fall makeup – Hoots of a Night Al

How to Perfectly Match Your Foundation with NYX Pro Foundation Mixer

July 25, 2019 2 Comments

Do you ever fall in love with a foundation’s coverage, but the shade range isn’t perfect for your skin tone? I’ve found a solution for you: NYX Pro Foundation Mixer!

NYX Pro Foundation Mixer laying next to IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation Full Coverage Moisturizer

One of my favorite foundations is the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation. The coverage is amazing, it’s perfect for my combination skin, and it has a built in SPF! The only issue I have is the color selection. The lightest shade is a smidge too light and the next shade is a smidge too dark. What’s a girl to do? Enter NYX Pro Foundation Mixer!

NYX Pro Foundation Mixer in white being mixed with foundation

Grab your foundation, foundation mixer, a small plate, and something to mix the foundation with. You could totally do this on the back of your hand and use your finger to mix it all up, but I think that would end up wasting a bit of product. Feel free to give it a whirl, though!

NYX Pro Foundation Mixer being mixed with IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation Full Coverage Moisturizer to create a lighter shade

As you can see I pumped a few pumps of foundation, squeezed out a few drops of NYX Pro Foundation Mixer, and mixed it together with the back of an eyeshadow brush. Is that the most sanitary tool to use? Nope, but who cares. I would suggest only adding a small amount of the foundation mixer at first. You can always add a few drops if it isn’t light enough! Don’t worry if you add too many though, just add another pump of foundation to darken things up.

NYX Pro Foundation Mixer partially mixed with IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation Full Coverage Moisturizer

I find it helpful to have a foundation that matches my skin nearby for comparison to ensure I get the desired shade just right. For me that’s Covergirl Outlast All Day Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation in Classic Ivory. As you can see, I think I got my mix spot on…hooray!

Mixed foundation that matches Covergirl Outlast All-Day Stay Fabulous Foundation

I wanted to mention there appear to be NYX Pro Foundation Mixers that allow you to darken foundations as well. I haven’t tried these personally, but if that’s something you need, I’d give them a try!

I’m happy to say, this doesn’t change the consistency or wearability of whatever foundation I’ve mixed it with so far. As we head from summer into fall, you may lose a bit of your tan, but no worries! Now you won’t waste that half-used bottle of too dark foundation waiting for the sun to come back. I hope this helps you get some use out of the products that aren’t the perfect shade for you!

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on these links or make a purchase using these links, I may receive a small percentage of the profit at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Hoots of a Night Al!

Beauty

5 Amazing Lip Balms

November 2, 2016 2 Comments

Every fall and winter, temperatures drop, and we turn on our heaters. For me, that leads to dry, chapped lips. In case that’s you, too, here are five lip balms that never fail to moisturize my lips!

Chapstick Classic Spearmint

Chapstick has been around for years, and there’s a reason for that. This timeless classic has such a great formula that hydrates your lips without making them too slick or sticky. It also doesn’t make your lips look shiny at all for the days you’re feeling a totally natural look.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

This balm has a dual-purpose as it provides both moisture and a beautiful color to your lips. My favorite colors in this line are Honey and Crush, but they have several gorgeous options. It’s great to wear when your lips need some hydration, but you want to rock a lipcolor as well!

eos Smooth Sphere Lip Balm

Have you ever wondered what “eos” stands for? evolution of smooth. How fun is that? I have always loved the packaging of eos lip balms; the unique shape makes them so easy to find when I’m digging around in my purse. Plus, their wide range of flavors is fun to explore. My favorite is Honeydew, but I love so many of them!

Neosporin Lip Health Overnight Renewal Therapy

I have been using this product every night for the last couple of years, and I love it. On the rare nights I forgot to apply it, I woke up with painfully dry lips in the morning. It soaks in throughout the night, and I wake up with moisturized, soft lips to take on the day!

Blistex Ultra-Rich Hydration

This is my favorite lip balm to apply for instant hydration and moisture. I love that it is scent and flavor-free for times when I don’t want either. The ingredients in the inner and outer cores combine to leave my lips feeling healthy and conditioned. Plus, it has the added benefit of SPF 15.

Did I leave out any of your favorite lip balms or remedies for chapped lips? Let me know!

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on these links or make a purchase using these links, I may receive a small percentage of the profit at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Hoots of a Night Al!

I was compensated for this post, but, as always, all opinions are my own.

Beauty

wet n wild Matte Lipstick in Don’t Be a Plum Plum

September 15, 2016 5 Comments

WOAH. Today’s lipstick is a LOT darker than one I’ve ever worn! I recently purchased wet n wild’s new Color Icon Matte Lipstick in Don’t Be a Plum Plum. It’s part of their Limited Edition Fall 2016 Collection and is one of 3 shades available.

I also recently reviewed another one of these shades, How Fleek is Your Love. I bought both right when they came out, since they looked pretty in the tube. How Fleek is Your Love was a classic red, which I always love.

However, Don’t Be a Plum Plum was a color I’ve never tried before. In the tube it looked like a soft, deep plum color. Even on wet n wild’s website, it looks more cranberry. However, once applied, it looks a LOT darker! As I’m sure you can see.:)

The applicator is a doe foot wand, but it has a divot towards the top. This section gathers more product, which is convenient for application. Since this product dries quickly, it’s nice to have a lot of product available, so you can work fast!

This color is also patchy. I had to apply a few layers to get it relatively even, which made it clumpy in some sections. I think if I apply it quicker with more product at first, it will appear smoother. I may also try a balm and/or liner underneath.

Despite appearing patchy, it is still nicely pigmented. As I stated above, it appears much darker once applied, so keep that in mind if you’re admiring it.

Regardless of the name, Don’t Be a Plum Plum has a brown undertone to me. I would call it a deep, brownish maroon if I had to describe it….which…um, I guess I do. Since I’m writing this post and all.

Since I usually wear more traditional lipstick shades, I was a bit shocked when I applied this color. It has a very dark, almost vampy tone that I usually don’t gravitate towards.

That being said, I do think it’s a flattering shade! It made my teeth look whiter and complimented my fair skin tone. Since it is so pigmented though, I’m sure it would pop regardless of the wearer’s skin tone.

The wear time on this liquid lipstick is impressive as well. I had it on for hours, and it only started coming off when I ate dinner. Actually, it began flecking off so badly that I had to remove it before I finished eating. However, a napkin on its own didn’t do the trick! I had to use my e.l.f. lip color remover to get off every trace of it.

Aside from eating a full meal, Don’t Be a Plum Plum is totally transfer proof. I was able to drink, snack, and even kiss my husband without any lip color wearing off. Very impressive!

Will I start wearing this color every day? No. Should you? If you want to! It’s a fun color to have in your fall makeup selection if you want to add a touch of drama. And by a “touch,” I mean a slap in the face. This lipstick isn’t messing around.

I would recommend keeping your eye makeup light if you’re planning to wear this lipstick, so your lips can be the star of the show. It packs quite a punch on its own, and heavy makeup on your eyes as well may look overwhelming.

I also think this lipstick would be great for a gothic/vampy/witchy themed Halloween costume, so if you’re planning any of those looks, keep this shade in mind!

The entire wet n wild Fall 2016 Collection sells out almost immediately whenever its placed in stores, so if you see this shade and want it, snatch it up! After all, it’s only $2.99, and you can’t beat that!

What do you think? Can I pull off this crazy shade??

Primer: Nivea Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm

Foundation: Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless Foundation

Concealer: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

Setting Powder: e.l.f. Studio HD Translucent Powder

Eyeliner: Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner in Onyx

Eyeshadow: Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette

Eyeshadow Primer: Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Metal in Barely Branded

Mascara: Covergirl Super Sizer Fibers Mascara

Blush: Wet n Wild Icon Blusher Pearlescent Pink

Highlighter: Wet n Wild MegaGlo Illuminating Palette

Bronzer: Physicans Formula Bronze Booster

Lipstick: wet n wild Color Icon Matte Liquid Lipstick in Don’t Be a Plum Plum

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on these links or make a purchase using these links, I may receive a small percentage of the profit at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Hoots of a Night Al!

Beauty

wet n wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in Plaid to the Bone

September 12, 2016 1 Comment

I’ve been on a bit of a roll recently reviewing wet n wild’s Limited Edition Fall 2016 Collection. I figured I would continue the streak and share my thoughts about their other new Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio, Plaid to the Bone.

Similar to Velour Vixen, this eyeshadow palette contains three shades designated for certain areas of your eye (Browbone, Crease, Eyelid). However, while Velour Vixen was all warm tones, Plaid to the Bone contains cool tones.

The “browbone” shade is a tan shimmer. While I wouldn’t use this on my browbone per se, it is a great transition or base shade.

The “crease” shade is a beautiful navy shimmer. This is my favorite color in the palette, and I used it to line my lower lash line as well. I think this would mix well with other shadows like copper or bronze.

Finally, the “eyelid” shade is a shimmer green with gold tones. It’s a very bizarre color and looks completely different swatched and applied than it does in the palette.

I usually prefer plums, reds, or neutral browns for eyeshadow, so I was unsure of this palette when I purchased it and even when I applied it. I decided to try it for the first time on a day I was substitute teaching. Um, PRO TIP: DON’T try new makeup on a day you have to go out in public.

Since this palette definitely seems like more of an evening look to me, I ended up feeling a bit like a showgirl at school all day, but hey, life goes on. Also, looking at these pictures, the look isn’t quite as dramatic as I felt it looked in person that day. *Whew*

However, since this is a bolder shadow look, I would recommend pairing it with a more neutral lip color. I’ve yet to find a nude lipstick that doesn’t look like a concealer on me, so I stuck with an old faithful, MAC Viva Glam V.

These shadows are very pigmented, so a little goes a long way! I would recommend starting light and building up to your desired intensity, which shouldn’t take much product at all.

There is definitely a little bit of fallout, but lightly tapping your eyeshadow brush before application will help with that. I also applied Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Metal in Barely Branded as a primer. It helps my shadow stay put ALL day long.

Will this be my new everyday shadow? Probably not. But I can see myself reaching for it in the future! I think it would be great for date night, or I would love to use the navy “crease” shade with a bronze shimmer.

Not to mention wet n wild’s Plaid to the Bone shadow trio is only $2.99. For less than $3, you really can’t beat it! I have one more review from wet n wild’s Limited Edition Fall 2016 Collection still to come, so I hope y’all aren’t sick of beautiful makeup for amazing prices yet!

Primer: Nivea Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm

Foundation: Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless Foundation

Concealer: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

Setting Powder: e.l.f. Studio HD Translucent Powder

Eyeliner: Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner in Onyx

Eyeshadow: Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in Plaid to the Bone

Eyeshadow Primer: Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Metal in Barely Branded

Mascara: Covergirl Super Sizer Fibers Mascara

Blush: Wet n Wild Icon Blusher Pearlescent Pink

Highlighter: Wet n Wild MegaGlo Illuminating Palette

Bronzer: Physicans Formula Bronze Booster

Lipstick: MAC Viva Glam V

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on these links or make a purchase using these links, I may receive a small percentage of the profit at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Hoots of a Night Al!

Beauty

Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in Velour Vixen

September 8, 2016 24 Comments

Y’all, wet n wild has been KILLING it lately. Or maybe they’ve always been killing it, and they just weren’t on my radar, but man they are now! I recently saw their Limited Edition Fall 2016 Collection at HEB and grabbed everything that interested me.

One of the items I picked up was the wet n wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in Velour Vixen. This shadow trio included…wait for it…three shadows! Who’d have guessed, right? 😉

The shadows are imprinted with words signifying where you should apply each shadow. The “eyelid” shade is a deep plum with flecks of gold glitter. The “crease” shade is a rich shimmery cranberry. The “browbone” shade is a matte cream.

I actually inverted the “eyelid” and “crease” shades and really preferred the colors that way. I could also see just using the “browbone” color as a base and using one of the other two shades in the crease as they’re both pretty bold.

I have blue eyes, so I already love using reds and purples to make them pop. These shadows definitely complimented my eye color, and I think they would go well with any eye color. Also, the shadows were surprisingly pigmented, so I’m sure they would look beautiful on any skin tone.

The cranberry “crease” shadow was definitely my favorite shade, so I used it to line under my eyes as well. It’s a beautiful rich color and has just enough shimmer without being over the top sparkly.

If I had one complaint about these shadows, it would be that there was a little bit of fallout. However, it was minimal to begin with, and tapping my brush before application eliminated the issue completely.

I’m so glad this eyeshadow trio was released with the fall collection because the warm tones will be perfect with so many fall outfits and looks.

Thankfully, wet n wild stuck with the “trio” theme and kept this eyeshadow UNDER $3. Yes! Only $2.99! Too good to be true, right? Except, um, no. It is true. I just told you that, silly.

The entire collection seems to be sold out left and right, so if you happen to see some of it and are looking for some fun, new shadows, I would snatch this wet n wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in Velour Vixen up pronto!!!

Primer: Nivea Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm

Foundation: Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless Foundation

Concealer: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

Setting Powder: e.l.f. Studio HD Translucent Powder

Eyeliner: Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner in Onyx

Eyeshadow: Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Trio in Velour Vixen

Eyeshadow Primer: Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo Metal in Barely Branded

Mascara: Covergirl Super Sizer Fibers Mascara

Blush: Wet n Wild Icon Blusher Pearlescent Pink

Highlighter: Wet n Wild MegaGlo Illuminating Palette

Bronzer: Physicans Formula Bronze Booster

Lipstick: Le Marc Lip Creme Lipstick by Marc Jacobs in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on these links or make a purchase using these links, I may receive a small percentage of the profit at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Hoots of a Night Al!