Purples and Periwinkles

Here's a purple look I used with my DreamWorld mineral foundation in mostly Theia (90% Theia and just 10% Tethys). It does look dark, though. I guess more Tethys in the mix next time! I also used my favorite mineral eyeshadows from Valerie Beauty, and this time I chose Periwinkle Sky and $400 Shoes. I just love the combination of these two lilac colors. I added my favorite purple pigment, MAC Grape, as a crease color. I'm sleepy so I guess it's time to shut up. I'll just let the pictures do the talking.


Sorry for the uneven brows, they will be waxed pretty soon!









Eyes:
MAC Beige-ing shadestick as base on lid and lower lashline
Valerie Beauty mineral eyeshadow in Periwinkle Sky foiled on crease
Valerie Beauty mineral eyeshadow in $400 Shoes applied dry inner to mid lid
MAC eyeshadow in Cassette (from Heatherette Trio #2) on outer lid and outer lower lashline
MAC pigment in Grape on crease
MAC eyeshadow in Baby Petals (Heatherette Trio #2) to highlight, inner lower lashline and inner corners
Indelible gel liner in Black Out

Face:
Camellia Rose skin smoothing primer
DreamWorld mineral foundation in Theia and Tethys (90-10 mix)
Physician's Formula mineral concealer
Bare Escentuals Well Rested
Bare Escentuals mineral veil
MAC beauty powder blush in Secret Beauty

Lips:
MAC lipliner in Whirl
MAC lipstick in Brave
MAC lustreglass in Flusterose

Why I Should Stop Buying Lipstick

I have a 10-drawer hardwood dresser where I keep my makeup stash as well as some of my favorite personal items like back-up body butters, body scrubs, false lashes, perfumes and what-not. I keep my lipsticks and glosses in transparent drinking glasses in one of the drawers (making it look as similar as possible to the glass beakers MAC uses to store its tester lip stuff). As I trudged along my morning makeup routine, however, I noticed that the transparent glasses were getting harder and harder to use each day. I had to go through several glasses just to find the lipstick/lipgloss that I wanted. This weekend, however, I was shopping at Target with the whole family when I came across this at the dollar bin:


It's a tin pail that is as big as the pails used by toddlers for their sandbox activities. Underneath it, you can see my craft boxes holding my full-size mineral eyeshadows (that is an altogether different story, though - more of those in another entry). I figured since this has a bigger circumference/diameter, it can hold more lipsticks/glosses and thus eliminates the hassle of scrounging for lipsticks in different containers.


Hmm, this would work, I think. This holds part of my MAC lipglass collection. C-thru is sticking out of the pail because it just wouldn't fit anymore - but I wanted C-thru in this group, dammit! Yes, all are still fresh, wearable and still have the sweet vanilla scent; I chuck out rancid lipglass regularly.


Two pails of MAC lipsticks


Overflow of MAC lipglasses and non-MAC glosses (Lumiere, Aromaleigh, J.Lynne, Monave, and I think I see one Revlon)


My two lipgloss/lipglass pails


Closer look of the top pail: it holds my MAC eye kohls, some lipliners and overflow MAC and SN lipsticks

Ahh, these tin pails make my life so much more manageable! And yes, once you start needing pails to store your lip stuff, it's about time to stop buying lipstick/lipgloss. *thinks about MAC's upcoming collections and Silk Naturals' new glosses and slaps self*

Neutrals, Oranges, and Greens

I have amassed quite a bit of FOTDs lately as I have been either too lazy or too tired to post them. As a result, I think (I hope not) I have forgotten some of the products I used for these. I remember vividly though the foundations I used for these looks: Joppa, DreamWorld, and Meow (with a layer of Oceanmist underneath). I love these brands as they control my oilies and yet do not make my skin super dry. I am always amazed by the ultra-smooth finish these foundations give.

For this first look, I used my limited edition and rare MAC eyeshadow in Sunplosion for the first time. Yes, the first time. I'd wanted to really pack it on so that the beautiful vividness of the coppery orange could be seen, but I didn't have the time. Also, I didn't want to wear a very bright eye look for work, so this would have to do. I did commit a cosmetic mortal sin, though - I totally forgot to put on (the horror!) - mascara! I was such in a hurry that it completely slipped my mind. I know, eye makeup without mascara looks funky to say the least - but hey, nobody's perfect!







Eyes:
MAC Beige-ing shadestick as base on lid
MAC eyeshadow in Cosmic on lid
MAC pigment in Sunplosion on crease, above crease and outer lid
MAC Bronze eyeshadow outer V and crease
MAC Vanilla pigment to highlight and on inner corners
Indelible gel liner in Chocolate Mousse

Face:
Camellia Rose skin smoothing primer
Joppa Full Coverage foundation in Light #3
Mary Kay undereye concealer in Ivory topped with
Bare Escentuals Well Rested
Lumiere Pure Silk powder in Sand
Lumiere silk blush in Au Naturale
MAC Sculpt powder to contour

Lips:
MAC lipliner in Whirl
MAC lipstick in Honey Moon
MAC lipglass in 1N

Here's a green look featuring some of my MAC aquas and greens that I've been neglecting recently. I can't believe I've forgotten how buttery smooth these glide on my lids and staying power and color pay-off are amazing as always. I used Surreal on the lid, Guacamole mid-lid, Humid and Greensmoke on crease and outer V. I used Vanilla pigment to highlight and on inner corners, and Nightfish fluidline. I used my favorite DreamWorld mineral foundation mix in Theia and Tethys. This time, since I am getting a bit darker, I used a teensy weensy amount of Tethys and added some more Theia.







Face:
Camellia Rose skin smoothing primer
DreamWorld mineral foundations in Theia and Tethys (80-20 mix) (Luna formula)
Mary Kay undereye concealer in Ivory topped with
Bare Escentuals Well Rested
Lumiere Pure Silk powder in Sand
Cory mineral blush in Spiced Plum
MAC Sculpt powder to contour

Lips:
I forget!

Finally, here's a neutral look using Franchesca's (Adorned With Minerals) eyeshadows and Oceanmist foundation in Dandelion for my first layer, then Meow Flawless Feline foundation in Naughty Abyssinian as my second layer. This is my first time to mix (well, layer) two different brands together and it wasn't a disaster, IMO. I used Lumiere's Pure Silk finishing powder in Sand over it. I applied Lumiere blush in Au Naturale to finish the look





Eyes:
MAC Beige-ing shadestick as base on lid
Adorned With Minerals shadow in Pearl Latte foiled on lid
Adorned with Minerals shadow in Sugared Mulberry foiled on outer V
Adorned with Minerals shadow in Dutch Chocolate on crease
MAC shadows in Nylon and Ricepaper to highlight and on inner corners
MAC Nightfish fluidline

Lips:
MAC cremestick liner in Beurre
Silk Naturals lipstick in Bliss
MAC lipglass in White Magic

MAC Skinsheen

Pale legs and summer are the perfect combination...NOT! Get sexy tanned gams, pronto!









A sprayable lightweight gel that unlike your fancy, never drifts. Brushes lightly and flawlessly over the skin… undetectable.
For the ultimate secret application and smoothest sheen,
try the 179 Body Buffer Brush. Skinsheen leg spray applies like
a soft mousse to provide a quick, highly blendable application
of colour to legs, arms, shoulders and décolletage.


Skinsheen Leg Spray
Medium Sheer soft golden caramel with soft gold nuances (International Only)
Medium Dark Sheer soft bronze with golden tan pearl
Dark Golden bronze
Deep Dark Deep warm bronze with rich golden pearl
Suggested Retail Price: $22.50 U.S./$27.50 CDN

Brush
179 Body Buffer
Suggested Retail Price: $52.00 U.S./$62.50 CDN

Available
May 2008 at all M·A·C locations
1.800.387.6707 and www.maccosmetics.com

MAC Naughty Nauticals Collection





The fun pre-summer collection is here!

The ship’s in port and she’s out cruising for romance. Her looks:
uniformly chic, superbly shipshape through an alluring fleet of
pinks, corals, reds and bell-bottom blues, and the deepest, bluest,
navy Nail Lacquer seen this side of Marseilles. In style and desire,
she's poised, perfect ready for her evening cruise.





Lipstick
Buoy-o-Buoy Creamy neutral pink brown (lustre)
Port Red Clean yellow red with gold pearl (frost)
Party Mate Sheer mid-tone pink (lustre)
Ahoy, there! Sheer light dirty pink with multi-dimensional pearl (glaze)
Suggested Retail Price: $14.00 U.S./$16.50 CDN

Lustreglass
Hey Sailor Blue plum pink with white pearl flecks (lustre)
Love Knot Sheer pink with blue & white duo chrome (lustre)
Bateaux Neutral brown peach with white frost (lustre)
Ensign Peachy pink with white and gold pearl (lustre)
Suggested Retail Price: $14.00 U.S./$16.50 CDN

Small Eye Shadow
Shore Leave Pale frosty cream (veluxe pearl)
Illegal Cargo Mid-tone frosty grayed plum (frost)
Meet the Fleet Matte midnight blue (matte)
Pandamonium Frosty gunmetal with white pearl (lustre)
Submarine Mid-tone frosty clear blue (frost)
Suggested Retail Price: $14.00 U.S./$16.50 CDN

Pigment
Lark About Sheer frosty white blue (frost)
Mutiny Clean sky blue with gold pearl (frost)
Bell-Bottom Blue Frosty blue with white pearl (frost)
Lovely Lily Dirty lilac with red pearl
Suggested Retail Price: $19.50 U.S./$23.50 CDN

Technakohl
Smoothblue Ocean blue with frost
Greyprint Rich pewter grey with frost
Suggested Retail Price: $13.50 U.S./$16.00 CDN

Pro Lash
Coal Black Honest-to-goodness-black
Suggested Retail Price: $11.00 U.S./$13.00 CDN

Nail Lacquer
Naughty Nauticals Dark royal blue (frost)
Shirelle Classic “she’s a dame” red (cream)
Suggested Retail Price: $10.00 U.S./$12.00 CDN

AVAILABLE
May 2008 at all M·A·C locations (North America)
1.800.387.6707 and www.maccosmetics.com

The Quest Continues: DreamWorld and T123 (Adorned With Grace) Minerals

I've been testing out my spring/summer shades for two brands: DreamWorld and T123 (Adorned With Grace). The latter is still in the testing stages and will be open to the public in a few months or so. DreamWorld is a fledgling mineral makeup company that's been earning rave reviews based on the quality of its products and Ellie's (the owner's) amazing CS.

I've found my fall-winter shade in DreamWorld using a mix of Theia and Tethys. It's been working great until I realized that I would be getting a wee bit darker soon and would therefore need a summer formula/shade to use.

"
Theia-Tethys mix

In THIS entry, I mentioned how Ellie was kind enough to send darker yellow-toned foundation samples for me to try and see which one would match my spring/summer skintone. I tried a 50-50 mix of Amenti and Theia which was still a wee bit dark, so I added Ashnan into the mix. Ashan has lighter yellow undertones and it made the look a little lighter but still a tad dark. However, I plan to save it for the onslaught of the summer heat here when I'd be considerably darker than I am right now.


I'm wearing Amenti, Theia and Ashnan. I forget the exact ratios but I believe Amenti and Theia are almost the same amount and just a tiny pinch of Ashnan. Still a bit dark for now but I believe would be perfect when summer truly hits. I'm also wearing MAC Scant Slimshine lipstick topped with Sugar Trance lipglass from the Fafi collection, two of my favorite lip products.





I recently received some bigger batches of foundation from Franchesca of Adorned With Grace Minerals for me to see if I have really nailed my color in this brand. She was also nice to include silk powder and a generous amount of my preferred mixture after I tried out her foundation (60-40 mix of Y2 and Y3). She labeled it Y2.6 and I was eager to try it out. It turned out really dark and perhaps I switched the ratios because I'm used to referring to the lower number as a lighter shade compared to the higher number. In this instance, to my mind I thought Y2 was the lighter shade compared to Y3, when in fact it's the opposite; Y3 is the lighter shade compared to Y2. So it should have been a 40-60 mix of Y2 and Y3, not a 60-40 mix. I hope that made sense! It bothered me for a few days because I knew I did the right ratio and yet the mix Franchesca gave me was darker that what I thought it would be, but it was the shade numbers that got me confused. So, I am supposed to be 3.6 (is that right, Franchesca?), not 2.6!


I'm wearing the 2.6 and it's really dark compared to my 60-40 mix of Y3 and Y2 in THIS entry. I got confused with the darkest to lightest designation instead of the lightest to darkest progression that I've been accustomed to.



A little bummed about my mistake, but at least I know my exact ratio now. I am glad to have figured out where I'd gone wrong. Glad I have some more of my Y3 to lighten this one out.

Cory Minerals and A Gold/Bronze look



I just received this mineral makeup loot from Cory Cosmetics, and I'm liking everything I got. I made a previous entry on Cory HERE, and as I stated in that entry, the sample bags are miniscule BUT it will last you a really long time because a crumb or two are all you need for one application as this brand churns out really concentrated minerals. I just love the blushes because they are truly pigmented and finish is really awesome. As always, a grain or two of these blushes are all you need for a beautiful application of blush. Truly, the sample bags are tiny pigment bombs.

I also tried out my sample baggies of Cory's mica-free mineral foundations and I found out that Beyond Cream was my closest shade. I bought a full-size pot of this shade and I really wonder when I'd be able to use this all up since a very miniscule amount is all I need. Good thing mineral makeup doesn't expire!

Since these minerals are VERY concentrated, I figured my tried-and-tested wet application of mineral foundation using a kabuki or flat top brush simply won't work with this brand. Instead of the buffing method, I use the "sweeping" method with Cory. I just tap a really miniscule amount onto the lid, swirl my fluffy powder brush (not my dense kabuki or flat top), tap excess, then gently sweep the brush onto my face. I use two thin applications of Cory and the result is smooth and velvety. If I use any more of the foundation, the result would be cakey, pasty and quite unnatural. This is the most concentrated mineral foundation I've ever used (and it probably is the most concentrated mineral cosmetics commercially sold out there), so it took me a while to get used to the new application, but it is just worth it. I also love how economical it is because you only use so little for one application. The full-size jars as well as the samples are cheaper if you compare them to other brands.

I did a bronze/gold/brown eye look to go with my Cory look. I also used my new Cory Bronze Haze blush and I love the finish and the color. I can't wait to play with my other Cory blush samples.











Eyes:
MAC Beige-ing shadestick as base on lid and lower lashline
Valerie Beauty mineral shadow in Miranda foiled on lid and inner lower lashline
MAC pigment in Chocolate Brown on crease, above crease and outer lid
MAC Bronze eyeshadow outer V and crease
MAC Smoking eyeshadow to contour crease
MAC Ricepaper and Nylon eyeshadows to highlight
MAC Nightfish fluidline
MAC Brownborder technakohl liner on outer lower lashline

Face:
Camellia Rose skin smoothing primer
Cory mica-free mineral foundation in Beyond Cream
Mary Kay undereye concealer in Ivory topped with
Bare Escentuals Well Rested
Silk Naturals Date Bait perfecting powder
Cory mineral blush in Bronze Haze
MAC Sculpt powder to contour

Lips:
MAC lipliner in Spice
MAC lipstick in Lollipop Loving
MAC lipglass in Factory Made

The Last of A Dying Breed

Some of you may probably know how much I am a fan of Valerie Beauty's minerals. I even showcased some of her beautiful colors from her last sale HERE. Some of Val's awesome colors are also in THIS ENTRY. She had her last sale last February 16th, and after that had to close indefinitely because she had to concentrate on her skin care studio, and we had been patiently waiting for her opening. A month ago she announced that she would no longer be selling minerals online (but she is still selling the Clarisonic line, skincare products and traditional cosmetics). Val simply doesn't have the time anymore since she is now a Reiki Master Teacher, and is finishing her studies to become a Certified Hypnotherapist, on top of being a certified aesthetician. I perfectly understand why she had to give up selling her awesome minerals online (they are available for purchase at her studio). I wish Val the best, but I am just a little sad that these ones I have are the last of a dying breed. I have scored this latest Val loot from a lady on a makeup board - brand new, sealed and intact - and I just love the colors. I rarely see this kind of top-notch mineral quality, so I am really sad to see the minerals go, but still happy for Val nonetheless.

Let's hear it one more time from her awesome minerals!







Color description from Val's site:

Bombshell - If you like MAC’s Paradisco, there’s a good chance you’ll like this! Peach tone with multiple hilights and fire that gives unique life to this color.
Shroom - taupe/mushroom color, with satin finish and shimmer
Fall - Shades of fall - green, brown, and gold
Vixen -a smokey grey black with a copper and green reflective quality (My take: looks very similar to Lumiere's Peppermint Patti)
Murky - deep gold brown
Hot Toddy - plumish brown
Gilty - goldish brown. Don't feel "guilty" for loving Gilty!
Cleavage - Sexy shimmering flesh
Bridezilla - pink with flecks of green sparkle
Devious - rich plum with brown tones

DreamWorld Minerals and Peppermint Patties



I just received some samples of new darker yellow-toned foundations that DreamWorld owner Ellie had just concocted for her avid fans (me included). She was so nice to offer them to me for free, and her generous samples are just SO beautiful. I do have my own custom mix of DreamWorld foundation in Theia and Tethys, but sunny days are here again and I am bound to get darker as the days go by. In fact, I feel that I am already darker and my previous mix of Theia and Tethys no longer cuts it. She sent me original Amenti, her new versions of Amenti (Amenti IV and Amenti V), plus a new version of Theia (Theia IV) and Hebe. Today I used my original Theia foundation mixed with original Amenti, and I thought it was a bit dark in person (I may have to change the recipe a bit, but more or less using the same shades). However, miracle of miracles, it still looks so luminous in pictures - not white, mind you, but just luminous and as the day wore on, it looked more and more natural on my face. I just love Ellie's foundations, they are just right up there, creme de la creme, I should say. I can't wait to try my other DreamWorld minerals, everything is just so gorgeous and softly similar to each other in shade that I think I can wear any of them. That's what I love about DreamWorld foundation, the shades are so forgiving and you look great either way.

I also wanted to have an iridescent blue/green eye look so I wore my favorite Lumiere eyeshadow on the lid, Peppermint Patti (a gorgeous iridescent green/blue/grey that changes colors at the slightest movement), coupled with Valerie Beauty's Papillon (a beautiful light teal shade) on the inner to mid-lid. I used a little of Valerie Beauty's Ancient and Bootcut eyeshadows on the crease and outer V. I applied MAC eyeshadows in Ricepaper and Nylon on the browbone to highlight. Of course, I prepped my eyes by using MAC Beige-ing shadestick as base. I also used Indelible gel liner in Black Out to line and Rimmel and MAC mascaras.

I used one of my favorite mineral blushes, Lumiere Cherry Blossom (I love all of Lumiere's silk and veena blushes, as in there are no duds; every one of them is beautiful IMO).















Face:
Camellia Rose skin smoothing primer
DreamWorld mineral foundations in Theia and Amenti (75-25 mix) (Luna formula)
Mary Kay undereye concealer in Ivory topped with
Bare Escentuals Well Rested
Joppa Simple Radiance finishing silk in Medium
Lumiere silk mineral blush in Cherry Blossom

Lips:
Almay Lipliner in Bronze
Silk Naturals lipstick in Bliss
In some pics, I added MAC lipglass in Bonus Beat (Heatherette collection)

Here's a pic of one of my more laid-back eye looks, just a combination of two The She Space pigments - a couple of my favorites, Moonlight Whimsy and Rocked By Love: