New Year! Make Up Style - Vine Time

"She pulls at the string which controls her and grows a garden."

  
Products used:

Primer: Lime Crime Candy Eyed Primer
Eyeshadow: (Sugarpill) Dollipop, Afterparty, (Lime Crime) Abracadabra, Twilight, Shoe Addict, Lime Criminal, (Nyx) LP02 Pearl, LP19 Mink Pearl
Eye Liner: MAC Superslick Liquid Eye liner, Nyx Liquid Crystal Liner LCL 108 Crystal Pewter

Mascara: Maybelline XXL Pro Extensions (Step 1 only), (Lime Crime) Lime Criminal

I won't have time to blog tonight as it's New Years Eve now so here's a quick make up style I made a few days ago. I know I've been focusing on a lot of make up styles this past week but I have written up a few reviews for the new year.

I don't have any coloured mascara so I simply apply mascara primer and brush eyeshadow on top. It works pretty well although, I don't trust this technique will last all day. But who knows!

So that will be all for 2011! I wish you an advance happy new year! May 2012 be a great year for everyone and best of luck for any new year resolutions you may have!

<3

Make Up Style - Midnight Hope

"She sleepwalks in her dreams and always ends up at midnight." 

 Products used:

Primer: Lime Crime Candy Eyed Primer
Eyeshadow: (Lime Crime) Shoe Addict, Dragon Scales, Medusa, Nymph, Lime Criminal
Eye Liner: Maybelline Liner Definer Liquid Eye Liner, MAC Fluid Line Black Track

Mascara: Maybelline XXL Pro Extensions

Make Up Style - Space Dust

 "She flies into space and floats through the dust. If only she brought her toothbrush."

Products used:

Primer: Lime Crime Candy Eyed Primer
Eyeshadow: (Sugarpill) Bulletproof, Poison Plum, (Lime Crime) Siren, Abracadabra, Top Hattie, Medusa, Twilight
Eye Liner: Maybelline Liner Definer Liquid Eye Liner
Nutrimetics Defining Eye Pencil Jet
Mascara: Maybelline XXL Pro Extensions

L'Oreal Paris Perfect Clean Review

 

Cost (Aus): $8.67 (online at feelunique.com)

Packaging: This product comes with a silicon scrub with 500 bristles. The design of the whole packaging is very clever because the scrub fits neatly within the dimensions of the bottle and is safely locked in place with the help of a hole on the bottle and the knob on the scrub. If you don't want to place it there, you can even pop the scrub onto your bathroom (tiled) wall or mirror using the suction cup.

Use: At first I was having trouble getting the cream to foam but now it foams a little. The scrub exfoliates and massages your skin and is very gentle. I use it around my eyes and it doesn't feel harsh at all.

After rinsing my face with cold water, I have noticed that my skin does feel very smooth and soft. I usually apply moisturiser after using this but once I couldn't because I didn't have the moisturiser with me. I went out fishing with the family, the day was cold and windy and my face still stayed soft and smooth and didn't feel dry.

This is great at removing make up as well. I have trouble removing every single bit particularly eye liner because it's a difficult place to reach with the scrub (I get so worried getting soap in my eyes), but generally, it works wonders as a make up remover. Afterward, the scrub is very easy to clean. Dirt and make up rinses right off with cold water.

When you finish using the product, you can still use the scrub as a gentle exfoliator/massager for your face!

Conclusion: Like with all products, always test this before using it on your whole face as I have read some people do react bad to this. I never had any negative reaction to it and all I have experienced is positive results. I used to be pretty bad where I didn't even apply moisturiser on my face for years. As a result, my skin felt very gross, tight, dry and patchy. I don't use this product every day but it's so good to me that it keeps my skin soft, smooth and overall makes my skin much better even when I don't use it or forget to moisturise.

Make Up Style - Florose

 "She walks through the garden, trying to plant roses but they never agree with her."

Products used:

Primer: Lime Crime Candy Eyed Primer
Eyeshadow: (Sugarpill) Dollipop, Afterparty, Midori, Tako, Love +
Eye Liner: MAC Fluid Line Black Track
Mascara: Maybelline XXL Pro Extensions (Step 1 only), (Sugarpill) Dollipop

This is the first time I have ever put some sort of design onto my eye. I was more going for the feel of doing this type of look than having an actual design and I am quite happy of what I came up with.

Make Up Style - Fairy

 

Products used:

Primer: Lime Crime Candy Eyed Primer
Eyeshadow: (Lime Crime) Twilight, Empress, Cupcake Thief
Eye Liner: NYX Slide On Pencil SL07 Jet Black, MAC Fluid Line Black Track
Mascara: Maybelline XXL Pro Extensions

This was the look I used for my family Christmas party. Very simple and again, rushed. The dress I wore was pink.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I hope you had/will have a wonderful day with loved ones and a great new year!

Make Up Style - Temptation

Products used:

Primer: Lime Crime Candy Eyed Primer
Eyeshadow: (Sugarpill) Love +, Bulletproof
Eye Liner: NYX Slide On Pencil SL07 Jet Black, MAC Fluid Line Black Track, MAC Superslick Liquid Eyeliner
Mascara: Maybelline XXL Pro Extensions

This was my look for the Christmas Eve dinner with my boyfriend's family. I was hoping to achieve a look with more colours but I was running out of time and in the end, rushed this style (so there's a few things that need to be fixed). The dress I was wearing was black and white with a red belt so that's where I grabbed the colours for my eye shadows from. 

MAC Superslick Liquid Eyeliner Review

Cost (US): $17.50

Packaging: The MAC Superslick Liquid Eyeliner comes in a tube with a screwable top. The tip is made of a sponge-like material in a cone shape so you have more control on the type of lines you make. I find it really easy to use this to make either thick or thin lines.

Staying Power: Just like the Nyx Slide On Pencil, you have to wait for this to dry. They say it takes 15 seconds, I would wait one minute just to be safe and use a fan. Once dried, it doesn't move. I tried wiping this off with a wet tissue and it didn't work so you could safely swim with this on. Of course, you can't use this on you waterline.

Pigmentation: The black is strong and shiny.

Texture: Nice and light.

Conclusion: I really like this liner. It lasts all day and doesn't move. When I wear it I feel confident that I won't lose any pigmentation. You need to be patient with this eyeliner due to the long wait in drying, so if you're in a rush, just avoid this one.

 

 

Please note: The middle of the liner is showing a reflection of the light and not the liner fading

Christmas!

I haven't had time to review anything today due to the Christmas rush and last minute shopping. However! I did join this website and entered a competition using the look I uploaded in my previous post:

To enter, you have to post a look that you would wear to a Christmas or New Years Eve party and the most likes wins. There are some very very high level looking entries. All very inspiring.

I have also started my holidays from work for three weeks! So I'll be sure to post more reviews and hopefully more make up styles.

Make Up Style - Peacock

Products used:

Primer: Lime Crime Candy Eyed Primer
Eyeshadow: (Lime Crime) Shoe Addict, Troubadour, Siren, Lime Criminal, Mischief Managed
Eye Liner: NYX Slide On Pencil SL07 Jet Black
Mascara: Maybelline XXL Pro Extensions

NYX Slide On Pencil - SL07 Jet Black Review

Cost (US): $8

Packaging: Nothing remarkable. It comes with a removable cap and is shaped like a typical liner.

If you purchase this in Australia online, it can cost $11.95 and at that price, I believe it's way too much to pay for a liner that is used up quickly. However, the quality of the liner is making the decision to not purchase this again very difficult because it's just so good. I currently use this as my back up liner when I absolutely need to.

Staying Power: Even without primer, the liner stays on pretty well, just make sure you wait for it to dry a bit before opening your eyes normally, other wise, (depending on how high you make the liner), it can smudge on the crease. When dry, if I rub my finger along the liner, it doesn't smudge it and only a very tiny bit of the liner rubs off.

You can even use this liner in the pool. I tested it by splashing water on my face and rubbing my finger along the liner like I did previously and it didn't budge but again, only a very tiny bit of liner wore off. As long as you don't rub your eyes after jumping in the pool, you should be just fine.

Pigmentation: Very black. You don't need a lot to see the slide on pencil work.

Texture: The pencil works with a light touch and it feels so soft and smooth to put on.

Conclusion: Despite the hefty pricing in Australia, I still love this pencil. I just wish they gave you more. It's easy to use, very black, quick to apply and stays on very strong even without primer. 

 NYX Slide On Pencil SL07 Jet Black without primer and before testing with water

 NYX Slide On Pencil SL07 Jet Black without primer and after testing with water

Sugarpill 4-Color Palette - Burning Heart Review

Cost (US): $34

Packaging: This palette comes in a handy flip case with a mirror, which is held together with a magnet. The graphic is quite grungy and rebellious but still holds a feminine feel to it. On first glance the case looks strong but the material is actually a hard cardboard.

The shadows are pressed so I worry about the stray particles falling onto the other shades. To fix this, after each use, I dab a tissue to pick up the loose powder and just to be safe, I insert a square of tissue paper between the palette and mirror so the mirror stays clean when it's closed.

Pigmentation: This is the brightest brand of eye shadow I own. I have tried it without primer (mixed with water) and it was still pigmented, and even stayed on quite well.

Conclusion: I wish they had more than nine of the matte colours. I really love these. You don't need much to get a really strong colour. The colours are just so gorgeous.

Side Note: I have had very good experience with their customer service where my Bulletproof eye shadow was practically destroyed when I received it. The owner replied and quickly, apologised and said she will be sending a replacement and that I didn't have to send the old one back. It was very easy. No issues, no hassles. 

Eye Shadow: Sugarpill - Buttercupcake, Poison Plum, Flamepoint, Lime Crime Medusa, 

Nyx Nude Pearl 

Primer: Lime Crime "Candy Eyed" Primer

Mascara: Maybelline XXL Pro Extensions  

Eyeliner: Maybelline Line Definer Noir - Black

Swatches showing pigmentation without primer (left) and with primer (right), using Lime Crime Candy Eyed Primer.

Flamepoint, Buttercupcake, Poison Plum, Love +

Lime Crime Candy Eyed Primer Review

Cost (US): $17

Packaging: The Lime Crime Candy Eyed Primer comes in a dome jar with a twistable top. When closing the lid, you have to make sure you close it until it 'clicks', otherwise it can dry out.

Staying Power: Before purchasing this I read reviews about it and every single review that I read on Lime Crime's website and other cosmetic online stores and blogs, was positive and was comparable to Urban Decay's primer. I haven't been able to compare the two yet myself, (still waiting for my Urban Decay package to be delivered) but I will review it as soon as I can.

This primer is excellent in bringing out the colours of Lime Crime's eye shadow, however, because it dries up a skin colour, you have to make sure you wipe off any excess primer not covered by your eyeshadow.

This primer is best removed with waterproof make up remover and lasts all day. Some people have said they use this primer for their lips and that it holds the lipstick very well too.

Texture: It's soft and creamy and you can use your finger tip or a flat brush to apply it. I find it a lot easier to use a finger tip but I sometimes have trouble making sure the layer of primer is even. You need to apply your eyeshadow as soon as you put the primer on. I have waited a minute or two before applying the shadow and noticed that the primer kind of hardens on my skin a little bit, which I don't like but I guess that's how it works to be effective in holding make up.

Conclusion: The Lime Crime Candy Eyed Primer helps brighten eyeshadow and is strong enough to keep it in place all day long. I tested it for 12 hours and it held strong.

8MGZ8ASEUKZW

L'Oreal Derma Genesis Cellular-Cleansing Illuminating Make-Up Removing Wipes Review

(Sneaking this post in before I head to the city).

I know this blog is about putting make up on but this time I want to talk about a product that takes it off. We all know the things we need to avoid in terms of make up use like NEVER sleeping with it on as the skin is most absorbent when you sleep. So for those who are adamant in caring for their skin, make up removers is an important product.

Cost (Australia): $9.85 with 25 wipes.

Packaging: I've always had trouble with make up removing wipes because the plastic lid's adhesive would decrease the more I opened and closed it, eventually causing the wipes to dry out. That is no longer a problem with L'oreal's Derma Genesis Cellular-Cleansing Illuminating Make-up Removing Wipes. There are two lids - a flexible, plastic, resealable lid and a hard plastic, locking lid. This double protection helps to really ensure that your wipes are protected from drying out. Another great plus, which wins me over is that these wipes are biodegradable!

Texture: This wipe not only removes make up but it also refreshes and moisturisers the skin so they are thick and very moist and feels pretty good after use. Although, I still prefer to wash my face and apply moisturiser.

Conclusion: I use a primer that is suggested to be removed using waterproof make up remover and these wipes are great at easily removing it. I really enjoy using this products and actually have about 7 packs now.

MAC Fluid Line Black Track Review

Cost (US): $32

Packaging: Nothing grand about the packaging. It's a typical jar with a lid. Although, I do think that the design of the container, which finds the gel in the neck of the jar (where the lid is screwed on), quite interesting.

Staying Power: I was very impressed with the gel's ability to stay on. I had the liner on for a whole day with primer and it stayed the same. I tested it without primer and there was a tiny bit of smudge. I also had it on the water line and it stood a night out in the city quite well with a little smudge, but I expected it. To help prevent smudges on the waterline, you can add some black eye shadow powder to the gel where the gel acts like a base to hold the powder.

Pigmentation: The colour is a strong black. I don't think the picture that shows me using this, (here) does any proper justice to it.

Texture: Absolutely beautiful texture. It's sooo soft! I had very bad experience with gel liners before, which dried out quickly. But this liner, is so smooth and so easy to apply.

Conclusion: Black eye liners has to be one of the most basic make up accessory any girl should have. I have gone through my fair share of liners and this is my absolute favourite.

As mentioned before, if you would like to see this product in action, please have a look at my previous post for an example.



*PLEASE NOTE: I will be spending the weekend away in the city so I may not be able to blog tomorrow (Friday) or Sunday and definitely won't on Saturday. I will do my best though to blog on Friday and Sunday. Thank you so much for reading my blog! I really really do appreciate it and I hope you have a lovely weekend :)

Make Up Style - Clubbing

I'm going to do things a bit different today. I love make up and I love experimenting with different styles, particularly eye shadow. Below, is a style you can adopt for the clubs. If you want to be a bit more out there, just extend the shadows upwards, towards the brow. It's preferable to use fake lashes but I don't really use them.

Products used (I will be reviewing these products eventually):

Primer: Lime Crime Candy Eyed Primer
Eyeshadow: (Lime Crime) Mirror Mirror, (Sugarpill) Bulletproof
Eye Liner: MAC Fluid Line Black Track
Mascara: Maybelline XXL Pro Extensions

Lime Crime Carousel Gloss Review and Swatches

Cost (US): Whole set - $65. Per gloss - $17

Packaging: Lime Crime is pretty well known for it's beautiful packaging. They put a lot of effort in every detail of their brand that the box their products are delivered in is even quite pretty. The application brush is smaller to what I am used to and it can make application a little difficult because my lips are actually quite big but it's a really small price to pay for awesome gloss. The design of the container is really cool too. It's not a boring tube but has a spiral engrave to it. Any girl would be proud to show this off simply because of the design.

Staying Power: I was a little too excited to test this in normal conditions, (I only received it today during my work break and only opened it when I finished work). So far though, it seems like it would stick on a little better than your typical glosses.

Pigmentation: Lime Crime is known for their bold, statement-making colours and this gloss is no exception. They are glittery and very, very, pigmented that you would think you were wearing lipstick. You don't need to put a lot on to feel and see the gloss working. Although, the more you apply, the more opaque it becomes. I find the red glosses do a lot better on my lips than the others, which seem to lose its pigment because of my lip colour. Lime Crime suggests layering the gloss over certain lipstick to reach an ever better result, which would probably fix my issue of dulled colours.

Texture: The gloss is thick and smells quite pleasant. I feel it's not too sticky but sticky and moist enough to be confident that I won't have to reapply after a few hours despite not doing anything like eating or drinking. Of course if you do eat or drink, this will come off.

Conclusion: The quality of Lime Crime's Carousel Lip gloss is very impressive and I guess you would expect it with the price it holds. The glosses are quite large too at 3.5g. When I was a teenager I was an avid gloss wearer but changed to lipstick because the gloss I owned really was not that great and wore off after only a few minutes. However, I do see myself going back to gloss because Carousel glosses feel very comfortable and the colours are very awesome.

From Top Left to Right:
Golden Ticket, Kaleidoscope, Candy Apple, Cherry On Top, Loop-De-Loop
(This is how my lips look using the amount of gloss that I would feel comfortable wearing for every day use. However, you can add more to create a more opaque look.)

Olay Definity - Tone Correcting, Anti-Ageing Foaming Moisturizer Review

Cost (Australia): $39.95

Packaging: The packaging is unique. Rather than a typical, round bottle, there are three curved sides. There is a pump for easy dispense, which comes out as a foam.

Use: As beneficial as the foam sounds, the problem with it is that you do not have much control on the amount that comes out but I guess that's how it is with foam bottles.

I have read good and bad reviews with this and unfortunately for me, I only lasted one application and took it off soon after. Silly me, I did not read the ingredients before applying. As I read it I noticed there was a flammable warning as well as a warning to make sure I use it in a well ventilated room. This was a first for me. I have never needed to use a product on my face that needed ventilation and was flammable. Doesn't that sound dangerous? So I read the ingredients and I don't know if it was the ingredients or realising what the ingredients were but I started feeling a little dizzy. So I immediately washed it off. It's been about 10 minutes and I still feel a little sick.

So I can't make a proper review on how this works because I do not want to test something I don't feel comfortable with. I remember hearing that if you can't pronounce the ingredients, you should really think about using it and there were just too many ingredients I could not pronounce. To be fair I did do a bit of research on the ingredients and most sounded okay and derive from nature but I don't think I will be using it simply because I felt a little dizzy. So if you are concerned, look into the ingredients and make your own judgement.

The few moments I did use it though, I did not experience any burning, itching or allergic skin reaction. The application was okay and my skin felt quite smooth. Honestly, I can't remember how my skin felt but I know it didn't feel bad.

Sorry I could not provide a better review on this and please remember the main reason why I will not use it again is because I felt dizzy, not because of reading the ingredients as I did not do a thorough research on each of them.

Nyx Ultra Pearl Mania Review

First review goes to the Nyx Ultra Pearl Mania eye shadows. I chose this first only because it is one of the first shades I started with and still use today.

Cost (Australia): Nyx Pearl eyeshadows are very cheap at only $3.95 a bottle (online).

Packaging: The packaging is not appropriate considering what it is used for. You have to use a small brush to reach the shadow. Now, unless you move the shadow into a new container or pour out some, you will be stuck with using a small brush, the wrong brush or no brush at all.

Staying Power: I find myself having to layer this shade at times and it wipes off extremely easily (without primer).

Pigmentation: If you want an eye popping shade, this alone won't do it. But if you want a subtle look, this may suit you more. The colours are quite light however, they can be a little brighter if you use a good primer, (which I will review later). They also have a shiny/sparkly finish to it.

So I guess you would be surprised that I'm still using this product despite the almost all negative review. I still use it because, like I mentioned earlier, it's nice for light looks. Also, I sometimes like to use it to add a bit of sparkle and shine on the shades that are matte.

Top: No Flash
Bottom: With Flash
LP11 Baby Pink Pearl, LP20 Mocha Pearl, LP16 Space Pearl, LP03 White Pearl, LP26 Yellow Pearl