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!

Haul - Beauty from the Earth!

I placed an order with Beauty from the Earth as a test run for both shipping time as well as the products.  I placed the order on the 4th May, and it was in my mailbox today (17th May).  That's nine working days to ship to Australia - not bad!

Here's the haul:

I got a little bit of everything to test out the range - two sets of lashes (US$2 each), five eyeshadows (four samples @ US$2 each, one full size on special for US$2, one free sample in pouch), one blush (sample size, US$2), one lip gloss (US$9.99), one gel liner (US$8.99) and a blush brush (US$12.99).  This cost me US$47.97 (AUD$53.06) in total including shipping, which I think is great.

This is the gel liner ('Tanzanite') and the blush ('Georgia Peach' in sample size).  The gel liner wasn't as opaque as I had hoped, as this is two or three coats.  My initial thought is that I'd rather use this as a cream base for a smokey eye - I'll try and do an EOTD tomorrow.  The blush is more of a summer colour, but the peach is soft and girly with a strong shimmer effect.  As it's winter now this may become a highlight over a darker blush, but I like it!

Here are the shadows!  These are just gorgeous, with a smooth texture and easy to build opacity.
Peacock has that sometimes-blue, sometimes-green effect to it which is really pretty.
Fire Dancer was more glittery than the rest but I was surprised to find I loved it!  In my next order I'm going to get a lot more of the glitters - the super-fine particles give the great effect without being gritty on your lids.
Big Ego is an instant favourite.  A deep purple that is perfect for winter.
Wicked is a light mauve that gives off a green reflect - a gorgeous highlight or mobile lid colour.  Do I dare to use it as a cheek highlight??
Lastly is Mississippi Mud, which is a true matte chocolate brown.  Ignore any sparkles you see, as it's just fallout from the others.  Great deep brown, but I'm hesitant to use dark colours in loose powders as it's so easy to get it out of control.

The lip gloss was Belladonna, which is a sheer champagne-nude colour.  This will be great to tone down colours, or just to add a bit of a disco effect.  The texture is nice and smooth, and bonus points for the brush applicator.

I can't wait to create some looks with these products!  And I'll definitely be placing another order!
What do you think?  Do you like to use loose pigments?

RAFW Follow Up - MAC Speaks!

I thought I would share with you some of the information I was just sent by MAC about some of my favourite looks that they created for RAFW.  It's great to know the inspiration behind the looks and the products used, just in case something caught your eye!



Show:     Ginger & Smart
Key Make up Artist:  Natasha Sevorino for M.A.C
Inspiration: “The inspiration for this collection comes from inner feminine strength and self-awareness.  I wanted the make up to be naturally sexy for this show. Skin has been left raw yet made luminous, concealing only minor imperfections. Eye's are defined and sculpted and gold pigment has been used on the eyes and peak of lips to give a 'futuristic goddess' feel to the make up. Soft cream coloured paint has been used as future tribal war paint in the centre of the forehead and temples, to relate directly to ones ‘third eye’ and one’s own self-awareness.  

My take:  I LOVE the gold accents on the inner corner and cupid's bow of the lips.  Such an easy look to recreate at home.  Those of us not blessed with model skin might need some coverage, but keep it as light as possible.

Show: Zimmerman

Key MakeUp Artist: Linda Jefferyes for M.A.C

Linda said the “Inspiration behind the look: Cool and modern. Nothing is overdone or underdone. Strength yet soft. Balanced. Fresh creamy pure skin is highlighted by a strong deep plum lip”.
Description of the look: Perfectly manicured creamy skin. Eyebrow are slightly defined and lips are painted a matt deep plum colour.

Key Products used to create the look:
Face: prep + prime skin, prep + prime lip filler, face & body foundation, set powder invisible and porcelain. Select moisture cover in light colours.

Contour face with sculpting powder pro palette bone beige and shaping powder Lightsweep.
Eyes: Brow set clear, impeccable brow pencil taupe, black dirty blonde. Pro long lash barelash.
Lips: lipmix Burgundy and I mixed some red into the plum lipmix which made it more red/plum

My take:  Those lips are outstanding.  I would be using a lipliner to ensure a crisp edge that stops the colour bleeding throughout the day.  I totally agree with the 'strength yet soft' comment by Linda - exactly what this look projects.  This is also a look you can rock for winter, rather than holding back until warmer weather begins.

Show: Manning Cartell
Key Make-up Director:  Natasha Severino for M.A.C The direction for make up in this collection is one of a polished, modern Spanish woman.

We wanted the make up to be in tonal hues of warm, coffee like colours. The skin is flawless and polished, highlighted in areas to reflect the summer sun. Eyebrows are strong and sculpted to give the make up a sophisticated sexiness.

My take:  Brows.  Make them strong and proud.  As you can see on the image (oh, so Cassie from ANTM did go into modelling...) you don't have to follow your own brow.  Create the shape that you want.  I really like the sweep of the shadow towards the temple too.

Show: Romance Was Born

Key Makeup Artist: Natasha Severino for M.A.C

Natasha said that the “Inspiration for Romance Was Born S/S 10/11 is Renaissance Dinosaur”.  The collection has been broken up into a ready to wear section and 11 Haute Couture, one off pieces.

The RTW section consists of beautiful, ethereal sirens that are adorned with lace body art. Faces are polished and eyes are lined to create mystical beauties.

The 11 one off creatures has had make ups specifically created to be an extension of their magnificent gowns. They are:

Nail Dress

Dino Bird

Crystal Dress Volcano Girl

Snake Guts

Dino Tail

Kate Tribute

Renaissance Dino

Dino Slut

Renaissance Bride

Scale Girl

My take:  Dino Slut!  LOL!  Just looking at this pictures makes me sigh with delight.  And readjust my creative boundaries.

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?

RAFW - Gary Bigeni, Kate Sylvester, Konstantina Mittas

Gary Bigeni - I know I've said it before, but I love it when the looks are varied within a show.  These models were either 'aqua' or 'peach', and it consisted of a colour wash over the eye up to the brow bone.  Interesting tidbit - no mascara was used.  Apparently there was a 'black ban' for the whole show.  Weird.

Kate Sylvester - this picture is extra large because it is extra gorgeous.  Feast your eyes on your new makeup look.  That is if you want to look young, sexy and amazingly feminine.  It's all about cheeks and lips here - colour stains provide a softer edge and a more subtle flush than lipstick or straight blush would supply.  Eyes are gently defined with mascara and undetectable (well, maybe a little) liner.  Hair is straight, but not ghd-straight.  Just... natural straight.  Men will be putty in your well-manicured hands.

Konstantina Mittas - Super fun!  I had never heard of this designer, but I love the styling here!  Pastel blue temples, bright pink cheeks, massive hair that looks like you were caught up in a cyclone?  Why on earth not!  This is fashion after all!

RAFW - Anna and Boy, Dhini, Dion Lee

Anna and Boy - this is adorable!  The freckles, the coloured eyes... cute as a button!!  Super soft lips and a curled updo reminiscent of orphan Annie add to the youthful look.  Black liner and lashings of mascara keep it from being too doll-like and add a hint of grown-up sexiness.  Retro playful fun.

Dhini - look at that hair - clearly volume is in vogue.  I'm loving the mushroom cloud explosion of teased goodness.  I just want to poke my finger into it.  Is that weird?  You can see the white pearl highlight across the forehead and stretching to underneath the eyes.  Dewy skin again... trend alert!

Dion Lee - the hair is slicked back on top and straight from the ears down.  I don't like girls with wet-look gel in their hair unless it's short enough to cover all their hair, otherwise it just looks dirty and greasy.  But the makeup is barely-there and glowy.  Glossy lips are prominent, and I swear they go way over the lip line.  Don't try that at home, kids.

RAFW - Romance Was Born

Ugh.  Adore.  Divine.  Magic.  Sigh.

It's theatre in motion.  Just... enjoy.