Showing posts with label Makeup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Makeup. Show all posts

Friday, February 5, 2010

Guess My Name - Time To Come Clean + Misc Hauls

Good Day, everyone!

OK, so I've been meaning to do this post for awhile, but as usual haven't gotten around to it until now.
There has been some confusion (naturally so) regarding my changing my posting/blogger ID name from Vanessa to Helen; I've received a couple of emails about it, and I know there are some of my other blogger acquaintances wondering as well - so today is the day to come clean about it.
(Of course, those of you who are new followers haven't seen me posting as Vanessa, so there will be no adjusting problems for you ;) )

I've decided to start posting under my real name - which is Helen - Vanessa is the name of my precious daughter, and I felt it was time to stop hijacking her name, lol!
Also, it does feel quite awkward having people write: "Hi Vanessa" when it isn't my real name...
This means we are now officially two "Helens" in the nail Blogosphere (at least that I know of) - myself and our wonderful fellow English blogger (from Helen & Sheenie).
Hopefully you won't have too much trouble telling us apart!

So - now you gals have something new to learn over the weekend, which is a hard thing, isn't it...? lol!
Really - I bet you'll adjust in no time.

And here's just a few teaser pics of recent hauls - I'll feature these items in upcoming blog posts soon.

 
  
  
  
  
  
  


Have a GREAT weekend!! ♥

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

◆ NARS Spring 2010 Collection ◆



Inspired by Catherine Deneuve’s role as Lucille in La Chamade; the NARS Spring 2010 Collection features soft, sexy shades that are as elegant as they are versatile. “I love Catherine’s makeup look in this movie,” says Francois Nars. “She is the perfect reference for this collection, and apropos for spring, a time to embrace color and get noticed”.




  • Duo Eyeshadow - Kuala Lumpur
  • Duo Cream Eyeshadow - Camargue
  • Single Eyeshadow - D. Gorgeous







  • Glitter pencil - Bains Douches
  • Lipstick - Cruising
  • Lip Gloss - Ophelia, Easy lover
  • Nail Polish - Purple Rain

Hmmm; that lippie and nail polish certainly looks interesting to me.... what do you gals think of this collection - any lemmings?

Til next time - ♥

Monday, February 1, 2010

♥ Makeup Techniques Based on Eye Shapes ♥

Good Day Lovelies!

It is not very difficult to learn how to use optical illusions to your own advantage. This post will show you how to improve your eye shape and make your eyes look more beautiful with the help of shadows, mascara and eyeliner.
Before we get into talking about different eye shapes, there are some general rules that can be helpful as guidelines along the way:

  • Dark shades make your eyes visually smaller, deep set, whilst light shades, on the contrary, make them appear bigger. If you want to create the effect of big, attractive eyes, prefer light eye-shadows. 
  • Eye shadows applied after an eye pencil or any other kind of eyeliner will make your eyes look softer and dreamy. For a more dramatic look, apply eyeliner after the application of eye-shadows.
  • Don’t forget to curl your eyelashes, and then cover them with a layer or two of mascara. Avoid lining the inner edge of the lower eyelashes, as it can make your eyes visually smaller (unless lining with light shades). (My optician also told me that lining the inner rims may cause clogging of the inner rim glands, we do have tiny ones there)

Wide Set Eyes
You can visually reduce the distance between your eyes. Start at outer corner of eye with medium tint shadow, angling slightly upward. Apply shadow color on entire eyelid as far as crease, blending outward. Spread medium-light toned shadow to brow bone and blend to center of the lid. Apply darker color in the inner corner of the eyelid, going softly along side of bridge of nose into fullest area of brow.

eye wide set

Put darker color from inner corner to the center of your eyelid, blending into medium shade that started from the outer corner. The lightest shade should be concentrated in the center under the brow.


Stay away of adding the lightest shade to outer edges under brow, which would pull your eye outward. Line eyes completely – top and bottom – from inner to outer corners. Apply mascara. Brush lashes straight up. To make the eyes appear closer together, use mascara generously, on both upper and lower lashes.


Close Set Eyes
Close set eyes are those which are narrower than one eye width.
eye close set

To correct this with the help of an eyeliner, draw a very thin line along the upper eyelashes so that it becomes thicker near the outer corner of your eyes, or you may start lining a quarter of the way out from the inner eye corner. Smudge lines.
Put a thin layer of light eye-shadow from the inner corner of your eyes to the middle of your eyelid. After that apply shadows of darker hues starting from the middle of your eyelid to the outer corner. Blend the colors in the middle of the lids. Mascara on both upper and lower lashes, but do use more mascara on the outer corners.


Deep Set Eyes
If you have deep set eyes, opt for light and nacreous colors of eyeshadows that will aid in making your eyes appear visually bigger. Apply light eyeshadows on the eyelid from the inner corner of your eye slightly angling upward and a bit further.

Apply light colors in the middle of the lid, and darker colors on and just above the socket line. Blend the darker shade softly up and out.
And put the lightest shade under brow. Remember, dark colors on brow bone will make deep set eyes look even deeper. Avoid using eyeliner on top lids, which will sink eyes further back. But line lower lid under lashes on outer one-third. Then smudge pencil line to just a shadow to minimize heaviness of top brow.


Hooded Eyes
These eyes are set so that natural crease in the eyelid is not readily seen. To make such eyes look more expressive apply a medium to dark shadow on the crease and hooded area.
eye hooded makeup

Then sweep a lighter shadow on the brow bone and on the inside corner of the eye. Draw a very thin line along the top lash line (to keep the eye looking open) and smudge it with a cotton swab.

Apply dense black mascara to upper lashes only.



Asian Eyes
These eyes have a distinctive lift at the corner and have very little lid. To create a better look, apply light eyeshadows on your eyelids. Use an eyeliner to make a thick smoky line along upper eyelashes (the line should be thick enough to be seen well when your eyes are open).

Draw a thinner line under the lower eyelashes. To make your eyes look visually wider put brown eyeshadow on your eyebrows or apply a brown pencil. Cover your eyelashes with two or three layers of dense mascara.



Small Eyes
They are proportionately smaller in comparison to the rest of the facial features.

small eye makeup

To enhance small eyes apply a medium-toned shadow (such as soft grey or blue) to the crease and lighter shadow on the eyelids. Then use a soft-colored liner both on the top and bottom lash lines, extending the top line across the entire lash line. Apply black mascara on upper lashes.


 Prominent eyes
 These eyes tend to dominate the facial features. The eyelids are too large.

prominent makeup

Your best decision is – medium to deep shades of shadow on the lids as they help to minimize the appearance of your lids. Liner when applied to the lash bases from corner to corner gives prominent eyes a smoldering and mysterious look. Finish with a coat of black mascara on both upper and lower lashes.


For Girls Wearing Glasses
If you wear glasses your make-up should depend on the color of the frame. If the frame is bright, you don’t have to add color with eye shadows.
Pay attention to your eyelashes and put the accent on them. Opt for a black mascara.
To give your eyelashes more volume and make them fluffy, use a dense mascara and apply it from the roots to the tips. Besides, you should correct your brow line as it will be seen before people see your eyes.








That's all for today, I hope you have found this post helpful, and remember - the most important thing is that you FEEL good in the choices you make!

Til next time - ♥

Thursday, June 18, 2009

New NYX Lipglosses With Swatches

Hi gals! And guys too... if you're out there lurking ;)

These are my new NYX lipglosses! Well, that wasn't exactly true - they are actually my mothers, I ordered these on her behalf ;)
However, she was kind enough to let me swatch them all, so I hope this is helpful for anyone wanting to buy NYX online, since relying on the online swatches is like playing Russian roulette, you have no idea what to expect the colors to look like IRL...

Let's have a look then!


L-R: Gold Mauve, Salsa, French Kiss, Copper Penny, Sunrise




L-R: Gold Mauve, Salsa, French Kiss, Copper Penny, Sunrise


Slightly different angle...

L-R: Gold Mauve, Salsa, French Kiss, Copper Penny, Sunrise



My mom found her HG lipgloss when trying French Kiss from my stash some time ago, so she was eagerly awaiting this package ;) She bought the others on a whim more or less, turned out she wasn't very fond of Gold Mauve (too violet) and Sunrise (too red) so she ended up giving those to me ;)
I'm not quite sure I'll ever use Gold Mauve - makes me look like a corps - but it would be perfect for a "goth girl" I'm sure.


So, which is your holy grail lipgloss?

See you soon, take care ;)


Monday, June 15, 2009

Released: MAC Naked Honey Collection


Another new collection from MAC Cosmetics to indulge in this summer. What’s close to being sweet as sugar? Well, honey of course! This summer sweetness was released on June 11, 2009 (North America - we Internationals will have to wait until July).



From the MAC website:

"Bees do it… now M•A•C does it! Honey that is! As ancient and exotic as Kohl, great beauties have long revered the natural restorative powers of the Golden Elixir.

Following the example of their fabled Queen, Cleopatra, Egyptians bathed in honey and milk. Queen Anne of England used it to silken her hair; from the Ancient Greeks to the Roman Empire, honey has never lost its regal, ever-amber lustre. We love the luxury of its sensual essence…but we also know that it’s a highly efficient and wholesome humectant and healer. Introducing our limited edition Naked Honey collection – three aspects of golden warmth and sun-made sweetness for the body, layered with two decidedly different honeycomb-derived fragrances – celebrating the secret lives of Queen Bees. Complementary shade of High-Light Powder, Eye Shadow and Lipglass are all the buzz for summer".


So, let’s take a look at the collection!



Lipglass ($14.00 U.S. / $16.50 CDN)

  • She’s a Star Light neutral gold
  • Queen Bee Mid-tone apricot with multi-dimensional pearl
  • Buzz Dark copper brown with multi-dimensional pearl

Eyeshadow ($14.50 U.S. / $17.00 CDN)

  • Crème de Miel Frosty light yellow gold
  • Pollinator Mid-tone warm reddened peach with pearl
  • Buckwheat Dark copper brown with multi-dimensional pearl

High-Light Powder ($24.50 U.S. / $29.50 CDN)

A high-light powder specially created for the Naked Honey collection. It features an embossed honeycomb pattern — super-fine, impeccably pearlized. It creates soft high lights on cheek, brow, shoulders — anywhere on the body.

  • Honey Light A light peachy gold with shimmer
  • Golden Nectar Muted golden tan with gold shimmer

Naked Honey Skin Salve ($18.50 U.S. / $22.50 CDN)

Formulated from honey, organic beeswax, sunflower oil, and other natural ingredients, this rich honey-scented and flavoured salve instantly moisturizers and helps recondition dry skin. Multi-purpose. Use everywhere.

Naked Honey Hand and Body Cream ($22.50 U.S. / $27.00 CDN)

A sensuous cream made form bio-converted honey, shea butter, and vitamins C and E derivatives. Absorbs quickly for skin-softening moisture. Conditions, nourishes, protects. Use on all areas where ultra-moisture is called for.

Naked Honey Body Wash ($19.50 U.S. / $23.50 CDN)

Formulated from bio-converted honey, this body wash cleanses the skin while providing the soothing and moisturizing benefits of lavender, narcissus, jasmine flower, and blue agave extracts. Provides a sensual, calming, cleansing experience.

Creations: Naked Honey ($22.50 U.S. / $28.50 CDN)

An aromatic journey that traces honey’s fragrant heart back to summer’s sweetest blooms. Energy starts to buzz, spirits soar, light floral and woodsy notes float toward an electric finale. Sweet and sexy all the way.

Creations: Africanimal ($22.50 U.S. / $28.50 CDN)

A scent that starts with a honey-ness that’s seductive and given its dash of pepper, not without spice. Add a dark kiss of bergamot and wood, an aromatic orgy breaks out to create a scent that’s all honey but far from sweet.

Available: June 11th, 2009 in North America. July 2009 International.


Eyeshadows: Creme de Miel, Pollinator, Buckwheat



To be honest; there's nothing in this collection really calling my name, I don't find it very intriguing so I doubt I will pick up anything from it. If I should pick up one item from this collection, it would be the Honey Light highlight powder.
I do love honey, though, and the smell of it but I've read reviews of the skin care products suggesting that most of the scented products are more floral/spicy and less honey-ish.

How about you, will you be getting anything from the Naked Honey collection?





Source: Temptalia.com

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Before tossing your UDPP...

OK, so I've been on the verge of running out on my Urban Decay Primer Potion this last week.... or at least, so I thought!
I actually did toss the tube in the kitchen bin, only to return a few moments later and pick it up. I then pulled out the largest bread knife I could find in the kitchen drawer, and started to saw it open. It took me some time; but eventually the freakin' tube was finally cut open!

And voilá; this is what was left inside...


5 gram jar packed full...


I was shocked (no; SHOCKED!) to see how much product that was still in there...
Enough to pack a five gram jar full!!






Perhaps though, the people at Urban Decay have finally listened to their customers pleas to improve the packaging of the Primer Potion, as they have recently started rolling out this new and "improved" angled wand that's supposed to alleviate the aggravation of having well over half the product remaining in your tube, unreachable except via hacksaw...




I suppose it's a tiny bit of an improvement... but honestly, I can't understand why they can't just put it in a regular lip gloss tube or a squeeze bottle! I don't see this as much of a solution. I still think there will be a lot of product remaining in the tube...

How do you feel about Urban Decay's "solution"?

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Mini MAC Haul

Hi you!

It seems like forever that I've wanted to get my hands on a sample of the long ago discontinued MAC pigment Lily White, so I was ecstatic (well, almost anyway ;)) when finally finding it online! I also bought this mini lipglass which is called Moonstone, I thought it looked really pretty as well. When the package showed up, I sure wasn't disappointed ;) I really enjoy them both.
Lily White is everything I hoped it would be; it's a shimmery neutral color; pinky peachy golden. Not very unusual, but I love it still ;) It's a great highlighter and lid color; perfect for use on the inner half lid to brighten up any look! Kind of frosty, though, so I wouldn't want to over apply it. Moonstone resembles a warm pink with pearl shade.
Since I am a true lipstick gal, I'm still in the process of getting used to wearing lip glosses. I still like the color payoff and staying power of lipsticks more, but I'm slowly adjusting to glosses as well ;)



Lily White to the left, Moonstone to the right (as if that isn't obvious ;))



That's all I have for you right now; see ya!

xoxo

Sunday, April 19, 2009

The Body Shop Hot Brights Summer Collection


These are The Body Shop "Hot Brights" Summer collection promo shots! Seeing these pics really makes me want to run around in flip flops or sip an "umbrella drink"!

There's not much info around for the collection yet but it seems like the theme is "duos" in purple, blue or bronze. Two blush/highlighters, two eye shadows (in blue or purple tones) and two eyeliners (also blue or purple).
Additionally; there are two "Hot Brights Lips and Cheeks Duo", which seems to be a gloss and a stain (01 -Rose Sunrise and 02 - Coral Sand).











I'm not a regular TBS customer; in fact I don't own one single TBS item... I've just never found something that wows me, or stands out that I haven't already found in other companies. This collection looks somewhat intriguing; I doubt I'll pick anything up from it, though ;)

Do you like the Body Shop? What do you think of this collection?

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

More NYX Hauling... :) Really?

OK; somebody tell me I have a problem with NYX! I obviously can't seem to control my "click finger", since I recently ended up buying even more NYX products that I really don't need (or do I? ;) ) ... Perhaps I should found "NYX-aholics Anonymous"?
Seriously, I just love these products; they are great value for money and they are cheapo cheap as well (at least by Swedish standards). I have been very curious about the fairly new Black Label lipsticks, and so I ordered two of those, and I also wanted to try out the Jumbo Eye Pencils, and so I ordered one of those. Also really needed (yeah, right... ;)) a few new lip pencils, and so I ordered some of those... and a blue eye pencil, which I honestly don't have in my collection... and of course a gloss, since I really, really don't have any glosses... :D NYX-aholics Anonymous it is....
I got these products from MsCuppyCakes.com; which is a great site selling only NYX cosmetics and Red Cherry false lashes. Shipping is very reasonable, and the goodies arrived promptly within 8-10 days or so; not bad at all. This is actually two separate orders that arrived a few days apart, on which I decided to do one post.

Haul #1...


Like I said; I really needed some new Round lippies.. ;)


Jumbo Pencil "Cottage Cheese" #608 and Lip Gloss "Pink Frost" #127



Haul #2...





NYX Round Lipstick "Goddess", Black Label Lipstick "Satin" & "Sahara"
Very similar shades...


L-R: Insatiable, Nepal, Candlelight, Pale Shrimp, Nectar, Sapphire

L-R: Pencils: Insatiable, Nepal, Candlelight, Pale Shrimp, Nectar, Sapphire. Round Lipstick: Goddess. Black Label Lipstick: Satin, Sahara

Slightly different angle... As you can see Goddess and Sahara are very similar...

I really like the Black Label lipsticks. They have a fresh scent, feel very moisturizing on the lips, and the colors are so vibrant. But, in my honest opinion, they are not "better" in terms of texture compared to the Round lipsticks. The main difference between the RL and the BLL is that the BLL don't contain any Mineral Oil. I paid $4.50 each for the Black Label Lipsticks, and only $1.25 each for the Round Lipsticks. I don't know if I think I can justify buying more BLL, paying more than 3 times as much for those, when I feel the Round lippies are just as good. They are not that special. At least not to me ;) However, if you are looking for products that are free from Mineral Oil, you should try them.
Regarding the eye- and lip pencil(s); they are great! Not too hard, not too soft: just perfect texture! They are very easy to work with, and they stay put. I really don't know the difference between the lip pencils; one of them (Nectar) is from the "Slim Lip Pencil" range and is shorter than the others, which are called only "Lip Pencil". The Slim pencils are priced at $2.25 each, the others are $1.75 each. The eye pencil is from the "Slim Eye Pencil" range, and just like the Slim Lip Pencils these are priced at $2.25 each.

As for the Round Lipsticks in this post; I promise to do an update post where I'll swatch them for you as soon as possible.. ;)

That's it for now, I'm out of here :)

See you very soon,

xoxo