The Daily Face #24 | Smokey Eyes and Rosy Lips & Cheeks

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I acknowledge that with my general busy-ness over the last few weeks I could write a book on the things that I’ve been slacking on but one of the most noteworthy things that I’ve been slacking on for a much longer period is doing these daily makeup posts on the regular – it’s been likely over three months since my last one and I haven’t been doing them consistently since last summer, even though they were once one of my most frequent posts – and here I am, finally getting my act together with one. This is a neutral but smokey eye kind of situation with a rosy lip and all things that I love and go for when I have a bit of time and effort to put into my makeup – because of all that blending etc. – and I’ve featured some well-documented love products, a few new items that I’ve been enjoying from my recent Target trip and the Sonia Kashuk Creme Bronzer that I just felt like digging out today for the first time in ages.

Face

DSC_0323To be completely honest, I did the entirety of my eye makeup before even thinking about what went on my face because I could for once but I seem to have a mental block against actually starting off the post with anything other than the face, but I digress. Before going in with a pump of the DiorSkin Star Studio Makeup in 20 (and a little bit more to help the matching situation on my neck), I went in with my newly-acquired Maybelline FaceStudio Master Prime in Blur + Redness Control to actually prime the face. I’m actually rather enjoying the silicone-based primer because it’s rather lightweight but it does not have much of a green tint applied to the face to be honest. To cover my generally problematic undereye darkness, I dabbed on some Pixi Brightening Peach Correction Concentrate, with most of the product staying in the inner corner. I randomly decided to go for some cream bronzer today, concentrating the product, the Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Creme Bronzer in Rich Bronze, in the hollows of my cheeks before blending out to the temples and the top of my large forehead before setting my t-zone with some of the lovely MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder in Light. For blush, I went for the gorgeous rosy-coral hued Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Diffused Heat and feeling kind of dull and matte after that bit of powder, I went in with Incandescent Light from the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette  as a highlighter, focusing on my cheekbones.

 

Eyes

DSC_0334I started the whole face with my beloved NARS Pro Prime Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base because it actually works to keep things on and relatively uncreased, despite my deep-set eye situation before moving onto the gorgeous Dior 5 Colour Eyeshadow in Cuir Cannage that I’ve been loving reaching for on the daily. I began by blending some of the matte caramel shade into the crease, before building it up to add some depth and then applied the shimmery champagne onto the inner 2/3 of my lids with my fingers, dabbing a nice amount in the inner corners along the way – then the smokiness happened. I smudged the metallic plum along my lower lash-line and applied it to the outer corners of my eyelids, blending it somewhat into the crease, before finishing off the eyeshadow situation by concentrating the blackened plum shade in the outer corners, building up the colour before blending it into the surrounding haze of colour. On the eyeliner front, I went for a thin line and the subtlest flick using the L’Oreal Lineur Intense Brush Tip and for mascara, I went for a nice coat of Maybelline The Falsies on both the top and lower lashes. For the brows, I’ve still been using my rather large sample of the Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in Taupe and have been enjoying it tremendously – I apply it with an angled brush focusing on the outer tail and arches of my brows before bringing it forward slightly and this way it gives a defined but actually believable sort of effect. It will be purchased full-size before long.

Lips

DSC_0329There really should have been some balm in the equation first but to be honest, I went straight in with the rosy coloured Annabelle Stay Sharp Waterproof Lip Liner in Java – which I’m loving by the way, especially for having a creamy formula and a retractable tip that actually does not break off – to both line and fill in my lips. Over the top, I went for the comfortable muted rosy-red offering from NARS, the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita; and this is equally as amazing for a warm-hued true rosy shade for the lips, if you had any sort of doubt.

What makeup have you been reaching for as of late?
Maggie, x.

The Daily Face #23 | Same Old, Same Old

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Today seems to be the perfect day to do one of my ‘the daily face’ posts for numerous reasons. First, I’ve been seriously slacking on posts of this series for months, second, I actually have time to put one together because I don’t have class until four o’clock today and last, I’ve kind of just received my Sephora VIB order in the mail and I’ve been wanting to have a play with a few of these items. I’m ridiculously excited.

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Seeing as I wasn’t in the mood for any sort of primer, I went in with my beloved Diorskin Star Fluid Foundation in 20 first, that somehow magically seems to glide over dry patches in a flattering way, provide impressive medium-full coverage and leave the skin with the most gorgeous luminosity. Next, I applied the Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light to Medium Bisque underneath my eyes with patting motions in order to allow for the product to sink in to the skin and before patting out the inevitable little itty bitty creases. At this stage, I’m one to go for their eyeshadow base of choice and mine certainly is the NARS Pro Prime Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base. Next I killed two birds with one stone with the NARS Contour Blush in Paloma that I also adore and use constantly; first going in with the darker shade to sculpt the cheekbones before brightening up the under-eye region with the cream shade. Then was the blush, undoubtedly the most exciting part. With my Sephora order, I went for my first Becca product ever, the Becca Beach Tint Shimmer Souffle in Raspberry/Opal and let me tell you, I was not disappointed. The cream texture was not overly emollient and easy to use, depositing a fool proof amount of product and quite possibly the most beautiful highlighting effect that I’ve ever seen. Drool. I’m also rather partial to the subtle rosy berry-tinged hue. The face was finished with the tiniest bit of MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder in Light through the center of the face.

Eyes

The eyes began with the brows and although I’ve been sticking to the usual suspects, I’ve been going for a more sculpted look and have been digging it. Obviously, the products were the MAC Coquette Eyeshadow and a nice little angled brush. There was no particular novelty associated with the rest of the eyes, either. I went in with MAC All That Glitters Eyeshadow on my lids, MAC Soft Brown Eyeshadow through the crease and MAC Smut Eyeshadow through the outer corner and along the lower lash-line. I did a nice little kitten flick with the L’Oreal Infallible SuperSlim 12Hr and finished off with a nice coating of Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant Mascara on both my upper and lower lashes.

Lips

As far as lip balms go, I went for the EOS Sweet Mint – because I find it to be their most hydrating offering, despite the slightly irritating minty sensation – prior to going in with my brand new NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita that I’ve been lusting after forever. I’m in love. The texture is just as nice as everyone says and I love the slightly warm rose hue.

What makeup have you been reaching for lately?
Maggie, x.

The Daily Face #22: An Everyday Autumnal Thing

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Long time, no daily face post, huh? Well, here I am bringing you yet another edition of detailing the products that are currently residing on my face, after a somewhat long hiatus. I assure you that said hiatus was accidental; for a while towards the end of the summer, I wasn’t necessarily feeling the result of my makeup or writing posts of this variety and as soon as I got out of that funk, school was in session and things got all sort of crazy and I just wasn’t mustering the energy to take decent face photos or product photos and all that jazz. Except today — but I’m doing this as another form of procrastination, so I’m not sure that it completely counts… Alas, I thought I would give a rundown of the products gracing my face and provide some information on the highlights.

Smashbox Photo-Op Eyeshadow Palette in Cherry Smokes ($44)

I’ve yammered on about this before and my mixed thoughts towards this beauty (read: amazing quality interesting shadows but lacking coherence as an intensive stand-alone palette) but recently I haven’t been able to get enough of this more wearable rusty autumnal-eye that features this palette and just this palette. For simply blending purposes, I began with the matte cream Bare shade all over the lid but then when for the peach-tinged champagne shade called Shell. I went in with the stunning coppery shade Oxidize on the outer portion of the lid and through the crease and this was definitely the most interesting part but then I finished with the deeper matte Rustic in the outer corner and along the lashline. I’ve been pleased with how this straddles the line in between having that gorgeous red-tone and being overkill on a daily basis.

Dior Star Fluid Foundation in 20 Light Beige ($50)

So, I spotted this enticing talked-about beauty for the first time at Shopper’s Drugmart yesterday and after seeing that it was only $50 (the same as it costs in the US, unlike the $58 that Sephora lists online) and asking the girl there if I could return the product if my skin went crazy, I had to get it and so I did. I’ve only tried this once (today) but I couldn’t resist sharing my very early thoughts here. This shade is ideal for me, with lovely beige undertones that is a perfect match for me now and should also suffice as I grow paler, which is rather nice but I rather enjoyed the product too. Despite being free of irritating alcohol, this foundation offers substantial medium-coverage and a weightless feel on the skin. It was a nice finish that was particularly flattering on uneven texture, starting off satin-y with that kind of inner luminosity to it and so far so good. Time will only tell if this turns out to be as fabulous as I’ve heard bloggers saying left and right…

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 FACE: Dior Star Fluid Foundation in 20 | NARS Contour Blush in Paloma | Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette | L’Oreal True Match Blush in Innocent Flush
EYES: Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light to Medium Bisque | NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base | Smashbox Cherry Smokes Photo-Op Palette | Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner in Brown(out) | L’Oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes Mascara | MAC Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow Set in Quiet Brunette
LIPS: L’Oreal Glossy Balm in Ginger Candy

What have you been wearing lately?

Maggie, x.