Gardening in High Heels

cultivate a beautiful life

Vampy Vixen – The Makeup Mix-Up

Playing with makeup is great fun for me, but I tend to do the same thing over and over. I’m definitely stuck in a makeup rut. So I thought I would join in on the Makeup Mix-Up with Making Mrs. M and Miranda Writes. This week’s challenge: Vampy Vixen.

Vampy Vixen Makeup for the Makeup Mix-Up challenge using Urban Decay Naked 3 and Urband Decay Smoked palette | Gardening In High Heels

Now I’m not one for dramatic smoky eyes every day. I typically wear the same two styles: one all-over shadow or a simple smoke for daytime with purples/golds. So to jump in with this on Vampy Vixen is kinda like, “If I’m going to do this, I’m going to go balls to the wall.”

When I think Vixen, I think a strong cat-eye, lots of lashes, and bold lips. But when you throw in “vampy,” well, you gotta kick it up a little. When you do a Pinterest search for “vampy makeup,” it’s all dark, smoky eyes and blood red lips. That’s where I first went with this, but then I decided to do things a little differently.

To me, a vixen carries her power in her eyes. If looks could kill, you’d have already died. So I really wanted to focus on the eyes and bringing a lot of drama with a smudged out smoky cat eye.

True story, I had an entirely different look planned out, but it ended up being too dark. I need to have a little brightness to get the power in my eyes to stand out, so instead of dark all the way up to the lashes, I focused some gold on the inner corner and really smoked out the corners.

Vampy Vixen Makeup for the Makeup Mix-Up challenge using Urban Decay Naked 3 and Urband Decay Smoked palette | Gardening In High HeelsVampy Vixen Makeup for the Makeup Mix-Up challenge using Urban Decay Naked 3 and Urband Decay Smoked palette | Gardening In High Heels

Talk about if looks could kill…I’m throwin’ some serious shade here.

Vampy Vixen Makeup for the Makeup Mix-Up challenge using Urban Decay Naked 3 and Urband Decay Smoked palette | Gardening In High Heels

Vampy Vixen Makeup for the Makeup Mix-Up challenge using Urban Decay Naked 3 and Urband Decay Smoked palette | Gardening In High Heels

Products used:

  • Urban Decay Naked 3 / Smoked palettes
  • Pop Cat Eyes in Black Dahlia
  • Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Pencil in Uzi
  • Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Metal in Barely Branded
  • ColourPop Lippie Pencil in Tootsi
  • Revlon ColorBurst Matte Balm in 215 Shameless
  • Urban Decay Naked Skin
  • MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Light Year

What does “vampy vixen” makeup mean to you?

Next week’s look for the Makeup Mix-Up is Halloween Tease. I have no idea where to even begin with that. Any suggestions?

Summer-izing makeup

It is officially summer.  That means it’s time to summer-ize the ol’ makeup routine.  Usually I wait until it’s too late and I’ve already broken out more times than I can count from not lightening up for summer, but not this year!  I’m only mildly in troubled skin water.  I think it’s due to my massive love of face masks and Rodan + Fields products when I need to perk up my complexion.

Anyway.

I fully believe summer is the time to go lighter.

I’m looking forward to wearing very little makeup except for lashes and lips.  Let’s face it, those are the only products that don’t entirely melt off my face in humidity despite priming underneath like I’m painting over a dark wall with a light color.

No matter what I end up putting on my face for the day, it all starts with SPF.  I have a few different day moisturizers depending on what I feel like, but I always put on something with SPF.

Summer makeup must-haves that hold up to the heat and humidity.

Now that the SPF PSA is over, some other things that I always have in my arsenal in the summer includes:

Primer for eyes + face

Even if I’m just putting on concealer, I always put some primer on my face and around my eyes.  Gotta give everything a fighting chance to stick around, right?  Right now I’m using samples of Smashbox face primer and Lorac Behind the Scenes eye primer.

Waterproof eyeliner and mascara

Let’s be real, most days I wonder why I even bother with eye shadow because within about an hour of being out of the house, it’s breaking down already.  Typically I’ll do a wash of a gold or copper and focus on eyeliner and mascara.  Use liquid or gel liner because it has the most staying power.

Sometimes I’ll try to be fancy and put on a colored liner for some fun, but when I have to get out the door, it’s a quick cat-eye look.

Eyeliner and mascara you need this summer.

Mary Kay Liquid Eyeliner for a dark black line.  NYC New York Color Big Bold & Precice Eyeliner.  I know they say it’s bold, but I don’t think it’s as intense as some other black liquid liners.

And for lashes, it has to be Covergirl Clump Crusher, especially on the lower lashes.  I used to get smudges under my eyes with anything I put on, but this is the cat’s pajamas.  NYC Big Bold Angel Lashes Mascara has been a nice surprise.  It very rarely will it transfer.

Bright, statement-making lipstick

Classic glamour in a red or orange-y red.  Fun with a bright pink punch.  Daring with an orange.  I’m not afraid of color on my lips.  I welcome it.

Bright lipsticks that are perfect for summer.

Almay Smart Shade Butter Kiss in Pink Medium, Laqa & Co Lil’ Lip in Ring of Fire, MAC lipstick in Sail La Vie (LE, I’ve heard Revlon Vibrant Mandarin and Wet n Wild Purty Persimmon are close).

Light-coverage powder

I haaaate feeling like I have a ton of dirt on my face in the summer.  Let’s face it, with the humidity and the sweat and the wind whipping up things…there’s a lot of dirt stuck to our faces.  Enter: light coverage powder.  Anything that will blur imperfections but not add the feeling of “stuff” on my skin is just the ticket.

Lightweight summer face products that every girl needs to have.

I love MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural (I’m Light Plus when not super-duper tan which I haven’t been since..college?)  I’m also experimenting with Laura Geller Balance n Brighten.

Light reflecting powder

I know, I said I wasn’t putting a lot on my face, but light reflecting powder or some other highlighter is necessary to brighten under the eyes and add a little lightness to the face.

Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder is what I’ve been using for years (almost daily) and I still am not done with the pot that I have.  One of the best beauty investments.  I also light Hourglass Ambient Lighting powders.  I have the palette that came out and it adds a little extra glow.

Blotting sheets

You know that 2pm skin feeling?  The one where you’re like…ugh I am a shiny hot mess and I just want to wash my face?  That’s why I keep some blotting sheets around.  Coffee filters work in a pinch.  So do napkins.  Just anything to get that shine and oil off of my face (and out of harm’s way of developing breakouts).

I’ve always carried Mary Kay Beauty Blotters with me and I instantly feel more presentable when I use them.

Summer makeup must-haves that hold up to the heat and humidity.

What is in your summer beauty arsenal?

Be a Better Blogger is a weekly link up dedicated to helping you be a more intentional blogger. Want to be a better blogger but don’t know where to start? Head over to the Be a Better Blogger page for daily prompts and a weekly linkup to help get the creative juices flowing! Oh, and use #beabetterblogger on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook to keep the fun going even after you hit Publish!

Be Bold: NYC New York Color Big Bold Review

I’ve been trying to get up earlier in the morning to get a jump on the day.  I’m not sure how well it’s really working, but I love having more time to allow myself to transition into the day.  I don’t know about you, but I always end up running five minutes late when I think I have so much time.  Y’know, you think you have more time than you do and a situation were, “Oh I have so much time!” turns into, “Oh I hope there isn’t much traffic, I’m so late.”

So my morning routine has to be pretty quick and idiot-proof.  This includes makeup.

I was so excited when I heard that Influenster was sending me a #NYCBigBold voxbox.  I love how Katy made her box sound and I was running out of liquid eye liner – win win.

NYC New York Color Big Bold Mascara and Eyeliner Review -- such good stuff!

The lasting power on the Big Bold eyeliner and mascara is quite impressive.  Trust me, I’ve been putting it through its paces.  Long days at work, lunchtime walks, the works.  I even wore it yesterday during the yard sale and only after I was sitting outside for 8 hours in heat and sweaty, swampy conditions did I notice a teeensy bit of flaking on the mascara and some creasing on the thicker part of the liner.  I almost expected raccoon eyes that would scare away the customers, but no raccoon eyes for this gal.

NYC New York Color Big Bold mascara and liquid eyeliner - must try!

I mean, I’m totally impressed with that, especially considering NYC isn’t one of the more expensive brands in the drugstore.  And we all know expensive makeup equals better makeup.  Totally.

The only thing I’m not a total fan of is the shape of the eyeliner applicator.  I’m used to a long, flexible applicator like L’Oreal Lineur Intense or Mary Kay liquid liner.

Fantastic liquid eye liner - L'Oreal, NYC New York Color, and Mary Kay. Love it all and they last sooo well!

 

what does totally rock about the eyeliner applicator, though, is that you really can get a super-thin, tight-to-the-lashes line for just a little definition in your look or you can really draw it on and make a bold statement.  I want this to come in other colors!

I’m really starting to see NYC makeup in a new light.  I would always buy their nail polish at Target when I was in high school because it was cheap and they have such a variety of colors, but I never tried the color cosmetics.  After the lipstick in the Frosty voxbox and this set of eye products, I’m almost at a full face with NYC and I’m super cool with that.

What’s your favorite summer-proof eyeliner and mascara?

Influenster sent me the #NYCBigBold VoxBox for review.  My opinion can’t be bought and it sure isn’t fake – these are my genuine feelings!

Be a Better Blogger is a weekly link up dedicated to helping you be a more intentional blogger. Want to be a better blogger but don’t know where to start? Head over to the Be a Better Blogger page for daily prompts and a weekly linkup to help get the creative juices flowing! Oh, and use #beabetterblogger on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook to keep the fun going even after you hit Publish!

I Could Write a Book on Nail Polish

Today is the first day of Emily Levenson’s Project:Food Budget.  I’ll get to that below, but first…

Ever since I was younger, I wanted to be a writer.  I know I’ve said that before, so it shouldn’t come as any surprise.  I haven’t written a book before, but I think I could probably write a book about nail polish, lipstick, and generally other makeup.  I’ve totally let the #LipStockChallenge slide, but I could write about it for days.

There are so many things I’ve learned about nail polish from working at a spa and generally being obsessed with my nails.  I feel much more confident, pulled together, and powerful when I have my nails painted.  There was a time that I could correctly name the polish someone selected for their manicure.

I’m sorry to say that since I’ve been working so much, I haven’t had time to paint my nails.  My poor collection misses me!  Gardening is also so rough on your hands.  It dries them out, makes your nails flake, and stripes the shine from your nails.

While my nails are more bare than normal, I still have much wisdom to impart about nail polish.

Essie Mint Candy Apple dupes and manicure secrets

— I’m not totally sold that matte top coat applied between coats of light or streaky polish will even it out and give you an even application.  But it does seem to help.  I need to work a little on this technique.

— I also know that you should wrap the tip.  I know, I know.  It sounds dirty.  But it isn’t!  It’s bringing the color of your nail polish or the top/base coat over the tip of the nail.  This seals everything in.

— OPI Nail Envy didn’t make my nails envious at all.  I think it actually made the more prone to breakage when I didn’t use it.

— Essie Three Way Glaze is fantastic.  If I don’t set it, though, it does crease when I’m asleep and my hand is resting against the sheets, which is annoying.  But the shine and staying power is worth being careful the first night after a fresh polish.

— You can set your polish with a little Pam.  Run under cold water to wash off the oil and go.

— I’ve heard that you can put Vaseline or moisturizer around your cuticles as a barrier for the color so it’s neat and clean.  I’m worried that it will mix with the polish and spoil its efficacy.

— I’ve been hunting for an acceptable dupe for Essie Mint Candy Apple since I broke my original bottle.  It was after the new formulation of the color so I couldn’t just buy a new one.  And it took me forever to locate my first bottle when I was at Penn State.  The formula available at Ulta now looks blue.  That is NOT minty or appley!

I think I found the best double in Formula X in Unmistakable.  It’s a light, minty, blue-green.  I thought Zoya in Tiana would be good, but it’s definitely more yellow-green than blue-green.  Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Mint Sorbet is an exact match for Zoya Tiana, though.

OPI in That’s Hula-rious and Gargantuan Green Grape are too green to be Mint Candy Apple.

I’ve also found a combo pack at Target with an Essie Gel-like top coat and Mint Candy Apple polish that looks sneakingly similar to my beloved original bottle.

Sticking to a food budget is hard, but I love the accountability with Project:Food Budget

Now that I’ve gone on about nail polish, I’m going to go on about budgeting.  Today is the first post for Emily Levenson’s Project:Food Budget.  I do my grocery shopping on Tuesday morning (after this is published) so I can’t really say how I’ve done so far.  I have made a meal plan (and will try to stick to it..unlike some of my past weeks!)  I am setting myself up with a $50 per week budget at the grocery story and other places where I buy food to cook.

I’m going to try to be intentional with the bill and track food as well as things I purchase at the store that contribute to eating in (storage bags and aluminum foil for example).  I will not include toiletries, greeting cards, etc that I can also buy where I shop.

For that reason, I’ve also decided not to include eating out in the budget because a) I rarely do it and b) if I do, it’s usually with Jonathan, so that’s more of a “date/entertainment” expense than a food expense.  Are you joining in to track what you’re spending?

Follow along with these other budgeting babes!

Emily Levenson / McGinnis and Bean / Rainaldi.org / Red Pen Mama / Erra Creations / Eryn Says… / Seeking White Space / facepalmmama / Gardening in High Heels / Melissa Firman / Copy & Post / Rachel Olive Miller

What could you write a book about?

Be a Better Blogger is a weekly link up dedicated to helping you be a more intentional blogger.  Want to be a better blogger but don’t know where to start? Head over to the Be a Better Blogger page for daily prompts and a weekly linkup to help get the creative juices flowing! Oh, and use #beabetterblogger on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook to keep the fun going even after you hit Publish!

Makeup Bag Musts

It’s no surprise that I’m excited for today’s Blogger, May I prompt, makeup essentials.  I can always write about my makeup musts.  I have tons of thoughts on makeup.  I think it comes from my mom selling Mary Kay when I was young.  I loved looking in her sample kit the pretty tubes full of fun things that I’d get to play with when I was older.  I still do it today.  I had a field day when she was cleaning out her old things before she moved.

My makeup bag is scaled down right now (from my massive organization undertaking to just one small bag) for vacation. For Blogger, May I, I'm sharing my makeup essentials that are so necessary, they come on vacation with me.

My makeup bag is scaled down right now (from my massive organization undertaking to just one small bag) for vacation.  For Blogger, May I, I’m sharing my makeup essentials that are so necessary, they come on vacation with me.

A good base layer

I try not to wear too much stuff on my skin so I can let it breathe, so what I use as my primer has to really have some staying power, blur some imperfections, and have sun protectant.  I just finished a sample of Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer, so with me this time is Benefit’s The Porefessional.  I also use primer on my eye lids and under my eyes to hold everything in place there.

Eye brightening something

You never know how much sleep you’ll really get or if you’ll be puffy from sitting in a car for hours (maybe that’s just me).  I like using an eye brightener under my concealer to fake the illusion of a restful vacation.  I just got back into using Benefit’s Eye Bright, a crayon-like pinky hued pencil that perks up even the darkest of circles.

Eye shadow palettes

I wish I could say that I have things that do double duty, like eye shadow that also doubles as highlighter, a bronzer, and fold-out couch, but I rarely use multi-use products like that.  Instead, I look for small versions of what I love.  I love slim shadow palettes for variety and portability.  Wet n Wild has some great 8-pan palettes that are slim, great quality, and offer lots of eye-look options.

Eyeliner and mascara that stay put

On a normal day, I don’t bring makeup to the office to do touch ups, so you know I’m not wandering around the streets on vacation with a mini-makeup aresenal in my purse.  I need all the room I can get for granola bars.  I get hranky (that’s a step up from hangry; it’s hungry + angry + cranky).  So I need to be able to put my eyeliner and mascara on once and let it be.

I’ve been using Covergirl Clump Crusher mascara for a few weeks and I love it’s staying power.  It doesn’t smudge, even if I have it on my lower lashes yet it comes off easily when the time is right

 No-fuss lip stuff

Okay, here’s where I do a little double-duty with my makeup.  I love lipsticks that are moisturizing or in some way offer a little extra comfort on the lips.  I also want things that are easy to apply and aren’t sticky.   There’s nothing like getting a cooling breeze and then having half your hair stick to your mouth.

Mm so hot.

The lip products that I have with me can be applied with or without a mirror.  Bite BB for Lips, Mary Kay True Dimensions lipstick, and Almay Smart Shade Butter Kiss lipstick all came with me.  I have a few different color options for different looks and they’re all low-fuss.

Of course, I have things like brushes and tweezers.  And Jonathan would be so proud because I finally remembered to bring Band-Aids with me.  I swear, I’m the least-prepared girl.

What are your makeup essentials?


Let’s Play

           

People Really Dug These

We Belong in the Garden Together