There is some evidence that caffeine applied to the skin can relieve puffiness and redness. Soak a tea towel in strong, chilled coffee and apply it as a cold compress mask for 10-15 minutes before you apply your makeup. (Black and green tea will work too, though possibly to a lesser extent because of a lower caffeine content). Bonus: coffee and tea are full of skin-protecting antioxidants! 

• If you can, pinpoint the cause of your issues. Redness, puffiness and under eye darkness can all be brought on by allergies. If you notice such things seasonally or just on occasion, an over-the-counter antihistamine like Claritin or Benadryl, or anti-inflammatories like Advil, may help. Of course, I am not a doctor, so please speak to yours before beginning any medical treatment!

•  A cool shower, rather than warm, is more beneficial to your skin and hair. It strips less of your skin's natural barrier, so you're likely to see less dryness, flakiness, redness and irritation. Cold water also helps smooth the hair's cuticle (outer layer), which will make hair look smoother and shinier. 

• When applying makeup, highlight skin under the brow bone, in the inner corners of the eyes around the tear ducts, and on the orbital bone under the eye (right on the top of the cheek bones- imagine a line coming down from the arch of your brow and start there, extending the highlighter almost to temples). Choose a champagne shade (white if you're fair) with a pearly finish. Your objective is to mimic the way light hits healthy skin- visible glitter not only gives away the trick, it can appear as white or black dots in photos!

• Line the lower, inner rim (waterline) with a white or nude eye pencil to make eyes appear brighter and more opened. And don't forget the mascara!

• Last, smile!!! This lifts the entire face, and you'd be surprised how visible a good mood is in photos! 

e.l.f Studio: Picks and Skips!

One of my favorite "budget" lines, e.l.f. is pretty much always running some type of sale. Most of the e.l.f. Studio line tops out at $3.00, so you can bring in a pretty good haul for less than the price of dinner for two (or one!) But, like most lines, the brand certainly has it's hits and misses. Here are my top choices for those that haven't jumped on the e.l.f. wagon yet.

1. Studio Lip Lock Pencil: I've already done a review, posted pics and even included one in my Blogiversary Giveaway (which may as well serve as my "best hits of 2010" list) so it should go without saying. Get one. Or two.

2. Brushes

• Powder Brush: I reach past my MAC 109, 187 and 190 and grab this every single day to apply my cream foundation. It works great with liquids and powders too- the synthetic bristles are perfect for buffing or stippling, and the large size and flat top make quick work of the job. Fair warning: e.l.f. brushes are totally worth the money, but they're not exactly top shelf. I've had to super glue a ferrule or two back in place, but for the price, I didn't mind a bit.
• Eyeshadow C Brush: Wide and dense with mid-length bristles, use the paddle shape flat on the lid to apply color, or make it vertical and use it to buff down and blend out crease colors.
• Small Angled Brush: I didn't love this for the purpose for which I intended- applying gel liner. I found it too thick to get the clean, thin line I like with my eyeliner. However, where it failed on my eyes, it succeeded on my lips: the angled shape is definitely more precise than a traditional lip brush, though if you like to use your lip brush to smudge and blend your lip liner, the angled cut may make that difficult.

3. Eye Transformer: If you don't already have a set of basic white duo-chromes, this is a good starter for the price. The four shades (green, yellow, pink and blue-violet) apply as a translucent wash of color on bare skin, but over deeper colored liners and shadows the underlying tone takes top billing. Transform a plain black liner to a glowing emerald, or turn your drabbest blue shadow into a pearly periwinkle. I will say that there's something about the base or opacity in e.l.f.'s transformers that gives them a little less glow that other duochromes that I've tried, but if you've never tried and are wondering what the duochrome fuss is all about, this is a good way to see if the effect is your style.

4. High Definition Powder: A $6.00 dupe of the famous Make Up For Ever High Def powder...what more can I say? Oh, there's a nice pale yellow version too, which is great for toning down redness. I guess there's that.

5. Lotion Wipes: How has everybody not latched on to this idea? Lotion in a wipe? Genius! Easy to travel with, mess free, non-greasy, and they actually do a nice job of keeping my skin hydrated. I will say the two scents I tried (Sweet Mango and Milk and Honey) left something to be desired. Neither was bad, they just didn't particularly smell like...what they were supposed to smell like. Still, just for the ease of use and a nice skin-loving formula, I say grab a few packs!

6. Mascara Wands: I use these primarily to brush, blend and soften my brows after I fill them, but as regular readers know, these little buggers have tons of unexpected uses. I have seen bulk wholesale prices online a little lower, but $3 for a dozen wands is totally fair and probably a bit cheaper than what you're likely find at your local Sally's or Ulta.

The e.l.f. that I like, I like a lot, but some of my previous purchases fell into the "you get what you pay for (and this was three bucks)" category. Here are a couple meh's and skip-it's:

Meh:

• Eye Shadows: The only incarnation of e.l.f. shadows that I've tried have been the Duo Eyeshadows from their basic $1 line, so maybe I shouldn't even mention them, but I will. They didn't thrill me, though they weren't the worst either. Worth a buck? If there's a color you're dying to try, then sure. Maybe. The limited color options kept me from being too interested, and that carried over into the Studio line since the Studio shadow singles only come in a handful of shades. Having said that, the 100-color Endless Eyes Palette does have me wondering. It is a big ticket item for e.l.f., ringing in at $10, and alas, it is exempt from the sale. Still...
• Daily Brush Cleaner: I'm honestly surprised that I bought this, given the fact that the concentration of Alcohol Denat. is so high (it's the second ingredient). Generally I would be worried that the alcohol would dry out my natural bristles, but for some reason I took the chance. I haven't used it enough to notice if there are any ill effects from the alcohol, but this spray can't hold a candle to my HG instant cleaner, Brush Off. If you're not interested in hunting down that wonder product, want something in a lower price point, and aren't concerned about the alcohol drying out & breaking your bristles (some people use straight-up rubbing alcohol) then this might be an option for you. It lifted enough color from the brush to keep shade changes from muddling, and dried quickly enough with a few passes on a tissue.

Skip It:

• Complete Coverage Concealer: While the shades were nicer than I expected and the light palette actually had a color just about fair enough for me (big shocker, since even MAC can't seem to figure that one out!) the light cream-gel texture of this concealer just didn't pack enough pigment to do task #1: covering imperfections! Complete coverage my booty- this did virtually nothing for blemishes, though since I don't have much in the way of under-eye darkness, I can't really speak to its effects in that area. If you do decide to give these a try, know that all four shades in the Light palette run in a warm yellow undertone.
• Small Precision and Smudge Brushes: I have both of these, and I wouldn't bet money that I can tell the difference between the two. The texture of the bristles on these brushes is closer to a lip than an eye brush- slicker and springier. This gives the brushes the tendency to grab color with out re-depositing it, so they were more "erase" and less "smudge" than I care for.

Well, I think that's about it for me! What about you- if I wanted to try some new goodies, what would your picks be?

Eye of the Day: Weeping Cherry Blossom

This is one of my very favorite looks for spring nights out; the vibrancy of the pink is a nice change after all of those deep, dark winter hues, but at the same time, the matte finish, bold liner and semi-cut crease really step up the drama. Not into pink? Use any other light-bright shade to customize it!

First, use a skin-toned primer on your lid from lash to brow- today I used Urban Decay Potion Primer. Next, using a short, dense paddle brush (MAC 239) brush a mid-tone bright matte pink shadow (Kryolan Flamingo) along the entire lash line, blending up and out to just above your natural crease.

Next, line your eye with your favorite liquid liner (I used Lanome Artliner in Noir). Lining before you contour your crease is essential- the wing has to end at the natural crease of the eye- trust me, it makes it look! To determine the correct angle, imagine making a line from the outer corner of your eye to where it would meet the end of your eye brow.

After lining, load a small smudger brush (my beloved, Lancome #10, has been discontinued) with a deep, matte eggplant shade (MUFE 160). Starting at the outside corner of your eye, where you ended your liner "wing", use light sketching strokes and follow the underside of your brow bone in, stopping at about the center of your lid (above the pupil). A lot of tutorials show this step with a pencil brush like MAC's 219, but unless your lid space is huge, I think a small smudger is lots easier to work with here.

After you've got your crease "cut" you can lightly begin blending your eggplant line up in the outer 1/3rd of your eye, working toward the brow. I stick with the smudger brush for most of this process, wiping excess shadow off before I start to blend.

When I'm relatively comfortable with the fade of the plum shade, I do turn to my pencil brush; using it clean at first. Use a windshield wiper motion to blend the deep crease color into the skin below the brow bone. Next, add just a tiny amount of your matte pink (the same shade you used on the lid) and blend over the top edge of where your plum has faded out. Make sure you're working on top of the eggplant shadow- if you put the pink on bare skin you won't get the subtle gradient we're looking for. Since I don't have a lot of space between my lid and brow bone, I like to leave some space to make the area look larger, so I stop shy of taking the pink up to the brow.

Next, go back to your small smudge brush & pick up a little bit of matte black shadow (I used the one from my Sleek Acid Palette). With a light hand, work the black in the corner V to give some depth to the look. At this point, I lined my water line (all the way) and lash line (just the outer half, tapering off at the pupil) with Makeup For Ever Aqua Eyes pencil in matte black, and smudged over that with the black shadow left over on my brush.

Of course, you could stop here and you'd have a very eye-catching cut-crease look, but I wanted something just a touch softer. Grab your pencil brush once more and place it, without applying additional color, in the crease just inside where your liquid liner meets the crease color. Keeping it in place, move the brush in small circular motions. You're basically using the motion of the brush to bring a little of the black and eggplant into the outer corner of the eye. If you need to, you can add the tiniest amount of eggplant to your pencil brush, but keep it super light- you don't want to blend away the defined crease.

To finish, add a bit of white shimmer to the inside tear-ducts and under the eye brows, blending into the pink slightly. Top it off with mascara and you're done!

Eye of the Day: Mulled Cranberry Cider

It's been a long time since I've done an EOTD...honestly, it's been a long time since I've done anything fancy makeup-wise at all (on myself anyway!) Having a VERY active almost-four-year-old takes makeup down a few notches on the priority list, and the fact that my camera is crap and I can pretty much never get pictures that decently portray my work doesn't help. Really, my blood pressure is high as it is, so spending the time to create a look and then not being able to get a photo that shows accurate color, depth and texture (sometimes I'd even settle for 2 out of 3) is sometime more trouble than I can bare. But enough whining!

The other day I was talking to the lovely Mika of aijuswhanakno, about a particular brand that I have no great love for, Urban Decay. Mika mentioned that she was a little jealous that I had the first Book of Shadows and didn't even like it. This got me to thinking, maybe I need to get it out and give it another try. That's where this look came from.

I wanted to do something seasonal, but not totally expected, and I also wanted to work strictly within the palette. I decided if I was going to give Urban Decay some love, I was going to go in full force: the first shade I dipped into was glitter-bomb extraordinaire, Midnight Cowboy.

After applying NYX White Eyeshadow Base (not my favorite, but it was the closest at hand) I used my MAC 239 to dab Midnight Cowboy on the inner corner of my eye, not quite 1/3 of the way toward the center.

Again with my 239, I took Baked and put it on the rest of my lid, blending it lightly into the Midnight Cowboy by tapping gently with my finger. I took the Baked out to the outer corner of my eye, and blended it just up to the crease.

With a MAC 219 I added Roach, concentrating the color toward the outer corner and crease and lightly pulling it in toward the midpoint of my lid.

Above my crease, I used a MAC 217 brush to blend Last Call into and slightly above where I'd placed the roach, stopping just on top of my orbital bone.

When it came to blending and hi-lighting my brow bone, I ran out of luck with my Book of Shadows. Of the 16 shades in the book, not one was light enough or matte enough to use as a blending shade, so I grabbed my Sleek Au Naturel palette and used my MAC 217 with Honeycomb to soften the top edge of the Last Call. I added a bit of Nougat under the high point of my brow and blended it outer end of my brow. As a last though, I took a little bit of baked in the inner 1/3 of my crease to add some interest and soften the transition from the berry-plum Last call and the fair champagne of the Midnight Cowboy (you can see this touch better in the picture below, it's not as apparent in the pic above).

I applied UD 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Rockstar on the top lash line from the outer corner inward to just about the pupil, and just about to the outer 1/4 of my bottom lash line. Using a smudger brush I softened the top line and pulled the bottom line in to about the mid-point of my eye. Then I used the same brush to apply a bit of Last Call on top of the liner. I cleaned my brush, applied 24/7 pencil in Eldorado to my lower waterline and the very inner corner of my eyes, and used my smudger to add a bit of baked to the inner corners and inner, lower lash line, blending the gold shade into Last Call.

I added some Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash in black, and called it a day!

You'll have to forgive me for the pictures- the lighting is awful, and the cropping and wonky angles are even worse, but these were the shots that I felt best captured the colors and placement. Hauling my Book of Shadows out of the depths one more time was a nice challenge- though that Midnight Cowboy almost made me regret my decision from the get go. One thing you can see in the pictures are some of the tiny white flecks that show the migration path Cowboy's silver glitter moseys along on. Keep in mind, this was after constant dusting and sponging to remove the glitter from beneath my eyes. Finally, I grabbed my makeup wipes and wiped away the glitter- 3 or 4 times! I re-did my foundation, but still, by the time I was ready to take pictures, the only place this glitter wasn't was on the part of my lid where I'd actually put it. Grrr....

As I mentioned, there also isn't a great hi-lighting option in this set for fair skin. There's also a lack of contouring shades, being that even the deeper shades like Roach are satiny and reflect light- making it really hard to get good depth out of them. The one good, dark contour in this palette is Perversion, but to my eye this "jet black" leans a little blue, so I skipped it this time lest I muddy up my look.

Product List:

• NYX White Eyeshadow Base (I prefer Urban Decay Primer Potion)
• UD Midnight Cowboy (pale champagne with chunky silver glitter)
• UD Baked (an almost-bronze gold)
• UD Roach (satiny deep copper brown)
• UD Last Call (mid-tone satin plum-berry)
• Sleek MakeUP Honeycomb (matte light wheat)
• Sleek MakeUP Nougat (matte off-white) 
• UD's 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Rockstar (charred eggplant)
• UD's 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Eldorado (gold)
• Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash mascara in Black.

Brushes:

• MAC 239 (small dense, short-bristled paddle brush)
• MAC 219 (pencil brush)
• MAC 217 brush (full, fluffy, round-tipped brush)
• Lancome #10 Smudger Brush

The Sleek product featured in this review was submitted for promotional consideration by a representative of the company. 

Quick Tip: Give Your Skin a Chill Pill!

Cold weather outside can mean all kinds of nasty things, but a little cold for you skincare can actually do you good!

Keeping eye creams, face masks, even moisturizers in the fridge can give your skin a little extra in addition to what's built into the formula. The chill of your potions on the skin can help to relieve puffiness, reduce redness and make pores appear smaller! It's a nice wake-up call too!

Just remember to keep bottles and jars tightly capped (or if possible, store them in a low-humidity compartment) to keep goods at peak performance!

30 in 30: Question #29. Do You Like Liquid Liner?

OK, so 30 days didn't happen. My cat ate my...computer? I accepted a drink from a stranger and woke up yesterday in a motel bathtub full of ice? I thought it was 30 business days (on the planet Mercury)? Anyway, we are in the home stretch, so I'm going to continue on with...

Question #29. Do you like wearing liquid liner? If so, what's your favorite?

I adore a nice winged cat eye, and my long-time favorite to achieve it is Lancome Artliner in Noir. It’s a long, felt tipped pen that applies precisely, goes on bold in one stroke, and stays on all day. I’m honestly surprised it’s not more popular among other bloggers and YouTube gurus- it’s tops!

Sleek MakeUP Nude Collection:Review & Swatches

Staying on top of the trends, and just in time for fall, Sleek MakeUP recently released it's Nude collection. Included in the collection is the Au Naturel i-Divine Eye Shadow Palette, Suede Blush and Bare Minimum Pout Polish.

I'm generally not a fan of neutrals (too boring!) but they are classics for a reason, and nothing beats neutrals for autumnal elegance. The Au Naturel Eye Shadow Palette contains 12 shades with a nice range of finishes- everything from matte to satin to shimmer.

Sleek Au Naturel i-Divine Palette

Au Naturel Pallete, Left Side

Au Naturel Pallete, Right Side

Upon swatching, I was initially disappointed in the pigmentation of the lighter shades. Though the texture is wonderful, especially for the matte finish shadows (smooth, soft and not at all chalky) they simply just didn't have much to show for it. 

Au Naturel Pallete, Top Row

Having said this, I can still see their worth in "blending" shades, to soften edges on more intense shades, and the shimmery champagne shade Taupe is a wonderful highlighting shade for light and light-medium skin.

Swatching the deeper shades on the bottom row was a different story altogether. Every shade was packed with pigment, applied smoothly, and blended like a dream. 

Au Naturel Palette, Bottom Row

While the palette is filled with neutrals, the shades are just different enough to make them different. Moss, for instance, isn't your typical muted green, but rather a slightly green-tinged dirty ochre-bronze. Regal is a great eggplant that's the perfect balance of not too drab, not too bright. Bark is a gorgeously rich cool toned brown with a creamy texture and a semi-matte finish; if I'd had this palette last month after breaking a shadow at a bridal trial-run, this shade would have saved me a last-minute Sephora trip that cost me $19 for a single shadow! Compare that with the i-Divine's $10.50 price tag and it's a steal- even with a few lackluster shades.

Since the richer, smokey shades are obviously the star of the eye shadow palette, it's no surprise that the cheek and lip offerings are more subtle.

Suede blush is a nicely pigmented spiced peach shade. My Suede looks VERY different than the one on the Sleek website. In real life, it's brighter, warmer, and frankly, much prettier than the drab Sleek swatch! The warm shade and matte finish work nicely in the fall, but I also think this is just bright enough to work in the warmer months as well.

Sleek Suede Blush

The Pout Polish in this collection is very aptly named Bare Minimum; a barely-there creamy nude.

In the pot, Bare Minimum looks like it leans on the peachy side, but it's so sheer this doesn't really read on the lips. 

Sleek Pout Polish in Bare Minimum

It's perfect for days when you really do want the bare minimum- a plush, moisturizing balm with sun protection and a hint of shine. If your lip color is naturally more pigmented, this shade may mute down the color ever so slightly, but if you're looking for more color on your lips, you may want to pass on Bare Minimum. As with all Pout Polishes, this balm has a vanilla scent and slight chemical aftertaste.

All in all, I think this collection is great for anyone who wants to get in on the "Nude" trend or just stock up some neutral basics. The blush is pigmented and blends well, and while the Pout Polish doesn't pack much of a pigment punch, it is a great formula for nourishing and protecting the lips. Like most eye shadow palettes, you may find one or two shades that remain untouched when your palette is tapped, but the quality for the price, as usual, is hard to beat!

The products featured in this review were submitted for promotional consideration by a representative of the company. What does this mean? I didn't pay for it. My commitment is to you- my readers- and to myself (it's called integrity, I like to have it). The opinions expressed on Outinapout.com are my own, based on my own research and experience; I am not paid in any way nor is the final outcome of the post influenced by any outside party.

30 in 30: Question #28 What's Your Favorite Makeup Remover?

OK, so 30 days didn't happen. My cat ate my...computer? I accepted a drink from a stranger and woke up yesterday in a motel bathtub full of ice? I thought it was 30 business days (on the planet Mercury)? Anyway, we are in the home stretch, so I'm going to continue on with...

Question #28. What's Your Favorite Makeup Remover?

When it comes to taking my makeup off, the fewer steps the better. I always look for a cleanser that will take all of my makeup too, and for years I’ve found that Philosophy Purity Made Simple does not exaggerate its claims of being a one-step solution. It removes just about everything but waterproof mascara- on days I opt for that, I use Make Up For Ever Sens’eyes or Sonia Kashuk dual-phase remover. For quick corrections, I use MAC Pro Eye Makeup Remover- it dries quickly with no oily residue, so I can work right over it immediately, but I find it somewhat irritating to use on my entire eye.

Illamasqua Theatre of the NamelessReview & Swatches!

It's no secret that I'm a fan of Illamasqua. The announcement of every new collection has me waiting with bated breath for just a glimpse of the campaign. This season's Autumn/Winter collection, Theatre of the Nameless, is no different. Dark, opulent tones blend with flashes of iridescence evoking the dank mustiness of an illicit nightlife long past...or simply hidden out of sight?

"In this nocturnal den of the dissident leaders of underworld subcultures, exotic dancers rub shoulders with actors and anarchists."

With copy like that and images like these, what's not to like??? Oh, what about the products, you say? Well, I was lucky enough to have the chance to try several of the collection's items: Intense Lipgloss in Facade, Precision Ink in Havoc, and the brand new Masquara in Raven.


Intense Lipgloss in Façade is described as a high-shine Grey Pink, though to me it's more on the mocha-taupe side (more brown, less grey). For those that have never tried Illamasqua's Intense glosses, they are highly pigmented and do indeed pack a lot of shine- I'd almost call them a liquid lipstick with the shine of a gloss. The texture is somewhat thick and sticky (not unlike MAC Lipglass) so the color wears well.

Intense Lipgloss in Façade, on bare lips

Precision Ink in Havoc is a fine felt-tipped liquid liner pen in a rich, red-aubergine shade. The liner is long wearing and waterproof, and despite a very wet feeling, it is very quick-drying. The dry speed can be a benefit and downfall at the same time: it is much less likely to transfer and smudge on my eye as I'm applying (which is great since I have a hooded lid) but if you're someone who likes to perfect your line by cleaning up the edges with a cotton swab or sponge, you'll have to work quickly- once dry the product does have a tendency to flake if fussed with. 

I also have to add I adore the shiny, almost patent leather-like finish this dries down to! You can see the shine somewhat in the eyeball pic, but more so in the hand swatch. I also smudged the bottom line on my hand to better illustrate the color. 

Finally, Illamasqua's New Masquara. Raven is a midnight black shade (and the only one currently available) in this lengthening, defining mascara. The brush is a traditional, somewhat large style with full bristles, not un-like a larger version of Make Up For Ever's Smoky Lash. The formula applies well (though for the first week or so I did find I needed to wipe away the excess mascara from the wand before applying) and results in a very well defined, much longer and slightly thicker looking lash. The effect reminds me of Dior's coveted Diorshow, with one notable difference: Illamasqua's Masquara wears all day with no sign of flaking, or smudging!

Have you tried anything from the new collection? I'm awfully curious about the new Nail Varnishes; I know Illamasqua is at the top of the polish game, so of course new colors wouldn't be enough- the 4 new Theatre of the Nameless shades dry down to a waxy, rubberized finish, which seems like the perfect evolution of last season's matte trend. I can't wait to try them!

The products featured in this review were submitted for promotional consideration by a representative of the company. What does this mean? I didn't pay for it. My commitment is to you- my readers- and to myself (it's called integrity, I like to have it). The opinions expressed on Outinapout.com are my own, based on my own research and experience; I am not paid in any way nor is the final outcome of the post influenced by any outside party.

30 in 30: Questions #18What's Your Favorite Night Time Look?

Stepping it up a bit to make good on my promise of 30 makeup questions answered in 30 days, here's the first of today's 3 answers!

Question #18. What's your favorite night time look?

I always seem to be in a rush, so classic black winged liner, strong lashes and red lips make up my go-to night time look; probably the only one I do with any consistency. I tend to favor a matte, almost nude lid (for me that means a powder-pink or pale beige) but for something more festive I'll do a sheer wash of gold as a base for the liner.

If I actually have time to get creative, then I'm more likely to do something colorful on my eyes, with a more subdued lip. This is actually my preferred route for any evening activity that will involve beverages! If my eye is bold, I don't have to worry about touching up my lips to keep the look up. I usually take color cues from what I'm wearing, and just run with it.

30 in 30: Question #12What's Your Favorite Mascara?

My answers to 30 makeup questions in 30 days! Today's question is:

#12. What's your favorite mascara?

This is a tough one, simply because I really don’t have one. Mascara has a short a shelf life, and I’m a fickle being, so I can’t tell you the last time I bought a repeat.

My one standard, though, is black. Eye lashes are such a minuscule part of your over-all look that almost everyone can benefit from the extra definition a black mascara brings. The only exception to this, in my opinion, are people who have extremely fair lashes, where applying a black mascara leaves an obvious gap at the root of the lash where the base is blonde, for instance, and the length is black. In this case, a softer brown is preferable, but otherwise, black is the way to go!

Some of my recent favorite mascaras include (in no particular order)

• Maybelline Lash Stilleto Ultimate Length Mascara
• Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils Noir Radical
• Chanel Inimitable
• Flirt! Far Out Lengthening Mascara

All of these mascaras give great definition without clumping, flaking or smearing- what more can you ask for?

30 in 30: Question #6Do You Wear False Lashes?

My answers to 30 makeup questions in 30 days! Today's question is:

#6. Do you like/wear false lashes? If yes, strip or individual?

I only wear false lashes for special events, and even then, not always.

Though I've always read that individuals are easier, I never got the hang of applying them- it seemed they were always cocked at the wrong angle or sticking out where they shouldn't. Sure, strip lashes take some practice too; my favorite way to wear lashes is to cut just about a half-inch of the outside edge of the lash and use that at the ends of my own. They're totally simple to apply this way, and though they look natural, they really open the eye up in a way makeup alone can't do.

MAC Eye Shadow Finish Descriptions

The other day when I posted my descriptions of Inglot's eyeshadow shade range, it occurred to me that I've never addressed the overall issue of makeup finishes. While terms like "matte" and "dewy" tend to be pretty standard, brands are always coming up with new ways to make their product stand apart- including fancy finish names.

Since MAC is often used as a point of comparison, I thought I'd post a list describing their finishes (y'know, in case "Veluxe Pearl" isn't self-explanatory enough for you!) Some of MAC's finishes fall into the "unique" category, but I've noted those that are universally used across cosmetics brands.

• Frost - iridescent frosty shine. (Universal term.)
• Lustre - smoothly pearlized; intensely frosted.
• Matte -high color payoff in a no-shine matte finish. (Universal term, also often used to describe foundation finish.)
• Matte2 - intense, opaque silky matte finish.
• Satin – satiny, demi-matte with a subtle sheen. (Universal term, also often used to describe foundation finish.)
• Veluxe - superfine pigment rich, silky smooth matte finish.
• Veluxe Pearl - velvety soft metallic, overlaid with high-shine pearl.
• Velvet - soft velvety finish with high color payoff.

Though some of these terms are still a bit ambiguous (Really, MAC? Do you really need 3 terms for "matte"?) hopefully this will help you decipher what you're buying, especially if you do a lot of your shopping online. These definitions, by the way, come straight from MAC customer service (except my notations of universal terms) so please feel free to add your definitions in the comments! What's your favorite eyeshadow finish?

Illamasqua Toxic Nature: Swatches & First Impressions!

Illamasqua's tantalizing new collection is now available online, one week in advance of UK stores (US launch date is still TBA, but should be some time in April) and I was lucky enough to receive a few of the new shades and products to try. Here's a first look at a few of the highlights of the collection, including a peek at two of the brand new Cream Pigments!

Since Illamasqua's polish has a cult following, and this one is a doozy, we'll start there. Radium is a bright, acid-lime green with a soft pearl finish.

It applies almost opaque in one coat, but will likely require two to ensure even coverage. This is my first experience with the famous Illamasqua polishes, and so far so good- you can look forward to a review of how the polish performs in the near future! Here's a peek of it on my sad, sad little thumb nail!

Is it a coincidence that when I received this in the mail yesterday, I was wearing sweat pants this exact color? Maybe, maybe not. And while this may not be a great shade to paint one's living room (I happen to know that from experience...I guess you could say I'm fond of lime green) it is fabulous on the nails!

Now for the Cream Pigments. Designed to be a multi-use product for the eyes, face, lips and body, Cream Pigments purportedly provide a crease and water resistant matte finish.

Dab Cream pigment (pastel lilac)

Mould Cream Pigment (deep, bruised grape)

Both Cream pigments that I received were, as promised, completely devoid of shimmer. While they show as more of a cream than matte finish on my hand (meaning they had no shimmer, but a slightly moist finish) they applied with a true matte finish on both my eyes and lips.

Dab Cream Pigment on bare skin.

Mould Cream Pigment on bare skin.

So, what do you think of the Toxic Nature collection? Anyone hauling? Stay tuned next week for complete reviews of the products mentioned in this post!

The products featured in this post were submitted for consideration by a representative of the company. What does this mean? I didn't pay for it. My commitment is to you, my readers, and myself (it's called integrity, I like to have it). I can assure you that the opinions expressed in my product reviews are my own, based on my own research and experience; I am not paid in any way nor is the final outcome of the review influenced by the featured company.

5 Uses for Disposable Mascara Wands(That Have Nothing to Do with Mascara)

The other day whilst applying my makeup, it occurred to me that there is a tool I use daily that, unless you're a professional makeup artist, you probably don't even have in your arsenal. It's cheap, easy to find, and has a myriad of uses: a disposable mascara wand. Yes, I'm aware that you can buy a non-disposable version (a lash or "spoolie" brush) but don't do it. Mascara wands pick up everything-they get dirty and linty extremely fast & aren't the easiest thing to clean, plus if you're actually using them in mascara, the disposable ones are easier to fit in the tube, less messy, and (of course) more sanitary.

But what else can you do with these little buggers? Here are a few uses I've discovered over the years:

• Brushing eyebrows after makeup application- This would be the "daily use" that I mentioned above. You know those people that have harsh, penciled-in, "old-lady brows"? 9 times out of 10 that look can be remedied by simply brushing through the brows after filling them. This softens the lines and assures there aren't any brow hairs clumped together from a wax, pencil or gel. I always, always, ALWAYS brush through my brows as a finishing step.
• Exfoliating lips- sugar scrubs are great, but not always handy. Yes, a toothbrush will work too, but leftover toothpaste residue can irritate. Instead, put a little lotion, lip balm, or plain Vaseline on a disposable wand and lightly buff over your lips for a few seconds.

• Taming hair flyaways- spritz a little hairspray on the wand (or directly on your head, whatevs...) and use the wand to brush the stragglers back into place. The fine, closely placed bristles on the wand grab tiny, fine flyaways better than a brush, and they don't leave tell-tale "track marks" like a comb.

• Root touch-ups- for those of us that color our hair, these wands can be a god-send for quick root jobs. For me anyway, the long brush I use for my whole head can get unwieldy if I'm only doing roots; the tiny wands place color exactly where you need it without glopping extra product all over. If you color your brows, these work great for that too (of course, I would never recommend doing something so silly, since you could go blind, but if you happen to choose to of your own accord, I happen to know it works!)

• Removing cuticles- Apply a little cuticle remover cream, or just a bit of plain ol' olive oil, let it sit for a bit, then lightly buff at the base of your nails to remove softened bits.

And here's a little bonus tip that has a little to do with mascara (or lashes anyway). The non-bristled end of a disposable wand is the perfect for applying glue to strip lashes. Instead of applying glue to the lash straight from the tube (which can put too much glue on) I put a bead of glue on the plastic handle of the wand and run the lash through the bead. Wipe the excess glue off of the handle, place the lash, and use the end of the handle (again, the end opposite the bristles) to lightly push the lashes into place. Much more precise than your finger!

Drugstore Dupe:MAC Penultimate Brow Marker Vs.NYX Eyebrow Marker

Little known fact about my brows: due to a naturally occurring bald spot just after my arch, I have the fortunate ability to brush the inner half of my brows up and look like a Vulcan. True, but don't be jealous. As beneficial as this may seem, I don't always (or really, ever) want to look like a Vulcan. As such, I'm always on the look out for natural looking brow grooming solutions.

When MAC released their Penultimate Brow Marker ($16.50), I snatched it up right away and it's been a daily-use product for me ever since. I even ranked it among my 2010 Best of Beauty for it's ability to create a clean, precise line without looking harsh or overly drawn-on. It applies easier and stays on better than any pencil, powder or gel I've ever tried and I've never had it smudge or smear. Love.

So, of course, when I saw that bargain powerhouse NYX had their own version of my beloved brow mainstay, I had to try it. At $9.75, the NYX Eyebrow Marker rings in at a nice discount over the MAC version. I actually picked mine up for a minuscule $4.87 during a Cherry Culture sale; Ulta often has discounts that can be used on NYX as well, so it's worth it to keep an eye out.

One difference that's hard not to notice is that the NYX version comes in two shades, Medium and Deep, versus MAC's one "Universal" shade. I chose the NYX Marker in Medium, which turned out to be a pretty decent match. When swatching, I feel like the NYX version (bottom) is more neutral in tone and maybe a hair lighter compared to MAC's marker (top) which leans a little bit to the red-brown side. Honestly, if I were going to label one of these "Universal" it would be the NYX version. I will say that these difference were slight on my hand and unnoticeable on my brows. Also, the feathering you can see in this swatch never occurred on my brows, with either product.

Upon looking at the felt-like applicator tips on the markers, again, we're talking almost identical. The MAC version (right) appears tad bit longer than than the NYX (left) but this could be due to the slight fraying on the tip. Otherwise, the broadness of the marker and the fineness of the tip are carbon copies, and apply as such.

Aside from a slight color difference on my hand, and of course, the color of the packaging and the slight difference in size (MAC's marker is 1 gram, NYX's is 1.04 g) these two products are more alike than they are different. Even the plastic tube is startlingly similar; in fact, I noticed that both the MAC and NYX version have similar, 3-digit embossed factory codes on the end of the marker. According to the packaging, both items were manufactured in Germany. Interesting. A quick peek at the ingredients proves that these two formulas are identical, with the possible exception of colorants. I say possible exception because whereas NYX lists the colorants on their list without qualifiers, MAC's packaging lists colorants as "+/-" (in other words, "may contain any or none of these, we're not telling cause it's a secret").

While I'm not saying the MAC and NYX are the same exact product, for all intents and purposes, they perform identically. Given the similarities in packaging, manufacturing and ingredients, I wouldn't be surprised at all if it were discovered that these originated from the same vendor. So, which would I buy again? You'd better believe it's gonna be the NYX version!

Am I the Only Person Who Doesn't Like:Urban Decay?

I hate to rant about a brand. It's not like they did anything to my Grandma, or kicked my kid or something. Despite what my friends and family say, I'm generally a nice person. However. Occasionally in my line of obsession, I come across a product that I just. Don't. Get.

I'm talking about products that I hear nothing but good things about, products that win all of the "best of" awards, things everyone seems to love- but when I try them, they leave me wondering. I figure, I can't be the only one, right? So kindness be damned, I'm gonna start speaking out. It may not happen often, and I'm well aware that when it does, I'm opening myself up to a barrage of "OMG, you're crazy, that stuff is my HG, I love it, I could bathe in it!!!" All I can say is, if that's you, you'll be able to easily note the topic by the title of the post, and are welcome to comment and tell us how much you disagree with me, and of course, you're well within your rights to just skip the post altogether. But just in case there's anyone else out there wondering why their dud is everyone else's super-seeker, this is for you, so that you can know you're not alone.

::GrumbleGrumble::

Today I'm gonna complain a little about Urban Decay. As stated above, I just don't get it. Granted, their Primer Potion revolutionized eye shadow application, but for me, that's where my brand appreciation ends. Urban Decay shadows, and in particular their Limited Edition "Books of Shadows" are among the most anticipated releases in the makeup world. Their 24/7 Eye Pencils have achieved cult-status; perched at the top of everyone's "Best in Show" lists. So why am I so meh (to downright angry) at them, and can I really be the only one?

Recently, I finally got around to peeking at the newest installment of the Urban Decay library: version 3 of the Book of Shadows. It's the one with the really cute (but totally useless and wasteful) lighted, pop-up scene of New York City. Now, BOS III came out in August, so based on the fact that it took 4 months for me to hunt it down you may surmise that I didn't have that strong of an urge to get the newest book. I have the first edition of the Book of Shadows and have used it all of 5 times. Oddly, when I finally saw the new Book, I suddenly found myself wanting to buy it. I'd like to say it was the pretty colors- there are a few that look stunning. I have to admit though, it's highly likely that I was suffering from "everyone else wants it so I must too" syndrome. Whatever the case, I bought it.

I was aware when I bought it that I have a major issue with many Urban Decay shadows. Say it with me: Big. Damn. Glitter. Looking at the set, I could see that there were more than a few (7 out of 16, to be exact) with UD's signature "I love to make your face look like a disco ball" finish. I even discussed it with the sales woman, who was helpful enough to suggest a few possible remedies. Yes, I know I can put my foundation on after. Sure, I could use powder to prohibit fallout from sticking so well, or tape to remove some of the sparkle. I could foil the shadows to make the glitter stick better. All of those things are viable solutions. Except...Urban Decay glitter is a hornet, not a bee- it doesn't just sting once. That glitter just keeps coming back to taunt me, falling out all over my face, all day long. Grrr.

Again I say: I knew this, and bought the palette anyway- the other colors (especially Loaded and Psychedelic Sister- words can not express!) were just too tempting. Like any good makeup junkie, I busted the palette out as soon as humanly possible. The second I touched the brush to my lid I remembered why I passed on the previous two volumes of the Books. Um...I don't like Urban Decay shadows.

I know. Maybe I'm the only one, but even with their miracle Primer Potion, UD shadows go on wimpier than they should, blend murkily and fade more than just about any other brand at that price point that I can think of. Take Loaded: a gorgeous green that I mentioned earlier. In the pan, it's a super-deep, just shy of blackened, jewel tone green. It even swatches nicely, but introduce a brush, and all of a sudden, it's just black. Which I suppose isn't all bad, since the matte black (Perversion) in the set isn't even on par with my cheapies from NYX and Sleek. Sad.

Which brings me to my next rant, a product that I think I may truly be alone in my disdain of. UD's 24/7 Eye Pencils. "They're so pigmented, they wear forever!" Yeah, um, not so much. In side-by-side comparisons, I got longer wear and less smudging out of a $5 Revlon pencil. As far as the pigmentation goes, I know that's not just me: I've used these on more than one client and can say with confidence that, while the Urban Decay pencils do go on evenly, the gel-like formula just doesn't offer the rich, bold color of a traditional liner. Granted, they come in an amazing variety of shades, but I feel like they should be better considering how much adoration they garner. And then there's that damn glitter again! Someone please tell me how I applied brown liner to my top lid only, and 2 hours later there's gold glitter under my eyes! Anyone?!?

My other gripe about the pencils is, admittedly, a personal preference. I'm a smudger. I guess you could say it's part of my style. I haven't applied pencil liner to anyone in years without using a small smudger brush (Lancome #10) to soften the line and blend it into the lash; un-smudged liner just looks raw and unfinished to me. Unfortunately, Urban Decay 24/7 pencils don't like to smudge. Try to smudge too soon and you just wipe it all away. Too late and it's set. Oh well.

Like I said, I'm sure most of you are thinking I'm crazy right about now. Maybe I am, but I seriously doubt my issues with Urban Decay are manifestations of any abnormal condition in my mind. Thing is, I've been in this business a long time, and I've used a lot of products- I feel like my experience is VERY well rounded. Something tells me that if I have this gripe, other people do too. So, I'm coming out. How about you guys? What's your "big whoop" product? Share. My hope is that you'll think of this site as a place of openness and understanding. Then, together we can all begin to heal.

Sugarpill's 7 Newest ChromalustsNow Death & Sin Free!

Is it rude to say "If you're not on the Sugarpill bandwagon yet, you may want to seek professional help"? If you're willing to conceed that it is not, in fact, rude and that I am, in fact, a professional, then consider me that help!

If you're completely unfamiliar with Amy (aka Shrinkle) and her fledgling Sugarpill empire, make sure you check out my review on her loose Chromalust pigments and her Addicted to Pretty pressed eye shadows. The Reader's Digest version is that they're smooth-blending, ultra-pigmented, and pretty much the best value for your money out there. They've become a staple in my kit, I use them everywhere I can; eyes, cheeks, lips, even on the body.

Today, I want to introduce you to the newest additions to the Sugarpill family- seven NEW(ish) Chromalust shades that will have you drooling. The formula on these is as to be expected; in some cases, it almost seems like they adhere better than the originals, though I've not heard anything about the formula being changed. The new additions also add a bit of diversity to the Chromalust portfolio, with different textures and finishes than the originals.

I'd like to note, the following photos and product descriptions are my own, not those from the official site, and in my opinion, some of them vary significantly from the Sugarpill sanctioned description. Consider it a second opinion! All shades swatched dry on top of Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

Birthday Girl

This shade had the biggest variance to me in what I saw versus what the site describes it as. Sugarpill calls this a princess pink with fuchsia sparkles. What princess pink means to me is a deeper-than-bubblegum almost rose-pink. It's a matte base, and the sparks seem more pink and gold to me. A super-pretty shade, but darker and less silvery than the online swatch looks on my monitor.

Darling

Teal green-blue goodness! Darling is slightly metallic with a satiny base and superfine matching sparks. I'd classify this as a little more than shimmer, but less than sparkly. Sharkely?

Magentric

I can only assume the great minds at Sugarpill meant this name to convey the shade as an electric magenta, and indeed it is. Not as bright as a fuchsia or as deep as a burgundy, this satiny metallic pigment is a great mid-tone magenta, enhanced with a healthy dose of fine blue sparks.

Paperdoll

Possibly my favorite shade of this launch, Paperdoll is a creamy matte lilac base w/lavender shimmer. It's so yummy I want to lick it.

Stella

Matte black base with tons of rainbow micro-glitter. The website refers to this black as "the blackest of jet blacks". Though I'd call it more of a deep charcoal-black, I can say that it's far-and-away the most pigmented loose black shadow I own- compared to shades from Archetype, Aromaleigh, and Illamasqua this is undoubtedly the winner!

Tipsy

I wonder if Sugarpill called this one Tipsy in honor of the common way Americans celebrate St Patrick's Day, cause this one says "Luck o' the Irish" all over it to me! A brilliant, shimmery grass green. Not lime green, not sage green, but a true, balanced mid-tone green.

Weekender

A beast of a shade to photograph and describe, Weekender is a metallic deep blue-violet that almost seems to shift depending on the light. In direct sunlight (or under my daylight bulb) it reads as a grape purple, but pulled away from the light the metallic sheen takes over and adds tinge of a pewtery-silver cast, skewing the shade closer to indigo.

So there you have it- great new shades filling out the Sugarpill portfolio. As expected from the brand, they apply, blend and wear amazingly. I will say that it's easy to blend away the glitter on matte shades (Birthday Girl, Paperdoll and Stella) but I haven't experienced throughout the day glitter fall-out like I do with some *other* brands (::coughUrbanDecaycough::). Stay tuned to OutInAPout for more looks featuring Sugarpill this month!

The products featured in this post were submitted for review consideration by a representative of the company. What does this mean? I didn't pay for them. My commitment is to you, my readers, and myself (it's called integrity, I like to have it). I can assure you that the opinions expressed in my product reviews are my own, based on my own research and experience; I am not paid in any way nor is the final outcome of the review influenced by the featured company.