Smokey Eyes + Review of Real Colors Regal Eyes

A few weeks ago when my family (minus my sister) was staying overnight at an Indian casino, I hauled all of my makeup in my luggage bag -- maybe "haul" isn't the right word... it all fits into a small zip-up pouch... but anyway -- with the intent to do a dramatic smokey look that I had seen on someone else. This is the result. Unfortunately it was a while ago so I don't remember specifically what makeup went where, but I listed the palettes I remember using in case you might be interested in replicating the look.

1. Shiseido "Lunar Phases"
2. Kat Von D "Mememto Mori" - Hard Luck and Tijuana colors; "Gypsy" palette: black color
3. Tokidoki Kabuki Luminosa Powder
4. Clinique 01 Shaping Taupe (on eyebrows)

And in other news: Real Colors Regal Eyes


A while ago my sister was awesome (... that sounded wrong. She is still currently awesome, but in this case I'm referencing an awesome act she performed in the past that further illustrates her awesomeness) and bought me an Urban Decay eyeshadow in "Atmosphere" that I absolutely love to this day. It's extremely pigmented and eye-catching and works really well with the kind of makeup I like to do when I get crazy.

516094 Sleight of Hand

... This is NOT that makeup. This is Real Colors Regal Eyes, "Embellished Eyeshadow" that I purchased as part of my $25 spending spree at Sally Beauty Supply. I bought it hoping it would compare to the Urban Decay product that I love so much and boyo, was I wrong! I mean it's sparkley and pigmented, but it doesn't have the same magic. And what ticks me off is that the glitter is only on the top, so once I rubbed the top layer enough, I just had ugly gray eyeshadow on my finger. You know, like that ugly gray eyeshadow everyone keeps wearing where they just put grey on their eye, eyeliner, and mascara and then think they look good? I swear I went out recently and saw three different cashier girls wearing that ugly look. I think it's ugly. It's ugly. And now I have my own version of it.

I guess that's the price I pay for not shopping at Sephora where you can bring your stuff back if you don't like the color. Although if I had shopped at Sephora for a gray sparkley eyeshadow happily playing with another palette of Urban Decay Stardust, only this time in "Moon Spoon." Hmmm... add to wish list!

Culling your collection

Most of the time we recognize frivolous beauty purchases. I just bought the little mini duo of Fresh's Sugar lip treatments in original and rose even though I have a Dior lip balm in my purse and an Aveda lip balm in my car. Other times, though, it's quite justified to retire a color if:

1) You don't use it with joy anymore

2) You've found a more contemporary version that performs as well or better

3) You don't use is as often as you used to, or even on special occasions anymore

Notice I said nothing about the expiration date. Beauty products often come with a little open jar logo that has a number inside. It indicates the number of months you have left until supposedly you must buy a new one because the manufacturers say it's the expiration date. Whatever, I still use my Clinique powder eyebrow filler that my mom bought me in '96 and I'm not tossing it.

So what I did toss recently were my Max Factor eyeshadow compacts that contain white, black, purple, beige and grey recently though. I don't think I've touched them for a year, and they had been keeping me from buying replacements that I'll actually use. Near Christmas I bought a new black Urban Decay pot from Sephora for $5, for starters.

Those 3 rules also happen to be my philosophy with clothing, too. When your knit sweater from 4 winters ago is pilling and saggy and it's actually bringing your getup down rather than helping it, then it's time to look at your budget and find a replacement at Forever21 or Gap or Nordstrom.

And you're not a bad spender, you're just being real. So next time you fall in love with a tube of lipstick or an eyeshadow palette and you go, "But I already have that color at home" then ask yourself this: Will you wear your current version as often in the next few months as you would wear the new one that's already stimulating your imagination?

Just sayin'