FOTD: Stila Eyeshadow, Laura Mercier Foundation...

Here's an old post I had already written (over a year ago!) but never posted...not sure why. Enjoy - and hope to see you all again real soon.

You ever have those days where you just mess around with some makeup? I was rummaging through my ridiculously large collection of eyeshadows and decided to have a little sesh with my stila shades. I used to use them all of the time, but they haven't been getting a lot of love lately. I had picked up a few new shades when stila was having a warehouse sale a while ago, and (gasp!) I hadn't used them yet. I had no real plan, but here is what I came up with.

 {Eyes}

MAC Nubile paint pot

stila shadows:

  oasis - lid, inner corner

  rain - crease

  toffee - above crease, lower lash line

  kitten - highlight

  mahogany - outer corner, crease, outer corner of lower lash line

  terracotta - lightly to warm up transition from crease to brow highlight

Bobbi Brown gel liner - Caviar Ink - upper lash line, tightline

Rimmel Scandaleyes 005 Nude - water line

tarte Lights Camera Flashes Statement Mascara

 {Face}

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation - Cream Ivory

tarte Amazonian Clay Full Covefrage Concealer - Light

tarte brow architect

MAC MSFN - light plus

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer

MAC - Melba

MAC MSF - Lightscapade

{Lips}

Revlon Lip Butter - Wild Watermelon

Pretty average eye look, but these shades are so beautiful. Still just as wonderful as I remembered!

What have you been in to lately?
Becca

How To: Depotting MAC Eyeshadows

It took me forever to finally decide that life would still go on if I depotted my precious MAC shadows and put them into one palette. And then, it took me forever to decide what palette they needed to go into. Super important decisions - I'm sure you agree.

Anyway, I watched, what felt like, a million videos on YouTube and read tons of different blogs on this topic. I think I found the easiest, and quickest, way to depot my MAC eye shadows. 

What you'll need:

Towel, Flat Iron, Wax Paper, Something to pop the shadow out, Rubbing Alcohol, cotton balls/pads, magnets, an empty palette.

Pop out the pan of eye shadow from the outer plastic casing. Hang onto this both for the Back to MAC, and so you can remove the label and put it on the back of the eyeshadow pan.

Place your shadow on top of a piece of wax paper sitting on the plate of a hot flat iron.
After about 30 seconds to a minute, remove the shadow and carefully slide a thin tool on the side to pop the pan of shadow out of the inner plastic casing. Careful - the metal pan will be HOT! I usually pop it out onto a towel. If the pan does not budge, place it back on the flat iron. Trying to remove the pan before the glue has softened may result in a cracked shadow. The time will vary, depending on how hot your flat iron gets.

While the metal pan is cooling a little, place the outer casing on the wax paper for about 20-30 seconds. Use the same thin tool to lift the sticker off the back of the casing and place it on the non-adhesive side of your magnet.

Now that the metal pan has cooled enough to handle, use a paper towel, cotton pad or ball soaked in alcohol to rub any adhesive left on the back off. I found this to be the most annoying part of the whole process, but it made for a clean and smooth surface to apply the magnet (that already has the label with the shadow name and finish on it).

Put it into a palette of your choosing :)

MAC shadows L-R, Row 1: Samoa Silk, Soft Brown, Texture, Row 2: Amber Lights, Swiss Chocolate, Antiqued, Saddle, Row 3: Rule, Red Brick, Brown Script.

Let me know if you have any questions. I'd love to know if you have found an even simpler way to do this. I must also add - since I have depotted my shadows, they have received much more use.

Disclaimer: If you decide to depot your shadows, you do it at your own risk. Please use caution - I will not be responsible for any ruined product or physical injury you may sustain.

Now, get to work!
Becca

MAC Fluidline: Rich Ground

After posting about one of my favorite fluidlines yesterday, I decided that, since Rich Ground is also being promoted with the Styleseeker collection, I might as well do a separate post for it. I find this shade to be very wearable, even though it is on the metallic side.

Online, MAC describes this as a "Reddened coco with frost." I would call Rich Ground more of a coppery-bronze shade. I have worn it alone and also as a thicker line, adding a thinner, liquid black liner on top, closest to the lash line. It is nice to be able to use this instead of the normal brown or black liner, and still be in the neutral realm.

Rich Ground is a permanent shade in the fluidline range.

This, like my other fuidlines, applies very easily. It is smooth in texture and opaque without having to build up the color. Of the bronze liners in my collection, the only one I had that came somewhat close was Tanzania from Sue Devitt. I would say it is similar in tone, but a little darker and not as frosty.

What is your favorite shade of fluidline? Do you think they are worth the $15 price tag?

According to my three munchkins, it's time for a snack - Becca

MAC Fluidline: Dark Diversion

I made a trip to the CCO closest to me (which I didn't even know these existed until about 6 months ago!) to exchange a few items. As I was perusing the store (with my huge triple stroller, mind you), one of the sales associates pulled out a fluidline from behind the counter that wasn't on display. Dark Diversion. I wasn't even allowed to swatch it, but I could tell from the color in the pot that I was going to like it - I immediately told her that I would be purchasing this, and I am so happy I did!

MAC describes the color as a blackened plum but, I would say Dark Diversion is more of a dark burgundy-brown shade with a slight sheen (you can just see a hint of sparkle in the swatch). I love it! It is definitely not metallic, and I think it leans more on the red side than purple, but don't let that description deter you. It is dark enough, and brown-ish enough, that I don't think it would appear red on your eyes. Like the other fluidlines I own, this applies beautifully: smooth, creamy and opaque. 

Dark Diversion is currently being re-promoted and is available as part of the MAC Styleseeker collection. When I checked, it was still in stock online, but you'll have to check stores for availability.

Do you have this shade? What is your favorite way to wear it?

Let's chat - Becca