Month: September 2014

My Favorite Matte Lipstick Formulas

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Hey everyone! Before I left for my pretty extended vacation, I thought I’d whip up a post showing you my favorite matte lipstick formulas. I’m pretty picky with lip products, though my stash may not seem like it. I figured out, for example, that I’m not really into very glossy lips or frost finishes. I’m pretty okay with satin or creams, but my (second) favorite kind of lip is a matte one. I think it’s because I have pretty full lips anyway—shininess just exaggerates my pout and not in a way that I appreciate. I know mattes have a reputation for being fussy, so here are my favorite formulas to help you maybe find yours. Now, there are a lot of “matte” lip products that only masquerade as such. These picks on my personal list are pretty much shine-free. I’ll list them from great to best. Ahem. Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipsticks These are my first introduction to matte lipsticks. They are creamy, but not shiny, and they pack a lot of pigment. My first …

Flushed for Fall: Some Blush Picks

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Here are five of my blush picks for fall, which isn’t technically even a season where I’m from (we only have “super rainy” and “super hot”), but there’s no harm in partaking in other countries’ seasonal whims, I say. Kjaer Weis Cream Blush in Abundance The newest addition to my blush brood, Abundance is quite a unique color that’s pretty perfect for fall. It’s a pretty intimidating and unusual color—a grey-toned purple-leaning taupe—but it applies beautifully once you figure it out. NARS Powder Blush in Sin Of course this blush would be a part of a “best of” series for fall blushes. Sin is a mid tone muted purple that has gold shimmer running through it, like the ubiquitous Orgasm. Like Orgasm, Sin’s shimmer doesn’t ruin the blush but adds just the perfect hint of golden luminosity. (Alternatives for this type of shade are the MAC Powder Plum Foolery and the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Blushing Bride.) Addiction Cheek Stick in Suspicious This is such a great deep wine shade that you can …

Nosy Beauty Vol. 37: Rae

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For today’s Nosy Beauty, I’ve got Rae from Scatterbraintures! She is one of the most discerning and critical beauty reviewers, in my opinion. She’s more specific and particular than I am, for sure. • From my teens to my twenties, I’ve always only been just a skin care girl. ​I started using ‘real’ makeup since 2+ years ago (i.e., when I worked for Watsons). I wasn’t in marketing or sales. I worked behind the scenes, inside a cubicle. I already left the company, but I took my new found love for makeup along with me. I started using makeup because it was kind of required. Now, I think I’m starting to enjoy the whole makeup application process where I’m forced to focus and be mindful. I think it’s even better than yoga in the sense that I don’t hurry to get to the next step.

My NYC Beauty Haul + First Impressions

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As mentioned in my last post—a modest haul! Kind of. I’ll explain. First, I have not turned my nose up at consumerism, nosiree! I have actually gone loco over books on this trip. Yup, so smart. Here’s what I picked up from New York when we stayed there for about five days… Behold! A few things I picked up from Duane Reade, just because we were there buying ~necessities~: Yes to Cucumbers Facial Wipes, Jordana Best Lash Extreme Volume Mascara, Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara (pink tube).

Unboxing: Le Métier de Beauté Beauty Vault VIP August 2014

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Hi everyone! I’m not sure if anyone noticed (since I’ve queued up a few posts), but I’ve been in the USA since the 13th of September. I haven’t had much time to sit down and make new posts, reply to comments or read blogs, but I’m trying, I’m trying! I haven’t bought a lot of makeup yet—just a few pieces, and skin care—but I have 4 cities in 2 more states to explore. So far, we’ve been to New York, Boston and Stockbridge in Massachusetts, and now we’re nestled in New Jersey. If you’re interested in following our American exploits, I’ve been posting a lot on my Instagram, @presidents. Let me know if you want to see a supremely tiny haul, too. 🙂 Anyway, here are a few bits I’ve gotten from the second round of Le Métier de Beauté Beauty Vault VIP subs. I had this specific box shipped to my friend Barby’s place since there was a shipping mix-up and it first ended up at a dead address (my fault). Unfortunately, I hadn’t …

Quickie: Some Eye Bits from MAKE

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I have already waxed poetic about the MAKE Colour Palettes (Post-Impressionism, Aether*, Celeste e Verde*), but let me tell you a bit about their other bits! For the non-palette obsessed lot of you. 🙂 Today, I gots a matte eyeshadow called Khaki* and the Transforming Eye Primer* both of which are totally up my alley. (What alley, you say? This alley. What do you mean this is not an alley…?)

FOTD: Celeste e Verde

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Hello everyone! I just wanted to share a Face of the Day feat. the first look I ever attempted with MAKE Colour's Celeste e Verde Palette* (reviewed) because it's such a fun look that totally goes against the fall leanings of the makeup people have been wearing this season. Although I sometimes base my makeup on the Western hemisphere's concept of seasons, I'm not going to let the onset of autumn stop me from wearing pastel blue and yellow eyeshadow! I used Palermo, a pretty canary yellow all over the lid, fading out into the warmer brown, Brick in the outer corner, with Earth (a neutral brown) buffed out into the crease. I used my finger and the NARS Eye Brush no. 3 for the yellow lid shade, and a MAC 217 for the crease and outer corner shades.