Nail Polish Storage

One of my pet peeves is trying to dig through a drawer full of nail polish to find one color that you really want to use, which, let's face it, is always on the very bottom.

Enter nail polish rack. It's the perfect solution. I see a lot of people on YouTube store their bottles on these racks, which can be found on Ebay and other websites. I got mine from The Supply Source for around $48.00 (including shipping!) Ebay has a few for different prices, but the shipping is usually around $20.

The nail polish rack I bought is made of acrylic so it's very sturdy and durable. The rack has 6 shelves, with a lip on each so the polish doesn't fly off, and it holds 90 standard bottles. Mine happened to hold 101 because I have some minis. It also has a hole to mount the rack on the wall, I'm sure I'll get to that eventually.

Being that I have OCD, I had to sort my nail polishes by color. Talk about annoying...where does mauve even go? Brown didn't come after pink in my books...

But I did the best I could with all most of my colors, and I'm ashamed to say I need to order another rack. :/ What can I say? I have a sickness.

If you want to know any specific color, leave a comment and I'll be sure to get back to you!

With Flash

No Flash

I know off the top of my head I'm missing several of my favorite polishes because my sisters borrowed them. I can remember
China Glaze - For Audrey
Sephora by OPI - Mermaid to Order
Hard Candy - Beetle
OPI- Big Apple Red

I'm sure they "borrowed" more that I just cannot remember!

Hope you guys enjoyed this post! I know I'm definitely glad to be done organizing these and now it's so much more easy to pick a specific color to use!

Day 20 — Your favorite mascara

I'm going to have to say L'Oreal Volumious Carbon Black. I tried it because everyone said it was amazing, and I absolutely loved it. It's really the only mascara I've ever tried that actually volumizes and lengthens my lashes at the same time. Rimmel Max Volume Flash is a close second, but Voluminous really gives me the full fake lash effect. Plus it's super black. The only complaint I have about it is that it can get clumpy, but if you remember to wipe off your brush before applying, you're golden.

I'll be baaaack!

-Liz

Confession

So I have something to confess. I hate the blog challenge I'm currently partaking in. I promise all of you that I'm not "quitting" this challenge, in fact, I'm only replacing it. I came across another 30 Day Challenge, this one being a Beauty version. Right up my alley. If you add this challenge to my old challenge, that's 35 days in a row. So I'm doing pretty good then, huh? Here we go with the new challenge.

Day 01 — Your favorite eyeliner
Day 02 — Your favorite bag that you own
Day 03 — Your favorite brush
Day 04 — Your favorite foundation
Day 05 — Your favorite thing to do
Day 06 — Anything Hello Kitty
Day 07 — Your Favorite animal
Day 08 — A photo that makes you laugh
Day 09 — Your favorite pair of shoes
Day 10 — Current fashion/style you like
Day 11 — Bag you want to have
Day 12 — Your Favorite color
Day 13 — Photo of your fashion/style icon
Day 14 — Photo of a hairstyle/haircut you'd like to have
Day 15 — Photo of your favorite bracelet
Day 16 — Music you like
Day 17 — Fashion Pieces that's on your to-buy list
Day 18 — Your favorite beauty guru
Day 19 — Your favorite look from a beauty guru
Day 20 — Your favorite mascara
Day 21 — Your favorite lip stick
Day 22 — What makes you happy
Day 23 — Place where you want to live
Day 24 — Your favorite food
Day 25 — What do you want to get from luux
Day 26 — An Item from your wishlist
Day 27 — Your favorite skincare product
Day 28 — Your favorite drink
Day 29 — Photo of something that makes you go awww
Day 30 — Your favorite nail polish
 
Day 01 — Your favorite eyeliner
Out of all the eyeliners I've tried, high end and drugstore, my favorite has got to be L'Oreal HIP Color Chrome Eyeliner.
 
I have the black one but I'm considering picking up every color. I wouldn't wear this eyeliner for a dramatic cat eye or a blunt straight line but for every day use this one is a winner. I draw a line on the upper and lower lash lines, smudge them out and put a BareMinerals shadow over the top. It takes about two minutes but looks like it took 20. I absolutely love these liners, they are softer than any I've tried, including Urban Decay 24/7 (which are amazing as well).

The Black Shock HIP Liner is so black it's almost blue and simply gorgeous. I will definitely repurchase.
 

L'Oreal HIP Color Chrome Eyeliner in Black Shock underneath BareMinerals Black Ice
(After 11 hours of wear!)

See you tomorrow for more of the 30 Day Beauty Blog Challene!

A Couple Things...

Here are a few things that have to do with the fall season...in Martha Stewart's words, here are some "good things."

First up, pumpkins. I love the look of them for fall decorating purposes, plus the taste of them in just about every form. What I don't like, however, is the way they are adored and eaten by squirrels. I have more squirrels in my neighborhood than I'm pretty sure populate the rest of the nation. And those squirrels are on my pumpkins like Kid Rock at Waffle House. Take a look...

I've tried mixing cayenne pepper with hot water and pouring it on them, I sprayed them with Pam and sprinkled cayenne on them and it rained all last night so it washed it away. While they were still wet from rain, right after this picture was taken, I sprinkled more pepper on them. I hope it works. Little bastards. They're a dumb animal too. I would never run over one on purpose but they run in front of cars and look around. Do they have no sense of sound or sight? I don't get it...

Enough for my rant on squirrels...another thing I've been loving is this eye look I created for a family Oktoberfest I went to last weekend.

I used Wet n Wild Nutty on the lid with Bare Escentuals Celestine over top, followed by MAC Satin Taupe in the crease with a little bit of Lorac Garnet in the outer v. I put MAC Shroom as an inner corner highlight, MAC Vanilla as a brow highlight and for liner I used Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer in Noir smudged on the upper lash line and Rimmel Special Eyes Precision Eye Liner Pencil in Black Magic on the waterline. I smudged the same colors from the lid on the lower lash line and topped it off with L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara on top and bottom lashes. I really like how this turned out, I think the warm tone of Garnet really helped bring out the blue in my eyes.

Another thing that is meaningless but one of those little things that just makes me happy is this pillow:

 I got it from Ikea, about a week or so ago so they probably still have them. It was only about $14 and I love that it looks like a cozy sweater. I had to change out my Liberty of London pillows anyway and this one is just too cute. My only wish would be more color options, as far as I know, the cream color is the only one available.

Thanks for being here!

-Liz

Updated Go-To Products!

I am going to post my "Go-To" Products again because the last time I did this was April. A lot has changed in 4 months, including the weather, trends and of course, my tastes. So, here we go:


Primer
Currently, I'm not using a primer at all. If I do, it's rare but I'll either use my Rimmel Fix & Perfect (which I used to loathe) or Loreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base on my t-zone. But typically, I apply my foundation right over my moisturizer.


Foundation
My foundation is ahhmazing. I cannot say enough good things about it. I'm currently using Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse in 110 Porcelain Ivory. Not Dream MATTE Mousse, but Dream SMOOTH Mousse. This foundation came out about a month ago, I'd say, and I'm in love! It provides medium to full coverage and leaves your face with a healthy, dewy glow. I apply it with a 187 brush and it looks flawless!


Concealer
Ahh, finally I end my battle with concealers. I've found my concealing soul mate and it's name is Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Bisque. This concealer has a peachy tone to it, which helps cancel out dark circles. I also found it at the CCO so I saved a few bucks, which is always nice. I apply this concealer with either a fluffy brush or a flat concealer brush, both work wonders. I'm not saying this is forever my HG concealer, but for now, we have a winner :)


Setting Powder
I really have been loving my CoverGirl TruBlends Mineral Powder in Translucent/Fair. It looks dark in the jar but it's a perfect match. It isn't completely matte, so it leaves a good finish on top of my Maybelline foundation. I really like this powder for setting my makeup!


Blush
I absolutely love my MAC Stereo Rose MSF. It is such a pretty coral/pink color and gives a glow at the same time. I want to use it everyday, but I'm afraid I'll waste it if I do!! I can't imagine getting my hands on another!

Contour/bronzer
I really like my Milani Sunset Duo in Sunset City. I have never used the blush from it because it's rather small. But I love the bronzer part. It looks like it would be too dark for me but it really isn't. It's not muddy or orange either, which is a big deal. There are minimal sparkles but they work with the glowy face I've got going on this summer.


Cream Highlight
I gotta give LolaMarie7 (on YouTube) a shout out right now. She created this tag and I love that she put "Cream Highlight" and "Highlight" in separate categories. Now I don't have to choose between the two! For a cream highlight, I'll go with my E.L.F. Shimmering Facial Whip in Lilac Petal. I've heard this is a dupe for a Benefit product but I'm not sure. Lilac Petal is a taupe/lavender color and it gives a really nice glow on the nose or cheekbone. Blends really well too.

Highlight
I'd say MAC Perfect Topping MSF. This Mineralize SkinFinish is a cream color with gold, orange, peach and purple veining throughout. It does an excellent job at highlighting and doesn't look too powdery.

Mascara
My Go-To mascara of the moment has to be MAC Zoom Lash. I never thought I'd like a MAC mascara, I've only heard negative things about them, but I do. I got this as a free sample with a code I had for free shipping one day and I really ended up liking it. It reminds me a little of Maybelline Lash Stilettos, so maybe I'll have to give that one another go.

Eye Shadow
This is hard, I'm going to have to pick more than one. The eyeshadows I reach for most often are Stila Kitten, MAC Shroom, MAC Wedge and MAC Warming Trend. All neutrals, as usual.

Eye Liner
Has to be Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Bourbon. A deep chocolate brown with gold flecks. It doesn't irritate my eyes like other pencils can.

Lip Liner
I still never, ever wear lip liner but if I do, I'd say NYX Rose. It's a bright vivid pink color that makes your lips pop.

Lipstick
Probably MAC Shy Girl. It's the perfect coral-nude color. If I'm not sure what to wear, I wear that.

Lip Gloss
The lipgloss I find myself reaching for most often is probably Loreal Colour Juice in Bubble Gum. It smells great and the color is a milky, opaque peachy color. It's a similar color to Revlon Peach Petal Superlustrious Lipgloss from the new collection, only difference is the applicator. I like the tube better than the wand. This looks great over a lot of different lipsticks or alone.

Eyebrow
I don't do anything to my eyebrows so...

Makeup Brushes
The makeup brushes I use nearly every day are 187, 150, 194, 239, 224, Sonia Kashuk Bent Eyeliner Brush, E.L.F. Blending Eye Brush and E.L.F. Studio Powder Brush.


Nail Polish
I have been really into nudes, greys and muddy browns lately, much like everyone else. My favorites are E.L.F. Smoky Brown, E.L.F. Desert Haze, OPI You Don't Know Jacques, Essie Playa Del Platinum, Revlon Grey Suede, Rimmel Steel Grey...you get the picture.


Well, those are my Go-To Products as of August, 2010. What are yours?

-Liz