Happy Holidays!

Since all my other dance posts have been so well received, I thought I'd share my latest. This time I even have some pictures that show off my makeup!

Lash Mania Ardell Evil Queen Lashes
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Here's what I can remember that I used:
Face:
Primer: Benefit POREfessional
Foundation: Cover Girl Whipped Creme Foundation Ivory 305
Contour: MUA Bronzed Perfection
Highlight: MUA Undress Your Skin Highlighting Powder
Powder: Gurelian Meteorite Pressed Powder Teint Rose
Cheeks:
Blush: NARS Orgasm
Eyes:
Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion Greed
Crease: Coastal Scents 88 Color Palette (bottom two greens)
Lid: MakeupGeek Gold Digger & Glamorous
Highlight: Makeup Geek Shimma Shimma
Liner: Eyeko Skinny Liner Black
Waterline: Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner Charcoal
Mascara: Benefit They're Real
Lashes: Ardell from the Evil Queen set.
Brows: MUA Eyebrow Kit
Lips:
Liner: MUA Lip Liner Red Drama
Lips: e.l.f Matte Lip Color Rich Red

With my dear friend & dance sister Kim before our performances.

And now for my dance... It's just a fun holiday dance. I really enjoyed performing this.

I hope ya'll enjoy and have a safe and happy holiday season!

EOTD: MUG Shadows Las Vegas Belly Dance Intensive 2013 Solo

Hello Lovelies! I always intend to take pics of my performance looks and then I get pressed for time and have to get my butt in gear. Sunday I performed my solo at the Las Vegas Belly Dance Intensive and I had plenty of time to get ready. I left my house with part of my makeup done. I didn't want to walk through the Flamingo Hotel & Casino with full on stage makeup. So I added more blush and did my lips once I got there.

Featuring Makeup Geek Eyeshadows. I didn't realize my brows needed so much work till I saw this picture. doh!

I didn't sit down and intentionally use only Makeup Geek Eyeshadows but it just happened that all of the colors I was looking for were MUG.

Eyes:

Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin $20

Shadows: Crease MUG Eyeshadow Mocha $5.99

                 Lid MUG Eyeshadow Glamorous $5.99

                 Blending MUG Eyeshadow Shimma Shimma $5.99

                 Highlightt MUG Eyeshadow Vanilla Bean $5.99

Eyeliner: Liner Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner Black $16

                Waterline Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Charcoal  $9.99

Lashes: Ardell Wispies

Love the Ardell Wispies!

Mascara: Maybelline Falsies Flared $6.99

Brow: MUA Brow Kit  $5.48

Face:

Primer: Benefit POREfessional $30

Foundation: Revlon Color Stay Whipped Creme Ivory $13.99

Cheeks: Blush NARS Orgasm $29

               Highlight Benefit Watt's Up! $30

Concealer: Benefit Erase Paste Fair $26

Powder: Guerlain Metorite Pressed Powder Teint Rose $56

Lips (in the video): Lip Liner MUA Red Drama  $1.56

                                Lipstick e.l.f Studio Matte Lip Color Rich Red $3.00

The MUG shadows are great quality and a tremendous value. I purchased The Starter Kit ($49.99) when they first came out. It comes with nine pans neutral and some purples with both matte and shimmery shades. Three of the shadows I used came out of the Starter Kit. Vanilla Bean is the only one I purchased separately.

If you're interested in the whole look or my dance, check out the video (better in HD)! The LVBDI is the biggest event of the year for our belly dance community. Dancers come from all over the world for classes and performances. 

Brief Update & Giveaway

I know I've been pretty silent so far this year. I've been working hard on my goals for this year. I was also hard at work rehearsing a dance that my troupe performed last week. Now that's out of the way. I might actually get some blogging done. I'm really getting into my Arabic studies though and I'm having a serious Mass Effect relapse. So after my normal bellydance schedule, studying Arabic, and saving the Universe, oh yah and working full time+  there isn't much time (or motivation) left.

Since the response was so positive to my post about How Belly Dance Changed My Life I decided to share a new video. This is just a fun dance we put together for this event.

January 18th marked the one year anniversary of Bat An Eyelash. To celebrate, I'd like to offer a giveaway of a few of my favorite products. Open internationally.

Pardon the phone picture. My camera decided to be a jerk.

• Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment I love this stuff. My hair isn't very dry or damaged so this just adds a nice shine. It smells divine!
• Maybelline Studio Gel Liner in Charcoal I use this mainly in my waterline.
• Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie I'm a sucker for berry shades.
• NYX Blush in Pinched One of my favorite blushes. It's considered a dupe for NARS Orgasm. I have both and I tend to reach for this more.
• NYX Cream Blush in Boho Chic My favorite cream blush! I'm wearing it today actually.
• MUA Heaven & Earth Palette Oh MUA please come to the USA! This palette is so fabulous. I keep buying them for other people when I make a MUA order.
• EOS Lip Balm in Sweet Mint This is always in my purse. 
• OPI Nail Lacquer in Bubble Bath I tend to only wear neutral shades on my fingernails. This is the perfect neutral.
• Tea Tree Oil Foot Repair Balm I keep this by my bed and try to remember to use it every night. It is really moisturizing and my feet don't look as awful.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

June Favorites

It's hard to believe June is over already! I really haven't been wearing that much makeup this summer.

Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush, Holika Holika BB, Revlon Lip Butter, Balenciaga Perfume

• Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush in Peach Satin.  I had forgotten about this blush until I found it again while digging through my makeup drawer. I love this blush. I'm so sad it's discontinued. I do have an unopened one in my secret stash. I find this blush gives a nice peachy glow.
• Holika Holika Shimmering Petit BB Holika Holika is a Korean cosmetic company. BB stands for blemish balm. These are like a somewhere between a tinted moisturizer and a foundation. They also usually have some skin nourishing ingredients and sunblock. I am so in love with this. I hardly ever wear foundation any more. I will do a full review of this soon. I promise.
• Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie.  When I first bought this, it just didn't live up to the hype for me. I decided to give it another shot and now I can't put it down. This gives a nice berry color to the lips. It lasts a decent amount of time and isn't sticky.
• Balenciaga Essence Perfume Someone sent this to me as an extra with one of my trades. The funny thing is that I just added to my wishlist because I wanted to try it. I'm so in love with this perfume. I'm starting to not wear it every day now because I'm running out. I may have to break down and buy the full size. I suck at describing perfumes so just look it up. :)

So those are my June favorites. Not a whole lot as I'm going for minimal effort these days. I've also spent most of June on the quest for the perfect mascara. I haven't found it yet. ;(

What's in My Travel Bag?

I just got back from a four day/three night business trip to Burbank, CA. My makeup collection and skincare routine have changed drastically since I last traveled for business in September. I decided that I didn't want to deal with the hassle of checking my luggage so this was all in my carry on luggage. It was really difficult for me to decide what would stay and what would go and I was really trying to pack light.

Makeup Remover Wipes, 3-1-1 Liquids Bag, Cosmetics Bag

The makeup remover wipes and my cosmetic bag were in my carry on suitcase and I wasn't required to pull them out for inspection.  I was able to fit a lot of products in my one quart sized bag for liquids.  I also took a full sized bottle of contact solution which doesn't count as part of your liquids. So don't waste valuable real estate in your liquids bag on those small bottles of contact solution. In the US this is considered a medication, you have to pull it out to be scanned with the rest of your liquids but it doesn't have to be 3oz. When I left Vegas, they pulled me aside and did an additional scan on my contact solution to confirm it wasn't anything dangerous. When I went through security at Burbank, they didn't care. 

Contents of my 3-1-1 liquids bag

I got all of this in my bag of liquids and had a little bit of room to spare. Oh thank you subscription services! 

• Crest Toothpaste
• UD Lip Junkie Lip Gloss in Wallflower (free w/purchase)
• NYX Xtreme Lip Cream in Buttery Nude reviewed here
• Lorac Lip Gloss in Rich Garnet reviewed here
• Maybelline Dream Lumi Concealer in Ivory
• Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara in Extreme Black (free w/purchase)
• Kerastase Elixir hair serum (Birchbox)
• UD Primer Potion in Original 
• Lancome Teint Miracle Foundation in Buff 4C (free sample from Ulta)
• Harvey Prince Yogini Perfume (Birchbox)
• Inglot YSM Foundation in 41  (free w/purchase)
• Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (free sample from Ulta)
• Regenepure DR Shampoo (My scalp is super sensitive so no using the hotel shampoo for me)
• Regenpure NT Conditioner
• Boscia Cleansing Gel (Sample Society)
• Mac Fix+
• Ahava Essential Day Moisturizer (Birchbox)
• Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner in Charcoal 

Cosmetics bag contents

• UD 24/7 Eyeliner in Whiskey
• UD 24/7 Eyeliner in Peversion
• Almay brown eyeliner (I use this to dip in my gel liner to apply to the waterline)
• My Inglot Neutral palette ( #353, 341, 337)
• My Inglot Smokey eye palette (# 324M, AMC #36, 387M, 348M, 391)
• Milani Baked Blush Luminoso
• Dermalogica Microfoliant (Sample Society)
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Light
• Cover Girl Powder Natural Ivory
• compact mirror

Travel Tools

This case is the one the e.l.f. 11 piece Studio Set comes in. I like it because it's super flat and fits easily in a suitcase.

• Estee Lauder Powder Brush
• e.l.f. Powder Brush
• e.l.f.. Blush Brush
• e.l.f Fan Brush
• e.l.f Mineral Concealer Brush (free w/purchase)
• MAC 217
• MAC 239SE
• e.l.f. Contour Brush
• MAC 219SE
• e.l.f Small Smudge Brush
• Sonia Kashuk Blending Sponge

So that's pretty much what I can't leave home without for a few days. I could do a nice neutral day look or a dramatic smokey eye for evening. What can't you leave home without?

FOTD: March 10, 2012

So I've been spending a lot of time at the office lately. Before spending another gorgeous Saturday in the office I decided to do something to make me feel better. If I'm going to work on Saturday, I'm going to look fabulous doing it.  This is based off of Marlena at MakeUp Geek's Sexy Christmas Makeup look. It's a bit more involved than I would usually wear to the office during the week but a girl has to make herself up sometimes to feel better.

Eyes:

Primer: Palladio Eyeshadow Primer Palladio

Eyeshadows: 

MUG Mocha MUG

Inglot # 337 Inglot
MUG Shimma Shimma MUG
MAC Pigment Naked MAC

Eyeliner: 
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Peversion Urban Decay
Maybelline Eye Studio Charcoal

Mascara: Maybelline Falsies

Face:
Primer: Too Faced Primed and Poreless Too Faced
Foundation: Revlon ColorStay Foundation Ivory #110
Concealer: Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer Ivory
Powder: e.l.f  High Definition Powder e.l.f.
MAC Fix+

Cheeks:
Blush: Milani Baked Blush Luminoso Milani
Highlight: Cover Girl Powder Natural Ivory


Lips: Inglot Cream Lipstick# 121 Inglot

February Favorites

I know I'm a little late in doing this. The month of March crept up on me even with that extra day thrown in there!  I've been so busy at work that I've been neglecting my blog. boo.

February Favorites

• Ulta Nail Lacquer in Goddess Is a sheer pink/gold champagne color. It adds just the right amount of shimmer

• Maybelline DreamLumi Touch Highlighting Concealer in Ivory:  This is a pretty good color match for me. Applies smoothly and blends easily.  Just the right amount of brightness under the eyes.

• Milani Minerals Blush in Luminoous A soft pink/peach color. Looks great on the apples or the backs of the cheeks. The compact comes with a built in mirror and brush. I used the brush for the first time the other day. It's very soft and picks up a good deal of product. 

• NYX Xtreme Lip Cream in Buttery Nude:  I've already rave about this in my review.  I'm still reaching for this several times a week. 

Review: Cover Girl Exact EyeLights Mascara

I picked up this Cover Girl Exact EyeLights Mascara for Blue Eyes in Black Sapphire (730) awhile back. I've been wearing it over the last week since I finally used up all of my Maybelline Define-A-Lash and I'm trying to work through some stuff in my collection.

Cover Girl claims:
"Get 4x brighter eyes* with Exact Eyelights Eye-Brightening Mascara! Light-reflecting metallics and a hint of tint bring out your blues, browns, hazels, and greens, while our patented, no-clump brush helps define lashes."


I certainly didn't notice any brightening effects. I also felt like I needed to use more product than I would like to see any results at all. For my everyday mascara, I want to just swipe and go.  I really had to work this product to see any color. It did clump a little. I do like the size and shape of the wand.

I don't know if my tube had been in the store for awhile or what but I found this mascara to flake as well. The last thing I want to see are little black flakes all under my eyes. If I still had the receipt I would have taken it back to CVS.

Bat's Rating: 4.5 It does give some color to the lashes. Very Minimal lengthening. Flakes off.  

I had cut myself off from buying any makeup after my last Ulta haul but I declared a mascara emergency and had to stop by CVS to get a new tube of Define-A-Lash. The only other mascara I have right now is the Maybelline Falsies and that's a bit more drama than I want to wear to the office.  Luckily I exercised EXTREME self control in the face of a buy one get one 50% off sale and only bought the mascara I needed. It was very difficult. whew.

Ulta and CVS Haul

So I told myself I was just going into Ulta to get my points from my last purchase and pickup UD 24/7 in Perversion and one or two things from they NYX section. I also needed to the nail polish I bought last time but my Mom liked it so much I gave it to her. I just needed to go in CVS to return some blush (Maybelline FitMe blush sucks btw). What is it they say about the best laid plans of mice and men?

The Haul:

• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eyeliner Perversion
• NYX Mechanical Lip Pencil  Plum 
• NYX Mechanical Lip Pencil  Nude
• NYX Hi Def Photo Concealer Green
• NYX Xtreme Lip Cream Buttery Nude
• NYX Xtreme Lip Cream Natural
• Lancome Bienfait Multi-Vital Teinte Natural
• Ulta Nail Lacquer Steppin' Out  
• Ulta Nail Lacquer Goddess
• Ulta Nail Lacquer Freshwater Pearl
• Ulta Nail Lacquer Dance Teal Dawn
• Maybelline DreamLumi Touch Concealer Ivory
• Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Eye Shadow Tough as Taupe
• Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat
• Sample of Lancome Teint Miracle Foundation Buff 4C

Ulta products are still buy two get two free. My CVS still has a good selection of the Color Tattoo shadows. Most everywhere else is sold out or only has purple. Word has really gotten around about that one being the dud in the batch. 

FOTD: Using Maybelline Color Tattoo In Pomegranate Punk

I wanted to play around with my Maybelline Color Tattoo in Pomegranate Punk today.

Eyes:

Primer: Palladio Eyeshadow Primer Palladio

Eyeshadows: 

Maybelline Color Tattoo Pomegranate Punk

MUG Unexpected MUG

Inglot # 341 Inglot

Inglot # 353

Eyeliner: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On  Whiskey Urban Decay

Mascara: Maybelline Define-a-Lash

Face:
Foundation: Revlon ColorStay Foundation Ivory #110
Concealer: Sonia Kashuk Concealer Palette & e.l.f. Radiance Enhancer Spotlight e.l.f.
Powder: Mac Minearalize Skin Finish Light MAC


Cheeks:
Blush: Milani Baked Blush Luminoso Milani
Highlight: Cover Girl Powder Natural Ivory


Lips: Inglot Cream Lipstick# 121 Inglot

Neutral Daytime Look

This is a nice neutral look for wearing during the day. 

You want to choose shades similar to skin tone so there will be a lot of variance from one person to the next. If you're ultra fair, feel free to use my suggestions. You need three shades one two shades darker than your skin tone, the next one shade darker, and the final one close to your skin tone.

Use the darkest shade in the corner and crease of the eye sweeping inwards.  Go back over that with your medium shade and blend the two. Sweep the medium shade along the rest of the lower lid. Use your lightest shade just beneath the brow and in the inside corner of the eye. Blending this into the medium shade.

Use a brown eyeliner for a softer look. Only line three quarters of the way in on both lids. Finish off with mascara.

Use a light peach or pink on the cheeks. For your lips use any shade ranging from soft pink to nude.

Face:
Foundation: Revlon ColorStay Foundation Ivory #110
Concealer: Sally Hansen All Over Brightener & Sonia Kashuk Concealer Palette
Powder: Mac Minearalize Skin Finish Light MAC


Eyes:
Primer: Urban Decay Primer Potion Original Urban Decay
Medium Brown:  Inglot #337 Inglot
Lighter Rose Brown: Inglot # 341
Highlight:  Inglot # 353
Eyeliner: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On  Whiskey Urban Decay
Mascara: Maybelline Define-a-Lash

Cheeks:
Blush: Maybelline Dream Mousse Blush Peach Satin #20
Highlight: Cover Girl Powder Natural Ivory


Lips: Inglot Cream Lipstick# 121 Inglot

Tools: MakeUpGeek Outer V Brush MUG
           MAC 217 MAC
           MAC 219 MAC

Alternatives:  Palladio Eyeshadow Primer Palladio
                        MakeUpGeek Crease Brush MUG