The Ever-Versatile Urban Decay Mariposa Palette, Part 2: Jewel-Toned Brights

In my last post, I reviewed one of my favourite versatile eyeshadow products, Urban Decay's Mariposa Palette. You can find more pictures and a thorough description of the palette here: ttp://vibrantbeautyblog.blogspot.ca/2012/04/ever-versatile-urban-decay-mariposa.html.  The first look I created was neutral and earthy (which can also be found at the previous link), and this time around I opted for something a little brighter and edgier, because who doesn't want a pop of colour in the springtime!?

I've highlighted the shades from the palette that were used for this look, specifically Rockstar, Skimp, Infamous, and Haight:

I started out by applying Skimp all over the lid and on the brow bone and inner corners of my eyes as a highlight. It's the perfect creamy ivory shade to start off a look! I next applied Rockstar, a matte eggplant shade, to my crease and outer corner, creating a subtle "V" shape. Here's what it looked like :

Next, to add a pop of colour, I applied Infamous, a vivid magenta, to the centre of my lid, blending outward, and just above my crease, combining it with Rockstar. Here's what it looked like at this point:

Next, I wanted to introduce a contrasting bright shade to the look, so I applied MAC Pearlglide Intense Eye Liner in Undercurrent (an amazing, creamy gilded turquoise) to my lower lashline. The colour was quite intense, so I subdued it slightly by applying Haight eyeshadow from the Mariposa palette over top. Here's what that looked like:

Eyeliner was next! I first applied a thick line of Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner Pencil in Ransom (a creamy, bright purple) to my upper lashline, winging it slightly. To add further definition, I added a thin line of Revlon ColourStay Liquid Eyeliner Pen in Black over top of the Ransom. Here's what that looked like:

To finish off the eye look, I applied two coats of Clinique's High Impact Mascara in Black. It always gives me bold, clump-free lashes! Here's the completed look:

And within the context of the entire face:

Overall, I had a lot of fun with this look! I don't wear bright eyeshadows on a regular basis anymore (they were a staple in high school), so creating a look like this always makes me feel creative and youthful :) Let me know what you think of it!

Thanks for reading xo



The Ever-Versatile Urban Decay Mariposa Palette! Part 1: Sultry Neutrals

I received a few makeup goodies for Christmas this year, but my favourite among them was Urban Decay's Mariposa Palette ($42 CAD, at Sephora). Housed in a sleek silver case adorned with a butterfly, it's amazingly portable and contains a variety of versatile eyeshadow shades. Here's a picture of the outside of the palette:

Sadie finds it as hard to resist as I do! :)

And the back of the palette, which teases about the wonderful contents inside:

And here is the palette in its full glory:

An amazing array of eyeshadows indeed! The Mariposa Palette offers ten hues that range from subtle neutral to bright jewel tones to smoky grey. It lends itself to a plethora of possibilities!

Here is a closeup of the 10 shades, which include Rockstar (a matte eggplant), Gunmetal (a shimmery charcoal), Skimp (ivory with a sheen), Infamous (a matte pinky purple), Wreckage (a shimmery taupe), Haight (a vibrant turquoise), Money (shimmery mint green), Mushroom (a cool, deep silvery brown), Spotlight (classic taupe), and Limelight (a coppery orange).

Because of the amazing mix of brights, neutrals, and smoky shades, I thought I'd demonstrate how the Mariposa Palette could produce a variety of distinct, wearable looks. The first one I tried featured the palette's neutral, earthy shades. The four I used are highlighted below:

I started off using Skimp all over my lid up to my brow bone and on the inner corners of my eye as a highlight. I then applied Wreckage to the outer corner of my eyes, and Mushroom (one of my favourite shades in the  palette) to the crease of my eye. All three shades were super blendable and pigmented, and worked amazing well together. Here's what it looked like at this stage:

Skimp on the lid, brow bone and inner corner; Wreckage on outer corner; Mushroom on crease

Next, to add a little pop of colour I applied Limelight to the centre of my lid, blending outward, and above my crease. I think it gave additional depth and interest to the look!

I finished off the look with a generous helping of Urban Decay's 24/7 Eyeliner Pencil in Bourbon (a creamy, long-wearing warm brown shade) and Clinique High Impact Mascara. And that was it! Here's the final eye look:

And in the context of the entire makeup look:

Overall, I'm really happy with how this look turned out! This mix of Mariposa's neutrals produced a wearable, everyday look that combined both warm and cool earthy shades. Subtly smoky and perfect for spring and summer!

Thanks as always for reading- I hope you enjoyed the look! Stay tuned for the next installment of my Mariposa Palette series, where I use the palette's jewel tones to create a bold, colourful eyeshadow look. Vibrant, indeed :)



I've Got Mail! Luxe Box: March Edition

Hi, everyone! I'm happy to be back from a school work-induced hiatus:)

As I'm on a constant quest for affordable beauty treats, I was thrilled to discover the Luxe Box mail order program (check them out at www.loosebutton.com). For just $12 a month, Luxe Box will send you a personalized package full of sample-sized goodies. I was totally tantalized by the concept- not only do I love receiving packages in the mail, I also have a soft spot for testing out product samples before splurging on the full-size. So (of course) I signed up!

I arrived home one evening a couple of weeks ago to find a cardboard box labeled "Loose Button" in my mailbox. I knew my Luxe Box had arrived! I excitedly opened the package to find another sleek looking black and white box inside. Here's what it looked like before I explored the contents:

Upon sliding off the box's outer layer, I discovered a pamplet outlining the goodies included in the March edition, as well as a card talking about Luxe Box's one-year anniversary. As a cute touch, this card is actually embedded with seeds, so if I plant and water it, lovely things might blossom!

Another nice touch was the sticker used to hold the tissue paper together, which was marked "Made for Jennifer". I don't know why, but I'm still a sucker for personalized details :)

When I finally peeled away the tissue, the first item that I saw was a sample of  Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh perfume. It's one that I'd sampled and really liked around the holidays, so of course I was thrilled to find it nestled in there!

And here are the box's entire contents:

And a closeup:

In addition to the Marc Jacobs perfume, I received Consonant Ultra Moisturizing Oranic Face Cream, 15mL:

Cargo Lash Activator mascara primer:

Chi Silk Infusion lotion, 15mL:

And a couple other perfume samples...

... including Calvin Klein Forbidden Euphoria and Katy Perry Purr.

I haven't tested out any of the goodies yet, but so far I'm very pleased with the quality and variety of Luxe Box's contents. With a fun mix of skin care, hair care, and frangrance products, the March edition was a hit. Can't wait to receive next month's package!

Thanks for reading :)