UmaPreve

Senna cosmetics - Review and Swatches

2012-02-16T23:35:00.001+01:00

Just a couple of days ago, I posted a sneak peak at some items from Senna Cosmetics (click here). I have tried these for the past three weeks and am now able to review them.

Here is a brief introduction to Senna Cosmetics for those of us who are not familiar with this brand.

Created in 1976 by Emmy nominated artist Eugenia Weston, Senna was the first professional makeup artist line to introduce more natural, wearable colors for ‘everyday’ women. Now Senna is the favorite of Hollywood film and television makeup pros, beauty editors, A-list celebrities and women of all ages and stages.

Senna is known for its superb skin perfecting foundations, richly pigmented eye colors, innovative mineral makeup, and the patented Form-A-Brow® stencil kit that launched a whole new beauty category by giving women perfect classic brows in minutes.

Eugenia Weston, Senna founder and celebrity makeup artist, has worked in theatre and movie studios and in creating her own makeup line, felt that the real essence of cosmetics is ‘Beauty, Illusion, Transformation’. To represent this theatrical feeling Eugenia chose a harlequin motif and named this makeup muse ‘Senna’. - Source here

Let's begin with the review.

(Items shown from left to right)
Senna Barely Base Sheer mineral makeup SPF20 in Dark (Link)
Senna HD Extreme Firming radiant makeup in Tan (Link)
Senna Totally Transforming concealer in Amber (Link)
Senna Brow Shaper Dou in Ebony (Link)
Senna Lip Sync in A La Mode (Link)
Senna Lip Sync in Paris Pink (Link)
Senna Lip Sync in Pink Mink (Link)
Senna Double Brow Brush (Link)

Please excuse the chubby pregnant face! :)

With Senna Barely Base Sheer mineral makeup SPF20 (link), I am in the shade Dark. It blends like a dream. Dries to a sheer, illuminating yet matte to the touch finish. It evens out the skin tone nicely, as you can see from my before and after pic. This sheer foundation has benefiting properties that nourish and protect the skin. It has SPF 20 as well. Great for everyday use. It never broke me out or left me feeling oily or caked with makeup. This sheer base will not give you heavy coverage if you desire that.

Senna HD Extreme Firming radiant makeup in Tan (link). This foundation is not my shade thus I can't give you a fair and honest opinon. Unfortunately this is the darkest shade that they have on their site.

With Senna Totally Transforming concealer (link), Amber suits me. As you can see from the before and after pic, the concealer has done a very good job with covering the under eye discoloration and the pimple scar. It comes with a doe foot applicator which is quite similar to Mac select moisture cover concealers. Here is a comparison of the two concealers (see below).

Senna Totally Transforming concealer has a better balance of the orange undertones compared to Mac select moisture cover. Mac concealer has more yellow in it and the formula is not quite as thick and opaque as the one from Senna. I prefer the Senna concealer as it does not need layering, just one small swipe, blend with your fingers and you are done. I anticipate that this concealer fits well for those with really dark circles and pigmentation issues. It is best to set the concealer with powder so that there will be no issues with creasing throughout the day just like with any other concealer.

Senna Brow Shaper Dou in Ebony (link) & Senna Double Brow Brush (link) is the perfect combo for well groomed eyebrows. I usually use Mac fluidline in Dipdown to fill in my eyebrows. I really like this eyebrow shadow and wax better as it gives me much more natural looking eyebrows. However, I should mention that they only last for about 6 hours. I have an oily t-zone and eyebrows so most products tend to fade after 6 hours. Senna Double Brow Brush is a great tool to have for any makeup enthusiast as it has two functions in just one brush. Great for traveling too.

Senna Lip Sync in A La Mode (link) is a pretty pink lipstick which is sheer with one coat, yet build-able with many coats. The lipgloss is a peachy pink shade with gold glitters.

Senna Lip Sync in Paris Pink (link) has more reds than pinks in it. The gloss is pink with tiny shimmers that is not gritty in anyway.

Senna Lip Sync in Pink Mink (link) is a hot pink lipstick. I have worn this in a makeup tutorial (click here). The lipgloss is in the shade pink with chunky glitters. The glitters were manageable but I am not too fond of having glitter settle into the lines of my lips.

Likes

- I like all the products mentioned above except for the HD Extreme Firming makeup.

- Quality makeup

- Love the idea of having the lipstick and lipgloss in one tube/packaging.

- Pigmentation is most of the products are good and are build-able.

Dislike

- Most of the products cost similar to Mac cosmetics. Mac is readily available in most countries and one can try them out before buying however with Senna, it can be a little tricky.

- They do not carry darker shades. The darkest is what I have tried and mentioned above. For reference, I am in Mac NC44/45.

Overall

This brand has quality makeup which is practical for most women. The only issue I have is that they do not carry darker shades thus making it not as favorable for my darker beauties. I hope they improve on this.

Has anyone else tried this brand before? What are your thoughts?

(Products were sent for review purposes.)

Light blue on blue with pink lips makeup

2012-02-10T23:57:00.000+01:00

Seems like I am gravitating towards pastel colors suitable for Spring these days. It's time to look forward to better and warmer weather. Here is a look using an inexpensive palette from Sleekmakeup. I like the matte shadows, they are pigmented even though sometimes a little chalky. Make it work with a good base and patience to pack on and blend the eyeshadows. I made the necklace, in case you were wondering.

Products used:

FACE
Kryolan - TV stick FS27
Kryolan - TV stick FS41
Senna cosmetics - Totally Transforming concealer in amber
Mac - Medium/Dark mineralize skin finish

EYES
Senna cosmetics - Brow shaper duo in ebony
Mac - Painterly paintpot
Sleek - Circus palette light blue e/s
Sleek - Circus palette dark blue e/s
La femme - Brown e/s
Rhomlon - Sky blue eye pencil
Mac - Feline khol pencil
Graftobian - Hi-Def glamour creme in desert sand
Mac - Ricepaper e/s (Eyebrow highlight)
Mac - Blacktrack fluidline
Mac - False lashes mascara in false black
Daiso - Fake lashes

CHEEKS
La femme - Brown e/s (Contour)
La femme - Peach e/s (Blush)

LIPS
Senna cosmetics - Pink Mink lip sync

Happy weekends lovlies... Thanks for coming by!

Senna Cosmetics; A Makeup artist cosmetics line

2012-02-10T09:33:00.001+01:00

Senna Barely Base Sheer mineral makeup SPF20 in Dark (Link)
Senna HD Extreme Firming radiant makeup in Tan (Link)
Senna Totally Transforming concealer in Amber (Link)
Senna Brow Shaper Dou in Ebony (Link)
Senna Lip Sync in A La Mode (Link)
Senna Lip Sync in Paris Pink (Link)
Senna Lip Sync in Pink Mink (Link)
Senna Double Brow Brush (Link)

To kick off the month of love, Senna is having a sale at HauteLook starting February 9th at 8am PST.
There are 36 different items to choose from which are up to 73% off retail prices.

Review in progress.... Stay tuned!

*Item sent for review purposes.

Loreal Double Extension mascara for natural looking flirty lashes

2012-02-05T09:02:00.002+01:00

I thought I would never say I have a favorite mascara now. This is coming from someone who is very picky when it comes to makeup in general. I have found the one that works really well with my lashes. Gives me the best looking lashes even on my worst days.

Presenting... Loreal Double Extension mascara in carbon black.

This is a two step mascara. It comes with a conditional base that is enriched with Ceramide R which visibly lengthens the appearance of the lashes when applied. It applies white but dries clear. So don't worry if you do forget to apply the black mascara, you will not look like you have frosted lashes . Now for Step 2 fortifying extending mascara, it distributes the black color from root to tip without leaving clumps.

Let me show you how I apply this mascara and see for yourself why I love it.

1. Before picture of my lashes. As you can see my eyes look tired and lifeless.
2. Apply the base coat (Step 1)
3. Apply the color coat (Step 2)
4. End result - beautiful, natural and flirty looking lashes.

Likes
- Lengthens my lashes without much effort.
- No need for false lashes.
- A quick pick me up for my eyes, especially for tired days which are quite often these days (pregnancy)!
- No flaking at all.
- Does not smudge even on my oily lids.
- Does not clump.

Dislike
- It is not black enough for me, can be improved.
- Not for those who don't like two step mascara application.

Overall
I love this mascara as it does what I look for in a mascara and that is, it has to lengthen and thicken the lashes. This mascara is slightly on the higher price range even though it is a drugstore brand. However, I feel it is worth the money.
I have used this mascara for about 3 months now. It's time to throw this tube out and buy a new one. With all said, I will still be trying out other high & low end mascaras.

What's your favorite mascara?

(It is cold and frosty in Sweden now. Can't wait for warmer weather. Miss the sun so much!)

Sigma Synthetic Kabuki kit (Sigmax brush line)

2012-01-24T06:57:00.000+01:00

I bought this kit when Sigma Makeup had the 'Thanksgiving' promotion last year where worldwide shipping was free. Shipping costs outside of the US is expensive and one way to get what's on your wish list is to wait till promotions come by. It does pay off with a little patience!

Sigma's Synthetic Kabuki Kit retails for USD$56.00 excluding shipping. This kit contains four brushes (F80, F82, F84 & F86) that enables one to achieve a flawless makeup application. The bristles are made of synthetic filament that absorbs less product than a natural bristle ones. The brushes are densely packed.

You can buy this kit from Sigma's website (LINK). If you are in Europe, there are resellers who carry them on their online stores such as Love-makeup (LINK), GenieCosmetics (LINK) just to name a few. If you are a working makeup artist, make sure to apply for the industry discount so that you can enjoy a discount when you buy the brushes.

left to right - F86, F84, F82 & F80

Flat Kabuki F80 - I like using this brush for foundation, face powder and concealer. Gives an airbrush look without much effort. In short, this is my all in one brush.

Round Kabuki F82 - It is a rounded brush that applies product onto the contours of the face. I like using this to apply cream blushes. For me, this brush works the same way as the Flat Kabuki F80.

Angled Top Kabuki F84 - This brush applies cream or powder blush and contour well as the angle of the brush compliments the contours of the cheeks, hairline and jawline.

Tapered Kabuki F86 - Dome shaped brush that is great for applying cream, powder and liquid contour, highlight and even foundation.

Like
- It's a brush set that suits the needs of one who wants flawless face makeup.
- Love how the brushes don't soak up much product compared to the ones that are made of natural hair.
- Non of the brushes shed both when washed or applying makeup.
- The shape of the brushes do not distort after several washes.
- Affordable and good quality brushes.

Dislike
- I am not a huge fan of the F84 & F86 as they are too big for my face.
- The brushes do not dry as fast as I would like them to. They take about 1 whole day to dry.

Overall
My favorite brushes in this kit are the Flat Kabuki F80 and Round Kabuki F82. They are the ones I usually reach out for when applying my foundation, blush, contour and powder. Angled Top Kabuki F84 and Tapered Kabuki F86 are not suited for my face shape as they are on the larger side. I have a big/large face so to be honest I don't see how many can use these brushes without being light handed. However, I do use them when my other brushes are dirty.

If you ask me whether if this is a must have kit? My honest answer to that is NO. You just need the first two brushes as mentioned above for a full face makeup application.

Do you have this kit and what do you think? Has it helped with your makeup application?

Cyber teals with neutral lips makeup

2012-01-17T22:04:00.001+01:00

This look was inspired by Estee Lauder's pure color cyber eyes line (LINK). The colour used are teals and browns. So pretty! Being a makeup addict, I had to create a look that was similar to it. Teal is a very beautiful color for brown skin beauties.

Inspiration pic (LINK)

Sneak peak at my belly, I am 27 weeks along!

Products used:

FACE
Revlon - Colorstay foundation in Toast
Mac - Moisture select concealer in Nc 44
Mac - Medium/Dark mineralize skin finish

EYES
Mac - Dipdown fluidline
Mac - Delft paint pot
Mac - Constructivist paintpot
Wet n Wild - Blue had me at hello palette (teal e/s)
Wet n Wild - Comfort zone (brown e/s)
Wet n Wild - Comfort zone (cream e/s)
Lakme - Blue glide on color eye pencil
Mac - Feline khol pencil
Mac - False lashes mascara in false black
No brand - Fake/false lashes

CHEEKS
Milani - Luminoso baked powder blush

LIPS
Nyx - Frappucino lipstick

Hope you are having a fabulous week! Thanks for coming by!

Max Factor smooth effect foundation in caramel 85

2012-01-15T00:18:00.000+01:00

A good foundation is hard to come by. Especially if you are a woman of color! I am always in search for a good inexpensive foundation. While browsing around the cosmetics aisle of H&M here in Uppsala, came across the Max factor smooth effect foundation (LINK). Moreover they had a shade for darker skin tone ladies, caramel 85.

Max factor smooth effect foundation

Usually, I would read reviews before making a purchase. This time I did it in an impulse. Not too happy about that now. Read on to know why!

When I checked the color match in the store, it seemed like Caramel 85 was a pretty good match to my skin tone (NC44/45). This foundation is supposed to give a smooth base. It did apply smoothly without any streaking or patchiness.

As you can see from the above picture, the foundation looks smooth and blends in well with my skin (my hand). This did not translate well when applied on my face.

Left side of face

I have smooth, blemish-free skin on the left side of my face (see above pic). So you can see that the foundation did lay smoothly. However, it started to look slightly white (ashy) on my skin after a few minutes. Which I am not too fond off. I did manage to balance it out with a face powder afterwards.

Right side of face

Now, this is my right side of the face where you can see that I have an angry pimple/zit emerging. So it is slightly red. Obviously, the foundation did not provide much coverage, even after two applications.

Like
- Smooth foundation to touch.
- Spreads smoothly onto face without much effort.
- Foundation is not in the expensive range (basing on UK pricing. In Sweden, it's expensive because of the taxes).

Dislike
- Was not the perfect match, but I can still pull this off with a slightly darker powder.
- Limited colour range, I think the darkest is caramel 85.
- Turned a little ashy.
- Oily t-zone started to show after 2 hours of application.

Overall
I think this foundation is great for someone who likes light or sheer coverage who has few skin imperfections. It did not feel heavy or cakey. The consistency felt more like a tinted moisturizer. Perhaps the next time I will use my MUFE All matt primer before applying this foundation.

Have you guys tried this foundation? What are your thoughts?

Elle 18 Kajal liner - inexpensive & it works

2012-01-11T02:59:00.000+01:00

If you have watched one of my recent haul videos on Youtube, I mentioned and showed Elle 18 kajal liner and many asked where I got it from & whether it was good. Well, I have tried it several times and it is a good kajal liner. I own many kajal liners from various brands and have always been very disappointed with them as they never seem to stay well on my (watery) eyes and they smudge like crazy. Some even irritate my eyes (I do have sensitive eyes!).

This kajal is a keeper! It costed me SGD$2.50 only. I bought it in Singapore, Little India Jothistore. Many local indians should be familiar with this store. However, for my international readers, you can buy this kajal from this site, Mall Coimbatore (<= click here for link). It retails for USD$3.95 including worldwide shipping. Seems like a good deal.

It glided on my waterline very easily. The consistency is smooth and the pigmentation is really good. As you can see for yourself in the pic (below), it is very black and that's the way I like my kajals!

I did put it to test in Singapore (hot & ver humid climate) several times. It worked well for about 5 good hours but started to fade after that. However, it did not smudge at all! Usually, most of my eyeliners smudge within an hour after application if I wear them alone without setting them with an eyeshadow. I have worn it in Sweden (cold and dry winter time) too, it seems to last much longer than 6 hours.

It was very easy to remove the liner and it does not leave any dark residue afterwards like some kajals tend to.

My overall view :

Likes

- Very pigmented.

- Did not smudge even in hot and humid Singapore.

- Glides on the waterline without much effort.

- Inexpensive product that works.

- Did not irritate eyes.

- Contains almond oil which is known to be good for the eyes.

- Easy to remove with a makeup remover.

Dislikes

- Nothing at the moment!

Could improve

- If it was in a pencil form that would be much more convenient for those who are used to using pencil liners.

- If only it came in more colors.

Now, I can finally say, 'I spent my $2.50 well!'

If you have missed my Singapore haul videos, here are the links!

Thanks for coming by lovelies!

Winged liner with matte red lips (Great for tired and small eyes)

2012-01-08T19:44:00.002+01:00

This makeup look makes tired and small eyes look big and awake. A very versatile look that can be amped up with colored liners and change of lip colors. I think this is going to be my go-to look for the next couple of months! Easy and no fuss makeup!

Products used are:-

FACE
Revlon - Photo ready foundation in caramel (foundation)
Graftobian - Hi-Def glamour creme in desert sand (concealer)

EYES
Mac - Sublime nature paint
Mac - Naked pigment
Mac - Dipdown fluidline (eyebrow)
Mac - Deep dark mineralized skinfinish
Sleek - Medium face contour kit (darker color for more depth to the crease)
Inglot - #77 matter gel liner in black
Lakme - Eyeshadow Quart in moondust (matte black)
Mac - False lashes mascara in false black
No brand - False lashes

CHEEKS
MUFE - HD blusher in #2

LIPS
Mac - Russian red lipstick

I hope you like this makeup look and give it a try yourself! I hope 2012 is good so far for all of you!

Skincare routine plus beauty tips (Singapore & Sweden friendly)

2012-01-07T20:44:00.001+01:00

Many have asked how I maintain my skin so I recorded my skincare routine. I use products that are suitable for both Singapore and Swedish climate/weather. Singapore being a hot & humid climate, I usually go for products that are water based as it will not make my skin look too oily. When in Sweden, I have to use products that are slightly richer and moisturizing as it is quite dry here even during summer. Winter is a whole different story as my skin goes into a dry spell dying for moisture and nourishment. Oils seems to work well. I must say that maintaining good skin begins from the inside. Drinking plenty of water, exercising, eating healthy and feeling happy are very crucial in ones life and skin. No beauty product in the world can help if one neglects good health and well being.

Here are the products I use for my face.

Cleanser

THEFACESHOP - Aloe Herb care cleansing foam

Toner

I don't use toner anymore as I feel that it has not done much for my skin.

Eye cream

Eucerin - AQUAporin active eye cream (great for Singapore weather, not sufficient mositure for winter)

Akamuti - Evening primerose day cream (great for Swedish winter, used with a light touch around the eyes)

Akamuti - Replenishing rose face cream (great for Swedish winter, used with a light touch around the eyes)

Boots No.7 - Protect & Perfect eye cream (works well for Singapore & Swedish summer, not my favorite product)

Moisturizer

Akamuti - Evening primerose day cream (great for Swedish winter)

Akamuti - Replenishing rose face cream (great for Swedish winter)

Eucerin - DemoPURIFER hydrating care for oily and blemish prone skin (great for Singapore and Swedish summer)

LA ROCHE POSAY - Hydraphase Intense Rich moisturizer (great for Singapore and Swedish summer)

Face mask

Divyaa - Young look face mask powder (available in Singapore, can't seem to find other stores that sell online)

Makeup remover

Neutrogena - Deep Clean cleansing oil (seems like this product is only available in asia, this does a pretty decent job at removing makeup, even waterproof makeup)

I have also included some beauty tips so be sure to watch my video.

Youtube Video

Hope this helps, thanks for coming by.

Happy New Year and Thank you!

2011-12-31T12:47:00.000+01:00

‎2011 is coming to end real soon. I will be counting down at the airport as I am going back home after my one month stay in Singapore.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you, blogger friends, for all your wonderful support. Every comment, encouragement that I have received from you meant a lot to me. It encourages me even more to contribute to this community in the ways that I can.

I want to wish all of you a wonderful New Year and a blessed 2012. May the next year be even better than this year! I know 2012 is going to be a fabulous for me and my husband as we are expecting our little bundle of joy in April.

New life, new beginning. I hope you will all join me in this wonderful journey...

With much love,

Uma Preve

Cheap brush cleaner from Daiso

2011-12-28T18:52:00.001+01:00

I am always on the look out for good yet cheap products that work just as good as expensive ones. I think this time I found one that really works.

It costed me SGD$2.00 only. This is a detergent for makeup puff and sponge from Daiso. Even though it says it's for sponges and puffs, I have used it for natural and synthetic hair bristled makeup brushes. It works beautifully! Makes my brushes squeaky clean, just the way I like it!

Daiso is Japanese owned franchise where most of the products are low priced. In Singapore, all items are priced at SGD$2.00. Loads of fun things that you can't find in a regular departmental stores. I am sure Daiso is available in the USA as well. Just google it!

Link: http://www.daiso-sangyo.co.jp/english/products/index.html

Previously, I was using shampoo to deep clean my brushes. The reason why I did that is because the brushes I mostly use are made of animal haired bristles so it only made sense for me to use shampoo as I would to my own hair. Many of my brushes have lasted me for a really long time. I have brushes that are 9 years old. Yes, I have really old brushes that look just as good as new ones. Moral if the story, if you take good care of the brushes, they will last for a long time (I mean really long!).

How to use the detergent : Place a drop or two on a dish or your palm. Lather up with the dirty brushes using swirly motions and rinse off in luke warm water. Place the brush on a flat surface to dry overnight or for a couple of hours.

Here you can see the how clean the brushes are after using the Daiso detergent to wash them with.

MAC 217 (Animal hair bristle)

Sigma F80 flat top kabuki (synthetic bristle)

I like how my Sigma F80 brush is clean and the white bristles can be seen. Previously, I was not able to clean this brush well even with mild dish washing liquid and shampoo. Finally found a product that works.

I hope to get a couple of back ups before I leave for Sweden soon.

I hope you found this post useful and perhaps try the brush cleaner for cleaning your brushes, sponges and puffs.

Hope you all are having a great week.

Simple sweetheart makeup (using 88 neutral palette)

2011-12-24T17:51:00.000+01:00

Viewers request for a simple neutral look using 88 warm palette. I bought mine from Ebay a while back. The warm palette includes loads of neutral shades, great for those who don't like too much color. It has matte and shimmer textures to the shadows to choose from.

It's Christmas time and I am pretty busy but I really wanted to squeeze in some makeup looks for my lovelies. I hope you like it.

Products used are

EYES

Mac - Dipdown fluidline (eyebrows)

Urban decay - Primer potion

Mac - Constructivist paintpot

88 Palette - Reddish brown e/s

88 Palette - Peachy shade e/s

88 Palette - Neutral highlight e/s

88 Palette - Dark brown e/s

Urban decay - Perversion liquid liner

Loreal - Double extension mascara in black

CHEEKS

La femme - Mocha blush

LIPS

Mac - Speak louder lipstick

Mac - Straight to head lipgelee

Video Tutorial

Wishing all of you lovelies a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!

May this day be a blessed one!

Vampy dramatic glittery party makeup (suitable for Christmas or NYE party)

2011-12-21T17:12:00.001+01:00

Whenever it's the festive season, I usually gravitate towards dark smokey eyes and glitter. Just love the combination of the darkness and the sparkles. So here is a look, I came up with that would be suitable for a Christmas party or even New year's eve party. I made sure that I used minimum products so that many of my lovely viewers can recreate it using whatever they have in their makeup kit/stash.

Makeup does not have to be complicated!

Please excuse the lighting as I am not at home where I have a home studio/makeup room with proper lighting. Did the best I can with what I had at hand. I hope you like it.

Products used are:-

EYES

Mac - Dipdown fluidline (eyebrows)

Elle - Kajal khol

Mac - Blacktrack fluidline

Kryolan - Dark blue e/s

Mac - Naked pigment

Barry M - #21 fine glitter

Ebay - no brand false lashes

Mac - False lashes mascara in false black

CHEEKS

La Femme - Amber blush

LIPS

Mac - Vino lipliner

Mac - Rebel lipstick

Video Tutorial

Thanks for coming by!

Golden Fuchsia makeup using sponge tip applicator

2011-12-18T08:02:00.000+01:00

One doesn't need so many brushes to apply makeup. Simple tools like a sponge tip applicator is all you need to get flawless results. Great for beginners, someone who is on a budget and someone who is always in a rush and on the go!

Products used are:-

EYES

H&M - Brown eyebrow pencil

Mac - Rubenseque paintpoint

Lakme - Silk route eye quad

Urban decay - 24/7 glide on pencil in zero

Loreal - Double extension mascara in black

Ebay - False lashes

CHEEKS

Luminess Air brush - Apricot blusher

LIPS

Nyx - Tea Rose lipstick

Nyx - Nutmeg lip liner

Hope you like this look.

Thanks for coming by!

Cheap Makeup brush, eyeliner and lipliner holders (great for Makeup Artists)

2011-12-14T19:07:00.000+01:00

Recently, I was at an arts and supply store at Bras Basah complex (in Singapore). I was looking at some tools to organize my traveling makeup suitcase. I am a free lance makeup artist and need my tools to fit my suitcase.

This is a holder for paint brushes. Well, I don't see why I can't use it for makeup brushes. Makeup and paint brushes are same same but different!

This paint brush holder holds 30 brushes. I have way more then that in my kit. Yes, I know I am a brush addict. I get some brushes for free too so of course it adds up with the ones I buy too.

This holder costs around SGD$12.00. I think it is a good deal as most makeup brush holders are around the same price and hold only half of what this holder can.

I can even make the holder stand with the velcro strips that is attached (see picture below).

Some brushes are missing as I have yet to clean them.

Now, for pencil eye liners and lip liners, I found Copic markers holder (SGD$8.00). I was so excited as I have been wanting this holder for a long time for my Copic markers and was not able to get them in Sweden. Bought a few holders not only for my lip/eye liners but also for my Copic markers.

It can be placed like a stand too! Cool right?!

I hope some of you found the above useful if you were thinking of makeup organizers that are inexpensive.

Do you have any organizing tips to share?

.................................

Hope you are having a pleasant week.

Japanese skincare: CURE Natural Aqua Gel Exfoliator

2011-12-11T16:40:00.001+01:00

It has been 15 days since I came to Singapore. After nursing the jetlag and a small medical issue (where I was hospitalized for two days), I am finally ready for blogging and perhaps making videos... Am taking it slow.

Last week, I was shopping for toiletries at Watsons. For my international readers, Watsons is the Asian version of a drugstore/beauty supply store. After living abroad for a while, everything in Singapore seems new and interesting to me (even though it has been around for ages!).

I found an interesting Japanese skincare product. It's called CURE Natural Aqua Gel Exfoliator. As claimed on their site, it's No.1 selling skincare product in Japan and 1 bottle is sold every 20 seconds. Impressive right?! Well, let's see if it is really as good as it claims.

Luckily, I was able to get some samples to try before deciding to buy the full size bottle. All I did was ask for samples at the cashier counter.

You get two small sample packets of products. One packet is enough for an entire face exfoliation.

'How to use' instructions included. You can also get this info on their website.

http://www.japalang.sg/cure/About_Cure.html

Sampled product on my face and this is how it looks!

My overall view about this product.

- I am always skeptical when companies claim that their product is no.1 selling. This is because, if it was so, I am sure it would have been made known worldwide especially now with the advanced social media. I have not heard of it until I visited Watsons.

- The consistency of the product is watery and gel like. You have to be careful when squeezing it out of the packet as you might spill some. It happened to me!

- It felt nice and cooling on my face when I applied it.

- After a few seconds I started to gently rub in circular motion for 30 seconds and white particles started to surface. This is supposed to be dead skin (See above pic on the right). Looks gross right!

- I washed my face afterwards and applied my usual skincare products like eye cream and moisturizer.

- I must say, my skin was so soft and smooth after the exfoliation.

- With all said, I still need about a month or two to see how well it works and improves my skin.

From what I read on their site, this product can also be used on elbows, knees and feet. I have not tried it yet.

If you would like to know more about CURE Natural Aqua Gel Exfoliator, you can visit their website and facebook.

http://www.japalang.sg/cure/About_Cure.html

http://www.facebook.com/curenaturalaquagel

For my Singaporean readers, you can get free samples at the cashier counter of Watsons.

Don't be shy, just ask!

....................................................

Have you guys tried this product? Or something similar. What are your thoughts?

Luminess Air brush makeup for a flawless face (+Youtube Giveaway)

2011-12-01T21:59:00.001+01:00

For a very long time, I have stayed away from airbrush makeup as I found it very expensive and intimidating with the loud compressors thus never included it is my professional freelance kit. Also, I learnt to apply makeup the old school way and that is to use makeup sponges and brushes so it was quite difficult to make the cross over.

Finally, took the leap and I am loving the results of air brush makeup with Luminess Air brush system. I just love how my face feels and looks like after airbrushing. Beautiful, glowing and radiant skin (of cos pregnancy has also contributed to the glowing LOL!). It lets my natural skin show true. This is how makeup should look like, it should not be a mask which most often is when applied wrongly.

Here is a before & after picture of me with the airbrush makeup. In case you were wondering, I have done no digital retouch at all.

See the difference!

Here are the pictures and details of the what comes in the kit.

Four different shades to try. I am in the Tan/Dark range and chose the Ultra finish foundation. Shade 7 suits me very well.

Bronzer, blush, brightening glow and moist primer is also included.

Air brush eyeshadow kit for brown eyes.

What I liked about the Air brush system

- My skin looks flawless and radiant.

- It was so easy to use, beginner friendly.

- Love how you could build from light to heavy coverage.

- There are 3 different types of foundation finishes to choose from. Ultra (mix of satin and matte), Satin (for a dewy finish), Matte (for oily skin).

- Portable compressor which is not noisy.

- Super easy to clean and maintain after every use. (great that a cleaning bottle is included in the kit)

- The foundation is water based so it's lightweight on the skin.

- Great for sensitive, problematic skin.

- Water resistant (Not waterproof).

- Makeup does not transfer, if only using airbrush makeup without powder or anything on top of it.

- Great kit to travel with.

- Makeup lasted for 6 hours (after that the oily t-zone started to show).

What I Disliked about the Air brush system

- Did not minimize wrinkles or pores as claimed on website.

- The eyeshadow kit is not work for me as I found it extremely difficult to apply on myself.

Overall feel

- It is a great beginner kit and even a pro kit for a makeup artist.

- I would definitely repurchase the foundation shades in a bigger bottle/container as I like the formula and consistency of the makeup.

- A value for money kit. The compressor is a one time investment so what you will have to repurchase is the foundation, blush, bronzer when they run out.

Luminess Air brush makeup demo/tutorial video, so you can see how easy it was for me to apply it.

Here is the review & giveaway video. Luminess Air was kind enough to sponsor a giveaway.

Watch video for details!

This is the giveaway prize. It is worth about $200.

Hope you guys will participate in the giveaway on my Youtube channel and win this kit.

Thanks for coming by my lovelies.

(Disclaimer: Item was provided by company for review purposes. I say what I feel and never feel obliged to give a bias review. I stand by my view always!)

Modern Indian dinner party makeup

2011-11-16T16:01:00.001+01:00

I love this look very much. I think it's the sari, that deep maroon shade with old gold sequin artwork. I treasure this sari a lot. This is because firstly my Mum chose this sari for me when I visited Singapore after I moved to Sweden earlier this year. Secondly, I wore this for my Husband's Doctorate ceremony at a castle in Sweden. I was one of the three ladies who wore sari (traditional Indian costume) for a traditional Swedish event. It was an awesome evening.

So I thought why not share it with you guys, so you can learn and perhaps use this makeup look for special functions and events someday.

Products used are:

FACE

MUFE - HD primer #0

Revlon - Photo ready foundation in caramel #10

Mac - Select moisture cover concealer NC44

MUFE - HD Blush #02

Camera ready cosmetics - Yellow tinted loose powder

EYES

Mac - Indianwood paintpot

Mac - Feline khol pencil

Sugarpill - Love + eyeshadow

TKB - Bronzed gold loose pigment

Mac - Dipdown fluid line (eyebrows)

La femme - Black eyeshadow

La femme - Golden sunset loose pigment

Mac - Blacktrack fluidline

CHEEKS

La femme - Peach blush

La femme - Golden sunset loose pigment

LIPS

OCC - Betty peige lip tar

Nyx - Mauve lip liner

Gabrini - Red lipgloss (alternate colour)

HAIR

Rapunzel Rapunzel clip in hair extensions P4/6 (Brown/Medium brown)

Video Tutorial

Earth toned makeup (using Urban Decay Naked palette)

2011-11-13T03:15:00.001+01:00

Earth toned/Neutral makeup featuring the famous Urban Decay Naked palette. To be very honest, if you don't have this palette, you are not missing out much. I believe most of the colors are dupable from the 88 neutral eyeshadow palette which can be found on ebay and many other online makeup stores (eg, Coastal scents, Sedona lace, etc...). This look is appropriate for work, lunch out with friends and those days that you would like to tone down on makeup.

I hope you like this tutorial.

Products used are:

FACE

Luminess Air brush system (Will do a video about this system soon)

EYES

Urban decay - Primer potion

Urban decay - Buck & Darkhorse eyeshadow from the naked palette (eyebrows)

Mac - Dipdown fluid line

Urban decay - Buck eyeshadow from the naked palette (crease)

Urban decay - Naked eyeshadow from the naked palette (blending)

Urban decay - Sidecar eyeshadow from the naked palette (highlight)

Mac - Feline Kohl eye pencil

Loreal - Double extension carbon black mascara

CHEEKS

Luminess Air brush system - Apricot blush #7

LIPS

Mac - Fast play lipstick

Video Tutorial

Thanks for coming by!

Viva La Diva Arty nail foils - Is it worth the $$?

2011-11-09T18:08:00.001+01:00

I have received so many questions from viewers asking what I used on my nails in the recent "Queen Cleopatra inspired makeup look".

It was self adhesive foils. It was my first time trying them. To be honest, when I bought them, I knew that they were not really going to last on my nails. However, I wanted to try. So while shopping at my local beauty supply store here in Sweden, I found the Viva La Diva Arty nail foils. I picked up two different designs, one was plain gold metallic foil and the other one was an animal print.

These self adhesive stickers were pretty easy to apply. Instructions on application was provided on the back of the packaging.

Pros

- Pretty looking nails

- Great for those days when you need a quick fix before heading out for a party or something.

- It was so easy to take them off. Just peel them off the nail slowly.

Cons

- If you have a small nail bed like me, you will have to measure and cut, which can be inconvenient if you are in a hurry or do not have the patience.

- You will have to use a coarse nail file to file of the excess foil which I am not comfortable with.

- After a day or two, the foils start to peel off. (It drove me crazy!)

- Did not like that I had to mildly file the surface of my nail first before applying the foil.

Overall

If you are looking at getting fancy looking nails at the comfort of your home, these self adhesive foils would work. Just be prepared that they don't last as long as a regular nail polish would. Can't expect much from stickers right!?

Have anyone of you tried the nail stickers before? What do you think if them?

60s & 70s Inspired Indian/Bollywood bridal makeup

2011-11-08T11:09:00.000+01:00

Recently, I have become very interested in tracing the Indian makeup trends through the different eras and thought I should start from the 1960s/70s. 1960s and 1970s were the era of colours for both Bollywood and Kollywood (Tamil) movies. Black & white movies were facing out. This was the era where makeup was kept simple, classy and doll like . I have great memories from my childhood watching old classic tamil movies with my maternal grandmother. Then, as a child, I didn't really appreciate the beauty of the actresses.

All my tutorials on Youtube are planned and I usually do my research before making the videos. Did a simple search on Youtube and found that there wasn't many videos dedicated to the makeup trends of this era (in terms of Indian bridal makeup of course). I made this tutorial based on the pictures I have seen of the old actresses thus I can't ensure that this was how makeup was done then. However, it is quite close to the classic Indian beauties of the 60s/70s. As always, I have made sure that this look was suitable & wearable in the current times.

Here are the Tamil/Hindi actresses who are the inspiration for this look.

Sadhana, Saroja Devi, Sharmila Tagore & Mumtaz

Products used are:

FACE

Mac - Pro longwear foundation Nc45

Mac - Pro longwear concealer Nc50 (for mixing)

Mac - Select moisture cover concealer Nc44

Camera ready cosmetics - Yellow tinted loose powder

EYES

Mac - Dipdown fluidline

Mac - Fresco paintpot

Inglot - Pale pink e/s

Mac - Deep/Dark mineralized skin finish

Mac - Blacktrack fluidline

Mac - Chomographic pencil Nw25/Nc30

Nyx - Baby pink eyeliner

Loreal - Double extension carbon black mascara

Ebay - False lashes

CHEEKS

La femme - Stormy rose blush

LIPS

Mac - Gulabi lipstick

*All accessories are from my own collection. Some are as old as 15 years old.

Video Tutorial

I hope you like this look.

Have a great week lovelies!

DIY: Basic Manicure (with simple nail art for short nails)

2011-11-03T19:29:00.000+01:00

After moving to Sweden, I have become a very DIY person. Everything is so expensive here! Mainly because of the taxes. Now one of the things that I have learnt to do on my own is doing my own nails. Yes, I was very spoiled in Singapore as I would get my hands and feet done every month in a salon. It was very affordable and it made me happy. Ultimately, that is what matters! Don't you think so?

In my recent videos, many viewers have requested for me to do a DIY manicure/pedicure tutorial as they felt that my nails were well kept. Now, I need to clarify this. Firstly, I have dry hands (cuticles and feet) as I am a very hands on person when it comes to cleaning, washing dishes, etc... Oh, might add that the Swedish weather has not been kind to my skin either. Lastly, I have no choice but to do mani/pedicures myself as I want to save money and not let my nails deteriorate.

I have made a video tutorial showing you how easy it is to get your nails done at the comfort of your home. You can use the same technique on toe nails too. I know many will start asking to do a pedicure video. Well, my toes are camera shy, so no videos in the near future featuring my little piggies (Sorry!).

Products used are :-

Sally Hansen Nail polish remover

Cotton pad

Glass nail file (much better than emery board files)

Towel (Optional)

China Glaze white tea extract manicure soak (Cuticle softener)

Manicure soak bowl (or any type of shallow container)

Cuticle pusher or orange stick (personally prefer the rubber tip ones as they are gentle)

Cuticle cutter

Seche vite nail treatment for weak and thinning nails

The Faceshop Almond oil cuticle & nail balm (vaseline works well too)

Nail art stencil sticker

H&M Red nails polish

H&M Golden treasure polish

Orly in a snap top coat (this has a quick drying formula)

Video Tutorial

Queen Cleopatra inspired makeup look (for fancy dress party)

2011-10-31T01:31:00.001+01:00

In 2008, I made a similar look for a contest hosted by Kandeejohnson from Youtube. This time, I have created a much better version of the look and really enjoyed making this tutorial. Have always been fascinated by ancient Egyptian history.

It's unfortunate that I was unable to include any music as my editing software was acting strange for no reason. However I hope you will still enjoy this video regardless.

Products used are

EYES

Two faced shadow insurance - Eyeshadow primer

MUFE - Shade 12 aqua cream (bronzy gold)

Rhomlon - Dark blue eye pencil

Inglot - #426 deep blue eyeshadow

Spectrum cosmetics - Fort knox pigment

Inglot - #439 black eyeshadow

Mac - Feline eye khol pencil

Mac - Blacktrack fluidline

Inglot - #77 matte black gel liner

La femme - Turquoise sparkle dust

Cinema secret - Eye liner sealer

Mac - False lashes mascara in false black

Ebay - False lashes

Ebay - Rhinestones (optional)

CHEEKS

Sleek - Face contour kit in medium

Mac - Saffron eyeshadow

Spectrum cosmetics - Fort knox pigment

LIPS

Lakme - Deep red lipliner

Gabrini - #5 dark red lip gloss

Spectrum cosmetics - Fort know pigment

Video tutorial

Happy Halloween! Be safe!

Review: Sigma Flat kabuki F80 with video demo

2011-10-26T17:30:00.001+02:00

This is by far one of the best face brushes I have ever used. It spreads the foundation smoothly without causing any abrasion to the skin. The bristles are very soft. It is made of synthetic fibre, this means that it picks up lesser product, is easy to clean and slows down bacteria growth compared to a natural bristle brush. I used it to apply primer, foundation, concealer and set the makeup with powder. It was very easy to buff out the products for a flawless finish (well almost LOL).

Pros

- Soft on the skin

- Non abrasive (so it's great for sensitive skin)

- Does not absorb too much product

- Can be used as an all purpose face brush (primer, concealer, foundation and even powder)

Cons

- The white part of the brush easily gets stained when using a darker colored foundation

Overall

I usually don't say this, but here it goes... This is a must have makeup tool if you like using a brush to apply your foundation/concealer, especially liquid or silicone based products.

Here is a video demo featuring the F80 flat kabuki brush.

Products used in the video:

FACE

Sigma flat kabuki F80

MUFE HD primer #0

Mac prolong wear foundation NC45 (full pump)

Mac prolong wear concealer NC50 (tiny drop to darken the foundation)

Mac select moisture cover concealer NC44

Camera ready cosmetics yellow tinted loose powder

Have you tried this brush? Do you like it as much as I do?

I would love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks for coming by.