Showing posts with label MAC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MAC. Show all posts

Definition Makeup⎪Eyes & Lips


I received a gift from a friend and used it for the first time on camera. It was the Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet "La Romanesque". I loved, loved it so much!

Anyway, this time around I'm being brave and experimenting with the whole "doing-my-makeup-on-camera" thing. This meant exposing my bare naked face. I had to add some filter because my bare face is really... ha! But still, to show the effect of makeup, I thought it was best to show it.


It's a short clip, but hopefully you get the gist of how I did my makeup. I called this the Definition Makeup because it is a general makeup I would wear to emphasize my eyes and lips without looking overdone.

Because I filmed this with my iPad, I thought I'd show you with a high quality picture what my eyes looked like after makeup. I used MAC Soba all over the lid, and then Laura Mercier Gilded Rosegold to contour the eyes. Then, I added MAC A Natural Flirt on my brow bone and inner corners to kind of brighten and blend everything together.

I'm going to do a separate post for just the Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet lipstick because it deserves a post of its own! In the meantime, you can watch the video here. If you enjoy it, give it a thumbs up and hopefully I can continue to improve the videos!


The Best of 2014 Beauty⎪Makeup & Skincare



Watch the video here! 
It's the end of 2014. How crazy is it that the year is almost over? I have a lot of things going on next year and I'm both nervous and excited for what's to come. Before I introduce my 2014 beauty favorites, I wanted to wish all of my dear readers a Happy New Year! I hope great blessings will come in 2015 and that you will be filled with happiness and joy :)


It's been awhile since I've uploaded a video on my Youtube channel. There a lot of reasons. After filming just two in front of the camera, I felt I wasn't really a Youtube-y person, and that I felt more comfortable communicating with readers on my blog. That being said though, I do at times still enjoy talking to a camera than typing away in front of a screen.

Since it is the last video of 2014, I thought it'd be easier for you to go through my beauty faves with my face actually on the screen than just my hands. So I've pulled out my camera and filmed in front of it. Please give the video a thumbs up if you've enjoyed it so I'll know this was a good idea or not! (ha!)

But for those of you who aren't fond of videos, I'm listing my faves here for you. Click on the names to read the reviews. I've linked it so it is easier to access them!



MAKEUP
Foundation: Estee Lauder Double Wear Maximum Cover
Primers: Mario Badescu Special Healing Powder, Benefit Porefessional
Concealers: Collection 2000 concealer, Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer
Eyebrow: Hourglass Arch Sculpting Brow
Eyeliner: Jouer Shimmering Liquid Eyeliner in Leopard
Blush: Nars The Multiple in Rivera
Lips: Giorgio Armani lip liner in No.6, YSL Rouge Shine Volupte
Eyeshadows: MAC Soba, Laura Mercier Gilded Rosegold
Mascara: Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes
Contour and Highlight: Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow
Nails: Deborah Lippmann Boom Boom Pow, Essie Fishnet Stockings

SKINCARE
Dr. Jart+ Cermidin Liquid and Cream
ISOI Bulgarian Rose Blemish Serum 



Makeup for Work⎪LIPSTICKS




It might be helpful for some of you out there to know what makeup to wear to interviews. I definitely have a set of products I use when I go for interviews. Unless you are going into the fashion or beauty industry, makeup for interviews might have to be toned down just a little. For me, I definitely make sure to tone done my makeup so that I look professional, ready, and awake.

So, today I want to share with you some of the lip products I use for my "interview makeup". I've got there here on the topshelf today, but I forgot one more to add. I'll mention it down below.

Basically, I've chosen the "MY LIPS BUT BETTER" shades -- going from plum-nude, pink-nude, to beige-nude shades. A lipstick that I've been loving to pieces has been the MAC "Syrup" lipstick. Oh boy, this shade is really one of a kind. It has a plum tone to it, but it isn't over the top. It's an everyday shade with a pop of something pretty and different.

Another natural shade is one by Tom Ford in the shade "Spanish Pink". I recently blogged about this one, but it really is a natural pink shade. It goes with any look, and it isn't too pink nor too nude. It's really lovely! And Tom Ford lipsticks are really long-lasting, so that's a plus since you won't have time to keep reapplying before or during an interview!

Lastly, my cult-fave is by Burberry. The shade "Copper" deserves an award. At times it looks pink, at times it looks orange-biege, and at other times, it looks like a natural rose. Whatever it changes to under different lights, it always looks lovely. The consistency is lovely. Really moisturizing! It almost acts like a balm with color in it. When in doubt and I don't know what to wear, I always go for this shade. In occasions where I want to look ready-set-go... this is the one to go to.

Now the lipstick I forgot to add to my topshelf is the one by Lord and Berry. It is the shade "Rose Nu". Read about this here.


Do any of you have particular lipsticks that you wear for interviews or other professional settings? Let me know :) x

September Favorites


This month was me trying desperately to get my skin to look better. I don't have too many favorites this month, but the ones that I did pick out were really the best of the best!



First off, my glasses from Warby Parker. The Holocomb frame (www.warbyparker.com/eyeglasses) is just my everything! I had it for over a month now, and I love it more and more each day. I don't mind wearing these frames outside and it gives my outfit such an edge!

I've also been loving the Burberry Sheer Glow foundation. It gives the face such a glowing look without it being slippery. It doesn't break me out either, which is always of my utmost importance. When I find that it isn't covering enough, I mix it with my Estee Lauder maximum cover foundation.

That reminds me of the Hourglass Primer I picked out. If you didn't know, I once raved about this product... then, I found the Benefit Primer and totally transferred over to them. But nowadays, I'm back on the wagon with my Hourglass Mineral Veil primer. It's been working better than the Benefit for some strange reason!

For blusher, I've picked up the Benefit Rockateur blush. I bought this last year, and I didn't like the color, but for some reason, this shade has been looking good on my skin. I also love how the Benefit blushes give you that gleam on the cheeks. It's really so pretty! Oh, and I forgot to mention that the shade is a rose-gold kind of shade.

Lipsticks! I've been loving two. The first is a recent purchase from Tom Ford. I love their lipsticks so much. Unlike the previous shade I had from Tom Ford, which was Violet Fatale, this natural shade called Spanish Rose is a perfect everyday pink shade.

The other lipstick is from MAC. The shade is Syrup, and it is seriously one of a kind. It's a plum, but a muted kind. It's everyday, with something different. I'm going to be posting my "Interview Makeup" post, where I share with you some of the products that I recommend for interviews. This is one of them! Absolutely love!

I'm almost done with the Josie Maran hand cream. This might very well be a repurchase because nothing makes me cuticles disappear as well as this one. The smell isn't all that beautiful, nor the packaging... but the actual substance of this lotion is GOOD.

Finally, fragrance. I used my Sephora points to get a decent travel size of the Nest Midnight Fleur fragrance. I've heard about it so much, I thought I'd give it a try. Not only do I love the packaging, but I love the smell for sure! It is a warm and encompassing scent. It's sweet and it feels like someone is wrapping you with a cozy blanket. I've been wearing it everyday, and it fits really well especially with the Fall here now!

Reminder: search up the brand into the search bar to read the previous reviews on the products!

May Favorites


I filmed a May Favorites on my Youtube channel. Although I wanted to feature a lot more skincare products I've fallen in love with the past month, I thought it'd end up being a very long video. So, instead I've decided to do a separate skincare routine.



Watch the video and don't forget to give it a thumbs up if you've enjoyed it! Also, I love reading your comments. Do tell me what you've been loving or really anything :)

Products mentioned:

  • Rose of Bulgaria Body Balsam *forgot to take a picture of this one
  • Josie Maran Whipped argan oil intensive hand cream
  • Benefit Pore-fessional primer
  • MAC Soba eyeshadow
  • Milani Baked blush in luminoso 05
  • Collection concealer in light 02
  • Maybelline clear eyebrow gel + Perfekt eyebrow gel
  • Essie Topless & Barefoot
  • Kiehl's in-flight refreshing face mist
  • Kiehl's midnight recovery concentrate
  • Missha Cell Renewal Snail Cream


HOW TO #1. Contouring Nose with MAC SOBA


MAC Soba is all around becoming my favorite everyday, must-have eyeshadow shade. It is simply beautiful on its own, blended out all over the eye. Pop a mascara, and you are good to go.




The reason why this shade is so perfect is because it "deepens" the eyes with the perfect brown shade. Not too orange, not too red, not too yellow. It just gives a natural "shadow" to the face. It has a bit of pearl(?) in it, but it is nothing too obvious.

And recently, I have been using this eyeshadow to contour the nose and the eye area. I have found that it made such a big difference to my first shape, and MAC Soba is just the perfect contour shade. I used to use bronzers that I used on my cheeks to do it, but I always found it looked so unnatural.

So today, I'm going to give you a tip on how to get that nice contouring of the nose using MAC Soba and MAC 217 brush. You can use any small brush that is fluffy. I recommend using a small fluffy brush as opposed to a big one (the one you would use on your cheeks) or a small and dense one.



Dap a small amount of product on the brush. Bring it down the side of your nose. Depending on the shape of your nose and how thin you want it, shade in the side first lightly, and a bit more where you think you need it. You want to shade it slightly more on the side of your nose near the end, near your nostrils.


Also, you want to also shade where your nose bridge meets your eyebrows. Contour under the eyebrows to give you that depth of your eyes. It's the area that my brush is pointing to in the picture above.

You can see the shadows and depths on this model's face. Although a lot may be natural, contouring emphasizes that natural lights and shadows so that it becomes more visible. I personally love doing it and I think it brings more definition to the face.

A Natural Flirt. MAC Extra Dimension Eyeshadow





I recently picked up a MAC eyeshadow from their Extra Dimension line. I've loved my Extra Dimension blush in "Blazing Haute" all throughout last summer, even now, so I knew I'd love their eyeshadow as well. The eyeshadow comes in the same pattern design, which is beautiful. It has this pretty swirl and M.A.C imprinted everywhere! 

This extra dimension line came in several shades, but I chose the shade "A Natural Flirt" because it's a really natural shade that only adds a bit of gleam to the eyes! I've been wearing minimal eye makeup nowadays, wearing only Laura Mercier Voluminizing mascara, and maybe adding MAC Soba eyeshadow all over the lid. That's why I thought this eyeshadow would be nice for all over the lid or even just in the inner corners. It's such a versatile shade. It's neither too pink, nor too yellow. It is this neutral shade that looks perfect for all skin tones. I love the name of this shade as well. It is quite natural and quite flirty as well :) 

And just like all the other MAC eyeshadows, it is super creamy and blends ever so well! 



This is similar to Benefit's "It's Complicated" eyeshadow only that this MAC eyeshadow is more finely milled than the Benefit eyeshadow. That's why it looks a bit more natural. It simply looks like a natural gleam on your eyelids! But I love them both :)

C O L O R F O C U S #1 / p l u m & f u c h s i a


Please read this post before all else!
Anyway, to continue on from that post I am starting this series of Color Focus posts both on my blog and on my Youtube. I'm going to be finding similar colored makeup and talking about them and what I love about them! The first one up is the PLUM+FUCHSIA category that I adore so much.

Watch the more in-depth video! I show you the swatches here too :)


Products mentioned: (Click on the product to be directed to its relevant blogpost review)

Soft and Gentle⎪MAC Mineralize SkinFinish


Another great highlighter discovery! All three of the highlighters I have had experience with and loved were all different textures and compositions. One was the Benefit WattsUp Highlighter and the second was the Estee Lauder Gelee Bronze Goddess Illuminator. And finally, the third is this really well-known MAC Mineralize SkinFinish in "Soft and Gentle". The Benefit is a creamy-stick highlighter. The Estee Lauder is a gelée formula which gives this wet sheen look, even though it is basically powder. This MAC skinfinish highlighter is a powder that is the most quintessential highlighter of them all! It's a powder with intense pigmentation and the color is perfect!


As nicely as it illuminates, it also blurs the areas applied in a way. The color is a gold-champagne but nothing empowering of each. The shimmer is truly gentle and it gives this subtle glow to the face that I have loved wearing! It adds to the healthy glow anyone would like to have.


Here are the swatches. As I often mention with the swatches, the pictures don't always do the justice! The swatches are done with a single swipe across the pan. It is super pigmented and the shimmer/sparkles do not look flakey or unnatural. 



What are your thoughts on this highlighter? Any others that you preferably enjoy? :)


COLORS OF MAKEUP #1⎪FUCHSIA & PLUM Lips

I'm going to start a series of posts that kind of bundle up a few of my makeup products into similar color categories. Of course, there are those midi-colors that are hard to put into one definite category, so if you think they overlap a bit, I hope you'll understand!

Today's post is going to be on one of my favorite lipstick colors. Fuchsia+Plum. So, let's begin with a definition of what the color of fuchsia is: a vivid purplish-red color like that of the sepals of a typical fuchsia flower. (Google)


Here are my top picks! Run your mouse over each product to see the individual in-depth review.


I don't actually think I have an official review of the NARS Funny Face, but in swatches you will see that it is quite similar to the Bobbi Brown Cosmic Raspberry! What attracted me most to the NARS lipstick was that even in the tube, you can detect this really vivid blue undertone, which makes it look more purpley than the Bobbi Brown. Take a look at the pictures down below. You may not see it so much in the swatches, but in the actual picture of the lipstick, you can see the hues I am talking about!

And of course, here are the Swatches:



And after all that, I remembered that I had my Clinique Chubby Stick in Pudgy Peony that I also really love!



Please be advised that under different light, these colors can look sometimes darker, redder, purpley, and even pinker. I tried to reflect the different hues it gives off, but because the color fuchsia itself is a mixture of purples and reds, you can imagine how complexly it can develop!

Which is your favorite? I'd love to know! x

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