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 

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.

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

Majorette FOTD

I finally got around to wearing Majorette yesterday, but was super ill in the evening so didn't get a chance to post.  Blush is always a hard one to show off in pictures, without looking like a clown in real life, so you'll have to put a little faith in me when I say that it's a super pretty blush.  I applied it with a normal blush brush, and found it really easy to slowly build up and blend out the colour.  I like blushes that are a bit on the sheerer side as I find they work better with your individual skin tone.  The peachy colour is so pretty that I'm not sure I'd want to put a blush on top, but I'm sure I'll do some playing around in work.  Wear time was about the same as your average powder blush (5-6 hours before fading).  The scent didn't linger for very long at all, and whilst I like the smell, I was pleased that it disappeared, therefore not interfering with whatever perfume I might be wearing.

For the look I used Illamasqua's Paranormal palette, and Precipice from Illamasqua's Reflection palette.  Love the colours, but they crease so quickly that by the time I'd finished doing the rest of my makeup they were already looking worn.

Bright and sparkly FOTD

I felt like doing something with some colour today so I reached for the neons in my Sleek Acid palette.  And then I added glitter.  I patted a bit of Bobbi Brown Silver Lilac sparkle shadow over the pink and purple on my lid but the photos don't show it.  Apologies for the messy eyebrows.  They're in need of a trim!

Face
YSL Touche Eclat foundation BR10
Illamasqua Skin Base Lift Concealer White and Light 1
MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural Light
Illamasqua powder blush in Hussy

Eyes
NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
Sleek Acid palette
Urban Decay Blackheart eyeshadow (Naked 3 palette)
Bobbi Brown Sparkle Eyeshadow in Silver Lilac
Rimmel Glam Eyes black liquid liner
Collection Glam Crystals liner in Dancing Queen
Illamasqua pencil in Sophie
Lancome Hypnose Star mascara
MUFE Aqua Brow

Lips
Illamasqua Sheer Lip Gloss in Tantrum

No makeup makeup FOTD

Today was one of those days that called for no makeup.  Sort of.  I didn't want to go completely naked, so I did no makeup makeup.  I focused on my skin, defining round my eyes just a little.  It's days like this that I reach for Benefit's latest brow product, Gimme Brow.  It's been out a while now, so I'm sure most of you have read reviews on it.  I think it's a great brow solution, building on the hairs you naturally have, but for most days it's not enough for me.  I love a nice strong brow.  However, a strong brow looks a little daft with no other makeup, so Gimme Brow lets me add just a bit of definition, colouring the super blonde hairs at the end of my brows so that you can actually see them.  The eye close up here is more so that you can see the brows rather than the eye makeup!

Face
Laura Mercier foundation primer
YSL Touche Eclat Foundation BR10
Illamasqua Skin Base Lift concealer in White and Light 1
Urban Decay Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder in Light
Illamasqua powder blush in Rumour
Benefit Dandelion blush
MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Lightscapade

Eyes
NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
Urban Decay Theodora palette
Illamasqua pencil in Vow
Lancome Hypnose Star mascara
Benefit Gimme Brow Light/Medium

Lips
Dior Addict lipstick in Diorling

Emma Stone inspired tutorial

I saw this pic of Emma Stone and fell in love with the look.  I of course had to pull out my beloved Sleek Vintage Romance palette and give it a go.  My version is slightly more wearable as I didn't bring the purple up so far and I passed on the false lashes.  I also opted for bright pink lips instead.

Products Used
NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
Sleek Vintage Romance palette -
                                                   Meet in Madrid (medium-pale gold)
                                                   Marry in Monte Carlo (medium fuschia)
                                                   Bliss in Barcelona (medium-dark blue toned purple)
                                                   Love in London (medium black)
Boots Natural Collection eyeshadow in Sea Shell (light, matte nude)
Rimmel Glam Eyes black liquid liner
Illamasqua Sophie pencil (black)
Benefit They're Real mascara

1.  After priming the lid, apply Marry in Monte Carlo in the crease with a fluffy blending brush.

2.  Pat Meet in Madrid onto the lid using a flat shader brush.

3.  With a tapered blending brush, apply Bliss in Barcelona on top of the fuchsia shadow, leaving some fuchsia showing at the top.

4.  Apply Sea Shell on the brow bone and blend downwards softening the fuchsia.

5.  Using a clean flat shader brush, apply Marry in Monte Carlo under the eye.  Place Bliss in Barcelona on top of this along the outer half of the lower lash line.

6.  Taking the tapered blending brush, apply Love in London to the outer crease to darken.

7.  With a clean brush, blend until there are no harsh lines.

8.  Line your lid with black liquid liner, and then add black pencil liner to the upper and lower waterlines.

9.  Add mascara and you're done!

Face
YSL Touche Eclat foundation in BR10
Illamasqua Skin Base Lift concealers in White and Light 1
MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural Light
Illamasqua Velvet Blusher in Peaked

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
Sleek Vintage Romance palette (Meet in Madrid, Marry in Monte Carlo, Bliss in Barcelona, Love in London)
Boots Natural Collection eyeshadow in Sea Shell 
Rimmel Glam Eyes black liquid liner
Illamasqua Sophie pencil
Benefit They're Real mascara
MUFE Aqua Brow

Lips
MAC lipstick in Show Orchid
Dior Adict gloss 856 (Iconic Red)

Celestial EOTD

I'm not sure that I actually like this look, which is why there's only one pic of it.  Here it is anyways!

Products Used
Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
Sleek Celestial palette
Sugarpill Tako eyeshadow
Illamasqua Pure Pigment in Beguile
Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Psychedelic Sister
Rimmel Glam Eyes black liquid liner
Benefit They're Real mascara
MUFA Aqua Brow
Active Cosmetics lashes

Look Good Feel Better FOTD

This is the look that I wore to the Look Good Feel Better workshop.  As that was a whole week ago, I'm not entirely sure of all the products used! 

Face

YSL Touche Eclat foundation BR10
Illamasqua Skin Base Lift White and Light 1
MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural Light

Illamasqua blushes in Rumor and Naked Rose

Barbara Daley highlight powder

Eyes

Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

Urban Decay Naked 3 palette

Illamasqua pencil in Vow

Rimmel glam eyes black liquid liner

Lancome Hypnose Star mascara

Sleek brow set in Light

Lips

Too Faced lipstick in Nude Beach

What's That Smelt? FOTD

I love how crisp and clear the images that my new camera takes are, but I'm struggled to get good close ups that truly show off the eyeshadow colours today. 

Face

YSL Touche Eclat foundation BR10

Illamasqua Skin Base Lift White and Light 1

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural Light

MAC Hipness blush

MAC Lightscapade mineralize skin finish 

Eyes

NARS smudge proof eyeshadow base

NYX jumbo pencil in Milk

Shiro eyeshadows Cake, Punch Punch Pork, What's That Smelt?, and I'll Move That For You

Rimmel glam eyes black liquid liner

Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Mainline

Lancome Hypnose Star mascara

Sleek brow set Light

Lips

Illamasqua Intense lipgloss in Mistress 

Legends FOTD

I used some shadows from Shiro's Legends collection.  Not loving the look, as Angry Cuccos turned out to be way to dark as a highlight for me.  I patted a matte white over it, but it didn't totally fix it.  Also, my eyebrows look pretty crappy.  Still, they're great shadows to work with.

Face
Maybelline Baby Skin primer
YSL Touche Eclat foundation BR10
Illamasqua Skin Base Lift White and Light 1
Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder Light
Illamasqua Rumour blush
MAC Springsheen blush

Eyes

NARS smudge proof eyeshadow base

NYX jumbo pencil in Milk

Shiro eyeshadows - Angry Cuccos, Destiny's Princess, Zora Saphire, Skull Kid

Sleek Acid palette - matte white shadow

Illamasqua gel liner in Infinity

Urban Decay 24/7 pencils in Rockstar and Deep End

Lancome Hypnose Star mascara

Sleek eyebrow palette in Light

Lips

Lancome Juicy Tube in Fraise

The rest of my lipstick collection

You can see the other parts of my lipstick collection here - red, pink part 1, pink part 2, and purple and coral.

These are lipsticks that either didn't fit in the other categories, or lipsticks that I forgot (they were most likely in my bag when I did the swatches).  I'm sorely lacking in nudes.  Maybe I should look at getting a couple of those before I pick up another pink lipstick!

Armani Lip Maestro in 500 and 501
If you've checked out my pink lipstick reviews, you'll know by now that I love lip maestros.  A pigmented liquid lipstick that dries down to a modern matte finish.  This is a long wearing lipstick that doesn't dry out my lips.  

500 is a medium nude pink, which is great for every  day wear.  It has slight yellow undertones, but still works well on my cool toned skin.

501 is a deep, dusty pink, with almost mauve undertones.  On me it's a little too dark to be called a nude lipstick, but on deeper skin tones I can imagine it would be a great choice for an every day lipstick.

Dior Addict lipstick in Createur
This is my go to every day lipstick.  It's like my lips, but better.  I favour this sheer plummy red over nude lipsticks as it doesn't wash me out like nudes can.  It's a really comfortable lipstick to wear, and even though it only lasts about 3 hours, I don't see it wearing down because it's so close to my natural lip colour, so I don't have to worry about that dreaded ring of colour being left round my lip line.

MAC Brave

This is another of my nude alternatives.  It's a medium nude pink, with a satin finish.  It's a fairly thick, opaque lipstick, and I'll opt for it over Createur if I need a lipstick that lasts a little longer.  I don't find it drying, but it's not moisturising either.

MAC Plum Dandy
This was a lipstick that I should have probably put in the pink or purple section.  I don't often pick up MAC lipsticks any more, but I traded in some empties and got this one.  It's a soft plummy pink with gold shimmer.  It's a frost, but it's not overly frosted.  I love the way it looks when it catches in the sunlight, as it really shows off the beautiful shimmer.  It's not the most comfortable lipstick in the world, but it's not as bad as some of MAC's other frost lipsticks

Urban Decay Super Saturated High-Gloss Lip Colour in Glinda
What a mouthful that name is!  This came with the limited edition Glinda palette.  It's a rosey nude with gold shimmer.  It's less frosty and more beige that Plum Dandy.  It's a fairly neutral colour that would suit a lot of skin tones, but it's really not one I ever really reach for.  I find it more drying than the pencil they released in the Theodora palette.

Benefit Posietint

Posietint is one of Benefit's 4 lip and cheek stains.  In the bottle it looks like a scarily neon pink, but once applied to cheeks and lips, it's a subtle pink tint.  The below swatch is two layers.  I tend to prefer this type of product on my cheeks to my lips, as alone it can be quite drying.  I usually opt to top this with a gloss when I wear it on my lips.

Illamasqua Pristine
This definitely comes under the 'other' category!  This is one of the better black lipsticks I've tried.  It's opaque in a couple of swipes, so it's easy to get a dark, even colour.  So often blacks can go on patchy.  Like most of Illamasqua's lipsticks it's not hydrating, but it's doesn't suck the life out of my lips either.

 And here are swatches of all of the lipsticks! *updated 21/06/2014*

1.  OCC Lip Tar in Black Dahlia

2.  NYX Jumbo Lip Pencil in Vixen

3.  Chanel Rouge Allure in Rouge Noir

4.  Guerlain Rouge G L'Extrait in Colire

5.  Guerlain Rouge G in Garconne (LE)

6.  Dior Diorific lipstick in Diorling 

7.  Urban Decay Super Saturated High Gloss Lip Colour in Theodora (LE) 

8.  Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Liberte

9.  Sephora Rouge Shine in No.28

10.  MAC Cremesheen lipstick in Crosswires

11.  MAC Amplified Creme lipstick in Watch Me Simmer (LE)

12.  Benefit Hydra-smooth lip colour in Juicy Details

13.  Clinique Different Lipstick in Ice Rose

14.  Revlon Lip Butter in Sugar Frosting

15.  Revlon Lip Butter in Strawberry Shortcake

16.  Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Lovesick

17.  Armani Lip Maestro Shade 505 (LE)

18.  Armani Rouge d'Armani Shade 507

19.  YSL Rouge Volupte in Pink Caress 

20.  Illamasqua lipstick in Resist (discontinued)

21.  Benefit lipstick in My Treat (discontinued)

22.  Guerlain Rouge Automatique in Illusion (LE)

23.  MAC Glaze lipstick in Sweet Thing (LE)

24.  MAC Matte lipstick in Candy Yum Yum

25.  MAC Cremesheen lipstick in Of Royalty (LE)

26.  MAC Matte lipstick in Gladiola (discontinued)

27.  MAC Amplified Creme lipstick in Show Orchid

28.  Illamasqua lipstick in Underworld

29.  Inglot Colour Play Lipstick No.95

30.  Lime Crime lipstick in Poisonberry

31.  Inglot lipstick in 175

32.  Illamasqua lipstick in Pristine

33.  MAC Glaze lipstick in Plum Dandy

34.  Dior Addict lipstick in Createur

35.  MAC Satin lipstick in Brave

36.  Urban Decay Super Saturated High-gloss Lip Colour in Glinda (LE)

37.  Benefit Posietint
38.  Armani Lip Maestro in shade 500
39.  Armani Lip Maestro in shade 501
41.  Too Faced lipstick in Nude Beach
41.  Shiro intertube in Sad Keanu
42.  Shiro intertube in Shoop-da-whoop
43.  Shiro intertube in Rickrolled 

Blue, gold and pink tutorial

I got quite a few requests for tutorial of yesterdays look.  Trying out a sightly different format for the tutorial today.

Products Used

Illamasqua Skin Base Lift in White and Light 1

Sephora Du Luxe Punk eyeshadow (deep pink)

Sleek Originals palette (black, dark shimmery blue, deep shimmering gold)

Boots Natural Collection Soft Pink eyeshadow (pale pink)

Illamasqua gel liner in Infinity (black)

Illamasqua Sophie pencil (black)

Lancome Hypnose Star mascara

Primark black and gold glitter liner

Barbara Daley eyeshadow pen in Air Force (medium grey cream shadow)

Active Cosmetics Razzle Dazzle lashes

Random eyeshadow glue

MUFE Aqua brow (not show in this tutorial, but thought I'd share what's on my brows!)

I prepped my lid with NARS smudge proof eyeshadow base as I have the oiliest lids ever.  For most I would have thought that the grey cream eyeshadow will be enough of a base.

1.  Apply your grey cream shadow all over the lid.  I used the brush on the end of the eyeshadow pencil to do this.  If you're just using a regular cream shadow, and synthetic flat shader brush works best.

2.  Using an eyeliner brush, draw a line where your crease is in black gel liner.  I removed any excess and blended it up slightly.  Darken the inner and outer corners of the lid.  This doesn't have to be super tidy.

3.  Using a tapered blending brush (I used MAC 226, which is limited edition.  Damn you MAC!) apply the deep pink shadow to the crease, just above the gel liner.

4.  Pat a pale pink shadow under the brow, and blend down into the darker pink.  I favour MAC's 275 as it's super dense and allows me to really blend the colours.  Add more of the deeper pink if you need to.

5.  Part your gold color onto the center of your lid using a flat shader brush (MAC 242).  The Sleek shadow I've used is a little chunky, so really takes some effort.  You can see here how I need to add an extra layer (which I did, after taking photos).

6.  With a clean shader brush, pat your dark blue shadow on the inner and outer lid.  Be careful not to over-blend this.  I used a patting motion to blend so as not to make the colours muddy.

7.  Using the same brush, apply  blue shadow on top of the black gel liner.  I used the narrow side of the brush to run the shadow along, and then used short pushing motions to blend it up into the pink.

8.  To add some depth, take a black eyeshadow on an angled brush (MAC 266) and run it along the crease where the gel liner is.  Again, use small, gentle pushing motions to blend it up into the blue.  You don't want to take this colour up very far.  I also added it to the very inner and outer corners of the lid.

9.  Clean up any fall out from under your eye, running a makeup remover wipe along the edge of your eye where your wing will me.  Add your concealer under the eye and along that edge.  I just used my finger.

10.  Taking your gel liner again, use your preferred liner brush to line your top lid.  This line can be as dramatic as you like!

11.  Run some of the blue shadow under your lower lash line.

 12.  Line under your eye with blank gel liner, taking the liner into a point at the inner corner of the eye.

13.  Line your upper and lower water lines with black pencil.

14.  Add black and gold glitter liner to your lower lash line, along the black gel.  I'm rubbish at photographing glitter, so you can't really see it in these pictures.  

15.  Add mascara and lashes, and you're done!