Makeup Shy (Eye look using Pretty Addictions and e.l.f)

Don't judge me too harshly! I know I am missing mascara and my eyebrows aren't filled in, but boyfriend caught me off guard.

Let me go into a little story before I tell you exactly what I used. As I may or may not have stated before on this blog, I have only really gotten into makeup within the past year. Before that, all I would wear is some eyeliner, mascara when I remembered and lip balm ALWAYS! After watching all the beauty gurus on YouTube and reading all the beauty blogs for years, I finally decided to get a bit more adventurous with my makeup. While some things still scare me (I am pointing at you "definitely not my skin tone" foundation and "can never get you perfect" top eyeliner!), I have gotten a lot more comfortable with applying makeup. However for some reason, I am still very self conscious while wearing eye makeup and lipstick. Weird huh?

Anyway after consulting with some of the ladies over at IsThatOdd, an online community in which you interact with other users by posting about various topics and earn coins to exchange for samples (Don't worry, I will have a whole post dedicated to this website soon!), I decided to finally start posting some makeup looks on here.

Which brings us to that look way up there at the beginning of this post. I primed my lids with Too Faced Shadow Insurance. I used Pretty Addictions 25 Karat Gold on 3/4 of my lid. I applied it wet using Visine (haha it works!). I used a dark brown eyeshadow from the e.l.f 100 eyeshadow palette on the outer corner and lightly in the crease. I am not sure what I used as a highlight because I did this look a month ago haha!

Anyway feedback will be greatly appreciated! I told you guys I had a lot of changes planned for this blog this year :)

There are only a couple more hours to enter my $20 SkinCareRx/Apothica gift card giveaway for beauty bloggers and four more days to enter my Mystery Box giveaway! Good luck :)

How To: Press Mineral Eyeshadows

Tools:

• Loose mineral eyeshadow (I am using a eyeshadow from PrettyAddictions.com)
• Empty eyeshadow pan
• Spoon or something to transfer the rubbing alcohol from the bottle to the pan (to avoid major spillage)
• Clean bobby pin or something small to mix with
• Rubbing alcohol (The higher the percentage, the quicker it evaporates. I used 70% because that is what I had at my house but you can use higher or lower, it really doesn't matter.)
• Glycerin (I got this at Rite Aid for $5 USD. This was the smallest bottle they had but I definitely did not need anywhere close to this amount. However, glycerin is good for skin repair so you can use a drop or two to moisturize your hands and body.)
• A coin equal to the size of the eyeshadow pan. I used a quarter (not pictured above).
• A palette or somewhere to store your pressed eyeshadow.
• I also spread out paper towels on the hard surface I was using because this can get messy.

Steps:

1. Sanitize the tools you are using with the rubbing alcohol.

2. Add a couple drops of rubbing alcohol to the eyeshadow pan. Make sure it is enough to cover the bottom of the pan.

3. Add 1 drop of glycerin.

4. Transfer some eyeshadow into the eyeshadow pan and mix.

5. Keep adding more eyeshadow and mixing. Add more rubbing alcohol to make it easier to mix. Don't be afraid if you add "too much" alcohol because it evaporates. When your pan is halfway filled, you can add another drop of gylcerin and the rest of your eyeshadow until the pan is almost completely filled. 

6. When you are done adding your eyeshadow, drop the pan at short distances onto a hard surface. This will cause the eyeshadow to even out in the pan. You will notice a lot of the moisture will rise to the top. 

7. Leave the eyeshadow pan out to dry. You can leave it out overnight to dry completely or wait a few hours until it is dry to the touch.

8. When the eyeshadow is dry, place a paper towel or a cloth over the eyeshadow pan (on a hard surface). Place a quarter over the paper towel and press into the eyeshadow firmly. This causes the eyeshadow to become compact and also allows for you to soak up any extra moisture that may be left over. The eyeshadow is only safe to use after all the moisture has left the eyeshadow, so if your paper towel is moist after pressing, wait a few hours before using the eyeshadow on your eyes!

9. The empty palette that I purchased was already magnetized, so I didn't need to do the extra step in adding a magnetic strip to the back of the pan. I peeled off the sticker from the jar that the eyeshadow came in and pasted it onto the back of the eyeshadow pan. 

10. Place eyeshadow pan in a palette or somewhere safe for storage. 

I hope you all enjoyed this "How To" blog post. This is just my method of pressing eyeshadows. There are tons of different ways but this is the way that works for me. If you try this, let me know if it works for you!

Pretty Addictions Haul: Part 2

Today I have Part 2 of my Pretty Addictions Haul. You can view Part 1 here.

From Top to Bottom: Vivid. Torrid, Darkness, Electric Lemonade, Shattered Pearls

My favorites from this bunch are Electric Lemonade and Shattered Pearls. Electric Lemonade is a bright teal eyeshadow that may seem intimidating to use at first but it looks AMAZING on the lid! I use Shattered Pearls in the inner corner and as a highlight, but according to the product description on PrettyAddictions.com it can also be used as a cheek highlight among other things.

*Photos of eyeshadows in Jar were taken from PrettyAddictions.com except for the photo of Shattered Pearls in the jar. All finger swatches, photo of Shattered Pearls in the jar and the photo of the package were taken by TheVEROblog.

Pretty Addictions Haul: Part 1

Today, I have another Pretty Addictions haul for you all. This will be a two part haul. About two months ago I made my first purchase from PrettyAddictions.com (which you can read about here). Within a week or so from making that first purchase, I made another purchase. I COULD NOT RESIST! I have really fallen in love with these products. For one, they are so reasonably priced and there is almost always a great deal going on over at the website. Secondly, these products are super pigmented and are of great quality.

Check out some of the eyeshadows I purchased below and be sure to come back to see the second part of this haul, which will be posted later on in the week.

From top to bottom: Mango Margarita, Brown Suga, Mojito, Foggy Hollow, Bloom

       

                                                                

*(Photos of eyeshadows in jar were taken from PrettyAddictions.com. Photos of package and finger swatches are property of TheVEROblog)

Pretty Addictions Mineral Cosmetics Review: Not Coming Home Alone Tonight

Pretty Addictions Mineral Cosmetics is an online makeup store created by Kassandra of Pretty Addictions Blog. Sounds familiar? Well, I featured Kassandra in a Spotlight post a couple months ago, which you can read here.

Pretty Addictions Mineral Cosmetics offers a Blogger/YouTube/Promoter Special of $18.75 worth of products for $12 (and a mini package of $6.75 worth of products for $5). There were 3 different collections available for this promotion and I chose "Not Coming Home Alone Tonight". I received a full sized blush, a 10g jar of eyeshadow, 5g jar of eyeshadow, a clamshell sample and a bag sample.

I also purchased another 10g jar eyeshadow and because I spent over $15, I received a 5g jar of the eyeshadow of the week FOR FREE!

...and this deal wasn't good enough, SHIPPING IS ONLY $2! My whole order totaled to about $20.

All photos are clickable. Click for a closer look!



The Big "O" is a shimmery peach blush. It comes in a 20g jar (Retail Value: $7.50), which has a sifter. It applies smoothly but I have to be very careful to apply lightly because the shimmer can be a little too much for me.

Silver Screen is a silver shimmer eyeshadow. I received this eyeshadow in a 10g jar (Retail Value: $5.50). The color payoff is great!

Wicked is a deep purple eyeshadow with some shimmer. I received this eyeshadow in a 5g jar (Retail Value: $3.50). This is a great crease color.

Locked and Loaded is a gunmetal grey eyeshadow with irridescent glitter that I received in a clamshell sample (Retail Value: $1.25). This is another great crease color but I apply this lightly so I don't end up looking like a racoon haha!


Pina Colada is a white shimmer eyeshadow that I love using in the inner corners of my eyes and as a highlight. Unfortunately, Pretty Addictions no longer sells bag samples so I cannot give you the Retail Value, but this does come in clamshell sample size, 5g jar and 10g jar.


 
Now here is the eyeshadow I purchased (seperate price from the Blogger Package):
 

 
25 Karat Gold is a straight up gold eyeshadow that I am SO IN LOVE WITH. Honestly, I don't think I will ever love another eyeshadow as much as I love this one. The color payoff is AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING, I kid you not! I mean, the swatch above is only one light swipe from the eyeshadow. I purchased the 10g jar (Retail Value: $6) because this is a Limited Edition eyeshadow so I did not want to take a chance only buying the 5g (because I knew I was going to love it before I even bought it!).
 
 
Free Eyeshadow of the Week (for spending over $15):
 

 
Vintage Doll is a light, rusty pink with irredescent glitter. I received a 5g jar (Retail Value: $3.50). This is a beautiful, soft pink eyeshadow that would also look great on the cheeks!
 
 
Overall, I really love Pretty Addictions Mineral Cosmetics company. Trust me - I placed another order a week after purchasing this one! Kassandra provides awesome customer service and great deals.
 
Kassandra regularly hosts contests and holds sales. The best place to find out is by "Liking" Pretty Addictions Facebook page and following the Twitter page.


My Halloween giveaway ends tomorrow!