Last week I asked people on Twitter if they had any requests or suggestions for upcoming posts/videos that I could pop in my new blog notebook, and the one I'm taking up today is one I got from Kelly at A Blog of Vain Pleasures who suggested a post on my favourite fall blushes - but I struggle to distinguish between fall and winter when it comes to make-up so I decided to just merge them! So here they are :)
This is one I haven't really talked about a lot, but have used on several occasions and all for the same reason - its subtlety. In the autumn and winter time, I always tend to go a bit heavier on the eyes, or heavier on the lips, so something really subtle and not too showy is perfect - like a matte brown/pinky peach :)
Do I really need to say more? :P It's the perfect natural pink on the cheeks, which is a step up from Buff in terms of subtlety. Yes it does have shimmer, but when you still want to add some colour to your face, say if you also have a nude lip, this is perfect!
This is a great fall/winter blush, not only because of the nature of it being such a unique mauvey shade, but also because it doubles as a contour. Sometimes bronzers/contour can feel a bit out of place in the winter so this is a great 2-in-1, as well as being such an essential colour to have for this season ;) I also assume that I don't need to reiterate my love for NARS blush formulas ;P
Left to Right: NARS Sin, MAC Buff, Benefit Bella Bamba.
Some runners up would definitely be MAC Melba or Benefit Coralista - something peachy to add some warmth if you are wearing lots of cool tones, but subtle enough again to not take away from accent lips or eyes.
I think missing from my collection is a super light baby pink! I do have Well Dressed but it tends to pull redder and darker on me, so I'm hoping to maybe go for Illamasqua Katie or the MAC Azalea Blossom Ombre blush which they are releasing in a collection in January - step aside ladies, if I don't get my hands on this, I will be very grumpy! Jk ;) Not really.
What are you favourite fall/winter blushes? :)
The products are linked to places you can buy these - both Debenham's and ASOS have a free delivery option, and the former has 10% off atm! :)
Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while know that NARS Orgasm is one of my favourite blushes. And when Benefit Bella Bamba came along, I thought - it looks so similar, I wont bother. But the colour was just so pretty and it was always on the back of my mind!
Since I got hold of Bella Bamba a few weeks back, I find myself choosing between the two on a daily basis, and I wondered - are they really that different enough that I would choose one over the other? Actually, they are!
You couldn't REALLY tell from the above comparison, except that Orgasm has more of an in-your-face golden sheen, while Bella Bamba seems to have miniscule silver glitters, and lean a bit more peach.
When swatched, you can REALLY tell the difference. Orgasm leans quite peach and in real life a bit redder in comparison to Bella Bamba. Bella Bamba is more hot pink, and not very warm-toned at all!
The sheen is also very different, in that Orgasm is gold with little glitters and a slight sheen, whereas Bella Bamba has a very in-your-face silver sheen with subtler silver glitters.
So even if I started this post not really knowing why on certain days I fancied one over the other - maybe I could subconsciously tell the difference! :P I think Bella Bamba has become the "pink" blush where Orgasm I will categorize in the "subtle pink" category from now on!
I do think though that if you like one of them, you will also like the other, as honestly on the cheeks they are not the most distinct. But at the same time, I think if you are an avid lover of blushers like I am, there's definitely no consequence in owning both! ;)
Last night I touched down at Heathrow Airport and I am now officially done living out of a suitcase for a while! I've finally got myself to a room that I can call my own for the next year, here in Central London :) (I know, my wallet is quivering at the thought!)
I am so excited to be settled down again, especially in a new place with a new life - the boy is now a working man, and lives on the other side of London, and I am starting my masters degree in a week's time :) I do love my family, but I'm not one for homesickness so that part's never been an issue luckily :) I've also missed being able to blog and YouTube in a routine kind of, pattern-y way, and as much as I enjoyed trying out products I don't see on the blogosphere (keep your eyes out for Japan haul :)), I'm also thankful for the cheaper high-end prices and being able to get my hands on hypes that I couldn't access in Japan!
So yes, I'm glad to be back! :)
So this is where the blogging and YouTubing will be from now on (bar December, when I'll be back in Japan - again!), and with the great big window I know photographing/video-ing will be a lot easier! I've also got 2 closets, a full-sized mirror and the fashion inspiration of the whole of London so I may even venture into OOTDs :)
Now to explain the last half of the title - yes I'm finally NAKED!
The boyfriend was an absolute babe and accepted parcels for me while I was away :) He also got me the Marie Claire and InStyle from last month, so I've got those nailpolishes to try out too! So while I did feel quite bad here are the bits I just couldn't resist! ;P
Top Left: NARS Dogon
Centre: Urban Decay Naked Palette
Top Right: Clarins Lip Perfector
I wore the Naked Palette today and I can say it's really quite nice! I still need to experiment more before I find something I really like, but for now I've got Toasted all over the lid with Hustle in the outer corner :)
The Clarins Lip Perfector is love. It's a perfect balmy gloss, that evens out your lips and makes them look polished and lovely :)
I haven't tried NARS Dogon yet but I may after I have a full cleanse today!
Those are the views from my room :) Not bad ey?! (Spot the angry woman on the park bench lol)
Anyway today I'm going to try and unpack, meet some people around my halls and hopefully get out to Oxford Street to do a bit of essentials shopping - Liz Earle, MAC and Boots are sure stops :)
Hope you guys have all been well - if you know any great spots in Central London, please let me know! I am still a Warwickshire country bumpkin at heart! ;)
We all do it - we overpack when we're going somewhere, and we still manage to forget things or not think of a situation that may require different/more make up - am I right? :P I've definitely had that these past few weeks, and sure there have been several products I thought "dang, I wish I had that with me!", but there have been a couple that I thought that on several occasions!
Here are probably the ones I've thought of the most..
NARS Sin
(I thought it was an autumn/winter colour but it'd be a nice natural accent on the face when I'm not wearing e/s and having a tan. Pinks/corals makes me look a be clowny atm..)
28 Neutral Palette
(I want this for highlighting - not liking MAC Brule very much - and for matte light browns!)
Lipbalms
(I only brought my Body Shop Lip Roll On, which is lovely - but it's a bit wet. I miss that balmy feel! The ones in particular that I miss are the BodyShop Born Lippy, the LipIce ones and the Burt's Bees.)
OPI Coney Island Cotton Candy (centre)
(A sheer nude that when you have long nails, can make you look like you have french nails - compliments the lightness of summer! I've only got cream/opaque or bright colours atm!)
MAC Style
(Like I said, corals and pinks can look a bit clowny on me at, but MAC Style is relatively sheer - so it'd be a nice wash of colour on my cheeks right about now :( )
Sigma F80 (right)
(Getting a bit sick of applying foundation with my hands - it can get a bit dirty, and I always have to be cautious about streaks! At the same time, I'm not quite sure how often I would've used it cuz it doesn't seem to work with my Diorskin Forever.)
Pirates of the Caribbean Box Set
(It's not make up but I've watched this set more times than I care to mention - atm I only have the third one, because it was what was in my laptop when I left the UK and as much as I love the film, it's getting a bit repetitive.. AND my favourite one is the second one.)
and finally..
Dior Amber Diamond
(No, I'm not quite sure you can miss something you never had - but I miss having a shimmery white highlight for my inner corner, and I miss highlighting my cheek bones. I actually only have 1 e/s shimmery highlight and 1 powder highlight and that one can look quite white on me when I'm tan, so I'm thinking it would be wise to invest in this at a early stage so I don't spend so much finding the perfect one. I've swatched it and it was a bit shimmery but I reckon it's cuz your finger picks up a lot! Other than that I thought it was perfect, esp cuz I've heard it can be used as eyeshadow too! So I'm debating using some vouchers to get this baby.. of course, after I try it on my face :))
A bit of a self-ramble there at the end, lol, oops. But I'm thinking this is proof that all these products are, or have been at one point, some of my favourite products, as I don't need to see them to think about them and how good they are, and they just pop into mind when you want something in particular!
It sucks, but it's also a good feeling cuz you know you've got some gems in your collection :)
What products have you missed when you were out and about? :)
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? :)
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!
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? :)
A few days ago, when I realised that I had just ordered my third NARS blush ever, I thought - why do I keep going back to NARS? Believe it or not, 3 is the most I have out of any brand of blushers! They're the most expensive blusher that I own and they don't have the biggest colour range ever - so why them?
So I sat down and came up with a few things (excluding packaging because I'm just cosmetics-superficial like that) that makes me go back to them:
1. Practical colours.
2. Value for money.
3. Natural finish.
Practical Colours:
Yes, there aren't a lot of colours in their range - there's about 26 powder blushes, which is nothing compared to MAC's 50 billion (a slight guestimate there). But I think their trick is in the fact that they have the practical variations of pinks, peaches, tans and mauves, with various finishes.
They don't bother with the 3 shades of mauve that are only sliiiiightly different from each other. They give you choices that are practical, and it's very easy to choose between shades because they are different enough.
Also, 26 is a lot less overwhelming than the miniature blusher staircase that MAC displays often come across as (although this has its benefits when you have something specific in mind!). I do feel that the reason why I only have 1 MAC blush is that I never know which one to choose! There's so many nuances and finishes that sometimes I'm just like - screw it.
(L: Sin, R: Orgasm)
2. Value for Money
Yes, I've just said that NARS blushers, at £20.50 a pop, are the most expensive blushers I own - but how often have you seen a NARS blusher that has hit pan? I think I've seen about 2 on the whole of YouTube and Blogger (*cough* Roseanne *cough* TiffanyD). I use the least dense blusher brush for these blushes, and tap on the product, because otherwise I'd look like a clown, which is proof to the fact that these will last you FOREVER, and that the £20.50 is an investment (that being said, you're screwed if you end up with a colour you don't like - so choose wisely!)
Now, I don't own the overly glittery or the matte blushers from NARS, but I can say that Sin and Orgasm are some of the most natural blushers I own. By natural I don't mean the shade (well I do, but that's not the point here), but the finish - it doesn't cake, it's not powdery, and it doesn't defeat the purpose of me using a 'second skin' foundation. Sometimes, I find that blushers do that, by making it obvious that you've got a layer of powder on your skin. It definitely lets my skin show through, which I think is crucial for a natural look, that people often forget because there's a general stereotype that pigmented = better.
(L: Sin, R: Orgasm)
So yes. I fully recommend NARS blushers, and think they deserve the hype that they get - especially the ones you see above there. I do love them, as they are my 2 go-to blushers for the respective colour category (mauve and pink!)
Do you like NARS blushers?
Which NARS blushers do you love, or want in the future? :)
..do you say blushers or blushes? :S Which is correct?!
Keep your eyes peeled for a post on my 3rd NARS blusher..blushes..(?) ;)
I've finally done it girls. I've got one of the biggest cult items on YouTube/Blogger - the NARS Orgasm blush :)
When I first saw it I was surprised at how bold and bright it was! I'd heard that it was an everyday blush, so I was thinking it would be something more tame.. yeah, no.
Not the best picture, especially cuz I'm not wearing proper foundation in this picture (a third year student in the period before deadlines and exams usually doesn't..) so I didn't have as smooth of a canvas as I usually do, but I really really liked the colour! :)
Sure there's a bit of a gold sheen that everyone that doesn't like Orgasm (who doesn't? Har har har, bad joke) freak out about, but I don't see it being any more frostier than the Frost blushes from MAC, like one of my faves, Style.
I'm really excited to try this out over time, and see if I'm in the O-camp or the Deep Throat-camp - or both?! :) EEP I'M SO EXCITED, I feel like a proper blogger/YouTuber now that I have a cult product hahaha -lame person right here-.
Are you an NARS Orgasm hater or lover? What are your favourite cult products? :)
I think I may be a lover :P
<3yu
P.S. Quick question to those of you who have bought a NARS product recently - do you find the 'NARS' on the front is bigger and the edges are squared as opposed to rounded? Mine is, do companies change these kinds of things a lot? :/ I bought this Orgasm from ASOS so I'm assuming it's genuine..
I know I JUST did a post on this duo yesterday (which you can find here), but after writing that, I was determined to make it work. And this is what I came up with:
Products Used:
- Benefit Stay Don't Stray Primer
- NARS Taiga Eyeshadow
- Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in Hazel
- Rimmel Soft Kohl Eyeliner in Black
- Maybelline Falsies Mascara in Black
- ELF Studio Blush in Tickled Pink
- Rimmel Sunshimmer Bronzer in Medium Matte
- ELF Complexion Perfection Powder
- MAC Creme Cup
It seems kind of obvious now that I think about it, but I started off by putting the darker colour of the duo all over the lid, then patting the lighter colour lightly on top in the inner 2/3 of the lid - it now makes sense and works perfectly that the colours are relatively sheer!
I then applied another layer of the darker colour in the crease to darken it, and blended it out towards the socket. Then I used the lighter colour to highlight my brow bone. This helped the flatness that I experienced when I didn't mix the two colours and used the lighter colour for both the highlight and the all over lid colour.
Although the picture doesn't do justice to the colours (and it's a lot darker in real life), I still would maintain that the colours lose their warmth on my skin. There is no hint of the yellow in either colours when I apply them - it looks more of like an off-white and a dark forest green grey on me.
Here's the 2 colours if you forgot what they look like :)
I think if I had the choice of using a colour outside of this quad, I'd use something like MAC's Mulch for the outer corner and something like a matte beige to blend out the green. I think this would bring back some warmth in the look. Will continue to experiment :)
So the duo wasn't exactly what I thought it would be, but I really like it. I can see myself wearing this a lot more in the autumn and the winter, and on nights out as well :)
