pict pict pict: October 2010

Nail art - Halloween nail art design

TotalBeauty.com: The 12 Best Editor-Tested Foundations

I really want to try the new MAC PRO Longwear foundation. =)

The 12 Best Editor-Tested Foundations

See which foundations won over these hard-to-please editors the most.

This is a TotalBeauty.com face makeup article

Total Beauty editors tried out boatloads of different foundation formulas to bring you their faves.

See products

Lancome Teint Miracle, $37

 TotalBeauty.com editor rating: 10

"The light, liquid formula offers sufficient coverage, but without looking cakey or feeling like makeup on your skin …"

Milani Minerals Mousse Foundation, $8.49

TotalBeauty.com editor rating: 9.5

"My skin felt soft and smooth, and I barely had to dust on face powder to set it because the foundation was already pretty matte on its own …"

MAC Pro Longwear SPF 10 Foundation, $29.50

TotalBeauty.com editor rating: 9.5

"I have always been a fan of MAC foundations so I wasn't surprised when I fell hopelessly in love with this one …"

Want to see what other products made the list? Click here!

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

wedding cakes

wedding cakes,wedding cakes,wedding cakes,

The simpson nail design

These are your mortal enemy:)

Image source :

wedding dresses 2011 summer we

wedding dresses 2011 summer

Hi everyone! I'm going to be taking this week off. It's my 7th wedding anniversary, so my hubby and I are having a "stay-cation" and are taking the week off of work. We're planning day trips all around the Seattle area and because of my time off, I won't have the time (or motivation!) to give you all daily updates.

I'll be back on Monday, November 1st with plenty of new content. I have a lot to tell you about, including:

Review of body cream (now that cooler weather is headed our way!)
Review of new shampoo/conditioner line
Review of fun, organic soaps (and--hopefully!--a giveaway)
More news on fall/winter trends
Holiday gift ideas (yes, the holidays really ARE here!)
Another "Getting Healthy" update
and much, much more...

In the meantime, if you have any questions, suggestions, or just want to say hi, you can reach me a number of ways:

Email (asklydia@hotmail.com)
Twitter (miss_lydia)
or just leave me a comment!

Have a great week and a happy Halloween. Oh, and if you're a reader in the US, don't forget to VOTE! There's a lot at stake in this election and I hope that no matter how you vote, you cast your ballot. Women have a strong voice in the world of politics and we need to be heard!

REVIEW: MUFE HD Invisible Cover Foundation (+Swatches and Comparisons)

NAME: Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Foundation

PRICE: $40 USD for 1.01 oz

FIND IT @: SEPHORA

DESCRIPTION: "An oil-free medium-to-full-coverage liquid foundation that covers skin imperfections flawlessly while remaining invisible on-screen and in real life."

IT CLAIMS TO...: "Create a soft-focus effect, which is designed to meet the coverage concerns of those in the spotlight. It leaves your complexion with such a flawless finish, it can withstand bright or harsh lighting" ; Video in the MUFE website says it is great for all types of skin.

SHADES AVAILABLE: 25!

MY SHADE: 128--Almond ("for medium skin with beige undertones")

Sorry for not posting this review earlier. To my defense, I can say I've used this for a long time now--I bought it this past summer. I wanted to try this for so many reasons: I was looking for a darker shade, I'm a foundation freak, I wanted to know why so many people love and recommend it...etc.

As I've mention b4 in this blog, not too many products impress me. Most of the time I say 'I love this' or 'It's a must have for me' but finding a product that leaves me going gaga (please...just don't...; I love her music but I'm tired of the costumes) it's really rare. It has happened (hello Marie Louise Cosmetics, love you!) but not a lot. It happened with this foundation. 1st reaction: WOW!!!

I've blogged about how much I love EL's Double Wear Makeup and Revlon Colorstay Makeup. Both matte foundations that leave me with flawless looking skin for many hours/day, which is very important to me. I hope they never stop making them. But I consider myself lucky to have found another foundation that works for me!

I've noticed how my skin has changed with age and seasons. Even more now that I work outside home. Right now I would say I have combination skin--oily T-zone with normal to dry cheeks. This product is oil-free but somehow hydrating to my skin. My skin just glows with it and it conceals almost completely my dark spots, hyperpigmentation (melasma) and acne marks. And please, when I say glow I don't mean 'shimmer all over my skin'. It leaves a semi-dewy finish, but never something that looks very oily. And I love that I barely feel it. The big surprise was how long it stayed on my skin (6+ hrs) before starting to fade discreetly. Even then I just blot and apply some MAC Blot Powder and it's good for another couple of hours. I couldn't detect any strong fragrance in it. It didn't break me out. My skin looks amazing in photographs. Perfect! LOL.

This foundation is quite creamy and I prefer to apply it with my MAC 190 or Sigma F25 brush. Using my fingers is great too. I just don't feel it blends well using a brush like the MAC 187.

I do consider that this is not a foundation for oily skin as it does not controls oil and girls with oily skin would need to blot continuously. It does transfers a bit if I sweat much, but yeah, they don't claim it is sweat proof or waterproof, so that was expected. I love to set it with my MAC Prep+Prime Finishing Powder.

The shade 128-Almond is perfect for my skin. In MAC terms, I'm usually an NC37 but this 128 shade is not as yellow as a true NC37 is. I highly recommend checking first around the net (like Temptalia's foundation matrix) to see what colors could suit you best and then try them in store.

Just a small amount provides huge coverage

Oh, i've read people comparing it to the Revlon PhotoReady Foundation. IMHO it does not compares to it. I tried it and the finish isn't even the same on the skin.

I also wish they'd make the bottle clear, as I can not see how much is left of the product. The pump is somehow difficult to deal with in terms of how much product it lets out. The PhotoReady pump was so much better to control.

Honestly, one of the best foundation I've ever tried, totally worth the price.

COMPARING THE 128 SHADE WITH OTHER BRANDS

SWATCHES (IN THE SAME ORDER AS ABOVE--I added Revlon CS Rich Tan

for Combo/Oily Skin in the pic below, FAR RIGHT)

RATING: 4.5/5

Let the pictures speak by themselves!

BEFORE AND AFTER

(CLICK ON PICS FOR ENLARGED VERSIONS)

PHOTOS W/ FLASH, JUST THE FOUNDATION WAS APPLIED (NO POWDER)

PHOTOS W/O FLASH

EVERYDAY MAKEUP W/ SOME BRONZER TOO!

Hope you find this review helpful. Have a nice week!

¡Vivan, amen y rían!

Kanye West "Runaway"

Kanye West is changing the views of Hip-Hop and bringing it back to life! In his new film directed by himself, Mr. West debuts some of his (mastered) song from his new album said to release November 22nd. The video stars himself(of course) and his wonderful lady Seleta Ebanks. I loved the short film from the ballet dancers, how graceful Ms. Ebanks was and the hard work he put into this film. Overall this was remarkable Ye' . . BRAVO !

Extend. . .
In case you've missed Kanye at Brooklyn Bowl (yesterday) Saturday, October 23rd. MOB has raw footage you see/hear it first!

"So Appauled"

"Monster"

"Power"

"Runaway"

Balmain's Teddy Jacket

This Balmain jacket is from the Fall/Winter 2010-11 collection. It displays a bold red wool body and contrasting black leather sleeves with zipper pockets, a snap front closure and an aeronautical embroidered badge on the left chest. This leather runs for about $3,000!