# 7 BRAND SPOTLIGHT: URBAN DECAY

I wanted to dedicate a post to one of my favorite makeup brands ever!  I was first introduced to this line probably before I was really old enough to start wearing makeup.  The first time I ever walked into a Sephora store I happened to stumble on this line.  I remember being a little repulsed at the word "Decay" being used as a makeup brand name but you get over it quick.  Now I have been makeup shopping for a long time now and have been in Sephora stores many many times.  I don't know if anyone else has noticed but alot of the brands they used to sell from circa 2006 aren't there anymore.  Luckily, Urban Decay is NOT one of those other brands.  It has stayed one of the best selling makeup lines of Sephora and is honestly the first section of makeup I go to whenever I walk into that store.  The makeup is excellent quality, the color payoff is amazing, colors are pigmented so you don't need to load your makeup brush for the color to come out and let's  face it, their packaging is so cute!  Not to mention the edgy, creative, genius names of their collection which make it all come together.  This is definitely not your grandma's type of makeup lol.

SOME OF MY BRAND FAVORITES



Urban Decay's Primer Potion $18-23

This is a staple in my makeup bag.  I use this product literally EVERYDAY!  And although the $18 bottle (pictured above) is tiny, the product lasts!  My first tube of Primer Potion lasted me at least 6 months before I had to buy another one.  You really only need a small amount on each eye and it will really make your makeup color pop and your eyeshadow will last all day/night without fading or creasing.  I don't know how I ever wore makeup before I found this product.  If I could suggest only 1 item from this line to people it is definitely the Primer Potion.  Fork over the money, it is worth it!

Urban Decay's Surreal Skin Mineral Makeup $30

My shade: Hallucination (medium tan)

If you are looking for a new mineral foundation, try this one.  It offers buildable coverage which is great for days when you need more coverage than usual.  It is very easy to blend into your skin and looks very natural.  It doesn't cake up or anything.  One thing I do want to point out that I don't like about it.  When you open the cap there is a "mess free" powder component, aka little powder buffer attached.  The point is that  you are supposed to buff the product on and it somehow goes through the powder component and onto your skin.  This did not work for me.  There was no makeup coming out of the powder buffer.  So I end up unscrewing the powder buffer (revealing the actual foundation that was previously covered by this powder buffer) and putting the product on like any other mineral foundation.  It's annoying and ends up getting messy because I always spill more product then I intended but quality wise, it's pretty sweet! 

Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil $17

in Zero

Luckily, I have not had to actually go out and spend the money on this eye-pencil.  If you ever buy one of the eyeshadow palettes from this company, check to see if it comes with an eye pencil in Zero (black) or other colors.  UD likes to give you little extras when you buy their eyeshadow palettes especially eye pencils and mini Primer Potion.  So far I have gotten 4 of the Glide-On eye pencils with my palette purchases.  I have 2 in Zero, 1 in Flipside (teal), and another in Ransom (purple).  I have not paid $17 for any of them because they all have come in my palettes.  They are the best eye pencils I have used so far.  I used to buy cheap $1 eyeliners thinking that eye pencils are all the same.  This is simply not true.  Try your regular drugstore NYC brand eyeliner and then try this and you will see the difference.  I suggest trying to get these pencils when you buy a palette because you get the pencil, a set of gorgeous eyeshadows and usually a mini Primer Potion.  They also sell their complete set of 24/7 eye pencils which has every color of the rainbow.  Since I usually stick to just using black eyeliner I tend to luck out through buying the palettes.

   Urban Decay's NYC Limited Edition Book of Shadows Vol. III $54

This is one of the Book of Shadows I have from UD.  These exclusive palettes are usually sold for a limited time.  The other Book of Shadows I have is the Alice in Wonderland edition.  These palettes give you 16 of their eyeshadow colors.  They are usually a nice array of different colors that will give you a bunch of pretty looks.  And as I mentioned before, you can see in the picture that this palette offers two 24/7 Glide On pencils in Zero (black) and Ransom (purple) and a small mini Primer Potion.  Also the top of the book is a pop out of NYC sites which is cute and gives it personality.  My best friend got me this for Christmas 2010 and I love it.  It's pricey, but when you see one of their single eyeshadows for $17/each you realize this is a pretty good deal!

Urban Decay's NAKED palette $48



::Sigh:: The ever elusive Naked palette has been sold out on UD website and Sephora since the summer!  I have been trying to get my hands on this palette for the longest time and still can't seem to get it.  I suppose the versatility and practical colors are what have made this palette such a hot product.  You can go from neutral to smokey all in 1 palette.  Many times people are "scared" of color when it comes to makeup.  I have heard many girls complain that they could never "pull off" a purple or green eyeshadow.  So this palette, with so many neutrals and bronzes is so great for everyday use at school or at work.  And the smokey colors are good for evening.  The colors are just perfectly selected to give you a bunch of gorgeous looks.  I believe I saw this palette when it first came out and I almost bought it but decided not to spend the money.  I am now kicking my self in the butt for not having bought it when I had the chance because now it is nowhere to be found.  I am on waiting lists, email notification lists and checking the websites all the time but this palette is impossible to get a hold of now.  If anyone has a UD or Sephora connect let me know!

Check out these products next time you go to Sephora and see which ones you like best!  If you know of any other really good brands let me know...I am always looking for the next hot product!

Bye for now!

#6 Fave product at the moment...

I'm not one of those girls that are super into buying different blushes.  I have a handful of blushes compared to other makeup lovers out there.  I got a coupon for Sephora in the mail ($15 off!).  So you already know I had to go take advantage of that!!  I went in already knowing that I wanted a new blush.  I happen to love NARS blush and I knew I needed a new color.  I chose the blush above.  The shade is called Luster.  It is a gorgeous bronzey gold blush that makes you glow!  It can be worn alone or you can wear it on top of your bronzer or blended with another color.  It is pigmented but not so much that its not easily blended with other shades.  Big plus!  Downside of anything NARS is the price :(  This is sold at Sephora stores for $26.  I know there are blushes that are more money, but this is about as much as I'm willing to pay and only because it's NARS!  I have some more products I want to post about so maybe I can get to that in the next few days. 

-Michelle G.

Subscribe to my YT channel: http://www.michellegmakeup.com/


 

#5 H20+ Night Oasis Oxygenating Energizer Serum

Sorry I have been MIA on here for the last few weeks.  Anyway, let's talk about this new product that was sent to me.  If you are looking for a nighttime skin treatment to keep your face soft and moisturized then keep reading!  Awhile back I signed up with this company to do reviews on products they send to me.  The actual in person review I recorded is still in the works and it will be posted to my Youtube channel within the next few days.  The company sent me the product listed above.  The full name of it is H20 plus Night Oasis Oxygenating Energizer Serum (try saying that over and over 10x!).  The name of the product is quite a mouthful but its basically a nighttime moisturizer for your face and neck.  Every night for the past 2 weeks I have been going about my normal routine for cleansing my face and removing my makeup.  After I wash my face I put 1-2 pumps of this product and rub it on my face and neck.  The product smells like cucumber melon (yes, as in the old scent they used to promote in Bath and Body Works).  At first when you put it on it feels a tad greasy but after a few minutes my skin absorbed the product and it was ok.  The next morning my face felt soft and moisturized.  Prior to receiving this product I have been using the Clinique Dramatically Different moisturizing lotion at night (which I love and will do a review another time!).  This product was very similar and I would definitely use it again.  I'll try to post the YT review on here by the end of the week. 

Bottom line: The product does what it says it will and keeps your skin feeling fresh and feeling soft.  This product is available on the company website: http://h20plus.com/ and retails for $38. 

I'll catch up with you later!

-Michelle G

#4 Clinique Almost Makeup

I've been wanting to buy a tinted moisturizer for awhile.  I was not looking to spend too much money for one and I didn't want a drugstore brand.  Lately I've been very conscious of my skincare.  I've been trying my best to get into a routine for taking care of my skin.  So when I decided I wanted to try a new tinted moisturizer I wanted to make a good choice.  Somehow when I think of the Clinique brand I think of clean.  I think it has something to do with the pastel colors they use or the Clinique sales people who wear those crisp white lab coats. Its hard to explain...hopefully you know what I mean.  I decided to give this brand a try because of its reputation as a brand that promotes allergy tested, fragrance and oil free products.  I think it will be good for my skin and hopefully not cause any outbreaks.  I'll be using this for my everyday looks since I only use foundation for special stuff.  I'll try to edit this later with how its been working out for me. 

XOXO,
Michelle G

#3 Balmbini

I went to Sephora the other day.  I hadn't been in there in a long time because of obvious reasons.  The most obvious being that I do not need any more makeup then I already have and also because Sephora is oh so very expensive.  Anyway, I had held back for long enough and decided to go check it out.  I ended up leaving with this.  It is by the Balm and I've been wanting to try out their cosmetics for awhile. I always had my eyes on the Shady Lady palette of eyeshadows but this one is new and caught my eye.  It has 2 blushes, 3 eyeshadows and 2 lipglosses.  I thought it looked like a good deal.  I used the palette and love the colors.  I'll be doing a review on this palette on my YT page so look out for it.  I'll post a link once I record it.

XOXO,
Michelle G



#2 Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15

So recently I was having a conversation with my mom and the topic of wrinkles and skincare came up.  Luckily for me, the women in my family all have great complexions and have aged really well.  I'm hoping I have the same amount of luck!  I have been using a moisturizing lotion for nighttime.  I put it on after I take off my makeup at the end of the day.  My mom suggested that I start using a moisturizer with SPF for the daytime as well.  I don't have any wrinkles currently as I am a young twenty-something but its best to prevent rather than try to treat it after the fact.  So I did what I always do when I want to find a good product.  I went on YT and checked out people's reviews on moisturizers.  Since I have no wrinkles I wanted something that was a decent price.  I'm not about spending $50+ on a fancy moisturizer (just yet!).  I stumbled up some reviews for this brand Cetaphil.  So many people like it and its priced well at only $8.99 at Harmon Face Values.  I'll be using it the next few weeks to see if its something I can use on a permanent basis.  I'll keep you posted.


-Michelle G

#1: Micabella Cosmetics Mineral Foundation Review

I just posted my YT review on Micabella Cosmetics Mineral Foundation.  I figured I would also do a review on this blog. 

I was first introduced to this brand a few years ago when they had a kiosk set up at my mall.  The rep did a complete makeover on me using all of their products.  I ended up buying the Mineral Foundation in Cappuccino.  On the company website, http://www.micabella.com/ the foundation retails for $64.95.  This seems correct because I remember dropping $$$$ that night on the foundation as well as 2 eyeshadows.  Eyeshadows retail for $14.95 on the company website.

Anyway, I'm a big fan for mineral foundation because I think its the easiest to use.  I never used foundation in HS and even most of college.  When I started using it my first foundations were mineral ones.  They don't cake up easily and they are usually matte which soaked up any oil on my face.  They also didn't cause any breakouts because they don't clog my pores the way a liquid foundation would.

Micabella Mineral Foundation has lasted me a long time.  I don't use it everyday but I use it enough, especially on days when my skin looks good and I just need a sweep of foundation to even out my skintone.  While it is a bit pricey, if you are looking for a good product and want to check it out I definitely suggest it.  

Check out my YT review on this product! www.youtube.com/michellegmakeup

XOXO,

Michelle G