PRIZE ANNOUNCEMENT!!

Drum roll please....I FINALLY GOT YOUR PRIZE FOR THE GIVEAWAY THIS QUARTER!  YAY!!  I know it took me forever, but I have a VERY good reason why!  One of the prizes, no matter where I went, or how many times, the store that carries it didn't have the thing!  It felt like I was on a wild goose chase!  LOL!  But, that is all over now and I have already started planning the prize for next quarter's giveaway so there are no more issues like this again!  LOL! 

Click to view the Prize Video  on YouTube!


SO, without further ado....here are the prizes for our lucky winner!!!  OH...if you haven't already read my post of BLOG CONTEST/GIVEAWAY RULES, please do so now!!!  If you do not follow the rules, your comments will not be entered.  :( 

*IF YOU ARE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13 & 18, PLEASE GET A PARENTS PERMISSION TO ENTER THIS CONTEST AND FOR ME TO SEND THE PRIZE!*

First and foremost, I have 2 Bare Minerals products.  The first is Bare Radiance.  It is a lovely product that gives the skin a beautiful, bronze glow.  Personally, I view the Radiances by Bare Minerals to be sort of similar to MAC MSF's.  I know they are totally different products, but this may give those of you that have not used these BE products a bit of an idea.  This is a .57g jar.  The other jar of BE I have for you is the First Class blush.  If any of you watched my Novemeber Favs video on YouTube or if you read the post here regarding my Nov favs, then you saw that this blush was one of the ones I rediscovered this month and fell in love with!  When I first got it, I didn't much use it, but since the color is somewhat on the warm side, it has been just perfect for this season!  I hope our winner enjoys these as much as I do!

Next, the prize that gave me the most troubles, was the Sonia Kashuck Blending Sponge!  I was going to order the more expensive, Beauty Blender, version of this from Sephora tomorrow, but...low and behold when I went to Target tonight, christmas shopping, I FOUND IT!  I was very amazed to see that they had completely stocked the cosmetics section!  (Even had MORE ELF products on the shelves...going back for some of those!)  Guys, I really love this sponge and as long as you care for it properly, it will last you a while!  Even if it doesn't, it is only $10 compared to the Beauty Blender which is twice that amount! 

The third & final prize is from one of my FAV hair care companies! I have been playing around alot with my hair lately and have tried MANY different things, so I wanted to give a hair prize. My issue with this was the fact that not everyone has the same type of hair, so I wanted to get something that I LOVE and that would work for everyone!  This is the Healthy Sexy Hair (Full Size) Set of Pumpkin Rehydrating Shampoo & Conditioner.  These products have many stellar Vitamins to care for your hair, UV protectants for chemically or non-chemically treated hair, and many other ways to keep your hair looking hydrated and beautiful!  Even if you don't have dry hair, I personally like to use a rehydrating shampoo/conditioner on the weekends when I am giving my hair a break from overbearing products & styling!  It's nice to pamper your hair every once in a while!

I know this isn't much, but I wanted to get you guys some things that I absolutely love!  Plus, these were purchased with my own money and right here at the holidays, we all know that is tight!  LOL! 

This contest/giveaway will be ending on the 31st of December (2009).  I will then number all of the comment entries, starting with the first open post, and enter them into a randomizer.  That will, then, give me the winner!  I will post a video on YouTube and a post here as well that announces the winner.  I expect the winner to contact me within 2 weeks time, otherwise, the prize will be given to the next randomizer number. 

The first quarter comment contest will begin with any posts starting after January 1st and will continue on any and all posts until March 31st.  Then, the same events will take place...every quarter!  There will always be new prizes and as I get more followers and subscribers on YouTube, I will begin to give 2 & 3 prize winner, great stuff!  Remember, the more you comment, the better your chances of winning!

I Can Only Pick How Many (Nov Favs)?

I really didn't do any shopping this month, but I did by one thing that I fell in love with (and would repurchase anyday) and, also, rediscovered some things.  I ended up talking in this vid a great deal more than usual...sorry about that!  I think it is because I just haven't filmed in a while!  LOL!  Anyway, so I had to cut some things out of the vid, but I will post them here!  On to my favs!

CHI Keratin Mist - This is a leave-in strengthening treatment that is full of proteins that will do their thing on your hair from the inside out!  All you do is spray some on wet hair and style as ususal.  The mist will not only strengthen, but condition your hair, leaving it silky and smooth through styling.  I just love ti too!  I purchased it at the beginning of the month and I have seen a difference from day one.  I even use it on my daughters hair prior to a blow out.  I suggest this product to anyone that really styles the hell out of their hair and is looking for added protection.

NYX Jumbo Shadow Pencil in Milk - Everyone knows about these shadow sticks.  If you don't, boy are you missing out!  This is the first color I purchased and I will continue to purchase it until the day I stop wearing makeup!  I use it after my UDPP & prior to shadow to brighten up areas I will be applying lighter colors.  I have used it as a cheek highlight as well with an MSF over it, to set.  I use this just about every day.  Really, all of these pencils would be on my favs list if I had that much time!

Rimmel Spark It Up! Gleaming Eye Darkening Pendil in 610 Tiger's Eye - Woah!  Talk about a product that suprised the crap outta me!  This pencil is super smooth and pretty soft making it very versitile for the eye.  I love to apply it to my lower lash line and smudge!  It provides a sticky base so I have used it as a base for shadows to deepen colors and give a metallic finish to an otherwise boring shadow.  You can see in the swatch photo that it has a bronze/gold finish to it.

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer in Light - I LOVED this concealer when I got it, but stopped using it so much in the summer, because it was just too much on my face.  I picked it back up again to conceal my under eye area, rather than my Erase Paste, because I have been going to bed earlier these days.  Now, don't get me wrong, my Erase Paste is still my all time fav, but this works for every day use.  It leaves a smooth, powder-like finish on my skin that I just love and blends VERY easily!

MAC Select Cover-Up Concealer in NC20 - Yep, it happened...my face got SUPER mad and broke out like CRAZY this month for some reason!  (I attribute it to stress and my lack of H2O consumption this month!)  Anyway, I apply this with a Sigma 224...any fluffy dome shaped brush will do the trick for remarkable application.  I like it because it never looks cakey, even by the end of the day and I can cover break-outs with little or no effort at all!  If you have issues with break outs, you should really try it.  Get an NC shade so you can neutralize the red in the spots though.  Following application, set by stamping over some translucent powder.  Then, be mindful of those areas when applying your all over setting powder, or in my case, Bare Minerals Foundation.

MAC Pearl Cream Color Base - This will be my go to highlighter for the rest of my life, just so you know!  LOL!  Set it with.....

Bare Minerals Flawless Radiance - This creamy, beige-gold highlighter is BEAUTIFUL!!!  I hope you can see the effect on the left side of my hand in the photo.  I think this would be a great addition for anyone's collection.  It is versitile in that you can utilize it as not only a cheek highlight, brow high light but it is really pretty applied wet as a lid color or mixed in clear gloss for an interesting lip gloss.  :)  I LOVE this stuff!  I gotta find some more for cheap! 

Bare Minerals Blush in First Class - This has sat in my drawer for a while.  This was one of the colors I had in my stock in my eBay store.  (I do have a few left.)  Well, I pulled this one out the other day when I did yet another one of my neutral looks and it turned out to be the perfect blush to go with browns!  It has just a little shimmer to it and is a muted brownish rose color.  I REALLY love it!  It is the swatch above the Rimmel pencil in the swatch photo.  I think I am going to take 2 jars and press a pan of it so it is more portable.  I really do like the color and I think it would look great on just about anyone!

Well, I think that just about covers it for this month!  If you have any questions about these products, just let me know!  Also, if you are interested in any of the BE products that I have, just let me know and I will publish a post with some photos of what I have left.  All of the jars are $5 each.  I am thinking of putting a few lots on eBay with some MU bags.  They would make PERFECT xmas gifts since they are all BN!  :)

If you guys would like to see the video version of my favs, you can check it out HERE.

Thanks for coming by again today!  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Bare Minerals...Why Not?

I used to be, and sometimes still am, ADDICTED to Bare Minerals Makeup. I am wondering what the hell happened with this brand? It used to be hard to get their stuff on eBay and you were lucky to get a shadow for $5+shipping. Now, it seems that no one wants BE. I don’t know if MAC and other brands have just taken over because of their cult like following, or if we feel the caliber of their products just isn’t up to par.

I can’t really figure out what happened with this brand! SO many people I knew LOVED their products and collected them like people now collect MAC. Do people still collect this brand like they used to or do they just let it sit in their drawer and stare back at them longingly every morning when their owner reaches for a MAC shadow instead? I am totally guilty of this, but have been working to change my ways.

I have tried, every day, to incorporate at least one BE color into my look for the day. I use their foundation every day and just ordered some of the Matte Foundation to try as well. I have some super gorgeous colors from BE and can’t bare to let them go! Even if I wanted to let them go, however, I would never be able to sell them on a forum because it seems that there is no one that wants them. Oh, and if they do, they won’t give you much of anything for them! I just can’t figure it out!

I thought I was going to be able to get rid of all my overstock that I had from selling on eBay, when I found the BE forum online. Well, they have stopped allowing sales and swaps on their site if you have not been an active member for so long. I also think they have been having issues with their members not following through with sales and or swaps too. WTF, people??

Needless to say, I rediscovered a lot of my colors when I did swatches for my new bestie, Molly. We decided that we would never in a lifetime use all our BE shadows and it would be better to split what we had and swap to get new stuff without having to spend any money! So, I ended up swatching more than half of my collection and what I rediscovered was amazing! The colors are so different and foiling and applying dry make two different colors! WOW…what a concept!

I wanted to share with you guys the swatches that I did. The colors really are amazing and, yes, some of them are dupable for MAC colors and other brands colors, but there are slight differences that make them unique and all their own. When I was purchasing BE, I worked to try and obtain as many of the discontinued colors as I could and get colors that WERE truly unique. I feel that I got some really killer stuff. Check out the pics I have posted to the left!

My question for you guys today is…what is your opinion of BE makeup in general? What have been your reasons for letting it go or not letting it go? Are there really people out there that still use this makeup everyday instead of MAC?? Let me know in the comments below and remember, the more you comment, the better your chances of winning the Fall Blog Comment Giveaway 09!

BE FOR SALE...A LITTLE INFO...

If you are interested in the Bare Minerals I have for sale, and contact me via email or chat, please post your email address/contact information you prefer I use. I normally keep my computer turned on with the net going, so I may miss a chat requested message. If you do not get a response quickly, it means I am away from my computer and forgot to put up an away message. If this happens, just leave your email address and I will contact you. I unfortunatly cant text through a screen name...boo! This just happened a moment ago and I feel terrible that I can't get a hold of the interested person.

So, just make sure you hook me up with your email address and we can chat about what you are interested in! I have had some people show interest but no one has specified items as of yet, so get your requests in so you get exactly what you would like to have!

Since I lowered the price to $5 a jar, I can't offer much more of a discount. I can, however, offer free shipping or something of the sort! :) I hope everyone understands. I paid a dollar more per jar of makeup for these and don't want to loose a ton of money from deals. You guys let me know what you are interested in and we can get things going for ya! :)

Take care and thanks!

BE FOR SALE ON MAKEUP GEEK FORUM!

I have posted the Bare Minerals I have for sale on the Makeup Geek forum, since the lots didn't sell on eBay. I had hoped to get rid of it quickly, but it looks like I am going to do better selling individuals. I got all this makeup from my last wholesaler and am going to sell to you for what I got it for. I don't have the time to sell on eBay any longer and just hate to see great makeup go to waste!

If you find yourself not using mineral shadows/liners/blushes like these, just press them! Since I pressed mine, I use them a LOT more and even use them on clients like crazy! PLUS...you can split the pot with a friend and both get a pressed shadow out of them!

I love BE shadows/liners/blushes because they are so versitile! There is nothing you can't do with them! Use blushes for shadows, shadows for liners, liners for brow filler...you can do anything with them! I have even started mixing them to get new shades that I didn't have before!!!

So, go check out my sale on Makeup Geek! If you are interested, message me here or shoot me an email at Vanitys_Edge@yahoo.com. (That is of course if you are not already a member of MUG yourself!) I would love to see all this go to good homes and get used and just think that this makeup would make fabulous Christmas gifts! They are NEW!!!! :)

Here is the link:

http://www.makeupgeek.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=24675

There are tons of photos and listings of the colors! I will happily swatch anything for anyone interested! Please note, I accept Paypal payments ONLY....NO EXCEPTIONS!

Thanks guys! Have a good one!

Bare Minerals listings on eBay!

I have 3 lot listings beginning tonight around 645 pacific time of some NEW Bare Minerals makeup that I am getting rid of. All the info is in the auction listing. If you are looking for Christmas gifts for your family, friends, or even yourself, these lots would be the perfect place to start!!! Go to my seller name....be_gorgeous_always.....and check them out tonight! They are 7 day auctions and I have 100% seller feedback! I really need to get rid of these to a good home. I am trying to get into a place of my own and this would make it happen! Let me know if you have any questions! For any of my blog followers that purchase any of these lots, I will include an extra suprise for you guys!!! Just comment here that you are the buyer and I will verify and you will get something special! Bare Minerals is a great line of makeup and this would be a great way for you to try it for hundreds of dollars off the retail price!!!!

Thanks and good luck!

Femme Couture Look on YouTube

Make sure to go to YouTube and check out the video! Here's the link... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSvIZT6euKo ...& MAKE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE!!! :)

Products Used for this Look:

Femme Couture Mineral Shadows in Pink Sand & Deep Amethyst, Mac Carbon e/s, Mac Nylon e/s, Mac Powerpoint Pencil in Black Russian, Smashbox Envy e/s, Maybelline Brow Powder in Lt. Brown, Ulta Clear Brow Gel, Loreal True Match Super Blendable Makeup in True Beige, Bare Minerals Foundation in Light, BE Mineral Veil, Benefit Boi-ing in #1, Benefit Erase Paste in #2, Benefit Powderflage, Channel Eyeshadow Base in Rose, BE Warmth, BE Well-Lit, Rimmel Bronzer in Sun Bronze, BE Blush in Pink Diamond, Maybelline Colorsensational l/s in Pink Sand 005 (what a conincidence!), Mac Lipglass in Pop Mode, Rimmel Foundation Primer, Mac Dazzlelash Mascara, Jane e/s sticks in Pink Pearl 02 & Island Breeze 01, Wet ‘N Wild e/s Stick in 130 (a champagne color…don’t know the name)….I think that just about does it with the exception of brushes and sponges!

I went haulin’ last weekend and ended up at Sally’s Friday evening to check out what they had in house. I have never tried their cosmetics, so I thought I would give their mineral line a try since all the products were on sale for $5 off 3 items! I purchased a gel liner as well as the two mineral shadows featured in this look. (Pink Sand and Deep Amethyst) They are okay besides being terribly hard to blend! This was the first time I had tried these shadows, so you are right there discovering them with me if you go check out the video on YouTube by clicking here -à
The shadows ended up being pretty shimmery as you can tell in the photos. I tried to tone them down with the matte, black carbon…when that didn’t work as much as I would have liked, I decided this could just be a going out look instead! I think too much shimmer on myself, really highlights my wrinkles, so I will be doing as little of that as possible! But, some of you that don’t share the eye lines that I have, would look SO gorgeous in this look!

Of course, you don’t have to go and purchase these exact colors and can use anything you have in your drawer! I know the CS 88 palette has many dupe colors and MAC makes a ton of shadows that would look, probably better, if I am being completely honest. For the price of $5.99 each, I am not too awful mad that they are hard to blend or not super pigmented. You can pretty much pack the color on, or I am sure apply them wet, to achieve a greater intensity just like a lot of other mineral companies out there.

I have yet to decide if I will be repurchasing these shadows or not. I guess I am sort of waiting to see how the other items from the line turn out to be. They did have some really pretty colors in eyeshadow, I just really wish they had some samples or something that I could look at up close and personal prior to purchasing! I guess not everywhere can be MAC or Ulta! LOL!
I will be doing a full review on Femme Couture Mineral Effects for you guys once I feel I have given every item I purchased, a full chance. You can also see what else I purchased at Sally’s and my other stops along the way in the haul video that will be posted next! J So, make sure to go check that out! I will be posting photos here on my blog of all the items I purchased along with as many swatches as I can make show up!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by to read this entry! Keep your eye out for many more to come! I am about to get to work on a series as well as my VERY long list of reviews that have been requested! I hope you guys have a wonderful day and don’t forget to sign up to follow here on my blog, at www.Twitter.com/VanitysEdge, and subscribe to my YouTube channel for more in depth reviews/hauls/looks… www.YouTube.com/VanitysEdge! I would love to have everyone’s support on this journey I am taking!

Bare Minerals Face Fashion Wild Spirit Collection

Love this look! If you haven't seen it, go check it out on YouTube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug_reg_qGPo I will get some swatches posted soon and I am working on pulling a good photo out of the video for you guys! Come back soon and see for yourself! Now...on to the products list!!!

BE Face Fashion Wild Spirit Kit - Includes Metallic Lavendar Shadow (shimmery silver/lavendar), Plush Purple Shadow (matte rich purple), Smokey Sequins Liner Shadow (matte black with purple reflects), Vintage Peach Blush (gorgeous shimmery peach), & Jessica Buxom Lipgloss (Coppery Pink)

Urban Decay Primer Potion (original)

BE Ice Queen Eye Quickie (white with a blue duo chrome-color changing shadow)

MAC e/s - Carbon (Matte blackest black)

MAC Eye Kohl - Smolder (blackest black)

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer

Cover Girl Exact Lights Mascara

Various Brushes by Sigma, Bare Minerals, Lowe Cornelle, MAC, & Studio Tools

Foundation: MAC Mineralized Satinfinish NC20, MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Natural, MAC Select Coverup NC20

If you have any questions or comments, leave them here, on the video comments or feel free to email me at Vanitys_Edge@yahoo.com! Questions, Comments, & Suggestions are always welcome!

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to the Vanity's Edge Channel on YouTube! www.YouTube.com/VanitysEdge!

Follow me on Twitter!! www.Twitter.com/VanitysEdge

Thanks for all the support! Let me know what video tutorial you would like to see next! Challenge me!! :)

Gold Summer ~ Products (Photos coming soon!)

This is such an easy look for anyone to do on themselves or someone else! You don't have to use these exact products, but just look in your own collection for matches! I promise, you will prob find something that will work! You could also use yellow tones or even taupes! Just keep the eye neutral and light and add the punch with a crazy color liner!

Rust eyeshadow - Urban Decay (http://www.ulta.com/ or get it off eBay for cheap!)
Yellow Marigold eyeshadow - NYX (http://www.ulta.com/)
Soft Force eyeshadow - MAC Style Warriors Collection (http://www.maccosmetics.com/)
t.l.c liner shadow - Bare Escentuals ~ bareMinerals
Sigma 239 (http://www.sigmamakeup.com/)
MAC 242
MAC 226
Coastal Scents Highlight Shadow Brush (dupe for MAC 227) (http://www.coastalscents.com/)
Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara
Foundation - bareMinerals (Fairly Light for me) (http://www.bareescentuals.com/)
Mineral Veil - bareMinerals
Tinted Moisturizer (Fair-Med) - Ulta's brand
High Lights Illuminating Moisturizer - No7 (http://www.target.com/)
Spicey Summer Blush - Red Earth (http://www.ulta.com/)
Sheer Tan Lipgloss - Coastal Scents Smacks

I believe I covered everything here! If I missed something you are interested in, send me a comment! I will be posting some photos soon or, you can check out the video for complete application directions! (www.youtube.com/VanitysEdge - The video is Tutorial #1!) Thanks for coming by you guys! Talk to you soon!