It's been a while....

Eep, I can't believe it's been a month and a half since I last updated!  In between work, the gym, and generally feeling crappy, I haven't worn an awful lot of makeup recently.  Looks I have done have all been pretty basic 1 or 2 shadow looks that haven't really warranted a blog post.  I have 5 days off next week though, so hopefully I'll be feeling more up to playing with makeup.

Here's a look I did a couple of days ago.  Please excuse the brows, I'm trying to let them fill out a bit!

Face

Laura Mercier foundation primer

YSL Touche Eclat foundation BR10

Illamasqua Skin Base Lift concealer White and Light 1

Urban Decay Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder Light

Revolution Sugar and Spice palette

Eyes

NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk

Revolution Eyes Like Angels palette

Bobbi Brown Silver Lilac sparkle shadow

Rimmel Glam Eyes black liquid liner

Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Zero

Lancome Hypnose Star mascara

MUFE Aqua Brow

Lips

NYX Candy Land Xtreme Lip Cream

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

Revolution lipstick in Divine - Review and FOTD

My skin has been going absolutely crazy this week so I've haven't really felt like taking photos.  To cheer myself up I splashed out a whole £1 and picked up Revolution's matte lipstick in Divine.  

It's a light peach, which just leans slightly pink.  This is about the lightest colour I'll go for on my lips, as anything paler tends to look a little corpse-like on me.  Mattes seem to be the toughest finish to get right, and when I first applied this lipstick I was expecting it to be drying as it was on the stiffer side and dragged across the lips a little.  I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable it was though!  I wore it without a gloss on top and didn't ever feel the need to add some hydration, which for me is very impressive.

It's not the most forgiving lipstick, and even though I prepped my lips you can still see where it shows up dry skin that I thought I'd gotten rid of.  It wasn't noticeable from a distance though, so providing you exfoliate and moisturise it's wearable.  I've reached for this lipstick a couple of times, and I'm eager to pick up a couple more shades.  They're so cheap that I won't feel guilty for treating myself!

The look is using my usual face stuff, and my Naked 3 palette with Urban Decay's Demolition and Zero pencils to smoke it out. 

Pastel FOTD

Quick look using my Revolution eyeshadow palette.

Sad Keanu FOTD

I blotted Shiro's Sad Keanu intertube a bit as it can get a little messy when applied normally.  I really must start writing down product lists (or, even better, post the looks the day I do them!).  Time just seems to be getting away from me recently.

Punch Punch Pork FOTD

I seem to have a thing for pink/purple and gold looks at the moment.  The only product I can remember using is Shiro's Punch Punch Pork eyeshadow.

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

Choosing my eyeshadow using a random number generator!

At times I feel totally uninspired as to what to do with my makeup.  To help keep the creative juices flowing I decided to number all of my eyeshadows and then use a random number generator to chose 3 eyeshadows that I then have to use in a look.  Today's random picks, Flamepoint, Smashing Pots, and the light pink from Sleek's Sunset palette, went really well together.  I decided to pat Cake on top of Flamepoint to tone it down a touch.  The look ended up looking like one I did a while back, but I'm still pretty happy with it.

Face
Benefit Big Easy Light
Benefit Boi-ing Shade 1
Illamasqua Skin Base Lift concealer White and Light 1
Urban Decay Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder Light
Shiro Hearts eyeshadow (as blush)

Eyes
Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
Sleek Sunset palette (pink)
Sugarpill Flamepoint eyeshadow
Shiro eyeshadows in Smashing Pots, War of Five Armies, and Cake
Rimmel Glam Eyes black liquid liner
Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Chaos
Lancome Hypnose Star mascara
MUFE Aqua Brows

Lips
Shiro Shoop-Da-Whoop intertube

It's all about the base FOTD

I picked up Laura Mercier's caviar stick in Jungle.  It's a really nice deep green.  I was a little dubious as to what the wear time would be like as MAC shade sticks don't last all that well on me.  I'm not sure whether it was the caviar stick or the Nars primer, but this didn't crease!

This look is a great example of how the right coloured base can totally change a duo-chrome shadow.  Angry Cuccos is usually very pale green, but Jungle really pulled out the pink in it.  This look looked totally different in different lighting situations, but I tried to capture the shadows at their most vibrant.  I Guess You're OK was an amazing teal colour in some lights.

I've also put a link to all my swatches in the top menu bar.

Face

Benefit Porefessional primer

Benefit Big Easy Light

Benefit Boi-ing concealer shade 1

Illamasqua Skin Base Lift White and Light 1

Urban Decay Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder in Light

Illamasqua cream blush in Unrequited

Benefit High Beam

Eyes

Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Jungle

Shiro eyeshadows in Angry Cuccos, I Guess You're Okay, Victory Road, and A Terrible Fate

Sugarpill eyeshadow in Tako

Urban Decay 24/7 pencils Electric and LSD

Rimmel glam eyes black liquid liner

Lancome Hypnose Star mascara

MUFE Aqua Brow

Lips

Armani Rouge D'Armani 507

Shiro custom gloss Moon Prism Power 

A much needed update and FOTD!

I took these photos about a week ago and I really can't remember what I used!  Pretty sure it was Shiro eyeshadows.  I've been busy swatching all of my eyeshadows.  All 355 of them.  I should have finished sorting and uploading them tomorrow.  I'm hoping that it'll stop me buying any shades that I already have in my stash.

May The Forth Be With You FOTD

I used my new Shiro shadow, May The Forth Be With You.  It's definitely a Yoda green!  The purple liner wasn't quite opaque enough for my liking though.

Face

Laura Mercier foundation primer

YSL Touche Eclat foundation BR10

Illamasqua Skin Base Lift Concealer White and Light 1

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural Light

MAC Azalea Blossom blush

Eyes

Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk

Shiro eyeshadows May The Forth Be With You, Diamonds, Steve, and Ocarina

MAC Contrast eyeshadow

Benefit Milk It! eyeshadow

Illamasqua Principle eyeshadow (Reflection palette)

Urban Decay 24/7 pencils in Woodstock and Delinquent

Miss Sporty metallic liner in Purple Hit

Lancome Hypnose Star mascara

MUFE Aqua Brow

Lips

MAC Candy Yum Yum lipstick

Shiro custom opaque gloss in Team Rocket

Silver and pink FOTD

Another Benefit look I'm afraid!  I don't often use the silver from the Sexiest Nudes palette, but I quite like it here.  I switched my lipstick to Benefit's Air Kiss.

Face

Benefit Porefessional primer

Benefit Big Easy Light

Benefit Boi-ing concealer 01

Illamasqua Skin Base Lift concealer White and Light 1

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural Light

Benefit Dandelion blush

Eyes

Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk

Benefit Sexiest Nudes Ever palette

Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Zero

Rimmel Glam Eyes black liquid liner

Benefit They're Real mascara

Active Cosmetics lashes

Lips

Armani Rouge d'Armani 507

Quick summery FOTD

I've got a super busy week ahead of me, and I'm not sure whether I'm going to have time to photograph my makeup in the morning before I head out, so this might be the last look I post for a few days.

Face

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

Illamasqua powder blush in Rumor

Illamasqua cream blush in Promise

Benefit Dandelion blush

Barbara Daley highlight powder

Eyes

Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Tough as Taupe

Sugarpill eyeshadows in Tako and Buttercupcake

Collection 2000 Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner in Teal

Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Electric

Lancome Hypnose Star mascara

MUFE Aqua Brow

Lips

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Lovesick

Burberry Pink Sweetpea lipgloss

Nic Cage with glitter FOTD

I'm so glad we have sunshine.  Taking photos is so much easier!  I used one shadow over my whole lid, but two different bases beneath it to get the colour gradient.

  

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

Benefit Dandelion blush

Illamasqua blushes in Honor and Hussy

Eyes
NARS smudge proof eyeshadow base

NYX jumbo pencil in Milk

Bobbi Brown Silver Lilac sparkle eyeshadow

Shiro Cosmetics eyeshadow in Nic Cage Raking Leaves on a Brisk October Morning

MAC Mineralize eyeshadow in Young Punk

Boots Natural Collection eyeshadow in Soft Pink

Urban Decay 24/7 pencils in Woodstock, Scorch and Vice

Rimmel Glam Eyes black liquid liner

Lancome Hypnose Star mascara

Sleek brow set in Light

Lips

Armani Lip Maestro Shade 505

Colourful Shiro look

So once again I didn't have time to set my camera up, so this is another phone shot.  I have absolutely nothing to do tomorrow, so I'm hoping to get some decent makeup shots done then, as I know I've been slacking lately!

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

Benefit Dandelion blush

Eyes
NARS smudge proof eyeshadow base

NYX jumbo pencil in Milk

Shiro eyeshadows in Din's Fire, Majora's Mask, Diamonds, Steve!, Cake, and Dark Sacrifice 

Rimmel glam eyes black liner

Urban Decay 24/7 liners in Electric and Empire (worn on the lower lash line and water line)

Lancome Hypnose Star mascara

Lips

Models Own pink gloss

Before and after FOTD - Look Good, Feel Better

With all the no makeup selfies floating around Facebook and Twitter for breast cancer awareness, I thought I'd take this opportunity to post about the cancer charity Look Good Feel Better, a charity that I'm hoping to be involved with in the near future.  They focus on helping women deal with the visible effects of cancer treatment, such as loss of eyebrows and eyelashes, and skin issues.  At the two hour sessions women are given a goodie bag, and taught the best techniques for dealing with the effects of their treatment.  For many of these women, it's not just about makeup.  It's about taking control of something that cancer had taken away from them.  It's amazing just what an effect not looking sick can have, and how it's a step towards feeling 'normal' again.

So what can you do?  Well you can either donate directly to LGFB via their website, or you can get yourself down to your local Benefit Brow Bar where they're holding Brow Arch March where you can get your brows done whilst donating to the charity.  Alternatively, you can text 'BROW14' followed by the amount you'd like to donate to 70070. 

For today, I have included a no makeup shot of myself (eep, scary stuff!) in the form of a before and after shot.  If you do take part in the no makeup selfies, don't forget to donate some money as well!

Face
YSL Touche Eclat foundation BR10
Illamasqua Skin Base Lift White and Light 1
Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Loose Finishing Powder Light
Illamasqua Naked Rose blush

Illamasqua Rumour blush

MAC mineralize skin finish natural in Light

Eyes
NARS smudge proof eyeshadow base
NYX jumbo pencil in Milk

Urban Decay Naked 3 palette

Illamasqua gel liner in Infinity

Illamasqua pencil in Sophie

Lancome Hypnose Star mascara

MUFE aqua brow

Lips

Armani Lip Maestro in 500

Purple speckled eyeliner FOTD

Back in the spring of 2013 Illamasqua released their I'mperfection collection, and one of my favourite looks from the collection was a speckled liner look they did.  The look used black and white liners, and I re-created it back then and loved it.  Today I decided to try the look with purple and black liner.  I don't think it worked so well, but here's the look anyway.

Face

Maybelline Baby Skin primer

Illamasqua Skin Base Lift White and Light 1

MAC mineralize skin finish natural Light

MAC Azalea Blossom blush

Eyes

NARS smudge proof eyeshadow base

NYX jumbo pencil in Milk

Sleek Garden of Eden palette

Rimmel glam eyes black liquid liner

Miss Sporty metallic liner in Purple Hit

Lancome Hypnose Star mascara

MUFE Aqua Brow 

Lips

YSL Rouge Volupte in Pink Caress