Summer Approved

Happy Friday!!

No big intro today. My friend Hanna is lucky enough to be living in Hawaii this summer and she requested that I do a makeup tutorial that won't melt off in the summer heat. I like to wear some makeup if I know I'm going to the beach but not swimming, so I think this look is perfect for that or really just any summer day. I hope you guys enjoy!

I'd love to hear any requests you guys have for future blog posts! This was really fun for me to actually create something for someone's needs rather than my useless babbling. 

Anyways, here we go!

 The key to sweat proof makeup is using tinted moisturizer [WITH SPF!!]. You get some coverage, but don't have to worry about it totally melting off like foundation. I use an Aveeno tinted moisturizer. You could simply use this, but if you're going to wear this some where you need more coverage, go ahead and apply concealer, a little bit of powder to set it and bronzer. I used Mac Studio Sculpt concealer, MSF Natural, and Nars Laguna Bronzer.

I think simply using a cream shadow works best for this look. If I had a more pigmented cream shadow, I'd use that, but all I have is my Painterly Paint Pot, so I went ahead and added a bit of Suspect from the Naked2 Pallet. 

 Next is the main part of this look, the colored liner. I really like either this minty green color or the metallic blue, both from NYX. I think you could use either of them, or a combination. I just applied that to my lower lash line, then did a very thin line with liquid liner on the top and applied waterproof mascara.

I think this really adds to the beachy feel and makes the look more interesting.

[I wish the color picked up better in the photo, it's more noticeable in person]

 If you feel like you're missing color in your cheeks I recommend a cream blush. I used Mac's color pot in Have A Lovely Day! Finally, I set it with Urban Decay's All Nighter spray to insure my makeup lasts.

 A variety of lip products could be used. I recommend a stain, like Benefit's Benetint, or a light, easy lipstick like Revlon's Lip Butter in Strawberry Shortcake or Mac's Modesty. [I'm wearing the lip butter in the photo]

 This can also easily be transformed into a night look with a change of the lip color. I still want a light look, nothing too harsh, so I used another Lip Butter in Candy Apple.

The finished look.

Basically the main things to keep makeup sweat-proof:

1. Tinted moisturizer instead of foundation

2. Cream eyeshadow

3. Waterproof liner and mascara [although the jumbo pencils aren't water proof, they're easy enough to re-apply]

4. Setting spray

5. Easy, light lip products

I hope this helps some of you keeping yourselves looking glamorous during the hot summer temperatures :)

Talk to you soon!

XO Kara

Shopping Addict

I'm done. Okay? You guys can't let me go shopping anymore.

I don't know why I just love buying things so much. I seriously love adding to my makeup collection and getting the occasional item of clothing.

It has gotten too frequent lately though. So now I'm going to focus on saving money, and maybe I can shop a bit in a couple weeks.

ANYWAY, here's a few things I've picked up recently :)

Overview

[I was listening to "Small Bump" by Ed Sheeran, as you can see YouTube is up on my computer. He's phenomenal, check him out]

NYX Jumbo Pencils in Peacock and Horse Raddish. NYX Xtreme Lip Cream in Dolly Girl.

Aveeno tinted moisturizer and a travel size of Urban Decay's "All Nighter" makeup setting spray.

From Mac's Casual Color collection, Lip & Cheek pot in Have A Lovely Day! [I have been LOVING this, you need to check out this collection]

Finally got some Revlon Lip Butters!! Candy Apple and Strawberry Shortcake. OPI Nailpolish in Don't Mess With OPI. Sinful colors nail polishes in Pink Forever and Unicorn. Mac brush cleanser.

Tank from PacSun.

New organizer from Target.

Container that is meant for papers, but I put it on top of one of my ottomans to hold my jewelry boxes and perfumes and to de-clutter my makeup desk. I'm thinking of finding just a flat mirror that will fit in the bottom and making it a little DIY project. What do you think?

Also, I have a favor to ask. My friend Jesse submitted a t-shirt design to Threadless, and it would be awesome if you guys could go give his design 5 stars!

Here's the link

Thanks for reading!
I have a make up tutorial that was requested coming soon and it uses some of these products. Keep an eye out for that!
Talk to you soon :)
XO Kara

Smokey Bronze & Nude

Hello loves!

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments on my last post :)

I'm currently blogging from my couch with an ice pack on my face and some extra strength ibuprofen in my system.

I just got my wisdom teeth out yesterday. All I've been eating is yogurt, applesauce and oatmeal. My best friend brought me a Lemon Ice from Culvers yesterday though which I really appreciated :)

But anyway, into the makeup.

I feel like I was the last person in the world to buy the Naked2 pallet. I completely understand all the hype there was about this pallet. The colors are beautiful and they have great pigmentation.

I browsed around on YouTube for a bit to find some tutorials for a bronze smokey eye using the Naked2 pallet.

I took inspiration from them and this is what I came up with.

[Sorry I didn't take step by step photos as I applied the shadows]

Just a forewarning, this is a picture heavy post.

Overview of products for the eyes

Naked2 pallet, Mac Paint Pot in Painterly, Smashbox eyeliner and mascara, Elf liquid liner, Elf brow kit.

I started by using Chopper, a pinky gold shadow, on a tapered blending brush and I worked that into my crease using windshield wiper motions. I slowly built up the color.

Next I used Half Baked, a true gold color and applied that to the inner half of my eyelid with a flat shader brush.

Then I applied YDK, a darker bronze color to the outer half of my lid with the other side of the shader brush.

To darken the crease I added Busted, a warm dark brown color. I used the tapered blending brush again.

To blend any harsh edges I used Foxy, a soft, matte, cream color. I just worked that in with the same blending brush and applied it to my brow bone.

After, I went ahead an lined my upper lash line and added a little wing with the liquid liner. I added the pencil liner to my waterline then. Next, I curled my lashes, applied mascara and filled in my brows.

For my face

I moisturized my skin then applied the Smashbox primer. I applied my Chanel Vitalumière Aqua foundation with a flat foundation brush, covered any problem spots with my Mac Studio Sculpt concealer and set it all with a little bit of my Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Natural. I warmed up my complexion with my Nars Laguna bronzer and added a little bit of my Peach Satin Bouncy blush.

Finally I applied Modesty by Mac, a deep pinky nude lipstick and Smashbox lipgloss in Illume.

For my hair I simply used a 1 1/4 inch curling iron and wrapped 3 inch sections and held it for about 10-15 seconds. I parted my hair down the middle and sprayed a salt water mixture and hair spray and shook it out a bit.

Here's the final look!

Thanks for reading this super long post!

Have a great day :)

XO Kara

Summer Sunset :: A Tutorial

Happy Friday!

Since I have early morning classes, I don't usually do much with my makeup.

I pretty much put enough on so I don't look like I'm dead haha

Some days I like to be creative and do a full face.

Here is my take on a smokey eye with summer colors.

Hope you enjoy :)

Oh, and please don't mind my bathrobe. 

I took these photos while I was actually getting ready for the day.

 After doing my foundation, I applied Mac's Paintpot in Painterly all over my lids, into my inner corner and a bit below my eye.

Next I just used a Maybelline eyeshadow in Vanilla and applied that to my inner corner and up onto the inner fourth of my lid with a Bare Minerals brush [it's actually a concealer brush, but I like how it applies shadow]

Next, I packed a medium gold color on the outer 3/4 of my lid with the same brush. This is from a random pallet I picked up at Ulta.

I used a deep cranberry color from the same pallet and applied it to my crease with an angled eyeshadow brush [this one is from elf]. I just start with a small amount of color and use windshield wiper motions to build up the color and to blend it. I also brought it down beneath my lower lash line.

Now add any black pencil liner to the waterline, and I also chose to add a bit to my upper lashline. Just on the outer corner and wing it out a bit. 

Last part for the eyes- Curl your lashes and apply several coats of mascara to the upper and lower lashes. I just used Covergirl Lashblast Mascara in Black. 

I like using a blush that isn't too bright since there is a lot going on with the eyes. I used my NYX Cream Blush in Cupid. I just used a small amount and really blended it. 

Lastly, I think a nudish pink works best for this look. I used my Chanel Lipstick in Charme.

I hope you guys liked this look! Let me know what you think in the comments.

I think I'm FINALLY going to buy the Naked 2 Pallet.

Wouldn't it be even better to win it though?

Check out Sequins & Stilettos to see how you could win one :)

Don't forget to "Like" Vi Ricordate on Facebook!

Talk to you soon

XO Kara

Simple & Sultry

Hello my lovely readers!

I'm so sorry my posts have been so inconsistent.

I'm hoping to get back into a routine, I've just been so busy with school.

Today I have one of my favorite eye looks that I've been wearing lately.

I don't like not wearing any eyeliner, but that is what takes me the longest in my makeup routine, and that's the last thing I want to do when I'm heading to early morning classes.

I'm a big fan of liner on the upper lash line, but lately I've been going back to my middle school days and opting for my lower water line.

This is so much easier because it defines your eyes but you don't have to worry about making the lines uneven or really screwing it up.

So here's the look! Hope you enjoy.

 Sorry this photo is so blurry! But I wanted to give you a close up view as well.

The best part about this look is it's soo simple and there's not a ton of products. First I used my Mac Paint Pot in Painterly as a base, just place it all over the lid and up onto the brow bone. Next, I actually place my highlight before the lid shadow. I just used a Maybelline shadow in Vanilla. Place this on the inner corners and brow bones. You can use any color shadow for this look but I really like the way it looks with gold, so I used the gold shadow in my no name pallet from Ulta. Next, use a very black eyeliner and run it alone your lower water line. I also added a tiny bit to the very outer edge of my upper lash line and winged it out. Then finish with several coats of mascara!

It's so simple but has a kind of dramatic effect.

I hope this was helpful and thanks so much for reading!

XO Kara

Foundation Routine

Hello all!

I hope you're having a great day.

This post might be really boring for some of you.

I personally love watching people's foundation routines on YouTube so I can learn new techniques.

My skin is really weird. I wouldn't say it's sensitive, but I break out really irregularly.

I've tried a wide variety of foundations ranging from drugstore to more high end. I know everyone raves about the Make Up Forever HD Foundation and I used that for a while, but I wasn't particularly impressed.

Currently I've been loving a drugstore combination.

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base & L'Oreal Magic Smooth Foundation.

I used this foundation a few years ago and I forgot how much I like it.

Elle, or Allthatglitters21, on YouTube said how she had been loving this combination so I decided to give it a shot. The base is really nice, it feels like more of a lotion and doesn't have a silicone feel like a lot of primers do.

The texture of the foundation is great and it blends flawlessly.

Okay enough talking-- here's my routine.

I wash my face and apply a moisturizer, wait a minute, then apply a small amount of the base all over and wait another minute. Then I apply my foundation starting in the middle and working my way out using a flat foundation brush. Then I build up coverage where ever I need it most.

After that I use my Mac Studio Sculpt Concealer for blemishes and dark circles. I finish it off with Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Natural all over.

Then I contour with NARS Laguna Bronzer and apply blush. Lately I've been using a NYX cream blush.

Now I just want to throw this out there-- I don't wear foundation every day. When I have class I usually go with moisturizer, concealer and the msf.

I hope you enjoyed!

P.S. I started using my tumblr again, it's been ages.

Follow me! http://karatimmel.tumblr.com

Talk to you soon :)

XO Kara

Spring Break Haul

Hello my loves!

I'm so sorry I was MIA the past week.

I was literally living at my job and trying to hang out with as many people as possible over my short break from school.

This has been the longest I have ever gone without shopping-- 

I haven't gone SINCE AUGUST. I mean, I've bought a few things here and there but not a full blown shopping trip.

I decided it was okay to treat myself :)

Nike Lunarlon Running Shoes. TOMS Floral Cordones. MIA Leopard Loafers.

Coral IZOD jacket. Black satiny shirt from Marshall's. Mint crops from Marshall's.

Calvin Klein yoga leggings. Puma shorts. Nike shorts.

Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light Plus. Mac Studio Sculpt Concealer in NC20. Mac Paint Pot in Painterly. Clinique Chubby Stick 07 Super Strawberry. 

Chanel Lipstick in Charme. Lucky Brand Bracelets.

Clinique Foaming Mousse Cleanser. Lush It's Raining Men Shower Gel. Samples of Lush's Almond Smoothie and Ocean Salt. Lush's Buffy Body Butter.

I always stop in Lush when I'm at Macy's but to be honest I've always been a little clueless as to what to get. After hearing so many rave reviews on YouTube I decided to finally get a couple products.

I got the travel size of It's Raining Men and I absolutely love it. It lathers really well and smells soo good. The Buffy Body Butter has ground almonds in it so it also exfoliates-- I plan to use it about once a week. This is how the worker [who was so nice and helpful] said to use it-- take your shower and at the end turn off the water and rub Buffy all over. Afterwards turn the shower back on and run a loofa all over your body to get off any of the almond pieces. I should warn you, it leaves a slight residue. If that bothers you check out Aqua Mirabilis. It's really moisturizing though and makes your shower a little more luxurious.

Overall I'm really happy with everything I got. I still want to order a Mac quad from the Shop collection and the Nicki Minaj Viva Glam lipstick. We'll see though!

I was chatting with the workers in Lush, they're so nice and so helpful and also the gorgeous woman who was helping me at the Mac counter.

I hope you guys enjoyed!

Have you gone shopping lately?

XO Kara