"Back to Japan": Cheeks

The second part of my "Back to Japan" series will be blushers and bronzers. I think in terms of make-up, they are one of my favourite things to play with, alongside foundation and powders :)

I borrowed my mom's camera which I got her for her 60th birthday present - is the quality noticeably different? It's 14.1 Megapixels, where my usual one is like 6.5 Megapixels! I haven't tested out the video quality but if it's good, I might pick one up for myself! What do you think?

Again for blusher/bronzer, I went for a wide range of colours as well as different finishes for bronzers. As you can see from the picture above, loads of different brands so I don't get bored while I'm away from the rest of my goodies! (Although it's obviously not enough to keep me from lusting after so many..)

Bronzers

L: CANMAKE Shading Powder in 02

(A matte bronzer for sharp contouring - haven't used yet :P)

C: Rimmel Sunshimmer Bronzer in Medium Matte

(A really soft pearly bronzer, great for everyday soft contouring - use EVERY day! Hoping to replace with NARS Casino - yay, nay?)

R: CANMAKE Bronzing Foundation in 02

(Great for when I get ridiculously pale foundation samples, just to dust it over. Otherwise it brings out the yellow undertones in my skin way too much if I use it as a contour - therefore my choice of NARS Casino over Laguna!)

L to R: CANMAKE Foundation 02, CANMAKE Shading Powder 02, Rimmel Medium Matte.

Blushers

L: NIVEA Stay Real Blush in Shades of Rose

(Was a candidate for a natural blush for my graduation - haven't worn yet!)

C: Melliesh Blush in Burnt Orange

(Good to have to warm up blushers or to use alone)

R: Illamasqua Cream Blush in Rude

(No need for a brush/good summer colour = no way I was leaving it behind :))

L: NARS Luster

(My blush lover since I got it - been wearing it almost everyday! Lovely natural sun tan peach :))

C: NARS Orgasm

(My favourite pink blusher, had to come with!)

R: NARS Torrid

(Was my go to blush until Luster - atm wondering if it's a bit too clowny for my tan.)

L to R: Melliesh, Illamasqua, Nivea (darker shade), Nivea (lighter shade), NARS Luster, NARS Torrid, NARS Orgasm

So there you go! :) That's what I brought back with me, and I probably could've done without the Nivea or the Melliesh blush, and maybe even the CANMAKE stuff - but that may change as my skin is getting lighter again!

What have your go-to blusher/bronzer been recently? :)

<3yu

FOTD: Illamasqua Rich Liquid Foundation

As I haven't used my recently purchased Illamasqua Rich Liquid enough to write a full review, I thought why not do a FOTD to just show you guys what it looks like? :)

(I'm not naked.. just wearing a tube top :P)

I know it looks like a really easy look, but in reality, this foundation is a bit time-consuming to apply! I mix it in with some Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer, and holding the end of my MAC 109, lightly brush it onto my face. That being said, it's worth it! It gives a really luminous matte finish, and stays on all day. Average oil control, and doesn't transfer if you blot! I have my doubts about its durability through rain, as one day when I was wearing this I ended up with spotty foundation on my chin and between my eyebrows - will be running some tests before a full review, but so far I am loving it except for how long it takes! :)

Anyway, I quite like this look - it doesn't have the same natural/care-free feel as a medium coverage natural finish foundation, but I quite like the more polished, "a little bit made up" base combined with the minimal effort everywhere else. I think it's quite classy! I've been loving filling in my eyebrows, and the pop of pink on my lips I think balances out the neutral-ness of everything else :)

Here's what I have on my face:

Face:

Illamasqua Rich Liquid Foundation in RF233

Hard Candy Sheer Envy Primer

Bobbi Brown Corrector in Peach

MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC35

Bourjois Compact Powder in 73 Miel Dore

Rimmel Sunshimmer Bronzer in Medium Matte

NARS Blush in Luster

Eyes:

Clinique Superfine Liner for Brows in 03 Deep Brown

MaxFactor False Lash Effect Mascara

UNE SkinGlow Pencil in G04

Lips:

MAC Lipstick in Please Me


I've been wanting some easy-to-apply matte foundations - some on the list are Chanel Mat Lumiere and MAC Studio Fix Fluid. Does anyone have any recommendations? :) For those with Mat Lumiere, is it quite similar to the finish of this Illamasqua one?

What base do you use for a polished look? :)

<3yu

A Big Fat "I'm Back!" Haul :)

So why have I been so on-and-off? To explain in short, after moving out from university, I spent 1 week in Malta, 2 weeks with my boyfriend and his family, and 1 week with my family to attend my graduation - and now I am back at my parents' house in Tokyo, Japan :)

During this time I've done some major shopping - some essential bits that you can see here. But I've also really been treating myself to make up for my graduation (OOTD/FOTD post coming soon!) as well as just.. stuff. Haha! So here they are!

The bits I picked up for my graduation were the Illamasqua Rich Liquid foundation, the MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre and NARS blush in Luster :) The MAC 224 was an impulse buy at the airport, when I saw it discounted - it's a brush that I know I will get at one point, so why not at a discount? :P I love the finish it gives to concealer - def a must have!

I went to the Trafford Centre looking for a natural blush for my grad, and I was set on MAC's Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul, but when I swatched it I found it pinkier than what I was looking for, so I gave up and was wandering about NARS when I realised - they're my favourite blushes, so why am I not turning to them?!

NARS Luster is one in a million. It's a gorgeous peach tan with a golden sheen, which works as a 3-in-1 of highlighter, blusher and contour. I absolutely adore this - it's up there with Orgasm and Sin, and is perfect for a tan or a natural glow :) That being said it might have been a bit too sheen-ey for the flash photography at grad - you can be the judge of that in my grad post :D

The palette you see up top is my ArtDeco palette that I got a while ago in my Berlin haul. I photographed it to show you the Camouflage Cream, which is like a concealer, and the beige-ish eyeshadow, both of which my friend Lisa picked up for me while she was in Berlin - they don't disappoint :D Thanks Lisa!

The Illamasqua Rich Liquid foundation was my foundation of choice for my graduation - full coverage, matte, not too expensive, and no SPF. This thing is INDUSTRIAL. I'll do a full post on how I use this and how it turns out,  but you mix it with a face primer, or else it is like.. Sudocrem. That being said - in love :) Just a bit tricky to use!

The lovely 25FLONDON sent me a sample of the much talked about UDPP, but due to incompetent university post room policies, I never got it :( So I went for MAC's Paint Pot in Soft Ochre - because from where I was, Harrod's was closer than Debenham's :P I haven't worn eyeshadow recently, but I can safely say it did the job on the big day :)

Now for the biggy.. the Chanel Poudre Universelle Compacte.

I really really wanted a nice, on-the-go natural powder. My MAC MSFN has been letting me down with the lack of mirror, crumbliness and lack of oil control, the Maybelline Mattifying Powder is atm too light for me, and my all time favourite mattifying powder, the Bourjois Compact, is on the verge of cracking (again). What better excuse to indulge in my first ever Chanel? :)

I was always reluctant to buy something else from Chanel - the packaging is always so gorgeous, so I wanted something that I'd carry around and take out - casually of course ;) HAHAHA (vain!).

The Poudre Universelle Compacte is Chanel's "for everyone" powder, which claims to give a transparent satin finish. Honestly, it does. It's not amazing at oil control but honestly, that's only something I need in the summer and the finish is to die for. So far, I much prefer this to the MAC MSFN, not only because of the more portable-friendly packaging, but because it really does disappear into your skin! Hopefully I will have a full review when I have used it more :) But so far - impressed!

And a sneak peek at my graduation gift to myself..

I try not to add up how much I've spent in this haul :P Anyway, with that - I will be back to regular posting, of both blogs and videos, hopefully for atleast another 2 months :) Thanks for sticking with me guys!

Have you used any of these products?

How have you been?! Let me know! :D

<3yu

Revealed: Birthday Haul :)

Yes, the title's a bit dramatic but I am going to milk the stuffings out of this one as I can't foresee another big haul in the near future - I'm back on my Project Pan! :P

As you may have seen in my birthday post, I got a lot of make up for myself but didn't really tell you what everything was, or show you swatches - yes, that is all part of the milking.

Accessories/Tools..

MAC 129

I got this from Seanna's blogsale, and it's officially called the "Powder/Blush" brush which is a very apt name in my opinion. As I only ever powder my t-zone, the size is perfect for powdering and it also works really well for blush and natural contouring around the face - love.

Quad

Bought mostly for holiday - not a big fan, I find the way you take out eyeshadows quite damaging to the eyeshadow. Also I refuse to use it outside of travelling as I'm convinced the really strong 'clamp!' of closing the thing will loosen eyeshadows over time and make them easier to break.. paranoid? We'll see.. :P

Rediscovering my love for the drugstore..

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder

A mattifying powder was a definite necessity as 1) the warm weather is making me oily quicker and 2) my other 2 mattifying powders have both hit pan and will break instantly if I pop it in my bag/travel with it. I've only used it twice - but am in love.

Eyes..

MAC Brule E/S

I needed a highlight for my new quad and for my holidays, because all of my other highlights are part of other palettes. It's meant to be a satin finish but I think it's quite matte - great for brow highlight :)

MAC Rubenesque PaintPot

A bit of a disappointment - I was hoping for the duo-chrome gold and salmon, but on the eyes it's really just gold. That being said - it's a very pretty gold! So love the colour - it's just not what I wanted. But I love Paint Pots so I don't see myself not getting use out of this :D

MAC Rubenesque Paint Pot

Lips..

L: MAC Honeylove C: MAC Please Me R: MAC Girl About Town

MAC Honeylove

I bought this from Zoe - and while I like the colour, it's just a smidgen warmer than the Faerie Glen from the Tartan Tales collection, so a bit disappointed, as it's 1) a dupe, and 2) not the summer nude I'd hoped for. That being said - atleast I wont be afraid to use up the Faerie Glen ey? :P

MAC Please Me

Favourite of the bunch! Mid-tone, non-nude, warm pink, which on my warm skin, looks cool-toned - I hate it when this happens. That being said, it's bright, but still very appropriate for everyday wear. It's out of my comfort zone as it's pink but I'm learning to like myself in pink :) Love matte finishes!

MAC Girl About Town

Been wanting this for ages, and knowing that, Rachel sold it to me - thank you love! :) Love it - great for those sunny brave days ;)

MAC Jubilee

Never came. Debenhams claimed to have sent it to me but it wasn't in the box, then they offered to send a replacement. The next day they said it was now out of stock and they are now refunding me the 10% off price that I paid for - therefore I can't really get a replacement - absolute bollocks.

Top to Bottom: MAC Honeylove, MAC Please Me, MAC Girl About Town (and imaginary MAC Jubilee. Bastards.)

Cheeks..

L: Illamasqua Creme Blush in Rude, R: NARS Blush in Torrid

Illamasqua Creme Blush in Rude

First off - thoroughly impressed with the packaging. Cheaper than MAC but 100x more detailed/thought-out packaging!

Colour is GORGEOUS. Not a creme-to-powder finish, which preserves the natural look (instead of some blushes that ruin it by making it obvious my cheeks are actually just powder, and ruin that I've not powdered my face), and extremely pigmented - still learning to apply well. Love.

NARS Torrid

So much more buttery-er than Orgasm or Sin, and more of a matte with small gold specks than the sheen of Orgasm (watch video for demo). Finding it hard to work with due to immense pigmentation but that's all part of the fun - VERY pretty and appropriate for summer :) Another love.

Top to Bottom: Illamasqua Creme Blush in Rude, NARS Blush in Torrid.

Overall, a very very VERY loved haul - YAY! :)

Here is a video if you want to know a bit more in detail about what I think about the products. The video includes other products that I got during May, so sorry if it's a bit redundant if you read all my posts :P



What have you gotten recently that you have been loving? :)

<3yu