Sunday, July 8, 2012

Green and Brown Cut Crease Eyeshadow Tutorial!


Green is actually one of my favorite colors, but I normally shy away from colored eye shadow. I've been wanting to do a look with green eye shadow, so this morning I decided to mess around a little bit with some green and snap some photos during the process.

Green looks great paired with almost every color. It's a earthy color, so it looks great paired with warm autumn shades (brown, gold, burgundy, orange, etc.) and it also works well paired with bright, floral shades (pink, purple, blue, etc.) You all know that I love my neutral and warm shades - so my favorite pairing is brown and gold.

I actually don't own very many green eye shadows - in fact, I got rid of most of them a while ago because they started collecting dust in my drawers (well, not exactly, but you know what I mean.) I would've loved to use an olive green for this look - I've had MAC Sumptuous Olive on my "to buy at some point" list for ages, so I'm definitely going to add it to the top of my shopping list.

Anyways, enough babbling..


Products Used:
Maybelline Bold Gold Color Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow (used in Step 1)
YSL Absinthe Green 4-Colour Harmony for the Eyes (used in Step 2)
MAC Retrospeck Eyeshadow (used in Step 3)
MAC Tempting Eyeshadow (used in Step 4)
MAC Brun Eyeshadow (used in Step 5 and 7)
Urban Decay Half Baked Eyeshadow (used in Step 8)
Physician's Formula 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Brown Eyeliner (used in Step 9)
Elizabeth Arden Caramide Mascara (review soon!) (used in Step 10)
Ardell #116 False Lashes (used in Step 11)

Brushes Used:
Sponge Applicators (used in Step 1, 2 and 3)
Sigma E30 Pencil Brush (used in Step 4)
Small Generic Shader Brush (used in Step 5)
Sigma E65 Small Angle Synthetic Brush (used in Step 7 & 8)

*A non-shimmery base would've worked better for this tutorial - I used gold to warm up the green, but this base in particular made the otherwise smooth, pigmented green appear patchy.

*A thinner line with a matte, cream eyeliner would've worked better for this tutorial (I made it too thick, and it was pretty much irreversible!)

*When using tape, make sure to press the tape on the back of your hand a couple of times before applying it to your face. You don't want it to be very sticky, because you don't want the tape pulling your skin when you remove it.

Saturday, July 7, 2012

MAC Supernova Mineralize Blush Review, Photos and Swatches!

mac supernova blush

Mac Supernova Mineralize Blush 

MAC Supernova Mineralize Blush ($23.50) is a new, limited edition baked blush released in the Heavenly Creatures Collection that launched in stores yesterday (July 5th).

The "Mineralize" products by MAC are either hated or loved, and I love them. What I love specifically about the Mineralize Blushes, is that they are very soft and blend easier than standard, pressed powder blushes.

Typically, those who prefer matte finish cheek products steer clear of Mineralize cheek products because of the pearly (sometimes shimmery - but not glittery) finish.

Supernova is described on the MAC website as a magenta and burnished gold melange. That pretty much says it - it's a magenta base, intertwined with a swirl of gold-bronze. The magenta is quite cool, but when the swirl of gold and magenta is combined, it creates a slightly reddened pink tone to the magenta.

The blush itself is very pigmented, and because Supernova is a fairly deep shade, you have to apply it with a light hand, or you can quickly go overboard with it. A duo fibre brush (such as the E.L.F Stipple Brush or MAC 187/188 Brush) will work best for laying down the least color. If you're using a standard blush brush, you only need to tap the product once, and dust the brush on a tissue prior to application to ensure a light application.

mac supernova blush


Friday, July 6, 2012

MAC Chatterbox Lipstick Review, Photos and Swatches!

mac chatterbox lipstick

MAC Chatterbox Lipstick

MAC Chatterbox Lipstick ($15) is described as a bright, red-pink with an amplified creme finish. It's definitely vibrant, but it's not in the neon category (ie: Vegas Volt, Morange, Viva Glam Nicki, etc.) It's a medium, rosy pink that is really easy to wear and adds a bit of color and brightness to the face.

This is a shade I've had on my wishlist for a while now, and recently decided to pick it up as my 'Back to MAC' trade-in.

MAC Chatterbox is extremely pigmented, creamy and applies smooth and even.

I love MAC Lipsticks in general, and I don't have a problem with any of their formulas. The amplified formula is definitely one of my favorites because of the bold, bright pigmentation, shine and the comfortable wear.

mac chatterbox lipstick

mac chatterbox lipstick swatch
MAC Chatterbox on my lips

Jewelmint Classic Cinema Bracelet Review!

jewelmint classic cinema bracelet

Jewelmint Classic Cinema Bracelet

Jewelmint Classic Cinema Bracelet is a new spin on the Cinema Americano Bracelet. It's the same design, but for July, the new version was released in silver.

The bracelet is a mixture of curb and cable links with two textured links that give this bracelet a bit of style. The bracelet measures 7 1/2".

I love the gaudy, chunky chain trend, so when I saw this bracelet in my July showroom, I thought it'd be a perfect everyday piece. You may have noticed that I skipped June, because I really didn't see anything I liked. But I actually liked a few items this month, and I ended up deciding on one that I thought I could get the most use out of/the most practical.

Needless to say, I received it in the mail today and wasn't too satisfied with it. Had I saw the bracelet in person, I would have chosen something else.

The weight of the piece is nice - it's not heavy, but it's not ultra-lightweight. It's well-made, and the links are attached very sturdy. The clasp is also very sturdy.

It's not a shiny silver, but it's not grungy/oxidized . It looks a lot like dull, stainless steel.

jewelmint classic cinema bracelet review
Wearing the Classic Cinema Bracelet mixed with other bracelets (H&M)

Photo Credit: Luuux