Don’t you just love cashmere?

Hey everyone,

I know, I know, I’m on a major neutrals kick lately…. ah well. Guess its just trying to use something that will last the whole day without looking messed up after I’m done with chasing kids. Its the hols and this mummy is tired…

k… on with the EOTD for today… stash shopping again, this time trying *not* to use TSS at all… so here’s what I came up with.

From SilkNaturals website – description & swatches:

Dolce- copper brown shimmer- MAC Sweet Sienna clone

my thots : Love the ever so slight glitter in this e/s. And it does a fab job at defining my crease when I’m going for a ‘nude’ look.

 

Cashmere- shimmery nude pink

my thots : this is one of those colors I love using all over my lid. It brightens up my eyes and gives me a polished look without making me look ‘made up’. If that makes any sense whatsoever.

 

Monistat – all over eye area
NYX Jumbo eye pencil in yoghurt – on lid and smudged
SN’s Cashmere – patted on the lid and blended upwards til brow
SN’s Dolce – crease
Maybelline’s gel liner in brown – upper liner

    

I’ll be leaving on a road trip with my family and parents to Melaka this weekend so I’ll catch up with posts when I get back. I sure hope I can stop myself from buying a hundred and one things. Sigh. I know that getting my beaded sandals redone is definitely a must do. :D

My Eyeliner collection

Just thought I’d line up all my liners in a pretty swatch… so here’s everything I use on a ‘regular’ basis along with some thoughts on each.

TOP ROW (left to right)

Silkygirl long wearing eyeliner in 02 Black Brown

haven’t used this in eons! especially since I got Maybelline’s gel liner. But this was my first liner ever… so it deserves mention :P

Silkygirl funky eyelights pencil in Ocean Blue (02)

Silkygirl funky eyelights pencil in Pure Purple (04)

to be honest, haven’t used these two in quite a while. Not that they aren’t good… just have gotten really distracted my my MM liquid liners. Will revisit them soon I think, these swatches have gotten me interested again :P

L’oreal HIP liner in 950 Navy

L’oreal HIP liner in 940 Green

Love these two especially for lining the upper waterline. They stay for quite a while and add depth to my lash line. Have been experimenting with using them on my lower lash line using the ELF small angled brush… so far, working out ok. But need to practice a little more to get the effect I’d really like

Majolica Majorca Neo liner in Black (BK999)

Majolica Majorca Neo liner in Shiny Black (BK911)

Majolica Majorca Perfect liner in Green (GR604)

Majolica Majorca Perfect liner in Blue (BL603)

what can I say? I use these liners most of the time. A small thin line defines my eyes while a thicker line with a wing adds a touch of drama. Tacks a little practice to get it done right but once mastered, its the “go to” liner for nice dark bold lines.

BOTTOM ROW (left to right)

UD 24/7 Glide On Pencil in Deviant

UD 24/7 Glide On Pencil in Electric

UD 24/7 Glide On Pencil in Covet

just got these three liners from UD’s GWP promotion. Deviant is full size while Electric and Covet are trial sizes. I have got to say these have to be the silkiest, smoothest liners I’ve ever tried. No issue with smudging soon after applied but once they set, they don’t go anywhere. Lovely. The only down side is the price. *sigh*

Cream/Gel EyeLiner by Maybelline EyeStudio in brown

I don’t use this nearly enough. Find the brush fiddly compared to the other pencils. But I do like this for tightlining on top of other colored liners. Eg if I use the Silkygirl liner and want to define my lash line a little more, I use this smooshed (is that a word??) into my lashes so they stand out more. The colored line is still there but my lashes have an identity of their own.

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What are your favourite liners? and why? Leave a comment and tell me.

A Prosperous Start to the New Year

Gong Xi! Gong Xi! To my chinese readers… may the year be filled with good fortune and lots to eat! and above all “shen ti jian kang”! (gee I hope I get that hypy right… :P)

The first day was a looooooong tiring day of visiting, dealing with sugar high kids and a homebody hubby who just wanted to go home. We covered a total of 9 homes… starting out from home at 7.30 and finishing at about 4. Headed back to my mom’s place for some r&r before two more aunties and assorted cousins visited in the evening. By staying those extra hours at my mom’s, I ‘escaped’ having to visit two more houses. *grin*

Finally reached our home at 9.30. Super tired… my kids just washed up and it was “lights out”. Even my hubby slept pretty early.

By 10.30, when I was finished sorting and clearing stuff, all I could hear was the collective chorus of snores. Rather heart warming… but then maybe I’m just strange.

So here’s my look for the first day… tried out a new pair of half falsies – Ardell Accents Lashes 301. Used them with the DUO lash glue. They got glued on at 6.45am.

Impressions : easier to use than full lashes and I didn’t run about the whole day feeling like I had spiders on my lids. On the whole, very happy with them. They added length at the ends where it mattered. Only thing I’d do different the next time would be to put mascara on and curl my lashes before putting these babies on.

On to the EOTD (as usual, click thru for bigger pics) :

• Monistat – base
• NYX jumbo eye pencil in baby blue
• smudged all over lid and up into the crease
• to take off some of the ‘redness’ aka warmth from the shades I was using next
• TSS The Doll House (LE Grab Bag)
• patted all over lid
• used under the brows as a highlight
• TSS Goodness and Grace (LE Ho Ho ‘08)
• 1/3 out lid and up to the crease and blended to the brow bone
• TSS One Stuck Sleigh (LE Ho Ho ‘08)
• outer v and blended
• Majolica Majorca Neo liquid liner in black (999)
• upper lash line
• Maybelline’s Volum’ Express Turbo Boost mascara in black
• Inuovi’s brow pencil in Cocoa

 

Face :

• Biore’s Radiant Sunscreen lotion
• SilkNatural’s foundation and perfecting powder blend

Cheeks :

• Canmake blush in 05
• SilkNaturals’ blush in Climax and Babydoll (mixed)

Lips :

• SilkNaturals organic lipgloss in Rare Berry

And here’s what my eotd looked like at 9.45pm…  the lashes stayed put (even though I’d brought both glue and liner just in case)… minimal creasing near the tear duct. Hardly any fading I could see.

Really, for me, NYX jumbo eye pencils combined with TSS e/s are my HG for long wearing looks that last through heat, humidity and super long days.

I am officially broke… (final part)

My final purchase from Watson’s was the Cream/Gel EyeLiner by Maybelline EyeStudio. Such a long name for my first very little pot of gel liner. :P

It comes with a little brush which I found rather easy to use. Granted, I haven’t washed it yet and already used it. So I might change my mind after I wash it. Still, for now, I’m happy with it. Its super stiff.. more like a very little palette knife than a brush. It smooths on the liner with very little problems.

Here’s some swatches showing how how thin/thick you can get the line using their brush.

I did a very simple look for going out then spent a couple of minutes playing with it a little more when I got home. (This was done while my AHA Exfoliating cleanser was on so the photos are gonna be rather closely cropped.)

Here’s what I came up with.

The most dramatic winged liner look I’ve tried so far

And here’s a double winged look… is that the right term?

   

I’ve used it practically every time I’ve used makeup this week and am really liking this product. It can give me both a subtle addition to the lashline and a dramatic strong line. Plus it lasts on me for more than 12 hours without any serious smudging. While I wouldn’t give up my MM liquid liners or my JEP with e/s on top, any time soon… this will definitely be added to my list of commonly used items.

That’s it from me for now… off to get ready for a workshop and then church.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Maybelline’s Angelfit Pore Zero Base – a review

These pics have been sitting in my drafts folder for months. I’m ashamed :(( Just never ever got round to writing a review on this.

Well, since I seem to be in a little more of a blogging mood today. Here’s a quick review.

When I first started using makeup about 2 years back. My first foundation purchase was Maybelline’s Angelfit Powder Foundation. It was a lovely foundation that gave a glow to my face. Sadly, I stopped using it when I realised that my pores were becoming seriously clogged. Before you go “eeeeekkk”, please bear in mind that I was a complete makeup noob. Didn’t know how to get it off properly. Light dawning? I know better now and am seriously tempted to give it a go again soon :P

But this review isn’t about that… its about its sister product called the Pore Zero base.

here’s my super blur pic of it. Sigh. It comes in a 30ml tube which dispenses the product easily on to your finger.

Please click on the pic for the description and their product claims. Have added another pic for those who want a clearer understanding of the ingredients used.

 

So here’s what it looks like. Slightly creamy but really easy to blend out. You’re supposed to put little dots all over your face. Not all at once cos this dries fairly quickly. So you dot, blend, dot, blend, dot, blend.

See how my pores have gone bye bye… seriously, this product does work in blurring out the look of large pores. It also gives a slight glow to your face which is rather pleasant. Does leave a slightly greasy feel on my skin but that’s goes away once I put on my loose mineral powder. What I especially like about it – and what got me to plunk down cash for it – was the spf factor (SPF 25 PA++). Having a sunscreen feature is a really nice touch for a primer/base.

The only reason why I don’t use this as often as I do my Biore UV Bright Face Milk (yeah I know.. cheesy name) is due to the ease of application. I’m a lazy person – just in case you didn’t know that already *grin* – and prefer to pore a puddle into the middle of my palm, rub it between my palms and apply. The whole dot, blend, dot, blend thing is just too much for me. Although when I do it, I get a lovely base for makeup that lasts through the day.

*note – as with all other makeup… make sure you use a good m/u remover at the end of the day or you’ll be sorry. I use JustFr0nd’s exfoliating AHA cleanser on my face and a oil/water blend for my eye m/u*

Super Simple EOTD II

Someone… and I won’t say who… complained that I used a LE shade that wasn’t available any more. So here’s a similar look using a regular shade that was is one of my favourites to use as a highlight or even over another color to lighten it up a little.

no base – unless u count sunblock
NYX JEP in baby blue – all over lid
TSS Moonlight Whimsey – patted on lid and blended upwards til the brow bone
MM’s liquid eyeliner in 995
MM’s gorgeous lash mascara 
Maybelline’s Volum’ Express Turbo Boost mascara in black 
Inuovi’s brow pencil in Cocoa (found the name :P)

Super simple EOTD

Didn’t feel very colorful today… so here’s what I came up with…

No base
NYX JEP in Yoghurt – all over lid
TSS Beyond Skin Deep – patted on lid and blended upwards all the way to the brow.
MM’s liquid eyeliner in 995 (I think… its the greyish/silverish black) – tried for a slightly winged look
MM’s gorgeous lash mascara
Maybelline’s Volum’ Express Turbo Boost mascara in black
Inuovi’s brow pencil in I dunno what color. *lol*

 

I had forgotten how totally goregous Beyond Skin Deep is. It gives a lovely subtle glow to my eyes that is really so pretty. Am pretty sure I’ve got a spare sample baggie of this color cos I love love love it. Now to rummage through my stash again. For asians, I can’t emphasize how much I love this color! Sadly it was an LE… so I doubt its available any more. Still no harm checking with Heather from TheSheSpace :P

These pics were taken at 11.37pm and the m/u was applied at 4pm so… eyes are slightly oily. Apologies. Forgot to take pics as I was rushing out the door.

Maybelline NY Workshop – part 2

As promised in this post, here’s the goodies I hauled from the workshop…

A lovely black and white makeup pouch that has a mirror attached.

Maybelline’s new Unstoppable mascara. Its got a nice, easy to use brush that does extend my lashes while giving them extra volume. Not as much volume as my other Maybelline mascara – Volum’ Express Turbo Boost - but good enough. What I may do is layer the two. :)

 

A lovely blush in Peach Sweety… I’ve used this twice again and really do like the color. Sad part is that it doesn’t seem to last as long on my face as my SilkNatural’s blushes do.

Am about to sign up and pay for two more workshops in August… still looking for my cheque book. Can you imagine in this day and age still asking for cheques? sigh… me thinks some companies need to be updated a little more.

Maybelline NY Makeup Workshop

*before I get started… I know I’m super late in posting this… still haven’t got my pics uploaded but am taking way too long so will post this first and the pics of my freebies will come later*

As I mentioned in a previous post, I signed up for a makeup workshop run by Maybelline NY on the 12th. The description given was

"Get personalized styling guidance from an experienced make-up artist AND experiment w an array of make-up & colors from Maybelline New York!”

Although I spent time looking at the map, I managed to get lost on the way to the session. Thankfully, the lovely Shermaine gave me good instructions over the phone and I did get there.

At each desk was a lovely train case filled to the brim with all sorts of goodies… I really couldn’t wait to get in and try them all.

From right to left, top to bottom, lipstick (watershine), mascaras (all brand new!), mineral foundations/blushers, liquid foundations, angelfit two way cakes, lip glosses, eyeliners, brow pencils and last but not least, eye shadow quads.

 

Also given was a folder with some information. To be honest, there wasn’t much. LOL! at least not as compared to the info that I’ve found available on the net.

 

We were introduced to Maybelline’s new Pore Zero makeup base. Its got a SPF factor of 25 and went on really smoothly. We were taught to put some on the back of our hands then dab and spread on to the face in an upwards motion. Repeat until the whole face is covered. Due to it being relatively quick drying, you should avoid doing the normal “dot, dot, dot, blend” method.

I gotta say I was rather impressed by this product. Pores did look diminished. Now, I’m curious as to the ingredients. Been searching online but so far unable to find a list. Guess I’ll have to pop by the store to have a lookie.

I topped it with Angelfit’s 2 way cake in OC2. We were told as asians, we should choose the more yellow toned foundations rather than the pink as they complemented our skin coloring more.

I’d forgotten how much I liked the 2 way cake. It really does impart a glow that makes you look healthy and radiant. So very tempted to get it again especially as I have now learnt the ‘proper’ way to really cleanse my face after applying makeup.

Blusher was next. We were each given a shade chosen to suit our skin tone. Mine was Peachy Sweetie. A lovely mid pink. I liked the color but really really wished for my usual big badger brush to apply it. Using the brush that came with the blusher was an exercise in patience.

For blush, the advice was to smile and apply to the apples of your cheeks. Make sure to blend out the edges so it appears to be a flush and not a circle of color.

Brows were next… and we used brow pencils. I found they went on pretty smoothly and the brush at the end of the pencil helped pull everything together.

After that it was eyeshadows!

These were the three quads that our trainer Felicia recommended as good to have… they’re in the neutral range and can bring you from day to night depending on how intense you apply the shades.

from top to bottom –

Venice Carnival, Autumn Spirit, New York Nite

I tried Venice Carnival but really didn’t like the way black looked on me. :(

Technique taught was the dark to light method. Darkest on the lid near the eyelashes and gradually blend upwards to the brows.

I ended up using quad 04 which was a range of blues that were lighter than New York Night.

I forgot to take a pic of the look I did using the Maybelline products. But to be honest, I wasn’t overly excited about it. Perhaps it was the lack of a proper e/s base but the colors just weren’t popping for me.

I think mineral e/s has totally spoilt me or Maybelline colors are just too regular for me. Sigh.

Mascara was next and we each were given a brand new tube of Unstoppable Curly Extension which I promptly used. :)

Here’s my finished look and my partner in color play, Sherlyn.

Then time was up and we had to go. For me, it was a fun refresher class in basics. I didn’t realise I had already learnt so much. Still feel like a beginner in so many ways.

I’d love to attend sessions that taught a little more advanced techniques. So will be on the look out for them. :)

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And here was my quick look for the day… just L’oreal’s HIP green liner with TSS Lost Moss on top. SN’s siren glow all over eye area.

Not sure why I put it on cos I took it off as soon as I arrived. LOL!