Beauty of the Earth EOTD/COTD

COTD?  Does Cheek of the Day even exist?

Well, in this blog it does!  :)

Ok, so first look - Peacock on the mobile lid (up to the crease) and under the eye, with Mississippi Mud in the crease, black liner on inner rim and black mascara.  These shadows are a breeze to blend, but just be warned - being a loose powder means that you really need to place the shadow where you want it, rather than brushing the shadow on.  Otherwise it will spread too far - and with dark colours it can mean starting over again.

Second - Big Ego with Wicked blended over the top.

Now for the cheek!  Obviously this is Georgia Peach...

... but what happens when I blend a little bit of Wicked over the top?

Amazing!  Not just a highlight, but it actually brings it to more of a pink rather than peach!  It did need to be buffed back, which is testament to the strong pigment.  But so easy to use.

I love blending - it's always full of surprises :)

P.S.  Oops!  Forgot to show you the gloss - I really like it!  A soft nude, but the sparkle keeps it interesting.  Super smooth and non-sticky texture, yet slightly thicker to keep it on the lip for longer.  I'm buying more for sure!

Review - Stila Smudge Pot in 'Little Black Dress'

I picked up this little gem in a blog sale with Too Much Blush (thanks doll!) and I must say I like it!  It reminds me a lot of the Plumkin cream shadow I reviewed yesterday, but with the ease of application and consistent texture that it lacked.

Here is the swatch on my arm:

Pretty huh!  It's really glittery in this photo but it's quite dark on application.  Here are my peepers using this as an eyeliner AND a smudged-shadow-kinda-thing.

See - not so sparkly!  I could see myself rocking the smokey eye for a big night out, or using it as a liner at work when I want to sneak some 'makeup artist' into my 'corporate' look.

As an extra she threw in Clinique Quick Eyes cream shadow in Lucky Penny, which I used as a base underneath the liner.  No creasing, easy to blend, and a pretty colour.  I scored!!

What do you think?  Pretty?  Or disco?

Indelible Cream Shadows

Another Makeup and Glow order, another sample.  This time it was for their line of indelible cream shadows - I got Brownie Points (brown) and Plumkin (purple).

First of all, I found the application rather difficult.  I've never used cream shadows before, and was confused how I was meant to blend these out to avoid a harsh line.  In the end I just kept wiping product off my brush and blending out, but I didn't feel confident with it.

Here are the swatches:

 

Brownie Points - true brown, quite dark on application.  This was the easiest of the two to use.

 

Plumkin - dark purple with flecks of glitter.  This was HARD to blend.  Maybe my sample was dry, but the consistency was much harder and blending was a nightmare.  You can see in the photos that the coverage is patchy and uneven.  Again, whether this was a dry sample or because of the glitter I can't tell you.  Colour was pretty, the sparkle was only obvious on close inspection.

I decided to wear Brownie Points to work the next day, and again found application was hard to get right (but it is getting easier!).  The amount of product needed is so small but it doesn't really spread, so I ended up patting the colour over the lid then blending out the edges to try and get an even application.  No powder was put on top as I wanted to see if it would crease.

Currently it's been on my eyes for about 5 hours and my lids still feel a bit sticky - which is REALLY annoying.  I have no doubt that this would disappear with a dusting of powder (note: yes it does, just tried it), but then I wouldn't be testing out the product, would I?  It certainly hasn't creased which is great, however the colour has definitely faded to a more subtle brown wash.

Overall these cream shadows aren't for me.  The difficulty in blending, the time spent to get an even application and the residual sticky feeling turned me off.  Maybe in my next order I'll pick up a lighter colour (maybe Gold Frost or Immortal) and test whether it could be used as an eyeshadow base, like a MAC Paint Pot.  Brownie Points might be good as a base for a smokey eye, but I wouldn't buy Plumkin - pretty colour, but too patchy and inconsistent.

Eyeshadow Application - Quick Contoured Eye

It's great to see all the amazing and creative looks that artists can do - but when it comes to everyday looks, who has the time?  Personally I'd rather sleep for an extra 10mins than bother with a complicated eyeshadow routine. So I thought I'd show you my easy 'work' look that's quick to create yet a simple change of colour combinations can keep it from being boring.

It's two steps with one brush - that's it.  An all-over colour wash, and a contoured crease.  Anyone can do it.

Start with a light wash of foundation over the eyelid - this will help with the longevity of your eyeshadow.

Step one:  A colour wash from lashline to brow with a tight but fluffy brush.  Best to be done in a neutral colour - this makes sure any colour applied over the top stays soft and well-blended.  Harsh lines are the enemy of a flawless look.

Base colour - Oradess eyeshadow in Vanilla Cream (RRP $19, www.oradess.com)

 

Step two:  Contouring the crease.  An understated look would dictate a taupe or other cool colour, but if you want to create interest be daring and choose a bolder colour.  Deep purples can almost be as flexible as browns,  or choose a complementary colour to your outfit (don't match - it's so 1990's!).  What about a deep green, bright blue or even a hot pink?

Crease colour - Oradess eyeshadow in Purple Velvet (RRP $19, www.oradess.com)

  

Just pick up the colour in your brush, tap the handle on the back of your hand (to remove excess colour), keep your eyes open and place the brush in the outer corner of your socket line.  Then use a window-wiper motion back and forth along the crease line, moving up ever so slightly so your last stroke sits on top of your crease.  This will make sure that the edge of the shadow is soft and blended.  If the colour isn't deep enough, repeat these movements.  If the colour is too much or the edges aren't blended, pick up some of the neutral colour from step one and apply over the top.

 

Add mascara and you're done!  I tend to skip eyeliner during the day as my lashes add all the definition I need.

 

This is a very typical work look for me - this features Australis Perfection cheek tint and Australis Colour Inject lip gloss in Hip Hop.  These will be reviewed in upcoming posts.

Once you've practiced this eye technique this makeup look can be done in 5 minutes flat!

What's your super-quick makeup tip?

Inglot Custom Palette - 5 Neutral Mattes

Meet my 5 new best friends from Inglot.  Mattes are so important in any makeup artist's kit, as they absorb the light and therefore won't highlight unfavourable things (like wrinkles) or can create contours where contours don't exist (like a socket on an Asian eye).

Case - black palette, magnetised cover. STRONG magnet - don't bother trying to pull it straight off, slide to the side to open.

Colours - From left to right - 390, 360, 363, 348, 376.

What do I think?
The colour payoff is amazing even with the lightest touch.  The shadows are soft which means easy to blend, and these tricky palettes use magnets to not only keep the cover on but are strong enough so the palettes can stack on top of each other.  Great for kit or bathroom/vanity organisation.  If mattes aren't your thing check out the amazing range of colours they stock - incredible!

Price - only $40 (includes a 20% makeup artist discount - full price $50)! SOLD!

A massive THANK YOU to the gorgeous girls in the Chermside store - they were so sweet as I ummed and ahhed over my choices and asked all sorts of stupid questions.

Have you tried Inglot?

EOTD - A Pop Of Colour

Well today was Monday and I felt a little blue - so I decided to show it!  This was a really fun look and I got a lot of compliments!  A pop of colour on the lower lashline is a great way to modernise your corporate style and have some fun with your look.

This was all created with my 88 matte palette - it's such a godsend on a busy morning.  You grab one product and it's your entire eye look.  Just add mascara and you're ready to go!

Base:  Neutral - first colour in second row
Top liner:  Black - last colour in last row
Bottom liner:  Blue - fifth colour in last row

What do you think?!?

Oradess Lash Confidence Mascara

As karma would have it I found my camera charger - 24hrs after ordering a new one from Ebay.  Humpf.  But it means that you no longer have to wait for new blogs, so... YAY!!

One benefit of a lengthy blog hiatus is a chance to really test out new products, and my latest was the Lash Confidence mascara from Oradess.  Umm... who??  Oradess is a gorgeous makeup brand created by Brisbane makeup artist Julia Dickenson.  The beauty of this range is that it doesn't focus just on products - there is a heavy emphasis on educating women how to actually use the products.  Isn't that clever?!?  She runs workshops all over Brisbane working with small groups of women and teaching them the tricks to applying makeup to suit their individual features.  And she's made sure that her products are very user-friendly as well - I've had a quick play with the eyeshadows and they're SO soft and blendable, but still with great colour payoff!  But that's for another blog...

As luck would have it I met Julia when she needed an assistant for a bridal party.  We hit it off from the start and she was kind enough to give me this mascara as a thank you.  Yes ladies, I didn't pay for this.  But for the record that doesn't change my review of the product.

Personally - I love this mascara.  I have long but sparse lashes, and I find anything that is a creamy or thick formula just makes them clump together.  Which makes it look like I have three lashes in total.  Being a more liquid formula this mascara could give me spidery lashes which is what I want.  And after two coats I gave an extra wiggle at the base for added definition - and it worked a treat.  Plus it's a true 'black' - another benefit of more liquid formulas.

No mascara, then after two coats (with no combing):

  

The only downside is the liquid formulation - if you don't know how to make it work.  If you don't like Maybelline Great Lash then this probably isn't for you.  But as long as you wipe the wand of excess product and comb after application I don't see how they can't work for almost everyone.

Check out the line at www.oradess.com - and as I'm going to an Oradess makeup party on Saturday hopefully I can show you more of the range!

Makeup For Ever Aqua Eyes

I bought these pencils last year at IMATS, and just fell in love.  Beautiful colour, smooth as silk to apply, and great longevity (they're waterproof!).  They are pricey ($32 each from http://www.mediamakeup.com.au/) and the application needs to be smooth to get a long-lasting result, but the payoff is worth it.

Since I already had black and brown pencil liners (and they look so dull compared to this range) I went for some colour -

From top to bottom - 10L (Copper), 11L (Purple), 22L (Silver) and 12L (Blue with Green Highlights)

Here are the swatches.  You can see that the Copper is a little chunky, which can happen.  The pencils are so soft, but if you sharpen them and wipe them clean any clumps should be taken care of.

Then to test the 'waterproofness' (I like to make up words!) I washed my arm with soap five times, and patted it dry in between each wash.  The results are below:

The clumps that were in the original swatch are the first to go, which is another great reason to ensure no chunky bits.  The others have faded slightly, but otherwise the colour is still strong.  I love this since the humidity in Brisbane gives me panda eyes, or I'm having a teary moment watching The Notebook I can recover with no telltale signs.

These liners are some of my favourites in my kit, because the vibrancy always shows up well in photos and the models love it!  I often use the Copper colour on a model's waterline to give some dimension to her eyes, and the result is amazing.

If you want a pop of colour that's going to last and you're prepared to pay for it, then I highly recommend these liners.  But I won't be spending the money on the standard black/brown tones - I think there are other brands that are easier to get hold of and a better price.

Do you wear coloured liner?  What's your preferred brand?

P.S.  Don't forget to subscribe and vote in my poll!!  xx

EOTD - Neutral Work Look

My first Eye of the Day post!  This was a super neutral look, brought to you by the Yaby Neutrals palette.  This is the first palette I break out on ANY job, and it always serves me well.  It's much more than neutrals - the blues are amazing as well.  My only complaint is the small number of truly matte shades, which I need to use a lot for mature clients and bridal.

So this is how I looked today!

 

Now I count rows (R) top to bottom, and columns (C) left to right.  Try to keep up!
Base: didn't use one.  I usually don't if it's a pretty natural look.
Colour wash:  R2C5 to just above crease
Brow highlight:  R1C5
Crease contour:  R4C7
Top Liner:  R5C1
Bottom Liner:  R4C7
Mascara:  Gorgeous Cosmetics Formula Five in Onyx Black

This is my 'fallback' look when I don't have time to experiment and need to look polished in a hurry.  I'm usually running late so I like something that is quick and pretty foolproof.  Since I've already got my base on I just add blush and lip balm and I'm out the door.  Complicated looks are for weekends when I have more time!

I'll try to be more adventurous next time  :)

What's your 'fallback' look?