A Delightful Gazette

My photoshoot - sneak peek!

2011-07-15T17:24:00.002+02:00

I finally had myself talked into modeling for photos... I had loads of fun!

More pictures and make-up breakdown coming soon!

New Ocean FOTD with TKB Trading Pigments!

2011-07-15T17:02:00.000+02:00

A week ago I received this packet full of TKB goodies and I couldn't wait to try them for a FOTD.

Summer has definitely come here, and I even managed to get a bit of a tan. I'm actually using MAC Face&Body Foundation in C3 right now, which is a true achievement for my uber-pale skin!

Given that I have a bit of colour on my face now, I decided to experiment with shades that I wouldn't normally wear, like blues. I usually don't like how blue eyeshadow looks against my eyes, except for very dark (think deep navy) or very pale, icy blues. However, with this "new" skin colour, everything feels possible ;)

Pic taken with flash in natural daylight

I'm using a new camera now, so apologies if the pictures aren't the best quality, I still have to figure out how to make the most of it.

Pic taken with no flash, natural daylight - sorry for the crop


Eyes - with flash

Eyes - no flash

Eye detail - no flash

I also loved how this coral lipstick looked paired with blues!

Products:

FACE
MAC Face&Body Foundation in C3
MUFE Full Cover Concealer in 3
Clinique Redness Relief powder
MAC Mineralize Blush in Dainty

EYES
MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre
Avon Supershock Gel Liner (waterline)
Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Rockstar
TKB pigment in Capricorn Sea (centre of lid) and Blue Ice (above crease)
Inglot e/s in matte371 (inner part of lid), pearl453 (browbone and inner corner of eye), matte388 (liner, upper and lower lashline)
Clinique High Impact Mascara
L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara
ELF Brow Kit in Ash

LIPS
Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Spring Bouquet

I will post a review on TKB Trading Pigments soon!

Nicki Minaj inspired - Glitter FOTD

2011-07-06T20:03:00.003+02:00

I know I'm probably the most different thing from Nicki on earth, and I'm also not her biggest fan around, but I saw her make-up in the video "Moment 4 Life" the other day and my jaw dropped. I HAD to recreate this!This is her make-up for reference:

To see the glitter in action, watch her video here ! And this is my attempt:

Please NOTE: at the moment of taking the pictures I didn't see that the inner half of my left false eyelash had come off, so please excuse the grossness you see in the close-ups.
Please NOTE II: in real life this looked BOOM KAPOW! In the pictures it's a LOT washed out unfortunately. Keep what you see in the video as a reference, because it's all about the glitters. This pic is a little blurry but the glitter shows through better:

Products

FACE
Bourjois 10hr Sleep Effect foundation (2nd lightest shade)
MUFE Full Cover concealer n.3
ELF HD Powder
TONS of Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Soft Matte Bronzer (I definitely can't pretend to be a WOC but I can at least fake some sort of summer glow!)

EYES
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
MAC Rubenesque Paint Pot
Stars Makeup Haven e/s in Mimosa (lid)
MAC e/s in Soba (crease)
Urban Decay e/s in Virgin (browbone)
MAC Blacktrack Fluidline
Too Faced Glitter Glue
MUFE Diamond Powder (glitter on lid)
Too Faced Starry Eyed eyeliner in Stalkerazzi (lower lashline)
Clinique High Impact mascara
Red Cherry False Lashes 600ELF Brow Kit in Ash

LIPS
NYX Lip Liner in Dolly Pink
MAC Speed Dial l/s

July Photoshoot: Summer Dusk

2011-07-06T19:53:00.000+02:00

Model: Rubina

Products

FACE
OCC Skin Primer
MAC Face&Body in N1+C3
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NC15
MAC Cream Color Base in Luna
Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder
Estee Lauder Soft Matte Bronzer
MAC Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul

EYES
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
KIKO Eyeshadow Stick n.20 (black base)
Stars Makeup Haven e/s in Chic (purple, on lid)
Urban Decay e/s in Buck (crease)
MAC e/s in Blanc Type (browbone)
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
Make Up For Ever e/s 04 (matte black, smoked out along the lashline)
Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara
Screenface False Eyelashes n.600
MAC Eye Brows in Fling (brows)

LIPS
MAC Subculture lip liner
MAC Hue l/s

This smokey eye work wonders for green eyes. The colour on the lid was actually a dark purple, but it looks almost black in the pictures. I will try to recreate this look on myself so that you can see how gorgeous a purple/brown/black smokey eye can be!

NYX Round Lipstick Review, Photo, Swatches and FOTD

2011-06-28T14:49:00.001+02:00

I recently ordered some lip stuff on the NYX website and a couple of days ago I finally got my goodies!! This first review is for the two Round Lipstick I purchased, Power and Tea Rose.


L-R: Tea Rose, Power

Tea Rose is a gorgeous rosy pink with a touch of coral.Power is a cool-toned pale pink with strong purple undertones.
They are both very pigmented, opaque and creamy, in fact they are so creamy that applying straight from the tube will likely result in a hot bleedy mess. I find that their beauty is maximized when using a lip brush and working the colour in layers. Also, I think that with this kind of formula using a lipliner as a base is a must. NYX make some excellent inexpensive lip liners that I will review soon. They both have a creamy, luminous finish and feel very hydrating.

Swatches on the inside of my arm:


L-R: Power, Tea Rose

The packaging is very simple but it scores a big plus for me since the actual colour of the lipstick is reproduced on the bottom of the tube, which makes finding them extremely easy!
The only thing I really dislike about them is their smell! I'm not easily bothered by smells in cosmetics, but these have a very strong fragrance that is still detectable half an hour after the application. I'm no good at describing fragrances, but this one I really do not like. I was really put off by this one detail because it makes wearing these lipsticks definitely less pleasant than I expected.
As for the duration, I wouldn't classify them as "long wearing" but they definitely last 3 to 4 hours without budging. I would use a lip primer underneath for best results though! My MAC Prep+Prime Lip extends their wear and brightness of a good hour/hour and a half.
They are really good value for your money, since they cost £4.95 on the NYX UK website, though you can easily get them for less on Lovemakeup or Cocktailcosmetics.
RECAP! PROs:- beautiful shades (and many more in the whole range)
- pigmented and creamy- moisturizing feel - inexpensive- practical packaging
CONs:- the smell! (although this really depends on you)- tendency to bleed

To finish off this post, here's me wearing Power!

Product breakdown
FACE
MUFE HD Foundation 117 + MAC Face&Body C3
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NC15
MAC Blush in Dame
Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder

EYES
MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot
Estee Lauder Double Wear eyeliner in Onyx
NYX Black e/s (smudged on top of eyeliner)
Inglot e/s DS501 (lid), Matte348 (crease, lower lashline), Pearl453 (browbone&tearduct)
Max Factor 2000 Calories Mascara

LIPS
NYX Slim Lip Liner in Dolly Pink
NYX Round l/s in Power

Colourful summer FOTD with Inglot eyeshadows!

2011-06-27T12:48:00.001+02:00

I spent a couple of days at the seaside and got a little bit tanned (which for me means getting like NC20). So today I felt like playing with bright beachy colours!!

Products

FACE
MAC Face&Body N1+C3
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NC15
Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder
Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Soft Matte Bronzer
MAC Blush in Melba

EYES
MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack (upper waterline)
Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Rockstar (lower waterline)
Inglot e/s AMCshine31 (lid), matte392 (crease and above), matte371 (liner)
Stila Luster e/s (cut crease, lower lashline)
Stars Makeup Haven e/s in Creme d'Nude (blending, transition) and The White Shadow (highlight)
Max Factor 2000 Calories Mascara

LIPS
MAC Lustering l/s

Stars Makeup Haven eyeshadow Review, Photo, Swatches and EOTD!

2011-06-21T16:39:00.000+02:00

I've had these eyeshadows for a couple of months now and I can honestly say that they're GREAT! I reach for them as often as my MAC shadows. I purchased them along with a few other things on love-makeup.co.uk. They are £4 each, so I figured I might as well trust the hype and buy a fair amount! I'm so glad I did!

Karlasugar has a very comprehensive post about these, including high-quality swatches. Check her review here.

They are sold in pan form, so I organized them in a MAC palette:

Onto the swatches (and my attempt at shade description):

Left to right:
- Over the Moon: dirty yellow gold (shimmery)
- Mimosa: pale yellow gold (shimmery)
- Pink Opal: white/pink duochrome (frosty)
- Creme d'Nude: flesh colour (which is why you probably can't see that on my arm... but it makes for a great transition colour on me, or a natural highlight on dark skintones. I use this one a lot) (matte)
- The White Shadow: plain white, MAC Gesso dupe (matte)

Left to right:
- Calypso: muted grey with strong blue undertones (very shimmery)
- 1492: electric blue with blue shimmer (shimmery)
- Evergreen: medium bluish-green (matte)
- Fresh: emerald green with light green/gold shimmer (shimmery)
- Fireflies: neon yellow (matte)

Left to right:
- Primal: dark brown with a metallic cool sheen (shimmery)
- Charade: chocolate brown (matte)
- Showstopper: medium reddish brown with purple undertones (matte)
- Breathless: taupe with purple undertones (shimmery)
- Chic: purple with subtle silver shimmer (shimmery)

PROs:
- great pigmentation
- soft, buttery, long-lasting eyeshadows
- wide range of colours, interesting shades
- shades have names (did you hear that, Inglot?)
- great value for money

CONs:
- can only buy online and therefore cannot see shades in person
- some shades have a little fallout (but I just tap the excess off my brush or foil them)

Finally, this is an eye look I realized a few days ago with one of the craziest shades I got, Fireflies:

Apparently, some yellows can work on fair skintones too!

Have you tried SMH eyeshadows yet? How do you feel about them? Say it in the comments!

STILA Backstage Palette: Review, Photo, Swatches

2011-06-17T19:12:00.001+02:00

This review is for something I've had and played with for a few months already.

I got this tiny palette for a really good deal on eBay after reading the rave about it. I must say this product totally blew me away!

What you get is a tiny cardboard package that looks kind of like an organizer. It is very compact and I guess it would be ideal to just toss it in a pocket bag. It has a magnet that keeps it closed and no mirror inside, just an inspirational quote by a well-known make-up artist. You get six full-sized eyeshadows totalling 11 grams, which is not a bad amount for the money.

Now, down to the product itself. The eyeshadows have amazing pigmentation and there’s a lovely balance between shimmery and satiny finishes (no matte shades though). What really gives full score for me however, is the colours that Stila decided to put inside this palette.

My attempt at describing the shades, left to right, top to bottom:

- Chiffon: soft light peachy pink (shimmery)

- Flamingo: medium fuchsia (satiny)

- Pacific: medium blue (satiny)

- Luster: golden mauvy brown (satiny)

- Poetic: dusty pinkish taupe (shimmery)

- Coal: deep teal (shimmery)

I really think that these colours are absolutely great all together in a palette. The ones on the bottom row are especially unique and in all likelihood my favourites. They are all very wearable in a variety of combinations.

This palette has the perfect balance between brights and neutrals, warm and cool colours, so I can see this working for either daytime and nighttime looks and on a variety of complexions. There is no complimentary accessory inside, no mirror or brush whatsoever, but what really counts is that this palette is truly adorable! Swatches below:

L-R: Chiffon, Flaming, Pacific, Luster, Poetic, Coal

Tried and tested, they do not crease (I do wear an eyeshadow primer though) and fallout is not a big deal either.

Have you tried this Stila palette yet? Are you loving it or leaving it? Say it in the comments!

Dark lady FOTD

2011-06-17T16:16:00.002+02:00

I had SO much fun doing this FOTD (which I am not wearing to go out btw) but I'm not quite sure how it turned out.. I kept it minimal on the eyes and only applied highlighter on my cheekbones.

I visited my nearest Inglot store yesterday so I wanted to play with this vampy lip paint I bought.

Sorry if I look silly in the pics but I just couldn't get myself to smile with this m/u!! =)

Products

FACE
OCC Skin Primer
MUFE HD Foundation 117
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NC15
Clinique Redness Solutions Pressed Powder
Inglot e/s 453 (pearly white) (cheekbone highlight)

EYES
MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot
Inglot e/s 390matte (crease), 341matte (lid), 453pearl (browbone)
Estee Lauder Double Wear pencil liner in Onyx (upper waterline)
Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara
Ardell Lashes 101Demi

LIPS
Diego dalla Palma Eye Pencil 09 (dark purple-plum)
Inglot AMC Lip Paint n.69 (looks almost black IRL)

FOTD: neutral eyes + red lips!

2011-06-14T20:58:00.000+02:00

I LOVE MAC Lady Danger. It's so bright, warm, and RED!

Product breakdown
FACE
OCC Skin Primer
MUFE HD Foundation 117
MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NC15
NYX Powder Blushes in Taupe (contour), Raisin (cheeks)
Clinique Redness Solutions Pressed Powder

EYES
MAC Soft Ochre PP
MAC e/s Blanc type (entire eye area), Kid (transition-blending)
Stars Makeup Haven e/s in Chocolate (crease)
UD Virgin (highlight)
NYX black/brown e/s (from the Caribbean I dream of st. John palette) (liner)
Estee Lauder Double Wear pencil liner in Onyx (waterline)
Clinique High Impact Mascara
Ardell Accent Lashes 311

LIPS
MAC l/s in Lady Danger

FOTD: cool brights - blue&pink

2011-06-13T23:45:00.000+02:00

Ladies&gents!
Today I wanted to play with some cool-toned brights working by colour blocks. I have this amazing metallic electric blue eyeshadow (see products below) which feels a bit intimidating given my eye colour and skintone... I can never get true blue to work with my complexion. I figured I might try using it as an eyeliner! What do you think?
I think it's a pretty colour but it makes my eyes look greyish/greenish :/

Product breakdown
FACE
MUFE HD Foundation 117
Clinique line smoothing concealer 03
Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Pale pink
NYX powder blush in Taupe (contour)
Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder

EYES
MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre
MAC e/s Kid (crease), Blanc Type (browbone)
Estee Lauder Double Wear pencil liner in Onyx (waterline)
Bobbi Brown Gel liner in Denim Ink
Stars Makeup Haven e/s in 1492 (the blue colour)
Clinique High Impact mascara

LIPS
NYX Slim Lip Liner in Rose
MAC lipstick in Speed Dial

FOTD: bronzey eyes with Urban Decay Naked Palette

2011-06-12T21:28:00.000+02:00

Hey! Today I did a basic bronzey eye with Urban Decay Smog and Darkhorse eyeshadows. I think this was the first time I've ever used Smog, and I've had the palette for a few months, how crazy is that.

I used MAC Margin as a blush, which you can see in pic3. I can never stress enough how much I love this blush, it's a frosty bronzey colour with a reddish tone to it, and it works amazingly on fair complexions as well (I'm NC15). It gives an instant sunkissed glow and doubles as a highlighter because of the frostiness in it. Check it out.

Product breakdown
FACE
OCC skin primer
MUFE HD foundation 117
Clinique line smoothing concealer 03-moderately fair
EL Bronze Goddess soft matte bronzer
MAC Margin

EYES
TFSI
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Yogurt (I wanted to use Iced Mocha but ended up with this in my hands, oh well)
UD Smog (lid), Darkhorse (crease, outer corner, lower lashine)
MAC e/s Blanc Type (highlight)
Stars Makeup Haven e/s Creme d'Nude (transition)
MAC clear brow set
The Makeup Store pencil liner in Taupe (to fill in beauty mark)
EL Double wear eye pencil in Onyx
EL Sumptuous Extreme Mascara
Clinique High impact mascara

LIPS
MAC lipliner in Subculture
OCC lip tar in Hush

hope you enjoy it!! xx

May Photoshoot #6: Amanda

2011-06-11T16:53:00.001+02:00

PRODUCT BREAKDOWN

FACE
OCC Skin Primer
MAC Face&Body foundation in C3
Ben Nye Total Cover-All Wheel Sk-100
KIKO Natural Concealer n. 03 mixed with MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NC15
NYX Powder Blush in Taupe
MAC Blush in Melba
Sue Moxley Shimmerbrick in Light
Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder

EYES
MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre
Make Up For Ever Diamond e/s 311
KIKO e/s 121
KIKO Eyeshadow Stick n. 20
NYX black e/s
MAC e/s Scene, Copperplate, Blanc Type
MAC Blacktrack Fluidline
Avon Supershock Gel Liner in black
Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme mascara
Alcone Paramount lashes n.335

LIPS
NYX Slim Lip Liner in Mauve
NYX lip palette mauve purple lipstick

Photographer: Luca Cadamuro

FOTD: winged liner + bright lips!

2011-06-11T16:34:00.000+02:00

This is possibly one of my favourite make-ups ever: a thick and defined winged liner + bright lipstick. It doesn't really need any explanation!!

Products

FACE
OCC Skin Primer MUFE HD Foundation 117
MAC Pro Longwear concealer NC15
Clinique Redness Solutions pressed powder
NYX Powder Blush in Taupe (contour)
MUFE HD Cream Blush in Nip Slip

EYES
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Stars Makeup Haven e/s in Creme d'Nude (lid), Showstopper (crease)
UD Sin (browbone)
NYX Black e/s
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
Clinique High Impact Mascara
MAC Eye Brows in Fling (brows)
Ardell accent false lashes 311

LIPS
Rimmel Moisture Renew l/s in 610 Spring Bouquet

NARS Habanera: EOTD, Review, Photo, Swatches

2011-06-10T14:51:00.002+02:00

NARS Habanera e/s duo is amazing! Maybe a tiny little bit too glittery/shimmery for my liking, I have to take extra care when applying to avoid fallout. But it brings out ANY eye colour, believe me, not just blue eyes. It comes in a nice sleek black packaging (NARS signature) with a mirror. Overall, the packaging is great, very sturdy and practical. Inside you have two shimmery eyeshadows: a light blue/mint with a silvery sheen and a deep aubergine colour. The latter is also rather glittery, as i mentioned.

They are super pigmented, soft and buttery and I would say the best feature of this duo is the blendability. They literally melt into each other with just a few brush swipes.

The price is in line with NARS products, therefore expensive. I purchased it at Selfridges for £23.50 for a self-treat! I'd love to try more of this duos but I don't see that happening in the near future since NARS is not available in Italy at the moment, and having it shipped would come out quite expensive. This is my preferred way of wearing Habanera (by the way, don't you just love the name?)

Product breakdown
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
NARS e/s duo in Habanera
MAC e/s Blanc Type (browbone)
Clinique High Impact Mascara
Avon Supershock gel liner
MAC Brows in Fling (brows)
Ardell lashes 110

EOTD: smokey taupe and falsies

2011-06-09T11:02:00.003+02:00

I'm sure you all know what a great eyeshadow MAC Satin Taupe is. I like it in the crease with a lighter colour on the lid, but I LOVE it all over the lid for a subtle daytime smokey eye.

Also, I'm all over these falsies for everyday make-up. They're soft but noticeable!
Please excuse the gross red spot under my brow, I need to keep in mind NOT to pluck before doing my MU.

Product breakdownToo Faced Shadow InsuranceMAC e/s Satin Taupe (lid)
Urban Decay e/s Buck (crease)
Stars Makeup Haven e/s in The White Shadow (browbone)
Estee Lauder Double Wear Liner in Onyx (waterline)
Clinique High Impact mascara
Ardell False Lashes 110

May Photoshoot #5: 70s Erica

2011-06-07T23:03:00.002+02:00

Model: Erica

Product breakdown:

FACE
OCC Skin Primer
MAC Face and Body Foundation in C3+C5
Ben Nye Total Cover-All Wheel (SK-100)
Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder
NYX Powder Blush in Taupe
MAC Cream Colour Base in Luna
MAC Blushbaby Blush

EYES
Bobbi Brown Gel Liner in Denim Ink
KIKO e/s 86Avon Supershock Gel Liner
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
MAC e/s in Scene, Blanc Type
Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara
Ardell Fashion Lashes 120 Demi

LIPS:
ELF Lipstick in Ripe Rose

Photographer: Luca Cadamuro

June RAVE: OCC Lip Tars Review, Photos, Swatches

2011-06-07T22:23:00.001+02:00

L-r: Strumpet, Hush, Harlot

I had been reading about these Lip Tars for months until I finally caved in and purchased some on Love-makeup.co.uk. I've had these for a month or so and I can honestly say they're one of the best make-up products I have ever encountered!! They definitely deserve the rave.

These Lip Tars are popular among make-up artist, because basically they are lipsticks in liquid form, which means that a) you can mix colours to get unique custom-made shades b) they have the ease of application of a lipgloss but the finish of a lipstick.


Picture taken in natural light w/out flash

When you squeeze the product out of the tube it comes out like a very thick lipgloss and it is indeed very easy to apply and spread on your lips. You need to be EXTREMELY careful though, because these are super concentrated in pigment, so you only need the teeniest tiniest drop to get full opacity. A tube will last forever! Do not even think about applying straight out of the tube!! It would result in a hot smeared mess. These need a lip brush and possibly, lipliner for best results.

So after a few seconds the Lip Tars dry out and assume a beautiful velvety finish on your lips. They contain mainly natural ingredients (they're vegan) including some moisturizing oils, so the feel is extremely comfortable. They last for hours but they are not transfer-proof. Actually, they are likely to stain your skin (especially the brightest colours) so be careful when handling these. I swatched the Lip Tars on my arm and then vigorously rubbed TWO make-up remover wipes on it and here's the result:

So, I am a sucker at bright&bold lipcolour and Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics totally made me happy with these since they released 33 beautiful shades including some of the brightest I have ever seen (Anime).
- Harlot is a stunning coral red, incredibly bright, think MAC Lady Danger but with a coral base.
- Strumpet is a complex shade, not easy to describe. I didn't own anything like this! It is "seedless grape red" on OCC official website, it definitely has lots of red and purple and plum in it, and although it is quite a deep colour I find it incredibly flattering on my pale skin as well!
- Hush is the only nude colour I picked, it is a pastel pink with hints of beige and peach in it. It almost nudes out my lips and it's the least moisturizing of the bunch.

Now onto the lip swatches: please excuse the messiness, I couldn't be bothered to pick up my lip brush, so I used my fingers to apply (I am aware it's bleeding in the pics):

Hush

Harlot

Strumpet

I'm in LOVE with these and I'm totally purchasing more. The price is also very reasonable IMO, around £8.50 on UK websites although buying in the US would be cheaper.

I've also been testing OCC Skin Primer and I will post a review soon, but let me just say it's another amazing product from this brand.

EOTD: smokey burgundy

2011-06-07T21:41:00.000+02:00

A while ago I saw a picture of Kristen Stewart on some beauty blog where she was wearing a beautiful smokey eye with a touch of burgundy that really made her green eyes pop. She wears burgundy eyeshadow quite a lot, but usually it's on her lids with black in the crease and all along the waterline, the classic way.

In this picture I saw, on the other hand, she had a matte black on her lids and the burgundy shade was used to diffuse the smokiness from the crease up towards the browbone. Which gave her an even more sultry look! I was amazed and tried to recreate that with sad results.

This was a while ago, today I felt inspired to try again, and this is what came out:

Products used:
MAC Soft Ochre Paint PotEstee Lauder Double Wearl Liner in Onyx (upper and lower waterline)
KIKO Eyeshadow Stick 20 (matte black on lid)
KIKO Eyeshadow 121 (pearl burgundy in crease, probably dupe for MAC Cranberry)
Clinique High Impact Mascara
Stars Makeup Haven e/s in The White Shadow (browbone) This for me is a true smokey eye, where the darkest shade (usually black) is applied closer to the lashline and blended out into the lighter colours. LOVE!

May Photoshoot #4: retro Clizia

2011-06-06T16:09:00.005+02:00

For this photoshoot I was asked to do a pin-up inspired make-up, which the model then interpreted with a range of different outfits.

I researched the classic 50s look, which basically features:
- full, defined, and rounded eyebrows
- strong winged black liner
- porcelain skin
- velvety red lips
- a beauty spot (if necessary, a fake one)
read: Dita von Teese!

Model: Clizia

Products I used:

FACE:
MAC F&B foundation in C3+C5 (mixed)
Kiko Natural Concealer n. 03
Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Soft Matte Bronzer
NYX Powder Blush in Raisin

EYES:
MAC Blacktrack Fluidline (to line and create the wing)
Urban decay 24/7 Liner in Zero (waterline)
MAC Blanc Type e/s (lid and browbone)
KIKO e/s 120 + Urban Decay Buck e/s (crease)
NYX Black/Brown e/s from the I Dream of St. John palette (to define brows and to line the lower lashline)
Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara
KIKO Elegant False Lashes n. 02

LIPS:
NYX Lipliner in Hot Red
Clinique Long Last Lipstick in 100% red
NYX Mega Shine Lipgloss in Plush Red

Photographer: Luca Cadamuro

Eye of the Day with Too Faced Starry Eyed Liner

2011-06-06T15:46:00.001+02:00

Hello everyone!
I purchased this Too Faced glitter eyeliner in Stalkerazzi a while ago, but never had the chance to wear it. I love these eyeliners! Stalkerazzi is a mix of black, gold, and copper sparkles. It spices up any eye make-up in seconds! I also own another one from the line, namely Mad Mad Love (multicoloured glitter on a pink base) from a few years ago, and that one is almost completely gone since I've used it a lot.

Today I started out with some taupes and nudes but actually ended up with this:

Products I used:

- Too Faced Shadow Insurance
- Stars Makeup Haven e/s in Creme d'Nude (lid), Breathless (crease and above), The White Shadow (browbone), Charade (cut crease), Mimosa (inner corner)
- Too Faced Starry Eyed Liquid Eyeliner (upper lashline, and accidentally on some lashes too! oops)
- NYX Black e/s (outer upper lashline)
- MAC Cornflower pigment (lower lashline)
- L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara (black)
- Avon Supershock Gel Liner (waterline)

May Photoshoot #3: Biba Fever Inspired

2011-05-29T18:57:00.004+02:00

For this photoshoot I took inspiration from the beautiful work of legendary make-up artist Lisa Eldridge. She filmed a video where she uses Biba vintage make-up items to recreate a 70s inspired look on this doll-face model. In this demo she goes freestyle with loads of pastels and brights and an artsy approach to colour application and blending. Definitely not something you would wear on the street!

Model: Erica

You can watch the full video here, and if you can, do take a look at her other tutorials, especially the ones featuring model Lindsey Wixson, they really are masterpieces!

Please note: I tried to recreate this eclectic 70s mood on the model's face, however my work by no means claims to be an exact copy of Lisa's. She is the artist, I'm just someone who loves playing with make-up on people's faces.

I'm not going to explain the technique step by step, which you can find in Lisa's video. Instead, here is a full list of products I used:

FACE
OCC Skin Primer
Make Up For Ever HD Foundation 117 mixed with Mac Face&Body in C3
MAC Pro Longwear concealer NC15
Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder
La Femme Blush in Flamingo

EYES
MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot
Laura Mercier Silk Road Palette (lavender shade)
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Yogurt
Stars Make Up Haven e/s in Evergreen, Opal, 1492
MAC e/s Plumage
KIKO e/s 78, 162
Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara
Ardell False Eyelashes n.120

LIPS
NYX Lipliner in Hot Red
Christian Dior Addict Ultra Gloss Flash 982

Photographer: Luca Cadamuro

Violetta in Black & White - May Photo Shoot #2

2011-05-19T15:01:00.002+02:00


Model: Violetta

TAKE ONE: BLACK

This is the second photoshoot I did with photographer Luca Cadamuro. You can check out more of his works here! The shooting was split in two parts. In the first one, Violetta rocked a sexy black dress and I did her make-up following this look.

After applying a base, I evened out her skin with a blend of MAC Face&Body in C3 and C5 and concealed her dark circles with KIKO Natural Concealer n. 03.

For the eyes, I wanted to achieve a really full-on black smokey eye, so after priming I layered MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre to give our eyeshadow a good base to stick to. I applied a generous amount of a cream black shadow (KIKO Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow n. 20) on her upper and lower lids, and used a fluffy brush to even it out and blend it upwards towards the browbone and outwards to get an elongated shape. For extra staying power, I layered some matte black shadow over it. I created the gradient by blending MAC Copperplate around the edges of the black eyeshadow, and then applied MAC Blanc Type on the browbone, and blended it into the grey colour. Then lined with MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack and applied mascara.

But what really enhanced the whole look and gave her eyes a true diva effect were false lashes. I chose a pair with considerable length and thick volume - Paramount Lashes n. 335. These lashes were bought in NYC Alcone Store by a dear friend of mine and are widely used by professionals in the industry. You can buy them online from Alcone.

Violetta has a beautiful bone structure, so I only added some soft contouring to complement her cat eyes. Highlighter: Sue Moxley Shimmer Brick (Light) - Bronzer: Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess - Blush: NYX Powder Blush in Raisin.

On her lips, I wanted to keep it super natural, so I lined and filled them in with MAC Cremestick Liner in Sublime Culture and applied a nude lipgloss on top (NYX Lipgloss Palette 04 - The Nudes Matte).

TAKE TWO: WHITE

On the second part of the shooting, we changed the make-up and the outfit and shifted towards a more romantic feel. White was predominant.

On the eyes, I layered a creamy white base (NYX Jumbo Eyepencil) to make the powder eyeshadow I would put on later pop. I added depth to the crease by mixing two brown eyeshadow, a chocolate and a dark brown one, and also smudged them along the lower lashline. Then I applied a good amount of MAC Blanc Type all over the lids and browbone and in the inner corners of the eyes. I wanted to make her eyes really stand out and look bigger, so I applied Topshop white Kohl along her lower lashline. Eyeliner was MAC Blacktrack as usual, sealed with NYX Black eyeshadow on top for added staying power.
For this look I chose a different pair of false lashes, namely Paramount n.314. These were thicker, more spiky and longer towards the outer corners than the ones I used for the black make-up, so they worked perfectly for giving that flirty yet elegant look.

I chose to complement her neutral romantic eyes with a girly pink lipstick and matching cheeks. Therefore I used NYX Powder Blush in Pinky and MAC Lipstick in Speed Dial over NYX Lip Pencil in Rose.

Which of the two looks would you choose to wear? Tell me in the comments!

Screenface order: Ben Nye & RCMA

2011-05-17T12:59:00.001+02:00

Hello everyone!

Sometime ago I placed my first order on www.screenface.co.uk, a UK-based website for professional beauty supplies. I must say my experience with this company has been really good! They have a wide selection of professional brands like Ben Nye, Japonesque, Kryolan, OPI, Temptu, etc. as well as their own line of products. Since my first and only order with Camera Ready Cosmetics was unsuccessful because the customs retained my parcel, I finally decided to purchase within the EU, even though the prices in pounds aren't as convenient as those in dollars obviously.
So, I got a few products for my kit which you can see below. The shipping was fast and the items arrived well packaged in perfect conditions.

1. RCMA Screenface 18-pan Foundation Palette
This palette has a really great range of shades, mostly with neutral undertones, so they should work well on most people. I wanted to try a cream-based foundation and this particular one is supposed to photograph beautifully as well, which is one of my main concerns. So far I can't speak of the quality (I will update soon) but I will say that I was a bit disappointed of its size when I unboxed it: it literally fits the palm of my hand, so I have a feeling it won't last very long, bummer! The price tag is a little steep at £69.95 for 40g, but you get the advantage of trying out a lot of shades plus three cream blushes.

2. Ben Nye Total Cover-All Wheel SK-100
This concealer palette is mostly made of "salmon" colours, so they should work really well with undereye circles. The pan at the centre is the lightest one and it can be mixed with the other ones to lighten them up. I'd say this is a medium-toned palette, but I chose this one over the SK-200 because it looked more versatile, plus I really needed some pink/orange based concealer for undereye darkness. It was £27.95 for 28g.

Swatches:

3. Ben Nye Neutral Set - Colorless Face Powder
There isn't much to say about this one, except that it is a transparent/translucent setting powder that looks white in the bottle but actually doesn't alter the colour of your foundation. I've had the chance to try it this morning, it feels very comfortable and it's almost undetectable to the eye! It was also pretty cheap at £5.95 for 49g of product.

4. Screenface False Eyelashes n. G600 Black
These were £4.95.

Bottom note: if I had purchased these items in the US, I would have saved a lot of money. Unfortunately it is still pretty risky to order from overseas, as you have to face the possibility of paying high customs taxes that sometimes exceed the value of your parcel. :-(

May photo shoot #1: Michela

2011-05-15T23:11:00.001+02:00

This series of close-ups is part of the first photoshoot I did with photographer Luca Cadamuro.


Model: Michela

We worked a classic yet intense smokey eye to leave more space to the model's bright hair and colourful accessorizes. Her necklace speaks for itself!

I prepped her skin with my usual MUFE HD Microperfecting Primer n.5. Although this is specifically designed to brighten and correct fair skin with redness issues like rosacea, over time I saw it working amazingly well on a variety of complexions. It does have a light blue undertone to it, but that doesn't show up at all if you use it sparingly (I believe that piling up primer isn't a good idea anyway).

Foundation was MAC Face&Body in C3, which turns out to be my most used shade! I toned down the redness on her nose with a green corrector (KIKO Natural Concealer n. 04) and evened out other minor imperfections with a blend of Natural Concealer n. 03 and MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NC15.

On her eyes I created a flawless canvas to work on with a primer (Too Faced Shadow Insurance) and layered a dark grey creamy base, namely Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Skinny Jeans. This shade could be described as a blend of grey, taupe and green hues with a metallic finish. It truly enhances any eye colour!

I applied a duochrome eyeshadow on top of the base (MAC Club) so as to achieve a multi-dimensionality to the eye, which plain black does not give. Instead, I used a black eyeshadow (NYX Caribbean Palette I Dream of St. John) to smoke out Club in the outer corners and above the crease. I added a touch of gold eyeshadow (Urban Decay Half Baked) on the centre of the lid to make it pop even more. Eyeliner was MAC Blacktrack and mascara Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme. I filled in her eyebrows with MAC Eye Brows in Fling, an ashy blonde colour.

A soft but sexy contouring was achieved by applying MAC Cream Colour Base in Luna on the cheekbones as a highlighter, Estee Lauder bronzer on the hollows of the cheeks and MAC Blush in Blushbaby on the apples of the cheeks. I powdered everything out with my usual E.L.F. HD Powder.

I wanted to keep lips as neutral as possible, so I lined them with a flesh-toned pencil (Subculture by MAC), and applied Clinique lipstick in Blushing Nude on top.

Love it or leave it? Say it in the comments!