Hi everyone,

I want to share a drugstore gem I’ve come across recently- the L’Oreal Color Infallible eyeshadow in All Night Blue.  I wore it to a friend’s birthday drinks on the weekend (FOTD below) and was reminded of how much I like it.

All Night Blue is a highly pigmented metallic navy with a matte black base. Gorgeous party colour that looks particularly striking on warm coloured eyes.

L’Oreal Color Infallible eyeshadow are similar in texture to the Armani Eyes To Kill shadows- mid way between a pressed pigment and a cream shadow. I haven’t tried any of the others but the buttery smoothness and ease of blending of All Night Blue is impressive.  In many ways I prefer this texture to the traditional cream eyeshadow because you get the creamy application but with less tendency to dry up and harden in the pot over time.

I find that the best way to apply this without losing any intensity of colour is to apply with a brush first, blending it to the desired placement, then applying another layer with a clean fingertip.

This colour wears quite well with almost no creasing or smudging by the end of the night. I do find that it fades a little on my eyes, even with primer (most reviewers experience very little fading so this is probably just my oily lids).

Price: RRP $19.95

Availability:  Selected pharmacies and department stores

Keep reading after the jump!

FOTD makeup breakdown

Eyes

- Two Faced Shadow Insurance to prime

-  Inglot matte 358 (matte dove grey) eyeshadow blended all over mobile lid just past the crease. Since my last FOTD post, I’ve started to play around with the placement of my shadows and here I’ve pulled the Inglot Matte 358 to the inner corner.

- L’Oreal Color Infallible All Night Blue eyeshadow applied on top of Inglot matte 358, stopping at the crease and extended outwards.

- Inglot matte 376 (medium blue grey) smudged under bottom lashline with a pencil brush. I’ve blended a little bit of All Night Blue on top of this to tie everything in.

- MAC Omega eyeshadow to blend any harsh edges

- Bobbi Brown Gel Liner Black Ink to line upper lashline and bottom waterline.

Cheeks:

- MAC Posie Cream Blush on apples

- Illamasqua Ambition blush dusted on top of MAC Posie blush (powder blush on top of cream increases wear time and complexity of colour)

- MAC Bronzing powder in Bronze to contour.

Lips:

- NARS Dolce Vita lipstick

Phil trying to sneak past me in the bathroom while I’m looking at the flip screen on my camera. Awkward.

L’Oréal Paris Infallible Eyeshadow is available in nine  shades:

Hourglass Beige (002)

Forever Pink (004)

Purple Obsession (005)

All Night Blue (006)

Permanent Kaki (009)

Endless Chocolate (012)

Burning Black (013)

Eternal Black (014)

Flashback Silver (015)

Price: RRP $19.95

Availability:  Selected pharmacies and department stores

note: this product was sent to me by PR. See my editorial policy in the PR tab for more details. 

A few weekends ago I was given the opportunity to experience a facial at Aurora Spa Retreat. Aurora Spa is a high end urban spa in St. Kilda, Melbourne that offers ‘luxurious, restorative, results-driven treatments’ based on botanically active ingredients.

My experience at Aurora was brilliant from start to finish. After having a chat with Aurora founder Lyndall Mitchell, I was taken to the beautifully designed chill-out area to relax with some herbal tea prior to my treatment. I thought it was a nice touch having Aurora Spa face mist and hand cream on the table for each client. The service here is exceptional- the staff seriously make you feel like a queen.

I chose the Advanced Renewal Facial, which is a superficial chemical peel designed to improve skin surface quality with no down time. Depending on your skin, the therapist will either use a 30% glycolic acid peel or an enzyme peel- we went with the glycolic because I’ve always had great results with AHA.

The 1hr Advanced Renewal Facial started with a double cleanse and tone followed by an application of 30% AHA/Glycolic peel.  The peel was left on for a few minutes, then removed and neutralized. A treatment mask and various other beautiful smelling hydrosols and treats for the skin were applied- accompanied by a blissful head and foot massage (tailored to my preferences). My therapist was very good- I came out of the treatment room with glowing skin and felt like a million bucks.

Judging from the fact that my skin did not show any ‘frosting’, redness, and the fact that there was very little stinging during the peel, I assume that this treatment used a buffered glycolic acid mixture rather than full strength 30%. What this means is that it’s not as harsh as you might think, and sensitive skin types don’t necessary have to steer away from this treatment (unless you’ve never used an AHA before).

Keep reading after the jump!

Aurora Spa @ The Prince, 2 Acland St,  St Kilda VIC  aurorasparetreat.com.au

Parking is at The Prince car park (from memory it is $5/hr)

My treatment: Kerstin Florian Advanced Renewal Facial  60 minutes, $185

“I had a vision that I wanted to create a genuine spa retreat in an urban environment; somewhere where people could come regularly, whether that be for an hour, 2 hours or a whole day to restore and relax from the moment they arrive until the moment they return to the world outside,” Director Lyndall Mitchell 

note: I was invited as a guest of Aurora Spa Retreat.

Gatsby fever has well and truly hit our shores, making it the perfect time to dabble with some 1920s flapper style makeup a la Louise Brooks, Clara Bow, and Josephine Baker.

I still haven’t seen Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Gatsby’ yet, but I’m looking forward to watching it for the makeup and costume. As a film, I hear that it is not really a faithful adaptation of Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (the harsher critics even go as far as to doubt that Baz Luhrmann read the book all the way to the end), and that Baz Luhrmann has missed the point somewhat- celebrating rather than satirizing the excesses of the jazz age.

I don’t mind. I’ll be going to see ‘Gatsby’ to enjoy the film as something completely separate from the book. As long Carey Mulligan doesn’t play Daisy like Mia Farrow did in the 1974 adaptation – I’m happy.

1920s makeup has a very distinct look, and is characterised by smouldering grey brown eye makeup with the depth of the colour concentrated on the inner part of the eye; a thin, archless brow; and lips that look like they are pouting even when relaxed. They say that the unusual eye makeup placement is designed to give a ‘damsel in distress’ look- which explains why I look a little upset in all my photos.

The best 1920s makeup tutorial I’ve seen is the one by Sam from Pixiwoo- really worthwhile watching if you are going to a fancy dress party.

 Keep reading after the jump!

Makeup breakdown:

Base:

- NARS Sheer Glow foundation in Fiji

- Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder  

Eyes:

- Becca Eye Tint in Pewter blended all over the mobile lid and extended upwards to meet the top brow at the inner edge. I use this as a colour base to intensify and extend the wear time of my eye look.

- Inglot matte 329 (dark neutral brown) blended around the edges of the Becca Eye Tint in Pewter and also blended below bottom lashline. You want to get that 1920s eyeshadow placement where the colour is concentrated on the inner rather than on the outside part of the eye.

-  MAC Typographic eyeshadow (dark grey matte on bottom right of my Zpalette pictured) applied on top of  Becca Eye Tint in Pewter

-  Smashbox single eyeshadow in Champagne to highlight inner corner. I’ve made a slight departure from the classic 1920s eye here.

Cheeks:

- I’ve blended MAC cream blush in Posie on the centre of the apples of my cheeks. I didn’t blend it out as far as I normally would have, keeping in line with the classic 1920s style.

Lips:

- Make Up For Ever Aqua Lip liner #13 C

- Tom Ford Private Blend Lipcolor in Bruised Plum 

- Halfway through photo taking I used Illamasqua Repulse Lipgloss (black) on top of the Tom Ford Bruised Plum to create a deeper, glossy lip. I quite like that effect, even though it’s not very authentic 1920s.

This is the first post of my sulphate free skin care series- exciting stuff! In my last post I wrote about what sulphates are and why I avoid them. Over the coming months I’ll be reviewing different sulphate free cleansers, concentrating on the formulations and also reporting back on how my skin has gotten on with them (I have normal to dry, sensitive skin)

A’kin says…

Remove makeup and impurities naturally with A’kin’s Rose & Geranium Pure Creamy Cleanser & Toner in One. Enriched with certified organic Australian avocado oil, shea butter, and olive squalane, A’kin’s  creamy facial cleanser gently and effectly cleanses- removing both face and eye makeup. A’kin’s natural facial cleanser also tones skin with the help if witch hazel. A best seller in the A’kin natural facial skincare range, A’kin Rose & Geranium Pure Creamy Cleanser & Toner in One in an essential part of your natural skincare regime.

star ingredients: panthenol (vitamin B5) for calming and soothing; olive squalane; shea butter; natural panama bark for cleansing; and witch hazel to refine pores.

Price: $29.95  for 225mL

availability: David Jones, Priceline, www.echolife.com.au, selected pharmacies and health food stores. See www.purist.com for more stockists.

I first tried the A’kin Rose and Geranium Pure Cleanser and Toner in One almost two years ago as part of a Bellabox I reviewed earlier  (in this post), and at the time I remember thinking that it was the best cream cleanser that I had come across. That hasn’t changed.

Unlike some of the creamy cleansers I’ve tried in the past which sometimes leaves the skin feeling not quite clean (*ahem* Kosmea Purifying Cream Cleanser), the A’kin Rose and Geranium Pure Cleanser and Toner in One makes my skin feel deeply cleansed and refreshed- I suspect the astringent properties of witch hazel helps to balance the rich moisturizing ingredients in the formula. My skin not only feels clean, but velvety soft- this combination has really won me over.

The surfactants in this product are glyceryl laurate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Lecithin – all these are gentle surfactants that also have skin conditioning and humectant properties. No sulphates in this formula, of course.  The anti-inflammatory ingredients in this cleanser are great for those with sensitive skin- Panthenol (provitamin B5) and Jojoba oil are ingredients I love using in my own DIY formulations for calming the skin. This formula is going to work best for normal to dry skin-  from some of the reviews on Makeupalley.com it sounds like oilier skinned individualsmay find this formula a bit too emollient.

A’kin products are cruelty free and uses eco friendly packaging.

Ingredients:

Fusanus Spicatus Wood (West Australian Sandalwood) Oil, Glycerin^, squalane (from olives), Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Sorbitol (from Gmo Free Maize), Glyceryl Laurate^, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) (Certified Organic), Glyceryl Stearate^, Cetearyl Alcohol^, Sodium Gluconate (from Gmo Free Corn), Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium) Flower Oil, Aqua (Purified Australian Water Bp 2007 Standard), Soy Lecithin (Gmo Free), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil (Cold Pressed Australian Grown), Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil (Cold Pressed Australian Grown), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (from Palm), Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Persia Gratissima (Avocado) Oil (Cold Pressed Australian Grown) (Certified Organic), Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Panthenol (Pro Vit B5), Rosa Centifolia (Rose) Flower Water, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate^, Sodium Isostearoyl Lactylate^, Lecithin (and) Tocopherol (and) Ascorbyl Palmitate (and) Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Stear

note: this product was provided to me by PR. See my editorial policy in the PR tab for more info. 

It occurred to me recently that it was about time I did a review series on sulphate free products here on My Funny Valentine, and as I was getting ready to write my reviews I thought it would be a good idea to preface the series with a quick rundown on why I prefer my skin care without sulphates.

What are Sulphates?

Sulphates are a class of relatively harsh surfactant (surface active) cleaning agents commonly to emulsify oils, degrease surfaces, and create foam. They are cheap and very effective at cutting through grease, which is why they are commonly used in dishwashing detergents, hand wash, floor cleaners, as well as in skin/hair care. Within the sulphate family you have Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS), Ammonium Lauryl Sulphate (ALS), Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES).  SLS and ALS are the harshest of the group and are well known to be highly irritating to the skin and eyes – in irritancy testing for research, SLS is usually used as the ‘model irritant’ [1,2,3] . Sodium Laureth Sulphate is not quite as rough on the skin as the other two- but still one of the most irritating surfactants used in skin care.

Ever since I’ve taken an interest in skin care ingredients I’ve stayed away from harsh surfactants in my cleansers. There’s a great deal of research in dermatology showing how harsh surfactants can cause damage  to the skin barrier, disrupt skin lipids and proteins, dry out the skin, and cause irritation – without necessarily doing a better job cleansing the skin than gentler agents. [1]  This applies to all skin types, but particularly effects dry and eczema prone skin (that’s me- always so lucky in life.).

Is ‘Sulphate Free’ the New ‘Soap Free’? 

For many years, we’ve known about how soap strips the skin of natural oils and compromises the skin’s barrier [1,2,3] – when sulphates were introduced into the market we started to see a lot of cleansing products becoming ‘soap free’. These days we have more options and slowly we are seeing more and more cleansers that are formulated to be ‘sulphate free’ as a result of  increased public awareness of skin care ingredients.

Lies, lies, and marketing. 

On a side note: one of my pet peeves when it comes to marketing is when brands market a moisturiser or hair conditioner as ‘sulphate free’. Sulphates are a cleansing/surfactant agent that have no role in moisturisers, serums, or conditioners- and to tell us that a moisturiser is ‘sulphate free’ is like marketing cotton candy as ‘fat free’. It’s marketing that assumes ignorance, and usually turns me into the Incredible Hulk right in the middle of the personal care (and candy) aisles in Coles.

Keep reading after the jump!

Did someone say cancer?

In recent times there has been significant public concern about SLS being linked with cancer. There is a paucity of evidence supporting any link between sulphates in skin care to cancer and both the American Cancer Society and the Cancer Council Australia have made their position very clear on this matter.

For the ingredient nerds

The well known order for the irritation potential of surfactants are:

Anionic surfactants -> amphoteric surfactants -> non-ionic surfactants

Anionic: sodium lauryl sulphate, sodium laureth sulphate, TEA- lauryl sulphate, ammonium lauryl sulphate

Amphoteric: Cocamidopropyl betaine, coco- betaine,

Non-ionic: decyl glucoside, glyceryl laurate, cocamide DEA

ps. I feel very smug about being able to access full text scholarly articles with my current UNSW student login (I’m doing a post grad part time course at the moment). Very smug indeed. 

References: 

1) Ananthapadmanabhan, K. P., Moore, D. J., Subramanyan, K., Misra, M. and Meyer, F. (2004), Cleansing without compromise: the impact of cleansers on the skin barrier and the technology of mild cleansing. Dermatologic Therapy, 17: 16–25. 

2)  Contact Dermatitis. 1995 Oct;33(4):217-25. Surfactants and experimental irritant contact dermatitis. Effendy I, Maibach HI.

3) Food Chem Toxicol. 2007 May;45(5):747-58. Epub 2006 Nov 3. Comparative studies on the ocular and dermal irritation potential of surfactants. Mehling A, Kleber M, Hensen H.

4.   Cancer Council Western Australia website: stance on SLS,SLES, and cancer myths. http://www.cancerwa.asn.au/resources/cancermyths/toothpaste-cancer-myth

The colder months are never very kind to my nails, and we’re heading straight into hand nail and ouchy torn cuticle season. This year I’ve decided my fingers (and toes) deserved a little bit of TLC so when I received the press release for the Manicare Cuticle Therapy and Cuticle Remover I thought it would be a great thing to test drive.

I’ve been diligently using the Manicare Cuticle Therapy (which is basically a cuticle oil) twice a day for the past few weeks. It’s fast absorbing, and once massaged into the nail area my cuticles has the immediate effect of giving me ‘nail blogger cuticles‘. I like that.

The Cuticle Remover I’ve been using mostly for my pedicures-  my toe cuticles are really hard to push back and this helps soften them (there’s really no elegant way of phrasing that is there?). From what I’ve read, the active ingredient in this product is sodium hydroxide which breaks down dead skin- I assume that different cuticle remover products will have different concentrations of NaOH and therefore different efficacies. The Manicare Cuticle Remover is on the milder side and softens cuticles rather than dissolving or ‘removing’.

Keep reading after the jump!

How to use:

Cuticle Therapy

Generously apply on and around the cuticle area including under the nail. Massage over the nail bed and cuticle. Can be used daily

Cuticle Remover

Generously apply on and around the cuticle area. Wait 1-2 minutes before gently easing back cuticles with a cuticle stick. Rinse with warm water.

Ingredients:

Cuticle remover

Aqua, Glycerin, Styrene/PVP Colymer, Carbomer, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Propylparaben, CI 19140, CI 14700, CI 42053

Cuticle therapy

Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat Germ) Oil, Parfum, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Coco Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Paraffinum Liquidum

Phyrra brings you the best in cruelty-free beauty brands! She includes her favorite products and international shipping information.

Love Rihanna? FabDiva20 is loving RiRi Woo. Check out her MAC RiRi Woo lipstick review and swatches!

Ombre hair: in or out? Sophie from Melovemakeup says in! Here is her how-to and review on Schwarzkopf Live Colour XXL.

What’s green and green and… green all over? The Sephora + Pantone Universe Color of the Year collection, of course! Check out theNotice’s review of this year’s Emerald collection, with swatches of some seriously gorgeous greens.

If you’re stuck on a new spring/summer fragrance for yourself or your beau, Kim suggests Le Labo Santal 33. Check her post to see why.

Project Best Face Primer – Bun Bun Makeup Tips investigates how the Monistat Chafing Relief Gel face primer performs after one year.

Cindy over at Prime Beauty shows you how to stay to cool and look fab at those pool/beach parties this summer with the new Make Up For Ever Summer 2013 Collection!

Looking for eyeliner inspiration? Gouldylox picks out some must have liners for summer.

Krasey Beauty competed again, and in her latest post she shares her beauty prep!

Beauty Reflections has fallen in love with another bronzer! This time it’s the Clarins Splendours Summer Bronzing Compact. Are you a bronzer fiend too?

Jenn from Spiced Beauty shows off RiRi Woo, the perfect matte red lipstick for every skin tone.

Ready for heat and humidity? Need waterproof makeup? Beauty Info Zone has some favorites from Tarte, MUFE and Anastasia to help you manage the heat.

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed checks out the latest and greatest from Clinique – A Different Nail Enamel For Sensitive Skins. Have a look at her swatches and think twice the next time you go to rub your eyes with freshly manicured nails!

Jenny creates a purply smoky eye with a caramel crease featuring Urban Decay’s Naked Palette and MAC over at My Funny Valentine.

Hi everyone,

I did a quick day time smoky eye last Sunday before heading off for (yet another) round of apartment hunting. I’ve been loving the combination of a warm matte crease with a cool lid colour lately- I think it’s very autumn appropriate and a nice change from my usual dove grey crease.

FOTD makeup breakdown:

Eyes:

- Two Faced Shadow Insurance to prime

- MAC Uninterrupted Pro Longwear eyeshadow blended all over the lid and just past the crease.

- Inglot Matte dark brown matte 329 (top left corner of my Inglot freedom palette pictured below) applied to the mobile lid. I’ve swatched matte 329 in this post. 

-  Urban Decay Hustle eyeshadow from the Naked Palette (third from the right) blended on top of the Inglot. I also blended Hustle under the bottom lashline.

- Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner in Black Ink to line upper lashline and bottom waterline.

- L’Oreal Color Riche Le Khol in Immaculate Snow applied to the inner corners of the eyes and blended with a pencil brush

- Bobbi Brown Shimmer Eyeshadow in Champagne applied on top

Cheeks:

- MAC Fleur Power blush on apples of the cheeks

- L’Oreal Glam Bronze in La Terra to contour

Lips:

NARS Tzigane lipstick

The muk Style Stick 230-IR and Curl Stick are the newly released hair tools from muk, and two items that I was VERY excited to try after seeing them in action at the muk media launch.

Style Stick 230-IR

As someone that loves my flat iron to death for both straightening and curling, I was very curious to see how the new Style Stick 230-IR flat iron compares to my trusty ghd. The specs for the Style Stick 230-IR are impressive: tourmaline ceramic plates, adjustable temperature (from  80°C – 210°C), ionic technology to counteract static, sleep mode, universal voltage (great for travelling), and a 12 month warranty. After using it for a month, I’m quite impressed by the Style Stick and I would say that in terms of performance it lies somewhere between the ghd IV and the ghd Gold Series (I’ve previously blogged about the comparison between the two ghd Stylers here) but it does have some perks that even the Gold Series doesn’t have.

The Style Stick heats up to the maximum temperature within about 10 seconds and straightens hair fast-similar to the ghd Stylers. For me, the real test of a good quality straightener is the ability to glide through my (very colour damaged) hair without snagging to create smooth curls- this is where it performs surprisingly well (better than a ghd IV which retails for $249, and almost as good as the ghd Gold Styler, which retails for $269). The curls from the muk Style Stick generally lasts for at least 2 days, which is impressive. The variable temperature settings is a pretty big advantage that the Style Stick has over the ghd family of Stylers- not only does it allow people with fine hair to avoid unnecessary heat damage, and higher temperatures for thick stubborn hair- but it also means that I get better control of how fast I want to work while I’m styling.

I don’t tend to get staticky hair myself, so I would be very interested to hear whether the ionic technology makes a big difference to counteracting static- as far as I know, the ghd family of hair straighteners do not use ionic generators.

 muk says…

The ultimate tool for creating beautiful hair, the muk Style Stick 230-IR utilises a revolutionary strip of powerful far infrared lights imbedded in the iron’s ceramic plate to infuse a gentle heat deep inside the hair shaft. The end result is effectively straightening hair with a single pass, whilst at  the same time infusing hair with amazing shine, moisture balance, and protection against thermal damage.

The Tourmaline ceramic plates provide the ultimate surface for smooth, static free shine. Tourmaline plates are manufactured by combining ceramic and tourmaline ingredients. Because of this combination, muk Style Stick 230-IR offers better results and more heat protection for your hair, compared to flat irons made by ceramic materials alone. 

RRP: $199.95

 Lores Giglio and the muk Style Stick in action!

muk Curl Stick

 Keep reading after the jump!

I haven’t used a curling iron for years since purchasing my flat iron and I admit that I got off on the wrong foot with curling irons. The curling iron I owned in the past (a $50 remington curler from Myer) was totally useless- it took forever to heat up, each section of hair took forever to curl, and my curls looked kinda demented despite all my efforts. I wasn’t expecting miracles, so when I saw Lores Giglio (creative director for muk) demonstrate the new muk Curl Stick, I was blown away by how easily and quickly she was able to create the curls in her model’s hair (pictured below).

The Curl Stick works incredibly fast, and the curls last 2+ days. Just like the Style Stick, the Curl stick has adjustable temps with 3 heat settings. For loose waves, I still prefer using the Style Stick flat iron, but the Curl Stick is great for styles where you want the curl to start high up close to the roots and of course for the super tight curls we’re seeing on the runway.

muk says…

With a unique clip free interchangeable conical titanium barrel system, the innovative curl  stick is the ultimate tool for creating beautiful curls, from perfectly formed bouncy waves or kinky and twisted styles ready to hit the town! Mark Gariglio, Director of muk haircare says, “We launched the curl stick to give consumers  an incredibly high performance styling tool, along with the flexibility of 3 interchangeable barrels. Typically, a traditional curling iron offers consumers limited curl options. The muk curl stick has become a favourite with session stylists and consumers due to the limitless styling options offered by the various barrels.

RRP  $99.95

• 9-19mm conical barrel – Tighter, structured curl
• 19-25mm conical barrel- Medium to soft natural curl
• 25-25 straight barrel – Soft, natural curls and waves

 Lores Giglio and the Curl Stick in action!

I really want to try my hand at recreating the curls at Bottega Veneta - which requires the small diameter curling wand (and mad skillz)

 note: these products were sent to me by PR for consideration. See editorial policy for more information. 

I love the way that blues and greens look with brown eyes, and it’s really been too long since I used these (too easy just to reach for a taupe or a brown when you don’t want to think too much!).

There’s something about this particular colour palette (khaki green, inky blue, and gold) that I tend to gravitate towards- I think it’s because these colours bring to mind the romanticism of explorers and exotic spice routes. Now that we’re getting into the Autumn and (god forbid), Winter months, I will definitely be getting my teeth into these colours.

MAC Gold pigment is the best ‘true gold’ (no sparkles, no duochrome, no pink or bronze tones) eye shadow product I have seen to date- it is intensely pigmented, finely milled, and just like molten gold. You really need the tiniest amount on a pencil brush for this highlight, and the small sample pot I got from The Body Needs has lasted me years.

FOTD makeup breakdown:

Eyes:

- MAC Humid eyeshadow packed on to the upper mobile lid

- MAC Cork eyeshadow blended in the crease

- MAC Typographic eyeshadow (matte dark grey, not pictured here) to darken outer V

- MAC Prussian eyeshadow blended under bottom lashline

-  MAC Gold pigment applied (dry) to the inner corner of the eyes with a pencil brush. Mine is a sample size from The Body Needs.

- Bobbi Brown Gel Liner in Ink to line upper lashline and bottom waterline.

Keep reading after the jump!

Cheeks:

- MUFE HD Blush in #4 Walk Of Shame

-  MAC Bronzing Powder in Bronze

Lips:

-NARS Tzigane

Lashes:

Katy Perry Lashes by EyLure in ‘Pretty’