ELF : Eyebrow kit in Dark

There is one physical aspect I always whine about...my thin fine, limp hair and lack of dense eyebrows.
Yes, my eyebrows are real sparse and major fail when I am trying to do any look.

I can't do much to fix my thin, limp hair but I can always get something to fill in my eyebrows.
There are 2 ways how I fill my eyebrows

• Eyeshadow
• ELF Eyebrow kit

Today, I shall talk about ELF Eyeshadow kit. I recently bought this from Crush Cosmetics.
It comes in 3 shades, but I wasn't sure which one to go for as I couldn't find any NC 40 - NC42 blogger either reviewing or swatching it. So, I went with the darkest shade.

There are 2 parts in it and comes with a dual ended brush

• Wax
• Setting Powder

How I use it : I used the angled brush to pick the wax and fill in eyebrows in the direction of natural hair growth.Once that's done, I pick some powder using the softer end and press it on the wax.
Now, here you have to be careful as the powder when combined with wax gives real intense color. So less is more with the setting powder

Would I recommend it : Yes, but check the swatches before buying it.

Updated :  With pictures

Eyebrows before using the kit

Eyebrows after using the kit

MAC Surf Baby Powerpoint EyePencil : Blue Noon

Even before I go in details of this little beauty from MAC Surf Baby Collection, let me tell you that this the 2nd Blue Noon pencil I have got from this collection. Yes, I love it so much !!

Color : Its a teal color with more blue. The beauty of a color like this one is that it can be used to brighten any eye look or just a splash of cool color on a hot summer day.
Its a beautiful color, but goes a little sheer but still enough pigmentation to get the look in 1-2 strokes

Texture : Smooth and creamy but still hold the shape while lining.

Would I recommend it : Oh yeah...didn't I say this is the 2nd Blue Noon. Although having said that, its not a must have , its more for girls who like their blues and greens

Review : MAC Face & Body Foundation

As part of my foundation trials,today, I will share my opinion on MAC Face & Body foundation

Colour I was matched to : C4

What I liked about it:

•  Although it looks to have grey tones in bottle but it matches me perfectly
•  Coverage is real good
•  Its transfer resistant
•  Its long wearing.

What I didn't like about it:

•   Its dries real fast. So you need to be real quick with blending. Its slightly easier if you have a primer.
•   I found it drying without hydrating primer. But its perfectly okay when worn with primer.

Will I Buy it : It depends on how other foundations perform

Another word of advice, try not to buy foundation without trialling it first.

Review : Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Foundation

For past few months I have been trialling some foundations. I had got all of them as samples from the department store
The ones I trialled are

•  Estee Lauder
•  MAC Face & Body Foundation
•  Chanel Vitalumiere Satin

Today, I will share my opinion on EL Double Wear Light Foundation

Colour I was matched to : No.3

What I liked about it:

•  The color is perfect match
•  Coverage is real good and little goes long way
•  Its transfer resistant
•  Its long wearing. It has lasted whole 10 hours of wear both with and without primer

What I didn't like about it:

 I found it drying without hydrating primer. Okay, you need to realise that I have dry skin and I don't like
things which cling to skin.
But its perfectly okay when worn with primer.


Will I Buy it : It depends on how other foundations perform

Kiehl's Gives Again

Kiehl's has done it again. As part of their 160th Birthday celebration they have kicked off a philanthropic initiative,KiehlsGives on 15th June.

Kiehl's have pledged $160,000 to 24 charities worldwide for following 3 causes each with 8 charities

• Children's Well Being
• Environment
• HIV/AIDS

Each of these causes would be represented by one of the Kiehl's Global Ambassador.
Julianne Moore would represent 'Children's Well Being', Pharrell Williams for 'Enviroment' and Scissor Sisters will be face of HIV/AIDS pillar

And what can we do to help them in this cause - We helps Kiehls decide which charity gets the much needed help.

Its very simple

• Log in to KiehlsGives
• View videos on each of the cause
• Vote on which cause is most important to you

The voting has already started and will continue till 31st August. And one can vote more than once.

So,beauties, lets get moving and do our bit for such a great initiative. 3 easy steps is all it takes.

MAC Surf Baby : Mocha

MAC repromoted Mocha lipstick from its Mickey Contractor Collection. Since I had missed out on the MC collection, I decided to get it from this release.

Finish : Satin

Color : Its a medium dark brown with a tones of red. Its a beautiful shade which would complement any olive tonned beauty.

Pigmentation : Having Satin finish means that the color payoff is great, one swipe is all you need to get the color.

Now, to what I didn't like about this lipstick. In fact its not about this lipstick its about the Satin Finish in MAC as such. Oh MAC !! why should you have just timeless colors in ever drying, line enhancing finish/formulation. First Twig now Mocha...no no its not fair...

If only this lipstick was not drying( my husband said "Lines on your lips are looking so obvious") it was a complete winner.

Would I recommend it : Yes because of color. A lip primer can take care of the lines and a gloss would handle the dryness.

I have compared the swatch with Face of Australia Mineral Shine Lipstick, First Kiss in below picture.I wouldn't say they are similar but First Kiss with a reddish brown lipliner might work the trick

NOTD: Nicole By OPI City Pretty Rose

Remember my last post on Nicole By OPI.
True to my words, I returned back for more.

What I like about it :

• Color.Its hot barbie pink without looking too over the top.
• Formula. Cream finish and opaque in 2 coats
• Wear.This picture was taken after 3 days of wear and household chores(including dish washing). As you can see there is only slight fading at the tips
• Like the previous nail paint, this dries super fast.

What I don't like about it :

      Nothing..I love it

MAC Eye Kohl in Teddy

With MAC releasing so many collection one hardly gets a chance to look at their permanent collection. So, while browsing through MAC counter in Chadstone, I came across this little gem,an eye kohl in dark chocolate brown .

Its a basic dark brown eyeliner , which stays put when applied on upper lash line. Its very creamy in texture which means no dragging or pulling of eyelid while applying it.

An easy option when I want to do no fuss eye look.

I think I shop too much..

Okay, please don't think that I am bragging about all the shopping I have done. I am doing this post more in an attempt to keep a check on my lemmings and their conversion to quick depleting bank balance. It seems ( in fact it is true) that I have got an insatiable desire for shopping and I feel I need every product which is raved about.
And somehow I find ways to rationalise the shopping also.

So, I have decided to do posts on whatever I have shopped in a month and then view it before buying any more.
I will also do post on any slip ups...its more like putting myself out there to be corrected.

I personally think, it would help me, if I can see  my previous shopping ( and not think in my head, that I haven't bought anything for long) before doing any more.
Again, please don't mistake this as bragging, I am really try to fix something here.

Here, is all the shopping I have done in month of June till now.

I got these from Priceline 50% off Bourjois Sale.
Items in pics

• Healthy Mix Gel Serum Foundation in no. 56
• 3D lipgloss in no.04
• Felt Tip Liner in black
• Duochrome eyeliner in no.57
• Sweet Kiss Lipstick in Rose Corset
• Ultra Shine Nail Polish in Cerise Noir
• Anti Choc No Chips Nail Polish

Items are

• Nivea Creme in Tin
• Nivea Creme in tub
• Cutex 2 in 1 base coat
• Face Of Australia Nail Polish Remover

They are 3 eyeshadows from theBalm.

2 nail paints from Nicole By OPI

Items are

• MAC Powerpoint Pencil in Blue Noon from Surf Baby Collection
• MAC Satin finish lipstick in Mocha

Estee Lauder nailpaint in Sizzling Taupe

Other items which were purchased but I couldn't take their pics

• Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater Hand & Body Lotion
• Crabtree & Evelyn Lip Butter
• Crush Cosmetics 120 eyeshadows palette
• Elf angled eye brush
• Elf blush brush
• Elf eyebrow kit
• Inglot eyeliner in navy blue
• Chanel nailpaint in Morning Rose from Spring/Summer 2011 collection
• Chanel Coco Shine in Bonheur

Now, that I have this here, I am going to refer to it before I have lemming for another hand cream or nail paint...

Edit : Not everything was bought in one go...it was over a span of 2 weeks

Face Of Australia : Mineral Lip Shine

Today, I feature 4 shades from Face Of Australia (FOA) Mineral Lip Shine.

As per FOA its a perfect go between natural lip color - not sticky or shiny like a lip gloss and not heavy as a lipstick. It has no synthetic dyes and antioxidants and skin hydrating ingredients

The 4 colors which were sent for consideration are

• First Kiss

        


            Its cream finish nude which worked perfectly for me. In fact I have been pairing it quite often with  smokey eye look. Its quite moisturising although not that long lasting ,but then I don't mind reapplying it.
I recommend it highly if you are looking for a nude color

• Beach House

            Its a frosty finish with hints for brown . I was very iffy while giving it a try since I am not much into frosty finish. But I was pleasantly surprised at the finished look

• Fairy Floss

             Its again a frosty finish with pink mauvish tones. Now this was the surprise in pack. I wasn't expecting it to work with my pigmented lips, but voila, it looked so great that I can see myself wearing this alot on hot summer days

• Love Bite

            Its cream finish deep brown color with red undertones. If you are not comfortable wearing dark colors then this is a good place to start. Again, I have been wearing this quite often during this winter

Overall :
They are very hydrating lip shines and don't settle in lines. The color pay off is sheer but the cream finish ones can be built up easily.

They retail at $12.95 AUD at Priceline, KMart, Big W and Selected Pharmacies

Disclaimer : The product was sent for consideration but the opinions are mine

Indian Bridal Look

Inspired by all the lovely FOTDs done in challenge, I thought to try some new look yet something which I could pull off. So I pulled out my wedding album and created the Indian Bridal look.
Note: The post is picture heavy as I got camera happy and went on taking multiple pics

Products Used

Face :

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Barcelona
MAC Peachtwist as Blush
MAC Cream Color Base in Improper Copper as highlight
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in  Warm Natural

Eyes:

UDDP as base
MAC Tan pigment all over eyelid
MAC Cranberry Eyeshadow in outer 2/3rd of eye
MAC Folie in crease
MAC Embark in outer corner
MAC Texture to blend the harsh edges
NARS Bali to fill my eyebrows
Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner in black
Australis TLC Mascara
Chanel Kohl in Noir

Lips:

Revlon Colorburst lipstick in Crimson
MAC Cream Color Base in Improper Copper in centre of lips

Swatch : Lancome Mercier Blush Subtil Rose Sable 02

Lancome Mercier Blush Subtil Rose Sable 02 was another star in my Strawberrynet haul.

Its a very nice dusty rose color which would suit olive complexion alot. Its a powder blush with loads of pigmentation and very easy to blend.

I will try to incorporate this in one of my looks and do a post again