Product Review: Little Black Palette by LORAC

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LORAC has recently introduced a new shadow palette (quad) named Little Black Palette. Having had the occasion to use it on a client yesterday, I thought that it would be the perfect time for a review.

The palette comes in a small black and gold case that protect its contents: four shadows and a mini Behind the Scenes Eyeshadow Primer. I'd estimate the product's casing to be about 4" by 5" and 1" H.

Primer: Quite a small container, but the product should last about two months, I'd estimate, because you need very little. The consistency is similar to that of Urban Decay's Primer Potion. It emulsifies nicely, no clumping, rubs into the lid area becoming translucent. I'd say this primer size is perfect for the palette because it's concise enough to take with you on an overnight trip, or longer, and all you'd need to pack alongside it would be mascara and your brushes.

Shadows: Four shimmery shades: a very light gold, a soft beige, a dark gold with red-brown undertones, and a dark brown (sans red undertones) wearable for day and night looks. The shadows are well-pigmented, smooth to apply and are all you will need to create a smokey eye for the office or, if applied more dramatically, a night out. The shadows, as with any, can be applied wet or dry. The dark brown can be used wet with a hard angle brush along the lash-line as liner.

Overall: The product is a great deal as it has all the shades needed to create a neutral smokey eye. The lightest will be a great highlighter for the inner eye and along the brow bone. As far as cost, a single baked shadow by LORAC is $22, so at $32 this is not a bad deal by any means. The colors are wearable for any skin tone and any event! Although this product isn't very exciting, the colors are classic, I'd say it is a basic staple that you will find useful - hence "Little Black Palette."

xoxox

Am I Prepping My Face or My Car??

Buff, prime, coat...

When did preparing and beautifying my skin become so... automotive sounding?

Regardless of how un-feminine it may sound, primer is a key component in my makeup routine; I suggest you welcome it into yours with open arms as well.

Why do I need primer? What does it do? Is it like moisturizer? Where do I use it, when, and how?

Hold your questions until the end, please.

Primer is a formula that generally comes in a consistency similar to that of a lotion or a serum. By choosing the right primer, you can greatly increase the look, feel, and staying power of your makeup on a daily basis. Formulas vary in promises, from color balancing, to redness reducing, brightening, oil-combatting, anti-aging, pore reducing, etc. Not only will primers help to counter any 'problems' for your particular skin, they will also keep your makeup looking fresh throughout the day.

Primer is not to be confused with moisturizer or toner, or any other step for that matter. Primer is its own entity, a separate step, if you will. Primer is to be applied to your entire face after moisturizing and before using foundation. Determine which primer best suits your skin type and your individual skin concerns and you will see a difference in the way your makeup wears throughout the day; if you do not, you have chosen a primer that may not be the best for you-keep trying. When you find the one that is meant for you, you will never want to be without it. When you know, you know. You know?

Having said all of that - let me give you a few suggestions based on my own experience. Even if you are the type of person who sounds like this, "Oh I just don't really spend a lot of time doing my makeup, I just don't have time to do it and I don't really want to. I like basic products, I'd rather not spend a lot of money-I mean, it's just makeup!" You STILL NEED PRIMER. Not only do you need it, but my honest-to-goodness advice is that primer is not the step that you want to be cheap on. If you buy the right primer, you can skimp a little on what goes on top of it-so let's just think of this in terms of opportunity cost.

My skin type: combination - normal to oily, with a chance of rain. The primer that I use, love, and will never turn my back on is Smashbox Photo Finish Light. The regular sized container costs $36 and lasts me about four months. $36 may sound pricey for a step in your makeup routine that you seem to have survived without thus far; it breaks down to spending $0.30 a day AND you need it. No more excuses. Yes it's oil-free. Buy Smashbox Photo Finish Light here.

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My suggestion is this: browse the Smashbox selection for a primer that will best suit your needs. There are six, I believe, different formulas that the brand offers. Go into a store and try them on your hand to see what you think about the texture. I love the Photo Finish Light for my skin type because it goes on like a lotion and rubs in completely - it leaves absolutely no residue.

For normal to dry skin, I would suggest either the Smashbox Photo Finish (original) or the BareEscentuals Prime Time. While I would suggest the BareEscentuals Prime Time for normal to dry skin, I would NOT suggest the Prime Time Oil Control for normal to oily skin. The Prime Time Oil Control serum leaves a residue that makes my skin feel oilier and I also have to be very careful because the formula flakes if I do not take special care to rub it in completely (think chin area, neck, and hairline which can be overlooked in a hurry). Buy Photo Finish Primer (original) here.

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Urban Decay also offers a Pore-Perfecting Primer which can help to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, in addition to reducing the noticeability of larger pores. If large pores are your main concern, this will be a nice option for you. Buy Urban Decay Pore-Perfecting Primer here.

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If you are looking for a primer that not only maintains the freshness of your makeup but also brightens your face to an illuminated, healthy-looking glow, opt for That Gal by Benefit. It is one of the most popular Benefit products for a reason; the subtle glow is enough for those with naturally beautiful skin to use, dust with a light powder and head out the door. Urban Decay offers a brightening formula in a primer as well, but I would suggest That Gal as it seems to be the crowd favorite, thus, odds are in your favor! Buy Benefit That Gal here.

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Allow me to recap. Primer is used after moisturizing and before applying foundation. It will create a smoother, more even surface for your makeup, as well as ensuring that your makeup will last as long as you need it to. Primers come with many options, so find the one that best suits you and don't end your search until you have the Aha! moment. Do not go cheap-yes, I've tried it and no, the Revlon Smoothing Primer does not cut it. Ever heard of the Emperor's New Clothes? Yes, same concept. Now get out there and find the primer that revs your engine!

Nighty night!

xoxox

Mascara Woes...

They say you never know what you've got 'til it's gone...

And although I don't necessarily think that they were referring to mascara, I find that it applies here too. My favorite mascara tube is nearly empty and it's time to repurchase! On a brighter note, I will be repurchasing, not continuing to search for that perfect match! I thought perhaps it would be helpful to tell you a bit about mascaras that I've tried. A little bit of love it or leave it input to aide you in your quest for your own perfect mascara match!


At #1 - BadGal Lash by Benefit



This Mascara Will Change Your World. It has the ultimate fluffy brush-luxe, right? Unlike other mascaras, it truly does add volume and length with just a small amount! For those of you who prefer a few coats (several if you are me), you will notice that this mascara does not clump the way most others do! The formula dries quickly, minimizing the chance of the mascara'd lash stamp on your upper lid AND I've found that it doesn't flake on my cheek!

I have fairly sensitive eyes that have been irritated by certain mascaras in the past (think a certain pink and green that's been around since the beginning of time) and this mascara doesn't bother my eyes at all.

Benefit, you've done well!

Image Source / Buy BadGal by Benefit for $19


Runner Up - Skyscraper Multi-Benefit Mascara by Urban Decay

My second favorite mascara at the moment, and one that I think works nicely but doesn't make my heart go pitter-patter at the same rate that the first did (le sigh), is Skyscraper by Urban Decay. The product description advises that the formula is meant to "lengthen, strengthen, separate, curl, brighten and thicken." While I cannot prove the mascara's ability to strengthen and brighten, I do believe that it accomplishes in creating longer looking, separated lashes. The wand is concise, but I can see this mascara being more useful for people of all lash lengths. The size of the wand allows for strategic placement sans undereye residue from a misguided swipe, so it will work great for shorter lashes as well.

Image Source / Buy Skyscraper by Urban Decay for $22

Amongst my leave-its are:

BareEcentuals Flawless Definition - the wand is very thin and I felt that it took too much time to achieve length and definition. The wand can support very little product at a time and application is more tedious than with other mascara options. If you are in no hurry at all (thus eliminating applications in the morning before work) this may work well for you. However, if you are looking for a mascara that you can swipe on and go, this won't be your cup of tea.

Maybelline XXL Pro - the primer works excellently, but the mascara itself does clump quite a bit so your lashes will require some declumping attention post application.

Maybelline Pulse Perfection - mascara works well enough and the vibrating wand does help slightly in preventing clumping. Unfortunately, I found that applying more than one coat is a difficult task because the mascara is quite clump-prone and adheres to itself.

Maybelline Full and Soft - an okay formula to get by with. This isn't going to take your lashes to the next level but it will suffice.

Rimmel Glam Eyes - an okay mascara with an awful wand. I will never repurchase this mascara because the wand is flimsy and literally bends against the container when you try to put it back into the tube. I cannot explain how many times I had mascara all over my hand because the wand bent when I tried to put it back in the container. Awful.

Overall, I would suggest Benefit's BadGal Lash to everyone. Go out and buy it now! Sometimes you can even score a sample of the formula as a gift with purchase from places like Belk, Ulta, etc.

Good luck, Gorgeous!

Marooned.

I've noticed, as of late, that maroon-esque shadow and liners hues seem to be of-the-moment. This surprised me slightly because maroon has definately been the under-dog, minus a shade from the family appearing in the Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows from Urban Decay earlier this year. I suppose for brown eyes, the color can actually have the effect of a fresh take on neutrals as it does seem a bit inpired by the chocolate and taupey neutrals we've grown accustomed to. Just as with the chocolate, the maroon liners and shadows can be paired with taupes, beiges, altogether light colors that aren't necessarily for a night look; alternatively, maroon shadow and liner can be dramaticized to create a smudgey or smouldering effect that will work quite nicely for night.

My suggestions: Try lining in 1999 by Urban Decay or, if going the maroon shadow route, opt for Gash, also by Urban Decay. I use Queen, from the Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows and pair it with nudes or beiges like Sellout, YDK, and Naked. A nice nude lip completes the look perfectly-day or night!

Also try: a smokeymaroon eye with black liquid liner with a slight cat-eye OR a smudgey maroon lined eye with thin black liquid cat-eye.

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Buh bye for now, Beauties.

xoxox

Rain Rain Go Away!!

Savannah has found itself amidst tornadic storm warnings and rain that can't seem to decide if it'd like to drizzle or deluge, thus alternating between the two. The air is thick with humidity and my hair is not loving it. Wish I would have planned better this morning! In a hurry, I ran out the door without my secret weapon to protect me from the rain and frizzle from the drizzle. So, let me dispense a piece of information that may potentially help you through your tornadic storm warnings and other hair hinderences; Kenra hairspray (available at ULTA and other salon-type retailers) is the BEST hairspray I have ever used. As a matter of fact, this little tid bit is just another reason I can be thankful for my Mom-her worldly wisdom and product knowledge is unsurpassed! She introduced me to Kenra's Volume Hairspray 25 and I have yet to find anything that will work the wonders it does. No hairspray compares. Not only does it have extra-hold ability, it doesn't create the helmet-head effect and will not turn white if you accidentally hold it too close to your head! At $22.00 a bottle, it is not necessarily a bargain, but it isn't break the bank status either; the bottle will last a few months and it will be your new best hairspray friend.

BOTTOM LINE: KENRA's 25 HAIRSPRAY is the ONLY HAIRSPRAY YOU'LL EVER NEED TO BUY.

Later Lovelies!

xoxox

Hark!! Introducing the Gorgeous Gal Glam Society!

Here ye, here ye! Etc. Etc. Etc.

On this third day of May, two thousand and ten, the Gorgeous Gal Glam Society opens its doors and a wave of glam, glimmer, glitz, and other equally glittery adjectives, beginning with letters other than G, flood into the streets. The world as it had been known will soon see the difference! Beauty is ever-present, but it seems that the tradition of enhancing one's own has fallen routine. A routine, might I add, that has become more of a rushed hassle than a pleasure. Let nostalgia encompass your thoughts for just a moment. I recall the days when I would sneak into my mother's closet to rummage through shoes, still housed in their original boxes, satiny, sparkly, and lavish. Peering into drawers of cosmetics, and watching with wide-eyes while my mother carefully applied each while concentrating on the ritual of the woman in the mirror. Red lipstick, rouged cheeks, a coat of mascara and diamond earrings.

Let us recall and revive the ritual; out with the rushed routine.

We'll begin today...

Keep it glam, Gorgeous!

xoxox