Thursday, March 31, 2011

FOTD: Tempt

I purchased a couple Cover Girl Lip Perfection lipsticks at Rite Aid yesterday because they were 30% off. I've been dying to try these, and I don't possess willpower so I had to grab a few. I will do a full on review on these after I've worn them more often but I must say it certainly lives up to its hype.  I have never been more impressed by a lipstick.  Ever.

The color featured in this look is Tempt (355).  I've been looking for a red lipstick that would suit me and I picked this up thinking it was "the one."  Well, it's not "the one" but it is really awesome.  Very bright but not overly so.  I love it.

I also discovered that I don't do cat eyes or simple eye makeup very often, because I usually prefer dramatic eyes with lots of color.  I've learned to appreciate simple looks a little bit more, and so here we go!



No lipliner =)






Face
-Smashbox Foundation in Light 3
-Cover FX Setting Powder in Light
-NYC Matte Bronzer in Sunny
-Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer in Ivory (DISCONTINUED)
-Clinique Fresh Bloom Allover Powder in Blackberry Bloom (DISCONTINUED)
-NARS Multiple in Copacabana

Eyes
-UDPP
-Lancome Color Design e/s in Sunset Gleam (DISCONTINUED)
-Inglot e/s in M363
-The Body Shop e/s in New Nude (from the limited edition Boho Beauty palette)
-Stila Smudgepot in Black
-L'oreal Extra Volume Collagen Mascara

Lips
-Cover Girl Lip Perfection l/s in 355 Tempt

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Review: Quo Minerals Matter Eye Duo in Planet Plum (pic heavy!)


Hey ladies and gents~

This is going to be a review on one of the products I picked up in Quebec about two weeks ago.  Let me start with some basic information and pictures.

What: Quo Minerals Matter Eye Duo in Planet Plum.
-Comes with a double ended sponge-tip applicator and two eyeshadows with 2.5 grams of product each.
-Colors include a shimmery lavender and an even more shimmery charcoal
-Mirrors inside the compact.

Product Claims: "Beauty from nature!  These luminous shadows have been created with natural minerals from the earth.  The velvety-smooth texture is easy to apply as well as long-lasting.  Double ended shadow applicator and mirror included."

Where to buy:  This item is only available in Shoppers Drugmart (or Pharmaprix if you're in Quebec), which is a drugstore chain only in Canada.

Price: $20 CAD.  You may be able to catch this on sale.

And now for a picture dump.





With flash

No flash

Thoughts:
I think I'll just cut to the chase and say right out that I was VERY disappointed with this product.  When I swatched it in the store the pigmentation was absolutely amazing, but when I went to apply this product with a brush, the pigmentation was awful.  Don't be fooled by the swatches on my fingers.  Even with a sticky base I had to keep packing the eyeshadows on my lids to get some sort of color payoff.  The eyeshadows could definitely be smoother.  They're a little bit gritty and apply a bit unevenly.  You get fall out galore which is a pain in the ass even if you apply your foundation after your eyemakeup.  I feel like I'm just bashing on this product but I honestly can't find anything good to say about it.  The colors are pretty.  I guess that's one thing.

Which base to use?
Since I can't return this product and I can't really sell it since it was a gift from my boyfriend, I'm going to try to make the most of this product.  I swatched the eyeshadows using different bases and different techniques to see how I could get the best color payoff.  Firstly, I stuck my finger in the product and swiped it on my arm.  I also loaded my brush with the product and applied it on bare skin, Urban Decay Primer Potion (UDPP), and MAC Painterly Paintpot.  I found that a good sticky base is the best way to go.

No flash.  Finger, brush on bare skin, brush on UDPP, brush on Painterly.

With flash.  Finger, brush on bare skin, brush on UDPP, brush on Painterly.
To give you guys a better idea of what the product looks like in a look, here are some more pictures.

Eyeshadow over Painterly Paintpot.  No other makeup was used.

Completed look with addition of a highlight color, eyeliner, and mascara.

I like to do reviews but they certainly take forever because I like to make them damn detailed.  In any case, I hope this was helpful and/or entertaining!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Much love,
Janny

Canada Haul~

Hello everyone!  I haven't died yet.  I've just been beyond busy and then ran off to Quebec for about 10 days.  I picked up a few makeup goodies there, not nearly as much as I'd like but I got a good amount. My boyfriend actually bought about half the items for me.  And here they are...


These babies were on sale at Jean Coutu.
Marcelle lipsticks in Sensation and Revolution

Walked into The Body Shop on a day where all makeup was 50% off.
The Body Shop Palette in Boho Beauty



The Body Shop single eyeshadow in 45

Never heard of the brand Faces, so I grabbed some blushes in the refill pans.  Insanely pigmented stuff.
Faces Blushes in 142 and 130

Don't buy this.  Review coming soon.


Quo e/s Duo in Planet Plum.
That's all for now folks.  Hope you guys enjoyed this haul!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

INGLOT + UK Haulage

A while ago, the beautiful Emma of Birds Decorate Branches blogged about the limited edition Sleek blush in Scandalous, and I was so curious that I knew I wanted to get my hands on it.  Unfortunately, Sleek products are only available in the UK.  Emma was nice enough to grab one of these for me and a couple other items (my wish list for UK items is actually miles long but I didn't want to trouble her too much).  I asked her for Sleek's blush in Scandalous, Sleek Kajal Eyeliner in Nocturnal, and Barry M Dazzle Dust in Petrol Black.


Petrol Black, Scandalous, Nocturnal
Sorry for the craptastic swatches and pictures.  I always plan on doing full reviews on everything I haul so I will have more pictures of the products in their individual posts.  I loved the dazzle dust, the blush was surprisingly wearable after being blended out (which took a lot of effort), and the eyeliner was definitely disappointing.  Still, they're very lovely products to have.  Thanks again Emma for taking the time to pick these up and sending them my way!

Sleek blush as compared to NARS.  Although Sleek looks smaller, there is actually more product.

Petrol Black is absolutely gorgeous!

Nocturnal

Last week, my dear friend Tony came to visit me.  He is in the airforce and is being stationed in Korea for a while.  Of course I had to see him before he left.  And then kidnap him and hide him so he can't go to Korea.  Anyways, since there are two INGLOT stores where he lives, I had him pick up a crapload of goodies for me.


I'll have the names of all the colors when I do a collective INGLOT review and swatch frenzy.  I've been meaning to do it for the longest time and I'm a horrid blogger for not doing it earlier.  It will be the first thing on my to do list after life is a bit more settled down.  But anyways, I had Tony grab 20 colors for me, but to make a long story short, they ran out of 2 of the colors I wanted and Tony grabbed some extra for me.  Boy do I love this fool.  Anyways, I also asked for the lip pencil.  It wasn't the shade of red I thought it would be, but it sure does make some interesting bright lips.  The sales associate also threw in a crapload of samples.

I guess that's all for now.  I never thought this would happen but I've lost some of my passion for makeup.  I think this can be attributed to all the drama...if only the answers of all of life's questions would grown on trees.

I hope everyone is staying well and healthy.  Take care, all!





Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Purchase INGLOT Online (U.S. Only)!



Gosh, I know I have been gone forever.  I'm experiencing a lot of drama in my life now, I'm sick, and I have finals.  Right after finals I'm going to be out of town so I don't know how much blogging I'll actually be doing.  Life actually kind of sucks for me right now....

Anyways, I am beyond excited to tell you all that INGLOT USA has finally opened up their online store! Yayyy!!! I would be so much more excited if I actually had money that I could spend on makeup.  Besides the freedom system, all the prices for the products seem to be the same, and there is no price hike yet.  The downside, however, is that you have to purchase $150+ worth of goods to get free shipping.  The shipping costs aren't outrageous otherwise, but ya know a lot of competitors usually do free shipping for $50+ purchase.

I know INGLOT has hit youtube by storm ever since the big gurus started using the products, and so a lot of y'all are curious about it.  I know from personal experience that they are DEFINITELY worth a try.  Check them out!

Thursday, March 3, 2011

FOTD: Dramatic Bronze

Hey folks~

I like to do my makeup before doing a video (just did one announcing my blog sale to fund my application fees for grad school which you can view here) because I do feel a bit more confident with it on.  This is a very simple dramatic look I've been meaning to try for a long time.









Face
-Smashbox Foundation Light 3
-Maybelline Mousse Concealer
-Cover FX Setting Powder in Light
-NYC Matte Bronzer in Sunny
-Benefit Blush in Coralista
-NARS Blush in Oasis
-NARS Multiple in Copacabana

Eyes:
-Too Faced Lockdown cream shadow in Dramarama
-INGLOT e/s in 409P
-Too Faced e/s in Sugar Cookie and Heaven
-UD 24/7 Liner in Zero
-Inglot Waterproof Volume Mascara

Lips:
-Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Warm Me Up

I did a little better in evening out my eyes this time but it's still not perfect.  You may have noticed this by now, but I like to include a picture of me wearing glasses when it comes to make up looks.  This is because I do acknowledge that not everyone can afford or prefer contact lenses when they wear glasses.  I hope including these pictures will help you visualize how the looks change when you pop on a pair of frames.

I hope you're all having a lovely evening.  I'll talk to you all very soon!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Blog Sale is Live! (I need your help!)

Good evening ladies and gents~

I am selling a HUGE selection of very lightly used and new makeup in order to pay for my grad school applications and fees (~$375).  I'm currently a 5th year at UC Davis, double majoring in Communications and Sociology and double minoring in Education and Chinese. It would mean so much if you would purchase an item or two to support me.  Even if you decide not to purchase something, if you would tell your friends about this (facebook, youtube, blog, luuux) that would be very much appreciated!  You will find all items listed for sale as well as the transaction process and shipping information here: http://jannysblogsale.blogspot.com/

All used items will be sanitized prior to shipment.

Brands featured:
Sephora
The Body Shop
Urban Decay
Yves Saint Laurent
NYX
Revlon
Smashbox
Max Factor
E.L.F.
Physician's Formula
Sally Hansen
Clinique
Sigma
Lancome
Cargo
Two
Stila
Milani

Some of the items I'm selling:









Thanks so much for all your support! It means a lot!

FOTD: Using Yellow...

I was perusing through today's Youtube subscriptions, and watched a tutorial by eyexluvxmakeup which featured a very bright look using mostly Sugarpill cosmetics.  I decided to have a go at recreating the look, and when I looked back, I obviously had not paid close enough attention.  Also, this is my first time doing a look like this as you will probably be able to tell when you have a look at the placement of the matte yellow eyeshadow on my lids.  I didn't have a matte pink so I tried using a shimmery one, and it's just not the same.  Pooey.  Also, being the noobsauce I am, I have a difficult time making the makeup identical on both eyes especially since my right eye is slightly smaller than my left.













I JUST noticed how sexy and prominent the bags under my eyes were.  I decided to put some extra time into concealing which I rarely do and you can still see them bursting out.  I had five hours of sleep the night before trying to finish up a paper, and i don't do well with less than 8 hours of sleep.

Face
-Aveeno baby lotion
-Smashbox Foundation in Light 3
-Maybelline Dream Mousse concealer in Ivory Light 2-3.5
-Cover FX Setting Powder in Light
-NYC Bronzer in Sunny
-MAC Blush in Blushbaby
-NARS Multiple in Copacabana

Eyes:
-MAC paintpot in Painterly
-Sugarpill e/s in Buttercup and Poison Plum
-Inglot e/s in 428P and a matte purple color with sparkle that I don't know the name of
-Too Faced e/s in Heaven and Sugar Cookie
-L'oreal HIP Pigment in Fiery
-Stila Smudgepot in Starry Night
-UD 27/7 Liner in Zero
-L'oreal Extra-Volume Collagen Mascara

Lips:
-Sephora l/g in Bronzed Beauty

May I also add that I am EXTREMELY disappointed in Sugarpill's Poison Plum?  I'm hearing so many people rave about how they wish they had purchased it before purchasing MUFE #92 eyeshadow and that just had to be bull, because I swatched #92 at Sephora and that stuff was so pigmented that it stained my skin.  Poison Plum is a whole different story....

No Flash 
With flash and technical difficulties.
On the left you see Poison Plum.  On the right you see the Inglot e/s I ended up using.  I had to swirl my finger a few times in Poison Plum to get that swatch.

Back the the topic of bright makeup, everyone seems to be sporting it nowadays for the sake of spring.  I live in California so I'm not really rushing to get to Spring because it's been pretty sunny up here.  Thoughts?  I'd love to hear them =)

Thanks for stopping by!