Makeup Tips For Beginners II

Which brushes to get first and why

First of all, let me just say that I think Sigma Brushes are phenomenal value for money. They are similar to MAC brushes, which are also very good, but at a fraction of the price. That makes them perfect for beginners and professional makeup artists alike. I own a whole bunch of these brushes, and if I were new to makeup and were to do things all over again, these are the brushes I’d start with and the reasons why:

FACE:

Pictures of Sigma brushes are from their site.

• The Sigma Flat Top Synthetic Kabuki - F80
   This brush applies foundation quickly and effortlessly, and gives you an air brushed finish. You can use it with powder or liquid foundation, and it to apply and blend these products into your skin.

• The Sigma Large Powder - F30
  I use this brush to blend powder products, such as blush and bronzer, into my skin, so that my face won’t appear streaky in any way. This is actually quite important if you want to get a more natural look.
  

EYE SHADOW:

• Sigma Eye Shading - E55
  This brush can be used to either apply a light wash of colour, or pack it on for a more intense look. With its rounded top, it is very easy to work with.

• The Sigma Blending - E25
  Blending away harsh edges is a must with all eye shadows. This brush will make these disappear in second. This brush in also very versatile in the sense that you can also use it to apply a light wash of colour to you lids, if you don’t feel like packing it on.

EYE LINER:

• The Sigma Small Angle - E65
  Because this brush makes it so easy to apply eyeliner that even a beginner will think it is fun. I love this brush when I’m pressed for time in the morning (because I refuse to go out without eyeliner on).
  

BLUSH:

• The Sigma Large Angled Contour - F40
  This brush is perfect for me because I can be a bit heavy-handed on the blush sometimes. But this brush applies just the perfect amount, even when I’m applying blusher while I’m still half asleep.

So there you go, guys. I hope this might help someone. And just so you know, these are 100% my own opinions, because this post has not been sponsored. I just happen to love Sigma’s brushes. And the fact that they’re so affordable makes them perfect for beginners. Looking back at the time I first started wearing makeup, I can’t understand how I was able to get anything done without. And so, with this post, I’m hoping to get my message out there: Yes, everything is easier with brushes! And no, they don’t have to cost a fortune.

Good luck!

Makeup Tips For Beginners

7 things I wish I knew when I first started with makeup…

Picture is from this page.

• Buy a concealer that is a shade or two lighter than your skin. That way, you will conceal your blemishes and dark circles, rather than highlight them. This is a handy product that you can just slap on, even if you’re in a hurry, and that will work wonders for your complexion.
  
  
• Get your hands on a foundation that is suited to your colouring and skin type. Let the sales assistants at your beauty shop help you with this, since this is usually more difficult than you would think. A foundation that is too dark can for instance make your complexion look muddy, and a foundation that contains lots of moisture can make a person with combination or oily skin look greasy and shiny all day long. So if you’re new to makeup – ask for help!
  
  
• Always remember to use a good moisturizer under your foundation. Your foundation is, after all, greatly affected by its base.
  
  
• Always remember to wash your hands before doing your makeup. Germs on hands make for germs on face, which can lead to breakouts and things like that. So clean hands at all times is a must.
  
  
• If you’re unsure of what products you should invest in, and which ones you can buy cheap, go by this rule of thumb: The longer a product is supposed to sit on the skin, the more you should be willing to spend on it. Moisturizers, for instance, can greatly affect your skin and the look of your foundation, and so you should make sure to use good quality products. Mascaras and eye shadows, on the other hand, you can get from the drug store until you’ve been able to get your hands on the most important basics.
  
  
• Always remove your makeup before you go to bed. It is important that your skin is able to breathe and rejuvenate while you sleep. You might as well get into this beauty habit early.
  
  
• Do not believe everything you see and hear on YouTube. First of all, you should consider the features or characteristics of the reviewer or beauty guru compared to your own. Consider his or her skin type, type of lashes or makeup preferences and compare these with yours, before you decide to buy a similar product. If he or she is raving about a foundation, but has dry and sensitive skin, whereas you have combination skin, you should take this into consideration. Also consider the finish of the products that they are recommending. If they are raving about a palette with mostly shimmery eye shadows, but you tend to like matte or satin ones, then it might be a good idea to swatch the shadows yourself before buying. Also consider the fact that some of these reviewers or makeup gurus do sponsored posts from time to time. 

So these were my two cents on makeup for beginners. What is your best tip for those who are just starting out with makeup? What kind of products would you recommend?

The Makeup Geek Eyeshadows: Review and swatches

Groundbreaking news:
THE MAKEUP GEEK EYE SHADOWS ARE TRULY JUST AS GOOD AS MAC
  – AND AT HALF THE PRICE!

OMG, you guys..  I’ve been trying out the Makeup Geek Eye shadows I bought for a couple of weeks now, and I’m completely blown away. Because everything I heard about them is true. I was so skeptical because I never really thought that cheap eye shadows were more than decent when it comes to quality. But this proves me wrong, because the Makeup Geek eye shadows are only 6 US Dollars a pop, and I actually think they’re just as good as those I have from MAC…

Let me start with this: They are very pigmented. Although this does vary a bit, depending on colour and finish, I found that every single one I tried was just as pigmented as eye shadows I have from MAC, Urban Decay and other similar high-end brands. But I won’t even try to describe just how pigmented they are – that is something you are going to have to see for yourself. So check out the swatches below at the end of this post.

But most importantly for me, they were sooo blendable! Since I tend to like eye shadows with a matte finish, I sometimes find blending to be somewhat of a hassle. Especially when I’m pressed for time in the morning. But these shadows blend so nicely after just a few movements with the brush. So with these eye shadows, I feel that I might actually be able to save some time in the morning. Hallelujah, right?

Right about now, I guess you’re wondering about fallout. Because I have, in the past, found that eye shadows that are easy to blend tend to have a lot of fallout, or fade quicker throughout the day. Although the most shimmery ones had a tiny bit of fallout, it was hardly noticeable most of the time. And certainly no more than one has to expect from eye shadows with a lot of shimmer. I also didn’t find that these shadows faded more than high-end eye shadows normally do. Moreover, these shadows also come in pans, which I really like, because it means that each one costs less, and that I can store them as I want to. I keep mine in two Z Palettes :)

I did test these shadows thoroughly because I wanted to give more detailed recommendations about which colours to buy and which to stay clear of, but in truth, I found them all to be very good. I didn’t find any duds, so which ones you should buy then only becomes a question of personal preference. And I don’t care if the shimmery ones have a tiny bit of fallout, because aside from that, these eyeshadows are damn near perfect!

So let me get down to the gist...

Pros:

+ The price: For 6 USD a pop these eyeshadow pans are a bargain

+ Highly pigmented

+ Very blendable

+ Fallout is not an issue with 97% of the eye shadows I tried

+ Fading is not an issue

(+ The site that sells these shadows has very affordable international shipping, too. I was amazed!)

Cons:

-          A tiny amount of fallout with the most shimmery ones

Sum: 

These eye shadows are highly pigmented and soo blendable and affordable that I’m flabbergasted. And when fading and fallout is not an issue, either, there isn’t anything else I could want from an eyeshadow. I will definitely buy more of these!

I hope you liked this review!

Haul time!

Two weeks ago I placed a big order on britique.com and a few days ago it finally arrived!

And so, as you can see, I finally got the Naked Eyeshadow Palette from Urban Decay. Yes, I've been putting it off for A LONG TIME. I guess I just didn't bother to try and get it when it was sold out all the time, and then I guess I just forgot. Anyway, the upside is that I got in on offer now, since the shop probably wanted to make room for the new palette :) I'm not even going to bother to post a picture of this palette, you guys, because EVERYONE knows this palette.

Other than that I got the Urban Decay 15-years Anniversary Eyeshadow Collection, an Urban Decay Lip gloss Jewelery Set (two lip glosses with a chain), and Benefit Cosmetics' Eye Bright Pencil, Dandelion Face Powder and Benefit 10 Bronzing and Highlighting Powder Duo. I've been on kind of a Benefit kick lately, unless you didn't notice... Here are a few close-ups of my new treasures:

 The Urban Decay 15-years Anniversary Eyeshadow Collection

and a Lip gloss Jewelery Set, also from Urban Decay.

This is the back of the Eyeshadow Collection box, for those who are interested.

Benefit Cosmetics' Eye Bright Pencil.

I use this product in my inner eye corners and on my waterline to make myself look more awake.

Dandelion Face Powder from Benefit Cosmetics.

I use this powder after I've put on my concealer, foundation and rouge, and it just evens out my skin tone so nicely. But even though everyone is just raving about how Benefit Boxed products smell so good, I'm not that found of the scent that this face powder has. It kind of smells like cheap ketchup to me...

Benefit 10 Bronzing and Highlighting Powder Duo.

I like both the bronzer and the highlighter. The only issue I have with this product is the fact that it comes with only one brush, whereas I don't feel like applying both of these products using the same brush. I'm afraid one product with mix with the other and give me a muddled result. But if I were to use some of my other brushes, I think the packaging might become much more impractical for me.

Please hang tight, everyone, because the reviews will be up shortly! And please subscribe :) 

HG Alert: The Best Mascara Ever!

After years and years of wasting my money on average mascaras, I’ve finally found my HG mascara, you guys! And here it is:  

It is the Lancôme Hypnose Mascara.

(Picture is from here.)

I had wanted to try out this mascara for quite some time, but I’d been putting it off, since I had some unfortunate experiences with high-end mascaras a few years back. It wasn’t that they were THAT horrible, really. It was just that I didn’t like the feeling of having paid twice as much for something that was basically no better than any ordinary drugstore mascara. But then I finally got myself to buy this one, and I’m so glad I did, because this mascara is absolutely worth every penny.

So let me tell you this, guys: It is everything I’ve ever wanted in a mascara. It lengthens and defines my lashes and holds a curl all day (I happened to forget my lash curler at home last weekend, but this mascara did the job so well that I honestly couldn’t tell the difference). This mascara is also so buildable that you can take it all the way from a natural look with the first coat, to an everyday sexy eye with the next, and a dramatic look with the third. Although I would say that this mascara gives a medium amount of volume to your lashes, I’ve never done more than three layers with this mascara, so I honestly wouldn’t know if it is possible to achieve more dramatic volume. But I find that the amount of volume that it gives is just perfect for me, since the lengthening effect is much more important for me than the volumizing effect. I also find the brush very easy to work with.

And what’s more: I’ve never had any fallout or flaking or anything like that. As for removal, it removes just as easily as most other mascaras I’ve owned. This mascara is, however, quite pricey, and I haven’t gotten around to finding out how long it might actually last you.

And for those who would like to know: This mascara does not have any noticeable scent. 

Pros:

+ Lengthens and defines lashes with a good volumizing effect

+ Holds a curl all day

+ Very buildable

+ Wand is easy to work with

+ No fallout or flaking

+ Doesn’t have a noticeable scent

Cons:
- Expensive
- The volumzing effect is decent, but not amazing

Conclusion: 

Since this mascara is so buildable and easy to work with, you can easily create everything from natural to dramatic looks with this mascara. Be aware that this mascara won’t give your lashes an insane amount of volume, but it will, however, give them everything else: it will lengthen and define your lashes, and give them a good amount of volume.

(Note that I have sparse, medium length lashes with a slight natural curl to them.)


Rating:

Review: The L’Oréal Volume Million Lashes Mascara

Hey beauties!

And so I'm back with another review. I was cleaning one of my makeup drawers the other day when I was about to toss out a mascara. While I was doing that, I found myself thinking about how much I really disliked this product. And that's when it occurred to me that I should do a review on this mascara! Because I think that it's so much easier to rave about a product that you like, than to point out potential flaws in products that you didn't like. So here are my two pennies on the L’Oréal Volume Million Lashes Mascara.

The picture is from this page.

So this is a mascara that is supposed to both define and volumize your lashes. And I do find that the shape of the wand is suited for this purpose, because it is both able to grab the individual lashes AND coat them at the same time. But sadly, this does not mean that I found this mascara easy to apply. Because I found that the first coat simply didn't go it for my lashes, I always felt like applying a second coat. But after using this mascara for two weeks, I realized that I just had to stop after the first applying the first coat, because this mascara is impossible to layer. I tried all sorts of different things when I applied the second coat, but every time my lashes came out looking like a spidery and pathetic mess. But on the other hand, I think that this mascara might be better for girls with naturally long lashes, who might be content with the result they get from just one coat.

While the things I have mentioned above are certainly not unheard of in the world of mascaras, I do find the following completely unacceptable in a mascara: This thing transfers and flakes like crazy! And it doesn't take more than a humid climate, a drizzle or slight perspiration to make this thing transfer to your lids and under your eyes. If you add the fact that this mascara is flakey, you can only imagine what I looked like at the end of the day... And by that time the curl in my lashes would be gone as well.

Pros:
+ Good wand suited to its purpose
+ Relatively inexpensive
+ Does define and volumize your lashes

Cons:
- Transfers like crazy
- Flakes
- Difficult to layer
- Doesn't hold a curl for more than five hours
- Has a scent that can be distracting for some

Summary:
Although this mascara kind of does what it's supposed to, in that it does define and volumize, I think that's about all it does. Although I would be able to live with the fact that this mascara is impossible to layer, I find the transfer and the flaking totally unacceptable, even for a drug store mascara.

As you might know, the L’Oréal's slogan is "Because You're Worth It". And I assume that "it" is supposed to refer to money, as in the price of their products. But if that's the case, then I might be worth it, but this mascara certainly isn't! 

Rating: 

What I got for Christmas… And first impressions

Hey beauties!

I know it’s the middle of January, but I still felt like sharing the beauty stuff that I got for Christmas with you. Better late than never, right? So last year I was so lucky as to get the following three makeup items for Christmas:

To the right is the Mistic Smokeys 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette from Dior. To the right is the Illusion D'Ombre Eyeshadow from Chanel, in the shade Illusoire (a purple cream eyeshadow). And at the bottom is a MAC Brow Set in the colour Show-Off. Here are some close-ups of the products:

I haven't tried the Dior palette yet, but is contains a lovely purple colour, as well as a white, a pink, a brown with somewhat dark green undertones and a vivid silver colour. I love these palettes because they are so versatile. You can either use them alone, or as duos (using two shades that are next to each other, for example, like the white and the brown), as trios (using the colours on one of the two diagonals, like the pink, brown and purple), or as a quad. You can also use all five at once, of course, if you want to fit them all into your look :)

I've tried the Chanel cream eyeshadow twice since I got it. And let me say this: On the one hand I'm very happy with it. The colour is lovely and it's really easy to work with. I find that the trouble with some cream eyeshadows is that they are very difficult to blend. But that is not a problem with these shadows. You can literally blend these into nothingness, they're that easy to work with. And what's even better is that they're so buildable. So you can apply just a thin layer and blend it out for a soft wash of colour, of build it up for a really dramatic look. But.. The only thing I don't like is that this shadow is so glittery. I mean, I don't mind a little glitter, but by itself I just think that it's a bit too much. I would therefore recommend using it with another eyeshadow, preferably one that has a matte or satin finish, if you're not comfortable with amount of glitter. But I still want to stress the fact that the glitter is very finely milled, so I wasn't bothered by any fallout or huge chunks of glitter, or anything like that. 

As for the MAC Brow Set in Show-Off, I have used this product a little more than a week now. And I do like this product. It is highly pigmented and it is certainly a handy product for doing your brows on the go, or if you have little time. I will say this, though: You have to be very light-handed. Because this product is so pigmented that you might end up with really thick brows if you apply too much. If that might be a problem for you, I'd recommend getting a slightly lighter shade than you would normally consider. I actually think I'll have to do so myself, because I find it difficult to be light-handed early in the morning :) 

So.. That's it for my Christmas haul and my first impressions! If you want me to review some of these product in more detail, then just leave a comment below :) 

Gigantic Haul!

Hey beauties!

A couple of weeks ago I heard about the Makeup Geek Eye Shadows that have just been released. And when I saw that people just raved about these products, and that the price was excellent as well ($5.99 per pan), I placed a huge order that same evening. Since these eye shadows come in pans, I ordered two Z palettes as well, from their website, so that I had somewhere safe to keep them. So this is what I got..

So these are the 25 eye shadows I ordered, as well as the large black Z palette and a small pink one. And these palettes were more roomy than I'd thought, too. Just check out how much room I have left over after 25 pans have been placed inside..

I decided to put all of my blues and purples in the black palette.. From the top left you can see the following eye shadows: Unexpected, Wisteria, Mango Tango, Fairytale, Unicorn, Duchess and Purple Rain. Then in the left row, from top to bottom, you can see Mermaid, Sea Mist and Envy. And in the middle row is Pool Side, Ocean Breeze and Ocean Breeze (I bought two by mistake). And then in the right tow you can see Brown Sugar and Galaxy.

And all of my neutrals in the pink one, since this is going to be so handy for travel. In the first row you can see Shimma Shimma, Purely Naked and Cinderella. In the middle row is Cupcake, Twilight and Glamorous. And in the bottom row is Cocoa Bear, Bada-bing and Corrupt. 

And I'm so excited about these eye shadows, because people on YT have said that these are just as good as or even BETTER THAN MAC. And at a much lower price, too. So I'm trying them out right now and I will get back to you with a detailed review. So stay tuned! If you're wondering where to buy these eye shadows or the Z palettes that you see above, then check out the links that are provided below :)

You can buy the Makeup Geek eye shadows from their website: http://www.makeupgeek.com/

The Z palettes can be bought from this website: http://www.zpalette.com/

(And no, this post is not sponsored. Nor have I been paid to say any of this stuff. I bought all of this stuff myself, using my own money :))

Review: MAC Prep + Prime Skin

Hey makeup junkies! I'm back with a review on the MAC Prep + Prime Skin. Although the name on the bottle itself is "Skin Base Visage", MAC calls it the Prep + Prime Skin on their webpage, so that's what I'll call it, too :) 

Anyway.. I've used this product on and off for two weeks, now. And I must say that I really like it! First things first: I does not make me break out! And this, my peeps, is a miracle, since it contains silicone and since silicone normally breaks me out bigtime. It also has a pump, which I'm grateful for. It's much more hygenic and I also find that a pump is the perfect amount to do my entire face.

The MAC Prep + Prime Skin also goes on smoothly and sinks into the skin fairly quickly. I also find that it makes my foundation glide on a bit easier. The difference might not be huge, but it's there. But the difference between wearing it and not wearing it does however become visible throughout the day. I have combination skin, and I find that this product keeps the foundation from sinking into the part of my face where the skin is dry, and from sliding off on the parts of my face that are oily. As a result, my foundation looks almost just as nice at the end of the day as it did when I put it on. And for that reason I will buy it again and again. So this product will definitely become a staple in my vanity drawer from now on.

Pros:

+ Good packaging and has a pump

+ Makes it a bit easier to apply your foundation
+ Makes your foundation last all day
(+ Doesn't break me out)

Cons: 

- Contains silicone

Summary:

In my opinion, this is a very good product. I think it will help your foundation last longer, whether you have dry, normal, oily or combination skin. The packaging is also sturdy and good for travel. 

Review: MAC Gently Off Eye and Lip Makeup Remover

I bought the MAC Gently Off Makeup Remover more than a year ago, because I guess I just assumed that this would be great value for money, like many MAC products tend to be. But no. This has honestly been sitting on my shelf and I've only wanted to use it every now and then. Because I do NOT think this is a good product. Even when I'm just wearing some gel eyeliner and mascara, I feel that I have to use a lot of it. I also have to rub my eyes quite a bit, although I really don't want to do that. But if I don't do that, the mascara is just not going to come off.

The worst thing about this product is that it's so overpriced compared to what you get. I've bought makeup removers from the drugstore that worked better than this one, and they were half the price. So no dice! But I am, however, going to use the rest of it before I throw it out, since I don't want to be wasteful. Although I'm not looking forward to it...

Pros:
+ Packaging is elegant and suitable for travel
+ Can be used on both eyes and lips

Cons:
- Overpriced
- Doesn't remove makeup well at all

Summary:
This makeup remover is not gentle. In fact, it is barely able to remove makeup at all. The price is also too steep compared to what you are getting. The packaging is good, though.

Tiny haul...

Hello fellow makeup junkies!

Today I went to the local cosmetics shop and picked up some stuff.. And this is what I got:

To the left is a Biotherm toner for normal to combination skin, and to the right is the Dior Hydra Life Skin Perfect Moisturizer. And this is what it looks like unboxed:

So stay tuned for a review of this moisturizer. I will review it as soon as I've had enough time to try it out. But this thing cost me 97 dollars, so it had better live up to my expectations ;) I can't wait to find out!

Review: Dior Forever Foundation

I've been using the Dior Forever Foundation for about two months now. I kind of bought this foundation by chance. When I went into the shop that day I originally wanted to get the Chanel Perfection Lumiere, because I'd heard so many good things about it. But when none of those shades matched my skintone, the girl at the Dior counter recommended this foundation, which luckily matched me perfectly. Here are my thoughts on this product..

My general impression:

This high-end liquid foundation has a very nice texture. It’s not too thin or too thick to work with. It therefore applies very easily. This foundation provides light to medium coverage, and you can easily build up the coverage without it looking cakey.

In my experience, this foundation has a slightly matte finish that looks very natural. It also lasts all day, without fading or oxidizing, which some lower-end foundations tend to do on combination or oily skin. It also didn’t break me out, although I have sensitive skin. Even though it is kind of expensive, I only need one pump to do my entire face, and so it should last you a while.

Pros:
+ Nice texture
+ Buildable coverage
+ Lasts all day
+ Has SPF 25

Cons:
- Quite expensive compared to low-end brands

Summary:
This is a nice foundation that is easy to work with and that you will stay on your face all day. Although it is a bit expensive, I have yet to find a drugstore foundation that is as good as this one. But aside from that, there’s nothing extraordinary about this foundation.

Rating: