Posts Tagged Swatch
Illamasqua Cream Blusher in Crush – The Perfect Transitional Blush!
Posted by Latoya in Blush, Illamasqua, Make-up on February 28, 2013
Transitional. Transitional? It’s a word, I checked, but I’m not sure I’m using it correctly….
Haha…I had to post this, I googled ‘confused face’ and this came up. Awesome! (photo credit: iStock)
ANYWHO. What I’m trying to say is, Illamasqua’s Cream Blusher in Crush, a gorgeous deep berry/wine, is the perfect shade to take you from a flushed, wintery look to a pretty, fresh pink look appropriate for spring. So, it can transition well between seasons. Ahhh, see what I’m sayin’??
Last month (which seems like AGES ago now), I was reading all about Amy’s hankering for a fabulously deep, rich-toned blush, and as you do when you’re a beauty fiend, I got it in my head that Crush was going to be THE dark berry I needed in my collection. Lo and behold, while scoping it out on the brands site, it turned out to be majorly on sale, as was a beautiful cool-toned fuchsia gloss called Divine (which I will review soon!), so I sucked it up and paid the shipping costs to buy the both of them. It ended up only costing me like $37CAD with tax and shipping, so I still saved a bunch (both the blush and sheer lipglosses are regularly $28CAD approx. and shipping $13 approx. on the site).
When my package arrived, I opened it to find delicious goodness – Crush was exactly what I was hoping for!
At first glance, this shade looks intense, I know. And truth be told, the first time I went to wear it, I was like WHOA! It can get pretty hardcore, as evidenced by the swatch below. However, as long as you remember that you only need the *tiniest* amount to get a full-on flush, you’ll be good to go. I tend to be heavy-handed with blush because a) half the time the shades I wear are better suited to fairer skin, and b) because I FRICKIN’ LOVE BLUSH and just want to smear it everywhere. In any case, I just can’t get all slap-happy with this blush, and the results you get from taking a bit more time to get it right make it all very worthwhile.
The consistency of the blush is soft, smooth and sort of gel-like – likely because of the inclusion of petroleum. I didn’t like the idea of that at first, but I have found that this hasn’t made my skin oily or clogged my pores at all, so no harm, no foul (it also contains fragrance, but so far it hasn’t caused me any grief, thankfully!). In fact, this blush wears terrifically, lasting all day at almost the same strength as when first applied, which I think is due to the way it melds and clings to the skin.
This is an intense shade, no doubt about it, but it can be sheered out beautifully – my application method goes something like this: after applying foundation, very lightly dab a stippling brush into the pan, then dot it along the cheek / cheekbone on both sides of the face. Go back and buff it out for the desired look, and then go over the edges to soften with your foundation brush. I also patted right over the blush with my foundation brush to make sure it looked as natural as possible.
‘Scuse the plain look, I was going for a run, and was running TO a coffee shop to meet friends, so I didn’t want to go totally bare – LOL!
Better? This is me today – I didn’t show a full-face because my hair is all sorts of crazy today for some reason, but you get the gist.
Ahh, this blush is just so great!! Love, love, love. And see how it gives me a pinky tone? I think that with a slightly more concentrated application, it could look more wintery/windblown, but with it’s cream-gel texture and by keeping it more subtle, it is totally spring-appropriate too. The sheerness keeps it fresh and happy 
Ingredients for your perusal!
If you’re in the market for a cream blush and/or a berry blush, I would start your hunt with Crush!!
Have you hit the jackpot on a sale item lately? Do you own a fabulous berry blush?
Pushing the Boundaries with Illamasqua’s Kontrol Lipstick
Posted by Latoya in Illamasqua, Lips, Make-up on August 5, 2012
Lately I have been feeling very run of the mill, very generic…every so often I get this way and I crave breaking the mold and doing things unlike the status quo. I think as a whole I always have an urge to go against the grain, but when I feel these particularly strong longings, usually someone or some persons are at the root of it.
This past week, I was really moved and inspired by some of my daily blog reads – they showcase things in a unique way, and played with makeup in a fashion that really got my attention and got my brain going. Karen at the Makeup and Beauty Blog pulled out some great looks that I really enjoyed, that were both wearable and fun. I especially like to see the looks she creates because our skintones are so similar and it gives me a great visual to work with. Kate at Drivel About Frivol is just an absolute genius at makeup as a whole, and seem to view it as an art (which is how I see it and want to approach it as such). She manages to come up with ideas that are both out of the box but still pretty, and they hold SUCH interest. I aspire to be as creative as her one day. These are just two bloggers of the infinite number that push me to really use makeup as a way to express myself, rather than to just wear to look ‘pretty’.
Another excellent source of inspiration for my lately has been the phenomenal promotional images churning out from Illamasqua for their new Fall collection Generation Q. I love that they’re using ‘real’ people, not models, and pushing the boundaries of age, gender, skin color…and good gracious, they look stunning! Can you even handle how sultry and sexy Patricia looks (and that mani!!)????
So. Full of ideas and drive to step outside my comfort zone and get a little crazy, I decided it was time to try out Illamasqua’s Kontrol lipstick – a creamy blue violet that looks pretty terrifying in the tube, I must say. It’s very, shall we say, eye-catching! But if I’m going to work on being unique and original, I’m going to have to learn how to be comfortable with being a bit more ‘noticed’, so no time like the present!
Natural light
Sunlight
With flash
First I tried wearing Kontrol on it’s own, with a very little made-up face – just a touch of concealer and powder, shimmering bronzed powder buffed into the cheekbones and temples, targeted glowing highlights on the brow and inner eye corners, and a whole lotta mascara. I applied it straight from the tube to keep it a little less intense, though I find the shape of the bullet allows for fairly precise application (a quick note: be sure to cover the entire mouth including your inner lip, as it can really look stark pink and noticeable otherwise). This shade, my friends, is BOLD. It is not for the faint of heart or the shy and demure. It’s definitely a color which challenges the idea of what’s ‘pretty’ – but honestly, after wearing it for a few minutes, and with the warmth from my makeup, I kind of liked it!! Super bad-ass 
Above, in sunlight; below, artificial light (both with flash)
However, of course we must remember that I’m just dipping my toe into this new arena of originality, so for my first foray out of the house with Kontrol on, I toned it down and warmed it up with a bit of coral gloss.
Above, in sunlight; below, artificial light (both with flash)
I really liked the way this looked with the gloss; I think as a way to ease into wearing a shade such as this, it made for an easy transition – still edgy without feeling a bit too ‘out there’ for this against-the-grain novice. However, I don’t plan to rest on my laurels here – the whole point is to push the boundaries of what’s considered ‘normal’ and step on the other side of the line just so. I want to find that happy place that so many can achieve with fashion (which sadly I cannot master), where they draw gazes for their unique sense of style without also going so far past the line that they look ridiculous. I think I can get there, but I will have to take chances. I think Kontrol is an excellent place to start, don’t you?
What is your approach to makeup? Do you have any beauty goals you’d like to achieve?
Ridiculous face because I am, in fact, ridiculous – this was actually my effort at a ‘real’ shot, not being silly…how lame am I?!
*Product provided by the PR company/brand for my unbiased consideration
Summer Favorites (I Couldn’t Pick Just One!)
Posted by Latoya in Bronzer, Chanel, Coral, Eye Liner, Eyeshadow, Favorite Product of the Month, Foundation, Lips, MAC, Make Up For Ever, Make-up, Milani, Nail Polish, Urban Decay on July 30, 2012
G’day to everyone!! I have been MIA for a while, longer than usual anyway – I have a backlog of photos of products to post, but I can’t seem to get inspired to write anything about them! Not that they aren’t all great in their different ways, but I guess I’m starting to feel like I’m just pumping out product reviews and not enough substance, you know? I need some time to do some more FOTD’s with underused products – now THAT was fun
I’m also doing an overhaul of my makeup stash and letting go of even more products that I just don’t use. I’ve been obsessing over my wishlist far too much and it’s getting to the point where I’m almost turned off the whole thing (as in, the buy buy buy! cycle). I updated my swap list on MUA and have been engaged in several different exchanges, trying to acquire things that I’ve been lemming but are core color products of a brand – I want to save most of my purchases for seasonal items or ‘big-ticket’ purchases that aren’t so easily swapped for. I’m thinking about doing a blog sale as well, though I don’t know how exciting some of the products may be…thoughts!?
In the meantime, I thought I’d do a ‘Summer Favorites’ rundown, versus my favorite of the month, because there hasn’t been just one thing I’ve been loving in July, but there have been a handful of things I keep returning to over and over!
Even though I love brights in the summer – vivid tropical hues that I never wear the rest of the year – I rarely have opportunities to wear them (I sometimes get ~crazy~ at work but overall I try to keep it appropriate). Often, my palette includes more natural, glowing hues that highlight my tanned skin and healthy glow, rather than being in-your-face. It’s one of the few times of the year where wearing less usually works to your advantage, and I like to capitalize on that!
I managed to snag Urban Decay’s ‘Lucky’ 24/7 Eyeliner Pencil in a swap last year, and although I loved how it looked, I didn’t wear it too often. However, this year in my effort to spread the love throughout my stash, I started playing with it more, and I think I’ve found my go-to makeup look: this, smudged over black eyeliner on both top and bottom lashes, enhances my eyes subtly but with a kind of bad-ass twist. It’s been a staple in my summer routine many days now, and I absolutely LOVE it. The metallic nature of this liner and the warm coppery hue, toned down a bit by the black, gives a depth to my makeup that is just perfect.
On days when I’m aiming to look even more natural, or to give a subtle glow to my look, I opt for MAC’s Melon Pigment, also another swap find (yay to being economical!), a peachy-gold metallic. On fair-medium skin, I hear the peach tones help it look particularly striking, especially on blue-eyed gals. On my skintone, it looks more golden than peach, and is fairly subtle – though it can be built up if need be, or applied wet. With just this and a whole lot of black mascara, I can create a wide-open eye that catches the light just so. I haven’t tried it yet, but I think I could even use this as a highlight on my cheekbones (though this probably only works for darker skinned gals).
The Milani Sunset Beach bronzer is one of the most inexpensive items in my stash, yet I wear this every day – the brownish tone is a slightly warm but overall neutral hue that works fabulously as a contour shade just under the cheekbone. It’s not too orange or muddy, and it’s got a great pigmentation that’s not heavy but just right to work well in layers if needed. If I’m in a hurry, buffing this on my temples, bridge of the nose, and just under the jawline as well gives me a great warmth and really makes me look polished with very little effort.
Obviously you’ve already heard all about my love of Chanel’s Inattendu polish – it’s just the perfect nude, especially for summer, when the warmer tones flatter skin so nicely. And because I wear SO many brights this time of year, it acts as the perfect counter-point. You really can’t go wrong!
MAC’s Lychee Luxe Lipglass is a glorious coral-pink shade with golden shimmer, and is so pretty on that I forgive it’s sticky texture. I can wear this with a variety of looks, either bold eyes or more natural, with golds and brights and jewel-tones, and it works for each one of them. On my somewhat pigmented lips and with my darker skin, it looks warm and juicy, giving my lips just enough color without ever being overwhelming or stealing the show. While I have decided not to buy any more MAC Lipglasses because of the texture problem mentioned, I’ll be genuinely sad to see this one go – and it’s only got about 1/3 left!
While all of these shades work perfectly for day or night, I’ve generally been wearing only loose powder to lightly even out my skintone during the day. When I’m headed to an event or out for the evening however, I like to look a bit more pulled together, and I’ve been using Make Up For Ever’s Face & Body foundation* in #18 ($40CAD) – a super lightweight foundation that covers imperfections without feeling heavy or like you’re wearing much of anything. As it’s water-based, its quite thin and is perfect for the hot, makeup-melting days of summer. It can also be built up to give extra coverage where needed – and can be used on the body as well (I love me some multi-purpose products!). #18 (for medium skin with olive undertones) is a very good match for my summer-tanned skin, and is warm, not ashy, which is great. I’m thinking about mixing a bit of this with my Hourglass Immaculate foundation when the cooler months arrive, as it leans a touch light and grey on me, and I think the two formulations will mix fairly well.
Here are some swatches of all the products above (left to right – MAC Lychee Luxe, MAC Melon, UD Lucky, Milani Sunset Beach, MUFE #18):
Artificial light
With flash
Honourable mentions go to MAC’s Arena eyeshadow (I’m plugging that shade hard, aren’t I?) and some of my other fave polish shades – Essie’s Bikini So Teeny (can’t get enough), MAC’s Mischievous Mint (the bottle is half-empty – seriously!), China Glaze’s Pink Plumeria (look for an upcoming ‘combo’ post with this shade), and Deb Lippmann’s Daytripper (check it out below!).
Artificial light
With flash
My mother keeps telling me I should be showcasing my polishes with color-contrasting objects, and I just happened to buy this especially pretty pale aqua throw pillows, sooo…
Pretty, huh? Initially when picked this up, I was disappointed when I tried it on – it’s more of a jelly texture, which is great, but not what I was expecting. And in artificial light, the shade fell a bit flat. However, the next day, I totally turned the other cheek – I couldn’t get enough of how lovely it was! It’s extremely shiny on it’s own, and so juicy – the jelly texture actually really makes it more than your regular coral polish, it just too this ol’ gal a little longer to see it ;P
What are some of your favorite summer items and looks?? Do share, I’d love to get some more ideas!
*Product provided by the PR company/brand for my unbiased consideration.
Denying the Urge: My Foray into Frugality
Posted by Latoya in Chanel, Gold, Lips, Make-up, Nail Polish, Summer 2012 on May 10, 2012
This past month I have been bizarrely restrained in my beauty buying. I know I have things to save for, sure, but what the what!? That generally hasn’t stopped me too much before. But for whatever reason, I keep passing things up, and I’m genuinely uninterested when I see products I was swooning over mere moments before. Whatever this is, I love/hate it. I want to buy pretty things!! But I’m glad that I’m being careful with my money – as I mentioned yesterday, May is a month full of gift buying, so I need all the cash I can get!
Anyway, yesterday I got a call from my Chanel SA letting me know the Summer collection had finally arrived on counter. I hightailed it over there this morning to check out the wares. I though for SURE I was going to pick up Delight, the gorgeous pale bronze polish that was going to be my ‘glamorous in a bottle’ shade. However, I tried it and…it was totally not for me. It was too pale and too blah with my skintone, which is a problem I have with most metallics. *sad face*
Please excuse the chip – I initially took this photo just for myself as a reminder of why I didn’t buy – I had layered the swatch over my existing mani and then bumped it before it dried :S
After a quick consult previously with Eugenia/Ommorphia, she noted that both OPI’s A Roll in the Hague (a bold orange) and Essie’s Meet Me at Sunset (which had more red in it) were close in shade to Chanel’s Holiday – another polish shade in the Summer collection lineup. It’s not a dupe, but it’s close enough that for me I couldn’t justify buying it either. *pouty lip*
Next, my eyes found the two Soleil Tan de Chanel powders in Sable Beige and Sable Rose. I’d hoped Sable Rose would be dark enough for my skin to show up. It was – but it left such a subtle look that I was nonplussed. Sure, I could use it as more of a ‘glow-making’ product versus a blush or bronzer, but for the price ($60+), I want it to blow my socks off, not just be ‘pretty’. Still no dice… *eyes squeezing out a tear*
Of course, the Calypso Glossimer drew my eye next – how could it not!? The gorgeous orange-coral shade is stunning and is the perfect warm-weather color. However, I was reminded of a gloss I already have – MAC’s Dazzleglass Cremesheen gloss in Luscious Spark (from a 2009 collection), another deep orange shade which also has multicolored shimmer. I was smart and brought it with me – here are comparison swatches below:
Top to Bottom: MAC Luscious Spark, Chanel Calypso
As you can see, they’re not dupes either – Calypso has more of a coral leaning, while Luscious Spark is more orange, and a bit more sheer. But again, too close to own both, in my world. I’m a poor excuse for a beauty aficionado, I know! But when I buy, I want it to be good. PASS. *openly sobs*
Finally, wildly looking around for something, anything to buy since I felt like such a consumer FAILURE, I looked upon the Eyeshadow Duo in Sable-Émouvant, a lovely cream and rich espresso twosome which looked entirely wearable and perfect. But goodness…how utterly boring! If that was my one purchase from a Summer collection, let alone a Chanel collection (because guys – I haven’t picked up ANYTHING from any of the Summer collections. Oh wait, except for the Estee Lauder gelee, which I bought back in MARCH, which is NOT Summer or even close…btw), then it’s a sad day here at Beauty Obsessed. That does not sound like I am obsessed over much of anything, except maybe being practical. Which is more Eye Heart It‘s thing, and I’m not gonna step on any toes here 
Anyway, where was I? All this lame behavior has me befuddled. I walked out of Mills (ok, well, slunk out a side door in shame – I KID YOU NOT) with absolutely nothing. My brain cannot compute. I have been ogling this collection since the first day I heard of it, and if nothing else I was leaving with Delight, THE END. To leave empty-handed just seems crazy, non?? I don’t know what’s up. All I know is that when I do start shopping again, 1) It had better be some super-awesome shit, and 2) It better not make my bank account blow-up. Likely both will happen. It’s gonna be something else.
On the plus side, I just saved about $100+ today. I guess that’s pretty sweet!
Have you experienced any abnormal beauty behaviors lately? What products are calling to you from the Summer collections? (Maybe you can inspire a lemming – there may still be hope for me yet!)
Weekend Beauty Update
Posted by Latoya in Base Coats, Blush, butter London, Kate Somerville, Nfu-Oh, Summer 2012 on March 23, 2012
A couple of bits and bobs in my world of beauty this week…
Earlier this month, I picked up the infamous ‘Aqua Base‘ from Nfu-Oh (now sold at Nail Polish Canada!), which is supposed to help with the notoriously finicky nature of true holographic prismatic nail polishes. Since we’ve been having insanely beautiful weather this past week, I decided to bust out my bottle of GOSH Holographic* and give it another whirl. It’s an absolutely gorgeous, fantastically prismatic silver that is a HUGE P.I.T.A. to apply and wear (as it chips in moments). With one coat of the Aqua Base however, it went on as easily as any other polish – perhaps as well as the best, as the formula is thin and easy flowing – and lasted for four days with hardly any wear. In FACT – I went to take it off today to put on butter London’s Snog (see more on that below) and it was absolutely the hardest thing to do ever! Even more difficult than taking off glitter polish, if you can believe it. That mo-fo was stuck on like nobody’s business. I had done a bit of experimenting and had applied one coat of the Aqua Base over the polish on my pinky nail to see what would happen, and I actually couldn’t get it off – I had to paint over it with Snog for the time being because I was a bit pressed for time. That shit CRAY (ahahaha I love that slang). I mean, hurrah to being the victor over Holographic and being able to wear it…but WHOA. It comes at a price :S
*Want to get a shade similar to this one? Try Nfu-Oh’s #61!
Meandering around our Sephora here this week, I happened upon a few things – we now carry the full line of the Origins brand (we only had a handful of products initially), as well as now carrying Kate Somerville! I’m pretty stoked about the latter, as I want to check out her Quench Oil-Free Hydrating Face Serum ($78CAD) over the Summer. I also heard that we’re getting YSL come Fall 2012 In a surprize move for everyone, we’ve also just gotten Yves Saint Laurent this past week, about 5 months ahead of schedule! Woohoo! (The Glossy Stains WILL be mine!! Mwahaha). Halifax is coming up in the world!
I really want to learn how to apply blush like they do the stars. I’m becoming a bit obsessive about it, actually. Look at this perfect execution on Jennifer Lawrence – I can’t stand it!
Also behold Kerry Washington, Gabrielle Union, and this model shot from Fall 2012 Fashion Week – wahhh! I want to have pretty cheeks like these!
Summer collections are killing me ALREADY and Spring is just starting – this is SO unfair. For the first time, I’m actually interested in a Dior collection; the eye glosses in the Croisette Summer 2012 collection really appeal to me, and there’s finally a nail polish that I can get down with – Bikini, a coral pink. Check out this link to see photos!
Chanel, as always, has something that I desperately want – the brief glimpses I’m getting of the Summertime de Chanel Summer 2012 collection is making me crazy! Particularly, I want those polishes; I think they’re as follows: Holiday, a bright coral; Delight, a stunning bronze; and Island, a golden beige. I’ll pass on Island, but I WANTS the other two – Delight could be my long-sought-after golden shade! Looks like the collection releases internationally on May 12. I see a birthday spending spree in my future! See here for more info.
Thankfully, Zoya’s Beach & Surf collection launches April 1st, which should tide me over somewhat – have you SEEN swatches of Kimber?? Ahh, don’t go looking – if it sells out before I can get it, I will DIE. Looking at this collection, it made me feel like wearing butter London’s Snog, which happens to be the most frequent search engine term for people stumbling upon my site. It is absolutely impossible to photograph accurately – it either looks to pink or too red, when really it’s a bright pink-leaning coral – and my first (and second!) attempts were just not satisfactory. I tried again, but I’m still not 100% feeling like I captured it correctly. Just take my word for it – you NEED this polish. It’s in my top five…SO pretty. (PS. I’m wearing a top coat but only so I could dry it quicker – it’s pretty much this glossy all on it’s own!)
See what a chameleon it is??
Erm…that’s about it for now! We have company this weekend to celebrate my bf’s birthday so I’m going to get to it I hope everyone has a great weekend!!
What kind of beauty stuff have you been up to/reading lately?
*Don’t forget to enter my giveaway!!
Sparkle and Shine: Bobbi Brown Shimmerbrick in Nectar
Posted by Latoya in Blush, Bobbi Brown, Highlighters, Make-up on March 22, 2012
When I’m jonesing to have a new product to play with, lately I’ve been trying to swap for it first, before buying it outright (if unsuccessful). Particularly for products that aren’t LE and have been around for a while, it seems to be much more sensible to get it on the cheap via swapping – there isn’t the time-sensitivity that can cause impulse purchasing.
I had Bobbi Brown’s Nectar Shimmerbrick on my lemmings list for a while, having tried it on in-store once and liking the way it looked. My desire was renewed when the Rose Gold collection came out; while I wasn’t a huge fan of the two Shimmerbricks offered (Rose Gold and Wild Rose), I remembered Nectar and envisioned it to look like how I wanted Rose Gold to look – sort of a warm golden pink. I managed to get it in a swap, still in the box no less (score!), so I eagerly awaited it’s arrival. 
Nectar has five strips of varying pinky-golden shades (with one off-white strip), leaning coral but still overall more in the pink zone. On my darker skin the difference is negligible – it just looks like a very sheer pink highlight. Like any product with different colored strips, you could apply each separately if you wanted to – but I don’t know why you would. I swirl my brush around lightly and then apply the product concentrating on my cheekbones. If you were fairer, you could get away with this as a blush I think – but still use a light hand as it’s shimmery (hello, stating the obvious here!). 
I find it sort of interesting that for a line that’s all about natural-looking makeup, that the Shimmerbricks are part of that as they are pretty darn obvious. Not necessarily in a gaudy, glitter-particles kind of way, but in sunlight, you’re obviously wearing shimmer, and as I find it kicks up a bit on your brush, it tends to disperse somewhat outside the perimeter of where you apply it, which can be a touch annoying. I don’t find it’s a product that you can buff into your face, like some other shimmery powders, so for me this will be more of an evening product (unless it’s a particularly dull day and I need a glowing boost!). Nonetheless, it IS pretty and I’m sure I’ll get some use out of it. The wear time was actually pretty decent, but more for the shimmer and less for the color – though again I think that would depend on your skin tone (being darker I find less pigmented colors fade on me quickly).
Shots taken in sunlight
As always, I was interested to know if this was similar to any other shades I own. I thought perhaps Benefit’s Bella Bamba, which is a watermelon pink with a fair bit of shimmer too, so I swatched them side by side (both swatches taken in sunlight; Nectar on left, Bella Bamba on right).
Clearly, they’re not – though they are in the same color family. These types of shades are some of my favorites, because I find they’re a warm pink that can suit a variety of looks – so I don’t mind having two that are similar!
Overall, Nectar is pretty, regardless of it being not entirely practical, and I’ll have fun playing with it throughout many seasons. Even if it won’t get a lot of daytime wear, it’s a quick and easy way to pick up my look in the evenings and for special occasions. And, it’s just so darn pretty to look at
Do you own any Shimmerbricks? How do you wear them, as a highlight or as a cheek color? Are you a fan of shimmer or shy away from it?
Don’t forget to enter my giveaway!!
Fun Color Friday, Using MAC Russian Red Lipstick
I’m sorry I haven’t been very good as posting these regularly – it’s not that it’s not on my mind, but I am having a hard time getting good FOTD shots, particularly during the Winter when natural light, nevermind sunlight, is scarce to come by. I’ve tried getting shots in the morning before work, but as I’m always running late, they’re hurried and unreflective of the look. Once I get home from work, I have about 30 minutes to redo my makeup and get photos taken in the fading light, which is pretty much an impossible task. However, I may have found a way that works for the time being – sticking my face directly in the bright light of my bathroom (lol!). It’s the best I can do for now!
After being inspired by a few other bloggers, I decided to try out a bold red lip, which I absolutely adore but never seem to be able to pull off correctly. After a bit of playing around, I think I found a way to rock a bright lip that doesn’t look too overdone or garish. While I’ve always known that the key is to keep the rest of your makeup simple, I never seemed to get it right. The reason, I’ve realized, is that ‘keeping it simple’ doesn’t mean wearing less makeup necessarily, it just means making it look flawless and subtle. Check it out and let me know if I managed to be successful!
Yikes, my brows are really crazy right now! I need a maintenance wax, and I also need a new brow color – I’m too cheap to buy one at the moment so I’m using MAC’s Dark Edge as a filler, but I really prefer a pencil. My apologies!
Without getting too detailed, what I’m wearing here for color is:
Urban Decay’s Perversion liquid liner
theBalm Mary Lou-Manizer (corner of eyes and under brow bone)
NARS The Multiple in South Beach (highlight)
theBalm’s Hot Mama shadow/blush
NYC Color Wheel Mosaic Face Powder in All-Over Bronze Glow (contour)
MAC Russian Red lipstick
Afterward, for fun I applied MAC’s Venetian Lustreglass on top of Russian Red (which is actually the original combo I bought) – I’d probably wear this if I were looking for an amped up look for going out:
I actually really dislike Venetian on it’s own, but somehow have managed to use almost the entire tube by forcing myself to mix it with other shades. THESE are the kinds of items I want to steer clear of from now on!
I hope these pictures properly showcase the look I was going for. At least, from my perspective the colors are true to life, which is the best I can ask for at this point! I’ll continue to work on my photography skills, and try to utilize good lighting when I can, to your benefit
Now – enjoy your weekends, my dears! I hope it’s wonderfully relaxing, or awesomely spectacular – whatever you need!
Have you tried MAC’s iconic Russian Red? How do you make it work?
You might also like…
- A Blush Smackdown: Nars Torrid vs Benefit Bella Bamba vs theBalm Hot Mama
- An Inside Look: My Nars Collection
- “Fun” Color Friday – 1st Attempt
- Review: Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Stick
China Glaze: Peace on Earth
Posted by Latoya in China Glaze, Green, Nail Polish on November 4, 2011
I lied. I have *one* more khaki green to show you!! I totally forgot about China Glaze’s Peace on Earth, from last year’s holiday collection. I also forgot how much I adore this polish!! Of all the army/khaki greens I own, I think they rate (in my world) as follows:
1) Chanel Peridot (not sure if I’ve slotted this shade in this category, but c’mon – it trumps just about everything!)
2) CG Peace on Earth
3) OPI Uh-Oh
4) Joe Fresh Moss
5) Zoya Edyta
6) Zoya Yara
I feel sort of ashamed and almost confused that Yara is at the bottom of the list…it just didn’t do it for me! At least, it didn’t compare to the others. The wise Eugenia from Ommorphia Beauty Bar made a great comment that the large shimmer in Yara confuse the eye, and I have to concur – the idea sounds awesome, but in the end it actually was just too much. But, keep in mind that I favor cremes over mostly any other type of polish, so if you’re not in the same camp, take my opinion with a grain of salt. It’s still nice, just not my thing I guess!
…ANYWAY…
Here’s Peace on Earth, for your viewing pleasure
I dunno….unfortunately, I don’t think I’m showcasing this polish to the full beautiful extent, but trust me – it’s got a major lit-from-within factor that’s hard to stop staring at! It’s almost like Peridot’s older, wiser sister – not as outrageous, but still with that quite fire that captivates completely. I love it. And I’m sad that I put it aside this season for so long, thinking it wasn’t as special as I remembered. Thankfully, now I have it’s awesome-ness documented I won’t forget again!
Quick stats: This was two easy coats, a bit thicker formula but a dream to work with nonetheless. I notice that there are still bottles of some of last year’s CG Holiday shades kicking around Chatters Salons, so if you’re partial to this shade, you might still have a chance at picking it up. It’s well worth the look – I feel this shade is appropriate for Fall, the Holidays, and even Spring, really, so it’ll get some wear. Soo beautiful!!
I hope everyone is having an awesome, relaxing Friday night like I am (or…not )!!!
Cheap Thrills: Wet ‘n Wild’s Night Prowl
Posted by Latoya in Drugstore Finds, Nail Polish, Wet n' Wild on November 3, 2011
If you’ve been reading the blog for a while, you may have come to realize that I tend to have more expensive tastes. Hopefully it doesn’t come off as snobbery, because that’s not my intention at all! I just really love luxe things, and once you get a taste, it’s so hard to go back (sort of like drinking Spumante [classic high school booze of choice!] after having a fantastic Pinot Grigio – nuh uh).
Let it be noted though, that despite my high end leanings, I am all for a great deal. Ask my boyfriend, who knows me well: [me, super excited] “Look what I bought!!” [him] “…Let me guess, it was on sale?” Strangely, I rarely pay full price for anything non-beauty related – it’s gotta be on sale or it’s not going home with me! As such, on some occasions, this mentality does tricking into my cosmetics-filled brain, and on a whim I’ll snag a cheap treat that won’t break the bank. Wet n’ Wild Night Prowl is just such a thing.
The polish is magenta glitter in a dark, charcoal jelly base. The formula is sheer – this is four coats – but honestly, I loved it so much that four coats didn’t even seem like a big issue (funny how that works, eh?). It also dried relatively quickly, so I was able to do those four coats in a reasonable amount of time.
I’m not capturing the awesomeness of this polish well – it really requires a better camera than I own. In person, and not necessarily in the right light either (which is a nice change), this is a very beautiful polish. I waited so long to wear this, why oh why!? For the $3 or whatever I paid for it, it was more than worth it. Totally fab.
What’s NOT fab however, is the chipping I’ve been experiencing lately due to an ‘experiment’ I was trying:
This was not due to the polish, I assure you. I had this happen to at least three other polishes I own, all varying brands and qualities. What’s going on, you ask? Well, I wanted to know if a base coat really was necessary to make your polish last longer. Answer: HECK YES. All of my polishes chipped within a day or so of application without using a base (or top!) coat. I just wanted to see if we had tricked ourselves into believing these things really were valuable – if we were falling for a gimmick. I mean, in all truth, we should be able to wear any and all polishes alone, and their quality should be upheld without the need for an additional product. But unfortunately, that’s just not the case. At least with the brands I tried! If I happen to come across one that doesn’t chip within days, I will be reporting back ASAP. Until that time….wear a base coat!!!!!
End of craziness for today. I hope everyone is having a good one!
A Tale of Two (Army) Greens
Posted by Latoya in Green, Nail Polish, OPI, Zoya on October 30, 2011
For someone who’s not into green nail polish at all, I seem to have my fair share of the shade this season! As I noted before, while standard green polish isn’t flattering on my skin, those that fall into the khaki/army green territory are a different story. I’ve already shown you two other polishes in this category here and here; now let me add two more to the pile: OPI’s ‘Uh Oh, Roll Down the Window’, Zoya’s ‘Yara.’
One of the offerings from OPI’s ‘Touring America’ Fall collection, ‘Uh Oh’ is a dusty, muted army green that leans yellow but not so much that it can’t be worn by various skin types. In fact, I found in some lights that it leaned a bit grey, and reminded me a lot of Essie’s ‘Power Clutch,’ which I swooned over here. Something about it just wore the same, and much like ‘Power Clutch,’ I was really into it. It isn’t quite as flattering on my skintone, but it gives the same subtle, classy edginess that I like very much.
In the last photo, you can see how much more yellow it looks than the first two, so you can see the tones that are brought out are really dependant on the lighting. While this polish applied easily, two coats here with no top coat (see how shiny it is?), the bottle is very strange – it looks like it needs to be seriously shaken, however even after doing so it remains somewhat separated. I read another review on the polish that noted this issue, so I didn’t just get a flawed bottle. In any case, it didn’t affect the color of the polish once applied, so it doesn’t seem to be a big deal, just something to note.
‘Yara,’ from this season’s ‘Mirrors’ collection, is in a very similar color family to ‘Uh Oh’ but is less dusty, more richly toned, and with pretty golden shimmer. This is not micro-shimmer either; it’s very obvious which makes it stand out from a lot of other shimmer polishes. This is the green brother to Zoya’s ‘Neeka’, and like ‘Neeka,’ left me puzzling as to why I didn’t love it when it had all the right components of a stand-out polish. 
Aside from my strange indifference to this pretty polish, it applied as all Zoya’s I’ve ever used applied – easily and without issue (two coats shown here). Again, depending on the light it looks either more yellow or more greyed out.
Overall, if your a fan of the army green trend, I think that either or both of these polishes would be a great addition to your stash. Despite my feelings toward Yara, I do think it’s a unique polish worth owning if you love these types of shades. While I seem to have a solid khaki base now, I think I’m done with these colors for now – I like ‘em but I like other tones more (purples & blues, predominantly).
I hope everyone had a great Halloween weekend and showed off some great, fun costumes!! I can’t wait for all the cute kiddies to come around tomorrow (and for the leftover candy, hehe)!
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