Basic Smokey Eye Look

Hi beauties! Today I want to show you how I create my own basic simple smokey look because I am pretty sure everyone's version is different. Smokey eyes look does not need to be so dark, or it does not mean you can only use grey and black eyeshadows. This look I am gonna be using browns, and I love this look and it kinda becomes my signature look, hee hee. It is super easy and simple, all you need is a medium brown, dark brown and a shade that is closed to your skin tone for highlighting. I am using all matte eyeshadows here, feel free to use shimmer or metallic eyeshadows on your eye lids :) I recommend to use matte eyeshadow for the crease color (or the darker brown shade). Lets get started! 

Products Used

INGLOT eyeshadows: #342 (medium brown), #327 (dark brown), #351 (highlighter); L'Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara (click here for its review), L'Oreal HiP Cream Eyeliner in Black.
Brushes: Sigma E55, Sigma E30, Sigma E35, Sigma E05

Steps by Steps

Take an eyeshadow that matches or is closed to your skin tone

Then apply it onto your brow bone (under the eyebrow area)

Finished Look 

Face Products 

Make Up For Ever HD Foundation 

Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder 

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder

MAC Blush in Pink Tea  (soon to be reviewed)

How do you guys like this look? Leave in the comment below! 


And I am having a MAC Giveaway now! Click here to enter :) It is FREE!! <3 


Facebook: www.facebook.com/alexandraubymakeup 
Twitter: www.twitter.com/alexandrauby 

LOVE YOU, 

Alexandra 

Overview of My Makeup Vanity!

Hi beauties! I am planning to show you my makeup collection, but I cannot figure out how to show it to your guys. I know it is going to be a super long post, so should I separate it into a few posts? Or do you just want to see a specific collection? Like MAC collection, drugstore collection, foundation collection, etc. Please please let me know if you are interested in it, and let me know on how should I do it. Please note that I don't mean to brag about my stuffs, I just want to share it with you in terms of organization. I collect all of the makeup with my own money that I earned from work. I try not to spend money on eat at restaurants, watch movies at theaters, buying fancy purses, etc because I want to spend my hard work money on something that makes me happy and I am passionate about, which is makeup.

So again, if you are interested, let me know in the comment below. Meanwhile I am going to show you the overview of my makeup collection, and I am going to include on where you can get the drawers and stuffs. So lets get started! :)

So I have my vanity on the corner of my bedroom, as you can see my stuff animals and pillows there, hee hee. I got the table from Walmart, it is a basic desk and I cover it with a pink throw that I got from Target at the one dollar section. The chair is called Computer Task Chair with Tractor Seat, I got it at Walmart as well. Now the mirror vanity is from VanityGirlHollywood.com, and it is called Starlet Vanity Mirror. They have several different colors: white, black and pink. The mirror has six light bulbs and a switch, that allows you to control the brightness. I hang my headbands there, and I wear it when I am doing my makeup so I can blend the foundation and powder into my hair line. 

Next to the vanity is a 10 Drawer Mobile Organizer which I am obsessed of! It has 10 drawers that can hold tons of makeup! If you want the exact same thing, you can buy it at Office Depot, but I don't think they have the pink one anymore, but they still have the white/black/grey. Then, on top of it, I have random stuffs: all my MAC brushes, makeup setting sprays, blotting papers, eye makeup remover, hand sanitizer, etc. By the way, I got the pink tray from Target at the one dollar section again. Who doesn't love that section? ;) 

Last section is this 6 deep drawers that I got last year from TJ Maxx. I really regret that I did not get two of it because this kind of drawers is hard to find. It is made of metal so it is really strong (the 10 mobile drawers is made of plastic), and each drawer has a good width, depth and length that you can store your makeup standing, like liquid foundations, pencil liners, mascara, etc. In some of the drawers, I put desk organization tools like pen holders to separate each things. Then, on top of it I put all my brushes, and small drawers that I got from Target. These drawers were extras, I did not know where I should put all my new makeup. I used to store my makeup in those little drawers and just set them on my vanity.

If you are wondering on how I store my brushes, click here for the how-to! :) 

So that is it guys! Let me know how do you organize your makeup. I am always interested in organizing stuffs because I like to have my stuffs look neat, clean and organized. So please share with us! :) You can comment below, tweet me on Twitter, or message me on Facebook!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/alexandraubymakeup
Twitter: www.twitter.com/alexandrauby

I am having a MAC GIVEAWAY now! Click here to enter. It is FREE! :)

LOVE YOU, 

Alexandra 

Review: L'Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara

Hi beauties! So I used up the Maybelline Falsies Mascara for less than three months (click here to read its review), and I decided to try the L'Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara. I remembered I tried this before but I could not remember whether I liked it. But celebrity make-up artist, Mario Dedivanovic (Kim Kardashian's makeup artist), swears by this mascara. I went to his workshop last year in Los Angeles, and he said he used this mascara to Kim and other celebrities. So hey... why don't we use the same mascara as those celebrities do? Haha.

L'Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara says that it can give you five times fuller lashes. It also separates your lashes to give you a dramatic look without smudging, flaking or clumping. It has this formula called Panthenol and Ceramide-R which able to protect and condition lashes making it soft to the touch and they are safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.

I honestly really like this mascara, and it does not lie how it is described (well.. for the most part). I does give me fuller looking lashes, but definitely not five times fuller. But I could see that it mostly makes my lashes look longer and volumizes it. I also like this mascara because it is not easy to clump! I like to apply a few coats of mascara, and if you are like me, you know most mascaras tend to clump when you apply more products. However, this one does not do that, and it is really soft to the touch! I think the formula really conditions my lashes. No matter how many coats I put on, my lashes feel as soft as I don't wear mascara.

It does not flake, either. You know how sometimes you have black dots on your cheeks from your mascara? It is because your mascara is flaking and falls to your cheeks area. I wear this for almost three weeks, I never experience that. It does smudge a little though, but it isn't so bad. I'd see a little smudge on my lid area, but I can just remove it with a Q-tip easily.

The last reason why I love this mascara is because it holds my curl for a long time! As you can see in the after picture below, my lashes still look curled, although not as good as ten hours before.

Overall, if you are in the market of drugstore mascara, definitely try this out. I highly recommend it! It gives you all the benefits for your lashes: thickening, lengthening, conditioning with no flakes or clumps! No wonder how Mario loves this mascara, haha.


Where to buy: any drugstore, $7.99.


Have you tried this one yet? What is your favorite drugstore mascara? Share in the comment below! 


I am having a MAC giveaway right now, it is FREE to enter!! Click here for more information :) 


Don't forget to:


Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/alexandrauby 
Add me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/alexandraubymakeup 

LOVE YOU! 

Alexandra 

L'Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara in Blackest Black 

L'Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara 

L'Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara's wand

BEFORE - 10 am 

AFTER - 11 pm

**GIVEAWAY!!** MAC Penultimate Brow Marker

Hi beauties!!! So excited to do a giveaway today! :) I do this giveaway because I love you all so much! I just want to appreciate for all your supports, feedback, comments, anything! I know the giveaway might not be a big deal but I just want to thank you because I won't be continuing this blog without you! 


So the giveaway is from MAC! It is a Penultimate Brow Marker, which is a liquid in a pen-style to define or to style your eyebrows. Don't be skeptical about the liquid texture because it will give you a natural looking finish for a long-lasting look. The pen has a precise tip, makes the styling easier to apply and to control. 


MAC Penultimate Brow Marker comes in one versatile shade, it is a soft taupe brown, but you can make it darker as you go back over them. You can make a fine thin lines with its fine point, or you can go thicker if you lay it sideways more. Whatever you want! :) 


So who's excited? :) 


Disclosure: I purchased the prize with my own money. I am not affiliated with the brand at all. 


It is so easy to enter the giveaway, you don't need to send me essays or something. HAHA. All you need to do is:
1. Follow this blog (by clicking "Join this Site" on the left sidebar) 
2. Add me on Facebook! (by clicking "Like" on top of the page). Facebook link: www.facebook.com/alexandraubymakeup 
3. Follow me on Twitter (by clicking "Follow" on the right top of the page). Twitter link: www.twitter.com/alexandrauby 


Once you did all three, just let me know in the comment below that you have done the rules! :) 


This giveaway is open for everyone! Whether you are my old/new subscribers, and no matter where you live! 


Also, you can enter this giveaway as many as you want! Means once you did the three rules, you can comment as many as you want. I draw the winner by choosing one of the comments below using random number generator. Oh also please don't make yourself as "Anonymous" when you write comments, because I can't contact you if you are the winner.


This giveaway will be closed in June 15, 2012. So you have plenty of time to do the three rules and comment below (you even can comment once a day if you want! haha!). Oh but don't spam it please, because Blogger will automatically mark it as spam. Just don't write the same things over and over, so that your comments won't be marked as spam. 


If you are the winner, I will contact you and ship it to you. FREE shipping of course, haha. 


So I think that's it! Easy right? 


To recap: follow this blog, my Facebook, and my Twitter. Then comment below as many as you want. 


I am so excited for all of you! I wish you a good luck! :) 


Again, thank you so much for all the support and for entering the giveaway. I love you so much! 

Alexandra 

p/s: all the pictures were using my OWN Penultimate Brow Marker (I have one also and I love it! That's why I want to share it with you!). So don't worry, YOUR Penultimate Brow Marker is still brand new in the box and not touched! :) 

Makeup in Seconds

Hey beauties!! I mentioned on my last April Favorites post that I rarely wear makeup during April. I think the reason why is I feel my skin care products work best when I don't have makeup on. I feel a slight improvement on my skin, and I am pretty sure that is all because I did not use face makeup at all. Do you guys agree on this? So my routine now is I only enhance my eyes with some mascara and liners and bare face.

So today I want to show you my new routine. It is really easy and quick, I actually feel kinda guilty showing you this tutorial, but I just want to open up to you guys! But don't worry, I will still do fun makeup tutorials. There is no way I end my relationships with makeup. This is just a routine I use if I only need to do errands, or to work.

So if you are in a rush, you can follow these steps, and you are good to go! The look really awakens you up!

Products Used 

L'Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara, MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork, Shu Uemura Lash Curler, Stila Kajal Eye Liner in Tigers Eye

Steps by Steps 

Apply MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork all over your lid using your ring finger.
You don't need an eye primer for this, MAC Paint Pot is a long wearing product. If you don't have it, you can alternate it with other brown cream shadow like Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze, or a brown eyeshadow will do as well. 

Apply a little bit of the Groundwork onto your lower lash line as well

Use a brown eyeliner (I use Stila Kajal Liner in Tiger's Eye), and just draw a short line on the outer corner of your eye

Blend it out with your ring finger

Curl your lashes...

Apply a good amount of mascara on your both upper and lower lashes

Ta-da! 

I am pretty sure you guys have also similar routine as this. So please share in the comment below! If you have any requests, please let me know! You can comment below, tweet me on Twitter, or post on my Facebook wall! :) 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/alexandraubymakeup 

Twitter: www.twitter.com/alexandrauby 

LOVE YOU! 

Alexandra 

April Favorites!

Can you believe it is already May? I swear I felt April went by too fast, it is crazy knowing how time flies! May is a good month for me because it is my birthday month (my birthday is May 18 if you're curious, hee hee). But also May will be a hectic month because my apartment lease ends on May 31st, and I have not decided yet whether to move or to stay. But if I choose to move, I need to pack, load, and then unpack, and bla bla bla. OMG... I already freak out just by imagining it.

Since it is still the first day of May, I decided to do my April Favorites now. Honestly, April has been weird for my beauty routine. Probably I only wore makeup 10 times during April, how crazy was that? So there are not so many products I have been loving during April. So, lets just get started!

I have been obsessed with this Caudalie Beauty Elixir water spray since the day I got it. It is basically like a facial spray mist but with lots of benefits. It sets your makeup, refreshes your skin, and moisturizes your skin too! When the weather gets too hot or dry, or I just need a boost, I just spray this onto my face, and I am fully awake again! I did a review on this, click here to read. 

Where to buy: Sephora, $18

IQQU Advanced Sunscreen is my all time favorite sunscreen ever! I have used it for years but I was not serious about using sunscreen at that time, but now I apply this religiously (click here to read why sunscreen is important!). It can leave a white cast if you apply it too much though. There was one time I looked like a ghost due to too much of this product, haha. But after a few hours, the white cast will be disappeared. I also did an in-depth review on this sunscreen, just click here to read :) 

Where to buy: IQQU, $28.99

You guys know my favorite face powder to set my makeup is the bareMinerals Original SPF 15 Powder Foundation because it has been featured on my monthly favorites twice! However, during the month of April, I have been using Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder more because it is a translucent powder and it feels really light on my skin. Yes it is white powder, but it won't make your face looks like a ghost. It actually smoothes out your skin giving you an HD look. The powder is super fine and so soft. It is great for setting my makeup :) 

Where to buy: Sephora, $32

Next favorites are a pair of L'Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara and MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork. I told you at the beginning that I did not wear makeup a lot these days, so if I just needed an oomph, I just apply Groundwork on my lid and apply this mascara. Groundwork really evens out your lid and just gives it a hint of color. I am actually going to show you how I did it soon (click here for the tutorial), and a review for this mascara is upcoming next (click here for the review)! :) 

Where to buy: L'Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara, any drugstores, $7.99; MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork, MAC, $17.50

Last but not least is a mask from Caudalie Vinoperfect Enzymatic Peel Mask. I have not seen a huge difference yet, but I saw a small improvement on my skin already just by using this mask. This mask is really different than any others, the texture of it is not clay-based, so it applies smoothly like you apply lotion. The color is not an opaque white, but it seriously feels like moisturizers. It is supposed to brighten up and even out your skin after ten minutes waiting time. 

Where to buy: Sephora, $48. 

Other random favorites: 

My favorite iPhone apps are still the Smurfs Village! OMG I have been playing it nonstop!! This is the first time of my life that I am obsessed with a game. I am not a game girl, but the Smurfs Village really gets me into it. Another app that I have been loving is Instagram. I mean who does not love Instagram? It makes your pictures look professional! Follow me on Instagram, my username is alexandrauby ;) 

My favorite food is still frozen yogurt. I have been eating frozen yogurt almost everyday during April. I really need to cut it off ><" Oh and I also have been loving Subway! I used to eat Subway everyday last Spring, then I got bored. Now I am back loving it! Have you tried Flatbread yet? If you haven't, you should try it out! The bread tastes sweet and it is just so delicious! I like Flatbread with tuna jalapeno, or with chicken parmesan.. YUMMY!!!

My favorite TV Shows: Biggest Loser (still!). This week is a final week, so I really look forward to it! Do you watch it too? If yes, who do you think is going to be the 'biggest loser?' Also, I love Big Bang Theory to death, and I have been re-watching old episodes every night before I go to bed. It is good to have a laugh before you sleep so that you'll have a nice dream, haha. 

I think that's it.. I can't think of any favorites anymore. You can ask me anything in the comment below, or follow me on Twitter and Facebook, so that we'll stay connected (I mean, that's what the Internet for, right?)

What are your April Favorites? Share them with me! :) 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/alexandraubymakeup 

Twitter: www.twitter.com/alexandrauby 

Love you all!!!! ;) 

Alexandra