Friday 19 September 2014

Easiest Nudes Ever FOTD

I picked up the Easiest Nudes and Glamorous Nudes palettes when I got my allocation through from Benefit at the beginning of the month.  Here's a look I did using the Easiest Nudes palette.  I really like it, but definitely felt the need to add some black shadow to it to get the look I wanted.




Face
Benefit Porefessional primer
Benefit Big Easy Light
Benefit Boi-ing concealer Light
Illamasqua Skin Base Lift concealer White and Light 1
Urban Decay Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder Light
Benefit Majorette blush
Benefit Dandelion blush

Eyes
NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
Benefit Easiest Nudes Ever palette
Urban Decay Blackout eyeshadow
Benefit They're Real gel liner
Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Zero
Benefit They're Real mascara
Benefit Brow-zings Light

Lips
Revlon Strawberry Shortcake lip butter

Tuesday 16 September 2014

Fall makeup is back!

I can't believe it's been almost two weeks since I updated!  I've been feeling pretty ill, so haven't been wearing makeup when I'm not in work.  I finally decided to put some face on yesterday, and although it's still fairly warm I'm definitely in the mood for autumn makeup.  Dark lips are back!  

I gave YSL's Fusion Ink Foundation a go.  It's ok, although I prefer their Touche Eclat Foudation.  Fusion Ink didn't hold up any longer on my oily skin, which was a shame as I had heard it was better for oilier skin.



Face
Benenfit Porefessional primer
YSL Fusion Ink Foundation B10 (for some reason they only go as low as 20 in their cooler toned BR shades)
Illamasqua Skin Base Lift concealer White and Light 1
Urban Decay Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder Light
Illamasqua Naked Rose blush

Eyes
NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
Lancome Ombre Hypnose Dazzling Eye Colour in Topaz Dore
Urban Decay Naked 3 palette
Rimmel Glam Eyes black liquid liner
Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Zero
Lancome Hypnose Star mascara
MUFE Aqua Brow

Lips
MAC Lip Pencil in Vino
Shiro custom opaque gloss in Ganondorf 

Thursday 4 September 2014

Illamasqua Once review and FOTD

By now I'm sure you've seen Illamasqua's Once collection.  It's one of their tamer collections, which to be honest disappoints me a little.  I'd have loved to have seen a couple more 'out there' products mixed in to the collection.  I only picked up two items - Melange nail polish and Bibelot Vintage Metallix.


From the moment I saw Melange nail polish I knew that I had to have it.  It's the only item from the collection that really jumped out at me, and I have to say that I love it just as much as I'd hoped.  It's a lovely medium teal with gold shimmer running through it.  The website says it's a matte finish but I don't really think it is (it photographs more matte than it looks in real life).  I've have to try putting a matte top coat on it soon.


It applied easily and was opaque in two coats.  I've managed to go 24 hours so far without chipping it, which is fairly impressive for me.  If there is just one thing you're going to splash out on, make it this!

I also decided to pick up a Vintage Metallix, their new cream-gel eyeshadow.  I opted for Bibelot which is described as 'vintage green', which is pretty accurate.  It has the gold-bronze shimmer running through it, as is really pretty.


Application however, was interesting.  I found that the best way to apply this is in thin layers, buffing it out with a tapered blending brush.  Usually I'd apply a cream shadow with a synthetic flat shader brush, but I found that applied the colour unevenly to begin with.  I did one or two layers with my finger, blending it out, then patted some more onto the lid with the flat shader brush, again making sure to blend out.  Fortunately the shimmer doesn't disappear when blended out, although I did get some fall out.  I love the way it looks, but it was quite a lengthy learning process.


For a cream shadow it does wear well.  Usually cream shadows crease like mad on me within the first hour, even with a primer.  I did apply Bibelot on top of my Nars eyeshadow base, but even so I have been pleasantly surprised at how it wears.  There was a little fading in the crease area at around the two hour mark, but I've hit 7 hours now and there isn't much difference.  Not sure I'll be picking up the other two though.

I paired it with Illamasqua's Naked Rose blush (also part of this collection) and MUFE's Lab Shine Gloss in Shimmering Beige.  Liner is Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Scorch.




Wednesday 3 September 2014

I guess you're ok FOTD

I used Shiro's I guess you're ok eyeshadow, and that's a pretty accurate description of how I feel about this look.





Face
Benefit Porefessional primer
YSL Touche Eclat foundation BR10
Illamasqua Skin Base Lift concealer White and Light 1
Benefit Boi-ing concealer shade 1
Urban Decay Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder Light
MAC Azalea Blossom blush
Laura Mercier cream highlighter in Pink Gold

Eyes
NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
Illamasqua cream pigment in Delirium 
Shiro eyeshadows in I guess you're ok, and I'll move that for you
Sleek Garden of Eden palette
Illamasqua pigment in Beguile
Boots Natural Collection eyeshadow in Soft Pink
Rimmel Glam Eyes black liquid liner
Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Zero
Clinique High Impact mascara
MUFE Aqua Brow

Lips
Too Faced lipstick in Nude Beach