Review: LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer

Although I love urban decay primer potion (for my review, click here), I had to switch to an oil-free primer - cue LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer! At first, I was a bit apprehensive and scared to leave my favorite product behind... but after I hadn't used a primer in a few days, and my eyeshadow was looking lackluster and dull, I decided I had to do something. I had to make this switch because i just got Xtreme Eyelash Extensions, and the use of oil-based products is strictly forbidden - that is, unless you want your new, very expensive lashes to slide right off. I did a little bit of research online before my purchase, and went to ulta to see if they had any. luckily, I ended up grabbing the last one - thank goodness they had it, because I immediately fell in love.

The product comes in a tube, which is ideal for squeezing out every last bit of it. I like the casing - it's a gunmetal, shimmer grey (refer to the bottom picture). It is as long as my blackberry tour and holds a ton of primer - it contains .47 fl oz, whereas primer potion contains .34 oz. It also costs $20 while primer potion costs $18. It glides on easily, and doesn't crease at all.

I truly feel that this item and urban decay primer potion are comparable. I think the two products should tie for best primer, and I award the LORAC Behind the Scenes Eye Primer with an A

The Start of... Movie Makeup Monday!

So as you can see, today is the start of "Movie Makeup Monday"!!!

What is "Movie Makeup Monday" exactly? It's the day each week that I pick either a movie, a character from a movie, or a picture from a movie that either I would like to recreate or inspires a makeup look. The movie that I will pick each week will be new in theaters. Don't be afraid to request a movie by sending it to my email! :)

I decided to start "Movie Makeup Monday" by featuring a new movie that a ton of people are looking forward to... Twilight: Eclipse. Though I'm not a Twilight fan, (sorry everyone!) I figured I would pick a look from this film since it is so popular. I picked the look of Bella on the movie's poster, which can be found here. As you can see, Kristen Stewart's look is pretty natural, with a darker lip.

These are the products that I would use to recreate Bella's look:

Eyes:

- Always remember to prime your lid! (Review on my favorite primer coming tomorrow!)

- Shadow: Apply "Naked Lunch" by mac all over lid. Apply "Rice Paper" to the inner corners of the eye, and on the brow bone as a highlight color.

- Eyeliner: It doesn't look like she is wearing eyeliner, but if you would like to add some, I recommend using brown liner on your waterline, since it won't be too dramatic.

- Mascara: Apply any mascara you prefer. My favorite is Urban Decay Skyscraper Multi- Benefit Mascara. (Check out my review of this product here)

Face: Be sure to apply concealer, foundation, and powder as you normally do.

- Blush: Bella looks pretty pale, with the exception of a little blush. I recommend using NARS blush in "Orgasm", which adds a pretty flush of color. If you don't have it on hand, be sure to use a pinky-peachy blush.

Lips:

- Lip gloss: Bella's lips are definitely the focus of her makeup. to get a dark, vampy lip like Bella's, use plum-colored glosses. MAC's "Utterly Discrete" can do the trick, but any plum colored gloss will do.

I hope you enjoyed the first "Movie Makeup Monday"! Please let me know if you have any suggestions for upcoming posts by emailing me at mixandmatchmakeup@yahoo.com! xoxo

Haul: Sephora

I just bought a bunch of stuff online at Sephora.com - I could seriously spend all day on that website.

Anyway... I've heard a lot of great stuff about the brand, Living Proof, which can be purchased at Sephora.com here. It comes in two different product types -No Frizz and Full. I purchased the No Frizz products, since my head is a frizz-ball in the humidity. These products don't contain silicone, which typically weighs down your hair and makes it look greasy. Instead, they contain Polyfluoroester, which blocks frizz from occurring. They also don't contain sodium chloride, an ingredient which makes my hair even frizzier. It's also a great product to use if you got a keratin treatment since sodium chloride will counteract with your treatment and ruin it.

The site was extremely helpful in allowing me to determine what fits my needs. The two sections that I used to figure out which product was right for me were the "What's Right for You" section and the "FAQs". Prior to reading these sections, my shopping cart was full of unnecessary items that i didn't need. Turns out, my very medium-to-thick frizzy hair requires the types of products necessary for the thick-to-coarse hair. I also found out that since I don't want a ridiculous amount of hold when I wear my hair curly, I should stick with the straight making products - my hair will be left with a slight curl and a loose, wavy look. My favorite piece of information was to not mix a silicone-based serum with the products since it will curdle... ewww thank goodness I found that out before I used it! Seriously, read those two sections before making your purchase - they saved me a lot of time and money!

Also, before you make your purchase, be sure to check out the "Value Sets" and "Gift Ideas and Sets" sections before you buy - it's a lot cheaper to make your purchase when you choose this option!!! (I bought the $25 Straight Making System Set, which is typically worth $34!)

My second purchase was the Too Faced Aqua Bunny Cream to Powder Bronzer. Although i haven't even received my package yet this product seems so cool. It's a waterproof bronzer! Seriously who doesn't want that during the summertime? You can wear this in the pool, at the beach, or even during super humid days. It also contains a lot of beneficial ingredients for your skin! How great is it that this bronzer doesn't drip off your face, and make you look like a hot mess?! I hope with all this hype, the product lives up to my expectations!!! I'll keep you posted! Definitely wait for my review since this product is a whopping $28, and I don't want you spending that kind of money if you don't have to.

My third, and final purchase, is the Benefit Cosmetics To Go Beauty Bestsellers. it's a $30 value for only $10! It is important to mention that these products are a lot smaller than their original counterparts, hence the steep price difference. It comes with Posietint - a light pink colored lip stain (usually $28); Some Kind-a-Gorgeous - a product that works like a foundation but isn't ($9-28); "That Gal" - a primer which simultaneously brightens your face ($28); and High Beam - a face highlighter ($28). I made this purchase because I have been wanting to try High Beam for quite some time now. A lot of the beauty gurus I mentioned in my last post have used this during tutorials. This product seems to give an angelic glow, and I can't wait to use it. I'll definitely let you know my take on all of these products later.

I also got a bunch of samples, which I will be doing reviews on throughout the summer. They are:

- Stila One Step Makeup in medium

- Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Corrector

- Living Proof Straight Making No Frizz Styling Cream for medium to thick hair

- LAVANILA Baby Lotion and LAVANILA Healthy Sunscreen SPF 40 - I don't have a baby, I just really wanted to try the sunscreen! ;)

Hope you're enjoying your summer! Remember to check back for pictures and reviews of these fabulous products! xoxo

Sorry I haven't been around for a while... but I'm BACK with my favorite Youtube Makeup Gurus :)

I am very sorry i haven't been around since late march, but I'm back! I had a lot of work to do during finals. I now have a full-time summer job and am taking a really difficult online class, so I will do my best to post often.

Let's start off with a post about my favorite Youtube Makeup Gurus! Something you probably don't know about me is that in my spare time, I love to watch Youtube videos about makeup. I have learned so much from these girls! Here are my top 10 (in no particular order - it was just who i clicked on first)!

1. Allthatglitters21: http://www.youtube.com/user/AllThatGlitters21

Elle is great- she provides thorough step-by-step instructions on how to do different looks in her tutorials. She also uses an array of different brands, ranging from MAC to NYX. She really knows what she's doing - she and her younger sister, Blair, were the youngest makeup artists to do fashion week in NYC.

2. Pixi2woo: http://www.youtube.com/user/pixi2woo

Tanya is a professional makeup artist from England. She does fairly neutral everyday looks along with celebrity looks, which I really enjoy.

3. julieg713: http://www.youtube.com/user/julieg713

Julie has a very bubbly personality and likes to experiment with different makeup styles, ranging from extreme to everyday.

4. kandeejohnson: http://www.youtube.com/user/kandeejohnson

Kandee is a professional makeup artist and has worked on many celebrities in California. She too is extremely bubbly and passionate about makeup, and is extremely knowledgeable. She knows many tricks and is always willing to share them with her viewers.

5. ChanelBlueSatin: http://www.youtube.com/user/ChanelBlueSatin

I just started recently watching Cynthia's videos, and she immediately became one of my favorite makeup gurus. She does a lot of reviews and is not afraid to share her honest opinion. She also does a lot of makeup looks which are very good for everyday wear.

6. MakeupByTiffanyD: http://www.youtube.com/user/MakeupByTiffanyD

Tiffany is a professional makeup artist who does a lot of work with Sigma Cosmetics. She knows a lot of great tricks for both makeup and hair tutorials. She's also very funny and entertaining, so be sure to check out her channel!

7. missglamorazzi: http://www.youtube.com/user/missglamorazzi

Ingrid is a college student with a passion for makeup. She doesn't do too many tutorials lately, but I still enjoy watching her channel to get her input on what makeup products to buy or not buy. She's extremely honest and is very knowledgeable about makeup.

8. missjessicaharlow: http://www.youtube.com/user/MissJessicaHarlow

Missjessicaharlow always has a fun look to try, and is at the cutting edge of all of the new products which are coming out. She offers step-by-step tutorials as well, which are very helpful.

9. swalkermakeup: http://www.youtube.com/user/SWalkerMakeup

Sara is from England (like pixi2woo) - her accent is really cool. She has a lot of knowledge about makeup and does a lot of hauls, tutorials, and tags, like the other gurus.

10. juicystar07: http://www.youtube.com/user/juicystar07

Elle's (allthatglitters21) younger sister Blair always has a new trick up her sleeve as well. She too covers makeup from MAC to NYX and updates often.

makeup trend alert: green eye shadow and liner

lately, i have been wanting to wear green eyeshadow and liner as much as possible. This is partially because green is on the opposite end of the color spectrum from brown, which makes brown eyes "pop".

When searching through some other makeup sites, i noticed that green eye makeup is all over the fashion forecast for the spring, not only just for brown eyes, but also for all different eye colors. the reason why this color is so flattering is because it makes the whites of the eyes look whiter.

I usually wear green eye makeup in the form of eyeliner under my eyes, but here are some other ways that green makeup can be applied:

- a light green shadow applied in the inner corner of the eye

- shadow or liner smudged along the lower lash line

here are some of my favorite green liners to use:

1. urban decay 24/7 glide on eye pencil in mildew - a deep, dark metallic green

2. urban decay 24/7 glide on eye pencil in covet - a bright green

3. urban decay 24/7 glide on eye pencil in stash - a brown-green

4. sephora nano eyeliner in silver green

you can find the 24/7 liners at sephora and at ulta. they are the same price at each store.

hope this post inspired you to try green eye makeup! :)

review: hot couture eau de toilette by givenchy

hot couture by givenchy is my new love. i often find it extremely difficult to find a perfume that i like, and as soon as i smelled this one, i fell head over heels. my roommate was the person who showed me this wonderful scent. Every time i smelled it, i knew i had to get my hands on one of my own.

the fragrance has hints of raspberry, strawberry, spice rose, tuberose, bergamont, citron, amber, and white musk.

it is simultaneously girly, sophisticated, confident, sexy, fun, and playful, which makes it perfect for a girl in their late teens to late twenties. i feel like this truly matches my personality and is perfect for everyday wear.

this is avaliable for purchase at ulta and sephora. i got mine from ulta since i got to use my member points and i got to choose any perfume as a reward.

this perfume gets an A+!!!

review: kat von d. romance eyeshadow palette in ludwig

i am absolutely in love with the kat von d. romance eyeshadow palette in ludwig that i picked up at sephora and try to use it every chance i get! you can only buy this product at sephora, since it is made specifically for the company. the colors are gorgeous, so soft, and glide right onto your lid.

this palette comes with the following colors:

- lucifer - matte black

- orbi - green shimmer with flecks of gold

- dimebag - lime green shimmer

- clay - beige with flecks of gold

- tequila - yellow shimmer

- downtown - copper shimmer

- baroque - bronze shimmer

- leather - dark brown

this product gets an A+!!!! :)

review: urban decay primer potion

i have been using the original urban decay primer potion for well over a year now and can honestly say i will never stop purchasing it. this primer really holds eyeshadow and eyeliner in place for hours and hours and allows for the shadow to not crease.

the original formula (left) is a sheer nude which is extremely light, dries invisibly, and will work on every skin tone. it also leaves behind no residue or greasiness. it also now comes in two colors other than original - sin and eden. sin (middle) is a champagne/bronze shimmer which can act as a color by itself, or adds something extra to your eyeshadow. eden (right) is a matte nude color which acts as as a no-makeup looking primer. it also serves as a base to match your skin tone. all of the wands are now bent, so application is easier and more precise. personally, i prefer the original since it is sheer and works with everything, but feel free to give the others a try! the original formula is fantastic, so i'm sure the other two are as well! A

sephora haul

since it is pretty chilly in what was supposed to be warm and sunny florida, i took a trip to the nearest sephora. there were so many great new items that i wanted to try and i had trouble choosing what i wanted to purchase.

here are the items that i ended up buying: **i will do reviews on each**

1. urban decay primer potion - i was debating whether or not to buy the new formulas - sin and eden instead of the original. sin is a shimmering champagne color which i decided was not for me since it contained shimmer which i might not want if i were to use a matte shadow. to me, eden looked like cover-up - it was a matte nude color which i wasn't crazy about. i ended up buying the original potion in a larger bottle since i like it so much. when i first used it, i realized there is a new bent wand which makes it easier to apply.

2. tarte natural lip stain - when i went to the tarte display, this item was almost sold out, so i knew it had to be good. it took me a while to decide which color of the available colors i wanted. i was stuck between charmed - a light pink, amused - a hot pink, and moody - a deep berry. after swatching the items on my hand, i decided that charmed was too light for my lips and amused was just right.

3. josie maran argan oil hair serum - since i have frizzy hair, i decided to pick up this product to test it out. it has a nice, clean smell.

4. kat von d. eyeshadow palette in ludwig - when i saw this, i knew i had to have it - the shadows are so silky and soft and there are so many of them in one palette. the colors are gorgeous browns, greens, and golds and complement each other as well.

stay tuned for reviews on each of the items! xoxo

review: covergirl outlast lip stain and preview of new lip stains

since tomorrow i will be in sunny florida by the pool, i realize that i am in need of a new lip stain since it doesn't wear off that quickly in water. the last time i was on vacation, i used covergirl outlast lip stain which i truly didn't like. i felt as if the stain wore off far too quickly - as if it was a lipstick instead. it also was very dry and made my lips chapped very quickly. i definitely do not recommend this product. C-

here are the lip stains i am deciding between:

urban decay lip envy lip stain, stila cheek and lip stain, benefit cosmetics pocket pal, and tarte natural lip stain

i'm very excited to pick one of these products up! i'll let you know how it goes! xoxo