I feel like it’s been forever since I’ve did an Ipsy post!

And I know we are in the first week of November. *Thhbbbbt*

I was away in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania for most of September at QVC with The Boyfriend. And October was spent with my parents in Albuquerque. New Mexico. Got home 5 days ago. As I write this, I’m back in Pennsylvania to spend time with The Boyfriend while he does his thing at, you guessed it QVC. There’s a whole post about The Q. It’s freaking amazeballs. I might have makeup girl fangirled a couple times. It was totally warranted. 

Back to task. IPSY!

Let’s light this candle!

(Photos taken on my flight to keep me busy. It was like an activity bag that my Mom would pack for me on trips as a wee one.)      

This month’s theme Alter Ego. The bag itself is pretty gosh darn swell. One side is black shiny pvc and the other is faux leather gold. I’ll be getting use out of this one. One of Ipsy’s more elegant looking bags. Perfect companion to the quilted black shiny bag from…. last year?

First Item- The Balm’s Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick in Committed–

I’m so tickled they included a liquid lipstick. I luuuuurve them. The color of this one is beautiful. I’m a total fan of the rosy nudey browny colors that have been recently making a resurgence. We all know that The Balm’s products are top notch. The scent/flavor is Mint Chocolate Chip. Or as I smell it… Andes Mint Chip Cookies. I might have to look into other colors, because the texture is wonderful. (Dang, I’m such a sucker for matte lipsticks.)

Second Item- Nourish Organic’s Pure Hydrating Argan Face Serum-

This isn’t the first time we’ve received an item for Nourish Organic. This serum is made with apricots and rose hips. Since, I’m not as young as I used to be I’ve gotten more into serums. The more hydration my skin has the happier it seems to be. I like the texture. iI’s almost velvety and not shiny on the skin. The packaging doesn’t match the product. It’s a thinner serum and since it’s in this type of type… it’s rather messy for klutzes like me. It looks like the full size comes in a handy dandy pump! YAY!

Third Item- Skone Cosmetics Pretty Eyes Eyeliner in Plum –

This eyeliner, I totally think could double as lipliner. It’s purple-y pinky. And incredibly smooth. And I don’t have any liners this color.

Fourth Item- Dose of Color Nail Polish Pill in Stormy–

I was excited to try this one. It’s cool, dark, smokey grape-y purple. In the sun as a faint shimmer. It’s a three coater for me, but that’s okay… It applies smoothly and dries very quickly. What I don’t like is the wear time, 21/2 days. I didn’t do much each either. I packed and went to a Halloween Party.  Waaaannnnnnnnhhhh, I’ll probably put up with it to try a different top coat. Cuz the color is swell!

Fifth Item- Beauty Without Cruelty Premium Botanical Lotion–

I’m glad to have this. Lately, I’ve been the proud receiver of The Hives from No Where. This lotion is gentle and soothing. It really is fragrance free with none of that weird fragrance free weird smell. (Shush, you know what I mean!)

It’s been a weird little morning, who am I kidding!! I woke up at 11:30. Afternoon. So, in order to amuse myself this is how the swatching is gonna go for this blog. Ipsy Rules is the Skone eyeliner and the the underlining was done in The Balm’s Meet Matt(e) Hughes. I even got on of the only unchipped nails (Dose of Color in Stormy) in there, too.

This bag? Rocked my little ankle socks off! Loved it. The Return on the $10 Investment… was high this month.

As always here’s the link if you want to subscribe: CLICK HERE!

Here’s a video for you.

Dye Your Eyebrows!!!

Stay Awesome,

Clare

Hello Fellow Goo Horders!

Today we have some nail polish to chat about.

When I was at Cosmprof NA, I happened upon the J. Cat Beauty booth. We chatted about the new stuff that they were coming out for fall…. and these Geluxy nail polishes.

These are gel-like polishes without the machine.

They generously sent me six colors and the top coat. In total they have 24 colors on their website.

The formula on these is smooth… and workable. The colors are vibrant and fun! I can’t wait to find these at Ulta… there are so many other colors that I want to try. Dries quickly.. and lasts a decent week. I’m not delicate when it comes to my manicures. I go about life normally, cleaning, typing with the ends of my nails and a shutting my fingers in drawer & doors (more often than I’m willing to admit). Wait until I tell you the price… Are you sitting down? $3.99. Yes, THREE NINETY NINE! Under $5 for a polish that applies well and last more that a hot minute. Sign me up!

This black bottle is the top coat. It’s not an overstatement or an exaggeration when I say, I LOVE THIS STUFF!! If you’ve made a little boo-boo in polish application, it seemingly fixes it. And it dries hella fast! It’s the magic that makes this (and other polishes) last. I even take this on trips… It’s seen Philadelphia and Albuquerque so far. 🙂

Here are the swatches. Such happy colors. Virgo and Scorpio are my favorites of this bunch… Sagittarius is such a deep, yet bright purple!

I’m a fan of these polishes.

GO LOOK AT THEM HERE!

Let me know if you have any questions.

Stay Awesome,

Clare

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Stay Awesome,

Clare

  
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Clare

Yes!!

I’m still a bundle of nerves about the whole thing, but I know that with more practice… it’ll all get better.

CLICK HERE TO SEE IT!

Please be kind and Rewind!

Stay Awesome,

Clare

Hello My Fellow Goo Horders!

It’s been a bit since I’ve told you about some serious makeup stuff, hunh? I apologize. I’ve been spending sometime with my wonderful parents and…

I went to Cosmoprof North America 2015!!!

And I saw some of my favorite folks in the industry. Be a Bombshell Cosmetics. Of course, they handed me a couple items to share with y’all.

Let’s light this candle!

There are 4 lip items, an eyeliner, an eyeshadow quad and a blush!

Starting with lips…. Specifically their new lip liners!

I have two: Temptress and Drop Dead Red. These are mechanical pencils with a drier formula. I love this fact! They will less likely migrate around your mouth! I love a lipliner that is going to stay put and keeps an actually line!

Temptress is a wonderful mauve-ish nude. Simple as that.

Drop Dead Red is just that a drop dead red.

Now, the Tinited Lip Balm in Darlin’! It’s moisturizing and scent free. Feels great on the lips… and this wine-y color on me is a perfect YLBB. It’s perfect for those days that you just want to do No makeup makeup. Also, great for on the go. This is going in my purse.

Ready for lipstick?!  I have color Hollywood. I love the formula is creamy and light. This lipstick reminds me of Classic Hollywood in color and look. It’s a satin finish and very comfortable.

Let’s chat about their mechanical eyeliner. I have S’more. It’s a cool dark brown. Lurve it! I’ve been looking for a cool dark brown liner. Most on the market are very warm. Formula is creamy and doesn’t skip. And for staying power? I still have a shadow of it on my swatch arm after wiping it off! Sweet!

Second to last we have an eyeshadow quad call Las Vegas! I love the fact that I got this in Las Vegas. Makeup Memories Made! There’s a shimmery blue green and a green grey matte shadow. The purple is shimmery and the dark grey/almost black is matte. This quad is a wonderful cool tone group. Reminds me of mermaids. Formula is silky and pigmented.

Last, but not least this BLUSH! I have it in Sugar Plum. It’s the perfect name. This blush fantastic. This shade is a PLUM! A shade that adds a great healthy sheen to the cheeks. This is definitely going into my blush rotation. The formula is soft and silky. So fresh looking.

Here are the swatches:

From Top to Bottom: Lipliners, Eyeliner, Lipstick, Lip Balm and the Blush

There you go! Some new items from Be a Bombshell!

Go to their website and see even more new things. They are growing beautifully.

Please follow my Instagram: eyelinerandbourbon to see these items in action. I’ll also have the two nail polishes from Be a Bombshell up there soon!

Stay Awesome!

Clare

 

I’ll be Snapchatting  here at the conference today.

I’m: eyelinerbourbon

See what I see!

Stay awesome!

Clare 

  
Yes, this entire post is about a sandwich.  Well, it’s more than that. It’s a little bit about how weird life can be, too.

Backstory. Growing up I had a pretty unusual name. I didn’t meet a lot of Clare’s. I never had a personalized pencil or pin. I didn’t meet my first Cla/ire until College. I took me years to love my name. Stranger even.. One of my dearest adult friends… She’s a Claire. (Yes, it’s confusing. We lived together for a couple years.)  A couple of years ago, my folks moved to Albuquerque (to be known as ABQ from here on out, for forever!) I walked into a store and lo and behold a Clare!! Spelled right and everything! This has never happened before. Of course,  we had to be friends. Thank goodness for Facebook.

You good? Got the history?!

This trip out to ABQ we (Clare of ABQ) met for lunch. We were going to go to a different restaurant, but they were closed. I think, Clare (not me) and the Universe knew I needed this sandwich. (You knew it would get back to the sandwich, right!?)

She ordered for me. Which I don’t mind as long as peeps know the parameters. No cilantro, mushrooms or raw tomatoes. She ordered and this simple, yet absolutely perfect sandwich showed up in front of me. 

So much so….. I had to bring my Mom to have it.

More Backstory. When I moved to California, my Mom and I had this amazing Shrimp Sausage on Sugar Cane thing. It was a crazy day of adventuring. And I’ve never been able to find the Westminster restaurant again. I’ve been craving that perfect bite for 20 years. 

A few days ago I shared the sandwich with my Mom, that Clare shared with me. Mom feels re same.

It’s simple, yet perfect….. but complicated all in one bite. I need to have my Mom try it… it could just be Clare and Clare that think this is awesome. Apparently, this is known to be a great sandwich, by more than just us.

Here, take a gander: 

 

Vietnamese cuisine is a very strange, yet wonderful balance of Asian and French. And I love it. The bread on this sandwich is crun-chewy… like the best breads should be. And all the other ingredients just work so well together like a well crafted piece of music. Symphonic.  There’s carrots, cucumbers (cilantro, if you want it) and I think diakon. The orange sauce is like crack. The main star this 11″ x 1/2″ delicate slab of shrimp and pork amalgam full of mouthwatering yum.
 

That my Mom! And the drink you need to have to wash down the star if this blog #9. Number 9, Number 9, Number 9.

The limeade. Just do it. Put these two in your mouth!

Here’s the rest of the menu:

  
This just added a another flavor for me of ABQ. Added to the list of green chile, ginger ale, my parent’s cooking, fresh eggs,  Joe’s Pasta House and Chardonnay on Ice. 

This where you can get this sandwich (and I’m sure other tasty bites):

Banh Mi Coda Bakery

230-C Louisiana Blvd SE / ABQ, NM 87108

  
If you are in ABQ. Go. Have a sandwich and a limeade. You’ll have a happy mouth.

Thank you, Clare. Next time lunch is on me!

*This blog brought to you by Iggy Azeala’s Walk the Line at 30,000 feet with a Fat Tire.*

Stay Awesome,

CLARE