Thursday Favorite Things: Eye Shadow Palettes

OK...anyone who knows me knows that I am a make-up junkie!

I'm not going to go into the pros and cons of wearing make-up, how much is too much, etc.  I only know that as a "woman of a certain age," looking my best inevitably involves applying a little paint to the old barn, if you know what I mean.

As he sometimes does on my December birthday, my husband gifted me this year with Estee Lauder's Blockbuster gift with purchase.

It was a make-up lover's dream.  Among the stand-outs: the eye shadow palette.  The colors are absolutely lovely, go on beautifully, and fulfill just about any eye-shadow needs a make-up lover could have.

Here's a closer look:

I am absolutely loving this palette.  Here's me wearing a few of the colors (click to make the picture larger):

On my lid: Estee Lauder Ivy Envy, Satin
In my crease: Estee Lauder Lavish Mink, Matte
Under my eyebrows: Nude Fresco, Satin

While this palette is no longer available,  you can buy the individual colors at your Estee Lauder counter.  Which is what I plan to do with the Lavish Mink color.  It's exactly the deep, dark shade I love in a brown eye shadow.

Are you a cosmetics junkie too?  I'd love to hear about your favorite palettes and products!

I'm taking part today in Katherine's Corner's Thursday Favorite Things blog hop!

Visible Monday: Neutral Smokey Eye, all Ulta!

You know I don't happen to believe that after you reach a certain age, you can only wear neutral eye shadow.  But sometimes it just makes sense, and can be really pretty.

Recently I took advantage of an amazing gift-with-purchase at Ulta, one of my favorite places to buy make-up.  If you spent 17.50 on Ulta make-up or make-up tools, you got a gift bag with 13 Ulta make-up items!

What an awesome deal...oh, and you could choose from three color families.  The bag I chose was called "Lavender Fields," but it wasn't just purple stuff.

It also included a lovely neutral eye-shadow quad, and that's what I used in these pictures...along with the mascara that came with the gift.

So here's what I did:

--I used ELF eyelid primer (the only non-Ulta thing I used) all over the lid, all the way up to the brow..

--I then used a fluffy brush to apply Ulta "bone" all over the lid, all the way up to the brow.

--I used Ulta "mystique" on the eyelid itself.

--I used a small brush to apply Ulta "espresso" in the crease and the outer corner of the eyelid, then used a blending brush to soften and blend it, making it "smokey."

--Oops, I forgot, I used one other non-Ulta thing.  Above my lashes,  I used Clinique cream liner in black.

--Under my eye, I used Ulta eyeliner in deep brown. I then smudged espresso eyeshadow over the line (that helps keep it in place for the duration.)

--I used Ulta Voluptuous Volume in black on both my upper and lower lashes.  As you can see, my lashes aren't very long, which bugs the heck out of me.  I don't want to pay for some expensive drug to make them longer, so maybe I'll try to get more adept at using false lashes!

A few more views...

I'm linking up today to Visible Monday, hosted by Not Dead Yet Style!

 

Also, for the first time, linking with Monday Mingle!

Visible Monday: a beauty-full birthday gift

Saturday was my birthday. And while I don't relish the idea of admitting to being another year into middle age, it's a lot better than the alternative :), and I'm just shallow enough to enjoy being made a fuss over on my special today.

Hubby came through. He took me out to a lovely brunch at one of my favorite eateries, Egg Harbor. A high school musical ensemble was there, serenading the diners with gorgeous Christmas carols.

Afterwards, we went to the mall and he bought me what I asked for: a bottle of Estee Lauder Sensuous Nude perfume, and the blockbuster make-up kit that's an Estee Lauder Christmas season special.




As I get older, it's even more important to me that my make-up look pretty, appropriate but as enhancing as possible. I'm a make-up junkie, so I'm like a kid in a candy store with this kit!

Not shown in the picture is another sweet little bag that looks like a clutch (it would be perfect for a Christmas party), an assortment of make-up brushes and a pretty purse mirror.

My family in Texas had already celebrated my birthday when I was there a week ago, so I had a really wonderful birthday this year.

Another year older, I'm even more committed to be the very best woman-of-a-certain-age that I can be...and one of the things that has been helping me lately is following the bloggers who take part in Visible Monday, hosted by Not Dead Yet Style. Check out the fabulous participants!

(Oh, a quick word about what I wore. The beautiful and comfortable gray V-neck sweater is from the Ann Taylor outlet in the Round Rock Outlet Mall. The scarf is from one of my favorite accessories places, Charming Charlie's. Love!)