Friday 24 July 2015

Party Makeup Favourites!!!

Hey Readers,
Hope this post finds you well. I know I have said I have been really busy of late and part of the reason why it has been is I have been attending a lot of special occasion parties for family and friends. So I thought today I would share the makeup products that have served me well during this time.




Foundation

Parties usually mean photos and the need for long lasting makeup. While I haven't been finding much luck finding the perfect photo friendly foundation. I have found a pretty good long lasting combination. I love starting with the Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous as it doesn't contain spf (parties are mostly at night and helps with flash back) it also goes on easily and blends seemlessly. I usually apply it a little bit lighter than I usually would and buff it in well this not only helps with longevity but also helps keep everything flawless for a long time and just to make sure that everything is set I do like to top with powder. My powder of choice is the Youngblood Natural Mineral Loose Foundation. On its own this is a beautiful mineral foundation that by itself does hold its own but I love it over the top of a medium coverage foundation or light BB for extra coverage but also to help with oil control its really a set and forget product. 





Contour/Bronzer

When it comes to contour and bronzing I do prefer a matte option and these next three products a generally on permanent rotation. 

Bourjois Bronzing Primer 

This in the tub this looks like a light chocolate moose. Its texture is somewhere between a gel and cream but I love using it as it goes on smooth and blends really easily. Its great for adding instant warmth to a look. Now even though it says primer I do often use it on its own although for extra glow I will go over with a powder bronzer. 

Chella Cinnamon Highlighter 

Now this is really new to my collection but I have loved it from the beginning its the perfect option for a more precise contour its great for chiseling out each cheeks, contouring the nose and forehead. Its pencil application means product goes exactly where you want it and the softness of the product means its blended out easily. 

Bourjois Delice de Soleil Bronzing Powder
If you read my blog often you are probably sick of hearing about this one but its a product I just cannot put down. Its mostly matte and its slight shimmer helps this product give the most gorgeous glow to the skin. On its own or layered over the top of one of the cream products above its a perfect fit to any look and goes well with most of the blushes I own.




Blush

I usually go for a peachy pink/coral toned blush and depending on whether I feel like highlighting will depend on if the blush is shimmery or matte. Sometimes I just rummage through the blush draw just for something I haven't worn in a while!!! 




Highlighter.
I always hesitate to add highlighter to a look as I always feel I potentially end up looking too shiny and given I do so much to keep my shiny t zone at bay adding highlight to my cheeks, down my nose and cupids bow seems contradictory. However with the new craze of strobbing going around. My last couple of parties I have given the highlighting a turn. I have to say it was worth it and a lot of people commented on how good my makeup looked. 

Mary-Lou Manizer by the Balm
 This really is a great product it amazes me every time I use it. Its soft and easy  is to use and you only need a tiny amount to get that perfect glow. I have to admit that you do require a precise brush so you only get the product exactly where you want but it blends well and  pairs with most bronzers and blushes and doesn't look unnatural. 




Eye Shadow
Usually evenings out or a event during the day (family events, social dinner with friends) means I constantly find myself having to fall back into everyday neutral territory and pull out my Lorac Pro palette, Chi Chi Glamourous Nudes palette or my Urban Decay Naked 2 palette (pictured below). But recently their have been a events where I have been able to step outside the neutral square. So while I love the three palettes above and often start any look with them my go to for something a bit more colourful are the following!!! 




Chi Chi Glamourous Brights Eye Shadow Palette
I have always been slightly scared of this palette from the day I bought it. I have never been that good at making a bright colour wearable but knowing how good these shadows are I just couldn't put it down and walk away!!! My go to look has been to pair a neutral eye and winged liner with a pop of colour on the lower lash line. It doesn't matter which colour you choose from this palette they are soft and pigmented they are also shimmery so be prepared for a little fall out but over all they just add another dimension to a colourful look!! 




Nyx Jumbo Pencil in 604 Milk
Now this has been my go to to help all the shadows above adhere and also make the colour stand out even more the texture of the product is a little sticky so perfect for the colour with glitter  as well as pigments. It really helps everything stay put.




BYS Blush Duo in 02 Colour Me Happy
Now an honorary mention has to go to this blush. Recently a friend of mine turned 40, her party was french themed and the dress code red white and blue. I knew I wanted to incorporate all three colours in my makeup I had the blue and white but no red. With such a couple of busy weeks before hand the you need to find a red eye shadow just completley slipped my mind. So on the day I find myself searching through my collection. At the back of the draw I found this. Bought forever ago just simply because it was marked down to $2.00 I have actually never used it as the colours on my cheeks because they are so bright. But the I thought hey this would make a good shadow. The colours are really pigmented and being matte the red in this duo made my look balancing the glitter in the white and blue I was complemented a lot on the look including from the birthday girl herself!!! 




BE Beauty essentials Felt Eyeliner Pen in Black.
This has become my go to black liner as it is so easy to apply and it stays all day/night. Its pigmented matte black that doesn't fade to grey. The tip of this liner is fine and flexible enough that it makes creating a wing simple and easy great to add to any eye look.




Mascara 
So as you know mascaras for me are on constant rotation and it will depend on my eye look as to how I choose to finish my lashes. At the very least I choose something that will volumise as I love the thickening of my lashes look.




So that ends my party makeup favourites. I hope you have enjoyed reading this as much as I have enjoyed writing this I really love being able to share makeup thats a little bit more fun and colourful. I hope this inspires you the next time that you have a special event to go to.

Happy reading and happy shopping
Everlynne






Saturday 18 July 2015

Mascara Madness #11

Hey Readers, 
I hope this post finds you well. So I was cleaning out my makeup bag during the week and realised that I have four mascaras in rotation at the moment!! I don't usually open that many at once but I have been for the most part enjoying them so I thought it high time I wrote about them. As usual I will compare their marketing pitch to my experience. I hope you enjoy!!



Nyx Le Chick Flick Waterproof Mascara in Black 

The Pitch: This is apart of the Nyx Boudoir Collection which is based on you chosing a mascara to suit how you wish to have your lashes look there are 7 to choose from each giving a unique lash look all whilst being long lasting and smudge free. Le chick flick is said to thicken lashes delivering deep dark drama.
The Reality: I have really enjoyed this one its a great everyday mascara it gives a good amount of volume without coating your lashes with a ton of product and despite having a straight wand I do find it helps to fan out your lashes. I really like that it gives that darkness and definition but also looks natural.



Covergirl Full Lash Bloom in Very Black

The Pitch: With Full Lash Bloom Mascara, get exceptional full lashes that’s soft - even to the touch. With our new petal-shaped brush and mousse formula with natural beeswax, lashes are never stiff or brittle. Perfect for everyday wear, Full Lash Bloom Mascara is also safe for contact lens wearers and is ophthalmologically tested. So bring out every last lash, and embrace you in full bloom!!
The Reality: It really is what you read is what you get however I wouldn't say it will be replacing my most favourite covergirl mascara clump crusher. Don't get me wrong it goes on smooth and you get naturally volumised lashes that are soft to touch. I used this mascara everyday but after the first couple of weeks after opening  I found that the wand gets a little bit of buildup on it which can transfer to the lashes and cause little bits of mascara to flake off your lashes. Apart from that a great everyday mascara. 




Loreal Miss Manga Mega Volume in Black

The Pitch: Miss Manga Mascara builds 15 times the volume of natural lashes, both top and bottom. Lashes are amplified for wider, bigger and more open doll like eyes.
The Reality: While I do like this mascara I don't think I have gotten the application of this quite right yet. A bend in the wand means that the wand does the work for you. You don't have to wiggle or move it to catch every latch it does it on its own. It's hard to get used to the wand moving as you coat your lashes and not having to move it to get every lash itself. The brush it also tapered at the tip so its easy to catch the inner corner lashes as well as the bottom lashes. The formula of the mascara is also slightly thicker than the average so you have to be careful not to apply too quickly and end up with clumpy lashes. Overall a great formula for a bolder lash look.




Loreal Volume Million Lashes So Couture 

The Pitch: The Volume Million Lashes So Couture brush has been created with 408 extra small bristles for the most precise mascara application yet. Matched with the smooth black silk formula, lashes are individually coated for millionised volume that's oh so couture.
The Reality: Once again what you read is what you get this mascara goes on smooth, bristles add volume and separate  lashes perfectly. But overall it is a little bit disappointing to be honest. I had received this mascara in the latest the parcel edit and it is the first more expensive mascara I have tried for a long time. I had really high hopes thinking it would have a real wow factor and it really doesn't. While it goes on smooth, doesn't clump and gives lashes volume it doesn't give them any definition or curl either. My lashes just look plain nothing fancy and certainly not couture!!! Despite this though it is a great everyday mascara, I do enjoy wearing it. I just wouldn't pay the $30 price tag to repurchase.  





So that ends another mascara madness I hope you enjoyed it and have some food for thought next time you are looking for a new mascara!!! Until next time Happy reading and happy shopping!! 

Everlynne.

The Websites that helped me write this post:Nyx Le Chick Flick
Covergirl Full lash Bloom
Loreal Miss Manga 
Loreal Volume Million Lashes 


Sunday 5 July 2015

Favourites.

Hey Readers,
WOW it has been four months since I last posted a favourites post. Life has just gotten really busy and I have to say all my good intentions of shopping my stash every month and sorting through my collection really has gone out the window over this time. I really have turned to products I know work first time every time and most of them I have spoken about before. Having said all that I have found a few new things in the last couple of months and I have a few shop my stash products that have become my staples and that I wanted to tell you all about four months ago before life got in the way. So after so long of not sharing these products I thought it was time I did!!




Essence Sun Club Matt Bronzing Powder in 02 Sunny for Brunettes/Darker Skin
Ok so this is a shop my stash surprise. Forever ago I bought both of the matte bronzers from Essence and at the time preferred (and still love) the one marketed for blondes/lighter skin tones, I just found the brunettes version too dark and too orange so it was way in the back of my blush bronzer draw when I pulled it out. I was playing around with post foundation contouring and thought I would give it a go. Needless to say I have found myself a new favourite at the same time surprised a product I hadn't really loved I know find myself reaching for. It is a bit darker and more intense in colour to the light version a little bit on the brush goes a long way but it just defines and sculpts for contouring nicely and I have to say although more orangey in colour swept all over the face with a fluffy brush gives a great warmth and glow (minus the shimmer). A new favourite!!!




Models Prefer Mystique Multi-Tone Bronzer in the shade Charmed
This is a another shop my stash find. Its a really great matte blush/bronzer that gives an easy to apply,  buildable peachy tones flush to the cheeks. Its really great when you are in a rush and need warmth and colour added to your look and I have really enjoyed adding into the routine when I am time poor. There is also a small mirror in the lid of the box which comes in handy!!!  






Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous Fresh Complexion Oil Free Foundation shade 210 Medium Beige and Covergirl Ready Set Gorgeous Concealer shade medium
OK so probably your sick of hearing about this new foundation and concealer from Covergirl but they really are great products and are a duo that work together perfectly. I think this is the first time I have bought the foundation and matching concealer and liked both products equally as much. They have become my go to simply because they are so easy to apply. The foundation is the first in a long time that just went on perfectly I didn't have to experiment with application techniques to get it looking flawless it just applied and looked flawless from the word go. Its a really smooth foundation that really does glide on and blends into the skin its medium coverage covers most of my imperfections. For those that areas that need a bit more work the concealer in this line does a great job. Under the eyes it blends and conceals dark circles as well as adding a little brightness to the area. It also does a great job at getting rid of redness as for blemishes as this is designed to pair with two of the shades in the foundation range I do find it slightly too light to really conceal but I put this on then add a little more foundation over and blemishes are invisible.  




ELF Blush Brush
This was a brush that I pulled out a couple of months ago I had really been wanting a contour brush but just didn't have the time to shop for them and this brush does a decent job although over time I have loved and not loved it so much. As a blush brush its ok but in all reality I do find it better for bronzer/contour its pointed tip allows for a really precise application but its fluffy enough to also blend out as you go. I will keep using it even though I have a new brush that is more suited to the job!!!




Models Prefer Sculpting Brush MPC101 Contour
As I said above I was really wanting some new brushes in particular a contour brush the one I have had my eye on is the much talked about Manicare Artiste Contour brush but every time I have gone to Priceline they have been sold out. It wasn't that long ago that I went in just to check (again) as these brushes where 20% off it was there and I grabbed it straight away but as usual I had to walk around the store. Next thing I know I am in front of the Models Prefer stand once again looking at brushes but this time the catalogue deal was  3 for 2. I had two brushes and the third I had in mind sadly was sold out. But it was making sure trying to sort through brushes that had been put in the incorrect place I found this contour brush. I did not know that it even excited. So then I was unsure which to buy and  for the first time I had a sales assistant come to the rescue. Talking to this lovely lady I not only found out that this brush from Models Prefer was brand new but also that the manicare contour brush has it flaws including the loss of dye and bristles when washed!! So naturally I chose the Models prefer brushes and out of the three I chose this is my pick the bristles are soft but dense and it applies and blends both cream and powder contour perfectly I have also used it for blush which it also applies easily. It also has washes well with no loss of bristles or dye!!!



BE Beauty Essentials Felt Eye Liner Pen in Black 
While usually I prefer a dark brown liner but with a few events to go to last month I decided it was time to pull out my black liners again. I chose this one at the time as I remembered its a matte black and that it was pretty easy to apply given I am not usually the greatest with pen or liquid liners this is so easy to use it gives a perfect black line and with its thin tip makes it easy to create a wing. I also love that it doesn't budge or fade over time it does however need a good makeup remover to remove. 




Mary Kay Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover.
This is another shop my stash product all my makeup removers stand on my bathroom shelf and I try my best to rotate through them as I do love them all for different reasons but the other night I had been playing around with my makeup not only had I blessed my eyes with a winged liner using the a fore mentioned eye liner pen but I also had used nyx jumbo pencil in milk and shadows from the chi chi brights palette on the lower lash line I just knew that it wasn't going to be removed easily. This was the first make up remover I picked up and I had really forgotten just how good it is. A small amount used to dampen a cotton round and my beautiful makeup was a thing of the past everything just came off so easily and the product is really gentle on the eyes and skin. I have actually started using this more often. 




So that ends my favourites for the last couple of months hopefully I will get back to doing these posts more often from now on and I apologise for the delay in this one. I hope you enjoyed it and it helps next time you are looking for a new makeup product. Until next post happy reading and happy shopping. 

Everlynne.