Pride + Prejudice + Zombies Tutorial- The Jane

This is the first of five eye tutorials for BH's cosmetics Pride + Prejudice + Zombies Eye and Cheek Palette ($12.50).  This eye tutorial looks is inspired by the movie's and Jane Austen's character Jane Bennet.  The Jane is a sweet, unassuming, and very feminine look-just like Jane herself.  Let's get started (refer to the below pic for eyeshadow colors)!

1.  Prime your eyelids and brow bone- I like Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Eden ($20.00).  It applies as a nude, matte shade to give your eyeshadow crease-free staying power for 24 hours.

2.  Apply highlighter shade- Using a flat eyeshadow brush, gently tap eyeshadow 7 to brow bone down to crease.

3.  Blend transition color-  Lightly tap a fluffy blending eyeshadow brush into eyeshadow 4 and apply to crease.  Blend the color slightly above the crease line.

4.  Use dark brown shade as the crease color- Take a crease brush and dip into eyeshadow 5 and apply directly into crease.  Use the blending eyeshadow brush to smooth out any harsh lines.  Do not overly blend.

5.  Apply blush over eyelid- Wipe the crease brush clean and use it to apply the warm blush (color 15) all over the eyelid.

6.  Enhance eye color with gold- Using a flat eyeshadow brush, lightly apply eyeshadow 2 on eyelid.  Also, apply eyeshadow 2 in the corner of your eyes (use pinkie finger).

7.  Waterline and tightline eyes with black eyeliner- I like Smashbox's Always Sharp Waterproof Kohl Liner in Raven ($21.00).

8.  Boost lashes with mascara- I use Maybelline's Volum' Express The Rocket Waterproof Mascara ($6.99) for my upper lashes and Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara ($11.50) for lower lashes.

9.  Finish the look- Use blush in shade 14 on apples of cheeks.  And highligher in shade 13 above blush and the high points of your face.  A glossy lip color will tie the look together.  I like Mary Kay's Nourishine in Fancy Nancy ($15.00).

Beauty Trove Top 5 Favorite List- August 2016

Ah, the end of summer.  Where did it all go?  That's right, lots of summer cosmetic hauls!  Here's my list of August favorites;

1.  Pride + Prejudice + Zombies(TM) Eye and Cheek Palette- Holy molly this palette is awesome!  This Pride and Prejudice and Zombies movie inspired palette by BH Cosmetics has 12 gorgeous, highly pigmented eyeshadows, 1 highlighter, and two blushes.  The eyeshadows are super creamy and easy to blend.  The highligher is one of the best I have seen in a palette and the blushes work with every skin tone.  This was part of my BH haul this month and I bought two extras as back ups.  The lilac shade is extremely unique and can be worn in a smoky or sweet eyeshadow look.  I will be featuring a series of tutorials on this palette inspired by each of the Bennet sisters.  The palette is $12.50 and worth every penny!

2.  Exposed Highlighter- Tarte's Exposed Highlighter is amazing!  It is a great golden shade that is

highly pigmented.  It comes in a compact similar to Tarte's blushes.  The Exposed Highlighter is dynamite when paired with the nude Exposed Blush.  Buy the Tarte Exposed Highligher at Sephora to earn points, costs $28.00.

3.  Montagne Jeunesse Manuka Honey Peel Off- This mask is my jam!  Cleanse and apply this mask on your face and wait 15 minutes.  Peel off the mask to reveal the smoothest skin of your life.  The mask is a little messy to apply so tie your hair back.  It is so yummy smelling (please don't eat it).  Apply the mask in the morning right before you do your makeup routine.  Your foundation will be set to perfection.  This mask is sold at Ulta for $1.99.

4.  Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge Set-  For those of us who want an inexpensive version of the Beauty Blender, this is it.  The sponges have a flat end to apply foundation to cheek, chin, and forehead surfaces.  It also has a soft, pointed end to apply foundation underneath eyes and in corners of the face.  Set of two sponges cost $10.99 at Ulta.

5.  e.l.f. Cosmetics Lip Exfoliator- Where have you been all my life?  This is a truly amazing product, which I featured in my August review.  Leaves lips feeling baby soft so that lipstick and lipgloss goes on smooth.  Lip exfoliator costs $3.00 and is available in clear, mint, and cherry.

What's Hot Now - The Masquerade Palette

The newest and hottest eyeshadow palette that is breaking Instagram and Snapchat is Juvia's Place limited edition The Masquerade Palette.  This palette is definitely not for the color shy.  Masquerade features 16 stunning eyeshadow shades.  The first half of Masquerade contains beautiful pops of color that are inspired by African festivities.  These colors are certainly joyful!  They include: Chi (Royal blue), Mali (Green), Dalia (Electric Blue-my favorite!), Zola (Sea blue), Makeda (Purple shimmer), Zobo (Maroon Matte), Calabar (Marron Shimmer), and Bori (Reddish pink matte infused with gold shimmer).  The second half of the palette features sophisticated neutrals that represent African soil environments.  These colors include: Giza (Champagne shimmer; I think you could use this as a face highlight as well), Burkina (Matte Brown), Cairo (Matte orange mixed with gold shimmer), Ada (Brick reddish brown), Dahila (Beige shimmer), Zulu (Dark orange matte), Casablanca (Gold shimmer), and Fulani (Darker brown, also an excellent shade for an eyeliner).  The Masquerade Palette by Juvia's Place is on sale for $32.50 (orig. $39.99).  Take an extra $3.50 using the affiliated code (not mine) "WOC".


Take a closer look at this wonderful eyeshadows by watching this youtube video "Coffee Break with Dani."

Get the Bronze Goddess Look at a Steal!

Stila cosmetics is having a sale on its baked eye shadow trios ($12.00, orig. $28.00).  The baked eyeshadows come in three different styles: bronze glow (our favorite), gold glow, and rose-gold glow.  The trio has pearl and shimmer shades.  Shimmer shades do not have a lot of fall out and depending upon your application can create a subtle or dramatic look.  Be sure to pick all three trios up before they are discontinued!

First Impressions and Review: e.l.f. Cosmetics lip exfoliator

As part of my recent Ulta haul, I purchased the e.l.f. cosmetics lip exfoliator in clear.  The e.l.f. lip exfoliator also comes in mint and cherry tart.  I decided to give it a try since I am not happy with the other exfoliators I've tried out.  A lip exfoilator should be in everyone's cosmetics tool bag.  It is a great way to sloughs off dead skin from lips so that your lipsticks and lip glosses go on smooth.  Skin peels on lips make you look older and no one wants that!

The e.l.f. lip exfoliator comes in a black, cardboard container.  The packaging is a little bit (and unnecessarily) bulky for me.  The exfoliator itself is a black, sleek tube and fits nicely in any normal sized lipstick holder.  The clear lip exfoliator smells like vanilla and looks pretty cool.  You can see the microbeads inside the lipstick applicator.  The directions, which you will want to follow, have you wet your lips first.  This will help to move the applicator around your lips.  The first few swipes really did not accomplish anything.  You will have to move the lip exfoliator across your lips at least 4-6 times before you will feel the microbeads work.  Once you feel the beads across your lips, you do notice that your lips are softer and smoother.  To me, it feels like a nice massage.  After you are done, wash your lips and put on your favorite lip balm to moisturize.

Is it worth the hype?  Bottom line: yes!  The e.l.f. lip exfoliator was super easy to use and it did make my lips visibly smoother so that my lipstick application stayed on longer and looked flawless.  And at $3 per lip exfoliator, you can't go wrong.  If you would like to get your hands on the e.l.f. lip exfoliator, click here or here.

A Blushing Deal!

If you are looking to update your blushes, now is your chance!  NYX Cosmetics is having a sale on their Powder Blush (sale price $2.50, originally $5.00).  Available colors are Ethereal (a pink with blue undertone) and Bourgeois Pig (a dusty pink with slight blue).  If you are cool toned in complexion, this sale was made for you!

Total Smoke Out!

Urban Decay Naked Smoky palette is 50 percent off at Ulta today only.  Palette is usually $54 but sale is  $27 with free shipping.  Limit 2 per customer.  Click here to buy http://www.ulta.com/naked-smoky?productId=xlsImpprod12711105&dtm_em=05874cd44f7463b41db522a876f66e79&CID=35861592&ET_LID=URBAN+DECAY+Beauty+Steal&RID=1376312230&CCID=ET_PR_FY16WK26_Sat_Value_NYX5XCRM&akamai-feo=off