My thoughts on MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation

Most of you will know that I got a sample of the Studio Sculpt Foundation in NC20 last time I went to the MAC store. I’ve used it a few times and I’m really liking it. Infact I used it in my FOTD yesterday!

The colour is a perfect match for me, and it provides the perfect coverage. You only need a tiny amount to cover your entire face, so even though it’s on the expensive side, it will last quite a while. I apply it with just an ordinary foundation brush and have found that this works just fine. I’ve tried it with a wedge sponge too, but found that I use much more product when I do that.

While wearing it, you absolutely must set it with a finishing powder. If you don’t do this (which you should always be doing anyway!) then your face will quickly look oily and shiny. But I wouldn’t say that it’s any worse than any other liquid foundation I’ve used, in this respect.

I will most likely end up buying this foundation once I’ve used all of my sample, and I would recommend this foundation to anyone. Do what I did and get a sample before you purchase it! I honestly cannot believe how generous MAC are with foundation samples, I still have heaps left!

I’m also thinking about getting some of these foundations for my makeup kit because even though you can build up Face and Body (what I currently have in my kit) sometimes you just need more coverage.

Hope this has been of some help to you!
Thanks for viewing!
oxo

FOTD: Purple Smokey Eye!

First FOTD I’ve done in ages! And the purple didn’t even show up as good in the pics! That is SO typical. :P

 
And now for the close ups, tried to get the purple to show up better
With flash:

Without:

  
What I used:
Face:

• MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation in NC20
• MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer in NW20
• Smashbox Softlights Blush Duo in Super/Model
• Revlon Age Defying Powder in Sand Beige
  

Eyes:

• Urban Decay Primer Potion
• MAC Sharkskin Shadestick, applied as a base upto the crease
• Kryolan Eye Dust in Pink Sunset applied all over the Sharkskin Shadestick.
• 120 Colour Palette – matte black in the corners and worked up into the crease, also underneath the eye in the outer corner
• MAC Vellum eyeshadow in the inner corners and as a highlight colour under the brow, as well as under the eye.
• Shiseido Liquid liner in Black
• Avon Ultra Luxury Eyeliner in Black
• Avon Supershock Mascara in Black

Lips:

• MAC Lipstick in Fleshpot
• DB Lip gloss in Watermelon

Hope you like!
oxo

Bargain Beauty Buy: Avon Supershock Mascara

Hi all! I’ve been in Fielding over the weekend (it’s about 6-7 hours away from here) and got back late last night, so haven’t been able to blog for awhile! I’m hoping to do a FOTD tonight or tomorrow but in the meantime, thought I’d review one of my favourite things at the moment – Avon Supershock Mascara!

This mascara is SO darn good. Previously I'd been using Covergirl Lash Blast mascara which I really loved, but this is so much better!
I bought it for $14.99 NZD from the last Avon booklet, and it came with a free Ageless Results Eye Cream which I’m planning on reviewing after I’ve used it for a week or so.

This mascara has unique microfibers which instantly expand and plump lashes, giving you upto 12x more volume. The teal wand separates the lashes, reducing the amount of ‘clumping’ that can occur.

I apply this after curling my eyelashes and it actually holds the curl all day! It also lengthens them and makes them look a lot thicker. This actually almost makes my lashes look fake, which I think is amazing! Another thing that I think is great is that at the end of the day, my mascara still looks as fresh as it did when I first applied it that morning.

All in all, I think you should definitely give this mascara a try. I would have to say that this is the best mascara I have ever tried, and for $14.99 NZD, it’s a really great price too.

Hope this has been helpful!
oxo

Urban Decay Primer Potion and Eyeshadow Review

Urban Decay products aren’t available in New Zealand, but I was lucky enough to have an aunty who went to Hawaii last year and picked me up some from Sephora! This is what she got me:

XL Primer Potion

XL Primer Potion is 60% larger than the regular sized Primer Potion and is meant to last months!
Primer Potion provides a smooth magnet-like base for eyeshadows to adhere to. This prevents eyeshadow from creasing and intensifies the colour. You only need to apply a small amount to your eyelids which dries instantly and invisibly. Apply your eyeshadow overtop and prepare to have your eyeshadow last for hours on end!

I love Primer Potion, the results are amazing. There is a huge downside to this though and that is the packaging. Sure it looks great, but it is very poorly designed. The wand cannot reach all the product, and in my experience only reaches about a quarter of it. To get the rest of the product (and your money’s worth!) you have to cut open the tube and scoop the remains into an air tight container. You have to make sure you sanitise everything while doing this or you will contaminate the product.

Overall I would recommend this product if you want to intensify your eyeshadows and make them last without creasing. But if like me, you find it a huge hassle to have to cut open the tube to get all the product out, I would recommend that you find something else.

Now onto the two eyeshadows:
Midnight Cowboy

 
Midnight cowboy is a pink-champagne colour with A LOT of silver glitter. And the glitter gets EVERYWHERE when you use it. Even though this is probably the messiest eyeshadow I own, I really do like the colour. And the glitter would be gorgeous if it didn’t get everywhere.

I wouldn’t buy another one and wouldn’t really recommend it either. The glitter is just way too annoying.

Asphyxia

 
Asphyxia is a beautiful purple eyeshadow with a blue sheen to it. This is probably one of my favourite purple eyeshadows even though the colour pay off is not as good as Midnight Cowboy. This is a really nice shimmer shadow that doesn’t have the crazy glitter that Midnight Cowboy has. And the blue sheen really shows up nicely.

Overall it is a really nice eyeshadow and if I had to buy another one, I would!

Swatches:
I decided to swatch both of these eyeshadows both overtop of the Primer Potion and without so you can see for yourself the difference the Primer Potion makes.
Top row is with Primer Potion and bottom row is without!

 
Sorry the photo isn’t very good, but hopefully you can see the difference!

Thanks for viewing!
oxo

I’ve been tagged! Q & A

The beautiful Sarah has tagged me for this little survey! Yay!

What is your current obsession?
Trademe. The deals I’ve got on there lately have been so good! I love bidding on stuff. Except I get too involved with it and get angry when I get outbid, hahaha! :P

What is your weirdest obsession?
Colour coding everything. I spend hours colour coding sequins and beads and stuff. And all my makeup is colour coded. :P

What are you wearing today?
I’m just as daggy as you Sarah, I’m in my PJs. xD

What's your favorite comfort food?
Ice cream!

What would make today special?
Getting all the packages of things I’ve ordered.:P

What would you like to learn to do?
I would like to learn how to do airbrush makeup. It would be so much fun!

What’s the last thing you bought?
A Stila eyeshadow!

What are you listening to right now?
The E! Channel. Pretty funny :P

What is your favourite weather?
Sunny! Hot! I HATE the rain.

What is your most challenging goal right now?
Getting a job! I can’t survive on being a freelance makeup artist alone at the moment. :(

What do you think about the person who tagged you?
She is stunning and talented and very friendly! She’s just lovely, check out her blog!

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
Somewhere in the states. I’m jealous of all the makeup you can get over there!

What would you like to have in your hands right now?
Money!

If you could swap lives with anyone for one day who would it be and why?
Hmmm. Maybe Rosalie from Twilight. Come on, who doesn’t wanna be a gorgeous vampire? Hahaha!

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
I would probably go to LA – Disneyland too! I’ve wanted to go there my whole life! One day, one day…

Which language do you want to learn?
Italian! I don’t know why.. I just do!

What do you look for in a friend?
Someone who can make me laugh, is loyal and a lot of fun to hang out with!

Who do you want to meet in person?
James Hetfield, the lead singer from Metallica. xD They’re my favourite band and he just happens to be the love of my life. Hahaha!

What’s your favourite type of music?
Rock. But I do like a lot of other stuff too!

What is your favourite piece of clothing you own?
Maybe my dresses.. I wouldn’t know which one to pick. I just have a thing for dresses lately.

What is your dream job?
I’m doing my dream job! I’m a makeup artist. I can’t think of anything that would be better than this! It is difficult trying to get more paying jobs here though unfortunately.

Any favourite models?
I like Heidi Klum. And Tyra Banks.

If you had £100 now what would you spend it on?
I would spend it on makeup, what else? :P

What is the ONE thing that you can’t leave the house without?
My cell phone.

Fashion pet peeve?
I’m going to have to agree here and say ill-fitting clothes too!

Do you admire anyone’s style?
I admire Scarlett Johansson. I just think she always looks beautiful!

Describe your personal style.
Casual… I like dresses. And tights. :P

What's your favorite ice cream flavor?
Cookies and Cream!

What is your favourite makeup brand?
MAC of course. But I also love the very few Make Up For Ever things I have. <3

Okay, here's the rules:
1. Respond and rework: answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own.
2. Tag eight other people.

Ok, I tag:

Camille!
Mizzworthy!
Potionprincess!
Happy1234!
GiGi!
Phyrra!
Saimese!
Linea!

And of course anyone else who wants to do it!
oxo

M.A.C Pigments – swatches and a review!

Well I’m still sick :(
This is going to be a big post.. with quite a few pictures.. So I hope you enjoy it!

Pigments are highly concentrated loose coloured powders that contain ingredients to help them ‘stick’ to the skin.

They are multipurpose products that can be used in a variety of different ways.
Most commonly they are applied wet or dry as eyeshadows but can be mixed with a mixing medium and applied as a liquid liner or coloured mascara, mixed with lipmix or any lip gloss/balm and applied to the lips, can be applied dry to the cheeks as a blush/highlighter, mixed with strobe cream and applied to the cheeks as a cream blush, mixed with clear nail polish to create new nail colours and the list goes on! 

Pigments are what initially got me interested in MAC, they come in these huge 7.5g jars and are PACKED full of product. The colour is so intense and a little goes a long way. I am a HUGE fan of pigments, they are on the expensive side, but considering that they contain so much product, they are great value for money.

Onto the colours:
Smoke Signal

   
Smoke Signal pigment is a very deep plum burgundy colour. It is a matte pigment which I think is pretty cool. Matte colours are a little harder to use than shimmers though, so keep that in mind before purchasing them. It was released as part of the Smoke Signals Collection in 2007 and is LE, so might be hard to find.

Your Ladyship

Your Ladyship Pigment is a gorgeous creamy white colour with a gold pearl. I only recently bought this off Trademe for $30, it’s a LE colour that was released in the Antiquitease collection in 2007. I’ve used it as a highlight colour on my brow bone almost every single day since I bought it. It is sooooo pretty. If you can find this anywhere, get it.

Swatches, L-R:Smoke Signal and Your Ladyship (hasn’t shown up too well)
 
Melon

Melon is one of my favourite pigments. It is a stunning bright golden peach colour. Looks gorgeous on the eyes, amazing on the cheeks and beautiful on the lips! Suits almost everyone and it’s permanent so it’s not hard to find! :P

Blonde’s Gold

I bought Blonde’s Gold when it was released with the Overrich Collection last year. It’s a MAC Pro colour and is described as a light tan with a white and gold pearl. I really like it and think it’s a great neutral colour to have.

Swatches, L-R: Melon, Blondes Gold

Old Gold

  
This was the first ever pigment I ever bought! I LOVE Old Gold. It is by far my favourite. It is an iridescent gold with green reflects. It is such an amazing colour, you have to see it in person to fully appreciate it. Layered overtop of a black base it goes this brilliant emerald green colour, so gorgeous!

Vintage Gold

 
This is also from the Overrich collection but is a MAC Pro colour. Vintage gold is a tarnished green with a gold pearl. It is soooo pretty. The texture is so smooth and luxurious and it applies like a dream. Really flattering colour on brown eyes.

Swatches, L-R: Old Gold, Vintage Gold

Blue Brown

Blue brown is such a neat colour. I’ve found that if you pack on the pigment when applying this to your eyelids, you get a true representation of the colour, if you use it more sheerly the red really shows through. Applied over a dark base, the blue really shines through and looks gorgeous! You can achieve a lot of different looks with this. It’s a permanent colour so it’s easy to get a hold of which is always a bonus.

Mauvement

Mauvement is this really gorgeous taupe kinda colour with a gold pearl in it. It has a chunky texture which a few people don’t like.. but I think it’s easy to use once you get the hang of how to apply it. It’s a really nice shimmery colour and was also released with the Overrich Collection last year. I think it might be LE, but I’m not sure.

Swatches, L-R: Blue Brown, Mauvement

 
Rose

Rose too is one of the ‘chunky’ pigments, but it’s one of my favourites. It is a rose colour with coppery-gold sparkle and is sooo gorgeous as a lip colour and blush. I also love it on my eyes with melon over top. I think I heard that it’s not safe for the eye area? If that’s the case, it may not be a good idea to use it on your eyes.

Swatch:

I also have three pigment samples of Accent Red, Silver Fog and Dark Soul, if you’d like to see a review of those let me know!

Thanks for viewing!
oxo 

Smashbox Soft Lights Duo Blush Review

So I’m pretty ill at the moment, so won’t be doing a FOTD for awhile :( Can barely get out of bed but I thought I’d review some of the other makeup products I have! I have.. quite a lot. So I’ll do as many reviews as I can. :)

Smashbox Soft Lights Duo Blush in ‘Super/Model’ RRP $54 NZD

This blush duo features a softlights powder in a pretty golden peach shimmer and a beautiful coral pink blush with just a hint of shimmer.
The gorgeous coral pink blush would look fantastic with most skin tones but looks especially good with lighter ones. It is a very flattering colour that would look good with any makeup look you’re going for.
The highlighter colour looks great along the top of the cheek bones and over the temples, really brightens up your face.

I actually got this off Trademe BRAND NEW for $13! Yussss! Bargain! :D They’re selling other brand new ones for around $30 buy now on there. And I’ve seen listings for them on ebay too!

Overall I am very happy with this purchase, not only did I get a great deal, but the blush itself is exactly what I had been looking for – a pretty peachy pink that would suit the majority of my clients! I would recommend this to everyone as it really is a fantastic blush to have.

Swatch: Highlighter, Blush

FOTD coming up, as soon as I’m well again!
Thanks for viewing! oxo

Woo! Latest M.A.C Haul and Review

I’m really trying to build up my MAC collection, because I really don’t have that much MAC stuff! So whenever I get a bit of money I head over to the MAC Pro store and get a couple of things!
This is what I got yesterday:

Studio Sculpt Concealer in NW20

As the MAC site says: “A creamy concealer that provides full coverage with a natural matte finish. Brushes on with enough blend time to conceal any size of blemish. Rich formulation allows you to use a micro-amount of product to even out skin. Water-resistant and long-wearing.”

I actually got one of the MAC girls to try this out on me under my eyes and I have to say that the MAC description above is very accurate. It is so very creamy and easily blended and a little goes a long way! It comes in a paint pot container though, I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not, as paint pots can dry out quickly if you don’t store them properly.

Anyway, I’m loving it so far. You do have to make sure that your undereye area is well hydrated before applying the concealer, so make sure you apply eye cream first! And remember NW concealers are much better at covering undereye circles than NC shades!

Next: Three eyeshadows!
Left to Right: Vellum and Phloof

And Contrast! (They didn’t have this in a pro palette refill so I just bought the normal one)

Vellum is a pale white duochrome with purple shimmer, I have been wanting this for ages and I’m SO happy I finally got it. It’s soooo pretty!

Phloof is an off white frost eyeshadow. To me it kinda looks like a really light pinky beige. It’s a really nice colour though that would be great for a neutral look or for use as a highlighter!

And lastly, Contrast is purplish blue with a blue pearl. It’s such a gorgeous colour and I can’t wait to use it!

Swatches, left to right: Vellum, Contrast and Phloof

I also got a sample of the Studio Sculpt Foundation in NC20, was a perfect match when she tested it on me in store, but haven’t tried it out myself yet. When I do there’ll be a FOTD and another review!

Thanks for viewing! oxo

Just a quick post to say..

Happy Easter!!!

Hope you're all having a wonderful time with friends and family! :D
oxo

Mineral Foundations: I need some help!

I have never used a mineral foundation before. Mainly because I’m not sure about the different brands and because I’ve wondered about whether the coverage is actually any good or not.

I’m really quite pale and currently use MAC Face and Body in ‘C2’ and sometimes use Maybelline Wonder Finish in ‘Porcelain Ivory’. I’m looking for something that is great quality, preferably on the cheaper side and provides medium coverage.

So I thought I’d post this and ask for some help!
What are some brands that you love and would recommend?
Do they offer samples? Are they affordable? How long do they last?
What colour would you recommend for me? And most importantly, Do they ship internationally?

Any help that you guys could give me would be great, I’m so intrigued by mineral foundations and would love to be able to find one for me. As a makeup artist I get asked about mineral foundations a lot too, so it’d be great to know more about them!

Thanks!
oxo

Quick Tips: Foundation!

Here are some quick tips for getting flawless foundation:

• Always prep skin first with a primer. I like Smashbox’s Photo Finish. A primer provides a base for the foundation to stick to and will stop foundation from seeping into pores and lines.
• If you have extremely dry skin, mix a drop of moisturiser in with your foundation.
• When choosing your foundation colour, apply a small amount to your jawline, let it sit for a couple of minutes and then check the colour in natural light. The one that blends into your skin undetectably is the right one!
• Do NOT use a darker foundation to look tanned. If you want to warm up your skin colour, use a bronzer.
• For the best results, use a brush to apply liquid and mineral foundation and use a sponge when applying a cream foundation. Using the right tool makes a huge difference!
• Make sure you brush a little foundation onto your neck so that your makeup doesn’t just stop at your jawline. Not a good look!
• Blend! Always check in the mirror to make sure you don’t have any streaks!
• Foundation doesn’t have to be applied EVERYWHERE. Try and avoid putting it on your eyelids, if they need covering up, use concealer instead.
• Lastly, If your foundation is over a year old, chuck it out. Oxidation causes the shade to darken and it may be harbouring bacteria. Gross!

Remember, foundation should enhance your skin, not cover it up! (That’s what concealer is for ;))

Wanna check out my other tips? Click here for a tip for covering up undereye circles and Click here to get great lashes!

FOTD: Smokey eye!

Smokey eyes and nude lips! (The token porn star look, Lol)
I even curled my hair a little. Needed to try out my new rollers. xD
Anyway, time for the close ups?

  Gosh. I am so terrible at taking close up pics. Oh well.
Onto what I used!

Face:

• MAC Face and Body Foundation in ‘C2’
• Revlon Age Defying Powder in ‘Sand Beige’
• Ben Nye Concealer Palette
• MAC Hello Kitty Blush in ‘Tippy’
• Estee Lauder Brilliant Shimmer All Over Powder in ‘04 After Hours’

Eyes:

• MAC Paintpot in ‘Painterly’
• MAC Eyeshadow in ‘Knight Devine’ all over lid.
• 120 Palette – Shimmery Black on the outer corner and in the crease as well as underneath the eye
• MAC ‘Your Ladyship’ pigment as the highlight
• Shiseido Liquid liner
• Avon Ultra Luxury Eyeliner in ‘Black’

Lips:

• MAC Lipstick in ‘Fleshpot’
• Revlon lip gloss in ‘010 Shine City’

Hope you like it!

oxo

Pencil Eyeliner Reviews

Pencil eyeliners are one of the most important items in your makeup kit, so it is important that they are long lasting and of a good quality. Over the past year I have collected A LOT of pencil eyeliners and came to realise that there is a huge difference between them, so I decided to review a few different ones for you all! Enjoy!

First up: Avon Ultra Luxury Eyeliner $7- $8 NZD

Avon’s Ultra Luxury Eyeliners come in a small range of colours, all on the dark side. They are really soft, really pigmented and are also really long lasting!
I have them in Black, Dark Brown and Midnight Blue and I love them! Because they’re so cheap (usually around $7 -$8) it makes them cheap to replace, making them a great choice to use on my clients.
Swatch, Left to right: Dark Brown, Midnight Blue and Black

Next:  Shiseido Moisture Mist Eye-shading Pencil $20NZD

These pencils are not very soft, and do not seem to last very long on the waterline. I do however quite often use the White eyeliner a lot when I’m in a hurry, because it’s very easy to sharpen. I probably wouldn’t really recommend these eyeliners though, there are better and cheaper ones out there.  
Swatch, left to right: White, Green and Indigo

  

Next: NYX Auto Eye Pencil (Not available in NZ, order online) $3 USD

NYX Auto Eye Pencils are pretty average. They’re not very soft (although softer than the Shiseido Moisture Mist ones) but they do seem to be quite waterproof. The colour pay off isn’t great, but it’s ok. If you don’t have sensitive eyes, then I’d say these would be great as a cheap liner. But if you do have sensitive eyes I’d recommend that you go for a softer pencil, as these can be kinda hard and irritating.
Swatch, Left to right: Black and White

 

Next: Stila Kajal Eyeliner $49 NZD

 

I have this eyeliner in Onyx (Black) and it is by far, my FAVOURITE eyeliner. It is sooo luxuriously soft, glides on, and stays put.
The only downsides are it’s price and the fact that it’s almost too soft that it makes it hard to sharpen. Advice: Stick it in the freezer for awhile before sharpening, to avoid breakage. :)
Swatch:

Next: Clinique Cream Shaper For Eyes $32 NZD

 

This is another beautifully soft eyeliner. I have this in 102 Frosty. It says it is water resistant and has a hint of shimmer on their site. And although I can definitely see the hint of shimmer in it, I don’t agree with it being water resistant. It doesn’t last as long as I’d like it to, but in saying that it is still definitely one of my most used eyeliners. It is not as expensive as the Stila eyeliners, but is still on the pricey side, so it pays to search around for a cheaper deal.
Swatch:

Next: Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Collection (Not available in NZ, order online if you can)

If Stila eyeliners are my favourites then these are a close second!
I was lucky enough to have my aunty go to Hawaii and get these for me from Sephora! Soo happy that she did. :)
These are waterproof, fairly soft and the colours are GORGEOUS! My favourite is definitely the Bronze one, LOVE.
Swatches, left to right: Purple 11L, Bronze 10L, Turquoise 7L, Iridescent Navy Blue 3L and Black 0L.

And lastly: BYS Kohl Eyeliner $5 NZD

I have this eyeliner in 23 Soft White, and like it’s name says, it is extremely soft! I love it. It was very cheap, and I got it from Postie Plus.
It stays on quite well, but doesn’t have the staying power of some of the others I’ve reviewed so far. It’s also quite hard to sharpen, but putting it in the freezer beforehand would probably help.
Swatch:

 

Now onto the only two fat eyeliners that I have.

First up: Blackbox Chubby Pencil For Lips and Eyes $5 NZD

Blackbox cosmetics are available at Postie Plus stores around New Zealand. I actually got this one for $1 but I think they’re usually around $5. These make a great eyeshadow base, as they are soft and creamy and easily smudged.
Swatch:

And lastly: MAC Shadestick $36 NZD

Shadesticks are really more of a shadow than a liner, but I always think of them as an eyeliner. Even though I only use mine as a base for eyeshadow, go figure. :P I love how smooth and creamy shadesticks are, but trust me, if you don’t close the lid properly they’ll soon go hard and dry. Not cool. :( I only have this in ‘sharkskin’, pretty keen on getting some more.
Swatch:

And that’s it for the reviews really. I will however list some eyeliners that I don’t recommend at all:

• Wendy Hill Eyeliners. I actually got these in my makeup kit for the course I did. Argh. I hate them. Horrible. Hard, don’t stay on. Don’t buy them.
• Constance Carrol Kohl Eyeliners. These are as hard as a normal pencil. Feel awful on the waterline. Just because they’re cheap, don’t be tempted to waste your money on them!
• Satin Eye Pencils. Also hard and don’t last.
• Chi Chi Eyeliner. They have really cool names, like ‘Hung up’ which is the one I have. But that doesn’t make up for the fact that they’re terrible.

Well I hope this has been helpful! I know that if I had’ve read reviews on eyeliners before I bought them then I probably wouldn’t’ve wasted so much money. Sigh. Ya live and learn! :P

oxo