Eyeko - It's All about the Eyes

I don't write beauty posts as much as I would like because I just don't really know how to write them. I use the same products almost every day to cleanse, but I break up my routine with different eye shadow colors from various product lines. I have experimented with different facial wipes lately, recently landing on Say Yes to Carrots. But when I was approached to try a couple of products from Eyeko, a UK based company that specializes in award winning mascaras, eyeliners, and brow products, I jumped at the chance! I love playing in makeup as much as I love playing in my closet!

Eyeko was founded in 1999 by beauty veterans Max and Nina Leykind. As of 2013, style icon Alexa Chung joined the company as their Creative Consultant. It is their mission to ensure "no make-up bag is without the companies critically acclaimed vast array of targeted eye cosmetics and treatments." And I can officially say my make-up bag is now complete with some of their products as well!

I received three items: the Mascara Off eye makeup remover wipes, the Brow Gel, and the Eye Do liquid liner.

The first thing I used was the eye make-up wipes and I am a fan for life! I normally use an eye make-up remover from Clinique that honestly stings and leaves me a little blurry eyed post application. These had the reverse effect. My eyes felt clean and bright!

The cloths may be small, but they are mighty...... 

 

But, look how much they removed! Made of 100% pure cotton, they are infused with olive oil and aloe extract to sooth. Sooth they did

 

 Next up was the brow gel. Now, I had some brow gel years ago from MAC. It was a clear gel that I smoothed over my brows to help keep them in place. I was expecting the same thing from this gel. Not at all what I expected! It's more like a tinted mascara for your brows and it left mine clumpy, wet, and they looked unnatural. I can't say with all honesty that I loved this product. But try it for yourself. You may feel differently. Cosmopolitan gave it one of their Beauty Awards in 2013.

Lastly, I tried the liquid liner. I'm scared of liquid liners. I never really have much success with accomplishing what I want when I go to apply. That wasn't the case with this liner. It's easy!! The liner itself is stiff so it doesn't allow for a lot of mistakes. And, it simply glided along my lid. I can't wait to continue to experiment!! And how cute is the saying on the tube? "That's where I draw the line." Clever! This was an Elle Beauty British award winner.

    

Not a great selfie, but it gives you the idea of how it turned out!

 

Want to check out all the eye products of Eyeko? Head on over to your local Beauty Brands! They recently started carrying this product line and I can't wait to check out their shadows! I'm always look for a new color, especially now that fall/winter is here. It's my little way to warm up my beauty look! What are you going to try first?

Chanel Makeover During KCFW - Halls Crown Center

Before the Friday night shows of KCFW, I was asked to join a few of my fellow bloggers for a little primping by makeup artists at the new Halls at Crown Center! It may have taken me most of the day to respond, busy doing mama stuff, but jumped at the opportunity to play! I frequented the original Halls on the Plaza, but had yet to make it to the new location. Nothing prepared me for the experience!

First off, I couldn't believe we were still in Kansas City, let alone standing in Crown Center. The store reminded me of something you would walk into while strolling down Fifth Ave in New York. It's bright, white, enormous, and so luxe! Chandeliers hang from the ceiling. The dressing rooms are larger than my bathroom! And the shoe department....sheer heaven! But I digress.

We were talking about our makeovers, no? I was paired with makeup artist Tesia of Chanel. I couldn't have been happier! I am a huge fan of Chanel products and have used them for years! I have countless pallettes that I wear nearly every day! This quad happens to be my favorite. And for the Saturday night shows, I just happen to be wearing the lipstick I purchased from the event! 

I am not one to wear a lot of makeup. And when I say makeup, I mean actual foundation, bronzer, and powder. And one of the things I've learned, both from the Chanel and Dior makeovers, is that bronzer is a widely used product. I've always been scared of bronzer simply because it's so dark and I'm not quite sure how to apply it. Turns out it's so much easier than one would think! You create the number three by starting at the center of the forehead, bring it around to the top of the cheek bones by your temples, and then bring the curve of the three down to your chin. You only apply bronzer to the outer edge of the face. Easy, right?

For my makeover, Tesia created a smoky eye using the above quad and a cream shadow. She lined my eyes with the Stylo liner in black and used the darker shade within the quad to reinforce. I also loved that she told me she used the bronzer within the shadows as well. Interesting tip! 

Now, I've been in love with a certain Clinique mascara for years now, and I've been trying to break out of my rut and use others on the market. I've tried them and disliked them. When I went back to Clinique to purchase my fav, I found it was DISCONTINUED!!!! Did you hear the scream from Macy's? I guess it's time to find a new mascara and I do believe it's been replaced! I am now in love with Chanel's Le Volume De Chanel in black. Always black!

Isn't that the coolest smoky eye!?! I love it. Now I just need to invest in the quad and cream shadow. And speaking of investing, I purchased the lipstick Tesia applied for the night. It is the perfect berry for fall. It's not terribly dark, but transitions from the brights I found myself wearing all summer. It's their Rouge Allure Velvet, a long wearing matte lipstick, and it's true to its claim! I hardly reapplied the entire night! The color I purchased is 40 LA SENSUELLE.

 

 

And here is the final look! I loved it. So natural yet a little dramatic! This is why I love Chanel. Their makeup artists just get it. They know what products work best for your skin tone, they listen when you tell them your likes and dislikes in daily application, and they make you look like the best version of you! Thank you Tesia!

If you haven't been to the new Halls in Crown Center, what are you waiting for? In addition to all the luxury that the store has to offer, they also have the H Bar which is where we sipped complimentary beverages prior to the shows. What girl wouldn't accept a little sip of bubbly to kick off a Friday night with friends? If only I was being pampered like this again tonight! 

Happy Friday!

New Year = Closet Organization

What is it about a new year or spring? For me, it lights a huge organizational fire under my tail and this past weekend was no exception. While on vacation, due to the stomach flu that took over my household, I decided to organize while others slept. With my moms help, I was able to accomplish quite a bit! 

My hall closet, or should I say closet that is located along a wall in my living room, houses coats, baskets full of hats, scarves, gloves and the vacuum! The coats aren't usually an issue, unless you call not being able to add any additional coats to the closet an issue, but the shelf that holds the hats, gloves and scarves was out of control! I purchased lined wicker baskets several years ago to house all of those items. It worked for about a month and then I would find myself unbelievably frustrated at the fact that I couldn't find anything that matched. I would reorganize and the same thing would happen about a month later.

I decided that this year I was taking control! I purchased an over the door shoe holder, 3-M hooks so you wouldn't see the brackets on the outside of the door, and I conquered that rats nest of accessories! I so wish I had taken a before shot, but McKinley tried to help me earlier in the week and the pile  made its way onto an ottoman in the living room. You just get the after!

Now, I can literally see every set of hats, gloves and scarves that match AND it's at eye level! No more carrying in the kitchen table chair to try and find what I am looking for! This is amazing!!!

I'm still using the baskets. They now house flat scarves that we don't wear often and all the loose baseball hats that only get worn on game days and weekends, by Joel. I stacked all my winter hats, since I don't wear them as often, but they are still accessible and I know which one is which!

So then I started thinking about my handbags! Again, I purchased baskets to place all of them in, but I was doing the same thing I did in my "hall" closet. I would throw them back up into the closet, maybe making the basket, or I was getting out a step stool to find the one I was looking for...again! I can't afford a complete closet makeover, nor do I have the type of closet that would benefit, so I've been taking ideas from magazines.

 I found this piece at Target and just went for it. Sure, it doesn't fit all of my handbags, but the large ones are easy to see. It was the clutches that were getting lost. AND, I was able to add them all, including the ones in a tub under our spare bed. I can see them all in one place. It's a closet miracle!!!

Before:

And After:

 

This isn't a great photo, as I took it with my phone to share with my mom, but you can see that I recycled the baskets. They now house all of the t-shirts that were piled up in the corner. The bottom are ones I don't wear often and the ones on top are...makes total sense, right? Now, what can I do in my other closet! The ideas are endless at this point!

I feel a huge sense of relief now that these tasks have been completed. I also worked in our den to try and organize McKinley's toys around our everyday living. I made vast improvements there too but nothing worth documenting. It just feels good to get my house in order, although I have a LONG way to go!!

What do you do in the new year to refresh? Is it a closet clean out or a home remolding job? Let's discuss!!