Out of my Comfort Zone?

I'm not really big on neutrals, they just tend to be boring to me (although I love my Aromaleigh "Melancholy Maiden" shadow), but I figured that I was going to have to enter the "adult" world soon.  So I figured I would go out and buy the Urban Decay Naked palette when I could get it on sale.  Well, when Christine from Temptalia mentioned Wet n Wild Comfort Zone was up on drugstore.com, and I had already read a million glowing reviews, I bit the bullet and purchased it.  OH MY GOODNESS! While I can't say I love all neutrals, I certainly love THESE neutrals. They're just plain stunning and very high quality feeling.  The pictures don't do this look justice, but the colors are just deep and very dimensional and dare I say it, sexy? They just look so smokey and gorgeous on, much more so than the photos show. I can't believe I feel this way about neutrals!  I've already used the palette three different days, and it's definitely a joy to work with.

What I Used:

Eyes:

(all shadows are from Wet n Wild Comfort Zone palette unless noted otherwise)

Primer: MAC Paint Pot in Painterly

Lid: Left Lid shade

Crease and outer lower lashline: Right Crease shade

tearduct and inner lower lashline: Right/Highlighter shade

brow: Matte highlighter from Wet n Wild Vanity palette

upper lashline: MAC Black Russian Pearlglide with Right crease shade on top

Mascara: Maybelline Full n Soft

Face:

Bare Minerals foundation in Fairly Light

Bare Minerals Mineral Veil

Illamasqua Nymph blush

Lips:

Estee Lauder Dune Rose and MAC Myself layered

random clear gloss

Drugstore.com Haul!

I've been seeing so many swatches of the Wet n Wild Color Icon 8 pan palettes, and so I kinda felt like they were a must!  Temptalia posted swatches of Comfort Zone, which I have been lusting after but can never seem to find, and she said she bought hers from drugstore.com.  I was so excited and rushed over to make my purchase (and of course threw some more goodies in my basket)! I've never bought from drugstore.com, but I couldn't believe my box already shipped out today (Monday) when I ordered it on Sunday! So here's what I bought:

click to enlarge!  (Photos belong to drugstore.com)

• Bodycology Shower Gel & Bubble Bath in Coconut Lime- Out of the entire order, this is the only item I have tried before.  I love Bodycology soaps and this one is especially delicious smelling.  I'm a huge lover of coconutty scents!
• Yardley of London Moisturizing Bath Bar in Limited Edition Vanilla Sugar- A review I read mentioned this smelled like vanilla cookies, and I am a big fan of warm and foodie scents!  I've never tried this brand before, but have heard some good things about it.
• Yardley of London Moisturizing Bath Bar in Limited Edition in Orange Spice- This just sounds plain delicious!
• e.l.f. Studio Cream Eyeliner in Metallic Olive- I've never tried out any ELF products before nor have I tried out gel/cream eyeliner, so I'm hoping this won't be a disastrous buy!  Other reviews praised it and the color looked and sounded lovely!
•  Ardell Accent Lashes in Black #305-  I loved my Sonia Kashuk demi lashes, and I'm hoping I'll like these just as much!
•  Wet n Wild Color Icon 6-pan palette in Vanity- The final original 6-pan palette I don't own!  I felt like this looked too warm for me, but I've been loving the FOTDs with it so I decided it wouldn't hurt to try!
•  Wet n Wild Color Icon 8-pan palette in Comfort Zone- The reason I ordered!  I have been trying to get some more neutrals for a more professional look (when I need it), and this just looks ridiculously gorgeous!  I'm going to try to resist the Urban Decay Naked palette with this, lol!
  
• Wet n Wild Color Icon Liner Brow & Eye Pencil in Dark Brown- My eyebrows are forever a confusing topic for me, I pluck strays and also use an eyebrow shaver shaper, but have never had them professionally shaped due to the amount of maintenance they would need (and also because of the pain involved!).  I have tried a brow powder from Anastasia, but just don't feel it looks very natural, although it's probably because I have no idea how to use it properly.  So, this could be a serious disaster, or could be fantastic.  For $0.99, I decided it could be worth trying! 
• Wet n Wild Color Icon 8-pan palette in Blue Had Me at Hello- I don't really have any true blues in my stash, so I thought this one would be nice as well!  Plus, that bright aqua blue color looks insanely gorgeous, as does the icy pale blue.  :)  

So, that's my haul from drugstore.com! It came in at around $25 with a $5 off $30 code that I found from retailmenot.com, and I couldn't believe I got so many goodies! I can't wait to get my shipment, and I'll be posting some reviews when I get them, but is there any particular item that you would like to see a review of first?  :)

More Blogger's Obsessions Looks

Wow, I got a bit behind there!  I've been taking pictures of my FOTDs, but keep forgetting to blog them! So, here's two more looks with my Blogger's Obsessions purchases:  Jealousy Wakes and Hocus Pocus. 

The first one was inspired by Christine from Temptalia's look with Jealousy Wakes.  I really liked the neutral lid paired with Jealousy wakes, but other than that, my look is obviously quite different!  I tried to get several different angles in, because I wanted to show off that gorgeous teal shimmer in it!  I also got a NIB  MAC Bite of an Apple blush from a wonderful Specktra member that night, so I put that on as well for the photos, lol!

Full look-don't mind my silly posing

This was when I decided to try out a pair of Sonia Kashuk demi lashes that I bought for really cheap.  I've never worn false lashes before (mainly because they hit into my glasses) but I fell in LOVE with the way these made my eyes look and they didn't hit into my glasses, so definite keepers :)

What I used:

Foundation: Bare Escentuals original mineral foundation in fairly light, Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil

Primer: MAC paint pot in Painterly
lid: Melancholy Maiden

crease and outer 1/3 of lid: MAC Jealousy Wakes

brow and blending: Aromaleigh Melancholy Maiden

Tearduct: Aromaleigh We're All Mad Here (not particularly obvious, but it's a light green with shimmer)

liner: Jordana Fabuliner in black (If they ever discontinue this, I will be so SAD!)

Mascara: Maybelline Full n Soft

Cheeks: MAC Bite of an Apple

lips: MAC Ultra Darling

My look with Hocus Pocus was super quick, but I really liked it nonetheless!  I was seriously having issues trying to decide what to wear for a party, but I thought this up at the last minute when a much more colorful look seriously failed! (note to self: do not attempt a hot pink and purple look when you are rushed for time!)

What I used:

Foundation: Bare Escentuals original mineral foundation in fairly light, Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil

Primer: MAC paint pot in Painterly
lid: MAC Silver Ring

crease and outer 1/3 of lid: MAC Hocus Pocus

brow and tear duct: probably a combo of the highlighters included in the Wet n Wild Lust palette (definitely my favorite highlighters)

liner: Jordana Fabuliner in black

Mascara: Maybelline Full n Soft

Cheeks: Illamasqua Nymph (most likely, although it's not particularly obvious so maybe nothing!)

lips: MAC Lazy Day lightly applied (I so wish this had not been LE)

MAC Blogger's Obsessions- Swatches and FOTDs with Hocus Pocus and Jealousy Wakes

So, like everybody else in the make-up blogosphere, I was hotly anticipating the MAC Blogger's Obsessions collection that came out this month!  It was an exclusive online collection that nine different bloggers participated in, and where they got to design their own exclusive MAC lipglass or eyeshadow!  How exciting would that be?  I'm definitely a MAC girl and that sounds like a dream!  I have not the slightest clue what kind of color I would design though!   I bought Jealousy Wakes and Hocus Pocus eyeshadows.

Jealousy Wakes was designed by Christine from Temptalia, my very favorite beauty blog!  In fact, Christine was the one who really got me interested in make-up, so how could I not buy a color designed by her?  Of course, it helped that it was a gorgeous color anyways!  On me, Jealousy Wakes is a blue-based emerald green with teal shimmer running through it.  Very duochrome-like due to the heavy shimmer.  I've already worn this three times since getting it last Friday, it's really lovely!  The first time I wore it on the lid with a charcoal with gold sparkles in the crease and a metallic gold on the inner 1/3 and tear duct.  That was just an experimentation when I first got it, so I don't really have the greatest shots of it. I also never did eyeliner or mascara...oops.  But of course, it  was just me experimenting.  So, sorry it's not super pretty, but you can get a good idea of what the color looks like.  Also, here's some comparison swatches:

from left to right: MAC Shimmermoss, MAC Jealousy Wakes, MAC Surf USA, MAC Birds and Berries

 You can see from the swatches that Jealousy Wakes' shimmer really changes it from different angles, same thing with Birds and Berries on the end.  It can look really quite bright straight on due to the light colored shimmer.

Experimental look (messy with no mascara and eyeliner, sorry!): MAC Jealousy Wakes paired with Loreal HIP Gilded Duo (the gold in the inner and charcoal shade in the crease)

 But when I did a full look with Jealousy Wakes, I went all out!  I love wearing yellow and green shades together, so that's what I did with this one :)  I used Rocky Mountain green jumbo pencil not because it's not pigmented, but so it would lean a bit more green.

What I used:

Eye Primer: MAC Painterly Paint Pot, outer 2/3 of lid is NYX Rocky Mountain Green Jumbo pencil

Inner 1/3 lid + inner 1/3 of bottom lashline- Sugarpill Buttercupcake

outer 2/3 of lid + middle of bottom lashline- MAC Jealousy Wakes

Crease + outer1/3 of bottom lashline- Charcoal with gold sparkle color from Loreal HIP Gilded metallic Duo (swatched below)

Upper lashline- Jordana Fabuliner in Black

Mascara- Maybelline Full n Soft

Blush- Illamasqua Nymph (really softly)

Lips- MAC Myself lipstick (LE) and NYX Sugar Pie mega shine lipgloss

foundation- Bare Minerals Foundation in Fairly Light and Mineral Veil

Hocus Pocus was designed by Lianne Farbes from "The Makeup Girl" blog.  I had never personally read her blog before, but I couldn't resist the color when I saw Christine's swatch of it on her blog!  On me, It's a gorgeous smoky gray that has multicolored shimmer integrated into it.  It is so stunning!  In some lights it has a purple tone to it, while in others it's more of a taupey brown.  Really a fascinating color, and also a chameleon that changes when you pair it with different colors.  So here's some swatches of it besides other eyeshadows and also my little experimentation with it.  Lianne mentioned that you could use this all over the lid and in the crease for a fantastic smokey eye and I totally agree, my example is a little messy and without eyeliner and mascara, but I can totally see it's potential, it's gorgeous! 

Left to right:  Dark Brown from Wet n Wild Sugarplum fairy palette, MAC Hocus Pocus, Dark silver from Wet n Wild Lust palette, and the dark charcoal with gold sparkles from the Loreal HIP Gilded metallic duo

My experimental look (sorry for no mascara or liner again!): Hocus Pocus on the lid, the highlighters from the Wet n Wild Lust palette mixed together and in the inner corner and on the brow to blend, and the charcoal with gold sparkles from the Loreal HIP Gilded Duo (swatched above)

The multicolored shimmer in this eyeshadow is so mesmerizing!  Really lovely!  Here's my full look from Monday featuring Hocus Pocus in the crease.  It looks a little worse for wear because this was at the end of the day, and I didn't realize that my eyeliner looks a little rough too!  Sorry!    

What I used:

Eye primer: NAC Painterly Paint Pot

Inner 1/3 lid- Plum with gold sparkle from Wet n Wild Sugarplum Fairy palette (also blended into crease)

inner 1/3 of bottom lashline- Aromaleigh Hearts a Plenty

outer 2/3 of lid- MAC Trax

Crease + outer 2/3 of bottom lashline-MAC Hocus Pocus

Upper lashline- Jordana Fabuliner in Brown

Mascara- Maybelline Full n Soft

So, that was my experience so far with my MAC Blogger's Obsessions eyeshadows!  Really gorgeous and unique multidimensional colors with lovely shimmer!  Unfortunately, these two eyeshadows are sold out, but they apparently are going to come back in stock, so be on the look-out! 

Retro Photoshoot

On Thursday, a friend and I got together to do a photo shoot. She modeled for me and I modeled for her, although I'm much less modelesque than her.  While I am by no means a model, it was fun styling myself and doing my makeup for the shoot, something I am much more comfortable doing!  I went with a 50's theme and decided to do my version of a  retro pin-up girl look: neutral eyes, winged liner, and red lipstick.  My clothing choices were also inspired by the 50's, an era of fashion that never fails to inspire me!

Here's a pretty good view of the make-up I did for the shoot.

And just a silly one of me laughing :)

Model, stylist, make-up, and editing: me!

Photographer: Yanan Sun

Check out the rest of our photo shoot, and my pictures of her on my Facebook photography fan page!

Traincase to Vanity

I used to long for an awesome traincase, and then I got one.  As much as I loved the way it organized and looked, it just wasn't easy to open up since it needed a lot of room.  My bathroom was not an ideal spot for it, my bathroom is small and it just was not working out.  Then I had a new dream: a beautiful and functional vanity.  I figured I would never be able to fit one in my room, and my dream remained just that.  Then, I went crazy and got rid of lots of stuff and re-organized, and suddenly I had plenty of room.  Then, I couldn't find a suitable vanity.  It had to fit in my space, about 40-43 inches, and have lots of drawers and organizing space.  Most pieces of furniture advertised as "vanities" were WAY too tiny, having only one small drawer and minimal top space.  Then, my Craigslist search ended when I came upon a little white desk that made my heart flutter. <3

Priced at $125, it was the perfect size and had tons of organizing room.  When I met the sellers, my dad and I were able to bargain them down to $100, and really I needed the extra funds to repaint it.  It's a gorgeous solid wood desk, but the paint job was questionable.  It looked as though the previous owners decided they should paint it with a paint roller and thus there was some weird texture going on.  It was also pretty dirty.  So, operation vanity included a definite re-paint.

Welcome!

Hey there, my name is Ashley!  I'm a photographer as well as a girl addicted to beauty and fashion.  I love reading blogs and so I decided it might be time to make my own :)  I especially like beauty blogs dedicated to reviews and swatches, and I'm always on an endless search for swatches of things I want to buy over the internet.  I also love experimenting with new ways of wearing makeup, but I'm especially fond of purple, thus my blog's name!  I love purple eyeshadow and lipsticks, and really anything else that's pretty and purple.  I also love painting my nails and finding new frilly dresses to wear.  I'm definitely a girly girl, but make no mistake, I'm not a ditzy one!  I just love the way that makeup and fashion let me express myself, and I certainly do it more for myself than anyone else!


So here's some of my current beauty favorites:

Favorite High End Cosmetic Line: MAC
Favorite Drugstore Cosmetic Line: Wet n Wild and Revlon

Favorite High End Lipstick: MAC lipsticks (I can't help but love so many of them!)

Favorite Drugstore lipstick: NYX Round Lipsticks and Revlon Super Lustrous Lipsticks

Favorite High End Lipgloss: MAC Lipglass

Favorite Drugstore lipgloss: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipglosses (such gorgeous shiny colors)

Favorite Blush: Illamasqua powder blusher  (I am in love with Nymph especially!)

Favorite High End Eyeshadow: MAC and Sugarpill

Favorite Drugstore Eyeshadow: Wet n Wild color icon palettes (you can't beat their pigmentation!)

Favorite High End eyeliner:  MAC pearlglides (oh so sparkly!)

Favorite Drugstore eyeliner:  Jordana Fabuliner liquid eyeliner (this stuff is amazing and so cheap!)

Favorite eye primer:  MAC paint pot in Painterly

Favorite Foundation:  Bare Escentuals mineral foundation