Monday, March 26, 2012

Sigma Cleansing & Polishing tool - Video review & Product pics

I have been wanting to get a face cleansing brush for a long while. For years I was using FaceShop's face brush for when I need deep cleansing of my face. I just cannot bring myself to purchase something that is above $100 without asking myself  "Is it really worth it? Can I get something similar for a better price? Do I really need it?" etc... When I saw that Sigma makeup came up with a similar product to the infamous Clarisonic cleansing brush, I was pretty excited to try it out, even though I had my doubts!

Finally, made the purchase when they had the free international shipping. Got the Cleansing tool in december last year but started using it only in january.

The Sigma Cleansing & Polishing tool retails for USD$39.00 (LINK).

Here is my video review of this tool.



This is the brush head that I am using for daily facial cleansing.


Never tried this brush head as I think it is too abrasive to the skin.


Same with this brush. Too abrasive.


This brush has made a difference in my overall facial cleansing regime. Honestly, it is worth spending $39.00 for this tool. However, I will still keep an eye out for better cleansing tools.

Hope you are having a lovely weekend!

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Senna Sketch-A-Brow pencil - Swatch and Review

When you ask someone the question "which part of the face is the most important point?" usually they say, it's the eyes/nose/lips. Personally, I think it's the eyebrows. Well groomed eyebrows frame the face and one can always get away with no makeup if one's eyebrows are well groomed. There are many ways to shape eyebrows. I am not talking about threading, waxing or using a tweezer to pluck. What I am talking about is using products to fill them in. I have shown in many of my makeup videos how I fill my eyebrows. Products I use, to mention a few, include Mac dipdown fluidline, H&M brown eyebrow pencil and Senna eyebrow duo.

Here are links to some of the videos and blog posts I have made that are related to eyebrows.
Senna eyebrow duo application - LINK
Mac dipdown fluidline application - LINK
Eyebrow shaping and filling in - LINK

Recently, Senna Sketch-A-Brow pencil (LINK) has become my new favorite. I am using the shade Mink. This is the darkest shade in their range.


As you can see from the above swatch pic, you can build the intensity to suit your natural eyebrow. One stroke for light definition, two strokes for those areas that need more filling in. Multiple strokes for someone who has dark hair and need heavy filling in. I usually use one stroke for my inner half and multiple strokes for the outer half as I don't have much hair there. Since my hair is dark, this method seems to work well.


Do you agree that eyebrows frames the eyes and face or is it just me?

Likes
- Highly pigmented pencil. Don't need much effort to dispense the product.
- Long wearing (I tested it on a rainy day, slept with it on and also cooked - no fading whatsoever)
- The little comb helps to tame the stray hairs.

Dislikes
- None (so far)... :)

Overall
I absolutely adore this eyebrow pencil. It doesn't require sharpening like a conventional eyebrow pencil as it is a retractable. Another benefit is that the tip does not break off easily when applied with a heavy hand (I am heavy handed!).

You can find Senna Cosmetics here (US site) & here (UK site).

What is your favorite eyebrow product?


(Product sent for review purposes.)

Fresh Romantic Beach makeup

I wish I was on a beach watching the sun set sipping a cold young coconut with my husband. Fresh, simple and glowing makeup is what I would wear!





If I get a little tipsy after a couple of cocktails, this is what happens! (Just for laughs!)


Products used are:

FACE
Neutrogena - Ultra sheer sun block
Mac - Prolong wear foundation in NC45
Mac - Prolong wear concealer in NC50
Mac - Blotting powder in dark

EYES
Senna - Sketch A Brow in mink
Urban decay - Primer potion
Urban decay - Naked palette Half baked (lid)
Urban decay - Naked palette Buck (crease)
Urban decay - Naked palette Naked (highlight)
Mac- Feline khol pencil
Inglot - #77 matte gel liner in black
BeautyUk - False lash FX mascara in black
Ebay - False lashes (half lashes for outer part of the lashes)

CHEEKS
Mac - Golden bronze loose powder

LIPS
OCC - Grandma lip tar
Nyx - Mauve lipliner
Elizabeth Arden - eight hour cream (as lip gloss)


Hope you are have a great weekend lovelies!



Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Beauty UK Glam nail polish - Swatch and Review

I recently did a review on Beauty UK False Lash - FX mascara (LINK). Here is another product from them that I have grown to love. 

With Spring & Summer making it's way here in Sweden, I am gravitating towards pastel, bold bright nail colors. When Beauty UK sent me this nail polish I was having a moment of love hate with the color. It's not a color I would go pick out on my own as I am always looking at oranges, pinks and light blues (especially for this season). However, this particular color has grown on me. I just love how it compliments my brown skin tone.  It reminds me of my Army days. The name suits the polish well too 'Urban Jungle' (LINK). 


Likes
- Gorgeous color (must have for brown skin tone divas)
- The polish does not have the cheap strong chemical smell. (Usually that smell gives me a headache)
- It is creme finish nail polish.
- 9ml of product for £1.99 inc. VAT. 


Dislikes
- Applies streaky with one coat. Needs at least two coast for the color to show through.
- Chipped after two days of wear.


Overall
This is a lovely nail polish to own. Perhaps not a love at first sight kinda color but you will come to 
love it eventually. Comes in a petite bottle which will be very handy to bring alone for touch ups when 
traveling. As for it chipping, I experimented using a base and top coat and my nails looked fabulous for 
a good whole week.

What's on your nails now? 

(Product was sent for review purposes)



Sunday, March 11, 2012

Kryolan TV Stick foundation application how to (Heavy makeup not for daily use)

This is a highly requested video by my Youtube viewers. I made a quick video showing how I use this foundation. I would not recommend this for daily use as it is considered heavy makeup. Great for bridal work, parties and stage makeup for makeup artists.


If you find that the foundation is a little too whitish looking, you can always use a darker powder to adjust the color to suit the skin tone. The best way to ensure an even application is to use a damp makeup sponge. You can also use a regular makeup brush but then you will end up with streaks and uneven makeup.

Products used:

FACE
Mufe - HD primer
Kryolan - TV stick foundation FS41
Kryolan - TV stick foundation FS27
Camera ready cosmetics - Yellow loose powder


Hope you find this tutorial useful.

Have a great weekend everyone!


Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Bold greens and orange lips Spring makeup

Bright and bold colors for Spring. Here is a makeup look with greens and orange.




Products used:

FACE
Mufe - HD primer
Kryolan TV stick - FS41 & FS27
Camera ready cosmetics - Yellow loose powder

EYES
Mac - Painterly paint pot
Mac - Moss scape paint pot
Sugarpill - Midori e/s
Inglot - Matte green e/s
Mac - Saffron e/s
Mac - Ricepaper e/s
Inglot - #77 Matte gel liner
Elle 18 - Kajal liner
Senna cosmetics - Sketch a brow liner in mink
Beauty UK - False lash FX mascara

CHEEKS
La femme - Soft Beige blush
Nars - Taj Mahal blush
Mac - Ricepaper e/s

LIPS
OCC - Betty Peige lip tar
OCC - Safety orange lip tar

Video tutorial

Thanks for coming by, hope your week is going well.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Beauty UK False Lash FX - Swatch and Review

Beautyuk (LINK) is a UK family owned company which offers quality makeup at affordable prices. This brand can be found at Superdrug stores in UK or for International customers you can buy their products online (LINK). I must say, their shipping charges are very affordable compared to other UK based online stores. 

I was sent the following product for review purposes. As always, I put the products to test and give my honest opinion.

Beautyuk False Lash - FX (LINK)


This is in the shade Black. As described in the packaging, it's a false lash effect volume mascara.


The wand is long, rubberized and the mascara brush has two sides with short and long bristles, respectively. I suppose the side with the short bristle is like a comb where it will distribute the product to the lashes without clumps. The longer bristle side will give you volume. I personally found that the shorter bristles worked well for my lower lashes and the longer bristles for my upper lashes.  


In the 'After' pic, see how the mascara has changed the appearance of my lashes. This is after applying two coats. For being an inexpensive mascara, I like how my lashes look. In fact, it reminds me of Mac False lashes mascara (less the clumps of course).


Likes
- Inexpensive mascara that delivers.
- The bristles are lovely. Short side for lower lashes and longer side for upper lashes.
- The wand is long thus I have better control and don't have to worry about smudging the mascara all over my eyes. (However, this is personal preference!)
- It's build-able in terms of how thick and voluminous you want your lashes to appear.
- Not clumpy at all.

Dislikes
- Not waterproof, so be prepared for the mascara to travel around the eye region after a couple of hours of wear or if you have watery eyes.
- Not pigmented enough. (I like my mascara super duper black, another personal preference!)

Overall
For being a drugstore product (at least in the UK), it delivers good results. I really like the shape of the wand. Makes mascara application less complicated.

Has anyone of you tried this mascara? If so, what are your thoughts?



(Product was sent for review purposes.)



Friday, March 2, 2012

Lakme Eye quartet - Swatch and Review

While shuffling through my makeup collection, I re-discovered my lakme eye quartets. They really need more love from me. I usually buy them when I am in Singapore.

Lakme is an Indian cosmetics/beauty brand. You can read more about them here (<= Click link).

See below for swatches for the 8 eye quartets I own. I am sure this will be useful for those who are interested in purchasing them. Here is an online store (<= Click link) that sells lakme cosmetics and ships worldwide. I have never bought anything from them yet however, I might do so soon.











Likes
- I like the color combinations of the individual quartets/palettes.
- Most of the eyeshadows are shimmery or satin finish.
- Affordable quartets/palettes. (I bought these at SGD$8.90 in Singapore Jothi store in Little India)
- The eyeshadows tend to last for up to 8 hours if the used with a eye primer.
- Many Mac e/s dupes found in the quartets/palettes.

Dislikes
- Not many matte shadows. (Moon dust quart has white and black e/s with matt finishes.)
- Some of the shadows are crumbly and flakey.

Overall
I like these palettes very much if not I would not have collected 8 of them so far. They are great for traveling as you can use just one palette for different looks. Even though some of the eyeshadows are crumbly, I usually use a sponge tip applicator to make them work.

I have used Silk Route eye quartet in a Video tutorial where I used sponge tip applicator to apply the eyeshadows.


I have also used Desert Rose in an older video.



Do you own any of the above quartets/palettes?