An Easy Pink Look

I love to use MAC shadows as opposed to minerals when I'm running late. They are very user-friendly, don't spill, blend easily, glide like a dream, and almost fool-proof. That's not to say that I don't like minerals. Minerals are okay as long as you are used to your mineral eyeshadow brand's slip, pigmentation, color pay-off, and texture. If you are not, or if you are trying out a new brand, it is better not to use them for the first time when you're in a hurry to avoid disaster. I usually use my most trusted minerals when I don't have the luxury of time - Valerie Beauty, Lumiere, She Space, and I usually foil the lid color for maximum vibrancy. However, if I am REALLY pressed for time, MAC is the way to go for the above-mentioned reasons. I also love that whatever I do, as long as I use my trusted Beige-ing shadestick underneath, my MAC shadows stay vibrant, crease-free, and gorgeous all day long.

This particular look was done in a hurry, and I don't know exactly what I used, but I will attempt to enumerate them (all MAC unless otherwise noted). I used Beige-ing shadestick as base, Baby Petals from Heatherette Trio 2 to highlight, Gateaux on tearducts and inner corners, Swish on inner to mid-lid, Nocturnelle on outer V, Cassette from Heatherette Trio 2 on crease, Indelible gel liner in Tanzanite to line, MAC and Rimmel mascaras.

Also, one of my favorite mineral brands, LaurEss, is having a sale. Take a peek at their fabulous products and even more fabulous prices. I love LaurEss because it never fails to give the illusion of smooth, perfect-looking skin. It has one of the best finishes of mineral foundation that I've tried, and whenever I want to look polished, LaurEss never fails to save the day. I was a fan of their Original formula foundation but it has been discontinued (what is it with cosmetic companies discontinuing your favorite products?). They launched the Elemental formula which is supposed to be a sheerer, softer-focus and less matte version of the Original formula, but I found it a little bit too sheer for my taste. Now, Lauren, bless her heart, has created a new formula that is as close to the Original as can possibly be - the new Minimalist. I compared the ingredients and they are just about the same, and I love the fact that they are having a sale to herald the comeback of the formula that I've loved. I am glad the Minimalist is here, because I know that it is just about the same in terms of finish, staying power and coverage as the Original formula. In this look I am wearing the Original formula in a 50-50 mix of Radiant Gold and Pure Gold.









Face:
Camellia Rose skin smoothing primer
LaurEss Original formula mineral foundation in Radiang Gold and Pure Gold
Mary Kay undereye concealer in Ivory topped with
Bare Escentuals Well Rested
Bare Escentuals mineral veil
Valerie Beauty Starlet Glow bronzer/illuminizer on cheeks

Lips:
Rimmel lipliner in Epic
MAC lipstick in Rubia
MAC lipglass in Nico Now

In a previous entry, I tried out Blusche full coverage mineral foundation #1. Here is a look featuring Foundation #2. These are just in the testing stages and are not yet available to the public. They will most probably have these available for sale in a couple of months.

Testing Blusche Minerals

There is a mineral makeup company that is re-opening its doors to the public either this coming May or June. I was fortunate enough to receive some of its full-coverage foundation formulas to sample and enjoy. Monica of Blusche sent me two shades in two formulas each, and I really am liking either formula. I'm wearing Formula 1 in the following pictures, but Formula 2 is great too, the only difference I remember between the two is that Formula 1 contains kaolin clay and Formula 2 doesn't. I liken the coverage and ultra-smooth finish of Blusche to another full-coverage favorite of mine, Buff'd. Coverage is amazing and is good for those who have some blemishes to conceal, but it is not cakey and feels light on the skin. A very miniscule amount is all you need to achieve good coverage. As with all mineral foundations, a little goes a long way. Monica has a pre-buy brush sale going on right now, and she will be ready to open her cosmetics site (with foundations, blushes and shadows galore) in a month or two, so stay tuned!

I also wore MAC Heatherette Trio 2 for this look, using Nice Vice and Girl Friendly paint pots from the MAC Fafi collection as bases. I would have loved to go all-out on the color as the shades are just gorgeous, but I had to tone it down for work. I also used the uber-creamy Dual Edge eye pencils of the Heatherette collection. I used Fab Orchid on my upper lashline and I truly love how buttery the slip is; it glides like a dream and doesn't tug my lids at all.







Eyes:
MAC Beige-ing shadestick on lid and lower lashline as base
MAC paint pot in Girl Friendly on inner to mid lid
MAC paint pot in Nice Vice on mid to outer lid
MAC shadow in Trophy Pink (Royal Assets Holiday Cool Eyes palette) on inner lid
MAC shadow in V.I.P. on mid lid
MAC shadow in Cassette on outer lid and crease and outer lower lashline
MAC shadow in Baby Petals to highlight and on inner corners
MAC Dual Edge Eye pencil (used Fab Orchid) on upper lashline
Rimmel and MAC Zoomlash mascaras

Face:
Camellia Rose skin smoothing primer
Blusche full coverage formula 1 in Creme Brulee and Brazilian (75-25 mix)
Mary Kay undereye concealer in Ivory topped with
Bare Escentuals Well Rested
Bare Escentuals mineral veil
Lumiere silk blush in Au Naturale

Lips:
MAC Sublime Culture cremestick liner
MAC lipstick in Ultra Madame (from the Holiday Curiositease 3 Plum Lips)
MAC lipglass in Nico Now