The One Shade Smokey Eye

Some eye shadows are so wonderful on their own they don't need any other bells and whistles. No elaborate smokey eyes with six different shades, highlighters, crease colors and other poo-hah. Sure, makeup is fun and a perfect way to express yourself. But sometimes you just have to say 'keep it simple, stupid'.

This is where my favorite ever MAC eye shadow comes into play. MAC Satin Taupe to me is the perfect shade. Suits my eyes and is just so pretty on its own. You just need a soft haze of Satin Taupe over your eyelid and a little on your lower lash line. Some long lasting black kohl pencil and plenty of black mascara and you're done. The perfect simple seductive smokey eye that keeps you going all night.

Makeup used besides Satin Taupe

YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat 'B30'

Catrice Long Lasting eyepencil waterproof 'New kids on the black'

YSL Effet Faux Cils mascara

my bangs need a trim

The Daily Face

 

As much as I like to tell myself that I am experimental when it comes to makeup, I am not. Sure, I try many things for this blog and I am not one to shy away from a bright lip or bold eye. I find myself doing the same thing to my face each morning. Why? Because it works for me. I have my standard routine that I could do with my eyes half closed and my alarm still on snooze. My makeup routine is fast, easy and it looks semi-professional. Which, believe it or not, is the look that I go for at university. When in class or out on the streets working on articles and news items (journalism students, represent.) I like to look approachable. If you step up to people with bright blue eyeshadow or a violet lip it's a little threatening. Plus, this routine also makes me look awake and semi-healthy. I really need to stop writing blog articles at night.

I start with my favorite base product, the Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation in the shade52 Vanilla. I cover any spots and dark circles with the Bobbi Brown corrector in Light Bisque. To finish off my skin I dust a pinch of MAC blush in Melba onto the apples of my cheeks. This peachy shade gives me a really healthy flush that looks great with my yellow toned skin. To add even more of a healthy glow MAC Cream Color Base in Hush is lightly tapped and blended onto my cheekbones. When the light hits this product it makes your face look radiant. The eyelid and socket are defined with the two matte brown shades from the Sleek Storm palette. I dropped mine, which promptly snapped off the top and broke a few shades. Luckily not my two favorites. I draw a thin winged eyeliner with the L'Oreal Superliner Perfect Slim, nothing too extreme. I finish off my eyes with a good curl and a coat of Eveline Cosmetics Big Volume Lash waterproof mascara. And the entire look is pulled together by lightly putting on some YSL Rouge Volupté in 13 Peach Passion. I blend this out with my finger as not to overpower, because this lipstick can get pretty intense due to its creaminess.

Do you have a standardized makeup routine?

Inglot Fall/Winter Quad Swatches + Eye of the Day

After successfully passing most of my midterms I decided that I needed to get something for myself to celebrate, a bit like an incentive to do as much as I did this time the next round of midterms. Which are approaching so fast... eek! So I stopped by my favorite counter in the whole wide world and broke my no buy rule for november. I picked up a quad of the most amazing warm fall colors. I seriously couldn't wait to go home and play with those shades. Further down the post are the swatches and the fall makeup look that I have created.

from left to right: 606 Pearl / 605 Pearl AMC Shine 27 / AMC es 54

When I got home I immediately set to work with these shadows to create a fall/winter makeup look suitable for work. Look below for my interpretation of this eyeshadow quad. I absolutely love these colors. They are so warm and gorgeous and I can't wait to do more looks with this quad.

All eyeshadows from the quad, black eyeliner by Rimmel, mascara by Yves Saint Laurent

Essence Class of 2013 Collection

Essence celebrated everyone going back to school with a special limited collection called class of 2013. Filled with products that are easy to apply and fuss free during the day, this collection is a dream. I tried a few of the things from the collection and today I have the swatches and my judgement on these items.

First up, the eyeshadow pencils. Quick and easy, these can also be used as eyeliner. Just 'sketch' the colors onto your eyelid and blend immediately with a brush or your fingers. And when I say immediately, I mean immediately. Because once these have dried.. they. don't. budge. Seriously, they dry and stay the way they've dried until you take them off. The pigmentation leaves a bit to be desired, though. I needed to sketch them a few times before I got the swatch below.

From left to right: Want to be my freshman? / School's out forever / Blues of being cool

Next we have the lip tints. Tiny tubes of liquid that stain the skin of your lips and leave a subtle tint to them. The pink hardly shows up, both on light skin nor on my lips. But the red is a really pretty subtle wash of color to your lips. It gives them a nice juicy red tint. They last a really long time and don't need product maintenance during the day. However, they are quite drying, so I recommend using a lip balm over this to moisturize your pucker.

From left to right: Alpha Better Gamma (+ blended) / Ready for rush week (+blended)

Ready for rush week on my lips.

Lastly, the nail polishes. I tried, I really tried, to do a post without nail polish for a change but the majority of this collection is made of nail polish. So, that justifies it doesn't it? Anyway, these nail polishes are the standard essence formula. Nice pigmentation and they dry rapidly. I picked up the two colors pictured above, because the other ones looked too similar to polishes I already own. 

The coral pinky color is 'Alpha Better Gamma' and the darker taupe brown with blue and silver iridescent shimmer is 'School's out forever'. 

The essence class of 2013 collection is available now, it is however, a limited edition. So get it while it's hot!

Estee Lauder Violet Underground: Cyber Metallic palette

Wow. They did it again. The geniuses behind the desks at Estee Lauder produced yet another collection to make my mouth water. I adored the visuals in multiple magazines for quite some time before I caved and bought the actual thing.

The Violet Underground collection is a beautiful fall collection with rich shades. This palette has a selection of champagnes, violets, a brown and even a charcoal/black color. I imagine creating many fall makeup looks with this.

You can go both ways with this beauty. You can create a fairly neutral look appropriate for work. Or you can mix and match the brighter shades inn here for a bold eye-catching look. Expect swatches and looks with this very soon. I can't wait until I have time to play with this!

The Violet Underground Cyber Metallics palette is part of Estee Lauder's fall collection. It's limited edition and is sold for approx. €45. The rest of the collection contains nail polish, eye liners, lipsticks and lipglosses. Take a look at the whole collection below.

Benefit High Beam Review

Image from Douglas.nl

In my curiosity (read: excessive need to shop, shop, shop) for trying new brands I ventured into the relatively unknown Benefit. Relatively unknown in the Netherlands I mean. Of course I had read countless reviews and had seen numerous beautiful pictures of the Benefit products before committing to buying something. When I stood in front the display at Sephora I was torn. I could really only justify buying one item, but what should I buy?! Eventually my choice landed on their rosy pink highlighter called high beam.

It’s a liquid highlighter that comes in a super cute packaging that resembles a nail polish bottle. Funny story, I was applying it one morning and my boyfriend kind of looked on wide-eyed.. “Are you putting nail polish on your face?” Anyway, back to the review. The way it’s packaged is nice and handy. You just dot the product on the area you want to highlight and then blend with a brush or fingers. Easy does it.

I apply this on the parts of my face where the sun usually hits. Like on the bride of my nose, my cheekbones and my brow bone. It blends onto skin effortlessly and lasts all day. The highlighter has a beautiful light rosy color. Which is particularly nice on lighter skin tones. It also has plenty of shimmer but it doesn’t make you look like a jar of glitter exploded on your face. It’s just the right amount to make you glow, lit from within you could even say.

The bottle might look small but appearances fool! A little goes a really long way and this bottle lasts and lastsIt’s perfect on dry skinned people, because of the creamy formula. Long story cut pretty short. It’s awesome in a bottle. I really recommend it to people who are looking for a good highlighter that’s easy to use and lasts a long time.

In the Netherlands Benefit products are sold at Sephora and select Douglas stores. Recommended retail price is €25,42 for 13ml.

Yves Saint Laurent Effet Faux Cils: My holy grail mascara

People change as do makeup routines. I think you can probably guess where this is going, my makeup routine has changed. For a year or two I wore pretty high coverage foundation with powder, deep black 

winged liner and a bright lipstick. But nowadays I settle for my Garnier BB cream, a peachy blush and a deep black mascara. As my makeup was changing I was also searching for the perfect black mascara that would make my lashes look long, voluminous yet keep the appeal of soft 'touchable' lashes.

And I found all of that in the YSL Effet Faux Cils mascara. I think I heard Hanne from the amazing Beautylovin' mention this in a few of her posts, so I was dying to try it. So when one of the leading perfumeries in the country had a special offer where they gave you a 40% discount on all mascaras I struck gold. Literally. 

Yves Saint Laurent seriously has the best packaging in the world. It looks and feels super luxurious, just like I said in my review of their Rouge Volupté Lipstick in Peach Passion. The tube is light in your hands and has to different tones of gold with the YSL label stamped into the side. 

The brush of this mascara doesn't look special or revolutionary at all, it's actually pretty plain. But oh the wonders it does when it's swiped over your lashes. Now, my lashes aren't super spectacular but they're a nice enough length on their own. This mascara is mainly used for volume and a deep dark color, but it does add nice length as well.

I think the picture of my eye speaks louder than a thousand words, so feast your eyes on the wonder that is the YSL effet faux cils mascara. 

The mascara lasts all day. The picture was taken at 8pm at night and I applied this mascara at 8:30am that same day. It only smudged a little in the corner of my eye, probably from me rubbing it. Even during a long terrible day at work it still looks wonderful. 

It might cost a fortune, but I really do think it's worth it. 

Collistar Sun Effect Blush/Bronzer Review

Has it ever happened to you that you spend a ridiculous amount of money on colored powder pressed into a plastic box, and you think you love it, use it a few times and then just stick it back into the back of your trusty Helmer storage units? No? Well, it has happened to me. With the Collister Sun Effet Mosaic Bronzer/Blush in 08 Champagne.

I bought it towards the end of my senior year. Suddenly obsessed with blush and craving a nice high end one. I went to my favorite perfumery and I picked this Collistar one. In hindsight I probably should have bought a different one because at that time I was pale as a ghost and it just didn't look good on me.

But now, all that has changed. I have realised that the sun is not my enemy and now I bask in it, every time it pops its glorious head out behind the clouds. And now without spending my sunny days hiding under a blanket my skin has developed a slightly warmer skin tone. Which lead to this beautiful blush looking perfect and pretty on my skin.

The beautiful mosaic feautures a plum, a gold, a nice warm brown and a terracotta. They each look beautiful individually. But they really come together when swirled onto a brush and then onto your cheek. Collistar really succeeded in making a  beautiful product. It's like a hybrid of a blush, a bronzer and a highlighter. It brings warmth and shine to my features and frankly... makes me look alive. When wearing just a little bit of foundation and this, you're pretty much done. All I need is a little waterproof mascara and a peachy lipgloss and you have the perfect summer makeup look. It also contains jojoba-oil and vitamin E, to make wearing it super comfortable. You don't feel the powder on your skin. 

I recommend this powder blush/bronzer to everyone. It's B-E-A-utiful! The packaging is plastic, yet it exudes class and elegance with its pearl colored shell with gold lining. It contains 9 grams and the recommended retail price is €32,80.

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector for Combination/Oily skin

 

Some time ago Garnier came out with a new addition to their Miracle Skin Perfector line, after the original BB cream by this brand was released, a storm of reviews came about. In my opinion, Garnier didn't make, and has yet to succeed in making a BB cream. 

Asia has made the BB cream huge. Many call it the secret of Asian celebrities. And known properties of the Asian BB cream are...

perfect coverage, while remaining a light and airy feel
often contains natural ingredients
extremely moisturizing
anti-aging
works as a skin lightening treatment

The first Garnier BB cream was not light nor airy. It was supposed to give you a 'healthy glow' but it made your skin look greasy and congested. It made me (and many other people) break out. And their definition of 'light' was more like an oompa loompa spray tan. Long story short, many people in the beauty world didn't like it, at all.

Garnier responded to this icy reception with their statement that this was a BB cream developed for the European market, which meant that this market required a different strategy and a different formulation. Maybe so, but I don't think the European market would want a BB cream that barely has any coverage and makes you look like you've been sweating for hours on end.

And then Garnier came with a new BB cream. The one meant for combination to oily skin. This BB cream has better coverage, a light feeling and a matte finish. How discontent I was with their first BB cream, how content I am with this one. The only thing I don't like about it is that it contains alcohol, which I think is a little odd when it is supposed super moisturizing.

Nevertheless, I really enjoy this product. It has a nice enough coverage, just what I need in this hot and moist  weather. It lasts a really long time on my normal to dry skin, even in this sweaty weather. I love this product. A light coverage that just covers the redness and unevenness in my skin and still leaves room for my natural skin to shine through.

The product comes in a long tube, with a very narrow end. This is perfect, because the product itself it quite thin. You don't have to squeeze the tube at all, it just drips out when you hold it upside down. Trust me, don't squeeze, giant mess. 

I have the light version of this bb cream, which is perfect because it oxidizes slightly to fit my (barely there) tan. And yes, I have freckles! I've recently embraced them, after many many many many years of cursing them. Oh I also have new glasses and I lightened my hair. Shameless self promotion over now, I promise. 

I still wouldn't cal this a BB cream. But if you're looking for a pretty good tinted moisturizer with a matte finish. The Garnier Skin Perfector for Combination/Oily skin is a good bet for you. Steer clear of the normal one, unless you want to look like a sweaty glow worm crossed with an oompa loompa. 

What I'm wearing:

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector for Oily/Combination skin in 'light'

Collistar Sun Effet mosaic blush/bronzer in 8 Champagne

Manhattan perfect brunette brow pencil as eye liner

Bourjois Volumizer mascara

Rimmel London lipstick in pink gossip (applied very lightly as more of a natural pink wash)

Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoo

Finally!These beauties have come to the Netherlands. We waited for about six monthsuntil a really small section of the colors came to the shelves of ourdrugstores. The American and English release of these cream shadows includedthe shades

-         TooCool

-         Fierce& Tangy

-         AudaciousAsphalt

-         PaintedPurple

-         Badto the Bronze

-         PomegranatePink

-         Toughas Taupe

-         TenaciousTeal

-         BoldGold

-         EdgyEmerald

-          

Of theseten, only six shades made it to the Dutch drugstores, and the color names arenot the same as in the States or the UK. We get the shades Eternal Gold (BoldGold), Turquoise Forever (Tenacious Teal), On and on bronze (Bad to theBronze), Permanent Taupe (Tough as Taupe), Infinite White (Too Cool) andImmortal Charcoal (Audacious Asphalt).

Nevertheless,these babies are absolutely amazing. Super intense pigmentation, you can pilethem on for a really intense color or just dab lightly for a light wash. Theydon’t dry instantly (which, for example, the Make Up Forever cream shadows do)so you have opportunity to blend them out before they set. But once they areset, they are not going ANYWHERE. The shadows seriously stay on all day.Whether you are going to take a shower, work your ass off or shop until youdrop. I know this, because I did all three when wearing the shades ‘On and OnBronze’ and ‘Permanent Taupe’.

You cancompare these to the MAC paintpots, which I also love dearly, in duration andconsistency. However, the packaging is a little annoying. The glass containeris a bit too deep to properly get your finger or brush in it. But I’m justgoing to have to get over that.

As youcan see, Permanent Taupe is matte brown/taupe color. I love using this as abase to a brown smokey eye. Or on its own with a copper or rose gold blendedthrough the crease. On and On Bronze is a nice shimmery bronze. I love pattinga bronze color eyeshadow over this to make it even more intense. This is such aperfect color for when you want a nice glowing dark eye makeup.

Overall,my opinion of the Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoo cream shadows is very positive.So, come on Maybelline and give us some more interesting colors that we canplay with!

Outfit of the Day: Balance

Hey guys!

I did another shoot with my friend Tessa at the end of March. It was super fun to do but the weather was HORRIBLE that day. It was dark and grey, the wind was really cold and after an hour or so we were both freeeeeeezing our asses off.

Nevertheless, I'm really pleased with the pictures. I love the way my makeup makes my eyes look. The outfit is one of my go to looks. Black jeans, a t-shirt, some kind of jacket and my favorite coat.

Makeup by me

Clothes
Coat, jacket, leggings, t-shirt all H&M
Shoes Primark

If you woke up with all but 5 makeup items, which would it be?

Hello beauties,


Doing my usual blog round I stumbled upon this incredibly fun post by Lennyn B. Go check out her blog, it's so cute! She wrote about what she would do if all of her makeup disappeared. What items would you repurchase? 

I got really inspired by that, and decided to make my own little list. So think of this scenario. You wake up one morning and all of your makeup has disappeard, except for five of your favorite products. Think long and hard and then answer the question....

If you could only have five makeup items for the rest of your life, which ones would it be?


These are my answers..

For me, it’s pretty clear that I can’t live without my black eyeliner. And because I’m the most skilled with gel eyeliner. I’m gonna go with MAC fluidline in blacktrack.

My second item would have to be a lipstick of course. Since I am an absolute addict of super bright lipsticks. Of all the lipsticks I own I think I’d go with my new MAC Lady Danger matte lipstick. It’s the perfect color. It’s bright and orange/red matte formula, so it’s like the best of all the worlds combined into one lipstick. 

My Bourjois Volumizer Mascara is a definite must. I can’t believe I haven’t reviewed this yet! But I guess since it’s been all over the blog-o-sphere, that’s not really necessary. Anyway, for me this is the perfect all in one mascara. I often use just step 1, which gives you lovely volumised but still natural looking lashes. And if I want to go all out full on dramatic with my lashes, step 2 comes into play. 

The ELF Blush & Contour Duo is also an absolute must. The blush color is perfect for that right amount of healthy flush/glow and the bronzer is just the right color for my skin. And it’s so cheap!

And then last, but certainly not least, I’d go for my Bourjois Healthy Balance powder. This powder is the best for balancing out slight redness and keeping the shine at bay. Perfect for everyday use.

That’s it, my five makeup items I would chose to keep if all of my makeup were to be taken away from me. I’m quite curious to see what other people would choose? Which are your staple items that you just can’t live without.  

5 beauty rules I preach but don't always practice

1. Wash your face every morning and night

I know, I know, SUE ME! I like to party, I like staying out until the sun comes up. And sometimes I come home, sit down on my bed to relieve myself of my killer heels and just... fall asleep. It's the worst thing for your skin and you can immediately see the horrid consequences the next morning (blotchy dull skin anyone?).

2. Don't pick the mascara off your lashes

I, for the life of me, can't get all my mascara off with just eye-makeup remover and a cotton pad. There's always leftover mascara right at the base of my lashes. And yes, sometimes I use my fingers and nails to viciously pick at them until all the makeup is gone.

via: www.LeoGren.com

3. If your eye makeup is heavy, stick to a neutral lip

Rules are meant to be broken, no? I like rocking my super dark smokey eye and sometimes I just feel like my looks needs, no wait, is desperate for a bright pink barbie lipstick. However, do make sure that your bright lip/eyes compliment each other. Blue eyeshadow and reps lips, oh no.

4. Don't file your nails back and forth, always go in one direction

I'm sorry, but sometimes it just takes to long. And with all the nail polish I wear, and the cleaning I do at work, my nails are never going to be really strong or healthy. I know, excuses, excuses.

5. Make sure your foundation matches you perfectly

THIS. NEVER. HAPPENS. At least not in drugstore foundations. They often have a very limited shade range, they oxidize and change color during the day. It might be a little too light, a little too dark. But you know there are these handy things called powder and bronzer. It's quite easy. Make it a little lighter, a little warmer.

Makeup, nail polish, skincare. Mastering it all is an art, an art that I wish I had down to a T. But no, I am human, you are human. We forget stuff, we are lazy sometimes, some things appeal to us that might not appeal to someone else. But we can't please everyone at once, right? So do what makes you happy, what makes you feel good, and then let your positive mood radiate towards others.

A Box With Pretty Things: My inspiration folder

source: Tumblr

Do you have a special inspiration foldor among your images on your computer? I do. There's is one specific folder completly filled with over 300 pictures of things that inspire me, intrigue me and calm me down. Whenever I don't know what to write about or what to do with all the thoughts in my head... I sit down and browse through these pictures.

This is a special collection of the favorites in my inspiration folder at this very moment. I love the outfits, the jewelry, the hair, the use of colors, the food. I love everything about these photos. So while I sit on the couch burning through a box of Kleenex, these photos cheer me up. I have the worst cold that's keeping me from wanting to do anything today.