Fall Makeup Must haves!

Assalamu wa Alaykum/ Hi,

Since we're fully in the season of Fall, I thought that I would share my fall makeup essentials.

1. Rose Gold

For some reason rose gold seems especially relevant in the fall to me. So, this is the month that I pull out anything and everything rose gold. In the picture above I have my beloved Naked 3 palette and my BECCA rose gold highlighter.

2. Bold Lips

This one is a fall universal for everybody. Dark lips in the fall are more than appropriate they're almost a requirement. So, my picks are MAC's 'Rebel',Cailyn lipgloss, Maybelline's 'Divine Wine' and Plum lip gloss

3. Mauve lips

This a newer trend. I told myself I wouldn't talk about the Kylie Jenner lip trend, but here I am talking about it. Everyone wants the dark rose lip color. A suggestion from me would be Maybelline's 'Touch of Spice.'

4. Dark Eyes

Fall is the season of intense color. We see it in nature and we also reflect it in our makeup. Two of my picks for this are Colourpop Cosmetics eyeshadows in Bae and Shameless

5. Bold Cheeks

Just like every other part of the face, cheeks can be bold during the Fall. One blush that I particularly like that may be considered unusual is NARS' blush 'Taj Mahal.'

So, That's it.What are your fall essentials?

Until Next Time,

Aleema :)

May Favorites!

Asslamu wa Alaykum/ Hi,

I'm hoping I get this out at a relatively decent time. I missed a few of these but I didn't really have any new favorites to put up. So, here's May's list:

1) Too Faced's Better than Sex mascara

I got a sample of this mascara in Sephora's Lash Stash to go. I plan to review all five of the mascaras I received in that set separately. This one will be the first. I will probably review it in my next blog post. Sneak peak: I love it. Obviously, it is in my favorites.

2) Urban Decay's Naked 3 palette*

My love for this palette has yet to fade. I'm not go talk about it much more detail. But, you can read my review on it here.

3) Too Faced's Chocolate Bar palette*

I've worn these two palettes non-stop since I bought them. You can read my review on this palette here.

4) Beauty Blender

I probably won't review this one but it is a definite favorite! It's worth the $20. It has become my preferred way blending out my tinted moisturizer, my foundation, and my concealer. It gives a very natural look. I remember the first time I used it with my Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer. A few hours later I thought that my face was getting oily but it wasn't. It was just the finish that I got with the beauty blender. Don't take that the wrong way! I didn't mean it negatively but it gave me a natural glow. It looked very much like my skin...just a better version.

5) Mac lipstick in Flat Out Fabulous

This was a wonderful find! One of the makeup artists at the MAC counter in Macy's suggested this color to me because I wanted a pink but nothing too bright and nothing that I already have. She showed me this and when I tried it on I knew I was buying it. It's a beautiful bright fuchsia perfect for spring and summer. The only thing I don't like about this lipstick is that at times it can make your teeth look a little yellow.

This a picture of me with it on:

6) Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer*

This is another favorite that I did a review on and you can read it here.
I've worn this tinted moisturizer most days when I don't want to go with full foundation.

7)NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer*

Clearly, once I find something I like I'm all about it. This concealer is just beautiful. Yes, I am raving. You can read my review on this concealer here.

8) Real Techniques Powder Brush

I was desperately in need of a new powder brush and have been eyeing the Real Techniques line for the longest. Finally, I was able to pick it up at a local drugstore near my university at a discount. I'm glad I bought it. It does what it needs to do. It's so soft and fluffy. The bottom of the handle is flat so it can stand by itself. It was little over $6 but I got a dollar off so around $5.

So, That's it.

Are any of these your favorites? What have you been loving this past month?

Until Next Time,

Aleema :)

Review: Urban Decay's Naked 3 palette

Assalamu wa Alaykum/ Hi,

I wasn't sure whether or not to do this blog post. I mean who hasn't heard about the Naked 3 palette by now? But, when I was looking up makeup looks for inspiration I didn't see many looks or swatches on women of a darker complexion. For anyone that does want my opinion of this palette I'll include that as well.

When I went to Sephora I didn't go for this palette. Despite the fact that I was obsessing over it before it even came out. I was going to buy Too Faced's Chocolate Bar Palette that has been in my face since it came out. I swatched it and my friends and I weren't that impressed. So, I decided to end my suffering and just get the Naked 3. I bought it during Sephora's 20 percent off sale. I still might buy the Chocolate Bar Palette. It's been on my mind a lot lately.

I was apprehensive about buying this product because I watched reviews and a lot of people weren't that happy with some of the shadows' quality. So, I thought maybe if I waited a while UD might reformulate them. But, I've been having dreams about this palette, that's how bad my obsession was!

This what the packaging looks like. It reflects the rose gold theme.The palette is in a hard tin packaging, the same as the Naked 2.The packaging design is very beautiful.

So, this palette like the previous Naked palettes comes with 12 eyeshadows. Out of which 3 are matte. The rest are either glittery, shimmery, or satin. I know some people would prefer more mattes. I don't particularly mind either way. I like shimmer.

The palette also comes with a dual ended brush. I'm not a fan of the brush. Not because it doesn't perform well, but because storing, cleaning, and drying it becomes a pain. I prefer to turn my brushes upside down to dry. My lighting washed out the writing on the brush.

Close ups:

There is good range of shadows with regard to color.They are very pigmented.
The only shade I would complain about is Dust. Everyone complains about this color because although it is very beautiful, it is very hard to work with. It has a lot of glitter and gives a lot of fallout.

Here are the swatches:

Close ups:

*I realized that I didn't swatch 'Limit' and added it in later.

My most used colors of this palette are: Buzz, Trick, Liar, Factory,Mugshot, Nooner, and Strange

My least used colors are: Dust, Limit Burnout, Darkside, and Blackheart. I don't use Blackheart all that much because its very dark and intense, and on a regular I'm just attending classes. I don't know why I don't use Darkside and Burnout more. I'm going to make an effort to. I don't use limit that much because it seems kind of light to me. I don't use Dust because it requires a lot of work. It's very beautiful once it's on though. I'm going to try applying it wet.

Here is a comparison photo between the Naked 1 and the Naked 3:

Naked 3 is on top and Naked 1 is on the bottom. The only similarity is the color 'Toasted' in the Naked 1 palette looks like it could go in the Naked 3 palette. 

Here is the look recently created with the Naked 3 palette:

As you can see the shadows are very subtle but still very beautiful. I normally would wear this over a base such as the Maybelline Color Tattoo in the color 'Inked Pink.' I used the color 'Sin' from the Naked 1 palette in my inner tearducts. I used 'Trick' on the inner third of my eyelid and 'Buzz' on the outer third. Lastly, I used 'Factory' in the crease.

Final thoughts: I love this palette! However the Naked 1 will always be my favorite. It's more versatile. For me anyway. If you're liking the colors and are thinking of picking it up go for it!

What are your thoughts on this Palette?

Until Next Time

Aleema :)