February 24, 2011

Style Crush - Clémence Poésy (And A Bit Of A Hiatus)



Now here is a woman who surprised me. Clémence always struck me as a total girly-girl (probably because I've only ever seen her as Fleur Delacour :p) but she really rocks more masculine looks; typically skinny jeans, a flowy tank, a jacket, and a pair of biker boots.

Whether channeling a more masculine or feminine vibe, Clémence always looks fabulous. I especially love how tousled her hair always looks. It's something I try to achieve, but my hair is too thick.


In Other News
As I've mentioned in previous posts (I think :p), the fam is currently in the process of moving house. And what a process it is! I'm so over it and we're not even done. But thankfully, we'll be in the new house tomorrow. However, our internet won't be connected until early March, which means no blogging for me. I want to thank my faithful readers for being so patient with me throughout these past few months as I've been super busy with many things and haven't been able to give Call It Beauty the attention I would like to give it. Hopefully it won't be much longer until I can resume all the posts I've prepared beforehand. 

Anyway, hope you're all well and a big HELLO! to all the new followers :).





Have an awesome day, lovelies!







February 22, 2011

All About Eyes - Slate (Inspired by Emily Blunt)

(photo from InStyle)

I was so inspired by this gorgeous look on the beautiful Emily Blunt. I have smallish eyes, so I like lots of definition but black is too strong and intense for daytime. This slate eyeshadow is an excellent choice for a more toned down look.






Products Used:
MAC Eyeshadow - Knight Divine
Sleek MakeUP i-Divine Palette - metallic gunmetal
Sephora Collection Eyeshadow - Aspen Summit 23
Sephora Color Play 5-in-1 Palette - icey white 
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil - Zero 
L'oréal Voluminous Mascara - Black

To start off, I used a flat shader brush to apply a combination of knight divine and a metallic gunmetal shade on the eyelid, flicking it slightly along the edge. Then, to soften the look even more, I applied aspen summit on top of the grey and fading it up to blend the edges. Then, with the same flat shader brush I initially used, I applied a combination of the metallic gunmetal eyeshadow and an icey white eyeshadow on the lower lash line. To finish off the look, I lined the upper lash line with a black pencil eyeliner (UD eye pencil in zero), applied multiple coats of mascara to both top & bottom lash lines, and used a matte black eyeshadow to fill in my eyebrows. 









Hope you like this look!





February 17, 2011

MAC Patina Eyeshadow - Where Have You Been All My Life?


Described by MAC as a "taupe brown with golden pearl," Patina is an absolutely gorgeous shade that I have been absolutely loving since I purchased it. It's such an interesting shade, something I haven't seen before in any other product.



Here's a photo of a few sweeps of Patina on my bare eyelid. I love the gold pearl visible on the eyelid, it definitely dresses up this pretty, neutral shade.

Lately I've been wearing the same look: black eyeshadow from the lash line to the crease then using a fluffy blending brush to apply Patina to soften the outer edges. A Sigma E25 works wonderfully for this. It's such a simple look but I've gotten some really awesome compliments on it.

I can't believe it took me so long to board the "Patina Train," but now that I have it, I am definitely pleased. This is a product I can see myself reaching for many, many times.






What eyeshadow have you been using a lot, lately?




February 14, 2011

2011 Grammy & BAFTA Awards - My Favourite Looks

A double feature here on Call It Beauty, simply because both awards shows happened last night and also because I was too lazy to do two separate posts. I was too lazy to do any fashion misses and beauty hits/misses as well, which I will blame on a long day of moving stuff from our old house to our new.

Anyway, without further ado, here are my favourite looks of the night.

Oh, by the way, Happy Valentines Day to you all!


Grammy Awards

 (all photos from LIFE)

left to right:

- Mya: Love the mermaid silhouette, the sequins/embellishments, and the gorgeous icy blue-green colour.

- Natasha Bedingfield: This white and blue floral gown is just beyond beautiful!

- Janelle Monae: Proving that you don't need to wear a dress to look fabulous, this is menswear done right. P.S. love her pompadour! She rocks it so well.

- Kelly Osbourne in Tadashi Shoji: I cannot get over how much weight Kelly has lost! She looks fab but still healthy, which is important. Love the colour (any shade of purple is pretty much my favourite) and the floral, ruffly things going on.


 (all photos from LIFE)

left to right:

- Naya Rivera: Ah, the mullet dress. Normally not my cup of tea, but I really love this one. Love, the lavender/grey shade and the cute print. Her shoes are gorgeous, too.

- Melanie Fiona: A 20s silhouette, modernized by the silver stripes. I adore it!

- Selena Gomez in J. Mendel: Selena has definitely grown up. This gold number is a stunner!

- Florence Welch in Givenchy Haute Couture: Love the swan detailing, the use of sheer fabric and the vintage silhouette which suits Florence so perfectly.


BAFTA Awards

(all photos from LIFE)

left to right:

- Rachel Stevens: Feminine and romantic. Love the sparkly embellishments on the bust as well.

- Noomi Rapace in Givenchy Couture: Sparkly, gold, sexy; Roomi looked stunning. Can't say I like the chunky sole of those shoes, though.

- Emma Stone in Lanvin: This two-tone dress is simple, but absolutely gorgeous.

- Emma Watson in Valentino: Love the ruffles and the subtle print on the dress. 
Emma's shoulder's look fab in this number as well!


(all photos from LIFE)

left to right:

- Sarah Harding in Georges Chakra: Love the sheer overlay on the top and that red is just so sexy.

- Rosamund Pike in Alexander McQueen: Yellow! Print! Gorgeous!

- Thandie Newton in Monique Lhuillier: Another printed gown, this time in a lovely shade of pink. Thandie wears it so effortlessly.

- Amy Adams in Elie Saab: Love the peachy-coral shade, it compliments Amy's auburn locks so well. And those sequins are driving me crazy, they are patterned so beautifully.

- Jessica Alba in Atelier Versace: My favourite of the night. It's a fairly simple dress, but that gorgeous blue shade just knocks my socks off. Coupled with her beautiful statement necklace and her lovely, braided updo, this look was an absolute show stopper.







Any favourite looks, lovelies?








February 13, 2011

Collection Spotlight: Christian Dior - Resort 2011







(photos from style.com)


Vintage Barbie was out in full force at the Christian Dior resort 2011 runway show! 

Love the stripes, the bright & bold colours, the tiered skirts, the chokers, the sunglasses, and all those gorgeous gowns!

Any favourites?






Happy Sunday, lovelies!







February 12, 2011

Call It Beauty's "Brands I Want To Try" List

I don't know about you, but when I'm broke, I think about all the lovely things I'd love to buy when I finally do have some cash to burn. So in the interest of further daydreaming about said lovely things, here are a few brands I'm thinking of trying out.



I became really interested in natural skincare products when I suffered through a pretty severe allergic reaction to Philosophy's products. As I continued to explore this new(ish) avenue, I came to the be interested in natural cosmetic products as well. Tarte is one of the brands that make all natural products. I've already tried (and loved) their Lights, Camera, Splashes! mascara and I can't wait to try others. 

Products (left - right):
EmphasEYES™High Definition Eye Pencil
EmphasEYES Aqua-Gel Eyeliner
EmphasEYES Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner
Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush
Cheek Stain



The first thing that captures my attention is, of course, theBalm's packaging. Very retro, very vintage; it's both cute and chic. I've heard amazing things about some of their products, so I'm definitely eager to try some out.

Products (left to right):
TimeBalm Concealer
Cabana Boy Blush
Mary-Lou Manizer Highlighter
Bahama Mama Bronzer



The first time I heard of Make Up For Ever, I actually thought it was a low quality brand, kind of like play-makeup for children. I guess the "For Ever" part made me think of children (bff, yo!). I believe I actually asked if the brand was "for real." Yeah... Anyway, now I know better and I'm eager to try out their products. Especially since MUFE is such a favourite among makeup professionals and makeup enthusiasts alike.

Products (left to right, top to bottom):
Aqua Cream
HD Microfinish Powder
Diamond Powder
HD Invisible Cover Foundation
12 Flash Color Case
Smoky Lash Mascara



I first heard of Sugarpill through YouTube makeup tutorials and I was astounded by how pigmented the eyeshadows were. I know there's a time and a place for sheer colours, but for the most part, I'm all about highly pigmented shadows. I have a feeling Sugarpill won't disappoint. 

Products (left to right):
Pressed Eyeshadows
Loose Eyeshadows



Bourjoir Paris is a brand that I first noticed because of their cute "round pot" products. At first I thought I'd have to wait til I make my dream trek to London to try these out but they're apparently available in Canada (Shoppers Drug Mart), though I've not seen them yet. I definitely need to look harder :p.

Products (left to right):
Little Round Pot Blush
10 Hour Sleep Effect Foundation
Little Round Pot Eyeshadow



Best known for their Dazzle Dusts and Nail Paints, Barry M is definitely a brand I want to try. There's a Facebook campaign going on to get Barry M sold in Canadian drugstores and you can bet I "liked" that page :p. 

Products (left to right):
Nail Paint
Dazzle Dust
Lip Paint



Ridiculous product names aside, there's no denying that NARS makes good products. The packaging feels luxurious and the colours are gorgeous. However, I'm a "more for my money" type of girl so I always inwardly cringe when I look at the prices. Nevertheless, I definitely want to "invest" in some NARS, it's just a matter of figuring out which products to choose first.

Products (left to right):
Blush
The Multiple
Bronzing Powder
Sheer Glow Foundation
Eyeshadow Duo



Pixi is a fairly new discovery for me and I've been eager to try some of their products since I first heard of this brand. I know they're available at Target so I need to make a note to check it out when I'm there next.

Products (left to right):
Illuminating Tint & Conceal
Natural Mineral Kit
Lip Booster 







Any brands on your must-try list, lovelies?





February 9, 2011

Valentine's Day Deals From Sigma!

(photo from Sigma)


It's almost Valentine's Day! If you find yourself single this time of year, I suggest treating yourself to some great brushes from Sigma! Who says you need to have a boy pamper you? Pamper yourselves, lovelies. You're worth it :).



Click here to check out the Face & Eyes Kit.
Click here to check out the Complete Kit.



Click here to check out the Premium Professional Kit.



Click here to check out the MAXBag in Violet.
Click here to check out the MAXBag in Bleu.
Click here to check out the MAXBag in Noir.


Any products catch your eye? I definitely want the MAXBag in Violet! 

In other news, I'll probably be taking a bit of a blogging break to focus on my other life, a.k.a. The Performer's Life. Sounds like a bad reality tv show. But I've got some auditions and performances coming up and I want to give it a lot of attention as I'm a bit rusty. I'll still be posting, just not with the same frequency as I have in the past couple of months. I do hope you'll stick around and read my blog and leave comments (I love reading and responding to them!).






Happy Wednesday, lovelies!






February 6, 2011

Winter Staple: Lush - Mange Too Massage Bar




Intense moisture and a delicious scent, Lush's Mange Too Massage Bar has been a staple for me this winter. Among its ingredients are fair trade cocoa butter, shea butter, mango butter, white chocolate, fresh bananas, and honey.

Don't worry, it doesn't normally look like the mess pictured above, which was a result of a pretty brutal week of high temperatures during the summer of 2010. In reality, it has a very cute honeycomb pattern on top.

(photo from Makeup Alley)


Because it's a massage bar, it does contain essential oils (peppermint oil & sweet orange oil), which means you'll be waiting some time for your skin to dry. It glides on the skin wonderfully and the scent stays quite long on the skin, which I love.

Also, according to Lush, this product is completely edible. I personally haven't taken a bite out of this bar though the utterly delicious scent makes it tempting :p. Nor do I have the inclination to lick my own body parts *eugh*. But for those of you who are more... Shall we say, adventurous? If you ever decide to test this theory out, do let me know if it's indeed edible! Haha!






Have you tried any of Lush's massage bars?
If so, which are your favourites?






February 5, 2011

Collection Spotlight: Matthew Williamson - Resort 2011




(photos from style.com)


- Those trousers! The colours are gorgeous (I'm now determined to find an orange pair for myself) and I love the darts. 

- Prints, prints, prints. Matthew Williamson is pretty much synonymous with the word "print" and I was kind of surprised that there wasn't as many to be seen. Still, what you see here is gorgeous, no? Especially that watercolour-esque, belted, full-length dress in the third set.

- Drape blazers. Love the peach one, it would be fantastic for spring! The first time I saw a drape blazer was in H&M sometime last year and I've been obsessed with it ever since. Seriously, I want that peach one!

- The last dress = divine. Love the draping, the weaving detail on the bust, and love the colour! 






Any favourites from this collection?







February 3, 2011

What Is Beauty?



I just read an insightful and thought-provoking post on Primp and Preen which really got me thinking. And instead of writing an essay on her comments section, I thought I'd share my thoughts here. I'm not going to go into what Rosalyn wrote because I feel like this post will be long enough as it is, but definitely check out her post prior to reading mine to get a bit of background.

1. On boob jobs and cosmetic procedures

So a young woman named Yasmin on the show Beauty and the Beast: The Ugly Face of Prejudice receives a lot of unwanted sexual attention due to her J cup breasts. Due to this, she is considering elective surgery to reduce the size down to an E cup. I also know that Queen Latifah has had her breast size reduced because she was experiencing back problems. In this case, I can understand and would even agree with elective cosmetic surgery.

In some cases (maybe even most), people spend ages researching and considering the consequences of cosmetic surgery, which is how it should be approached. However, in other cases, their intense insecurity drives them to have procedures done to their faces that are just completely unnecessary!



See, my philosophy in life is this: if you're not enough without it, you will never be enough with it. If I can't be happy now then I won't ever be no matter how much weight I lose. I won't be happy even if I have smaller thighs or bigger boobs or a thinner face. The thing is, when you spend so much time focusing on your flaws, the moment you have them "fixed," you may feel good about yourself for a time. But I can guarantee that you will transfer all that focus onto something else and you'll find other things about yourself you'll want to change. The cycle will never end. 


2. On imperfections and the beauty industry

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, truly it is. And only we can decide if we will allow the beauty industry to dictate what beauty should look like. Yes, I'm not perfect. Yes, I have moments where I wish I was more this, less that, etc. But I've always been a bit stubborn and there's an inner rebel in me that likes to say, "I may not have long lashes, I may not have a deep crease in my eyelids, I may not have cheekbones that can cut granite, my nose may be flat, but you can't tell me I'm not beautiful!"

Now, if only I can think like that all the time... 

We will always have insecurities, but we must learn to manage them and not be a slave to our bodies. I don't want to be like that woman I read about on Sephora's blog that wakes up before her man to put her face on so he doesn't see her without makeup.


3. On being a beauty blogger

The reason I love makeup is because I love exercising my creativity, I love the process of researching and hunting for products, and I love testing and playing with them. I blog about it because I wanted an outlet to share my thoughts and because I've always loved writing. 

Again, there are days when I succumb to my insecurities. But has being a beauty blogger made me more aware of my flaws? I'd have to emphatically say, NO. In fact, it has actually changed the way I see myself. My brother always told me I had a skewed sense of self image. I'm the kind of person who won't bother trying something on because I'm convinced it would look awful. But how do you really know until you try, right? 

As a performer, I've been doing my own makeup for many years and was all about making my eyes look bigger. Ask any Asian about what she would like to change about her face and I'm confident the vast majority would want bigger eyes. They even have this special glue that will create a crease on your eyelids. I fell into that myself. But as I continued doing makeup looks for the blog and really looking at myself properly, I realized my eyes aren't actually that small and I don't need to go to such great lengths to create that illusion.


4. On wearing makeup

I wear makeup nearly every time I go out (unless I'm just running errands) and the amount I put on depends on where I'm going. The mall or lunch with friends? Foundation, blush, and eyeliner. Dinner or church? I'll probably add eyeshadow, contour, and mascara. Performance? The whole shebang, baby! This is when I bust out the false lashes and such.

I understand that makeup can boost confidence, I wholeheartedly agree. It's also a matter of wanting to put your best foot forward. I don't know about you, but I don't like looking like a slob when I go out of the house. Even if I'm wearing sweatpants, I still make the rest of me look presentable. 

Also, makeup is FUN! I love the process of figuring out which look I want to do and I love creating new colour combinations. I love being more adventurous with makeup and wearing bolder or brighter colours to suit my mood. Like fashion, it's an extension of myself; a way to express my personality without words.

But are there days when I can't be bothered? Absolutely! Do I feel horribly self conscious when I don't wear makeup? Definitely not! But I wasn't always like this. I think that as we grow older and we become more comfortable in our own skin, we begin to realize that we're more beautiful than we thought we were.


4. Says who?

To end this ramble of a post, I encourage you to do this. When the media or your peers suggests that you need to do this, be this, look like this in order to be beautiful, ask "says who?"

I mean, seriously. Who decides that this is how it's got to be in order to be considered beautiful? The fact is, the beauty industry and the media will always have its say and most of us will fall prey to it. And as I mentioned above, only we can decide if we will believe what they say or decide for ourselves that we're beautiful just the way we are.






What are your thoughts on any of the topics above?






LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails