Mars Planet Power... MAKE UP! (Eyes!)

How's that for a blast from the past? I'll start it off with a Sailor Moon reference. Now that I have your attention, I'm going to answer a question from a couple of friends here on my blog. That question is: "What's in my make up bag?" It's a mix and match of cheap and less-cheap, but I like to be frugal and try certain things out on a cheaper brand before I spring for the more expensive. That being said, we'll start with eyes.

Let's start with shadows and work towards liners and the like. 


Eyeshadow

Maybeline's EyeStudio - Mocha Mirage. This is my every day casual eyeshadow. It's easy to make it dramatic or simply just with proper blending and contouring.

NYX Single Eyeshadow - Daisy. I was already loving gold tones for my make up, but after interviewing Tatianna for Geek Life and seeing her Absolut Lemon Drop commercial, I fell in love with the thought of a brighter gold (she can ROCK the yellow). I used it for the first time today, and it's amazing! I used the darker bronze from the Mocha Mirage above as my contour color, and it's amazing.

L'Oreal Studio Secrets HIP Eyeshadow - Luna Noir. I tend to use this when I want something really dramatic. The darker color is more of a reddish shade of brown, and it's great for a night-time look.

L'Oreal Studio Secrets HIP Eyeshadow - Playful. I have a lot of browns and golds and neutral colors, so this is when I want to wear something a bit on the rosier side.

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Primer/Highlighter

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. There is only one primer I will EVER use, and this is it. I have very dark circles around my eyes from allergies and years of insomnia, and it brightens them right up. I put this over my concealer under my eyes, too, and then use a gold or just pressed powder. This stuff is the BEST. It does come in a bottle with a wand, but it's far more economical to get the tube. It has more in the tube and you don't have to break it open to get enough out when you're running low.

Eyes-Lips-Face (e.l.f.) Shimmering Facial Whip - Spotlight. This stuff is great. I don't just use it on my eyes, but anywhere else I need a highlight. For my eyes, however, I use it in the inside corners to brighten things up.

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Liners/Mascara/Brow

Sephora Collection Long Lasting Eye Liner - Noir. This is fantastic eyeliner. It has a lower viscosity than the drugstore ones I've used (meaning it's a little easier to spread), but the color is still nice and dark. It doesn't fade at all during the day.

Wet 'n Wild MegaLast Retractable Eyepencil - Black. This is a cheapie, seriously, but it works very well. It has a finer smudge tip than some of the pricier brands, so it's a lot easier to get a finer line if you want. My eyes are always getting smudged from pollen making my eyes water, so this is great to carry around when I need to reapply, and I don't feel bad about using it often. It's also great for when I have a lazy make up day.

NYX Slim Sparkle Eye Pencil - Gold Glitter. (It's the fourth from the right.) This one works well with the NYX Daisy eyeshadow I mentioned above, because it's just a little darker. I use this on my lower lid if I'm going for a lot of gold.

Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil - Pure White. I love this stuff. I use it to line my lower water line to make my eyes pop a bit more. I use it to highlight my brow bone and lip line. White eyeliner is very versatile and, in my opinion, a necessity.

Too Faced Lash Injection Mascara - Black. I only ever buy this one in the mini because I'm afraid of bacteria growing on my mascara brushes and getting into my eyes. Buying the mini size also means I can keep it in my cute little Murua make up bag in my purse. I really don't know why I carry it around, because the stuff hardly ever wears off. Also, since I'm allergic to latex and can't put lash glue on my skin, this plumps up my eyelashes amazingly well. My natural lashes are already super long and thick, and this makes them look huge.

NYX Automatic Eyebrow Pencil - Light Brown. I use this, but not that heavily. I don't care for the light brown as much as I thought I would as it's a little more yellow in tone than I like. Still, it's a great product and the brush works well!

Gatsby Moving Rubber - Nuance Motion. What? Isn't that a hair styling product for dudes? Well, I use it in my hair when I straighten it. It's fantastic stuff. Recently, I've started using just a small bit on my eyebrows, and it keeps them neat without making them look unnatural, plus it's restyleable.

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That's pretty much it. I have a lot more stuff in my bag, but those get used the most and/or are a favorite of mine as of late. I'd love to know what you guys use, so feel free to leave me a comment with your favorites, suggestions, or your own impressions of these items!

J