Recently I’ve received Anastasia Beverly Hills’ new beauty blogger palettes–the Maya Mia Palette and Tamanna Palette–and have been playing around with a bunch of different looks ranging from simple everyday looks to full on dramatic ones. I’m really impressed with the quality of the shadows in each palette. They’re super pigmented and easy to blend.
Here is a look I created using both of the palettes. It’s perfect for going out at night. It’s an almost all matte look with some shimmer in the inner corners of the eyes.
I used the @anastasiabeverlyhills Maya Mia and Tamanna Palettes, ABH Waterproof Crème Color in Jet, # 415 Black lashes by @elegantlashes, @anastasiabeverlyhills Dipbrow in Dark Brown, and @hairandmakeupaddiction brushes.
Product info:
1.) Prime your lid(I used Urban Decay Anti-aging Primer Potion).
2.) Apply Fresh all over your lid with a flat shader brush.
3.) Blend Caramel into your crease using a fluffy blending brush.
4.) Deepen your crease with Deep Brown using a crease brush.
5.) Line your upper lash line with the Waterproof Crème Color in Jet and smudge Noir over top.
6.) Line your lower lash line with Noir and blend out with Caramel.
7.) Line your waterline with Tarte Cosmetics Skinny SmolderEYES in Onyx.
8.) Apply @tartecosmetics Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara, # 415 @elegantlashes, and highlight your tear duct with Blush.
On my brows, I used @anastasiabeverlyhills Dipbrow in Dark Brown.
**Use the code BeautyByCassie93 at checkout on your Elegant Lashes order and receive a free pair of # 415 Black lashes.
At first glance De Prettilicious Lashes reminded me of the bulk false lashes that come in packs of 10 on Ebay. I’ve tried those and found them to be extremely hard to work with and cheaply made. To my surprise, however, these turned out to be great. They are made of high quality synthetic hair, are handmade, and really natural looking. Even though these lashes are synthetic they look and feel like human hair lashes. I love the fact that they have very thin bands because it makes them reallly easy to apply and blend with your natural lashes. I also like how the pack of lashes comes with 10 different styles. Included are a good mix of dramatic, as well as more natural looking lashes.
The only downfall is that there are no printed style names on the package. To figure the names out you have to visit @deprettilicious on Instagram. Having printed names would be convenient so people could tell others what style they’re wearing.
De Prettilicious Lashes come in a pack of 10 and retail for around $13 on Amazon.com. In my opinion, that price is a steal since each pair equates to about $1.30 each and basic good quality lashes go for around $4 to $6. The direct link to purchase them is http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J1MYWES.
I’m constantly getting questions about how I keep my hair healthy and split end-free. I visit the hair dresser maybe three times a year and each time I go they compliment me and tell me it’s in great condition. The best advice I can give is to wash your hair as infrequently as possible because stripping your hair of natural oils is the last thing you want to do. Your hair depends on these oils to keep it from becoming dry and damaged. Also, avoid using heat on your hair. If you must use a blow-dryer, straightener, etc. definitely use a heat protectant. Another important tip is to never brush your hair when it’s wet! Your hair is extremely fragile when it’s wet and more prone to breakage so let your hair dry or wait until it’s almost dry to brush/comb it. I comb through my almost dry hair with a wide-tooth comb rather than brushing it straight out of the shower.
Two products that I depend on are Batiste Dry Shampoo and Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum.
Dry shampoos are great because they absorb excess oil in your hair and enable you to skip a couple of days of washing. Batiste is my favorite dry shampoo because it actually works and allows me to go two or three days without washing my hair. I’ve tried many other products that claim to absorb oil but just end up making my hair oilier. Batiste also adds volume and texture to hair, which is always a plus. I use just a few sprays then brush it out with either my fingers or a comb because the product can leave darker hair looking a little white/gray.
The next hair product I swear by is Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Anti-Breakage Serum. I use a pump and half of this stuff on the ends of my damp hair and it seriously works miracles. It’s important to keep your ends conditioned and this product does just that. It helps prevent breakage and split ends without making my hair greasy. I wouldn’t recommend using this anywhere near your roots though, it’ll make your hair greasier faster and you’ll need to wash it sooner.
Tutorial: How to create a metallic light blue smokey eye using @colourpopcosmetics eyeshadow in Sugar, @eyekandycosmetics glitter in Chocolate Chip, the @urbandecaycosmetics Naked Palette, # 047 lashes by @elegantlashes, and @hairandmakeupaddiction brushes.
Product info:
1)Apply Maybelline Color Tattoo in Test My Teal to lid(I already primed my eye with Urban Decay Anti-Aging Primer Potion).
2)Apply Buck to your crease.
3)Apply Sugar to your lid.
4)Blend a darker matte brown into your crease.
4)Line your upper lash line with Creep.
6)Blend Hustle into your crease.
7)Line your lower lash line with a dark matte brown and Buck.
8)Apply Chocolate Chip glitter to your lower lash line.
9)Apply Givenchy Phenomen’Eyes mascara to lower lashes, # 047 Black @elegantlashes, line your waterline with a black pencil, and highlight your inner corner with a shimmery champagne shadow.
Brows are @anastasiabevelyhills Brow Powder Duo in Medium Brown.
Anastasia Beverly Hills has recently launched three new products. These include the Maya Mia Palette, Waterproof Crème Color in Jet, and #3 Brush which can all be purchased on www.anastasiabeverlyhills.com.
First off, I want to talk about the Maya Mia Palette. It was designed in collaboration with @maya_mia_y on Instagram. I’ve been playing around with this palette for the past few weeks and I must say it’s easily become one of my go-to eyeshadow palettes. I enjoy the fact that it contains mostly neutral shadows but also incorporates a few pops of color. As far as pigmentation goes, these shadows are great quality. I’m also a big fan of the packaging. I like how it’s made of cardboard, has a magnetic closure, and is relatively thin and compact. Not to mention the design is too cute! The palette is cruelty free, retails for $29, and is reasonably priced in my opinion, considering it includes 10 eyeshadows, a double ended eyeshadow brush, and “Get the Look” cards that show you how to achieve five different eyeshadow looks. Below, I’ve included swatches of each shadow.
(No flash) Shadows from left to right: Vanilla, Warm Taupe, Sienna, Deep Brown, and Nude
(With flash)
The swatches above are of the first row of shadows in the palette. Vanilla has a satin finish, Warm Taupe, Sienna, Deep Brown, and Nude–which blends in with my skin tone– are all matte. One thing I’d like to mention is that this palette, like the Lavish Palette also by Anastasia Beverly Hills, includes Sienna. However, that doesn’t bother me seeing as Sienna is one of my favorite transition shades. The only shadow in the palette that I’m not head over heals about is Nude just because it doesn’t really show up on my skin. Having said that, it does work as a base shadow. Also, I’d like to make note that all of the photos in this post are unedited.
(No flash) From left to right: Aqua, Fresh Peach, Glisten, Caramel, and Gold Bar(With flash)
The bottom row of shadows only contains one matte shadow, that being Caramel. Aqua, Fresh Peach and Gold Bar have satin finishes and Glisten is shimmery.
The accompanying brush is double sided and is well-made. The bristles are soft and the flat shader brush side is good for packing on shadows, while the pointed pencil brush side is nice for applying shadow along the lower lash line or deepening your crease.
Next up is the Waterproof Crème Color in Jet. It retails for $18 and comes in a glass pot just like the ABH Dipbrow Pomade. I really like the texture of this product and the fact that it’s matte. I’m not really into the whole glossy/shiny eyeliner look so this is right up my alley. This can be used as a liner or a cream shadow. It would make the perfect base for a dark, dramatic black smokey eye because it doesn’t crease or smudge. As for the waterproof claim, they aren’t kidding! I applied the product to my wrist, let it set, then rubbed vigorously and it didn’t even budge. Oh, and I didn’t even mention the intensity of the product. This stuff is black! Not an off-black or grayish black, but a true inky black color. Below is a swatch of the Waterproof Crème Color.
(With flash)
Lastly, we have the #3 Brush. It retails for $18. It’s flat and tapers to a point which makes it ideal for lining the eyes. You can flip the brush on its side and create a super thin line or use the other side and create a much thicker line. I also find that this brush is helpful in creating winged liner looks. Below, I’ve drawn some lines using the #3 Brush and Waterproof Crème Color.
I’ve been loving a bunch of products the past few weeks and I thought I’d share them with you all.
Here’s a list of the products I’ve been absolutely loving:
Vitagoods Spin for Perfect Skin brush, which comes with 4 different brush heads(Use the code BeautyC33 for a 70% discount on www.vanityplanet.com. The final cost will be $30 and includes free shipping for the United States & Canada.) This brush system has been amazing for my skin! In my opinion, it’s comparable to my Clarisonic Mia 2. It’s extremely gentle on my skin and removes all of the dirt and dead skin cells. I also love how it comes with 4 different brush heads. For a more info on this system check out my separate blog post reviewing it.
Next up is the @itcosmetics My Sculpted Face Palette. This bad boy is amaaaazinggg. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit, but this one is more accessible since the ABH one is currently out of stock. The It Cosmetics palette can be found at ULTA for $38.00. Another reason I enjoy this palette is because the powders are waterproof. That really is essential for me since I live in the hot, humid South.
I’ve also been obsessed with my rose gold @luxielush brushes. First off, they’re gorgeous! But beyond aesthetics, they have synthetic hair and blend all of my cream, liquid, and powder products out flawlessly. I can’t get enough of them! Use the code Cassie for 15% off www.luxielush.com/
I also adore my @hairandmakeupaddiction brushes. They’re similar to the Luxie Lush brushes in that they’re both made of synthetic hair and are super soft. I love these guys as well.
Another recent favorite has been @tartecosmetics Amazonian clay blush in Captivating. This is the most perfect peachy, coral blush. It’s matte and long lasting. I’ve pretty much been wearing it everyday lol. Love it!
Next is @tartecosmetics Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara. If I recall correctly, I’ve been using this since November of 2013. I only wear it on my lower lashes since it doesn’t seem to hold the curl of my upper lashes. However, it looks stunning on my lower lashes! This mascara is great because it conditions your lashes as well.
My newest favorite is the @tartecosmetics Brazilliance self-tanner. I started using this April 24th and it’s pure magic! This was the first self-tanner I had ever used and it definitely changed my opinion of them. It creates such a gorgeous, natural looking tan and you see results within 8 hours of application! I have a before and after pic on my Instagram(with 3 applications). So, if you’re in the market for a great, streak-free, “long-lasting” self-tanner, check this out!
Next are the @anastasiabeverlyhills Pro Concealers. These guys are soooo good! (I have a separate blog post reviewing them). But overall, I love them because they provide such full coverage, work beautifully for contouring, and are great for under eye circles. I never experience any creasing(I always set my face, including my under eyes, with powder).
@anastasiabeverlyhills Brow Power Duo in Medium Brown has been a long-time favorite of mine. I’ve been using it for almost a year and it never fails me! It’s the perfect shade for my hair and has great lasting power on me.
@cultureshockcosmetics High Frequency Luster in Joy has been one of my favorite glosses lately since it’s a perfect coral shade for Spring.
Next, one of my all-time favorite nude glosses, @alexapersicocosmetics Naked Lip Velour, is something I’ve been reaching for whenever I do a dark smokey eye. It’s just a gorgeous nude!
@alexapersicocosmetics HD pigment in Pixi Dust has been another recent favorite, it’s such a beautiful shimmery golden color that I love to wear on my lid and lower lash line and pair with bronzer for an all-over glow-y look which is perfect for Spring and Summer.
The @urbandecaycosmetics Naked Palette, of course, makes my favorites list! I recently purchased this, I’d say, within the past few weeks–I know… I’m SUPER LATE in jumping on the bandwagon– and I’ve been reaching for it non-stop. It contains some of my favorite neutral shadows and is easy to create an everyday look without even thinking.
So, I’ve recently become a perfume addict and Florabotanica by @Balenciaga has become one of my all-time favorites(how many times can I say favorite? lol). I don’t even know how to describe it but I’ll try… It’s definitely a classy, mysterious, and sexy scent in my opinion. The scent definitely develops the longer you wear it on your skin. The lasting power is phenomenal on me(almost a full work day. Maybe even longer) and it goes extremely well with my body chemistry. The notes include: Carnation, Wild Mint, Turkish Rose Essence, Hemp Leaves, Vetiver Roots, and White Amber.
My last recent favorite is Moodstruck 3D Fiber Lashes mascara by @3dlashesbycandicec. I received this product for review a few weeks ago and now I’m hooked! It adds incredible length and volume to your lashes(I have an extreme before and after pic on Instagram). Overall, I love that it’s buildable so you can add minimal length and volume or go all out and achieve super dramatic lashes without falsies.
I received seven super pigmented eyeshadows from www.shopvioletvoss.com (@shopvioletvoss on Instagram) and they are amazing! I was tempted to buy the new Urban Decay Electric palette prior to receiving these but decided against it since these are so vibrant and blendable.
Some of the shadow do appear to have slight shimmer particles running through them but they aren’t noticeable when applied to the eyelids– they appear to have a matte finish.
The shadows I received are
Patty, a matte purple
Bridgette, a matte sky blue
Giselle, a matte green
Yvette, a matte yellow
Ophelia, a matte orange
Giana, a matte pink
Ryder, a matte red
Overall, I definitely recommend these shadows! They’re easy to blend and are matte, which I love! Sometimes it’s hard to find nicely pigmented brightly colored shadows(especially matte ones!).
Here are the swatches of all seven colors (Keep in mind I didn’t use a primer or base.) :
As you can tell, they are incredibly bright and beautiful!
I created a purple cut crease look using Patty, a gorgeous matte purple.
Here are some pictures– All product details can be found on my Instagram page, @BeautyByCassie93.
I’m excited to let you all know that one of my favorite lash companies is releasing two new collections!
Elegant lashes–@elegantlashes on Instagram– is a great company that offers lashes in bulk at amazing prices! Their website is www.FalseEyelashesSite.com. For a FREE pair of #415 Black lashes use the code BeautyByCassie93 at checkout.
The “Black Velvet Collection” will consist of their new premium luxury lashes. It will be launching in May 2014. This collection will include four pairs of upper lashes–one is a pair of accent lashes– and two pairs of lower lashes. The lashes are all made of cruelty-free synthetic hairs and are extremely durable and jet black in color.
Here is the new “Black Velvet” Collection launching May 2014 (Click image to enlarge)
“Black Velvet” Collection launching May 2014
The next collection, “Sexy Undies,” consists of their three best-selling bottom lash styles and three NEW bottom lash styles. Each pair is made of 100% human hair.
If you were wondering, I’ve never tried bottom lashes before since I never feel the need to use them but I’m excited to try these guys out! 🙂
“Sexy Undies” Collection launching April 18th. (Click image to enlarge)
So I’ve recently come across www.bornprettystore.com and it’s awesome! They carry everything from makeup to nail accessories to phone cases to even colored contacts. And I haven’t even mentioned their prices… They’re great! Everything is such a steal. Born Pretty Store also has free shipping worldwide. And if that isn’t already amazing, if you use the code CASH10 at checkout you receive 10% off your order! 🙂
I received the 72 Matte Natural Colors Eyeshadow Palette and let me just tell you it’s fantastic. It has easily become my most used everyday palette since it contains mostly matte neutral shadows that blend easily and are nicely pigmented. I also like how it even contains a few vibrant coral and pinks shades.
Here’s a quick everyday look I created using the palette.
Another item I received is this cute antler bracelet covered in rhinestones. I’m absolutely in love with it and it fits me perfectly.
I’m excited to share with you all the new Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Pro Palette which will be released on www.anastasia.net on March 15th for $88.00, which is an extremely good deal considering each Brow Powder Duo costs $23.oo and this palette contains 11 duos.
I do own the original Brow Pro Palette, which only has 6 Brow Powder Duo shades. Those shades include Golden Blonde, Taupe, Medium Brown, Dark Brown, Strawburn, and Ebony. It also has a concealer and brow wax. (I will be inserting pictures of the original Brow Pro Palette soon).
In contrast, the new Brow Pro Palette has 11 Brow Powder Duo shades which allows for more versatility. It includes Blonde, Taupe, Soft Brown, Medium Brown, Caramel, Auburn, Chocolate, Dark Brown, Ebony, Ash Brown, and Granite. The new palette also has a brow primer but no concealer, which doesn’t matter to me since I almost never use concealer to carve out my brows.
The palette includes warm, cool, and neutral shades.
Warm shades:
Blonde
Caramel
Auburn
Chocolate
Ebony
Cool shades:
Taupe
Medium Brown
Ash Brown
Granite
Neutral shades:
Soft brown
Dark Brown
Each of the 11 pans contains 1.6 grams of product, which is a nice amount. (I have a Brow Powder Duo single which I’ve been using pretty much daily since July of 2013 and I haven’t even hit pan yet!).
I’m absolutely thrilled to have the updated palette. It will be awesome for experimenting with different colored brows. In my opinion, this palette is essential for a makeup artist’s kit. The palette is extremely compact and thin which means it’ll be great for traveling. All of the shades come in round pans which are removable and magnetic. Anastasia will be selling the pans individually on her site which I think is extremely convenient.
Overall, I’m definitely impressed with the new Brow Pro Palette.
