All About Eyes - Lust

Products Used:

Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Palette - Lust

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil - Zero

Revlon Beyond Natural Eyelashes - 91155

First off, I used the shimmery grey eyeshadow from the palette (see swatches here) and starting from the outer corner, I applied it in a C motion towards the brow bone, ending close to the inner corner. Then I applied the matte light pink shade on the lid within the grey and used the matte plum shade to the lower lash line, applying it further down for a smokier look. To make the outer corner more intense, I applied the darkest shade (a shimmery black with purple sparkle) to the outermost edge of the C shape. Next up, I applied the matte violet shade to the area between the grey and the light pink to soften that edge and make the change more gradual. I then used the same shade I used to line the lower lash line to line the upper lash line and used the shimmery off-white to highlight the brow bone. To finish off the look, I used Urban Decay's Glide-On Pencil to line the water line and applied false lashes.

Hope you like this look! =)

Clarins Sunscreen Control Cream For Face: Sun Protection Without The Greasy Feel!

I've made mention before of how much I love Neutrogena's Water-Light Sunscreen: it makes my base apply beautifully & evenly, it provides sun protection and it doesn't feel heavy on the skin (hence the name "Water-Light"). However, I noticed that my skin started to get quite oily halfway through the day, something I've never really experienced before with this product.

I tried to narrow down which product was the culprit and finally figured out that it was this sunscreen that was turning my face into an oil slick. So the search was on for a sunscreen that left the skin oil-free. Arianne of The Glitter Geek mentioned that a friend of hers uses the Clarins sunscreen and it doesn't make her skin oily, so I decided to try it out. 

From Clarins: A sun cream for very sun-sensitive skin, or those exposed to intense sun. So your skin only gets the very best of the sun. 

The effectiveness of Clarins Multi-Cellular Protection: the skin's natural defences are reinforced and skin is protected from premature aging. It remains supple and beautiful.

To be honest, I'm not much of a sun worshipper. I could probably get away with SPF 30 since I don't sun myself often. However, the 50+ was the only one available in Sephora and I'd like to think I'm giving my skin the best protection I can give it (without surrounding myself in a space suit).

Unfortunately, it has oxybenzone, which has a lot of negative side effects attached to it. I personally haven't researched this myself, but there has been a lot of talk within the health and beauty community about it. 

That aside, I love it because a little bit of this cream goes a long way, it's easily spreadable and has a pleasant, citrusy scent. The best part is, that it doesn't make my face oily at all, unlike Neutrogena's Water-Light sunscreen. I've been using this sunscreen on my face, neck and chest for a few weeks now and so far, so good!

What sun care product are you using right now?

Collection Spotlight: Reem Acra - Spring 2011

(photos from style.com)

I know it's officially Summer (I fell behind with the Collection Spotlights and forgot about them), but these last 3 are so beautiful, I just had to share them with you still.

The gown are just beyond stunning! I always love seeing Reem Acra on the red carpet :). I especially love the sequined tops paired with a bold coloured skirt. There are so many gorgeous details that just make every piece special and there is seriously no shortage of glamour in this collection. 

Are you a fan of Reem Acra's gowns?

Beauty On A Budget: Joe Fresh Cosmetics

I've walked past the Joe Fresh Style section in the cosmetic section of Superstore so many times and it wasn't until I saw Arianne's post about their matte, fuchsia lipstick that I decided to try out their products.

For those who don't know, Joe Fresh is a Canadian brand that started out as a fashion line sold in Superstore, a pretty large grocery chain in Canada. Now, they also have a cosmetics line and have proper stores in various locations throughout Canada (Granville is the closest to my fellow Lower Mainlanders).

I purchased two cream blushes, one cream lipstick and one matte lipstick. The cream blushes retail for $8.00 CAD and the lipsticks retail for $6.00 CAD.

CREAM BLUSHES

From Joe Fresh: This creamy, blendable cheek colour comes in a gorgeous range of shades that create a natural and healthy glow.

Melon

Bloom

Working with this blush has been so easy, thus far. The texture isn't sticky at all and it dries to a more gel/stain-like finish and doesn't feel tacky to the touch. It lasts a long time, too; at least a full work day (8 hours). 

I purchased Melon and Bloom, two absolutely gorgeous colours! These look beautiful on the lips as well but make sure to apply lip balm after to keep your lips moisturized. 

Left: natural light. Right: With flash

CREAM LIPSTICK - BAIE SAUVAGE

From Joe Fresh: Creamy, moisturizing lip colour keeps lips feeling soft with every use.

Natural light

With flash

This is definitely not something I would normally wear (it's a bit too cool for my colouring), but at $6, I felt that it was worth the risk. It applies smoothly and the creamy formula doesn't dry out my lips. I'm not sure when I would ever use this lipstick (other than for a look I'm photographing) but it was just too much fun to pass up!

MATTE LIPSTICK - POPPY

From Joe Fresh: Goes on smooth, dries to a matte finish! Create luscious, full lips with colour that lasts for hours.

Natural light

With flash

Now this is definitely more wearable... At least for me! The thing about matte lipsticks is your lips better be in amazing shape; otherwise, all the dry flakes will be visible. I haven't worn this a lot because my lips have been mega dry lately, but this shade is just utterly gorgeous! 

I always had this perception of matte lipsticks being difficult to apply but Poppy glides on so smoothly. It's quite lightweight too, which I totally appreciate. 

I was so pleasantly surprised with the quality of these products. They could easily compete with much more highly priced products within the drugstore cosmetic industry. If you ever come across these products, definitely pick some up. There are around 10 shades in the matte lipstick & cream blush range but the cream lipsticks have a wide variety. 

Have you tried Joe Fresh Cosmetics?

Weekend Haulin'

left to right:

Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy - Stress Relief: Eucalyptus Spearmint Body Lotion

Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy - Sleep: Lavender Vanilla Foaming Hand Soap

Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy - Sensuality: Jasmine Vanilla Foaming Hand Soap

Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy - Sensuality: Jasmine Vanilla Body Wash & Foam Bath

C. O. Bigelow - Lemon & Orange Blossom Moisture Rich Body Wash

left to right:

Urban Decay - Rollergirl Palette

Clarins - 50+ SPF Sunscreen

back to front:

Lush - The Olive Branch Shower Gel

Revlon - Grow Luscious Waterproof Mascara

Wet n Wild - Mega Liner Liquid Eyeliner

What did you haul this weekend?

My Summer Scents

Summer's almost here, lovelies!

I'll be honest and say I'm not looking forward to the heat (anything over 18º C is too much for me already =/), but I'm loving the scents I've been gravitating towards lately.

Here are the four that's on regular rotation these last couple of weeks:

Estee Lauder - Pleasures Summer Bouquet

This floral scent is kinda strong, so I have to use it sparingly. It's a bit of a punchy, floral scent that can get a bit cloying so I find spraying it in the air and stepping through does the trick.

D&G - 3 L'Impératrice

J'adore L'imperatrice! The fruity scent just brightens my mood and I love how long-lasting it is! When you've had a 15 hour day and you're feeling a bit grimy, it's nice to know you still smell nice :).

Bath & Body Works - Wild Honeysuckle

This scent sorta reminds me of a flower we used to have in our garden back home in the Philippines. It's a body spray, so it doesn't last long; but every time I catch a whiff, I'm mentally transported back to my childhood.

Burberry - For Women

My first "grown up" perfume, there will always be a special place in my heart for this! I've been using it on and off for many years now and it might just be my staple. I especially love when there's traces of it left in my scarves; the scent is still there but it's a bit "worn out." I don't know why but I love that!

What are your go-to summer scents?

Monthly Favourites - May 2011

Greetings, lovelies! I hope you're all doing wonderfully on this hump day :).

Firstly, apologies for the lack of posts lately... I've been adjusting to having a full time schedule again (16  hour days sometimes) and I've been having a hard time sitting down and writing a post. But I hope you all still stick around with me!

Anyway, without further ado, here are my favourites from May 2011.

1. Neutrogena - UltraSheer Water-Light Sunscreen

Now that summer's on its way and the sun is shining brighter, I'm becoming more concerned with sun protection. I've been using UltraSheer Water-Light a lot this month and I love that it protects my skin while making my makeup apply more beautifully. 

Remember, skin cancer is no respecter of persons so make sure you're protecting your beautiful skin adequately! 

Read a full review here. 

2. Liz Earle - Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

What an amazing cleanser! I love that it removes all my makeup and leaves no residue, thereby making my skin feel totally clean, all in one step. The muslin cloth is kinda fun to use, too! It gives me light exfoliation every time I use it, leaving my skin feeling soft and smooth. 

Read the full review here. 

3. Bath & Body Works - Wild Honeysuckle Body Spray

Such a lovely, floral scent! It's not overpowering at all, being a body spray. It reminds me a lot of flowers we used to have in the family home back in the Philippines so I get a bit nostalgic after every whiff. It doesn't last long, since it's a body spray, but at $10 (it was on sale), I'm not complaining.

4. Revlon - PhotoReady Foundation & Concealer

I've been loving this combo this past month. I like the coverage of the foundation and the concealer is the best I've tried so far. I especially love the concealer because it doesn't seep into lines, doesn't apply cakey and lasts for the whole day. 

Read the full review here. 

What are your May favourites, lovelies?