Cream Vs. Powder Makeup on FASHION Magazine's Beauty Panel

Hi, beautiful ones! I've got another Beauty Panel post for y'all and this time, we're talking cream vs. powder products.

If you'd like to know how I achieved this simple, everyday-appropriate look and to see what products I used, then check out my Beauty Panel post on FASHION Magazine here.

Hope you guys like this look!

Inspired By Leighton Meester on FASHION Magazine

Hello again, lovely ones! I've got another Beauty Panel post for you all. Our challenge this time was to do a look based on a celebrity who inspires us with their red carpet makeup looks. For this challenge, I chose the beautiful Leighton Meester. Here's why:

Try as I might, when I think of Leighton Meester, I can' think of a particular trademark makeup look that she likes to wear; every time she walks the red carpet, she looks different. And that's why I chose her as the celebrity that inspires the way I do my makeup -- she's not afraid to take risks! Take this look that I recreated, for example. Not only has she paired bold lips with bold eyes (something more people discourage), but she's wearing purple eyeshadow, gold eyeliner and red lips! There aren't many celebrities who could pull this look off on the red carpet (as opposed to a fashion shoot), but Leighton has enough confidence to work it.

You guys know me, I like to use colour in the looks I do on the blog (where else can I get away with it? :p). So, of course, I chose one of her boldest red carpet looks. And there's my take on this makeup look Leighton wore to the American Eagle Outfitters flagship store opening in Times Square in 2009.

Love the mix of gold and purple!

Anyway, hope you like this look, friends! Here's a link to the post for a list of products used.

Who's your celebrity makeup inspiration?

CONTEST (CLOSED) - Win $100 Worth Of Your Favourite Shu Uemura Products Courtesy Of Made In Blog (Canada Only)

When Made In Blog contacted me about hosting a Shu Uemura contest, I immediately jumped at the chance. Shu Uemura is such an iconic brand, but it can seem a bit inaccessible. Now that Shu Uemura has launched their Canadian online store, us Canadians no longer have any excuses! :p

To celebrate this momentous occasion, Made in Blog and call it beauty. have teamed up to bring you this awesome-possum contest! What do you get? A chance to win $100 worth of your favourite Shu Uemura products! What do you need to do? Well, read on...

The Rules
- You must follow call it beauty. either through Google Friend Connect (GFC) or Bloglovin
- You must leave a DISQUS** comment on this blog post with your name, an email we can reach you at, how you follow call it beauty. (GFC or Bloglovin), the name of your favourite Shu Uemura product, and a link to said product from the Canadian website.
- You must like call it beauty. on Facebook.
- You may enter once per day until the deadline.

**IMPORTANT: Comments left via mobile DO NOT appear on this website. You must leave a comment via Disqus in order for your entry to be counted.

For extra entries, you must follow call it beauty. on Twitter and tweet the following message (in parentheses): "Check out @callitbeauty_'s Shu Uemura giveaway for your chance to win $100 worth of your favourite Shu products", along with a link to this blog post. You may tweet once per day up until the deadline.

In the interest of simplifying the verification process, please leave a link to your tweet in the same comment with all the information stated above (under The Rules). So to clarify: one comment = one entry, one comment + tweet (link) = two entries.

The contest ends at 12noon PDT on April 30th, 2013. Winner will be chosen by random generator and will be contacted once verified.

But this contest is not your only chance to win some Shu swag. How does a $500 gift card sound to you? All you have to do is click on this link & create your Shu Uemura Wishlist and you'll be in the running for that $500 gift card!

And with the special promo code SHUBLOG, you will receive a $10 gift card for the Shu Uemura website at checkout (valid on purchase of $50 or more). Happy shopping!

Best of luck, lovelies!

Guess What, Lovelies?!

So a month or two ago, I was contacted by FASHION MAGAZINE to be part of their new online Beauty Panel. I missed the first challenge, but I was able to join the other lovely beauty bloggers for the second and it's all about: EMERALD. 

As you all must know, Pantone has declared emerald the colour of the year. So we were tasked with incorporating this particular shade into our beauty routines. 

I particularly love wearing colour on my lower lash line, so I decided to wear emerald there...

Products Used:

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation

Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Waterproof Concealer

Anastasia Vol. I Bold Brows Kit

MAC Eyeshadows (Naked Lunch, Quarry, and Omega)

MAC Powder Blush (Taupe Shape)

MAC Mineralize Blush (Subtle Breeze)

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick (Posy Pink)

Maybelline Volum' Express Falsies Flared Mascara

NYX Cosmetics Slide On Pencil (Esmeralda)

And on a quick review note: the NYX Slide On Pencils are fabulous! They have stayed on my lower lash line without budging for 11 hours. With other long-wearing eye pencils, I notice fading after 5 or 6 hours, but the Slide On Pencils didn't move at all. And yet, they weren't difficult to apply (they are sooo soft, you guys!) or a pain in the you-know-where to remove. I'm definitely impressed... Which means I must get all the colours. ALL THE COLOURS, you guys!

Anyway, hope you guys like this look and if you have the time, please check out my post and all the other posts as well! 

How would YOU wear emerald?

Be Bold, Be Beautiful... Courtesy Of Anastasia Beverly Hills

I'm going to embarrass myself and admit that I totally watched The Bold & The Beautiful when I was younger. Also, Days Of Our Lives... And Passions. Hey, there were some really good looking men in those shows!

Aaaanyway, what I'm talking about here is a different kind of Bold & Beautiful... I'm talking about the Bold & Beautiful Kit by Anastasia Beverly Hills. The kit comes with 2 "books" -- Vol. I Bold Brows and Vol. II Beautiful Eyes. Let's take a gander, shall we?

First up, we've got Vol. 1 Bold Brows. It comes with Pomade, Brow Powder, Mini Tweezers, and a Mini Duo Brush.

Now, I have to admit that I normally don't do much with my brows. I'm pretty lucky in that they're fairly full and don't require much work other than grooming. Still, I sometimes have the urge to make them fuller and more ta-dao like so (except not as bushy, maybe). Growing your brows out can be tedious and take a while so the other option is to use brow products like those found in Anastasia's Bold & Beautiful Kit.

The Brow Pomade comes in a a dark, ashy brown shade and the Brow Powder comes in a taupe-y tray shade. Now, my brows are black, so I really wasn't sure how the Brow Powder was going to work out for me. However, combined with the Brow Pomade, it looks quite natural. The pomade allows for the brow products to stay put all day and it has definitely stayed with me all day.

The Mini Duo Brush is also quite useful. I use the spoolie end to comb through my brows and the angled brush end to apply both brow products. The angled brush has dense, stiff bristles that do the job perfectly.

And the Mini Tweezers? I love! I have one tweezer. Oh, I've tried many others before, but none of them work as well as this one. I've been using it for so long that the brand logo has worn off. So if I lost the damn thing (and I have many times), I can't even go out and replace it with the right tweezer. Well, I am happy and relieved to say that this Mini Tweezer works just as well for me! Huzzah! No more dealing with bushy brows when I lose my big tweezers! I love that it grabs every single hair. Because it's so small, I do have to do more tweezing than when I use my big tweezers. But on the upside, it can catch even my smallest bits of hair, precisely because it's so small.

Next up, we've got Vol. 2 Beautiful Eyes, which is an eyeshadow palette that contains 4 shades -- 1 matte, 1 satin, and 2 shimmer (the medium brown shade is mostly matte, but there's a little bit of shimmer in there) -- and one double-ended eyeshadow brush. The brush itself works well enough, though I do prefer larger ones. Between the shader brush and the pencil brush, I much prefer the pencil because I like when they are on the smaller side.

The shadows are all very soft and on the sheerer side of pigmented. Unfortunately, the 2 matte shades hardly show up on my skin; although I do like using the light beige shade as a subtle highlight on the brow bone. I've used the medium brown shade to contour, but it the shading is much too subtle for my liking, even when I've packed it on.

There is a peach-coral shade that has a subtle gold pearl that is absolutely gorgeous. It's not incredibly pigmented and is definitely offers a hint of colour, but it's not so subtle that you don't see it. It's the perfect shade for somebody who wants to incorporate more colour into their look but doesn't care for anything too bold or bright.

Meanwhile, the darkest shade is, unsurprisingly, the most pigmented shade of the bunch. It's more unique than your typical black because it has bronze glitter shot through it (soooo pretty!); but it's not over the top shimmery.

Surprisingly, despite my slightly oily lids, these shadows stay on for a good 6 hours without a primer. It applies smoothly and I experience just a little bit of fall out.

In the photos above, I've used both the Brow Powder and the Pomade on my brows. For the eyes, I used the satin coral shade all over the lid and in the inner third of the lower lash line, the medium brown shade along the edges of the coral shade to blend (I promise I used it!), and the matte beige shade on the brow bone (again: I promise it's there!). For the black with bronze shimmer, I applied it to the lower lash line and blended up. I also applied some to the lower lash line.

The combination of the coral and black/bronze shimmer shades are utterly gorgeous -- I've actually been wearing this look a lot in the last few months!

All in all, this is a fantastic kit by Anastasia. The products perform well and the shades are gorgeous (despite 2 of them not showing up too well for me). I've really been enjoying using this kit over the last month or so. I've shaved a few minutes off my morning makeup routine because most of what I need is in 2 "booklets". The Bold & Beautiful Kit retails for $36 USD, which is also fantastic value for money!

What products make you feel BOLD & BEAUTIFUL?

* This product was provided by PR for review consideration.

Lipstick Bandits: The Secret Santa Look Swap

IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE!!!

In the Filipino culture, we celebrate on Christmas Eve and take it easy on Christmas Day, so the 24th has always been one of my favourite times of the year. Back in the Philippines, we would go to church for "Simbang Gabi" (translation: "night church") and then head back home for "Nochebuena", which is the meal we all eat at around midnight. After that, we open presents and then head to bed. 

Now that my family lives in Canada, we still continue with the tradition of celebrating on Christmas Eve and then keeping it mellow on Christmas Day (we usually watch a movie in the theatres); a tradition I think I will probably pass on to my own family. 

Anyway, the Lipstick Bandits have decided to do a little Christmas celebrating of their own by doing a "Secret Santa Look Swap". We were each given a Bandit to emulate through our makeup looks and here is what I came up with...

Some hints about my Bandit:

- She has beautiful, flawless skin (ok, they all do, so this is a crap hint)
- She has her flick technique down
- She likes coral-pink lip shades
- She has cuuute freckles
- She highlights the inner corners of her eyes like a pro

Any guesses???

If you guessed Monika of Rocaille Writes, then you are CORRECT!

Hope you like the look, Monika!

I was inspired by the look she created for her review of L'oréal's Infallible Eyeshadow in Golden Emerald. I didn't have the exact shades she used, so I took some liberties and went as close as I possibly could to her look.

Products Used

Face:

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation

Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Concealer

Eyes:

Annabelle Eyeshadow in Vert-to-Go

Make Up For Ever Eyeshadows in a grey-taupe, brown-taupe, brown, and black shades (MUFE, y u no put eyeshadow names on the pan?!? >_<)

MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Whisper of Gilt

NYX Retractable Eyeliner in Bronze

L'oréal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Black Lacquer Mascara
L'oréal Voluminous Power Collagen Mascara

Cheeks:
MAC Mineralize Blush in Subtle Breeze

Lips:
Rimmel lipstick in Airy Fairy
Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss in Peony

As I mentioned above, I took some liberties with this look. I went a little bit heavier on the eyes because I feel that I need more definition and I decided to go with a lip colour that I see on Monika most often. She didn't do a glossy lip in her look, but I needed Peony to get a better colour. But I think the most telling part of this look is the inner corners of the eyes. Monika almost always highlights her inner corner and although the highlighter I used was more grainy than anything Monika's ever used, it was the one I had that would show up the most on camera (btw, so sorry for the crap quality of my photos. It's been so gloomy the last couple of days and I don't have proper lighting at home).

This post has been a lot of fun and I really hope you guys like the look (especially you, Monika-dear). Now, if you'll excuse me... It's time for me to troll everyone else's posts. I can't wait to see who got me who everyone else got! 

• Call It Beauty
• Eye Heart It
• Getting Cheeky
• Glitter Geek
• Makeup Morsels
• Messy Wands
• Musing on Beauty
• My Funny Valentine
• Rocaille Writes
• theNotice: a beauty blog‎

And a new Bandit this round:

• ChloeAsh‎

Merry Christmas, everybody!

Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick in Tannin: Another Red To Fall In Love With

I mentioned in the previous post that I was absolutely craving a red lipstick... Well, I had my choice of two and like the true Lipstick Bandit I am, I couldn't pick just one. Every woman needs multiple red lipsticks, right? (Just agree with me)

When I swatched Tannin for the first time, I knew it was exactly the kind of red I was looking for. And since Mascate is a matte finish, I decided that purchasing a red lipstick with a different finish - think MAC Amplified Crème - was completely justified. (Just agree with me, again)

I'm already a fan of Bite's Luminous Crème Lipsticks (Mulberry was my first purchase), so I knew I was going to love Tannin, too...

Tannin is described by Bite as "poppy red" and at first, I didn't agree. Probably because I have a Joe Fresh lipstick called Poppy and that one is more of an orange-red. Then I realized that this shade definitely looks like the colour of poppies worn on Remembrance Day.

The Luminous Crème Lipsticks have a very creamy consistency and are very easy to apply. Because they're so creamy, there's a lot of slip, so I find it best to do thin layers to build up the colour. It can apply opaque straight away; but I find that when I do that, the product moves around too much. For example, if I apply straight from the bullet and then rub my lips together, the product shifts and separates in some areas. It's definitely not a good look. So I apply lip primer first (MAC Prep + Prime Lip, as per usual), then layer the lipstick on, either by dotting it onto the lip or by using a lip brush. I find this decreases the chances of it moving around on me throughout the day.

I find the Luminous Crème Lipsticks to be very comfortable to wear -- it doesn't dry out my lips, nor does it irritate them. This formula is a real winner for me and the colour, even more so. I mean, look at it! So if you're looking for a gorgeous red lipstick that has a creamy formula and is feels good on the lips, then Tannin is for you!

What's your favourite red lipstick?

NARS Pure Matte Lipstick in Mascate: A Must-Have For Red Lip Aficionados

About a month ago, I had this intense hankering for a red lipstick... But I wasn't looking for any old red lipstick. No, it was a particular red that I was looking for.

I wanted something deep, but not vamp. A dark red that doesn't look too brown and doesn't look too orange. I don't remember if I took to Twitter or if I messaged my fellow Lipstick Bandits on Whatsapp (I have a feeling it might've been the latter); but after various suggestions, my girl Larie mentioned Mascate. One google search later and I knew I found The One.

Off to Sephora I went and my life has not been the same ever since... Incidentally, this lipstick is my official introduction to NARS products and what an introduction it was!

Here's some tidbits about the Pure Matte Lipsticks...

What it is:
An ultra-matte, super rich lipstick with the supple feel of a hydrating lip treatment.

What it does:
This matte lipstick moisturizes and and soothes lips while depositing vivid, dramatic colour onto the lips.

What else you need to know:
The formula includes mango butter at levels known to provide additional comfort and moisture.

Mascate is described by NARS as a Bold Red and it's definitely BOLD! Now while I tend to steer away from anything too dark, I've never been scared of anything bold. Mascate is an attention grabber in every sense. It's exactly the kind of red I was looking for and the matte finish just adds to the drama.

The formula's pretty impressive, as well... It applies smoothly, though not as smoothly as a creamier lipstick with a non-matte finish would, so I find it best to apply with a lip brush. It goes on opaque straight away if you apply straight from the tube, but it does require a few layers to build up to true opacity when using a brush.

I don't have a lot of matte lipsticks since I find them to be drying. But this lipstick is probably the most comfortable matte I've ever worn. That said, my lips are mad dry, so I always have to wear vaseline underneath; so I can't really say exactly how hydrating or moisturizing it is.

This lipstick doesn't have a lot of slip, so it stays put quite well. I once wore it without a lip primer and it stuck around through a meal. Obviously, there was wear around the seam of the mouth, but it was nothing that couldn't be fixed by a quick rub of the lips. However, layered on top of a lip primer (I quite like MAC's Prep + Prime Lip) and this baby really lasts through the night. I mean, if you wanna look sexy, might as well look sexy for the whole night, right? ;)

BA-BAM!

And that's one word that describes Mascate perfectly -- sexy. Every woman needs this particular shade in their life. Forreal.

Seriously, go buy it...

Sporting Mascate... Recognize the lovely on the right? :)

Are you a fan of the NARS Pure Matte Lipsticks?

What's In My Makeup Bag?

I've seen a number of "What's In My Makeup Bag" posts in the blogosphere and decided to join the bandwagon. I always find it fascinating, seeing what kind of cosmetics people bring around with them. It's a good indication of what products people can't live without on a day-to-day basis.

Anyway, without further ado... This is what Dani has in her makeup bag:

I guess one must start with the makeup bag, no? This cute little thing was a Winners purchase... For all you non-Canadian lovelies, Winners is our version of Ross (if you're in US) or TK Maxx (if you're in the UK).

It's a nice size and has a super cute print, so I've been quite happy with it... The reason I say "I've been" instead of "I am" is because I'm thinking of getting a larger makeup bag. It's kind of a challenge making everything fit in there -- it's almost like putting a puzzle together. ("Now, if I put this here and that over here, it should zip up!")

Then again, I'm not sure if it's a good idea to get a bigger makeup bag, because a bigger bag = more room, more room = "LET'S PUT ALL THE MAKEUPS IN TEH BAG!", "LET'S PUT ALL THE MAKEUPS IN TEH BAG!" = heavier purse, heavier purse = sore shoulder. And Dani does not need sore shoulders, yo!

*and exhaaaale*

On to the actual makeup!

I'm a Lipstick Bandit, so it's no surprise that I have this many lip products in my purse... Actually, this is probably pretty tame compared to a lot of other women. From left to right, they are:

1) L'oréal Crayon Petite Automatic Lip Liner in Clear Transparent - I love the idea of a clear lip liner because that means I don't need to have a lip liner to match every single lipstick I have. It works quite well for me, though I would like to try a clear lip liner from a higher price point. Any recommendations, lovelies?
2) Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish in Dolly - This is a mini version of the lipgloss, which I received as a 250 point perk from Sephora (along with 2 more mini lip products). It's a gorgeous shade, described by Buxom as a shimmering muted plum, but the cooling sensation is just too much! Seriously, I put the damn thing on and 10 minutes later, it was still tingling. I felt like I had ice cubes attached to my lips! I know Buxom says that the "tingling sensation reminds you it's working," but maybe it should say: "the tingling sensation reminds you that soon you will have no feeling left in your lips."
3) Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick in Mulberry - I've got a soft spot for this lippie because it was one of the first I ever featured on a Lipstick Bandits post. I'm a fan of Bite Beauty's products and this shade is just lovely.
4) Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick in Tannin - So, so, sooo pretty! I don't want to say too much because I have yet to review it properly (note to self: get on it, lazy bones!), but trust me when I say it's absolutely gorgeous!
5) MAC Cremesheen Glass in Galaxy Rose - This was a limited edition product released in MAC's Heavenly Creatures collection. I'm a fan of the Cremesheen Glass formula because it's comfortable to wear. I wouldn't call it non-sticky, but it's definitely much less sticky than MAC's other lipglass formulas. I love the shade, too -- it's still bright, but a little more grown up.
6) Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Mauvy Night - This shade is so perfect for Fall and looks extra gorgeous layered underneath the Buxom lipgloss I mentioned earlier... I put it in my makeup bag in hopes that I would use it more often; but so far, I've been much too obsessed with reds... I feel like Mauvy Night is the kid who's cool enough to get invited to the party, but not cool enough to be talked to at the party -- the party being my makeup bag... (does that even make sense?)
7) NARS Pure Matte Lipstick in Mascate - Favourite lipstick EVER (right now)! Again, I've yet to properly review this, so I'll save my squee-ing for then. If you're impatient, then go read Larie's review of it on Eye Heart It.
8) MAC Prep + Prime Lip - This stuff is amazeballs! It creates a barrier between my lips and the lipstick so my lips don't dry out and it makes lip products last so much better! For example, I wore this and Mascate together at a friend's birthday party and I didn't have to reapply -- even after dinner. I mean, obviously, there was some wear in the seam of the lips; but I found that I just needed to rub my lips together to distribute some more product into that area and I was good.
9) MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner in Fuchsia Fix - This is probably my most repurchased beauty product of all time. It keeps my lips hydrated, while adding a nice touch of colour.

The beautiful thing about my makeup bag right now is that it can also fit brushes! Which means I can always touch up my blush or powder away some shine whenever I need to...

1) Royal & Langnickel Master Pro Blush Brush - Despite it's fluffiness, this brush is actually shaped more flat than round, which is how I like my blush brushes most, I've discovered. It's sooo soft, too!
2) MAC Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder/Pressed - Don't let the whiteness fool you, this stuff does not go on white at all! I love how it mattifies my skin and sets my makeup beautifully. I've used this on clients too -- it's pretty awesome!
3) MAC Mineralize Blush in Subtle Breeze - Another limited edition product, this time from the Naturally Collection (originally reviewed here). It's such a pretty shade and it goes well with a lot of lip colours I have in my makeup bag. It applies beautifully too, so no need to be super careful when applying. Which is awesome if you're pressed for time...

I don't always need to touch up my eyeliner throughout the day; but when I do, I prefer Dos Equis it's comforting to know that I have something in my bag.

1) Marcelle Waterproof Liquid DIP-PEN Eyeliner - I really like this formula! It's goes on easily and sticks around! I wouldn't quite call it waterproof, as it did cause some raccoon eye action when I went swimming. But it stays put on my oily lids even without a primer, and that's enough of a victory for me.
2) NYX Retractable Eye Liner in Gypsy Blue - This is such a great pop of colour and I love applying it on my lower lash line. It stays long, but it does smudge a bit after a while. It definitely stays put on the upper lash line, though.

This is probably one of my favourite purchases this year... The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer (oil-free) provides fantastic coverage and all you have to do is smear it onto your face... Smear... What an awful word... All you have to do is apply it onto your face with your fingers. (Much better!)

It smells like SPF, unfortunately; but that scent definitely dissipates after some time. I love how this product just evens out my skintone beautifully. The fact that it's so easy to apply makes it even better. Lately, I've been using it after class when I've taken off all the hard work my classmates have put into my face. I literally just whack it on, apply a bit of blush, and I'm good to go. Such a great product!

And here we have: the randoms!

1) Jean Artaud Paris printed compact - I bought this compact in a cute little boutique on Granville Street many, many years ago and no one is more surprised than me that I a) have not lost it, and b) have not broken it after all these years. I love the vintage print and the fact that it's a sizeable mirror.
2) Bath & Body Works Fine Fragrance Mist in Cashmere Glow - This certainly does not fit in my makeup bag, but I thought I'd share it anyway because it's such an important piece in my purse. I sometimes feel gross after a long day's work, as I'm sure many of you do as well; but we don't all have time to go home before going out to meet up with friends. So having a lightweight bottle of fragrance to spritz yourself can be pretty important. Cashmere Glow has top notes of bergamot, golden peach, pink guava, exotic berries, and gilded apricot; has mid notes of glowing muguet petals,  mimosa, fluffy peony, and fresh jasmine; and has dry notes of shimmering vanilla, dulce de leche, sandalwood, and cashmere musk. Don't let the silly note descriptions turn you off (I wasn't aware scents could shimmer or glow... And what does a gilded apricot smell like compared to a regular apricot?), this perfume smells lovely. The fact that it's such a lightweight bottle makes it so much more convenient to carry around, as well.
3) Vaseline - Good ol' Vaseline! Some of you may remember that I've been struggling with dry, flaky lips this year. I've tried numerous products and while they all worked marvelously when my lips were normal, nothing could get them to behave when they're acting up quite like Vaseline could. I've been slathering (again with the gross words!) this on every day and my lips have not been misbehaving... I can wear lipstick again! *victory lunge*


Hope you guys enjoyed this post! It's actually quite fun to pick through my makeup bag to see what products I like to have around with me... Sometimes you just dump things in the bag with no thought as to why you want it on your person. It's good to take an inventory sometimes. :)

What beauty item do you absolutely HAVE to have 

in your makeup bag?

FILLER POST!!! (a.k.a. Dani Can't Find Her Camera)

So it's kind of embarrassing to make this big ta-da about being back to blogging and then not post for, what, a week? It's coz I can't find my camera, you guys! >_<

Anyway, I decided to do a bit of a filler post while I'm trying to find that darn camera. So here's what I've been up to lately:

Firstly, I met Larie-girl! (see above photo)

She is sooo sweet and sooo cute! Unfortunately, I only had about 2 hours to spend with her, but it was 2 hours well spent! I have now met 3 of the bandits; that makes my heart very happy!

School's been going well... One of the highlights of my course so far is learning how to block eyebrows. It's a lot of work and it's difficult to do without the proper concealer, but it's still a lot of fun!

Btw, how thrilled does my brother look? I think he loves missing an eyebrow!

We've been doing decade makeup as well. It's really interesting to see how much makeup styles and trends have changed throughout the years. The 50s was definitely my favourite look as it's so classic and flatters nearly everybody. Last night was all about the 60s and I had a lot of fun creating something reminiscent of that era. I was trying to create something that was traditionally 60s, though I found that mine was bit more on the modern side. Still, I think the look turned out well. :)

And last but not least...

If you read my last post, you'll know that I was the makeup artist for a YWCA campaign. Well, here's some photos!

Honestly, I felt like I could've done better... I keep thinking that perhaps I should've gone for a more defined and polished look instead of something very natural, but I'm still proud of the work I've done. The entire experience was so valuable and it's such a trip to see your work in such a public space.

The other day as I was getting off my train, I just happened to look up at the TV screen... What did I see? The YWCA ad!

I stood under that TV for a good 5-8 minutes waiting for it to pop up again so I could take a photo of it. It was such an incredible feeling seeing something you've worked on displayed for all to see!

----------

And there you have it... My first filler post. Keep your fingers and toes crossed for me -- hopefully I'll be able to find my camera soon!

Have a great weekend, lovelies!

Call It Beauty is Back With Bobbi Brown! (+ A Little Makeup Artistry Update)

I'm baaaaack!

Firstly, I must apologize for the ridiculous (and unannounced) hiatus... I can't really talk about it, but let's just say my personal life required all of my attention. But I decided that I've worked too hard on this blog to let it fall by the wayside; so here I am, trying to slowly make my way back into the world of beauty blogging! I do apologize for falling off the radar without any notice on the blog -- I promise I won't let it happen again. (But in case I do, a little slack would be appreciated :p)

Thanks for those of you who checked up on me via twitter, your concern was definitely appreciated and it warmed my heart. :)

But now, onto the review!

A few months ago, I started looking for a long-wearing foundation that did not have as much coverage as my go-to: Estée Lauder Double Wear. My reasoning was that I wanted my skin to look more natural on the regular and save Double Wear for performances and special occasions. Everyone totally has a special occasion foundation, right? :p

I was recommended Bobbi Brown's Natural Finish Long Lasting Foundation by the lovely Becca from The Beauty Sample and since I pretty much love her blog and everything she's featured on it, I knew I had to give it a try. Now, before I continue, I must say that this foundation has been discontinued and replaced by the Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation (which promises an even longer wear time). So why am I reviewing it? Well, because it's still available for purchase in some counters and because I want to! :p

Wearing Bobbi Brown Natural Finish Long Lasting Foundation with no concealer.

What I love about this foundation is that, as the same suggests, it looks very natural. It gives great coverage and I require very little concealing (under my eyes and on blemishes); basically it makes my skin look great without looking overly great. Plus, it doesn't break me out or cause any reactions, which is always a bonus. It's a great colour match for me, though it did become too light when I tanned up a bit during the Summer -- nothing a little bronzer couldn't fix, though!

The only thing that would've made this foundation that much better is if it had better oil-control. I did find that my face gets oily before my regular work day and it definitely fades quire a bit after 8-9 hours (without setting powder). This is probably what Bobbi Brown improved on with the release of their new long-wearing foundation, so if your skin is on the oilier side, I would definitely try the Long-Wear Even Finish foundation first.

That said, now that the weather is much cooler, I find that this foundation definitely sticks around for at least 9 hours. So I'll definitely be reaching for it more often during the Fall and the Winter.

This foundation is definitely a no-fuss foundation -- you can apply with a brush or your fingers, it still looks good. It's perfect for those days when I want to look polished and want more coverage than a tinted moisturizer/BB cream, but want less than EL's Double Wear foundation.


In other news...

I've started my Fashion & Photography Makeup course!

This has been THE course I've been itching to take since the very beginning and I am so happy that I'm finally taking it. Of course, I love doing your everyday, regular type of makeup; but there's something so thrilling about being more creative.

The two photos are above are 2 of the looks I've done so far. The first was something I came up with when prompted by the words fall and jewel tones. I wasn't initially very happy with the second look because a lot of my other classmates really went all out with their appliqués, but I've learned to appreciate it because I really like how the makeup aspect turned out. I was also relieved to see that my eyelining skills had not deteriorated.

This was definitely my favourite ever class assignment!

My instructor told us that we needed to: 1) "create" a runway collection. 2) create a makeup look for the runway show. And 3) create an inspiration backstory for both. It was so much fun because I was able to incorporate my creative writing skills into the assignment.

Pretty much the highlight of my (very short) career so far is doing a photoshoot for a YWCA awareness campaign. A friend of mine works as a copy writer for a local advertising agency and is working with the YWCA on the campaign. She posted a status on Facebook asking for any makeup artists who would be willing to do makeup for a photoshoot "pro bono," so to speak. Of course, I jumped at the chance to be part of this campaign. I mean, what an opportunity, right?

The shoot itself was a lot of fun and was a great learning experience. I can't wait to do more work!

Happy Wednesday, lovelies!