MOTD: Pumpkin Spice + Everything Nice

In case anyone was wondering, there are 19 more days left until Fall…

D E T A I L S

Eyes:
─Makeup Geek Single Shadows
Creme Brulee, Chickadee, Early Bird, Cheetah Bear (formerly Cocoa Bear), Cherry Cola, Sidekick, Vanilla Bean
─ColourPop Super Shock Shadow
Sequin
─Inglot USA Loose Pigment
#138
─KVD Vegan Beauty Everlasting Liner
Swanly
─KVD Vegan Beauty Ink Liner
Trooper
─Lashes
House of Lashes Iconic Lashes

Brows:
─ABH Dip Brow
Dark Brown

Skin:
─Foundation
Nyx Cosmetics Total Control Drop Foundation
─Concealer
Tarte Shape Tape + Urban Decay Stay Naked Correction Concealer
─Powder
Beauty Bakerie Face Flour Baking Powder in “Oat”
─Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray

Glow:
─ABH Glow Kit
Nicole Guerriero (limited edition)
─Fenty Beauty Diamond Bomb
How Many Carats

Lips:
─Fenty Beauty MatteMoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick
Spanked
─Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb
Glass Slipper

MOTD: Bright Cut Crease (Makeup Geek Matrix Shadows)

For the first time in a really really long time I got to sit down and really get creative with makeup again, and it felt great! I just bought a custom MakeupGeek palette using their new Matrix system and I knew that I wanted to do something bright, fun, and super colorful with it (but with a hint of Fall in mind, not like, “summer color” if you get what I mean). I took major inspiration from a look that I saw RawBeautyKristi do on her YT channel and this was the final result.

I was l i v i n g!

D E T A I L S:

E Y E S
(Makeup Geek Shadows)
— Tuscan Sun, Simply Marlena, Wine & Dine, Eternally Grapeful, Time Travel, Drama Queen, Motown, Blacklight, Daydreamer
(ColourPop Supershock Metallic Shadow)
— Ignition
— Inglot Loose Pigment #138
— Melt Cosmetics All Day Everyday Liner in “Kink”

L A S H E S
— House of Lashes “Iconics”

B R O W S
— Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow in “Dark Brown”

MOTD | No Foundation Summer Makeup Routine

LESS IS L E S S

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This summer has been an eventful one filled with lots of travel, and a move across states from Phoenix to Northern California. Both of which have taken me to more humid climates than I ever had to deal with living in Arizona. Being in such major “go mode” for the last few months inspired me to find a go-to makeup look that doesn’t require much time, effort, and one that I don’t have to worry about sweating or smearing off when I’m out living my life and doing fun things. So, here we are.

D E T A I L S
(in order of application)

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BROWS
► Ardell Brow Pomade: Dark Brown

EYES
► Shape Tape Concealer + NYC Loose Face Powder (to prime and set eye lids before applying shadow)

► MorpheXJaclynHill Pallet: Silk Cream, M.F.E.O., and Butter (these shadows are practically almost the same exact color of my natural skin tone, so it just gives me a cleaner, more matte looking lid — nothing crazy)

► L’Oreal Original Voluminous Mascara: P S A — I’m currently in search of a new (preferably cruelty-free) mascara to replace this one as my default. L’Oreal recently fired a partner of theirs for speaking out against and condemning the dangers/lack of accountability within (and outside of) the white supremacist movement and I’m sorry but, that’s a huge “no” for me, dawg… and I will 100% not be supporting their brand any longer. To be very clear, L’Oreal has been problematic… and I know that I can’t fight every single battle all the time, but I have to draw the line at this point so please leave your recommendations below. I will be greatly appreciative! 

FACE
► Nyx Cosmetics Pore Filler (optional, obviously)
► Makeup Geek Cosmetics Contour: Bad Habit
► Nyx Powder Blushes: Rose Garden & Dusty Rose
► ABHXNicoleGuerriero Glow Kit: 143 & Glo Getter

LIPS
► ColourPop Cosmetics Lippie Stix: Tootsi
► Nyx Creamy Lipstick: Thalia
► Nyx Butter Gloss: Angel Food Cake
► ABH Lip Gloss: Metallic Rose

New Year, New Z Palette.

I took a break from the blog toward the end of 2016. Sometimes it’s just good for me to disappear momentarily. I run out of juice – I need to recharge, and self-care is really important.. But It’s a new year! I’ve got a brand new camera that’s going to be m u c h better for blogging [shouts to my earthmate for the always awesome Christmas gifts!], and a whole lot of room for creative energy to flow.

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I wanted to start 2017 off with some color inspiration. But I also really needed a new Z Palette – since my single shadow collection is getting out of control…in the best way possible, obviously. So I decided to kill both of those birds and picked up this awesome yellow zPalette and some fresh new items to put in it.  I’m sure you won’t be shocked to know I decided to stick with Makeup Geek Cosmetics. My tried and true ❤

From L to R, here are the newest additions to the family! I am S O excited about all of these and can’t wait to start playing.

S H A D O W S
Sorcery (Foiled)
Sidekick
Early Bird
Tiki Hut
Tuscan Sun
Curfew
Cherry Cola

B L U S H / C O N T O U R
Covet
Complicated
Bad Habit

I saw @atleeeey wearing Tiki Hut in a YT video one night and thought it was the prettiest most different shadow I had seen in a while so, two months later (literally) I finally got around to doing that. She’s one of my favorite accounts btw – so if you’re ever looking for makeup inspiration → !!!!!

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The first month of the New Year has been solid. I’ve already managed to make my way onto a plane and out of the country once. NOLA is coming up at the end of this month, and then a big around-the-world trip is booked for the end of February. 2017 is going to be rad, you guys.

More freelancing.
More photography.
More makeup.
More writing.
More travel.

I hope everyone made it out of the first Retrograde in one piece, and has been having a great January so far. If anyone has any must-have recommends on products that are easiest to travel with, leave a comment below. My stuff always breaks.

Happy Sunday!

New Morphe Paraphernalia: 35O(M) + 35P

I always try to stop by the Morphe store any time I’m in the LA area considering it’s their only physical location and sometimes it’s just nice to not shop cosmetics exclusively online; to swatch everything first. It eliminates a lot of guess-work. Plus, they’ve expanded the store so it isn’t quite as painfully crowded as it used to be in the past, although there was still a line formed out the door by the time I was ringing out, haha! If you’re ever in the area, you should check it out. Unless you don’t like crowded spaces…then perhaps do not.

A N Y W A Y

I picked up two palettes for my freelance kit.

► 35O/M (Matte) – $22.99 —> c l i c k
► 35P (Plum) – $22.99 —> c l i c k

Someone in Phoenix should let me borrow their face so that I can use them.
Because that doesn’t sound creepy at all, right? : ) 

What do you guys think of Morphe as an overall brand?
What are some of your fav palettes by them? 
TELL!

Also have a happy Tuesday. More importantly, that : ) 

Aqua Eyeliner + Androgyny Liquid Lips

I picked up a bunch of these $2 dollar eye pencils from the Morphe store in Burbank when I was there a few weeks ago.
They’re by some off-brand called Italia Deluxe, which sounds a little sketch I’ll admit but, so far, so good….

I’m a major advocate for the “pops of color” concept. I tend to always grab for neutral/brown shadows, so incorporating accents of bright colors into my eye looks is a simple way to change things up a bit when I’m feeling bored or uninspired. That’s Alyssa-talk for “it’s an easy way to look like you’ve actually tried, without really trying”.

O V E R  A L L   T H O U G H T S 
► They stay in tact pretty well. There was a little bit of smudging toward my inner corner, but nothing major or noticeable that couldn’t be fixed with a quick 5 second touch up. 
► The color lasts at least 8 hours. 
► Good pigmentation.
► Easy application. Super creamy. 

I’m sure they’re not cruelty-free and I wouldn’t be surprised if they contained parabens or other questionable ingredients. But I mean honestly, for $2 whole dollars, I can’t say that I’m mad.

Full look + other  d e t a i l s: 

E Y E S

► Makeup Geek Cosmetics Single Shadows
– Hipster (Crease)
– Barcelona Beach (Crease)
– Latte (Transition)
– Creme Bruleè (Transition) 
– Shimma Shimma (Tear Duct)
– Whimsical (Tear Duct)
– Mocha (Outer Corner)
– Vanilla Bean (Brow Bone)
► L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara 
► Ardell Demi Wispy Lashes 
► Italia Deluxe Aqua Eye Pencil
► Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil – Milk (as a base for the blue liner)
► Maybelline Master Precise Liner Pen

B R O W S 
► Ardell Brow Gel – Dark Brown
► ABH Brow Fix Pencil

L I P S 
► Jeffree Star Cosmetics Androgyny Liquid Lipstick

C H E E K S 
► Anastasia Contour Pan – Clay
► Nyx Powder Blush – Dusty Rose
► Smashbox Cosmetics Fusion Soft Lights Bronzer – Baked Starburst 
► Jeffree Star Cosmetics Peach Goddess Skin Frost
► ColourPop Cosmetics Super Shock Cheeks – Spoon

Jeffree Star Cosmetics Beauty Killer Palette (With Swatches)

I tried to get this palette on its launch date on 5/25 but the website broke and it sold out within like, 5 minutes or something insane like that so I had to wait until three days later..when I was de-boarding a plane in Florida, with limited cell data to use, and 33% battery life. It was risky, but it all worked out and I was able to order one without issue. It couldn’t have gone smoother. The first restock went live at 10AM PST and I had my order confirmation email by 10:02, no jokes. I was not messing around.

It was delivered 7 days later; which is a tiny bit longer than normal, but for obvious reasons..
* like a major new product launch 🙂 *

I’ve used it pretty much every single day since I got it, and it’s a really freaking rad palette.

• Vegan • Cruelty-Free • Creamy • Pigmented (AS F)

Welcome Home, Peach Goddess Skin Frost…

New product alert!

New.
Product.
U h – l  e r t.

and I am excited about this one, you guys…

Purple Smokey Eyes – Drama, Drama, Drama.

And the purple makeup continued on….

Brow How-To: My Current Routine, Tips & Tricks

Ahh, brows.
Brows. Brows.
They’re so freaking important, but still end up being my least favorite thing to when doing my makeup.
So simple, yet so stupid complicated.
Some days you can do the most perfect, and symmetrical set of brows in 8 and a half minutes flat, other days it takes you 17 minutes to get just the first one right.
Love them. But also kind of hate them and want to shave them off at times.
Would never tattoo them on though, personally. I do them differently all the time. Where would the fun in making them permanent be?
Oh well. Such is life.
If you weren’t genetically blessed with naturally stellar eyebrows, then this how-to might be helpful to you.
Although I don’t feel I do anything super out of the norm, or extraordinary when it comes to the way in which I achieve snatchy brows, I get asked a lot about the types of products I use for that routine so, post inspiration.
I am here – for YOU GUYS!

🙂

No but in all honesty, I really do hope this is even remotely beneficial to someone out there who might be struggling with the brows in your life. I want you to know that there is hope. I’m the proof.
Seriously.
Keep reading.
I have pictures to prove it…