Indelible Gel Liner Swatches

The lovely Phyrra of Fresco Phyrra's beauty blog asked me to swatch my Aromaleigh indelible gel eyeliners. So here you go!

Nesters: If you're not familiar with Indelible Gel Eyeliners, click here for a detailed description. They're on sale (25% off) at Aromaleigh through 10:00 a.m. EST Thursday, October 1st.

Color descriptions:

Black Cherry - Shimmering deep blackened burgundy
Endangered - Rich evergreen
Magnetism - Pearlized charcoal with golden glints
Marcasite - Soft shimmering mid-tone gray
Peacock - Shimmering incredible teal, like a peacock's feathers
Scuba Dive - Deep navy blue
Tanzanite - Pearlized deep mauve/russet
Tidal Wave - Soft shimmering mid-deep ocean blue
Venomous - Gorgeous vivid purple

Photo taken in direct sunlight

"Butterfly-Skyscraper" FOTD

*All makeup used in this look is Aromaleigh.

EYES (in the order in which I applied them):

• Aromaleigh shadow base in Medium - lashes to brows
• Butterfly opulent lustre - lid and just into crease
• Skyscraper Hot in the City LE (but any deep grey would work here) - outer corner
• Marsh carolina summer matte - crease
• Ice matte - inner corner to brighten
• Fiona pure eyes lustre - brow highlight
• Marcasite gel liner - outer 1/3 on top and outer 2/3 on bottom, smudged
  
  

FACE:

• 2yl/2w voile - all over
• Silk Powder/Clear Ultra Resolution Finishing Powder mixed - all over lightly
• Pashmina pure rouge - cheeks
• Melancholia gothic lolita nourishing color creme - lips

"Earthy Charms Take Flight" FOTD

Feeling a bit more like my old self so I played with my Aromaleigh Les Papillions today.

EYES

• Aromaleigh eye/lip primer - lashes to brows
• White Wedding rocks! (couldn't find my Airy & Light) - inner corner
• Earthy Delights les papillions - entire lid (lashes to crease)
• Fragile Charms les papillions - outer v
• Shell carolina summer matte - crease
• Angel luminesce divine powder - brow bone
• Soul Takes Flight les papillions - lined wet on upper and lower lash lines

FACE

• 2y/2yl/2w voile mixed w/ a few sprinkles of Seraph luminesce divine powder
• Canna (Meow Cosmetics) rain forest blush - cheeks
• Melancholia - lips

*All makeup is Aromaleigh except for my blush.

"My Spooky Valentine" FOTD

Hi Nesters! I've been feeling under the weather lately so I haven't felt like posting anything, much less any FOTDs (trust me, you don't want to see me when I'm sick). So here's one I did a while back for an Aromaleigh makeup challenge.

• Nude Frost creme shadow - from brows to lashes
• Ballet pure hue - on inner 1/3 of lid
• Romance pure hue - on center 1/3 of lid
• Boilingpoint rocks - on outer 1/3 of lid
• Petunia satin petals frost - on brow bone
• Divine Intervention gothic lolita - wet lined on outer 1/2 of upper and lower lash lines
• Valentine rocks glam glitter - on inner 1/2 of upper and lower lash lines
• Spooky rocks glam glitter - on outer 1/2 of upper and lower lash lines
• Romance pure hue - on cheeks
• Terra Mauve liner - just to line, but not to fill in
• Romance pure hue - on lips
• Ballet pure hue - in the center of top and bottom lip, then Valentine glitter mixed with clear gloss over everything

*All makeup is Aromaleigh.




*Originally posted on Aromaleigh's forum in 2008 - Makeup Challenge Week 14.

How to tell if you're Mom's favorite . . .

(almost) Wordless Wednesday . . .

Aromaleigh's much anticipated "Les Papillions" collection is here!

Aromaleigh's newest limited edition eye shadow collection "Les Papillions" is now available for purchase. Click here to view the collection.

*Hand swatches and color descriptions will be up on the site Monday or Tuesday.

Never forget . . .

My thoughts are with all of those who lost friends and family members on 9-11-01.

Vote for me and you could be a winner too !

Hi Nesters! I recently entered the "Where in the World is Aromaleigh" photo contest and my entry was chosen as one of the top 20 finalists!

The grand prize winner receives a $100 Aromaleigh gift certificate. Two second place winners get $50 gift certificates. Four third place winners will each get a $25 gift certificate.

If I win the grand prize, I'm going to hold a contest on my blog in which the winner will receive a gift bag filled with lots of lovely makeup goodies, including at least one full size mineral eye shadow, two full size nail polishes, and many other pretties!

Above is my contest entry so you'll know what to look for. Please click HERE to vote* for me!

xoxo,

Robyn

*Voting open until 9/16/09

High-SPF Sunscreens: Are They Better?

WebMD discusses the pros and cons of high-SPF sunscreens.

By Salynn Boyles
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

If you’ve shopped for sunscreen lately, you have probably noticed the proliferation of products with ever-higher sun protection factor (SPF) ratings.

Just a few years ago, it was hard to find a sunscreen claiming an SPF higher than 45. These days, the shelves are lined with products from companies such as Banana Boat, Coppertone, and Aveeno touting SPF ratings of 70+, 80, and 90+.

Neutrogena recently introduced Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 100+.

But is a 100+ or a 90+ sunscreen really that much better than one with an SPF of 15?

SPF 100: Twice as Good As SPF 50?

SPF refers to the ability of a sunscreen to block ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, which cause sunburns, but not UVA rays, which are more closely linked to deeper skin damage. Both UVA and UVB contribute to the risk of skin cancer.

It is a measure of the time it would take an individual to burn in the sun if they were not wearing sunscreen vs. the time it would take with sunscreen on.

“SPF is not a consumer-friendly number,” says Florida dermatologist and American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) spokesman James M. Spencer, MD. “It is logical for someone to think that an SPF of 30 is twice as good as an SPF of 15, and so on, but that is not how it works.”

According to Spencer, an SPF 15 product blocks about 94% of UVB rays, an SPF 30 product blocks 97% of UVB rays, and an SPF 45 product blocks about 98% of rays.

“After that, it just gets silly,” he says. READ MORE...

Friday Favorites . . .

African Royale Hot Six Oil

I've been using this oil for over five years and let me tell you, there's nothing else like it. My husband actually felt my leg one day and commented on how soft it was. He was truly astonished.

It contains only natural ingredients and is inexpensive. I apply it while I'm in the shower with the water running and then I lightly towel dry off so as not to remove too much of the oil. A little goes a long way and having the water running makes it easier to spread it on your skin. It has a lovely tropical scent that dissipates so as not to complete with your perfume (if you wear it).

You can find it online, at Sally's Beauty Supply or Walgreen's. If you don't have one of these stores in your area, just check the Black hair/skin care section of your local drugstore. It costs around $4.

Ingredients: Olive Oil , Canola Oil , Wheat Germ Oil , Sweet Almond Oil , Safflower Oil , Castor Oil , Sesame Oil , Vitamin E , Vitamin A , Vitamin D , Cyclomethicone , Sheep Sorrel , Yarrow , Slippery Elm Bark , Sage , Henna , Comfrey , Burdock Root , Ginseng , Goldenseal , Cherry Bark , Black Walnut , Chamomile , Alfalfa , Hyssop , Wheat Germ , Fragrance

If you end up trying it, let me know what you think.

What I'm using right now . . .

Hi Nesters! I saw this on a friend's blog and appreciated her posting her favorite products. I thought it would be fun to do the same so here goes.

Shampoo: Suave Damage Care Shampoo (but I buy new stuff all the time so it'll be something different when the bottle runs out - same goes for conditioner)

Conditioner: Suave Damage Care Conditioner

Styling Products: Clairol Herbal Essences long term relationship leave-in split end protector for long hair (that's a reaaaaally long name) and John Frieda Frizz-Ease hair serum. Usually, I mix the two together in the palm of my hand before applying. I also use a little bit of Frizz Ease Moisture Barrier hairspray to set my style.

Shower Gel: Method Olive Leaf moisturizing body wash

Body Moisturizer: African Royale Hot Six Oil - I use it all over my body while in the shower (water still running) and then lightly towel dry after. It's a miracle product for making your skin super soft. I've been using it for over 5 years. You can get it at Sally's.

Deodorant: Secret Invisible Solid

Cleanser: Oil of Olay Foaming Face Wash - sensitive skin (my skin isn't sensitive but I like the lack of unnecessary ingredients that formulas for sensitive skin offer). I alternate my Olay cleanser with the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM).

Toner: none

Exfoliator: I use a little scrubby pad when I wash with my Olay cleanser.

Skin treatment products: Glycolic Acid (Aromaleigh), Vitamin C serum & cream(Aromaleigh), Retin-A, Olay Regenerist eye serum

Primer: Aromaleigh Silk Powder

Foundation Brush: Aromaleigh flocked sponge

Concealer: Neutrogena 3-in-1 Concealer For Eyes (it's a concealer, eye cream and spf 20 all in one) - under my eyes; Aromaleigh pure cover #5 - rest of face when I need it

Foundation: Aromaleigh Voile 2Y/2YL/2W voile mix

Finishing Powder: Aromaleigh Ultra Resolution Finishing Powder in Clear

Blush: Aromaleigh Sweetheart, Nectar, Rococo and Dolly are some of my favorites.

Bronzer: none

Highlighter: none

Eyeshadow Base: Aromaleigh shadow base/primer in Medium; Aromaleigh creme eye shadow in Bare Necessity. I alternate between these depending on what shadow I'm using that day.

Eyeshadows: I've got 100+ Aromaleigh eye shadows.

Eyeliner: Chocolate Mousse gel liner

Eyelash Curler: Revlon

Mascara: Max Factor Volume Couture waterproof

Lipstick: NYX or Aromaleigh lippies. I've been wearing Aromaleigh Shortcake a lot lately.

Lip Gloss: NYX lipgloss (various shades); Aromaleigh Buzz, Zest or Summer of Love

Nail Color: I have french acrylic fingernails, but I love wearing various colors on my toes. Usually OPI.


I hope you'll decide to copy this, insert your own answers and post it on your blog. I'd love to see what you're using right now. If you do it, please post a comment here so I'll know to check it out. Thanks!

Robyn

True Blood season finale trailer (in case you missed it) . . .

* If you want to hear this video, you'll need to scroll down to the bottom of my blog and pause the music. Sorry for the inconvenience.