Author: Clare

Clare https://eyelinerandbourbon.wordpress.com Daughter, Girlfriend, GooHorder, Photographer, Blogger, YouTuber and a Heroine in my own Mind.

NYX Suede Palette Review

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Hello Y’all!

First things first!  I’m the realest.

(Sorry, I’m such a fan of ‘I’m so Fancy’. It’s totally my Summer Jam!)

Okay… First things first… RENEE WON the last GIVEAWAY!!!  Congrats Lady. We’ll do lunch!

Second. I’ve been watching a lot of Haven and Supernatural. I have distinct urge to salt my windows and doors to keep out the demons. Also, I had this thought. What if you had the ability to actually know what was behind people’s social media post. Mostly the ‘OMG! My life is soooo awesome.’ -or-  the ‘oh so wise quotey’ posts. And you know they are really sitting somewhere boring as heck, bored outta their ever-loving minds or they’re sitting in the loo, would be worth a giggle or two. WHAT?? Like none of you have ever had a thought like this?!

Third on to Beauty Stuff!

The NYX Suede Shadow Palette

I have a drawer of eyeshadow palettes. They are like crack to me. I love them. So when this little guy popped out at me at Cosmoprof NA… (I’m pretty sure it made my Instagram) I was hooked. After waiting a month and not buying any eyeshadows, I pulled the trigger. I also found a code on the inter webs: WELCOME25 (for 25% of your order)

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They have a really smooth texture and very blendable. In the pan they seem really shimmery. For me, once they hit the skin the the shimmer mellows out. I can see myself reaching for this palette often, especially as we go into Fall. Most of the colors are rather neutral, even that dark blue/green isn’t a pow pow kinda color. Not only do they blend well, they layer nicely, too. This would be a great work/office palette. Here’s a quick look I did:

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I used the dark taupe, off white and the dark blue/green. (This picture was a quick selfie, no judgin’!) On the eyebrows, I used the new NYX Eyebrow Gel in Chocolate. Since, it was my first time using this, dos brow be bold! (Eyeliner Rich Experience by MAC : One by One Mascara by Maybelline)

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I think the secret to using this stuff is… to use the least amount of product possible. Unless, you like the Total Bold as &*%# Brows look! This could is a dupe for Makeup Forever’s Eyebrow Gel. That I wouldn’t know, haven’t used it. $7 for NYX vs $20 for Makeup Forever.. Take yer pick.

They you go..

In the next few days…. I’ll have an Ipsy bag unveiling, an August Favorites List and a Be a Bombshell blog going up.

Cheers,

Clare

GIVEAWAY – J.Andre Sponges

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I know I’ve been absent a bit from here. You want to know why?

I have the balance of a 90 year old woman.

Seriously.

So, there I was waiting for my Caturday Coffee. (It’s a thing in our house, The Boyfriend gets up and makes stovetop espresso on Saturday mornings. His coffee is better than mine. Don’t ask how, it just is.) Standing there minding my own business… our cat Simon, headbutts the back of my knee. As I was fighting the imminent fall, he comes background for the side swipe. It was all over.  I was just a flurry of flailing limbs and BOOM… I squarely fell on me arse. Usually, there’s enough padding back there (Thanks, Grandma!), but this time I fell “perfectly” to feel my spine “accordion”. It took a few days to get back to normal.

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Yes, this guy. He thinks it’s totally okay to headbutt the backs of knees.

To add insult to injury a few days after this event, when I was feeling better… I picked up The Boyfriend’s wheelie briefcase and pulled a muscle. *wanh-wanh*

Yes, I’m *that* much of a klutz.

There you have it… it’s funny now.

Back to Beauty Stuff!!

While I was at Cosmoprof North America, I met the CEO and Director of Sales of J. Andre Sponges. Two really awesome women. They gave me some samples.

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Here’s a little info about these from their site:

“Every Sponge in both the Classic and Definition Collections naturally contain Vitamin E, are latex-free, and are Hypo-Allergenic. These healthy and skin-friendly properties allow the sponges to glide across your skin creating a flawless application with each and every use.

These durable sponges will never peel, flake or crumble.  They are baby soft and will not your skin of any of its essential elements.

All of your J. Andre Sponges are completely washable and reusable, and with proper care will be your best tool for years to come.”

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The other day, I whipped out the Sponge Applicator, the pointy oblong shaped one. I currently use a Real Techniques Expert Face Brush (Which I love!) or my fingers. I’ve used different sponges and brushes. I’m usually a skeptic when it comes to new things. Let me tell you, these sponges are the fecking bomb-diggity. I definitely put it to the test (for me). I dampen, it grew like other cosmetic sponges. I then squeezed it out in a towel… dotted Elf’s Flawless Face Foundation all over my mug. This foundation is notoriously hard for me to blend out for some reason. It sits on my skin, never looking natural on me. This sponge made it look like my skin, but better. I even asked The Boyfriend what he thought (He spent years performing under stage lights and understands makeup.) he said that my skin looked great, even in broad daylight.  These sponges are super duper soft and a dream to bounce, bounce, bounce all around your face. I also noticed that it seems to *NOT* drink up my foundation. That makes me uber happy, I want more of it on my FACE than in the sponge. I can’t wait to try this with my Revlon Colorstay.

Next, I’m trying to guy out!

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We’ve come to the GIVEAWAY! Some lucky reader will be getting all of the triangle sponges and a powder puff (not pictured). Same rules as the last one: Share this blog, Like this blog, Tell people. Sharing is caring, folks! Come back here tell me your favorite foundation. GIVEAWAY will end Wednesday at Midnight PST.

Here are my Top 5 Foundations, in no particular order:

1. L’oreal True Match

2. CoverGirl True Blend

3. Bare Mineral Original

4. MAC’s Face and Body

5. Elf’s Flawless Face Foundation (NOW!)

To sum up…. These sponges are a WINNER and I’m so glad I got to try them out. The women I met at J.Andre were wonderful. I love it when it all works.

Cheers,

Clare

My first love is photography.

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I have been my most comfortable behind the camera for decades.

Awhile ago, Toni Czechorosky and I did a photo shoot.  She is an amazing art model and a good friend. Sometimes when muse and artist click… it’s like lightning in a bottle. I’m looking so forward to working more together. Even though I’ve been taking photos for years, she helps push me to try new things.  Here’s just one shot from that day.

 

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Recently Toni did an interview with Artfully Undress. It’s always wonderful to hear her talk about her work. She was kind enough to mention me in her interview.

Here’s to more shoots, Toni!!

Cheers,

Clare

WINNER of The Travalo!

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Hello My Fellow Goohorders!

We have a winner of the Travalo Giveaway……

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I put all the names into a Top Hat. I told you we were classy.

To ensure complete fairness, I enlisted the help of my wonderful roomie, Phil.

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DRUM ROLL, PLEASE!

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Karen Smith you are the WINNER! Please send me a message with your address and I will have your new Travalo to you forth with!

Thank you so much to everyone that shared and commented. It means oodles to me!

Stay tuned for the next blogs…. and more GIVEAWAYS!

Cheers,

Clare

 

 

My favorite perfumes and a Travalo Giveaway!

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Before I was allowed to wear makeup, as a teenage, I could wear perfume.

 

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Taylor of London was my first perfume-y love. I found it at the age of 15 at Walt Disney World Epcot in a little shop in the England Pavilion. One of the cleanest, happiest, non-cloying floral perfumes, ever. My mom and I would still wear it today if we could get our sneaky little hands on it. For awhile, I could find the soap and powder at TJMaxx. I have a sad feeling that it’s been discontinued. If any of you EVER find it in TJMaxx or elsewhere, I will give you cold hard cash.

 

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At 17, my French foreign exchange student, Helen, handed me a sample of this. In her perfect French accent, she said, “You should wear this.” She was right.  Crisp, clean, green and maybe a little too grown-up for me at the time.. but I didn’t care. Luckily, it was another perfume that smelled great on my mom. Recently, I got another sample. Scent is a strange thing. As I spritzed it in the air, I was 17 again and living in Central NY with a whole life ahead of me. I feel almost invincible when I wear this… the armor of youth, I suppose.

 

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From 20 until 36, I couldn’t find a signature scent. I dabbled in Body Shop’s White Musk, Rose oil and Ralph Lauren’s Romance. Nothing stuck… Until, my 36th birthday. Stella by Stella McCartney walked into my life. I love her. I will wear this scent until it no longer is on the market… and then I will horde it. It reminds me of a rose garden after a rain shower…. with the sun gently warming it. I have one friend, that hugs me and says, “Oh… you smell wonderful, like you!” That’s all I need, it’s a winner.

 

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So, present day. I still wear Stella… but a girl need variety. I got a bunch of samples from Sephora a bit ago. They were having buy perfume, we’ll send you samples.. deal. I bought some Stella (of course, right?). In the sample pack was Givenchy’s Dahlia Noir EDT. I loved it. A little dark, mysterious, yet approachable. Not quite a summer scent, but I figured Fall and Winter are around the corner. Off to eBay I went. A few days ago, I received the above bottle. It’s Dahlia Noir L’Eau. Not the original Dahlia Noir EDT. Hunh, the top notes remind me of Windex, but as it mellows it’s slightly addicting. Warm, yet clean (Are you sensing a ‘clean’ them, yet?).. not as mysterious as the original. That’s totally fine, neither am I. I’m hoping I can get passed the Windex phase.

 

This brings me to the GIVEAWAY! *Jazz Hands* That’s right, I have something for y’all. While at Cosmoprof North America in Las Vegas, I met the wonderful ladies at Travalo. I have wanted one of this things for EVAH! If you don’t know what it is.. it’s a refillable perfume atomizer. It fills up like a butane lighter.

Here’s what the site says, “Travalo is the tough, leak-proof, aircraft approved mini perfume bottle. Just pump to fill, and Travalo refills in seconds. Smell great wherever you go… never Travalo without it!”

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Click Here for ALL the INFO: Travalo’s Website

You are probably saying to yourself, “Clare, what do I have to do to get that wonderful thing?”  I want a picture of you with twine. (Don’t you love The Bloggess?) As awesome as a picture of you with twine, a spatula or collating papers would be, I need *your help*. I’m a newbie here in the Blog-o-sphere, a virtual unknown. (See what I did there? Virtual… Haaaa!) Ok, back to want I would like from you. Reblog this, Share it on FB… give me a shout out there on the InterWebs. After you’ve done that, come back here and tell me your favorite perfumes… and (maybe) why you love them so! I will put all of your names in a top hat (we’re classy around here!) and pull ONE name… and you WIN!

Best of Luck and Cheers,

Clare

PS. This giveaway ends Sunday at Midnight PST.

Ipsy Bag – July 2014

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While I was in Vegas for Cosmoprof NA, my July Ipsy bag arrived.

The pink bubble wrap bag always makes my happy.

Let’s get this unvieling party started!

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Ispy always has these cards in our bag. Letting us Ipsters know what’s in our bag and what specials we can partake in.

 

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This month’s bag is a bright pink. It’s square and has a scalloped edge. I love it! I’m a totally sucker for pink things.

 

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https://hangtensunscreen.com/shop/dark-tanning-oil-spf-08/

First item I pulled out, Hang Ten’s Dark Tanning oil. It does have an SPF of 8 and smells like Summer. It feels really soft on the skin. Looking forward to Saturday Float Day (which is most Saturdays in my backyard) to slather this puppy on. The fact that it’s water resistant for up to 40 minutes is a good thing.

 

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http://www.hersko.ca/collections/lavilin-bio-balance-skin-soothers/products/gel-cream-skin-soother

 

Second item is L’avilin BioBalance Jojoba Skin Soother Gel Cream. On the back of the tube it states, “Hydrates skin following intense physical activity.” Say what?? I’m supposed to moisturize after physical activity?? Hrmmm.. I don’t get it. It feels and smells like a lotion. I know it’s supposed to be something swell and anti-aging, but meh. That’s about it for me….

 

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http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/product/view/theyre-real

 

Third item is Benefit’s They’re Real. Most of us Goohorders know this one! I think, I first tried this in a Sephora Birthday Gift. As a mascara lover, it’s a staple. It’s awesome. The big fat brush with tiny, wide spaced bristles really does the job with giving you awesome lashes.

 

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http://www.elizabethmott.com/shop/tints-and-sass-lip-tint/

 

Fourth is Tint & Sass from Elizabeth Mott. I’m a fan of lip stains. I’ve tried several. Benefit’s Benetint has been my favorite for awhile now. I think I might like this one a bit more. It smells like Cherry Popsicle that swallowed an itty bit of cough syrup. This stain is thicker than Benetint. And the large doe foot applicator ROCKS!! Also, the bottle has a regulator in it! NO stained fingers, NO spilling. (Yes, I turned it upside down, just for you!) We got a full size one. Retail is $22.99!

 

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http://www.bareescentuals.com/5-in-1-BB-Advanced-Performance-Cream-Eyeshadow-Broad-Spectrum-SPF-15/US70692,en_US,pd.html

Final item, bareMinerals 5in1 BB Advanced  Performance Cream Eyeshadow. This one brought me back to one of my first makeup experiences. My mom had given me a cream eyeshadow in a light brown. I felt so grown up wearing that shadow. This 5in1 sample  is the next generation. It has benefits added into a long wearing formula. This shade I received is Divine Wine. It’s a cool leaning taupe (on me), a good mousey brown. I tested this on my hand and a few hours later when I washed my hands, it survived for the most part. I can’t wait to try this one out.

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Here are the swatches. I really love these two. Finally thoughts? It was a good month. 4/5 stars. The lotion just didn’t float my boat, it’s going in my ‘Enh Bag’. Someone will love it!

So fellow Ipsters, what did you get? What did you think of your items?

I’ve been an Ipster for almost a year. I’ve never really been disappointed in a bag. I love trying new things and the bags themselves are great. Perfect for purse organization. I give my extra makeup to family and friends in them. It’s awesome for $10 a month.

If you would like to become a subscriber, please use my link. It helps me out by giving me points.

http://www.ipsy.com/r/20×6

Cheers,

Clare

 

The times are a changin’!

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I started this blog to have a place to keep up with my wonderful parents when they moved 800 miles away from me. With the advent of FaceTime and free cell-to-cell minutes this little section of Cyberland has been completely neglected.

A few years ago I had some crazy health issues. Make-up helped me feel better about myself. Since then, my health has been pretty dang good! I’ve even done a couple 5k’s and have a happy life.

Several years ago, my amazing BF got a job in the aesthetics industry. He works many hours in a week. In order to see him more, he asked me to join him at industry trade shows and conventions. What fortuitous timing, right?

So, here I am, many trade shows later, cabinets full of cosmetics and an old (now repurposed) blog named Eyeliner and Bourbon. Why not talk about my favorite things and have y’all read it??

This week I plan on telling tales from Cosmoprof North America that was in Las Vegas. I met some amazing people that represent some awesome brands. I’ll leave you with a little teaser, my two very full bags and a whiskey sour from Rx Boiler Room! Lugging theses bags through Mandalay Bay to The Luxor was a work-out in of itself! Luckily, there’s cocktails!

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Cheers!

Clare

Going Back to The Future.

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Many moons ago I was born in a biggest city in Central New York. I live the quintescential CNY life for 21 years. Skiing, shovelling driveways and hot cider filled my winters. Wet boots, robins and Heid’s HotDogs occupied my springs. Humidity, swimming pools and Viki’s Tasty Freeze filled my summers… Fall, there really isn’t like Fall in Update New York… It’s plain magical.

I ate pasta 3 times a week.. ate pizza on Fridays. Spent many hours at Coursel Center. Santangelo’s in Liverpool knew my name. I knew that a car you drive when it’s snowing is a Winter Rat. At a young age I learn that small potatoes boiled in salt water, slathered with butter is quite close to heaven.

Sixteen years ago, I moved to CA with my Mom. Nothing has been the same.

For about 5 years I had dual NY/CA citizenship.

Now, I believe I’m a Californian. I can talk on my cellphone, put on mascara and  drink my coffee all while traveling down the 405 at 80mph. Hey, don’t fool yourself… this is an important CA Talent!

Here we are… a month until I find myself, back in what was “Home”.  It’s been 6 years.

Can I go home again?

The older I get the more right she is…

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Moms are full of advice….

….and sometimes they think you aren’t actually listening to them. Secret is we really are.

Tonight, I am thankful my mom told me the sage tale of The Ponytail Hair Cut.

I feel like I’ve just walked out of a fancy-dancy OC salon.

One of the best cuts ever.

Wow.