FOTD

The Daily Face #6: Warm and Smoky

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It’s amazing how irrational we can be when taxing matters are involved. I have a confession; I don’t clean my makeup brushes anywhere near the minimally recommended and required amount and I tend to be rather delusional about it. Case in point, I haven’t been feeling my eye makeup for a week or two, noticing that it was looking rather muddy but that little voice in my head that allows me to hold on to my sanity was determined to convince me that it wasn’t. Well it was. And I finally convinced myself to clean a few of my brushes and make some effort. The laborious task was worth it, let me tell you. However the amount of product that emerged in the sink during the washing process was borderline terrifying. Is anyone as lazy as me?

FACE: Lancome La Base Pro Primer, Make Up For Ever HD Foundation in 115, MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder in Light, Rimmel Match Perfection Highlighting Concealer in Ivory, Rimmel Natural Bronzer in Sun Light, Benefit Girl Meets Pearl Highlighter, Maybelline Hi-Lighting Bronzer in Deep Bronze
BROWS: Urban Decay Naked eyeshadow w/ a bit of Buck on the outside portion
EYES: NYX HD Eyeshadow Base, Urban Decay Naked 1 Palette (Buck, Sin, Toasted, Smog & Darkhorse), Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeliner in Brown, Lancome Le Crayon Khol in Black Ebony, Maybelline The Falsies Mascara
LIPS: MAC Patisserie Lipstick

 I’ve been in more of a smoky eye mood lately and today I was surprisingly happy with the subtlety of the result. As I have been in the last couple of days, I pulled out my longtime pre-blog favourite but now oft-neglected, Make Up For Ever HD Foundation and I’ve been really enjoying it for its skin like finish and ability to smooth over texture imperfections of the skin. I know many seem to say that the ever-popular foundation emphasizes dry patches but I don’t find this to be true in the slightest. As I seem to have this compulsive need to add some shape to my face, I pulled out the subtle offering by Rimmel and of course I topped it with my current “blush” love the warm coppery Maybelline Hi-Lighting Bronzer in Deep Bronze – I’m sure you’re sick of me talking about this but it’s deserving of every mention and more. For my chapped and worse-for-wear lips I put on the effortless warm nude that isn’t actually any paler than my lips, MAC Patisserie.

Knowing me, it shouldn’t be a shock that a, I didn’t make a huge departure from my go-to shades and that b, I used the Naked Palette for the daytime smoky eye in question, however I did something different, placing Toasted all across the lid, only putting my typical go-to shade, Sin in the inner corner. Keeping with the warm theme, Buck went in the crease but was then followed with Smog in the outer portion and Darkhorse was the finishing shade, blended into the outer corner and lower lashline. I had been planning to wear the Rimmel brown liner in both the inner rims of my eyes and on the lash lines but due to it’s waxy texture, I can never get it to transfer onto the waterline so I went for my Lancome standby I’ve had for ages. The Rimmel liner is one product that I do not understand the hype of for the life of me. On the mascara note, I doubt you even need to ask.

I was surprised with how the makeup turned out – the eyes were subtly smoky while still looking awake and the skin had a nice warm glow. And the lipstick of course was divine. I devote an entire book to my love of Patisserie…

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Thoughts? What makeup have you been reaching for lately?

Daily Face #5: I Sort of Have a Routine *Gasp*

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Although I’m self-professedly not the kind of girl who sticks to a daily makeup routine without changing it up a bit on the daily basis, lately I’ve been sticking to quite a “routine” of sorts and I thought I’d share as I haven’t done a daily face this year – what horror, har har har. This is the kind of makeup that seems to happen when (a) I make the effort to actually apply something and (b) I don’t want to think on autopilot.

So I might have lied; well kind of. I’ve gotten into a routine in terms of what products I apply and what I go for buttt as I’m not completely broke as I’ve picked up a few things lately there have been a few recent additions as well. The overall routine, however, has remained constant.

I’m convinced that I was delusional before when I thought I didn’t like Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse Foundation. Since doing my “shopping my stash” post, I’ve been reaching for this foundation exclusively – and that’s saying something because I’m a foundation hoarder and I can never seem to stick to one. It has a hydrating creamy consistency providing medium coverage that can be built and a slightly dewy finish. Particularly when paired with the Lancome La Base Pro silicone-y primer, it sits on my dry skin nicely, providing coverage without it looking obvious or making my skin look dull.

I’ve done something shocking, I’ve fallen back in love with my MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder , which I wear in the lightest shade after passing powder off for months because I don’t “need it” and worried about cakiness and the like. Maybe now since I’ve been a little more frugal with my foundation application or something, it’s made its way into the daily rotation. Applied with a powder brush, it adds a tiny bit of coverage and sets the skin and helps with imperfections such as pores and texture while providing a natural (not matte) finish. Unless I have an absolutely frightening dry patch, it does not highlight them at all and it’s amazing. Concealer has been my standard highlighting Rimmel Match Perfection underneath my eyes in the lightest shade.

For the last little while I’ve rambled on about my love of MAC Harmony Powder Blush for the daily contouring and bronzing job, but recently I’ve been reaching for the creamy Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Creme Bronzer in Warm Tan because there is something magical about the way it sits on the skin that’s worth the extra effort to blend in. Benefit Girl Meets Pearl Highlighter ends up on my cheekbones daily automatically for that healthy dewy sheen.

So I was at MAC a week ago and somehow I found myself at the register with a few products I’d been lusting after in my bag. I have no idea how this happened. Even though the last thing in the world I need is blush, I picked up the duo palette and had to pick up a blush to go inside along with the eyeshadows and I chose MAC Powder Blush in Tenderling and I’m glad I did. It’s my first truly neutral blush that livens up the face without looking like blush and is that perfect complement to wearing a bolder lip in daytime life. It’s matte-but-not-flat and the warmish brown shade leans peachy in a flattering way. If you have colouring like mine, you need this in your life. 

Although I do tend to rotate between specific eyeshadows, I’ve been reaching for this “eye” exclusively. After priming, I filled in my brows with my latest addition, MAC Coquette eyeshadow , which I purchased at the reccomendation of the salesgirl after I complained of my brows looking too red-toned despite whatever shadow I used. Hallelujah,  she was right. I also used the shade in the crease. On the lid I wore the product that I’ve used up two times and have been lusting after to repurchase since I began this blog, MAC All That Glitters which has the nicest sheen to it without being over-the-top and sits halfway between a champagne and a copper. There’s nothing like this shade to wear on the lid when you want a lighter neutral colour but are bored of the usual champagnes. In the inner corner and browbone, MAC Dazzlelight has been my go-to as it’s not overtly shimmery and looks natural. For definition in the outer-corner of the eye, I used Club but this shade I tend to switch up. I’ve been wearing a thin but slightly-winged line of my well-loved L’Oreal Lineur Intense and as always, I’ve been coating my lashes with good ol’ Maybelline The Falsies. This is one of those types of eye makeup that looks fairly natural on the lid but really defines the eye and looks polished.

If you know me, I’m not usually one to wear the same lip daily but lately I’ve been wearing darker lips (the blush makes this far easier) and particularly I’ve found myself going for MAC Dubonnet. Because of the amplified creme finish of the lipstick, it’s moisturizing but the formula does tend to slide around the lips with any sort of eating or drinking. I’ve discovered that blotting it slightly doesn’t reduce the hydration and really helps the lipstick to last longer with minimal maintenance – because of the creaminess of the shade, I used to find that if I wasn’t careful I could rub the lipstick off of my lips before it stained them creating that dreaded lipstick ring around the edges of the mouth.

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It’s difficult for me to get the balance right while wearing the darker lips that I adore; I need to add definition to my eyes and cheeks to balance out the face or bold colours tend to look hideous on me and what I’ve been doing has helped me to get the balance right (in my opinion!) and I wanted to share. This is my low-key and effortless dark lip sort of makeup choice and I will continue to wear it, I swear.

x,

Maggie.

Have you tried any of these products? What makeup products have you been reaching for daily?

Daily Makeup #4: Non-Festive Holiday Makeup & Playing With New Products

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FACE: Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in Ivory, MUFE Cream Concealer Palette in 1, Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer/Highlighter in Ivory, MAC Powder Blush in Harmony, Benefit Boxed Powder in Rockateur, MAC Semi-Precious Pearl Mineralize Skinfinish

EYES: Maybelline Color Tattoo in Barely Branded, Marc Jacobs Beauty Style Eye-Con No 7 in The Starlet, Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner in Black, Maybelline The Falsies Mascara, Revlon Brow Fantasy in Brunette

LIPS: Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Cherry

Upon receiving some angelically beautiful beauty products for Christmas that I may or may not have casually hinted that I’d like with retail prices, colours and the location where they could be purchased, I had express my adoration for it somewhere and I figured it would be the most appreciated here. This is completely non-Christmas-y but I was completely happy with the result … ahhh

I used the nice-but-slightly-too-warm-toned Revlon Brow Fantasy in Brunette through my brows but I forgot to put it in the picture – whoops — but it’s growing on me. I also appear to have forgotten to include my limited-edition MAC Semi-Precious Pearl MSF — a wonderful product for highlighting regardless of whatever champagne-esque shade is currently available; it’s Christmas, forgive me?

I used my Real Techniques Fine Liner Brush for the first time today and I’m loving it for it’s precision and winging ability, although one might not assume that based on my questionable liner application. That’s not the star feature of the makeup for me though. After seeing the unique colours of this interesting neutral palette and reading Christine’s from temptalia.com shining review of it, I had to have it and thus far these might be the best shadows I’ve ever tried. They are so buttery, smooth and pigmented – and interesting! I stuck to the more plummy-taupe shades with the taupe in the crease, the lilac-tinted champagne on the lid, the burgundy-leaning shade in the outer v and underneath the eye, and I have got to say that they apply and blend like a dream. As an afterthought, I placed the silver in the inner-corner and it looks nice and festive. These shades, albeit more expensive, do give Urban Decay a run for their money.

My skin has been good the last couple of days, which I can only attribute to diet and my latest morning routine of applying organic rosehip oil after the Kiehl’s Stress Rescuer. This duo leaves my skin looking less dull and more dewy, allowing foundation to slide on and look more fresh. I used the tiniest amount of Rimmel Wake Me Up, concentrating on my cheeks, chin and nose and barely applying any to my forehead, leaving any blemishes covered with my recently-neglected concealer palette. I was actually quite happy with the skin, as it looked lightweight and glowy, while still covered somewhat.

The cheeks were the usual, MAC MSF and  MAC Harmony Blush to add much-needed shape to my face and Benefit Rockateur was stippled onto the apples and blended back. Note to self: this trio creates lovely radiance while still looking winter-appropriate.

The Fresh Lip Treatment in Cherry was another Christmas gift and another surprisingly impressive one at that, providing the moisture from the original treatment while still packing a not-so-sheer amount of pigment onto the lips with a neutral-toned pop of a mixture of cherry and brick tones. These are Revlon Lip Butters on your preferred drug of choice, but I have only used it once. I do plan on a review in the near future.

Thanks for reading my daily beauty musings!

X,

Maggie

What makeup did you rock on Christmas Day/ winter holiday of another religious denomination (I at least try to be politically correct when I remember to….)? What did you think about today’s daily face? Er, I apologize if this post is a bit less focused and more jumpy than usual, but in my defense I’m more than a little over-caffeinated and over-excited.

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Merry Christmas/ Happy December 25th! 🙂

Daily Face #3: Minimal Makeup & Dark Lips

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EYES: Maybelline Bad to the Bronze Color Tattoo, Maybelline Copper Chic Quad, L’Oreal Lineur Intense in Carbon Black, MAC Charcoal Brown, Maybelline The Falsies Mascara

FACE: Laura Mercier Radiance Primer, Diorskin Nude Foundation in 011, Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer/Highlighter in Ivory, Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Light, MAC Harmony Blush, MAC Semi-Precious Pearl MSF, Nars Orgasm Blush

LIPS: Revlon Lacquer Balm in Enticing

I don’t know about you but I’m a go big or go home kind of girl when it comes to makeup. I don’t feel as confident without it on but being without it in public doesn’t bother me and if going out bare-faced means a couple of minutes of sleep, I’ll gladly go out without it. I don’t tend to be one of those girls who has a go-to minimal makeup routine for every time I leave the house or anything but lately I’ve been intrigued by the concept. I’ve always liked the look of the bold lip with minimal makeup that still defines the features and here was my attempt.

When I’m keeping my overall makeup quite subdued (minus the lip), I like to keep my face dewy and natural-looking, although this seems to be my foundation preference overall as of late but it’s even more important when going through major issues with dehydration. When your skin looks as dry, pale and dull as mine does this time of year, a radiant complexion tends to be an essential. I’ve been using Laura Mercier Radiance Primer, underneath the tiniest amount of Diorskin Nude($47) that I can get away with wearing that still offers coverage.  I’m recovering from a stress-induced breakout from last week that has left me with dry marks and scars and I’ve been spot-concealing them with Maybelline Fit Me ($10) because it covers them without emphasizing the dryness.

I’ve returned to my contour of choice, MAC Harmony Blush  — ($25) when I wear anything bold (or wear any makeup in general), adding some shape to the face is essential and this is a staple of mine. I couldn’t decide on what blush to wear, so I reached for the old stand-by, pink-coral Nars Orgasm Blush ($32) and I was feeling looking particularly glowing so out came my MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Semi-Precious Pearl (LE – sorry!) for my Thighlighter. The texture of MAC MSFs are really smooth and seem to blend in with the skin and I think the product itself is a gem.

I wore the Maybelline Copper Chic Eyestudio Quad ($10) and after having it for ages I’ve decided I quite like it, although it’s certainly not mind blowing and slightly on the sheerer side. I quickly placed the frosty champagne on the inner lid, the sheer and slightly glittery copper pink on the rest of the lid and put the warm burgundy in the outer v and the lower lashline, blending into the crease. On me at least, I think that a thin and subtle winged liner pairs nicely with a bold lip and of course I used my latest love, L’Oreal Lineur Intense in Carbon Black ($10) along with a generous amount of my favourite mascara — I don’t think I even need to spell it out, do I?

Revlon’s newly launched Lacquer and Matte Balms have been getting lots of press since their release but most tend to gush about the Matte Balms, but I have a Lacquer Balm and I adore it – mentioned here. Enticing is a comfortable to wear, glossy neutral-toned darker red that actually does not cling to the outside of the lip as it fades. It wears for about four hours on the lips with light eating, I’d say. I think it’s a nice festive bold lip, but that might just be my inner need to justify my makeup purchases… If MAC Ruby Woo was less matte and had a baby with MAC Dubonnet, Revlon Lacquer Balm in Enticing ($10-11) would be the offspring. Need I say more?

What did you think of this Daily Face? Have you tried any of these products?

 

Daily Makeup #2: Naked Palette Attempt #3

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FACE: Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Montblanc, Make Up For Ever 5 Concealer Cream Palette in 1, NYC Smooth Skin Bronzer in Sunny, Physician’s Formula Happy Booster Blush in Rose, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Semi-Precious Pearl

EYES: NYX HD Eyeshadow Base, Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze, Urban Decay Naked Palette, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Semi-Precious Pearl, Lancome Le Crayon Khol in Black Ebony, L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara, Maybelline The Falsies Mascara, Revlon Brow Fantasy in Brunette

LIPS: EOS Peach lip balm, Revlon Lip Butter in Juicy Papaya

There’s something about a subtle(r) smoky eye that works in this late autumn time of year (it feels like winter here in Canada so I cannot bring myself to call it Fall). Sometimes you want to get all into the spirit of the season without wearing the high(er)-maintenance bold lip and this is when I favor the flattering slightly-messy daytime smoky eye.

From the stress of the impending doom otherwise known as finals and the great lack of sleep I’ve been getting I presume, my skin decided to go on protest and I woke up this morning with a big, painful underneath-the-skin blemish that’s impossible to cover along with the usual blemishes, bumps and general dehydration issues.

As per usual (even more-so this time of year) I slathered on some moisturizer immediately before starting the face in the hope of a glow – my current pick is Kiehl’s Skin Rescuer. When I woke up this morning three words were on my tongue “Nars Sheer Glow” and true to my word I used my sample from Sephora that I haven’t used in ages as it has been too pale but I’m back to my natural fair state so it worked. This foundation sort of reminds me of Rimmel Wake Me Up but with a tad more coverage and no shimmer and I really wish I bought this instead of Diorskin Nude. Alas… It gave my skin that glow while still providing very good coverage (with the aid of some heavy-duty concealer on the hideous zit painful spot) without looking ridiculous. I’m resisting the urge to run to Sephora and purchase it right now – but honestly it’s high on my mental wishlist.

Apparently subconsciously I was determined to use the Naked Palette in an everyday sort of way without using my favourite highlight/lid shade Sin so my brain in its typically irrational sense used another shade in the same vein as Sin to use in its place so every eyeshadow look I post did not include that one shade — I used the pale golden champagne outer-ring of the limited-edition and no longer available MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Semi-Precious Pearl (but in all honesty most MSFs are rather similar) on the inner-third of my lid. The warm medium-toned reddy bronze Toasted went on the rest of the lid and was blended into the crease and then Hustle was blended into the outer v and Creep was blended slightly into the lashes. The result was that sort of hazy and warm smoky eye that wasn’t too attention grabbing.

I was determined to use a strictly non-Autumnal lipstick so I went for the easy and somewhat unseasonal Revlon Juicy Papaya Lip Butter and I was feeling bored with my blush choices so I pulled out the forgotten-about Physician’s Formula Rose Happy Booster – great rosy shade but the colour has to be built up and the longevity leaves some to be desired.

What are your thoughts on my weekly (or more often than that) face posts? What have you been reaching for lately?

Daytime Nude Lips and Tangent

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When I first started getting really into makeup, in 9th/10th grade, I was a nude lips kind of girl. That sort of changed lately, starting in my senior year of high school, when I started venturing into wearing brighter lips and before then, nothing at all. I suspect this was because pinks (especially cool-toned ones) look absolutely horrible on me. After I discovered brighter lipsticks, nudes (especially pale ones) were delegated to occasions where I wore a dramatic smokey eye. Lately as I’ve begun my no-buy, I’ve been in a rut in terms of lipstick – there was nothing in between just good old lip balm and a bold statement lip and I’ve been digging out my nudes as a solution of sorts. In my early days of makeup, nudes were my daily go-to and over the last little bit, I’ve been enjoying them and I think they can be worn on an everyday basis. Even more, they can be quite flattering.

I found myself quite liking the way that nude lips put the emphasis on my eyes and how low maintenance it was. I used MAC Creme d’Nude Lipstick which was my second lipstick from MAC and the third lipstick I ever purchased (the previous two were complete failures). I stupidly bought MAC Viva Glam Gaga, which was a horribly unflattering cool-toned pink and I should have learned from that mistake… In other words, this was my first lipstick love.

I may have accidentally taken the above photo with flash and captured the dreaded flashback effect but what can you expect wearing an spf 50 BB Cream? I’ve gotten back into using Skin79 Snail Nutrition on the regular and it is a great one. Cheek products were standard. The concealer/highlighter from Rimmel is very nice and has been making its way into my everyday routine.

The daytime smoky-ish eye is a look I always think can look great but is hard to do without overdoing it. However, using my old stand-by MAC Woodwinked and adding in some trusty Sketch, Dazzlelight, Satin Taupe and Charcoal Brown and I have to say it’s one of the few (as of late) days where I’ve been really liking my makeup. Although I abhorr the word, Woodwinked really does make the blue eyes ‘pop’ and stand out without looking heavily made up.

Happy Wednesday! Thoughts?

 

FACE: Skin 79 Snail Nutrition BB Cream, Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer/Highlighter in Ivory, Benefit Rockateur Boxed Powder, Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Cream Bronzer in Warm Tan

EYES: NYX HD Eyeshadow Base, MAC Dazzlelight, Woodwinked, Charcoal Brown, Satin Taupe and Sketch eye shadows, Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Eyeliner in Brown, Maybelline the Falsies mascara, Revlon Brow Fantasy in Brunette

LIPS: MAC Creme d’Nude lipstick

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The Bold Lip Strikes Again: Playing With New Products

the mess that is my desk
the mess that is my desk

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Being a Canadian, I have always lusted over the beauty that is Target and finally we got one (and two more on the way) and I couldn’t resist picking up some goodies. Of course, I couldn’t wait to try them myself and therefore this look happened – not very time consuming (maybe it took five minutes) and probably more than anyone ever needs on a lazy Saturday.

Face: MUFE HD Foundation in 115, Rimmel Match Perfection in 010 Ivory, Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Cream Bronzer in 41 Warm Tan 
Eyes: Nyx HD Eye Shadow Base, Maybelline Eyestudio Quad in Fall Temptation, Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in 003 Brown, Maybelline One By One Mascara in Black, Urban Decay Naked Palette – shades Buck and Naked (through brows and not shown)
Lips: Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick in 107
 
Make Up For Ever HD Foundation
This foundation is a longtime favourite of mine (I’ve had this bottle for about eighteen months and have used it many many times, however I picked this product up before my realization that although I suffer from redness on my face, my undertones are more yellow so the shade is a bit pink for me (and slightly pale… but irrelevant). It is a medium-full coverage foundation with phenomenal longevity and a satin finish. It’s a nice albeit expensive foundation.Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Cream Bronzer

This is the first time I used this product and I was impressed. I always have wanted to try the Chanel Bronze Universalle as I thought it would be nice and glowy on my perpetually dehydrated skin and I tried this as an alternative. I picked the lighter shade of the two (warm tan), which is a warm light-medium bronze without shimmer with true terracotta undertones – it does have a bit of orange in it. I believe the darker shade is notably darker and slightly less orange but i don’t have a huge problem with it. I just would not recommend ever using it as a contour and those with fair skin such as myself do have to be careful with it but I really appreciated how it seamlessly blended with my skin, adding warmth. I might be slightly wary of this shade if I was a cool-undertoned fair person but I think they could wear it with caution.

Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in 107

This was the second product resulting from my target shopping trip and was equally as impressive as the bronzer. The last thing in the world I needed was another red/berry lipstick but after hearing such great things about this one I couldn’t resist. It’s an opaque, matte-but-not-particularly-drying dark red berry and is cooler in tone. It smells suspiciouslly like the candies called Nerds that I recall enthusiastically from my childhood. It’s a dark shade that can be worn without looking too over the top and I will definitely wear this to classes and such.

Maybelline Fall Temptation Quad

This is a fairly recent purchase and I’m very impressed. It’s a limited edition quad that actually contains a high-quality matte shadow. They are creamy and relatively pigmented. The four shades are a shimmery cooler-toned pale gold, a light orange-y gold with some shimmer running through it, a medium chocolate shimmery shade and a cool dark brown that is completely matte but smooth and pigmented. I expect to have a review with swatches up on this soon as its impressed me so much.

Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer

This is the third product I bought yesterday from Target, although I can’t give it a definite review slash opinion as its a face product and my opinion on those takes time. It’s supposed to be a highlighting concealer that is designed for use underneath the eyes and the applicator is a pen. I found it brightened and covered well but I’ll have to get back to you on my true thoughts of it.

 

What I actually wore for back to school

sorry about the poor quality!
sorry about the poor quality!

So today was the first day of my second year of university and in light of all that back-to-school craziness, I thought I would share what I wore! As pictured above, I wore a Club Monaco blouse, a bandeau from American Eagle, and an ancient pair of pastel-blue shorts, also by American Eagle. Not pictured were my simple brown flat sandals and white crossbody bag with gold hardware, both from Aldo……. I might possibly have been to tired to get them from downstairs. I quite liked the outfit because it felt appropriate for the awkward between-fall-and-summer season, was the right temperature and was the right amount of put-together.

Top to Bottom (and L-R): L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara, Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in 10 Light, Diorskin Nude Skin-Glowing Makeup in 20 Beige (Sephora sample), MAC Well Dressed Powder Blush, MAC Harmony Powder Blush, EOS Peach Lip Balm, Wet n Wild Blue Had Me at Hello Palette, Urban Decay Perversion 24/7 Eyeliner, MAC Charcoal Brown e/s, MAC Satin Taupe e/s and Maybelline Barely Branded Color Tattoo
Top to Bottom (and L-R): L’Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara, Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in 10 Light, Diorskin Nude Skin-Glowing Makeup in 20 Beige (Sephora sample), MAC Well Dressed Powder Blush, MAC Harmony Powder Blush, EOS Peach Lip Balm, Wet n Wild Blue Had Me at Hello Palette, Urban Decay Perversion 24/7 Eyeliner, MAC Charcoal Brown e/s, MAC Satin Taupe e/s and Maybelline Barely Branded Color Tattoo
poor quality again but taken of me a bit before nine
poor quality again but taken of me a bit before nine
close up of the eyes at six (ten hours after application)
close up of the eyes at six (ten hours after application)
the rest of the face at six
the rest of the face at six

The makeup was definitely the more remarkable part of the getup. I used Laura Mercier Radiance Primer, buffed in Diorskin Nude Skin-Glowing Makeup in 20 Light Beige (I had a sample) and concealed with Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in 10 Light. The eyes were when I became afraid of my intentions. As I usually do, I used Maybelline Barely Branded Color Tattoo as a base and then went on to fill in my brows with MAC Charcoal Brown and placed MAC Satin Taupe in the crease. Then I decided to use the Wet n Wild Blue Had Me At Hello Palette in some sort of wearable way. The shades I used were the silvery white (highlight), the silver with blue undertones (lid), the second darkest blue (in the outer-v) and the darkest blue (to line the lower lashes). My eye liner was Urban Decay Perversion and my mascara was L’Oreal Voluminous. I kept the rest of the face simple: MAC Harmony to contour, MAC Well Dressed as blush and just EOS lip balm on the lips.

So, this was obviously quite a dramatic look for first day but I thought it turned out rather nice and was surprisingly flattering on my blue eyes. I would say it was a mermaid-y smoky eye and It was one of my latest makeup attempts that was not a complete failure. I thought it was a relatively wearable way to wear this bold palette and that my overall look was nice and awake, which is always nice for the perpetually-exhausted like myself.

X

the look - keep in mind here that the photo was taken with flash
the look – keep in mind here that the photo was taken with flash

In the interest of bettering myself (and particularly my tendency to be excessively wordy), I thought I’d try to do a Face of the Day without going on and on and on and on (you get the idea) about the products and all. Where I live (in Canada) has been going through unusually sweltering (and unbearable IMO) weather lately which sort of changes the kind of makeup I wear so I thought I’d write a bit about it. This stayed put really well in the mid to high-thirties weather we’ve been experiencing. Also, I should mention that the flash is making my face look awfully dewy when it wasn’t actually. I am aware that this picture is not particularly flattering but this photo showed the makeup the most accurately.

better look at the eyes - without flash
better look at the eyes – without flash

Face:

Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet Plus in 40

Make Up For Ever 5 Concealer Cream Palette in 1 – on chin and underneath the eyes

Benefit Girl Meets Pearl highlighter on cheekbones

Rimmel Natural Bronzer in 021 Sun Glow to add definition and colour

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Natural Beauty on cheeks

MAC Studio Careblend pressed powder in Light on the t-zone

Eyes:

Benefit Stay Don’t Stray primer

MAC Woodwinked eye shadow all over the lid

MAC Charcoal Brown eye shadow to fill in my brows, in the crease, and to add definition to the bottom lashline

a touch of Urban Decay Half-Baked eye shadow in the center of the lids – most likely not necessary…

MAC Dazzlelight eye shadow as an inner-corner and browbone highlight

Urban Decay Darkhorse eye shadow in the outer-v to add definition and smudged into the lashes

Maybelline Master Drama Precise felt-tip liner to create a subtle winged eye

L’Oreal voluminous mascara

Lips:

EOS lip balm

MAC Sail la Vie lipstick on the lips straight out of the bullet- this colour is limited-edition from last summer and is not available anymore but Maybelline Vibrant Mandarin is similar and MAC Neon Orange is slightly brighter and more orange.

Enjoy!

FOTD – Longlasting Makeup for Hot Weather