The second look in my LORAC Unzipped Eyeshadow Palette Series is all about being playful, colorful, and fun. Neutral eyeshadow shades are the perfect complement to some brightness, whether it be on your lips, cheeks, or even your eyes, in the form of a bold eyeliner. I decided to add some sparkling turquoise eye liner to give the look a major pop and create some fun. This is actually my favorite way to wear really bright eyeliner and I regularly pair nude eyeshadow shades with brights along the lash line.  To see photographs and a tutorial on this look, read more…

I decided to do a three-part series of makeup looks using the LORAC Unzipped Palette that I just reviewed and swatched here on Beauty Gala. It’s a gorgeous palette of shimmery and matte nude shades and the possibilities are endless! I decided my first look would be a “GLAM” look, the type you’d wear for that classic, bombshell, night-out-on-the-town face. To see the tutorial and plenty more photographs of the look, read more…

I had been contemplating investing in a Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick for awhile now, but just never made the plunge. Then I was watching the Demi Lovato documentary “Stay Strong,” and she was using her Shimmer Brick in “Bronze,” and I thought to myself, “I have to have it…now!” Strange places I get my inspiration, I know. I decided to go with Nectar because it reminded me a lot of the infamous NARS “Orgasm” blush that has the most gorgeous peachy-pink shimmer glow to it. Inside I have a lot of photographs and swatches, so read more…

Everyone is always talking about how pigmented and gorgeous Illamasqua Powder Blushers are, but at $24 each, I knew I only wanted to pick up one to start with. After looking at several beauty blogs with swatches of the blushes available at Sephora, I knew I had to go with Hussy. It’s this enticingly bright watermelon pink that just screams spring and summer to me. Not only does it look beautiful, but this is a shade that will look great on pretty much any skin tone because it doesn’t pull too warm or too cool. Couple that with the fact that you can literally run one finger lightly over this blush to put down massively rich color, and I’m pretty sure it’s love. To see photographs and swatches, read more…

I’m so, so excited to bring details of this sweepstakes to you all! Have you ever dreamed of being a VIP at New York Fashion Week? Well, Kohls and Rock & Republic are offering you a chance of a lifetime! When I want to feel like a total rockstar, this is my go-to look. I pile on the eyeliner, the false lashes, and add some glitter to it. Want to have the time of your life in NYC? To enter, read more…

After battling through being sick this week, I found plenty of stunningly beautiful makeup inspiration online, with my favorite being a recent photograph I found of Katy Perry at an event. Katy Perry is naturally eccentric, and tends to be bold with her makeup choices, but at this one particular event she looked absolutely radiant. Glowing from natural bronze and peach tones, she looked young, fresh, and doe-eyed. I decided to use this photograph as an inspiration for a makeup tutorial here on Beauty Gala. It’s perfect for the upcoming holiday season, and really great to wear for New Year’s Eve, especially if you tend to wear more natural, earthy tones. read more…

Around the holiday season, gift sets are in abundance everywhere, and for good reason. Gift sets, especially cosmetic sets, allow you to use everything you need in one. ybf Cosmetics is a newly discovered makeup brand that I am absolutely loving. I decided to use a ybf palette called Perfect Fit in “Fashion,” featuring four eyeshadow shades that blend together beautifully, as well as a lipstick and lip gloss. This palette allowed me to put together a gorgeous smokey eye that deviates from your typical black and silver eyeshadow.

The look is sophisticated, chic, and a little more subtle in color than your typical smokey eye. It’s perfect for any holiday parties you may be attending, and has the perfect amount of sparkle to it. To see how I achieved the look below, simply watch the tutorial above!

 
**Click here to purchase the ybf “Perfect Fit” Palette used in this tutorial**

On Friday, October 28th, my husband and I celebrated three years of marriage. Without getting too mushy on you, I will say that time with him seems to not exist, as it just simply flies by. We married on the beach of Kapalua Bay, in Maui, Hawaii, and it was the most heavenly sixteen days on the islands. Later that night, I wanted to make sure that I looked all dolled up for the occasion. I stuck with simple colors and shades, but amped it up with some sparkle and products that gave it serious staying power. If you’d like to see my anniversary makeup look, the products I used, and how I achieved the look, read more…

The trends at BCBG Max Azria for Spring 2012 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week this morning included a lot of color-blocking, tribal prints, and easy-going, loose styles. The clothes were absolutely stunning and flowed in a detailed, complex manner. Of course, as a beauty addict, I was watching for the makeup, hair, and nails. The makeup, done by Maybelline, was absolutely gorgeous with fresh, dewy skin, nude eyes, and very rosy cheeks. The nails and toes were also nude and done by OPI Nail Lacquer in Samoan Sand. To see additional photographs from this morning’s show, read more…

Today was a fairly lazy day in my house, and it felt nice. I did have to go to an early morning doctor appointment (on a Saturday!), but I got to enjoy breakfast with my hubby, and it was nice to come back home and snuggle with our dogs for a few more hours afterward. We enjoyed a delicious lunch at a great small local place we frequent called “Libby’s,” and they have the most delicious sandwiches and wraps there! Lately, I’ve been on some kind of orange/copper/peach eye makeup kick. I feel like it really brings out the blue and green in my eyes, and I’ve been enjoying it with matching peach lips which is really trendy right now. I don’t usually match my eye makeup to my lips perfectly, but I’ve been enjoying the matching peach shades. To see what makeup I wore today, and a full product list, read more…