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.

Review and Swatches: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil in Envious

Hello!

Do you love the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils? Do you wish there was an equivalent product for your lips? You've got it! Today's review is on Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil in Envious. I have to admit, I prefer eye look + gloss rather than lip look + barely-there eye makeup, so I don't have need for lipstick or lip liners all that often. I did go through a red lipstick phase, and it might just be creeping back up on me, so I decided to start testing out lip liners.

 Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil in Envious

Here's the spiel:
"Smooch. Pout. Smack. Nibble. Lick. 24/7 stays put through everything (yes, EVERYTHING) you do. When you use our liner to fill in your lips completely, it primes them for lipstick or gloss, grabbing on to color to help it last.

Part of the 24/7 family, our long-lasting, waterproof formula glides on smoothly, stays creamy and defines your lips with gorgeous color. And unlike a lot of waterproof pencils (we won’t name names), 24/7 never feels dry or cakey. Moisturizing vitamin E, jojoba oil and cottonseed oil nourish your lips every time you reapply."

How To: Deal with Acne-Prone Skin

Hello!

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.

Snap Review: Polished London Dry Shampoo in Bristol Bloom

Hello!

Today's review is on Polished London dry shampoo in Bristol Bloom.

Polished London Dry Shampoo in Bristol Bloom
Image from: http://www.polishedlondon.com/the-range/dry-shampoo

Bright Eye Look usng the Lime Crime Aquataenia Palette

Hello!

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 and Swatches: Lime Crime Aquataenia Palette.

Hello!

Do you really love brights? If so, this palette is for you! Today I am reviewing Lime Crime's Aquataenia Palette. This came out a while ago, and it's been sitting in my make-up drawer for quite a while. Why? I found the colours intimidating!

Here's the spiel:

"Aquataenia is different from all previous LC palettes because it's completely *pearlescent*. Each oceanic shade is loaded with shimmer & glitter particles to create a wet, glistening effect -- reminiscent of a mermaid's tail under the moonlight -- and makes your eyelids sparkle like the sea! Can be used on eyes or cheeks. Arrives encased in a deluxe purple tin."

Lime Crime Aquataenia Palette.

Review: Balms Away Eye Makeup Break-Up by theBalm

Hello!

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?

Eye Look: A pop of teal

Hello!

I recently got my hands on the Lime Crime Aquataenia Palette (review coming soon) and I must admit I'm having difficulty incorporating such bright colours into my eye looks. That might sound odd, coming from me, but I like to do looks incorporating most of the colours from a palette if I'm doing a review and for the life of me I can't think of how to use all the colours from this palette in one look! Anyway, this look is another example of how to incorporate a bit of colour into an everyday look.

A pop of teal in an otherwise everyday eye look

Eye Look: Ombre Eyeliner

Hello!

Today's look is about workplace-friendly but creative eyeliner :-)

Usually, my eye looks are bright and quite bold, but lately I've been in a work environment where my colleagues don't  wear makeup and I end up feeling over-done. At the same time, I love makeup and the creativity I put into my looks, so I'm not about to quit. Most of the time, I ignore my feelings of being over-done and just go with whatever I feel like doing. This is a look I came up with on a day I was running a bit late and I thought it might be a good way for those of you who are a bit scared of full-on eyeshadow or really bright eyeliner looks to dip a toe in the bright water :P

Bright blue and black ombre eyeliner look

Review and Swatches: L'Oreal Nude Magique Anti-Redness CC Cream

Hello!

Today's review is on the L'Oreal Nude Magique Anti-Redness CC cream..

L'Oreal Nude Magique Anti-Redness CC Cream,
picture from: http://www.lorealparis.com.au/cosmetics/face/nude-magique-anti-redness-cc-cream.aspx

I have been sorely disappointed with L'Oreal BB creams (hello, orange) but was hoping for some improvement with their redness correcting CC cream. Unfortunately, history repeated itself.

Review and Swatches: China Glaze nail polish in Harvest Moon

Hello!

Have you seen The Hunger Games? Better yet, have you seen China Glaze's The Hunger Games inspired nail polish collection? Today's review is on Harvest Moon from The Hunger Games Capitol Colors Collection (Spring 2012).

Swatches of China Glaze nail polish in Harvest Moon
(The Hunger Games Capitol Colors Collection)

Review and Swatches: Napoleon Perdis Loose Eye Dust in Star Light

Hello!

Do you love sparkle, shimmer and gltiz? If so, this post is just the thing for you. Today's reveiw is on Napoleon Perdis Loose Eye Dust in Star Light.

 Napoleon Perdis Loose Eye Dust in Star Light

Review and Swatches: Napoleon Perdis Loose Eye Dust in Emerald City

Hello!

Once more, with feeling! In the continuing spirit of St. Patrick's day, today's review is on Napoleon Perdis Loose Eye Dust in Emerald City.

Napoleon Perdis Loose Eye Dust in Emerald City

Review and Swatches: Napoleon Perdis Loose Eye Dust in 19

Hello!

Today's post is another St. Patrick's day green-themed post, with a review of Napoleon Perdis Loose Eye Dust in 19.

 Napoleon Perdis Loose Eye Dust in 19

St. Patrick's Day Look

Hello!

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

Look: Ginnifer Goodwin at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscars After-Party

Hello!

You may have noticed I haven't been posting as many looks up as I used to. I've been suffering from make-up creative block. Until recently, I hadn't seen much to inspire me to do new looks. That changed when I saw these pictures of actress Ginnifer Goodwin at the Oscars after party.

Ginnifer Goodwin at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscars after party.
Picture property of Just Jared.
Source: http://www.justjared.com/photo-gallery/2820345/ginnifer-goodwin-josh-dallas-vanity-fair-oscars-party-2013-04/

Ginnifer Goodwin at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscars after party.
Picture property of Just Jared.
Source: http://www.justjared.com/photo-gallery/2820345/ginnifer-goodwin-josh-dallas-vanity-fair-oscars-party-2013-04/

This is the kind of makeup I would do with this dress! It's bold, it ties into the dress without being too matchy-matchy and it's perfectly balanced- she kept the rest of her face neutral with some light bronzing anda neutral lip. Most of the time on the red carpet, you see very neutral makeup and if someone does a basic smoky eye or a red/pink lip, they're classed as adventurous or bold. For me, that's not bold. Playing with colour in different ways is bold.

So I tried to recreate it...
I have to say this was the most difficult relatively-simple look I've done in ages. I hadn't done a bold look in so long, it was like I was learning how to use make-up all over again. Plus, a fair amount of my makeup is in storage, so I didn't have the perfect colours and so had to mix and match. I think it turned out ok. Hopefully you'll like it!

Review and Swatches: China Glaze Nail Polish in Stella

Hello!

Following on from my post about Midnight Ride, this post is about the other nail polish I am currently in love with, China Glaze's Stella. This polish was part of the Retro Diva collection in 2009.

China Glaze's Stella nail polish is on my ring finger.

Sorry I just re-used the Midnight Ride photo. I love it too much to change this manicure just yet. I wore Stella last (and it's my current pedicure colour, but I'm not posting photos of my feet :P) so it feels like it'd be a bit much to have Stella on fingers and toes. Also, the tip of the nail is done in China Glaze Tinsel Town. I'll get to a review of that later.

Review and Swatches: China Glaze Nail Polish in Midnight Ride

Hello!

Today's post is a review of China Glaze's Midnight Ride nail polish. This came out as part of their Rodeo Diva collection ages ago (2008, I think) but I only recently managed to get myself some China Glaze nail polishes so I thought I'd review it anyway, as it's new to me. To be completely spoiler-y, I love it.

China Glaze Nail Polish in Midnight Ride
(accent nail is China Glaze's Stella and Tinsel Town)

Series: Pretty in Pink_Look 4: pink glitter smoky eye

Hello!

Today's look was the one I wore to my all-pink event. I spent a fair while figuring out what to do and this is what I came up with. I hope you'll like it!

Pretty in Pink series, look 4: pink glitter smoky eye

Eye Look: Neutral smokey eye using the Too Faced Shadow Bon Bons eyeshadows

Hello!

Following on from my last post reviewing the Too Faced Shadow Bon Bons collection, I thought I'd post up a look using the collection. This look exclusively uses the eyeshadow primer, eyeshadows and mascara from the Bon Bons collection.

Neutral smoky eye look done using the Too Faced Shadow Bon Bons collection.

Series: Pretty in Pink_Look 3 GLITTER!

Hello!

Do you need more pink in your life? Welcome back to the Pretty in Pink eye look series! My first eye look was soft and pretty, the second was all about a very bright pink shadow and graphic eyeliner combination and today I went almost all out with glitter.

Third look from the Pretty in Pink series

Bright Graphic Eyeliner Smoky Eye Look

Hello!

Have you seen the neon green graphic eyeliner smoky eye look Pat McGrath created in the Atelier Versace Spring Couture 2013 show recently? It was all kinds of amazing and bold. In honour of that look, I've come up with one of my own (not quite as neon...). I hope you like it!

Bright Graphic Eyeliner Smoky Eye Look

Review and Swatches: Too Faced Shadow Bon Bons

Hello!

Today's review is on the Too Faced Shadow Bon Bons eyeshdaow palette, primer and mascara holiday collection. Before I go on, I feel I have to make my apologies- I'm terribly sorry to have been away for so long- I got caught up in study. Now that that's out of the way, here's the spiel: this holiday collection contains a Shadow Insurance Candlelight Eye Shadow Primer (5g), a 12 eye shadow palette (0.9g each, total 10.8g) and a Lashgasm Mascara (12mL).

Too Faced Shadow Bon Bons Collection, opened up.

Series: Vice Palette_Gold and Grey

Hello!

Today's look is a gold and grey graphic eyeliner look done using Urban Decay's Vice Palette.

Vice Palette Series: Gold and Grey Graphic eyeliner look

Series: Pretty in Pink_Look 2; Vice Palette_Pretty in Pink

Hello!

Here is my latest Pretty in Pink look (also technically the fourth look from my Vice Palette series). This is a brighter, edgier look than the last one (click here). I played around with graphic eyeliner and a darker, brighter pink. I must say I'm really impressed with the wear of Urban Decay eyeshadows. The following pictures were all taken 7 hours after inital application without an eyeshadow primer!

Close up of my second Pretty in Pink eye look.

Series: Pretty in Pink_Look 1

Hello!

Have you seen the latest beauty look to come out of Chanel's Cruise 2012-13 Collection? It's very pink. Pink eyeshadow is a bit scary for me. I have friends who wear it well, but for the most part I feel that with my pale complexion, it makes me look a bit sick. I do, however, have a pink-themed event coming up. So, all things considered, I felt that I should try out some pink eyeshadow looks. I will be posting the results of my quest to find a pink eyeshadow look that doesn't make me look ill in a Pretty in Pink eye look series.. Without further ado, here is Look 1:

The first eye look of the Pretty in Pink series

Holy Grail Foundation: Kat von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation

Hello!

I know I've raved about Kat Von D's Lock-It Tattoo Foundation before- when I reviewed a sample of it in this post- and it wasn't even the right shade for me. Sight unseen, I took a guess at what shade would match me (Light 44, btw) and got a wonderful friend in America to find it for me and bring it back to Australia with her. Why did I have to do that? It's near impossible to get here in Australia. Turns out, it was difficult to find in America, too. The foundation is sold out a lot of the time, and for good reason, too.

New Year's Eve 2012/13 Eye Look

Hello!

Happy New Year! To kick off the new year, I thought I'd share my eye look from last night/ this morning. I usually go all out on New Year's Eve but this year I decided to skip the falsies and make my eye look more interesting with smaller details you'd miss if you weren't looking closely. It's mixed metals, graphic eyeliner and lots of shimmer and glitter.

New Year's Eve New Year's Eve mixed metals graphic eyeliner eye look, one eye close up.

2013

Hello!

Happy New Year!!

I hope 2013 is a year of happiness, success and love for all of you.

Much love,

xo

Anna