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On my libra Scale ♎ The Big O vs Elf

 If you're a lover of the infamous NARS orgasm blush you have to try out Elf's contouring compact! It comes with one blush that is impressively similar to the NARS cult favorite on a much lower price tag. The compact also includes a deep bronzer to contour your face.

I've loved the Orgasm blush longer before Drake gave it a shout out in his song, Fancy, and wasn't surprised when I learned it was one of beauty Kim Kardashian's favorite products.

 Thanks to Pinterest and many Hollywood makeup artists, the art of contouring has become a makeup trick the more average person can learn.  If you want to try it this kit is a steal (I paid $3)! For proper contouring you need more of a highlighter but this is good for beginners and fans of the orgasm shade.  I have always found that the blush looked even better after I had applied the orgasm illuminator also by NARS, first, to the apples of my cheekbones. It gives even more of a glow to your cheeks that I love all year round.

Thinking of possibly purchasing only the illuminator from now on and saving some money by purchasing the elf version to save money and still look good!  Elf is always a hit or miss for me.  Either I love their products or I hate them. This was definitely one I love and will purchase again!

 

Mama Mia!

  I recently celebrated my 23rd birthday and fortunately was given a coupon code from a Sephora employee for 20% off.  As soon as I saw the coupon I knew exactly what I was going to use it on.  The Clarisonic Mia cleansing system has been on my wish list for quite some time.  The only reason I had been procrastinating on the purchase was because the price is a little steep, the one I got was $119 and that is the smallest one available for purchase.  With the coupon I paid a total of $103.  Not too shabby for a birthday present to myself.  Hey, a girls gotta spoil herself sometime why not on her birthday!?

In case you haven't heard about this product it is a cleansing tool for your face that, according to the makers, clean your skin 6x deeper than manual cleaning. The one that I got only comes with one speed that will stay on for 60 seconds and turn off automatically.  One of the features that I love most about it is that it's waterproof so I can use it in the shower! I have noticed in the fee times I've used it how much smoother my skin is.  I don't really have acne only once in awhile a blemish will appear and be stubborn.  Blackheads are a problem on my nose and I have a couple acne scars so I am hoping this product will just liven up my face and help me achieve an even toned brighter clear face.

Right off the bat, I noticed how it really removes everything that's left under your skin.  Normally, at night I can be a little lazy, so prefer to use makeup cleansing wipes. I used one of those, and washed with the Mia and was amazed at all the residue that is still left on my skin. And to think that I would sleep like that! Now, I am a makeup lover, I love to put on makeup sometimes just for fun.  I definitely think this product is for anyone, but especially if you are like me and can't go a day without makeup.  We must remember in order for our makeup to look flawless we must have a flawless canvas.  This product gives me hope that I can have the best fresh face for me.  I will do another update on this product when I have used it more.  Maybe in another month and then three to six months as well.  I am using it with the bareMinerals Purifying Cleanser (another product I love) because it is gentle but leaves my skin feeling squeaky without over drying.  I follow that with a with hazel toner and Murad moisturizers for day and night.  I also try to do a combination of mask, scrub, or peel to my skin twice a week.  So far is product seems to allow my skin to absorb all those products so much better.  Hope I will see a difference but I will keep you guys posted! Also, if any readers have this product I would love to hear your opinion on it!

TGIF

With the end of a long work week always comes the shining light that is FRIDAY! If you guys are getting ready to enjoy your weekend and need some tunes to get you in the party mode stop by
thebassment.net


Tonight one of my favorite DJ's, Cheeto Lopez,  will be doing a gues mix check it out!

The Perfect Pair

Urban Decay Naked Foundation & Urban Decay Dew Me Makeup Setting Spray

For years I have been a fan of all things Urban Decay. From their bright and bold pigmented shadows to their detailed packaging, UD has always been a favorite of mine. Their Surreal Skin Cream to Powder foundation was one I had been using for the last three years. More recently, following the success of their NAKED eye shadow pallets, UD released a new foundation named NAKED.

Initially I was skeptical to try it because I was so used to the cream to powder foundation, however an associate at Sephora mentioned that those foundations will soon be discontinued. With that being said I knew I had to try the new NAKED foundation.

What I liked right off the bat was the amount that came in the bottle. While the cream to powder offers great coverage, such a small amount comes in each compact and I was having to purchase two a month. The NAKED bottle lasted me about two months and let me tell you that a little goes a long way. They each cost about the same price ($35 vs. $40) so you can see how the NAKED is definitely more of a bang for your buck!

Like I said, the compact foundation did offer great coverage so that was something I was hoping the NAKED could live up to. There is a big difference between the two. Although the liquid is very silky it does leave somewhat of a matte finish and I do feel the NAKED offers amazing coverage while coming off much lighter than the compact. It gives you that "naked" look on your skin, while covering up any imperfections and evening the skin tone. The final look is a very natural one but if needed you can always build it if you want a more dramatic night time look.

Because winter is right around the corner and people are prone to drier skin, I decided to go a different route than the normal setting powders. Urban Decay has a line of three makeup setting sprays each claiming to hold your makeup perfectly for up to 16hrs. The one that came home with me was the one titled Dew Me for dry skin. I don't really have dry skin but figured it was a good idea to keep it as moisturized as possible.

The finished look with these two products was so much better than I anticipated. Dew Me left a soft glowy look on my skin without it feeling tightened. Along with the foundation, the finished product is a natural almost angelic glow. It looks like you don't wear much makeup at all which is a look I think most women want to create! Its claim to hold the makeup proved true in my eyes. My face looks just as fresh as it did when first applied. Normally I would need to re-touch my makeup a couple times at work and now I can go the whole shift and even out for drinks after without having to re-apply any makeup. This saves you time and not to mention money as well because your makeup will last longer.

The natural look of the foundation and the dewy look from the setting spray work so well together I can't imagine using a different makeup routine. I get compliments all the time too! If the price of these two scares you a bit just keep in mind that these products are going to last you and they are quality products. You will definitely get what you pay for!

 

Audrey: A Classic Beauty

I was having trouble deciding what I wanted my third post to be about.  I decided to look through some of the other blogs that I frequent for some sort of inspiration. Time led me to look around my room where I couldn't help but notice all the photos and other memorabilia hanging in my room of the infamous beauty that is Audrey Hepburn.  This post will be short and sweet with just enough to convey the message that I have always taken from the style icon. She inspires me everyday and I wish more women were inspired by her. It seems as though nowadays the women I know look up to other females who portray nothing but a "sexy" image.   For me, I believe sexy can come in many other forms besides just showing off all your. Skin. But hey, don't get me wrong, if you got it flaunt it! But just realize, that form of beauty will eventually fade away. True beauty, authentic beauty, lies within, and that is a message I want to send to my readers. As obsessed as I am with clothes and makeup and all things glamorous, I know that all beauty comes from within. If you love yourself that will radiate and other people will notice. Another point I want to make is not to shout it to the rooftops "look at me!" There is something to be said about a beautiful woman with humility!  I am going to leave you with a few of my favorite pictures of Audrey Hepburn along with some of my favorite quotes from her as well in hopes that they may inspire you as they have me.

“I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person.”

For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone. 

“The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It's the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows & the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years.”

Fashion vs. Style

Today was the release of Lauren Conrad's new book, Beauty. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to blog a review for my fellow makeup/skincare lovers, but before I jump into that I figured I'd share a review on LC's first book that caught my attention titled, Style. The title was what had me sold from the beginning because we all know there is a very big difference between style and fashion, and LC makes that very clear in this book as well.

"My closet is actually a carefully organized chaos. I prefer to keep my clothes in a pile on the floor! I can't get out the door quickly because pulling together a look that is both adult and fun isn't easy."
-LC

Lauren has always been known for her preppy style, so when I read that quote about her wanting to have fun with her wardrobe it really surprised me! Then to read her clothes might be in a pile on the floor really made me think I had the wrong impression and maybe she doesn't always play it safe with her clothing.

From Victoria Beckham to Rachel Zoe, I have read a bunch of books written by style icons offering advice and insight to the everyday average woman who wants to look good on an everyday basis.  Scratch that. We want to look better than good! After all, you never get a second chance at a first impression, right? Right! Well, if there is one piece of advice that I found in common with all these fashionista's was the basic principle of building your wardrobe with timeless pieces.  I felt she did a good job of advising her readers that although something may be a big fashion trend right now, the longevity is just not there. It is better to spend your money on pieces that will not fade out in a year or two.

Another tip that Lauren offered was something I never really put much thought into and that was the importance of getting your clothes tailored. She was very passionate about the difference a good tailor can make on your appearance.  Whether it be a classic blazer or a pair of everyday jeans, the fit can make you look like a brand new person if it is tailored correctly. I tested this theory true. After reading her book, I got a pair of jeans I had purchased not too long before and took them to get a little nip/tuck. They ended up looking so much better, to the point where I wondered how I was going to continue to wear them out in public in their previous state. The investments made in classic and tailored pieces can help you build a better wardrobe to ensure you look good when taking on your world!

Lauren also touched on many other subjects including everything from thrift store shopping to accessories and fake eyelashes. Although this book sticks to the basics of STYLE, I would not say it isn't a fun read. I'd recommend it to any girl who is kooking to build her wardrobe to a more "grown up" sophisticated look, while still keeping it youthful. Think more staple pieces so that you will never be in a situation of "what the hell am I going to wear moments."  While figuring out your outfits and getting dressed up is half the fun, you also need those pieces to fall back on and will never let you down.

I will definitely be purchasing Lauren's book on beauty and can't wait to see what she has in there to teach me!

If you want a daily dose of LC you can also check out her blog! >>>

  http://www.laurenconrad.com/