Travel Makeup Essentials

As some of you know, this week I am going to be heading out of the country for a trek across Europe. That being said; I am planning on taking as little as possible since that pesky luggage allowance limits me to 50 lbs. As I was going through my makeup kit trying to decide what I wanted to bring, I realized just how hard it is to limit yourself to just the basics!

This is what made the cut for me. Everything you see here is something that I use every day. Ill list all of the products after the cut! 

My Favorite Drugstore/High-end Matchups

It's been a few weeks since my last post, and I have been racking my brain trying to think of something to show you that we haven't really discussed much on this blog.. I've been in sort of a rut, doing nail art that I havent been super happy with and lots and lots of makeup looks that just left me feeling a bit uninspired. I didn't want to post those things just for the sake of having content so I have been writing ideas down and I think now is the time to start sharing those.

The first idea I had was to share a few of my favorite dupes for high end beauty products that EVERYONE should own. These are necessities that every girl should have in their makeup bag. Even if you can't afford the super expensive stuff, there are always products that match up to those highend products and i'm here to pass along my FAVES!!!

Unconditionally - Katy Perry (Naked3 Daytime Look)

Hey y'all. I am a happy girl...because I just got Urban Decay's Naked3 this week! I am already obsessed with their Naked line so when I heard they were coming out with a palette that featured rose gold shades...I freaked out. No, really. I freaked out. 

I went to Sephora on Wednesday night to wait in line and pick up my order before it went on sale to the public on Thursday. I was third in line. By the time I left, the line was out the door! Looks like my concert-line skills have finally paid off in the beauty world! I promised I would review it..and I'm pretty sure I'm going to sound like an advertisement for them...that's how much I love this palette. Two words: Absolute. Perfection. Rose gold shades are my favorite. I think they compliment my brown eyes really well. I overused the "toasted" shade in my original Naked palette on my lid crease. So I feel like this palette is just a major extension of "Toasted," which I think has a rose gold tint to it. If you love "toasted," then you won't be disappointed in this palette. 

The quality is up to Urban Decay Naked standards. The already-vibrant colors stand out even more when paired with eyeshadow primer. 

The price is steep, but well worth it. If you can get your hands on one, I highly recommend it as a gift for a good friend...whether they're makeup savvy or not. Perfect for beginners and perfect for addicts.

Standout shades: Dust, Buzz, Liar, Mugshot.

Perfect for daytime/everyday routine: Strange, Dust, Burnout, Trick, Liar, Limit.

Perfect for nighttime/dramatic look: Strange, Buzz, Nooner, Darkside, Mugshot, Blackheart.

Naked is obviously great for subtle looks, but you can also darken it up. If you're going on a trip, there's no need to bring 20 different single shades. Just throw Naked3 into your suitcase and you're ready to go!

To prove it, I'm going to do one daytime look and one nighttime look for y'all. First up: This is how I integrate Naked3 into my "everyday" makeup look. I put this makeup on at 6:30 a.m and left for a meeting. When I got back home in the afternoon, I decided to do a little "photoshoot." Hours later...still looks great! Summer teamed up with me and made an awesome manicure inspired by Naked3's daytime perfection. Enjoy the pictures below the cut!

Out Alive - Kris Allen

It's no secret. I am head over heels in love with Urban Decay eyeshadow. It's also no secret that I am a die-hard fan over "Midnight Cowboy." It's one of my all time favorite shades. Day time or night time: it's perfect.

When I love something, I share it with friends. Last Christmas I decided to go on a Urban Decay shopping spree for my friends. I got the Naked palette for my mom, the Vegan palette for my long-distance friend and I saved the best for my best concert buddy, Heather. I purchased the Midnight Emergency Kit for her. Normally she doesn't wear eyeshadow so I was hesitant to give her this gift. But then again, I believe in this shade so much that a nonbeliever would love it too. It's the perfect kit for someone who doesn't wear eyeshadow and wants to just add a little bit to their everyday routine. As expected, she appreciated and loved the gift (of course with some apprehension as to if she would actually be able to apply it correctly). It was something fun, something I loved, something I know is quality, something new for her to try and play with.

The Midnight Emergency kit includes four lovely midnight shadows (midnight cowboy, midnight rodeo, midnight 15, AC/DC), a mini eyeshadow brush and some lip gloss (Midnight Cowboy Lip Junkie). 

About a month later, we met up to go to Kris Allen's Out Alive tour a few hours away. It was an incredible concert and we had so much fun. The next day, I asked her if she had her emergency kit with her. She did! So, I offered to do her makeup and "teach" her how to use it.

I wanted to share the pictures with you all because I think she looked fabulous in the Midnight Emergency kit.

I loved the final result, my mom loved the final result and even her family that night complimented her on her "Midnight" look. I think it's perfect for the day but she could also darken it up a bit for a night time look.

I hope you loved the little "midnight makeover," Heather. Thanks for being the best concert pal around and thanks for being an awesome makeup model. :)

If you can get your hands on a Midnight Emergency kit - do it! You can still find it around online. If not, I would recommend at least buying "Midnight Cowboy" and pairing it with your favorite darker shades. It looks great with any other color!

View more of the pictures behind the cut:

Something To Believe In - Parachute

I know it's been a while since I have posted and this will be the last time I make one of these apologetic opening statements. I graduated from college two weeks ago and I finally have free time at home to work on the blog. I have been documenting makeup and looks over all of this time so I definitely have some catching up to do.

About a month ago, I went to a Parachute and Andy Grammer concert on my campus. It was such a great show and I was so excited to have them come to my school!

For this look, I used some clothes in the back of my closet for a surprisingly chilly and rainy day. My makeup look included a clean cat-eye with an overall natural finish.

50 Ways To Say Goodbye - Train

Hi all! I promise I'll stop starting off every one of my posts with, "I'm sorry I haven't been posting." A week or so ago I went to Train and Mat Kearney's concert with my mom and her friend. I had a really great time. I'm a big fan of Mat Kearney. It was great to finally see him live. I wasn't disappointed. I saw Train last year with Maroon 5. It was nice to see them again, as well. Very talented people! If you have a chance: be sure to check out the tour!

Here is my eyeshadow look from that show:

Chasing The Sun - The Wanted

Hi guys! Its me again, I have another post from Tulsa! This time its the other Taylor haha

I started out by doing her makeup, we used sin from the urban decay naked palette and crystal from urban I blended the sin from the inside corner out to the middle of the lid and then added crystal on the outer part of the lid as well as in the crease. I used oil slick eye liner. I felt like it really brought out her eyes. I also did a really dark eye shadow look later in the week but forgot to take pictures. Ugh!

next I did her nails. I didn't take much polish so we were sort of limited on what we could do. Somehow we ended up with 4 of the same color polishes haha. We did a skittles  mani. If you need to know the name of any of the polishes just ask. Its toooooo many to name haha

im hoping to do a dark and glittery eye shadow look for the Adam Lambert concert in July in her haha!

Like it?

xx summer

Kiss Me - Ed Sheeran

hey guys! im finally back from my trip to tulsa, even though i really wish i were still there. Anyway, while I was there I did my friend Taylors makeup. She basically has the LONGEST eyelashes i've ever seen. I mean this girl barely has to wear mascara. JEALS.

Below is what I did:

More After The Cut:

Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5

BIRTHDAY WEEK HAS BEGUN!! Im not sure if you all know, but Alexis and I are both virgos, and our birthdays are only a week apart!!! haha hers was this past week.. and mine is on the 9th (friday) but I started the celebration this weekend... The first thing that I did was go out to eat with friends.. it was sooo yummy. 

Anyway, on to the reason you are here! BEAUTY!!! haha, I kept it really simple by just doing a skittles mani.. I knew that I would be taking it off later to do another birthday manicure anyway.. 

 

 I used China Glaze in For Audrey and Secret Periwinkle, OPI in Show it and Glow it (glitter), Sinful Colors in Nirvana, and WnW in Light Pink Creme...

 I also received my first birthday present of the week! Desiree of GorgeousInWonderland and it was PURRRFECT. She gave me like 10 bottles of polish.. in all my favorite colors (mainly grey.. she knows me so well) and some nail essentials.. ALSO! the cutest little fat owls you have ever seen... anyone that knows me.. knows that I am obsessssssed with owls.. so she picked out awesome stuff!

 These were my EOTD - I was going to be wearing a hunter green color so I wanted to bring that out with my eyeshadow.. I used my coastal scents 88 color palate and urban decay liquid liner.. and almay one coat dial up mascara.. I LOVE having big lashes! haha

 Even if my lashes look like tarantulas from all the mascara that i was using.. well... I dont care.. because my motto is the bigger the better! hahah should I wear this more often??

xoxo - Summer

Moment 4 Life - Nicki Minaj

Hey everyone! In the beginning of the summer, I was playing around with eye shadow. I came up with a white/purple/blue look. I started off wanting to imitate Britney Spears' eye shadow in the "I Wanna Go" video, but I ended up doing this instead when I found some old blue eye shadow!  I went out for the day and when I came home I remembered to snap some pictures. This is what I came up with:

Gone - Scotty McCreery

Hey everyone! Hope you all have been doing well. This weekend I went to Scotty McCreery's homecoming in Garner, North Carolina! If you don't know, Scotty is a finalist on American Idol. When you make the final 3, you get a hometown visit! I'm super proud of Scotty and so happy he's representing North Carolina. I had a great time there and I am so happy for him! Be sure to watch American Idol this Wednesday on FOX at 8:00p.m. Please vote! I'm hoping he'll bring home the win!

Anyways, I'm here to post the eyeshadow look that I wore that day. This is my favorite eyeshadow look. I wear it almost every single day. I have received so many compliments. I can dress it up with eyeliner, or tone it down for when I'm just running out the door to go to class.

Goodbye - Miley Cyrus

So i got a new shirt, its purple, with peacock feathers one it. YESSSS!!!!! anyways, i had to find a way to sort of dress it up for work. i decided to do a smokey eye (nothing too over the top) to go with the mani i gave my self yesterday.... all i did was apply an eye shadow primer - and covered my lid in a gray shadow, not metallic, which i prefer to use when doing a "night time" smokey eye. anyway, i then just blended in a matte black shadow from the outter edge of my lash... finished with urban decay liner, and maybeline falsies mascara... and VOILA!

ahhh, so ive been toying with the whole "matte/shiny" combo manicure idea for a while, i finally did it. i left some around the edges so its kind of messy.... and this is just a rough attempt. i think it could be amazzzeee...

That Should Be Me - Justin Bieber

So, last night a friend of mine came to stay the night with me. Me being.. well me, couldn't resist a make over. This particular friend rarely wears make up so I wanted to do something kind of extreme.. Its more fun that way.. right?

Anyway, I started with a liquid foundation and powder (both cover girl) and and used a bit of SEPHORA bronzer. Afterward I applied a eye shadow primer and then used a liquid liner by URBAN DECAY. Next I used an urban decay shadow (forgot the name, it rubbed off :p) and took a crease brush and rubbed in some "punki purple" eye shadow into the inside corner of her eye. I took an eyeliner brush and used the same purple shadow and lined the bottom lid and to finish off the shadow, put a small dab on the outer corner of her eye. I finished the whole look with Falsies Mascara by Maybeline.. I LOVEEEE it. don'tcha think it would be fab for a mardi gras party?

Eyeshadow: Peacock - Katy Perry

If you know me, you know peacocks are my favorite animal. I was wearing my peacock necklace today and I was inspired to create this eyeshadow look! It is a fun night-time look. I love how it turned out.

Plus, I really want to make an eyeshadow look for every song off of Katy Perry's album "Teenage Dream." Her songs are colorful and I think I can makeup some creative eyeshadow looks!

Eyeshadow: I Look So Good Without You - Jessie James

I have a simple eyeshadow look to share with you all today!

What I Used:

1. Mac Pigment - "Pinked Mauve"

2. Mac Pigment - "Vanilla"

3. Urban Decay - "Twice Baked"