inked in pink

I might have hit up the drugstores recently (oh wait, that's every day) and purchased some of the new releases. I'm like a kid in a candy store when I hear that Maybelline released new colors in the color tattoo line. I'm seriously obsessed with these cream shadows. See obsession here. 

This new shade, inked in pink, is part of five new shadows in their "color tattoo metals" collection. I only picked this one up, despite how gorgeous the other colors are too. I just felt like this is the only color I could see myself using on a more regular basis. And since I already own the barely beige shade, I didn't feel like I needed to own the new cream/beige shade. 

The color is a mauve-y light pink and has a very frosty finish. It definitely lives up to the "metallic" name. I really like how it works with my skin tone, which is what I was a little worried about. I don't reach for frosty pink colors for my eyes very often, but the mauve undertones help to keep it a neutral shade. 

So far I've been applying Inked in Pink on my lids with a flat shader brush, and then applying light matte neutral shades (Naked and Buck from the Naked Palette) to the crease for a nice neutral look for everyday.  I would also recommend using this as a base color if you are doing any kind of dramatic eye look with pink shades. It can help any pink shadow perform true to color. 

I will say that this has the "creamiest" consistency of all the color tattoos I own. So if you have oily lids like me, it can't hurt to apply a primer underneath just to ensure that extra longevity. 

Have you tried any of the new Maybelline Color Tattoo Metals shades? 

I have a few more posts about new drugstore makeup I've been trying. 

Check back here for those!

xo, Mal

happy friday, y'all

It's been quite a busy and productive week. Had a day off, but sure didn't feel like it. Hello weekend! 

1. My version of breakfast in bed on a day off. 

2. Filling wall space, finally. Jewelry and shopping bags. 

3. Loving my new photos above my headboard.

4. Sometimes all you need is a 3 mile run alone to reset. So peaceful. 

5. Sushi and truffles for dinner. Legit. 

How was your week? Link up with Lauren! 

xo, Mal

on my wishlist

Do you have certain items in Sephora or Ulta that you have to visit a few times before taking the plunge to buy? 

I can't wait to eventually get my hands on these five products. 

1. Urban Decay naked basics palette

2. Coach poppy perfume

3. Kenra volume 25 hair spray

4. YSL sheer candy in cool guava

5. NARS Kutki nail polish

Let me know what products you have on your wishlist! 

xo, mal

january 2013 birchbox

The theme of our January Birchbox is "Best Year Ever." 

In the order of what I'm most excited to try, here is what I received this month...

Ojon Rare Blend Oil: This is the second Ojon product I've received in a Birchbox. I loved the conditioner, so I'm really excited to try this hair oil. 

Eyeko Skinny Mini Eyeliner: I like using black liquid eyeliners with a felt tip for my upper lash line. I'll definitely try this one out after I use up my current liquid eye liner. 

Aerie Shimmer Fragrance: Another perfume to add to my sample drawer. And I really like this scent.  Like I've said before, perfect to keep in your purse or just to travel with. 

100% Pure Nourishing Body Cream: I think this was the lifestyle extra. Never heard of this brand before, but will keep the little packets for dry skin emergencies! 

Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentrete: Really was unsure about what this product was used for. After a little research, I realized many people use this cream as their moisturizer or primer under makeup, and a lot of people rave about it. However, it seems it's for people with dry skin. Not sure this will work for me, but I'm willing to give it a shot. 

I plan to do a post following up on some of my favorite products I've discovered through Birchbox. And maybe even my not-so favorite products. Let me know if you like the idea. In the mean time, also let me know if you're a subscriber and what your favorite products have been from BB! 

xo, Mal

happy friday, y'all!

Happy Friday, y'all! Posting from my phone today so I hope the layout is correct. Here's some highlights of my week...

1. This finally happened. Now I can see all of the colors and easily choose whatever I'm in the mood for. And the nail polish problem continues...

2. I was able to attend Kate Bryan's class on Monday. Got to meet some other really great bloggers and hear Kate talk about her tips for optimizing Pinterest for your blog. Always learning!

3. I feel like I've been on a truffles high this week. Truffles at work and truffles at home. These were dipped in a thick layer of cocoa. #chocolateloversdream

4. Last night was pretty awesome. Any Project Runway viewers here? Last night I went to the PR Finale party. Anthony Ryan Auld is from Baton Rouge and is a fellow LSU grad. He hosted the finale event with Joshua McKinley. And...Anthony Ryan WON! It was so fun meeting and talking with him and Josh. They're amazing! If you haven't seen any of Anthony's designs, google "Elie Tahari Project Runway Liv Dress." That was one of his winning designs and I.want.it.

5. Today I'm headed to New Orleans to see my beautiful aunt receive the Dunbar Award for her incredible work as a Civil Service employee in Louisiana. So proud of her and I'm so happy to see her being recognized for all that she's done. Love you, Tia!

How was your week?

See more H54F posts on Lauren's blog!

xo, Mal

LORAC PRO Palette review + swatches

Today's post is featuring my newest love. The LORAC Pro Palette! 

Here's a little back story on how I finally purchased this palette.  

*cue flashback scene* It was early December. I was buying Christmas presents and kept eyeing the Lorac palette. My sister and I had just purchased all new makeup for her birthday. But, no eye shadows. I knew Linz would love the palette. So like a good sister, I went back and picked it up for her. But then it just kept staring at me in my room... unwrapped, in all of its mysterious glory like "Hey, I'm a palette you don't own yet. I dare you to not open me!" Yes, these are real conversations I have with myself sometimes. No shame people. So, obviously, I caved. I couldn't bare the thought of not opening it and having some fun with those shades. So I went and bought another one. And you know what, no buyer's remorse here! 

Here's an overall view of the shades. I've use this palette a lot already, so please excuse the "used" look! :)

The top row are completely matte shades. The bottom row are either shimmery or satin finish shades. 
That makes a total of 16 shades for $42.00. 

What drew me to this palette were the matte shades. I love matte eye shadows. And I don't think brands provide enough matte shades in their palettes. Especially the original Naked palette.

And here are the swatches. As always, the lighter shades are hard to capture on camera. 

For an all matte eye shadow look, I like using lt. pink in the inner corner, mauve on the lid, sable and espresso on the outer corner, and white or cream as a highlight shade on the brow bone. 

The shimmery shadows are even more pigmented. Nude, pewter, and gold are my most-used shades so far. I like using my Maybelline Color Tattoos (in bold gold and bad to the bronze) as base colors, and just experimenting with this row of colors. They compliment each other well and you can't really mess up.

I really like the packaging. It's very sleek and slim- much slimmer than the Naked palettes. The only drawback is the black casing attracts any fallout from the shadows, so it tends to look dirty fast. The palette also comes with a travel size of the Lorac Behind the Scenes eye primer. 

Like I said, it's $42.00 for 16 eyeshadows. You're paying a little over $2.00 for each. I'd say that's well worth your money if you love neutral eye palettes! 

I have honestly been reaching for this palette almost every day since I bought it. I didn't include it in my 2012 favorites, only because I bought it a week before the end of December, and I felt like I hadn't used it enough to really de-throne the Naked 2 palette yet. But, I will say that this palette will get a lot of use in 2013 and I highly recommend picking it up if you've been eyeing it! 

PS: You can also find me on Ashley's blog today: AshnFashn! Check it out!

xo, Mal

happy friday, y'all!

Happy Friday, y'all! Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend! 

1. Me and Benjamin made two years on Tuesday. I'm so grateful for two wonderful years with my hunny, and I'm looking forward to mannnyyy more. Can't wait for our date night on Saturday! 

2. Trying out Michael Todd Skincare now that I've completely used up my current cleanser and toner. Look for a review once I've had a chance to try it out for a while. 

3. Gray nails for gray skies. These days I feel like I live in Seattle. Rain, rain, and more rain to come...

4. If there's one good thing about the holidays being over, it's that it's finally Mardi Gras Season in South Louisiana! Mom and I made this wreath with some leftover mesh and party store items. I thought it was pretty good for a first-time wreath maker. 

5. Finally got some quality time with my Carter Bear last night. Can't wait to spend more time with my little man (and Thomas... the train) this weekend. 

How was your week?

See more H54F posts on Lauren's blog!

xo, Mal

12 beauty favorites of 2012

Looking back, 2012 was a great year for discovering new products. I have a lot of favorite products form the year, but only a few that I will re-purchase over and over again. It's hard to even pick an absolute number one makeup product or tool. 

So, here are my "top 12 of 2012." 

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

A lot of people ask if both palettes are necessary. I personally love the Naked 2 better than the original. I use them both, but I reach for Naked 2 more because it has cooler colors that are perfect for everyday subtle looks. 

Maybelline Color Tattoos

I can't say enough about these. The longevity, pigmentation and price. Amazing. More on these cream shadows here.

Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream

Ah, it was the year of the BB creams. Smashbox got it right. It evens out my skin tone, provides light coverage, and lasts all day. Perfect for days in the sun or traveling. 
My post dedicated to this BB cream is here. 

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

This powder is a savior for girls with oily skin. Apply it in the morning over your foundation and you're good to go for the rest of the day. For $6.00 at the drugstore, you can't beat it! 

Maybelline MasterDrama Eyeliner 

This year I finally found the only eyeliner that does not smudge throughout the day. This has better staying power than Urban Decay 24/7 glide on pencils, and you don't have to sharpen these.

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer

This is a creamy concealer that really brightens the under the eyes. I like it better than the YSL Touch Eclat concealer (which is $45). See my blog post on this amazing concealer!

Soap & Glory Hand Food Lotion

This is amazing stuff. This is the only lotion that doesn't leave a greasy feeling after applying.  Use before bed and your hands feel so silky and soft in the morning. 

Mary Kay Timewise Moisturizer

I've been using this since late 2011, but I never realized how much I loved this moisturizer until this year. I tried to stray, but I can't find anything like it. Hey, if it isn't broke, don't fix it. More on this moisturizer here. 

Maybelline Babylips in Quenched

The most moisturizing lip balm at the drugstore. They’ve since come out with some new colors that I’m dying to try. Read my post on Babylips here.

Clarisonic Mia

The Clarisonic has kinda changed my life. I’m not really sure how I ever washed my face before. I use it with a gentle Neutrogena cleanser and it gets every spec of makeup off. If you don’t have one, and have been on the fence about getting one, I say do it. It’s definitely well worth the money! 

Revlon ColorStay Whipped Creme Foundation

I know I've mentioned it before, but the Revlon ColorStay whipped foundation has ousted the liquid version as my holy grail foundation. I'm on jar number 3 in just 6 months because I use it so much. It's the longest-lasting foundation with the most natural finish.
More on this foundation here. 

Sultra Bombshell Curling Wand (1 ¼”)

I can honestly say that this curling wand has changed my hair life. I prefer a curling wand over a curling iron because the curls last… for days..and days. If only I was one of those girls that could go a week without washing my hair. But, by day 3 I need a wash and I’m always sad to see the wavy curls go. I highly recommend using a curling wand over a curling iron now. There are some great inexpensive ones at Ulta and Target. You can find the Sultra Bombshell at Sephora.

What were your favorite products of 2012?

xo, Mal

beauty resolutions for 2013

I hope everyone is having a nice start to the new year. I know some people think resolutions are silly, but I like to think of them as goals for the new year. So, I just wanted to share some of my beauty-related goals for 2013. Let me know in the comments what your goals/resolutions/plans are for 2013!

Continue removing my makeup every single night. 

Unfortunately, washing our face in the morning and at night is just not as fun as the Neutrogena commercials make it out to be. Regardless, no matter how tired, exhausted, or crazy of a night I’ve had-- makeup must come off. I made this resolution last year. And I can say that out of the 365 days in 2012, that I stuck to it 99% of the time. The key is just to make it routine. I don’t always go through a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer routine, but at the very least I do use makeup remover wipes before calling it a night.  And I’ve seen what a huge difference taking that 5 minutes to properly cleanse before going to sleep can do for my skin. Therefore, this routine will continue for 2013!

Drink more water. 

I also made this resolution last year. I didn’t follow through until about October when I quit drinking Diet Coke. I have my fix about once a month, but I’ve stuck to mostly water and Gatorade. Again, my skin is thanking me, but I just need to stick to only water. I’m getting there, slowly…

Toss makeup every three-four months. 

There’s no need to keep makeup past its prime. Especially mascara, eyeliner and lipstick. Those products can become full of bacteria fast. I’ve been pretty good about cleaning out my drawers a couple times a year, but I need to make it a habit more regularly.

Use up my products in “storage.” 

The closet that should hold towels, linens and toiletries is now just a storage closet for half-empty hair and beauty products. I’m making it a goal to completely use up my products before purchasing new ones. If I don’t like it, or if it breaks out my skin, then I’ll be tossing them. Other than that, it’s time to just use what I have.

Happy New Year! xo