Tips & Tricks: Shimmer Eyeshadow

Hello!

Do you love shimmer/glitter eyeshadow? I do! The sparklier the better. Would you like to know the best way to apply shimmery, sparkly eyeshados for maximum impact? Or are you looking to introduce shimmery eyeshadow into your beauty routine? If so, this is the post for you!

Recently I've had a change of heart when it comes to eyeshadow application. I used to be all about the sparkle, everywhere. From lash line to brow bone, I would use whichever shimmer/glitter eyeshadows took my fancy (examples below).

Look 4 from my Naked Palette series
http://brighteyedbeautyblog.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/series-naked-palette4.html

Look 6 from my Naked Palette series
http://brighteyedbeautyblog.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/series-naked-palette6.html

That's still fine, but it's a very full-on look which doesn't allow any particular eyeshadow to take centre stage. That's why I've started to change it up. I realised that the impact of a shimmery eyeshadow is at its greatest when it commands all the attention in an eye look- meaning that some of the eyeshadows around it have to be less shimmery or even matte.

When I first started, I wasn't sure how to mix shimmer and matte shades so that it looked good. So here are my suggestions for combinations that will help your shimmery eyeshadow stand out.

How To: Deal with Acne-Prone Skin

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Do you hate all those makeup advice columns that assume you have perfect skin? Do you roll your eyes whenever a "natural" makeup tutorial assumes that a light application of tinted moisturiser/BB cream is enough to leave your skin flawless?

You probably have acne. Or rosacea. Or eczema.

This post deals with acne. Acne is thought by many people to be a skin condition affecting only teenagers. Mine didn't magically clear up on the stroke of midnight between my 19th and 20th years of life. It's still here.

I've held off doing a post like this for a long time, because there are so many out there and because I didn't feel I'd sorted out my skin routine enough to be giving advice to anyone. I'm very glad to say that that's changed! Makeup takes so much less time to apply when you have good (or just decent) skin.

It's been months and my skin is so much better than it has been in years. I don't need to spend 15 minutes just on covering up my blemishes, I don't need to go over my entire face in concealer and I haven't had cystic breakouts in 6 months. Major win!

This post will cover the basics about acne and the treatment options. I'll also outline some of the mistakes I made in trying to treat mine, and how I overcame them.

Bright Eye Look usng the Lime Crime Aquataenia Palette

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I just reviewed the Lime Crime Aquataenia palette and as I've said previously, I held off on reviewing it until I could think of a way to use all the colours in one eye look. The result is today's crazy bright eye look. This is definitely not an eye look for the faint of heart!

A very, very bright eye look done using the Lime Crime Aquataenia Palette.

Review: Balms Away Eye Makeup Break-Up by theBalm

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Have you been searching for the perfect heavy-duty make-up remover? Do you also want this make-up remover to be gentle on your skin? If so, theBalm's Balms Away Eye Makeup Break-Up is perfect for you!

theBalm's Balms Away Eye Makeup Break-Up
Stock photo from: http://www.thebalm.com/balms-away.html

What's the spiel?

"Fortified with Vitamins A, C, & E and a blend of plant-derived Sterols and Lipids, this Eye Makeup Break-Up is a solid eye makeup remover, gentle enough for the most sensitive skin. Vitamins and Lipids work to hydrate and restore elasticity around the delicate eye area while keeping it smooth. BONUS: Balms Away is travel friendly and spill proof, so no mess and no airport security hassle."

Does it live up to the hype?

St. Patrick's Day Look

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Want a green eye look to go with your St. Pat's green cupcakes and green fizzy drink (or beer :P)? Here it is! This is a really easy, really sparkly look that will have you ready for St. Pat's!

St. Patrick's Day inspired green eye look

Review and Swatches: M.A.C's Russian Red Lipstick

Hello!

First off- sorry! I know I've been gone a while, but I needed to focus on my studies. I'm back now with a review of the absolute classic matte red lipstick- M.A.C's Russian Red.

M.A.C Russian Red Lipstick tube

Review and Swatches: theBalm Read My Lips Lipstick

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Guess what I found in my beauty drawers? theBalm's Read My Lips Lipstick in Wanted.

theBalm Read My Lips Lipstick in Wanted

 The advertising spiel:

"A vitamin-packed jojoba and olive oil-based lipstick. TheBalm Read My Lips Lipstick's creamy formula is infused with hydrating ingredients like vitamins A and E, leaving behind a press-worthy pout. Like your favorite daily paper, Read My Lips tubes are 100% recyclable and the lipsticks are infused with a delicious vanilla-mint scent that will have you hooked."

Look: Smoked Palette and Meet Matt(e) Palette

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I'm back with (yes, yet another) purple and plum eye look. This time I've combined the Urban Decay Smoked Palette with theBalm's Meet Matt(e) palette.

Purple and plum eye look done using the Urban Decay Smoked Palette and theBalm's Meet Matt(e) Palette.

Holiday Season Gift Ideas: Stocking Fillers (Lips and Nails Edition)

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Are you still stuck for gift ideas? Are you not a gift set or eye product or face product person? Or do you want even more  indiviudal items to make up your own extra amazing gift set? This post is for you!

Today's gift category: Individual items/Stocking fillers

Edition: Lip and Nail products

Holiday Season Gift Ideas: Stocking Fillers (Face Edition)

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Are you still stuck for gift ideas? Are you not a gift set or eye product person? Or do you want more individual items to make up your own amazing gift set? This post is for you!

Today's gift category: Individual items/Stocking fillers

Edition: Face products

Holiday Season Gift Ideas: Stocking Fillers (Eyes Edition)

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Are you looking for a smaller gift or a few individual items to put together as a personalised gift set? This post is for you.

Today's gift category: Individual items/Stocking fillers

Edition: Eye products

Holiday Season Gift Ideas: Gift Sets

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Have you noticed all the awesome holiday gift sets and limited edition releases for this holiday season? This is the first post on some holiday gift ideas for the upcoming gift-giving season.

Today's gift category: An all-encompassing gift or gift set

Look: theBalm's Balm Jovi and Lime Crime's Unliner in Rhyme

Hello!

Quite obviously, I've been playing with my Rhyme and Reason eyeliner set by Lime Crime and with theBalm's Balm Jovi palette, too. Unlike in my last look, in which I paired silver eyeliner with a matte shadow, in this look I decided to throw restraint out the door and go all out with shimmer and glitter.

Eye look using theBalm's Balm Jovi palette and Lime Crime's Uniliner in Rhyme (eye open)

Look: theBalm Balm Jovi and Lime Crime Reason

Hello!

Here's a look I did using theBalm's Balm Jovi palette and Lime Crime's Reason Uniliner. I thought the contrast of a dark matte shade and the light silver was pretty.

Eye look  using theBalm's Balm Jovi palette and Lime Crime's Uniliner in Reason (eye closed)

Halloween Special

Hello!

Do you celebrate Halloween? I usually don't. It's not a traditional holiday here, it's something that's been imported from the US in recent years. I'm way too lazy to get a good costume, so for the most part, I don't bother. There is ONE exception. I have always loved the insanely dramatic eye makeup Elizabeth Taylor had as Cleopatra. Despite not celebrating this myself, I am majorly procrastinating right now and I decided to replicate the look (as best I could). Now that I'm done, I feel like this is wasted effort and kind of wish there was a Halloween party I could go to tonight :-(

My Cleopatra eye look, close up.

*Review and Swatches: theBalm's Meet Matt(e) Palette

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Are you sick of shimmer shadows (blasphemy!) and looking for a palette to meet your matte shadow needs? This is it. Meet theBalm's "Meet Matt(e)" palette.

theBalm's Meet Matt(e). Pretty cute :P

*Updated Review

Review and Swatches*: theBalm Time Balm concealer

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This is a rapid review of theBalm's Time Balm concealer.

Here's the marketing blurb:

"From dawn 'til dusk and dusk 'til dawn, timeBalm's got you covered! This beeswax-based concealer is packed with hardcore science to help fight wrinkles, conceal circles and look stunning ‘round the clock. Whether you’re a daytime achiever or evening diva, keep your cover morning, noon and night. Apply before bed to wake up looking fabulous! timeBalm is a uniquely smooth anti-wrinkle concealer that commits all day to covering dark circles and blemishes. Using a cocktail of beneficial ingredients, such as vitamins A, E,and C, Soybean Oil, Panthenol, Linoleic Acid and Phospholipids, timeBalm combats wrinkles and protects your delicate eye area from environmental stresses."

Picture from theBalm Australia's facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/#!/theBalmAustralia?fref=ts.

I agree. My shade is Light and it's a perfect match.
*Now updated to include swatches.

Review and Swatches: theBalm's Shady Lady Vol. 2 Palette

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A while back I did an OVO-inspired look using theBalm's Shady Lady Vol. 2 Palette. Today I'm finally getting around to reviewing it!

theBalm Shady Lady vol.2 front cover

theBalm Shady Lady vol.2 back cover

Paris S/S 13 Beauty Trend: Bright Red Lips

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The main lip look from the Paris S/S 13 catwalks is BRIGHT red. Sure, there were glossy corals at Moschino and hot pink at Dries Van Noten, but the most notable lip was red. Many designers opted for bright red lips in all sorts of finishes from matte at Paul Smith (matte tomato red shade) and Barbara Bui (matte blue-based red), demi-matte at Jason Wu (demi-matte berry red), satin finishes at Burberry (satin finish bright red lipstick) and Prada (bright red, satin finish) to the glossy orange-red lips at Akris.

I thought it might be useful to put up a product guide based on colour and finish.

Review and Swatches: theBalm Overshadow

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Today I'm reviewing theBalm's Overshadow in 'Work is Overrated', a shimmering pink champagne colour.

Here it is, with theBalm's signature cute, retro packaging.

It's marketed as the "first finely milled all mineral shimmer designed to go over your eyeshadow." Quite honestly, this product confuses me. I'm not sure why there is suddenly a new category eyeshadow. All eyeshadows can be layered over each other and there are plenty of loose shimmer dusts out there which, again, can be layered over each other and over other eyeshadows, so I'm not sure how an "overshadow" is different. I decided to find out.