Favourite Red Lipsticks / Lipglosses

I used to never wear red lipstick, but now I can't stop wearing it. It's so flattering and it looks so elegant. Either you're going to a business meeting or it's date night, red lips will ALWAYS get someone's attention. Here are a few swatches of my favourite reds:

Viva Glam I is the darkest shade of red I own, I find it daring and sexy. It lasts a while and the formula isn't as drying as Ruby Woo, a brighter shade with a matte finish. Cherry on Top a cherry- red by Lime Crime is a bit more glamorous, it has little sparkles and an ultra glossy finish. Suedeberry is more on the orange side, i find it more suiting for a day time look. And Red Velvet looks very similar to Ruby Woo once it's on the lips. 

What are your favourite red lipsticks?

Top 5│Nail Polishes for Spring

 
Happy Tuesday! So, you say you can't wait for spring? Me neither! I picked 5 nail polishes to wear them accordingly. While I did my research for which trends were hot on the runways I found out pale, metallics and dark colours are all over! But honestly I can't relate to that trend, y'all. Spring is all about pastel and creamy shades, don't you agree?
 
1. Mac Nail Laquer in Impassioned ($.16.00): a bright warm pink. 2. Julep Nail Color in Helen ($.14.00): a smoky pastel lavender creme, it goes opaque with 2 coats. 3. Mac Nail Laquer in Play Day ($.16.00): a cream peachy orange (from the Mac Vera 2012 Collection) quite similar to Essie Tart Deco. 4. Mac Nail Laquer in In the Lime Light ($.16.00): a creamy mint green. Similar to Essie Mint Candy Apple and Illamasqua Nomad. (Is there a dupe out there?)  5. Mac Nail Laquer in Snob ($.16.00):  a beautiful light medium pink, which doesn't look anything like the Snob lipstick.
Something I DO relate to is the two-toned manicure (beautiful!) , but I'm not exactly brilliant at nail art. Here are the swatches for my picks:
What shades will you be wearing on your nails this spring?
Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY for a chance to win a Tarte lipstick! :) 

Getting Ready: Pink Rebel

Happy saturday! Lately I've had a hard time matching my foundation with my skin. I got sun-tanned and my body doesn't really matches my face. /// I got the Clinique Even Better foundation in the shade 07-vanilla but it didn't do the trick, my skin is far too yellow-toned for it, still it's a really nice medium coverage foundation. On my cheeks I've been using the Mac Mineralize Skin Finish in Stereo Rose (blusher) + the Lustre Drops in Pink Rebel (highlighter). When I first got Stereo Rose I thought about Nars Orgasm, but as soon as I got back home and swatched them side by side I realized Orgasm has a deep golden finish while Stereo Rose has more bronze in it . Still, in case you were lusting after Stereo Rose I'd recommend you check Orgasm. They're not a dupe at all, but the finish on the skin is quite similar. I noticed the other day, I had not used my UD Smoked Palette at all in the past few months, and it's mainly because I love wearing earth-toned eyeshadows. For this FOTD I wore Kinky all over the lid and under the brow, Backdoor in the outer corner blending it towards the middle and Freestyle on the inner corner. This has become my favourite makeup look over the last few weeks, I hope you like it too! 

Products used
Eyes:  Urban Decay Smoked Palette (Shades: Kinky, Freestyle, Backdoor) Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Pencil in Perversion Kiss Premium Eyelashes Mac Select Cover-up Concealer in NW25 Face: Clinique Even Better SPF 15 Foundation in 07-vanilla Graftobian Traslucent Face Powder (not pictured) Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Stereo Rose Mac Lustre Drops in Pink Rebel  Lips: Mac Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Bare Again
Please let me know if you'd like to see an specific review for any of these products! x

Best of 2012│Beauty

I'M STILL ALIVE! I promised a Best of 2012 post and here it is! (finally). I narrowed it down until it fit in a Glossybox lid, well almost. I picked makeup products mostly and only a few hair and skin care favourites. If you would like to see a full-review on these products, simply click on the name of each product. I hope you all had a good year and remember, the best is yet to come! Happy 2013! :) 

Why are these the best?
Because...

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette:  It is a compact, travel-size matte eyeshadow palette with 6 full-sized pigmented eyeshadows perfect to create both soft and bold looks.
Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette: It comes with 12 full-sized buttery soft eyeshadows with glitter, sheen and matte shades that compliment any eye colour.
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion: Is the blackest black eyeliner ever!
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Original: It's a clear, long-lasting eyeshadow primer that make my eyeshadow stay put.
Mac Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Engraved: Is the second blackest black eyeliner ever!
Mac Fluidline in Blitz & Glitz: It applies heavenly and tends to last longer that pencil and liquid eyeliner. Why not Blacktrack, you ask? Because Blitz & Glitz is an intense black with gold pearl.
Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara: No other mascara has a better formula or brush. 
Nars blush in Luster:  This is the prettiest sheer golden apricot blush I've come across.
Mac Matte Blush in Melba: Is a brown peach perfect for all year-round!
Mac Cremeblend Blush in Something Special: A long-lasting creme formula in a light coral shade that suits most skin tones. The texture of creme blushes are my favourite because they stay all day and have great coverage.
Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Purity: It has great wear and quality, it doesn't chip in at least 5-6 days.
Smith's Rosebud Salve:  Is a multi-purpose balm. I've used it on my lips, blemishes and even on freshly-done tattoos. This product is a skin saver! Contains cottonseed oil in a petrolatum base.
Mac Tinted Lip Conditioner in Petting Pink:  Perfect for summer as it comes with SPF15 and to prevent dry lips during the colder months. But the tinted part is my favourite!
Benefit Sugarbomb Ultra Plush Lipgloss: Non-sticky. Need I say more?
Revlon Lipbutter in Pink Truffle: My lips but better kinda shade.
Revlon Lipbutter in Peach Parfait: This shade is like Nars Orgasm for the lips. 
Mac Cremesheen Lipstick in Creme Cup: My all-time favourite Mac lipstick. 
Dior Addict High Shine in 566: A sheer rose pink with a lovely sheen!
Real Tecniques Stippling Brush: It gives me flawless creme blush application!
Real Tecniques Contour Brush: Is the easiest way to apply bronzer and blush.
Real Tecniques Expert Face Brush: My foundation looks flawless when using this brush.
Real Tecniques Buffing Brush: I find this brush perfect to blend in mineral foundation.
Missha BB Cream in No.23: Is the best BB cream I've tried.
L'occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream: It contains 20% shea butter and heals dry skin.
Clinique All About Eyes Cream: It de-puffs and reduces black circles around the eyes.
Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Toilette: A delicate, feminine fragrance. Not to mention the packaging.
L'occitane Concentrated Mask: This hair mask improved the condition of my scalp and made it 5x better. Since I started using this, I haven't had any itching problems.
Lush Angels on Bare Skin Face Cleanser: A fairly new addition to my routine, but it's already a favourite. It gently exfoliates and removes the dirt off my face. The milky almond texture makes my skin feel fresh and moisturized.

Phew! Are any of these your 2012 favourites?

Philosophy Set & Mac Lipstick from Rosebud Beauty Giveaway!

I'm a lucky lady! I won my third giveaway this year! Amanda from Rosebud Beauty held a giveaway on her blog and I was lucky enough to win a Philosophy Set which includes a mini purity one-step face cleanser, a full of grace shampoo, bath and shower gel, a mini hope in a jar moisturizer, a mini miracle worker anti-aging concentrate and a bbcream sampler. Also, the Mac Glamour Daze Outrageously Fun lipstick and she also threw in a few samples! Thank you so much Amanda for this, I was actually really happy to finally try Philosophy products and the lipstick is so gorgeous! Ps. The wrapping paper is so nice :)


Please make sure to visit Amanda's blog!  I'll be reviewing the lipstick in a different post :)

Weekly Favourites │1

Hey lovelies! Hope you're doing well :) I've been rather busy and kinda running out of ideas for new posts. So I decided I'd start a new series of my top 2 weekly favourites and these will include beauty and non-beauty related items. Sounds good? Let's start!
1. Real Tecniques Expert Face Brush ($.9.00): I finally got to try out the famous brushes! and have to admit that now I know what everyone was raving about. Don't know what took me so long but I'm sooooo happy I got a few. I use this brush for foundation and blush, it picks up so much powder in just one dab, it's amazing. I do it carefully to avoid looking like a clown but I like how precise it is. And for foundation, it really is pixel perfect in harsh light. 

Mac Sheertone Blush in Blushbaby ($.20.00): One of my favourite blushes, it has such a natural finish. Blushbaby is a beige-pink shade, it's very sheer but can still be build up. Mac Mocha is similar but it has less brown in it.
What are your weekly favourites?

Swatch: Mac Frost Lipstick in Angel

Mac Angel Lipstick ($.15.00) is described as a light pink and it's one of the most popular shades. I much rather describe it as a medium pink with a frost finish. It has micro shimmer in it and it leaves a glossy appearance. I find it a bit darker than Creme Cup, though it's believed it's the same hue with the exception that Angel has shimmer in it. I find the two shades to be completely different. I find the frost finish a little drying but less than a matte finish, it seems very sheer but it lasts 2-3 hours on my lips. I like Creme Cup much more than Angel simply because of the finish. Creme Cup leaves the lips looking milky and glossy.


Which one do you like better? Angel or Creme Cup?

Favourites: October 12

October has been a good month, I turned 22 (uh oh), Halloween is coming up and the holidays are almost here! Wooo :) I thought I'd include some of my fashion favourites this month to change it up a bit. Let me know if you like it or rather see strictly beauty stuff :)

Ever since i got an iPhone I started buying cases like a mad woman! This month I specially love these two from SwitchEasy. The rose flower case was a gift from a good friend of mine, I don't know if she'll read this but thank you Liz! :) And the Melt case, that I've been wanting to get forever and they sent me the wrong colour and I had to ask for a replacement! It took ages because they ship them from China. But I finally got it and I love it :) And of course, Nylon Magazine is a favourite of mine every single month!

Next are my Mouse Ballerina Flats from Marc by Marc Jacobs which were a present from my lovely mom, I just love them! They're super comfortable and cute. I've been using them quite a lot with dresses, leggings and jeans. 

On to the beauty stuff, the Clinique All About Eyes Rich has been an overnight savior when I'm feeling super tired. It really de puffs and diminishes black circles. I rediscovered two things recently: the Sephora Bronzer Brush (similar here) and the Mac Viva Glam Gaga Lipglass and I've been using both a lot. I never really used the brush cause I don't wear a lot of bronzer, instead I'm using it to apply foundation and it works great! I don't know if it's the bristles, the shape or size but my foundation looks flawless when applied with this brush. My favourite blush at the moment is the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Blissful, you can see review and swatches here. Another lip product I've been loving is the Dior Addict lipstick in colour 566 - Taffetas, it's quite sheer but it gives my lips the prettiest colour and shine! Lastly there's the Urban Decay Vintage Eyeshadow in Midnight Cowboy (a cult fave!) and a L'occitane wood comb I got as a gift. I love the little things I get as gifts because they always end up being my favourites!

Left to right: Mac Viva Glam Gaga Lipglass and Dior Addict Lipstick in 566.

What are your October favourites?

Swatch: Mac Amplified Creme in Reel Sexy

Another Mac lipstick swatch! This one is Reel Sexy, there's probably no point on making this post though, cause it's not longer available :( It's a very summery colour, very pastel and creamy looking. If you really like this colour (light bright coral) there's a very similar one, Gotta Dash! which belongs to the Mac Sheen Supreme Lipsticks. I know this isn't a new shade and it's so last summer but I really love it and wanted it since that Reel Sexy Collection came out! 



Do you own any of the Reel Sexy Collection Lipsticks? What's your favourite peach/coral lipstick?

Swatch: Mac Matte Lipstick in Please Me

I've been experimenting with lipsticks lately, and pinks seem to be on the top of my list. I'm getting a little lipstick-obsessed too. Mac Matte Lipstick in Please Me ($.15.00 for 3g) was on (my very long) wishlist for a while so I decided to get it! It's a lovely muted-rosy-tinted pink. I found that matte lipsticks are quite drying, but not as much really. I know it looks darker on the lipstick but lighter on the lips. That's why I always try everything on before buying it, something I would advise you ladies to do too :) 


Matte formulas tend to last longer on my lips and I love it! Please Me is a very wearable colour. At the counter I was deciding whether to get Please Me or Chatterbox. They're both very similar except  Chatterbox (bright red pink) is a bit darker and it has a Amplified Creme finish. I do like both, but as I never tried a Matte one before, decided to go for this one. But Chatterbox is still on my wishlist though! 


Have you tried Please Me? What's your favourite Matte lipstick?

Swatch: Mac Cremesheen Lipstick in Creme Cup

This lipstick had been on my wishlist for so long! I always ended up getting something else instead and I was really, really missing out! Wasn't I? Creme Cup is described as a light blue pink but I think it's more of a nude pink, it reminded me of Viva Glam Gaga, except it's a bit less pink and not as bright. The Cremesheen lipsticks are moisturizing and are very creamy compared to the other Mac lipsticks. It's a subtle colour that flatters most skin tones and pairs perfectly with a smoky eye.


I don't find the Cremesheen lipsticks to be drying, as many people do. I love how easily it glides on my lips and the creamy consistency. As most Mac lip products, they're vanilla scented and they have no particular taste. The lipstick wears about 2-3 hours on me. I really like this shade and i'll be picking up Angel next!
What's your favourite pink lipstick?

Review: Mac Powder Blush in Dame

I recently picked up this beautiful pink blush with blue iridescent shimmer, I love it! Like most Mac powder blushes ($20 for 0.21 oz) , it delivers great pigmentation and has a good staying power. It's very flattering on my skin tone and has a gorgeous satin finish.


I usually wear peach blushes but I really like how this colour gives my entire complexion a glowy, delicate look. On the pan it can look quite shimmery, but once applied it delivers a semi-matte finish. I find myself reaching for this blush everyday, as it's a very soft and neutral shade.

What's your favourite Powder Blush from Mac?

Getting Ready: Ombré Lips

It's been a while since I did Getting Ready posts, but I'm back!
Fall is getting closer and I'm starting to prepare for it! Don't you just love when seasons change? The fall trend is shortened in one word (or colour) and that's PLUM! I really like dusky shades of burgundy, plum & cabernet. They are so bold and elegant! So I got inspired and created this subtle eye and bold- ombré lips!


The ombré lips is a very easy technique, you only need 3 lip colours (either lipstick or lip liner). I used Revlon Lipbutter in 001 Pink Truffle as the medium colour and applied it from the outer corner towards the middle of the lips. The darker shade is Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 477 Black Cherry (will review soon!) and just applied a small amount with a lip brush in the corners of the mouth. For a hint of shine, I applied Revlon Lipbutter in 060 Gumdrop.


The products that I used:
Eyes: Benefit Stay Don't Stray Eyeshadow Primer, Mac Select Cover Up in NW25, CoverGirl Lashblast Volume in Very Black, Mac Fluideline in Blacktrack & Crown 88 Professional Eyeshadow Palette.
Face: Mac Mineralize Satinfinish Foundation in NC30, Bobbi Brown Shimmerbrick in Nectar.
Lips: Revlon Lipbutters in Pink Truffle & Gumdrop and Black Cherry Super Lustrous Lipstick.

Have you tried Ombré Lips before? What is your favourite shade for Fall?

Picks: Top 5 Summer Polishes

From left to right: Revlon Craving Coral, OPI On Collins Avenue, OPI Little Miss Piggy, Mac Playday and Sally Hansen Fuschia Power

If you read my latest post on Summer Blushes, you know that my favourite blush colours for summer are coral, pinks & peaches. Same with my nails, I just can't get enough!


On my thumb I'm wearing OPI On Collins Avenue, yup Miami baby! I think this polish was from the South Beach Collection, Revlon's Craving Coral looks kinda the same except it has more orange in it (on my middle finger).
On my index im wearing Mac Play Day which is a pale milky coral creme, very sheer. I used 4+ coats to get a bold colour! Not so good but i loved the result. On my ring finger it's OPI And This Little Piggy which is a sheer pink glittery colour. And on my pinky i have the Sally Hansen's Fuschia Power, it has a very good application and I only needed two coats to get it right.

What are you wearing on your nails this summer?

How To: Naked 2 Palette Look Vol.1

Step by step tutorial using Urban Decay's Naked 2 Palette.

Since i got my Naked 2 palette  i've been creating new looks to share with you. This is my second tutorial , and i hope you enjoy it!

The shadows i used have been marked with hearts :)

I have created this simple yet elegant look on 10 simple steps:

STEP 1: Start with clean skin, don't forget to moisturize and prep your face!
STEP 2: Apply eyeshadow base all over your eyelid. I used Benefit's Stay don't Stray eyeshadow primer.
STEP 3: Apply the shadow Foxy from UD Naked 2 Palette under your eyebrow. This will help you brighten up your eye.
STEP 4: Next apply the shadow Chopper on your crease.
STEP 5: Apply the shadow Busted over your crease. There is no need to apply too much of this shadow as this is only the create a depth effect on your eyelid and you'll be applying a darker shade afterwards.


STEP 6: Apply just a bit of the shadow Blackout starting at the outer corner of your eye blending it towards the middle of your eyelid. It's kind of forming a "V" shape all over your eye.
STEP 7: Apply the shadow Half Baked in the inner corner of your eye to create a luminous effect.
STEP 8: Blend well with a bigger brush, and if needed apply more of the Foxy shadow under your eyebrow.
STEP 9: Apply concealer/corrector under your eyes to brighten up your complexion. I used Mac Select -Cover Up in NW25.
STEP 10: Put mascara on lashes to finish the look.

You're done!

Final look using shadows in the Naked 2 Palette.

Have you tried this look? I hope you find this helpful! :)

Picks: Top 4 Summer Blushes

The truth is, that i wear these blushes all year long, but during summertime i like peachy-rose-coral-pink toned blushes. Also, i enjoy creme blushes since they're very hydrating. I've selected four of my most used blushes, so onto the colours!

From left to right: Mac Posey, Mac Ladyblush, Mac Gleeful and Nars Orgasm

Mac Cremeblend Blush in Posey: This is a warm peach and it's very buildable. I love the formula, it's creamy but not sticky and leaves a very natural finish on my cheeks.
Mac Blushcreme in Ladyblush:  I absolutely love this warm neutral coral, it lasts very long and looks very natural. This formula is a little bit more creamy than the Cremeblend blushes.
Mac Mineralize Blush in Gleeful: I love it when blushes have shimmery and golden flicks, Mac describes this blush as deep dirty blue pink with gold pearl. Generally, mineralize blushes are very lightweight and sheer. However, this one has a very good pigmentation (which is good).
NARS blush in Orgasm: And of course, my all time favourite blush (so predictable) Orgasm is peachy pink with golden shimmer. Also mentioned in my June Faves.

 Swatches from left to right: Nars Orgasm, Mac Gleeful, Mac Ladyblush & Mac Posey

What are your favourite Summer blushes?

Getting ready: Natural

Hey beauties! Today I decided to start making "Getting Ready" posts to show you what products i'm wearing and my daily looks. Most of the days i wear natural looks, but sometimes i add a bit of colour either to my lips or my eyes, i don't like both at the same time. Today i'm wearing black eyeliner, glowy cheeks and a hint of colour in my lips. Even though it looks like i've done nothing on my face, foundation and concealer really do make a big difference.

As always i start with facial moisturizing cream and primer (not pictured here). Then i apply concealer. Right now i'm using the Mac Select Cover Up in NW25. After concealing i apply my foundation Chanel Lift Lumiere in 05 Faience with foundation brush or my fingers. Today i didn't applied blush, i just applied the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Nectar which i LOVE! It gives my cheeks a healthy glow and brightens up my complexion. After that i apply the Laura Mercier Mineral Pressed Powder in Natural Beige to set my whole makeup.

For my eyes i used the Chanel Eyeshadow Quad in 74 Nymphéa (Limited edition/Discontinued) and the Mac Fluidline in Black Track, for my lashes the Maybelline One by One Mascara in Blackest Black, for my brows the Mac Eyeshadow in Brown Down and the Mac Brow Set in Clear. Finally for my lips i applied the Revlon Lipbutter in Pink Truffle.

What do you think about this look? Do you like natural looks? What is your everyday natural look routine?