Month: December 2013

Nosy Beauty Vol. 21: Mariana

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I forgot how I found Mariana, I think I might just have been starting out on my blog then. But I was instantly drawn to her type of blog and style of makeup. Reading The Beauty Bee, I really admired how laidback her it was, but still remained informative. She’s a bit busy these days (read on to figure out why) but I always look forward to her posts. Funnily enough, she is also a member of bntgirls, like me, and Kine and Alene, both of whom I’ve featured on Nosy Beauty before. 😀 Here’s a little peek at her everyday essentials. 🙂 Hello! My name is Mariana and I’m a full-time student at the Ateneo Law School. When I’m not studying, I’m usually still reading (mostly fantasy fic) or trying out new restaurants with the boyfriend. I love animals (most especially horses and dogs) and I love being outdoors, though I’ve lived in a city all my life. Makeup is something I’ve always been interested in, but it’s only in the last few years …

Graymelin Vintage Seven Tattoo Eyebrow in Dark Brown*

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One of the two makeup items I got in November’s bntgirls box is the Graymelin Seven Tattoo Eyebrow in Dark Brown. It’s essentially an eyebrow marker with a super fine, flexible tip—almost like the tip of a brush pen. I have a similar product from K-Palette, which is also marketed as a waterproof eyebrow pen. I love the brush on this. It goes down into a really fine point because I can draw on hairs well. The pen in general is not very flimsy, so you have pretty okay control over your eyebrows and what you want the shape to be. The tip kind of flops a bit, if you’re not careful or paying attention. It’s a great tool if you have very sparse eyebrows, since the ink is quite pigmented. Compared with my K-Palette eyebrow pen, this one by Graymelin is darker and less warm. I think it’s a better match for my natural hair color. The tint of the K-Palette pen is so light that you can kind of just haphazardly draw the …

Oslo Cosmetics Review Part I feat. Vela, Lyra, Carinae, Doradus, and A Song of Ice and Fire

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My general impression of Oslo Cosmetics has been great so far. I think a mineral shadow’s quality is obviously good if you’ve been reaching for them more than your more convenient eyeshadows, which has been the case for me. Here are a few looks using some of my new shadows. I’ll make a part two soon, even though I’ve covered most of the colors here anyway. Vela & Lyra Vela looks scary dark in the pot, but it’s actually really lovely on the lid. It’s a green-blue duochrome that translates onto the lid as a brown with a green-blue sheen, depending on the light. It’s great for a daytime smoky eye. Lyra was just used to smudge under the lower lash line here. It’s a blackened plum/orchid but the purple-y parts don’t really show up unless you pack it on. I’ll have a look in part two of this review that will feature Lyra more as a lid color. Doradus & A Song of Ice and Fire Doradus is a color that also looks quite …

Verikos Collagen Tightening Cream*

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The Verikos Collagen Tightening Cream is a pretty interesting skincare product that I am super attracted to. Without the bells and whistles—or starfish and snail mucus—just your hydrolized collagen. Collagen is the selling point of this product; rightly so because collagen is a main component of skin connective tissue that takes up 70% of the skin and up to 90% in the dermis, on average. It’s known for moisture retention and elasticity control. The Verikos Collagen Tightening Cream is: — an anti-wrinkle functional cream — 5 free formula for sensitive skin type — nutritious and elastic skin care It “creates a moisture barrier on dry skin and the adenosine and collagen strengthen the skin barrier for hydrated and firm skin.” Aside from being perfect for dry skin, I appreciate how this product aims to have long-term effects by strengthening the skin barrier instead of just treating the dryness, for immediate relief. It contains amino acids for skin nutrition, too, helping peptide and adenosine enhance the collagen matrix in the skin. In effect, the skin becomes …

What’s in a name? Oslo Cosmetics Blush in Carina

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It’s no secret that I get suckered into buying things because of what they are named. In this case, an eyeshadow named Carinae caught my eye first. Then I found this blush by Oslo Cosmetics named Carina, for reasons that are pretty obvious. I’m not normally a bright neon makeup kind of girl, but I couldn’t pass it up. Oslo Cosmetics is a vegan and cruelty-free indie makeup company based in Columbus, Ohio. As I mentioned in my first haul/swatch post for the brand, a woman named Joyce K. started Oslo and mixes and makes all the colors. I wanted to try the eyeshadows from Oslo, especially, since they are pretty unique. Most mineral makeup is made up of loose pigments and minerals that are mostly fine. The ones by Oslo are kind of lumpy, due to added binders that actually make them really creamy to apply. The blushes, however, are similar to the traditional texture of mineral makeup. Carina is a “bright, cosmic matte red-orange blush,” which looks really scary in the pot. Though …

5 Ways to Wear a Vampy Lip & a Review feat. 3CE Lip Color in Vamp*

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One of the items from the November bntgirls box is the Stylenanda 3CE Lip Color in a very autumnal shade, Vamp. Let’s get packaging out of the way… I am in love with the semi-matte, black, square tube (almost the same as Tom Ford lipsticks, which are just a little shorter) and the clean design with the brand on just one side of the packaging. I love the box as well; I don’t know what it is about it! I don’t normally keep boxes but I just might for this one. Described as a cool and mysterious bloody burgundy, Vamp seems to have a cool edge to it that makes it a more modern shade of red. It’s still red, but it’s not the same red that you saw your mom wear when you were growing up. The woman who’d wear this red doesn’t seem like the kind of woman who’d clutch her pearls in distress. Or something. You get the idea. These lipsticks have a beautiful texture, which I guess is a good thing …

EOTD: Radiant Orchid

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Pantone recently released its Color of the Year for 2014, which is Radiant Orchid: Image from Pantone It’s a really, really pretty color, so of course I had to try and make it into an eye look. I used some shadows from the Oslo Cosmetics purchases I received last week namely, Pyxis and Lyra. Those were basically the only shadows I used but I’ll break down the look a bit more later. For cheeks, I used Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Flush and shu uemura blush in soft mauve M225. For my base, I used the Maybelline Clear Smooth BB White in 02 Natural*, set with bareMinerals Mineral Veil. For lips, I have Stylenanda 3CE Lip Color in Vamp* over the Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine. I’m testing out this eyebrow pen I just got, the Graymelin Seven Tattoo Eyebrow in Dark Brown* with a review coming right up! As for the eyes, I laid down my base (MAC Paint Pot in Painterly) and applied Oslo Cosmetics’ Pyxis on the inner 2/3 of the eye. …