The Beauty Spotlight Team: Urban Decay Favorites from Phyrra!

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Courtney has been Urban Decay obsessed for years. Find out what her must-have favorites are. Do you love them too?

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Top Ten Tuesdays: Top Ten Foundations

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It is time for Top Ten Tuesdays! This week we are sharing our Top Ten Foundations. Over the years, I have really grown to love foundation. Nothing perfects your skin better! There are quite a few in my current makeup rotation. From liquid to powder and matte to dewy or sheet to full coverage, I really do like a variety of formulations and finishes. It just depends on my mood and what look and feel I want on that particular day. So, without further ado, here is my list! I have both high end and drugstore loves to share! :) 

Top Ten Tuesdays: Top Ten Foundations:

• Rimmel | Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation with Comfort Serum: This is one of my newest favorites and it is a drugstore formula! Love the smooth feel and great coverage. Not to mention, Light Porcelain is a perfect match for me! What to hear more, check out my full blog review of this beautiful foundation here. :) 

• MAC | Studio Fix Powder Foundation: This is my longest running favorite foundation! Actually, this is the first foundation that I ever wore on a regular basis. For day-to-day/everyday wear, I prefer the ease of dusting a light layer of powder foundation. The coverage of this powder is just amazing. Just an easy and light dusting really perfects my skin and leaves me looking flawless. NC15 is a perfect match for me in this foundation. I am never without this. As soon as I run out, I always buy more. Also, sometimes I layer this over a lighter coverage liquid foundation to increase coverage. Love, love, love this! 

• Laura Mercier | Silk Creme Moisturizing Foundation: This foundation has the most beautiful feel! I adore everything about it and reach for it often. This foundation comes in both moisturizing and oil-free formulations. 

• It Cosmetics | Celebration Foundation: This is a fabulous powder foundation! It is packed with anti-aging ingedients. So, like all IT Cosmetics products, it is good for your skin while giving you a flawless finish! While it is a powder, it has a luxurious creamy feel and fabulous luminous coverage.

• COVERGIRL | Ready, Set, Gorgeous Foundation: The Classic Ivory shade is a pretty good match for me in the Summer when my complexion is slightly darker. While I do wish this was slightly lighter, I still love the look, feel, and coverage of this foundation. Plus, the price is great! 

• Urban Decay | Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup: Like the name states, this foundation feels weightless on your skin. This foundation honestly looks like "real skin"...but better! It is so natural, so light, and so flawless while still giving good coverage. Plus the shade 0.5 Cool/Very Fair is a perfect match for me. 

• Shiseido | UV Protective Stick Foundation: This stick foundation from Shiseido is phenomenal! It is water-resistant and it contains SPF. So, it is a perfect Summer foundation for me. The shade Fair Ivory is a decent match for my skin tone (just slightly too dark...but, it works in the Summer when I am slightly darker and self-tanning). This glides on smoothly and it is a perfect small size for your purse for touch-ups! 

• Lancome | Teint Visionaire Skin Correcting Makeup Duo: I love this 2-in-1 from Lancome! It has a liquid foundation on the bottom that is packed with anti-aging ingredients (contains the active ingredient as Lancome's Visonaire Serum!!!) as well as light-refecting skin enhancers. The top flips up to reveal a creamy concealer. This is a great idea! I use the liquid all over and then use the concealer to give more coverage where I need it on my face. I love how my skin looks with this: flawless with a dewy glow. Beautiful! I wear shade #100 Ivoire. 

• tarte | Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation: As much as I have grown to love liquid formula foundations, I admit that for "easy makeup" days, I always reach for a powder formula. This is so fast and easy to apply. It has all good ingredients in it, too. I like the natural finish (not totally matte). You can build coverage from light-full depending on how you apply. I apply it with tarte's brush and it looks flaweless. Plus, this really lasts all day! I wear the shade fair-light neutral.

• NARS | Sheer Glow Foundation: This hydrating and luminous formula leaves my skin looking so perfected while feeling so light on my skin. The shade match of Siberia is spot on to my skintone in the Winter. So, this is a perfect foundation for right now! Love, love, love it!

So, that is it! My Top 10 Foundations. If I was forced to choose a Top 3 out of this list, they would be NARS Sheer Glow, MAC Studio Fix, and Urban Decay Naked Skin because those three are the best matches for my ultra light skin tone. However, all ten of these really are fabulous! So, be sure to check them out. Also, be sure to scroll through the thumbnails below to see what my fellow Top Ten Tuesdays Bloggers picked for their foundation favorites! :) xoxo

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Fresh Face for Summer: IT Cosmetics, Shiseido, Urban Decay, Lancome, and Pixi!

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Fresh Face Products for Summer with Shiseido

I certainly like to go for a lighter and more natural makeup look for the Summer. Often, I skip foundations completely and just opt for some concealer, lipbalm, and mascara. However, there certainly are days that I want more coverage or a more perfected look. With that said, even when I do opt for foundation-type products, I still go lighter on the makeup overall. That makes me *really* want my skin to look good! So, when I do wear more makeup in the Summer, I want perfected skin with just a touch of color cosmetics. 

There are a few new products and old faves that I have been continually reaching for since the weather turned warm. I plan on continuing to use these throughout the Summer when I want my skin to look its made-up best! ;) 

To find out more about each of these products, please click "read more" below!

Makeup Wars: Top Purple Shadows!!!

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It is time for another Makeup War! This time the Makeup Wars bloggers are battling it out over the best Purple Shadows! So, what does a die-hard "neutrals-girl" like myself think about purple shadow???...I love 'em! Seriously, they work so well with my coloring that they are almost a neutral. Plus, with the cool effects of color theory, wearing purple shadows really brings out the very slight green tint in my blue eyes. If I am not in neutral shadows, I tend to be in a purple. I like to embed purples right into the outer corner of my eye for just a little pop of color in an otherwise neutral look.

Makeup Wars: Favorite Foundations

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It is time for another Makeup War! This time the Makeup Wars bloggers are sharing their favorite foundations! 

My Skin:

Just for reference, lets talk about my skin! I always like to know a product reviewer's skintone and skin type. I am extremely fair and have sensitive skin. Many makeup lines (especially drugstore) do not have shades light enough for me. Often, in the lines that do go light enough, I am the very lightest shade. My tone is neutral-cool, sometimes a cool tone is the best match and sometimes neutral works better. It just depends. I admit, it is hard to match skintone! Often I think something matches, and then I take it home, and realize it doesn't. There is so much trial and error here. I find that the true test is looking at your foundation in natural light and checking it against your neck and jawline. My go-to blogger for foundation recommendations? The fabuous Phyrra! I find that I often wear the same shade as her or close to the same shade.

Foundation is an essential part of my Makeup Routine. I will fully admit that for everyday, I often opt for just a light dusting of my favorite powder foundation: MAC's Studio Fix in NC 15. However, when I have more time, or just really want to perfect my skin, I use a liquid foundation or a heavier-coverage BB Cream. My go-to BB Cream these days? Clinique's Age Defense BB Cream in Shade #01. My current favorite liquid foundation? Urban Decay's Naked Skin in Shade # 0.5. It looks so natural, the color match is fabulous, and it just makes my skin look great! In addition to these listed above, there are many other foundations that I love! Here are all of the ones that I am currently loving and always reaching for! What I pick to wear on a particular day just depends on the type of finish and coverage I am looking for. :) 

Makeup Wars: Favorite Foundations with Neutrogena, Laura Mercier, Urban Decay

So, here are my current favorite go-to and most-reached-for foundations (in no particular order):

• Clinique's Age Defense BB Cream in Shade #01
• MAC Studio Fix in NC15
• Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup in Shade 0.5
• NARS Sheer Glow in Light 1 "Siberia"
• Laura Mercier Silk Cream Foundation in Soft Ivory
• Paula's Choice Resist Instant Smoothing Anti-Aging Foundation in Level 0 Porcelain
• Le Metier de Beaute Classic Flawless Finish Foundation in #1
• Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup in Classic Ivory

Do you have super-duper fair skin like me? What foundations do you like? I would love more recommendations! What foundations are "missing" from my collection? 

Be sure to click on the thumbnail links below to see what foundations my fellow Makeup Wars bloggers are using and loving! :)

Shop the Post:
Here are my Faves:

XOXO!!!

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Some items were press samples and some I bought on my own. 
I have purchased many of these over and over! :)  

Makeup Wars: Holiday Beauty Wishlist!!!

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It is time for another Makeup War!!! This week's Makeup Wars post is pure fun and fantasy: it is my Makeup Holiday Wishlist! I have not tried any of these items. These are simply the makeup items that I am lusting after. The items that I am wishing Santa will put in my stocking. Some of these have been around while, some are new, and some are LE Holiday items. Reguardless, I want 'em! ;) 

What are Makeup Wars?

Before sharing my Holiday Wishlist, let me share a little bit about the idea behind Makeup Wars. The Makeup Wars Bloggers are a group of top beauty bloggers that publish coordinated bi-weekly posts. The Makeup Wars bloggers collectively pick topics to blog about (e.g., Top 10 Products, Beauty Pampering, etc). We publish our posts at precisely the same time and link up through the graphic links and thumbnails at the bottom of our posts. Be sure to click through the thumbnail links at the bottom of this post to read through everyone's posts! :)

My Holiday 2013 Beauty Wishlist:

• Conair Infiniti Pro Curl Secret: I am so intrigued by this unique hair tool! Somehow it magically sucks in your hair and spits out a perfect curl. It both frightens me and excites me at the same time. It is pricey at $99.00. However, if it works as well as it promises, then the price would be well worth it! 

• LORAC Pro Palette: I honestly can't believe that I don't own this palette yet! I love that it features a full range of neutral shades from light to dark in both matte and shimmer finishes. A great deal for $42.00. 

• Urban Decay Naked Basics: I can't believe that I don't own this yet either! A neutral lovers dream palette! I need this! :) Seriously, at $27.00, I should just head out and buy this one now. 

• Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush: This blush is soooo cute! I mean, it is a heart! :) I am a sucker for a pretty blush in great packaging. Retails for $29.00. 

• Hayworth Lingerie Chest by Pier 1: First of all, I am obsessed with Pier 1 furniture and home decor. We just moved into a new house 3 months ago and I am slowly filling it up with Pier 1 furniture and accessories! My husband just surprised me with the Hayworth Vanity a couple weeks ago! He knew it was on my wishlist for ages. What a guy!!! ;) Well, now I want the Hayworth Lingerie Chest for my makeup storage. I am actually planning on splurging on this for my "Christmas Gift for Myself" this year!!! I can't wait! I am going to sit this right next to my vanity to store all my makeup. My makeup is currently in my closet and I hate walking back and forth to my vanity table (and I don't want to sit my IKEA Alex next to a mirrored vanity...it just wouldn't look right). I am hoping to downsize my makeup collection, too. If it doesn't fit into this chest, then I am not keeping it. 

• Glam Glow Gift Set or Glam Glow Mask: I hear that this Glam Glow mask is totally amazeballs. At typically $69 for a tub, I think that the gift set that Sephora is offering is a great price (and you get to try more from the line). I am seriously dying to try this!

• BeneFit Rockateur Blush: I adore BeneFit's blushes. I have a bit of a collection and I am dying to add this! I hear that it looks beautiful on. Plus, BeneFit blushes always smell amazing.

Holiday Shopping Wishlist: Makeup Wars! with Benefit , Conair, Urban Decay

So, that is it! My Holiday 2013 Beauty Wishlist!!! I know that I am forgetting a million things. I mean, seriously, as soon as I publish this I will smack my head because I will think of more things. :) However, the list must end somewhere, right?

What do you all want for the beauty-wise for the Holidays? Have you tried any of my wishlist items? If so, I would love to hear how you like these things!!! :)

Happy Holidays!!!
XOXO!!!

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Be sure to click on the thumbnails below to see my fellow Makeup Wars blogger's Holiday 2013 Wishlists!!!

Makeup Wars: "Best Fall Look" with Urban Decay's New Smoked Palette

 

It is time for a Makeup War! Yes, the Makeup Wars bloggers are at it again with another makeup challenge. This time we are searching for the best products out there for a great "Fall Look"!

What is a Makeup War???

The Makeup Wars group consists of a verbose (and fabulous, if I do say so myself...) group of beauty-obsessed bloggers who like a good challenge! Every/other week we do a blog blast about the same  topic, product, or category. We publish our posts at exactly the same time linking each other through a graphic at the top and bottom of our posts (the "last" and "Next" links up top and our picture links at the bottom). This allows our readers to scroll through all of our blogs for each blast topic post. The cool part? These Makeup Wars blog blasts are a big reveal not only to our readers, but also to our group collectively. We never see each other's posts ahead of time. So, while we know the topics we don't know the specifics. I am always just so excited to scroll through our links to read everyone's posts! So fun!!!

Did you miss our other challenges? Be sure to check those out here: Battle of the Taupes, The $20.00 Face Challenge, Battle of the Favorite Summer Lippie, the Most Expensive Face Challenge, the Best Brush, Favorite Fall Polish and Favorite Red Lipstick. 

Best Fall Look:

The change of season is always so exciting!!! The arrival of Fall (my fav Season!) and October (my fav Month!) bring about shorter days, cooler weather, and fabulous Fall clothing and makeup!

What changes for me makeup-wise with makeup for Fall? Well, generally I go bolder all around with color. Peach and coral lips give way to plums or nudes (if I do a bold eye). Also, I am much more likely to go with a bold smokey eye! Smokey Eyes just scream Fall/Winter to me. So, for this Makeup War, I am going to feature the new Urban Decay Smoked Palette.

Makeup Wars: Battle of the Taupes!

The Battle of the Taupes is the first of (hopefully) many Makeup Wars amongst myself and some of my favorite bloggers! Yes, this is a new and unique post roundup link series hosted here on Pammy Blogs Beauty and my fellow blogger's pages.

*be sure to click on the "last shadow" and "next shadow" graphic!

Here is the scoop:
After some general discussion amongst bloggers on the love of and comparison across taupe shadows, the Makeup Wars group was born. We are a group of Makeup Bloggers (and Star Wars lovers) led by our fearless commander Christine from 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic.

We embark upon our first battle: The Battle of the Taupes. All blogs participating are reviewing and swatching their favorite taupe shadows. Taupe is a unique and much-loved shade by bloggers. Is it brown? Is it grey? Is it grey-brown? I know my eyes started to almost go fuzzy while trying to determine what shadows were actually true "taupes"!

I will showcase my very favorite taupe shadow in this post (a well as a comparison of said shadow to other taupes in my makeup collection). Also included in this post: Links to fellow Makeup Wars blogger's Battle of the Taupes posts! So, please visit the links in this post (see header graphic and links below) to see what taupes they are loving!!! That is the fun of this: Discovering tried-and-true taupes loved by various bloggers! :) 

Our group is unique!
There is something cool and different about the Makeup Wars group and concept. We are a group of bloggers from all walks of life, different colors of skin and hair, from across the country, and in different stages of life. We are bound by our love of makeup and our desire for blogging. I think it is a unique concept for us all to either review the same product for Makeup Wars or the same type of product (e.g., taupe shadow). Have you ever liked a product but wondered how it would work with a different hair type or color of skin? Have you ever read a favorite bloggers review but then thought, "But would this color work on my skin tone?" This group will have those answers for you!!! Variety is our strength! Collectively, we have a ton of great ideas and our discussions only increase our enthusiasm for the products we are reviewing! :)

To see my very favorite taupe along with links to fellow Makeup Wars Blogger's taupe posts, please keep reading after the jump!

Sharing Blog-love for Jackie at "Officially Superficial"!!!

Hello my dear readers! Just had to give a HUGE shout-out and a big "Thank You" to Jackie over at "Officially Superficial". I was lucky enough to win her most recent giveaway! I was so excited to get this *amazing* palette by Urban Decay over the weekend...

The Urban Decay Book of Shadows Vol. III: UD *heart* NYC Palette

I haven't had a chance to fully play around with it yet ya'll, but I can tell you it is amazing!!! I honestly have never had a palette this flippin cute! I mean, it *lights up*!!! The coolest thing about Jackie's giveaway is that this is an item that I had really been wanting, but couldn't justify the expense...so, I am thrilled! You guys must head over and check out Jackie's blog as its really great!

Here are some pictures for you all! I hope to do a full review on this soon...but, really want more time to experiment with it before reviewing (I like to test things for awhile before doing "full" reviews)...this is more of a general "excitement" post! And, I had to share-the-blog-love with Officially Superficial!!! Thanks again Jackie!!! *YOU* totally made my day with this great giveaway!!!

XOXO!!!
Pammy