NOTD: Rimmel - Burgundy Flirt

I'm a big fan of Rimmel's Lasting Finish Pro nail polishes and this particular shade didn't disappoint. Full opacity in 2 coats, a nice wide brush to cover more surface area easier, a nice glossy finish; all are checked on my the pro's list. It's not perfect, though. It does require a top coat, otherwise you'll see some tip fading by 2 days (lasting finish, shmasting finish!). 

The colour is absolutely gorgeous and perfect for the holidays. I wore this all through Christmas and it really helped me feel a bit more festive. 

What was your go-to nail polish for the Holidays?

All About Eyes - A Fun, New Year's Party Look

Products Used:

Sleek MakeUP i-Divine Palette - Storm (matte black & metallic grey), Circus (matte magenta & metallic purple) and Sunset (metallic sky blue)

Annabelle Cosmetics Hype Liquid Liner - Mystic Black

L'oréal Voluminous Mascara - Black

I wanted to create something fun for a New Year's Eve party look. After all, having fun is what its all about, pretty much :p. To start off (after filling in my brows), I took some tape (surgical tape was the closest to me, but I don't recommend it. It's much too tacky) and applied it on a diagonal, like so:

I wanted a more severe line, especially since I was going to add colour beneath it. Once you've added your tape, you can start with the eyeshadow. I first applied matte black eyeshadow all over the lid and once I got to the taped area, I applied it inwards so that I don't accidentally get any product under the tape. Then I applied the metallic grey shadow on top; I wanted a deeper grey so applying the black eyeshadow first as a base allows that.

Once that's done, remove the tape. Make sure to be careful and do it gently! We don't want tape burns on our lovely faces, now do we? :p

When you've removed the tape, you're left with the above photo: a nice, neat edge. Afterwards, I mixed the matte magenta and metallic purple together (I literally just dipped my Sigma pencil brush on one shadow then dipped it on the next) and applied it all along the lower lash line and under the black/silver edge, making sure to leave a tiny bit of space between the two edges.

Next up, I applied the metallic sky blue colour closer to the lash line than the magenta/purple. I used an eyeliner brush for this because I wanted a neater line (the magenta/purple combo is more smoky while the blue is a straight up line). Then I liner the upper lash line with Mystic Black (sparkly, perfect for an NYE bash!) and used the matte black to line the lower water line. Lastly, I applied a few generous coats of mascara. Of course, you can wear false lashes instead, which I would recommend more unless you're blessed with gorgeous ones to begin with (in which case, I hate you you're LUCKY!). You can even add some glitter along the inner corner or all along the eyelid; the more drama, the better!

Hope you lovelies like this look

and 

have a safe and fun New Year's Eve!

Call It Beauty's Best Of 2010

I can't believe I'm making this post right now. Is it really the end of 2010 already?! I hope you all had a great year and I hope for even bigger and better things for you in 2011.

Before I get started, I'd just like to give a big THANK YOU to all 160 of you who have followed Call It Beauty, especially those who take the time to comment. Call It Beauty is a hobby of mine that has become an important outlet and knowing that there are people who read and appreciate my humble blog means a lot to me!

Now that we've got that out of the way, here are my favourite products of 2010:

1. SKIN
Moisturizer - Korres Wild Rose Moisturizer: This product really saved my skin. It smells gorgeous, keeps my skin moisturized well, calmed my sensitivity & irritations, and it contains natural ingredients.

Liquid Foundation - Chanel Vitalumiere: Light/buildable coverage, matches my skin perfectly, keeps my skin looking dewy & fresh, smells lovely, easily blendable, and lasts a fair amount of time despite the fact its moisturizing.

Powder Foundation - Laura Mercier Mineral Powder: Gives amazing coverage, has a dewy finish, doesn't accentuate any dry patches, blends into skin so easily... All in all, it's an absolute joy to use!

2. EYES
High End Mascara - Tarte Lights, Camera, Splashes!: This mascara really makes my lashes look like how I want it to: longer and thicker. I reached for this mascara LOADS this year!

Drugstore Mascara - L'oréal Voluminous Mascara: Again, it makes my lashes look longer and thicker, though not quite as much as Tarte's mascara; so it's perfect for every day use.

3. LIPS
Lip Balm - MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner (Fuchsia Fix): I've been repurchasing this lip conditioner for years now! It moisturizes my lips like nothing else and the wash of colour keeps them looking more put together than if I'd just used a regular lip balm.

Lipstick - Revlon Super Lustrous Creme Lipstick (Mauvy Night): This colour is so gorgeous! Perfect for fall/winter with its plum tones, but it's still light enough for use in other months. It's been my most reached for lipstick this year.

4. BODY
Lotion - Lush Sympathy For The Skin: A gorgeous scent and the perfect amount of moisture. Did I mention the gorgeous scent? Seriously, it smells so good, I can't even...

5. HAIR
Mousse - Garnier Fructis Curls & Shine: Defines my curls wonderfully and keeps the shape for hours even without hairspray. Plus, it has the lovely scent all Garnier products have.

6. FRAGRANCE
Eau De Parfum - Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb: I've got a few fragrances I kind of rotate around but there was none I used as much as Flowerbomb. It's floral, but not cloying; sexy and feminine at the same time. It will probably continue to be my favourite fragrance of 2011.

7. TOOLS
Brushes - EcoTools: I cannot get over how soft these brushes are. Not only that, but they're eco-friendly and inexpensive! I'm desperately hoping they'll release more brush styles in the next year.

BEST PURCHASES OF 2010

Sleek MakeUP i-Divine Palettes: Fantastic quality eyeshadows for a drugstore price, can these palettes get any better? They're amazingly pigmented and the texture is absolutely lovely. Aside from that, these palettes really got me started with creating my All About Eyes makeup looks. I discovered that I could actually be quite creative and I'm really grateful for that!

I've talked enough about these eyeshadows so I'm not going to get into it now. I recommend them to anyone and everyone, especially to those who are just starting out with makeup.


Brushes - Sigma: I purchased the Complete Kit this year and I have to say, it's been an absolute Godsend! I've really started to get into creating makeup looks and to be able to use fantastic quality tools for a good price has been incredibly helpful. I highly recommend their brushes, especially the eye brushes. With every single look I create, I use mostly Sigma brushes. The only reason I use other brands is because I don't have enough Sigma eye brushes :p.

So if you're looking for fantastic brushes for a fantastic price, definitely check Sigma out!

What are your Best of 2010 picks?

Inspiration Sunday - New Year Sparkles

(all photos from Lisa Eldridge's website)

Happy Sunday, lovelies :)

Although It's Been Said Many Times, Many Ways...

Merry Christmas to you :)

All About Eyes - Merry Christmas

Products Used:

Sleek MakeUP i-Divine Palette - Sunset (peach/gold, metallic red) 

& Storm (metallic forest green & champagne)

MAC Fluidline - Blacktrack

Clinique High Impact Mascara - Black

My mission: incorporate the colours red and green in a wearable Christmas look. Red and green, how cliché :p. But I think I managed to call this mission a success, if I do say so myself :).

To start off, I applied the peachy gold colour from Sleek's Sunset palette along the lid and up to the brow bone. I made sure to blend this shade well because it's not as smooth as other Sleek eyeshadows. Next, I applied the metallic red shade along the lid, starting past the inner third to the outer corner of the eye. Like the peach/gold shade, I applied it right up to the brow bone. Then I took the metallic forest green shadow and created an exaggerated V along the outer corner, fading the colour out a bit as I tapered the colour out. This was also applied to the outer half of the lower lash line, while the peachy gold colour was applied to the inner half. Lastly, I applied some champagne eyeshadow on the brow bone to blend the outer edge of the eyeshadows and add a bit of highlight. To finish off the look, I did the usual. Namely: Line my upper lash line & lower water line with Blacktrack, apply 1-2 coats of mascara, and fill in my brows with a matte black eyeshadow.

Hope you like this look

&

have a very Merry Christmas!

Winter Staples - MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner

The MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner is probably my HG lip product. In my quest to find a more affordable dupe (or something to use just for bumming around the house), I have only found one that works in the same way. It keeps my lips feeling moist longer than 99% of other lip balms/conditioners I've tried and because of that, I feel I don't need to reapply as often. I've had my fair share of products that disappear so quickly, this is definitely not one of them.

MAC makes colourless lip conditioners in tube and pot form, too; but i especially love the tinted ones because they add just enough colour to make your lips look polished but still natural. They also come in 4 other colours: 

Left to right: Petting Pink, Plum Perfect, Gentle Coral & Soothing Beige

I've already tried Petting Pink & Gentle Coral and have loved them both. It sounds like Plum Perfect would be lovely for a more intense look and Soothing Beige would be great for a nuder lip; either way, I'm excited to try these other two shades!

Have you tried MAC's Tinted Lip Conditioners before?

All About Eyes - Peach & Purple For The Holidays

Products Used:

Sleek MakeUP i-Divine Palette - Circus (metallic purple) & Storm (metallic grey) 

MAC Eyeshadow - Paradisco

Annabelle Cosmetics Hype Liquid Liner - Mystic Black

MAC Fluidline - Blacktrack

Tarte Lights, Camera, Splashes! Mascara - Black

This is probably one of my favourite looks I've created so far, I absolutely love how it turned out! To start off, I applied the metallic purple eyeshadow all over the lid up to the brow bone, but leaving the inner third free of product. Then I applied the metallic grey colour in the inner corner and blended it into the purple shade. Next, I used a blending brush to apply Paradisco along the brow bone from the inner corner all the way to the outer edge, then applied the purple eyeshadow on the lower lash line. Lastly, I lined my upper lash line with Mystic Black liquid liner, lined the lower lash line with Blacktrack, filled in my brows with matte black eyeshadow and applied a few coats of mascara to both upper and lower lashes.

I think this is a great look for the holidays because it's fun and colourful, but still quite wearable and appropriate for most functions. 

Hope you guys like this look!

Winter Staple - Estée Lauder Daywear Creme

At first I was on the fence about this moisturizer. However, at approximately $60.00 CAD per tub, I wasn't about to stop using it!

But when the weather turned colder, it become a Godsend! Especially during that week-long stretch of below 0 degrees celsius weather.

It's got a thick consistency that feels amazing on the skin and it sinks in just enough that your skin feels moisturized, yet leaves some moisture on the surface as well. Some people don't like any sort of tackiness on their skin after applying moisturizer, but I happen to like it. I'm of the "if I don't feel it, it's not there," persuasion :p. It has a light cucumber scent as well; it smells fresh and is not overpowering at all.

I also love that it's got SPF 15 and anti-oxidants to help defend against aging. Personally, at 24, aging really isn't an issue. But it's all about prevention, isn't it? And I find it's best to prevent something before it happens as opposed to preventing it from getting worse. 

This moisturizer has really saved my skin this winter and I've already run out of it (I took the photos above last month). I'm currently alternating between the Origins Mega Mushroom Cream and the Korres Wild Rose 24-Hour Moisturizer, both of which are not enough for me at the moment. So ladies, here's where I need your help:

What moisturizer do you use to combat

dry skin in the winter?

I'm Coveting Zara's Evening Collection

Is it gorgeous or is it gorgeous?

It's gorgeous.

And I want everything.

Happy weekend, lovelies!

All About Eyes - Evening Neutral

Products Used:

Sleek MakeUP i-Divine Palettes - Storm (champagne, brown & maroon) 

and Sunset (burnt orange & pinky gold)

MAC Eye Pencil - Coffee

Clinique High Impact Mascara - Black

This entire look came about simply because I wanted to use the gorgeous, metallic brown shade from Sleek's Storm palette. I was taking a look through all my palettes for inspiration and realized I've never used it before! Strange, I thought. 

Anyway, I started off by applying said eyeshadow on my eyelid, from lash line to just above the crease, making sure to leave the inner third of my eye free of product. Then I applied a pinky gold colour on the inner corner, blending it nicely with the metallic brown. This shade (very right on the swatch photo) is kind of interesting: it looks pink in the pan and when placed on the skin, but it has some gold shimmer running through and the gold becomes more pronounced as you blend away. It's quite pretty, actually! Next up, I used a burnt orange shade and used it to blend the upper edge of the eyeshadow to create a smokier effect. The maroon shade was then applied to the outer corner of the eyelid to create a bit more depth; this shadow was also used to line the lower lash line. 

Last were the finishing touches: a lovely, shimmery champagne colour to highlight the brow bone, a matte black eyeshadow to define the brows a bit more, MAC's coffee eye pencil to line both upper and lower water lines, and a few coats of High Impact Mascara on both the top and bottom lashes.

Hope you like this look :)

Winter Staples: Bath & Body Works - Cucumber Melon Body Cream

Bath & Body Works' body creams are incredibly moisturizing, yet they absorb quickly; perfect if you're on the go. Despite it's rich texture, it does not feel oily at all. It leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft and smooth.

If Cucumber Melon isn't your thing, that's ok! You only have, oh, 35 other scents to choose from :p. There's a fantastic deal going on right now on their website: buy 3 body creams, get 3 FREE! So if you're stumped for Christmas presents, definitely check these out!

Just a note: these body creams do contain parabens, so steer clear if you want to use paraben-free products. That said, this product leaves my skin feeling so incredible and I love using it on my hands especially. I've been trying to drink more water, which means I need to, uh... Unload more often than usual; which, in turn, means I need to wash my hands more. And on top of that, I always have my heater on, so my hands have been drier than usual. Like I mentioned above, this body cream sinks in so quickly and doesn't leave any oily residue, so it's perfect for using on my hands. I don't have to worry about not touching anything until my hands dry :p.

Now, I only wish they came in smaller tubes so they can fit in my purse much easier!

What's your favourite hand cream?

Recent Purchases: Drugstore Buys, My Perfect Contouring Shade & A Fierce Pair Of Shoes

I have a performance coming up this Friday and I needed to stock up on some essentials; three of which, I've never tried before. There's always something exciting about testing a product for the first time, no? Which is why I found myself testing away at 10:30 PM a few nights ago.

Drugstore Buys

I've tried Quo lashes before, just not this particular style. I quite liked the ones I used prior; they were easy to work with and were very dramatic. The style didn't quite suit my eye shape though, so I was looking for a particular one to purchase instead: a dupe of MAC #21's (i.e.  shorter at the ends, longer in the middle). Let me tell you, I'm so glad I found these. They were half the price and while they may not be the same quality as MAC lashes, it's still an excellent product.

My (current) favourite eyeliner. It applies evenly & smoothly and doesn't give me a nasty rash like the Maybelline Waterproof eyeliner. That said, this product is definitely not perfect. The wand, for one thing; it's perfect after a few uses, but the first few times I use it to apply the liner are quite... Unpleasant. It's hard and feels abrasive on my eyelids; not good! Especially on an area with such delicate skin. Also, there is some slight migration going on after a few hours. It's easy enough to swipe a finger underneath the eye to clean up, but I wish I didn't have to. Other than that, I do like it.

I first heard about clear lip liner when I spotted one by Maybelline in the Drugstore. To say I was intrigued is an understatement. I mean, I have many different shades of lipstick and the thought of having to buy multiples just to match the shade was giving me a headache. I've done a short test on this and found that my lipstick definitely applied much smoother with this on. I'll make sure to review this again after I've tested it more thoroughly.

I've heard many people rave about Revlon ColorStay and now I know why. It's a really good product! Shopping for Drugstore foundation can be quite daunting but I was able to find my shade (without swatching, mind) thanks to Temptalia's Foundation Matrix. First of all, it blends so nicely (especially when applied with a duo fibre brush) and has great coverage (slightly more than Chanel Vitalumiere). 

It also has a nice, natural finish. There is a slight dewiness, but it doesn't make you look oily at all. It lasts quite a while, too; I wore it on Sunday for nearly 10 hours. Of course, I was wearing a primer and I did a very small touch up with bareMinerals foundation at the 8 hour mark (and I didn't even need it, I just did anyway :p), but still... 10 hours is impressive for any foundation, Drugstore or not. 

Did I mention after 5 hours of rehearsal in which I was perspiring, it was still intact? Well, it was. Brilliant!

My Perfect Contouring Shade

Contouring was new to me this year and all the products I use are matte bronzers. Which is fine if you want to look a bit tanner. Except I don't. Yes, my skin is quite light and I do like to keep it that way. Matching my blushes to my contouring powder was becoming a pain because the orangey tones would just clash too much (I was using Harmony by MAC and Physician's Formula Bamboo Silk Bronzer). 

So, I went on the lookout for a cooler shade. I initially wanted Taupe blush by NYX but none of my local retailers sell their blushes. I finally gave up on an inexpensive product and went to MAC. The lovely sales associate tried a number of blushes on me, none of which were promising. Too orange, too subtle, etc, etc. Then she decided on using an eyeshadow on my cheek, something I knew was perfectly fine to do, but never did. She picked Quarry and I fell in love.

It's the perfect cool taupe-y colour (MAC describes it as a "soft, muted plum-brown") and blends quite nicely (I use Sigma's F40 brush). All in all, it's a joy to use and is exactly what I was looking for. I love it so much already, I can only imagine how much more I'll love it as I continue to use it.

A Fierce Pair Of Shoes

I only own 1 pair of black high heels because I prefer to wear clothing that is more subdued in colour and really bring out the flash with accessories; specifically shoes. Well, the time came when I needed a pair of close-toed black high heels and I'm so glad I was able to find this pair by Chinese Laundry at my local Winners (basically it's Ross/T.J.Maxx but in Canada :p).

They're cute, no? A nice pair of black, platform pumps should be a staple in every woman's closet, I think. 

What are your recent purchases?