Out of the Box: Episode 1 (FOTD)

I'm starting a new series called "Out of the Box."  I tend to use the same products over and over again, leaving a lot of makeup untouched or barely used.  I think most bloggers typically relate these types of posts as "shopping your stash" but for some reason I really dislike that phrase.  Plus, that usually refers to the rediscovery of one product.

This series will be focused on creating a look with as many products that I wouldn't really reach for.  Some items, like my foundation, I can't really switch up because the only foundations I have that I don't use regularly are the ones I use for class and on clients.

Let's just hop to it, shall we?

Face: 

-Eve Pearl HD Dual Foundation in Light

-Laura Mercier Setting Powder

-NARS Laguna Bronzer

-The Balm Bronzer in Bahama Mama

-Illamasqua Blusher in Thrust

Eyes:

-MAC Paintpot in Painterly

-Spellbound Cosmetics eyeshadow in Bubble

-Black Rose Minerals eyeshadows in Earthen and Frost

-Stila eyeshadow in Black Cat

-Stila eyeliner in Stingray

-L'oreal Waterproof Carbon Black Mascara

-Maybelline Eyestudio Gel Liner in Forest (LE)

Lips
-Inglot lipstick in 264

As I've said, I tend to stick with the same products once I find something I like.  I find this to be most convenient when I have to look presentable and don't have the time to experiment with different things, which means a risk of needing to redo my makeup.  I had the luxury of time on Friday, so I pulled out some products I have barely touched (some even unopened!) and tried to figure something out.  I ended up using a few items for the very first time.  Here are some ways I tried to step out of the box:

1. Using mineral makeup/makeup purchased from an independent company.  I own quite a few eyeshadows from independent companies, but have never really used them because it's messy, and I find that most of the pressed shadows in my collection much more pigmented.  I was VERY pleasantly surprised with Bubble, as the pigmentation was fantastic.  Earthen...not so much.

2. Using pink.  I have nothing against pink, but I'm much more attracted to richer, bolder colors.  I own so few pink eyeshadows that there have been a couple times when I decided to use pink, but could not find the shade I wanted.

3. Lashes.  Again, I have nothing against lashes.  But as a frequent glasses wearer, they tend to brush up against the lenses and it's really quite annoying.  For the purpose of this look and because I was staying at home, I threw them on anyway.  Then ripped them off after taking pictures because they're so uncomfortable.

4. Light/nude lipstick.  When I first tried this lipstick on inside one of Montreal's Inglot stores, I was horrified when I looked in the mirror.  Light lipstick is NOT my thing.  One of the makeup artists claimed that she really liked it on me, and I figured I did not own such a light lipstick anyway so I got it.  Since then, I've tried it on a couple times but never found an occasion to wear it.  I still haven't, but at least I am documenting it, haha.

5. Hair.  Totally not makeup related, but that's okay.  I don't really know how to wear my hair curly anymore now that I have short hair, so I did a test run.  I curled it with a new flat iron I got from Le Angelique, then teased and hairsprayed the crap out of it.

As for the direction I took, I really didn't have one until I applied Bubble to my lids.  It was such a beautiful, pure, shimmery pink, that I didn't want to contrast it with dark colors.  I still wanted to break the pureness of the color, so I darkened my lash line with Earthen, and applied some non-dolllike lashes. The magenta blush on my cheeks ended up more pink than I expected.  I was flirting with doing a fantasy look and actually blended the blush up to my temples, but decided not to overdo it.

I used 5 products that I have never used before, which I'm proud of.  I discovered that I really really like some of them (Maybelline gel liner, Bubble, and Thrust) so hopefully I'll use them more often now.

What are some ways that you like to step out of the box?  I'd love to know!

EOTD: Mineral Makeup Playdate

I desperately need either better lighting, a better camera, or both.  Because I am getting sick and tired of not being able to capture my makeup the way I see it.

Anyways, I have a drawer full of beautiful pigments and mineral makeup that I don't ever use because it's messy and takes too long to apply.  A couple days ago I found time to dive into this drawer and slap some colors together for a look.  I personally REALLY liked the look and was so excited to show it to y'all.  Upon taking pictures, however, I was super duper disappointed.  Here's why:

The makeup was a lot more pigmented and brighter in person.  Oh, and I also didn't have any foundation on so there are no full face photos.  All eyeshadows were applied dry.  Anybody have tips for applying pigments?  I don't know when to use them wet, what kind of base to put underneath (especially since I don't own the legendary eye pixie poxie), etc.

Eyes:
-UDPP in Sin
-Black Rose Minerals e/s in Royal Orchid on the lid
-Spellbound e/s in Lagoon on outer corner of eye
-Spellbound e/s in Shroom in inner corner of eye
-MicaBella e/s in Luck o' the Irish in crease
-Stila smudgepot in Violet
-Stila e/l in Topaz
-Milani liquifeye pencil in Black
-L'oreal Extra Collagen Mascara

FOTD: Earthen Lady ft. Black Rose Minerals

Hello sexy people of blogger~

Here is a look from yesterday.  I was determined to use some of my lesser used cosmetics, which consist all my loose eyeshadows (mineral makeup + pigments).  I really wanted to use some of my Sugarpill stuff but settled on some Black Rose Mineral samples instead.  In case you've missed it, I bought a load of samples a while back and you can view all the swatches here.   I wanted to do something crazy and colorful but alas, I used too much brown (Earthen) and it looks very tame.  Oh well.  Other than the darker green (Were Me Out), all colors were used dry.

Bleh.  I have been very unhappy with my full face shots lately.  But I post them so that you can see the makeup.

Face:

-Aveeno Tinted Moisturizer in Medium

-Laura Mercier Setting Powder

-NYC Matte Bronzer

-Laura Geller Blush in Tropical Hues

-NARS Multiple in Copacabana

Eyes:

-MAC Painterly Paintpot

-BRM in Frost (inner corner and brow highlight), Lady (lid color), Were Me Out (Outer V), & Earthen (crease)

-Too Faced e/s in Heaven

-L'oreal Lineur Intense Liquid Liner

-L'oreal Waterproof Carbon Black Mascara

Lips:

-YSL Golden Gloss #14

I'm not sure I get the full hang of using mineral makeup yet.  But that's what practice is for right? Hopefully the next one will be better!

Thanks for stopping by, everyone!

Black Rose Minerals' Haul, Swatches, and Look! (Picture heavy)

A while ago (and I mean a WHILE ago)  I purchased some mineral makeup samples from Black Rose Minerals.  They've got some fantastic deals and free shipping worldwide for samples, so I thought, "Why not?"  They also have a different 10% off code every month which I completely forgot to use.  I opted for the 10 sample baggies for $6 (+tax).  My package arrived within a week.

Packaging: 

Even though I was only ordering samples, my package arrived in a bubble mailer.  The products themselves were wrapped in multiple layers of bubble wrap, tissue paper, and plastic baggies.  Rose (the owner) was nice enough to throw in a few extra mini samples.

I got to work debagging these babies right away.  Here is my little work station.

I swatched the colors while I was debagging, so they're kind of all over the place.  To see all the swatches at once, keep scrolling down.  I swatched on bare skin, and with the side of a Q-tip/cotton bud.

Woohoo natural lighting!

I cut open the bags completely so no product would be stuck at the top.

Samples: Liberty, Saturn, and Insect.  No flash.

Snow, Basilisk, Nightengale, Pacific Oil Slick, Royal Orchid, Mome Rath

Frost, Lady, Were Me out, Earthen

Mome Rath, Frost, Lady, Were Me Out, Earthen. No flash.

With flash.

All product descriptions are from the website.  An asterisk (*) indicates my favorites.  

Snow--A true pearly white with a kaleidoscope of glistening highlights 

Basilisk*-- Wears well both dry and wet. More metallic 

Nightingale*--A mysterious and dark duochrome.

Pacific Oil Slick*--black base with a blue green shimmer

Royal Orchid*--A deep metallic violet with strong red tones

Mome Rath--Shocking violet with magenta undertones. NOT VEGAN.

Frost*--An iridescent violet tint in a white base

Lady--A beautiful shimmery blue-green with a gold shimmer

Were Me Out--Shimmery dark green

Earthen*--A deep chocolaty brown

Liberty--Like the lady, this green is very much like an oxidized copper. A little bit of pink glitter with a slight metallic finish. NOT LIP SAFE OR VEGAN

Saturn--Grey, almost silver.  I can't find this on the site so it may no longer be available.

Insect--a sparkly shimmery light neutral brown with lots of iridescence. String notes of green and gold. NOT LIP SAFE.

So many swatches...

My debagged samples.

And the look...

The BRM products I used were Frost, Royal Orchid, and Snow.  It's been so long that I can't remember any of the other products I used.  If I remember correctly, all colors were used dry.

What do I think of them?
It's kind of hard to say.  I'm not somebody who uses loose eyeshadows very often.  I want to say that they are not terribly pigmented, as I have used other brands (also mineral) before that offered AMAZING pigmentation.  But again,  these guys don't pack as much of a punch as I had hoped.  Please don't take this as a review of the products, because it's not.  I'll have to play with the makeup a lot more to have a final verdict. I WILL say that the colors are really beautiful, and if I can make them work for me, I will most certainly be purchasing some full sizes.

Thanks for stopping by :)

[I have nothing to disclose.]