All About Eyes - 5 Looks From NYX Cosmetics 10 Color Palette In Velvet Rope

The best thing about eyeshadow palettes is all the fun you get to have playing with the different shades. I decided to try 5 completely different looks using this one palette. For every look, I used NYX's Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk as a base and L'oréal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black (with the exception of the first look, in which I used Revlon Beyond Natural Eyelashes in 91155).

Now, in the interest of simplifying the write-up a little bit (and because I'm too lazy to describe each individual eyeshadow shade :p), I'll just label each shadow by their row and number them from left to right. So, T1-T5 and B1-B5, et cetera... T for top, B for bottom. Get it? So clever, I know.

On that note, here are the looks I created!

Un - Something Sultry

I applied B3 all over the lid and blended the edges out with B2. Then I highlighted the brow bone with shade B5 and lined all around the eyes with T5.

Deux - Something Soft

I used shade T3 from the inner corner to the middle of the eyelid and shade T4 from the middle to the outer corner. Then, I used shade B4 to to line the upper lash line, flicking it out in the corner.

Trois - Something Vibrant

Firstly, I applied shade T2 all over the lid, then applied shade B1 on the bottom lash line. Lastly, I applied shade B4 on the outer corners blending it outwards and making sure to blend it into the lower lash line as well.

Quatre - Something Linear

I applied shade T3 all over the lid with a fluffy brush for a softer look and also took it down to the lower lash line; I wanted it to look like a haze of lavender on the eye. Then I used shade T2 to line the eyes. I started with the top, using my usual technique for creating a flick. After that, I lined the lower lash line, making sure to keep both lines parallel. To finish off, I dusted some of shade B5 on the brow bone to highlight.

Cinq - Something Simple

I started off with the lightest shade (B5) all over the lid for a very light wash of colour. Then I used shade B3 to line all around the eyes, joining them together in the outer corner and flicking the shape up ever so slightly.

And there you have it! I had so much fun playing around with this palette and am so pleased with how the looks turned out.

Hope you guys like these looks! =)

NXY Cosmetics' 10-Color Eyeshadow Palette In Velvet Rope Makes My Purple Loving Heart Happy

When I saw this palette at NYX's booth at IMATS, I immediately had to have it. After all, I'm a sucker for purples. I happen to also be a sucker for palettes (it's the Get-More-For-Your-Money girl in me) so this was pretty much a win-win purchase for me!

From NYX Cosmetics: Craving purple peepers? New takes on neutral? Or shades handpicked to flatter your eye colour? You asked - and we delivered. After so many NYX fans requested an eye palette containing 10 eye shadows, we designed this version.  Look no further than these scintillating eye shadow inspired by runway trends and modern style. Available in 16 different color combinations and sleek enough to fit into a clutch, you'll likely want more than one. The shades are wearable, covetable and fashionable. Expect rich, lasting pigments and glamour.

So far, I've been really impressed with this palette. First of all, I really like NYX's eyeshadows - they're buttery soft, pigmented and apply smoothly; all pluses in my book. Be warned that you will get a bit of fall out; though it's nothing a quick sweep of a brush won't easily fix.

Also, the ten shades in Velvet Rope really compliment each other well. The lightest shade is a shimmery off-white/pink shade that's absolutely perfect for highlighting the brow bone and inner corner. The darkest shades are a black eyeshadow with a satin finish and a black eyeshadow with red-violet glitter shot through. There is also a stunning navy shade that I've surprisingly fallen in love with. Of course, let's not forget the various purples in this palette. 

As you can see, the shades are vibrant. Even the lighter shadows! Usually, the lighter shades are the ones to let me down; they end up looking chalky and apply patchy. Not so with the shadows in this palette! And while these shadows are all quite lovely worn on their own, they positively pop when applied over a base. Don't get me wrong, you won't need it in order to get any vibrancy, but applying over a base (I particularly like the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk) just gives them that extra kick.

I'm so happy with this palette, so if you happen to see one at your local PriceSmart or Save-On Foods, I definitely recommend you pick up one. They cost $14.99 CAD, which works out to less than $2 per shadow. How amazing is that? Also, if you live in Surrey (or don't mind SkyTraining to Surrey), definitely head over to Central City mall where NYX Cosmetics has opened their own store. The product selection is absolutely divine, so you must check it out!

Also, check back here on Friday to see a few looks I came up with using the eyeshadows from this palette!

Are you a big fan of eyeshadow palettes, like I am?

About Face - The Lipstick Bandit

Here's the thing, on August 30th a conversation took place via Twitter between a few beauty bloggers. As conversations are wont to do, the topic shifted from lip products, to lipsticks, to red lipsticks; all the while, we were pointing the finger at someone else for some pretty SRS lemmings. Anyway, the words Lipstick Bandits were thrown around and an idea was born.

So our task was to create a mask look with red lipstick. Here is what I came up with...

Products Used:

NYX Cosmetics Jumbo Eye Pencil - Black

Sleek MakeUP i-Divine Palette - Storm (black eyeshadow)

Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Liner - 10 Clear

Revlon Creme Lipstick - Fire & Ice

Estée Lauder Double Wear Light Foundation - Intensity 3.0

Lancôme Star Bronzer - Éclat Bronze

I started by creating a line across my forehead, dipping down in the middle and at the edges; but I wasn't really happy with the shape. So out of nowhere, I just started making really short strokes around the edges to create a "feathery" look. Satisfied, I then filled in the (very large) gap and patted some black eyeshadow on the patchier areas. 

After that, I applied foundation in the areas where my skin was visible and applied bronzer to the hollows of my cheeks. Then I applied clear lipliner, outlined my lips with Fire & Ice with a lip pencil brush and filled in the rest of my lips straight from the tube. 

Et voilà, one Lipstick Bandit look! 

I created this look on the 3rd, after waking up (rather late) to a flash of inspiration. It came about pretty quickly actually. I was rather pleased with the look, but I started doubting myself the day after. Should I have made it more complicated? Something flashier? So I started racking my brain for some better ideas but none would come. Also, I became rather attached to this look...

I think I learned an important lesson in creativity: sometimes you just have to trust your gut. I like the simplicity of this look; I like the greasy quality of the mask, I like that it's literally rough around the edges... It's like my Lipstick Bandit persona is the novice: young, brash and needs a lot of work :p.

I'm not the only Lipstick Bandit around! Check out my fellow bandits: theNotice, The Glitter Geek, Eye Heart It, Makeup Morsels, and Beauty Reflections. Their looks are going to blow you guys away!

(Yo lipsticks. I has 'em!)

(Climbin' in yo windows, snatchin' yo lipsticks up)

Hope you all like my Lipstick Bandit look!

YSL Terre Saharienne Bronzer - Sounds Luxurious, Feels Luxurious

Well, there it is. My very first Yves Saint Laurent product. I'm a bit dumbstruck right now...

From YSL Beauty: Paying homage to the iconic safari look, Yves Saint Laurent invites you to explore the exotic n the form of an elegant bronzing powder, imprinted with the timeless YSL logo. Each brush stroke kisses the complexion with a natural sun-swept look. Sun Radiance Pigments capture and reflect light and diffuse a golden reflection in every direction, so your complexion looks luminous from any angle. The perfect travel companion for sunny touch-ups anywhere in the world. SPF 12. For all skin types.

The shade I received from Beauty Crazed is called Golden Sand; the imagery of that name alone sounds lovely and the shade doesn't disappoint either. As one would expect from a luxury brand, this powder is buttery soft and really smooth. It blends really nicely into the skin and never looks powdery; it's like the powder melts into the skin. I really like the finish of this bronzer and like Lancôme's Star Bronzer, looks amazingly natural.

Because this product blends so beautifully, it never looks cakey; even when you layer it on. The only gripe I have about this bronzer is that it doesn't last quite as long as I would like it to. After 5-6 hours, the bronzer is noticeably less vibrant. Though I suspect it might have something to do with the heat and the subsequent oiliness that causes it to fade. Or perhaps it's really just the product. Only time will tell...

Still, I love this bronzer! I can't say enough about how amazingly it applies onto the skin and how natural it looks. I also have the feeling that this baby will suit me even when my tan has bid me adieu. Maybe I'll actually start bronzing myself up more often :p.

Would you splurge on bronzer?

New Nude: MAC's Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Bare Again

I don't know what it is, but I got this sudden urge to pick up a nude lipstick. I only have two nudes, MAC Cherish (too brown) and MAC Jubilee (love, but too drying). Nudes and Reds are going to be two of my main lip shades in the Fall, I've decided, so I wanted to buy myself another nude that was going to be more hydrating than Jubilee.

I did my research, of course, and my choices were down to Clinique's Chubby Stick in Whole Lotta Honey and MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Bare Again. Suffice it to say, the latter won :). 

From MAC: Combining the colour impact of a Lipstick with the shine sheen of a Lipglass, Sheen Supreme created the perfect hybrid - with no compromise. Lightweight, non-sticky, slick to apply and comfortable to wear. This is a must-have for all those who have craved this kind of fusion.

This lipstick is very creamy and applies with a lot of slip. Like MAC's blurb says, it has great pigmentation and a really nice, subtle sheen. I get an average wear time of around 2-3 hours, though I suspect that it would last a bit longer if I didn't have to eat or drink. I really like the texture, too. It's very creamy and feels really nice on the lips. It doesn't dry out my lips or the skin around my lips (which is a problem I've been having as of late), which I absolutely love, because it means I can wear this the whole day without having to switch to a lip balm halfway through. 

Lastly, the shade.  The shade! It is gorgeous <3. A lovely nude (described by MAC as a "pinky neutral beige") that is definitely an MLBB colour for me. It's pinker than Jubilee (my other MLBB), which I'm loving, and just makes my lips look really polished. Because it's such a natural shade for me, it fades naturally as well. We only know how horrible a faded red lip can look (especially if you're wearing lip liner), but nudes just fade away very subtly. I also find with Bare Again the sheen fades away before the actual colour does. And I would suggest not whacking on a lot of this because it tends to do a teeny bit of migration in lines. 

(please excuse the crappy iPhone photo)

I feel like I've finally found the first ever makeup product I will hit pan on. As you see from the photo above, I've worn the product down quite a bit already and I've only had it for 6 days. That is how creamy this lipstick is. 

I seriously am so in love with the formula and texture of these that even now as I type this, I'm thinking to myself that I need some more shades in my life (I will probably need another tube of Bare Again before I leave)... I will never get on that spending ban, will I? *sigh*

Why do I even bother? I'm a beauty blogger for pete's sake! :p

Are you a fan of MAC's Sheen Supreme Lipsticks?

Style Crush - Emma Stone

Emma Stone's career has really skyrocketed this past year and her style choices have been really on point lately. I love that she always looks like a lady, even when she's wearing leather.

Can't wait to see what she wears in future red carpet events!

Monthly Favourites - August 2011

You guys, it is September. That means in four months, it'll be the Christmas season. You have no idea how excited this makes me!

Anyway, you know how this works; the first of the month rolls around and I whip out my monthly favourites. Here they are, in no particular order:

Z Palette

Super cute and super functional, I've been loving having all my depotted products in one palette. Don't let the cardboard look fool you, these palettes are quite sturdy. The clear, plastic top makes it easy to see which products are inside. So if you have, say the exact same black palettes holding all your eyeshadows, there's no need to label the outside or take a peek inside to make sure you're grabbing the right one. Love, love, love these!

Korres Lip Butter - Jasmine

The smell... The smeeellll, it is divine! Like Korres' Wild Rose moisturizer, I can just sniff this all day. Too bad the body butter doesn't smell as amazing :(...

Lately, my lips (and the skin immediately around them) have been über dry & inflamed and this Lip Butter has been an absolute Godsend! It's slightly tacky consistency really coats my lips and keeps them hydrated for a few hours. Because it doesn't apply with any colour, I apply this on the skin around my lips as well and it keeps it from being itchy, which is a bonus!

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder - Honey

This powder has been much needed this Summer as I found myself, for the first time in a long time, dealing with unwanted oiliness. Actually, it was Rae of TheNotice that told me about this product. I've seen it, of course (I don't live under a rock :p), but honestly never considered it for some reason. Rae told me over Twitter that she's read recommendations of this powder and MAC's blot powder and of course, I was gonna go for the cheaper one; after all, I wasn't expecting to use it for very long. 

Anyway, I've been really enjoying using this powder. It's been pretty hot in Vancouver recently (with the exception of a typical rainy day here and there), which meant that I was a lot oilier than usual. Applying this after blotting my face left me looking and feeling much fresher and more presentable. 

Maybelline Shine Sensational Pop Stick - Fruit Punch

You guys, it's translucent. How awesome is that? It also has a yummy, fruity scent and actually imparts a little bit of colour on my lips. I love it's lip balm-like consistency; my lips remain hydrated and it doesn't  create that gross white residue in the inner corners of the lips. 

Lancôme Star Bronzer - 03 Éclat Bronze

I love this bronzer! It suits my colouring really well, applies so smoothly, looks natural, and smells amazing. I've been reaching for this a lot lately because it doesn't take a lot of work; I don't need to use a light hand in order to make it work for my skin because it's quite subtle. This past month, I've been using it to contour my cheekbone and then applying a blush on the apples of my cheeks.

The Body Shop Hand Cleanse Gel - Mango

Hand sanitzers are... Hand sanitizers.

But what makes these hand cleanse gels from The Body Shop special is that they are Triclosan free and they smell amazing! I've been obsessed with the Mango scented one since I purchased it. Love the scent and love that it doesn't harm marine life. Win-win!

L'oréal Skin Genesis Micro-Smoothing Wet Cleansing Towelettes

In general, makeup remover wipes are a great addition to any nighttime skincare ritual because it simplifies the process. All you need to do is swipe them across your face and off goes your makeup. But I think these wipes from L'oréal are a step above the rest because they contain BHA, which "enhance daily cellular renewal to help provide smoother, brighter and fresher skin."

I can testify to that! I had run out of these wipes and went without it for about a week. When I finally repurchased and used it again, the effects the next day were apparent. My skin looked brighter, a little bit more even, and my blemishes had gone down in size and redness. Amazing stuff! I think these wipes will be a staple on my counter for a while...

What are your August Favourites?