Happy New Year!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!!!!   I hope everyone had an amazing night celebrating the beginning of the new year!!!  I've just finished getting ready for a quiet night out for dinner and fireworks and I wanted to share my NYE look with you.  I went with a green smokey eye look and some dramatic Illamasqua false lashes!!!  I'm feeling festive and ready to ring in the new year!!!

What About Mascara???

When it comes to mascara, the vast range available is quite remarkable.  There's waterproof, curling, volumizing, lengthening, conditioning, vibrating...you name it, it's out there.  Like me, you've probably tried all kinds of mascaras and from many different brands.  You've probably questioned whether most of these really did the job as well.  And one of the most common questions is whether a truly "clump-less" mascara exists. 

Curling mascara:
In my experience, as someone with pretty straight Asian eyelashes, curling mascaras don't really work on their own.  You're better off using an eyelash curler with a volumizing or lengthening mascara.

Volumizing mascaras:
This is the type of mascara I use.  I find that a good volumizing mascara really does do the trick.  My favourites have been Dior Show Black Out, L'Oreal Paris Extra Volume Collagen, Majorlica Majorca Lash Enamel Glamour and Maybeline Volume Express Cat Eyes.

Lengthening mascaras:
I've tried several lengthening mascaras in the past but prefer volumizing ones as my eyelashes are fairly long already. The problem I have is that they are not very thick.  I find it looks a little funny to have several "strands" of eyelash hairs fanning out from my eyes.  However, the lengthening mascaras that I felt worked well were L'Oreal Double Extension Ultra Lengthening and Maybeline Sky High Curves.

My all time favourites:
Mascaras come with different types of applicators.  Most of you are familiar with brush applicators in various sizes. 

Now there are applicators that look like little rubber combs. My Majorlica Majorca and Maybeline Volume Express mascaras have these applicators.  I prefer them as I find the product does not clump on the brush and therefore does not clump on my eyelashes. 

Important tips:
1) If your mascara does clump on your lashes, remove the clumps with an eyebrow grooming brush.  It looks just like a mascara applicator.  Comb it through your eyelashes from above, rolling the brush at the same time.  The mascara clumps will get caught in the bristles and get brushed out!!!

2) I've bought expensive, department store brand mascaras as well as pharmacy brands such as L'Oreal and Maybeline.  I find the pharmacy brands work just as well if not better.  I've never been a fan of Clinique or MAC mascaras.  My advice is save yourselves some money!  L'Oreal, Maybeline and Rimmel all have some great mascaras that do what they promise. 

3) If you're struggling to find a mascara that curls, lengthens and volumizes all in one, why not use 3 different mascaras?  I have a friend who layers her favourite lengthening mascara with her favourite volumizing mascara.  It works wonders! 

4) Finally, ALWAYS CURL YOUR EYELASHES!!!  It will open up your eyes and make them look bigger and brighter.  Shu Uemura has an amazing eyelash curler designed for Asian eyes.  It is shaped to catch every lash from corner to corner. 

Makeup Brushes! Which Ones to Use?

By now, many of you have probably gone to a makeup store, seen the variety of makeup brushes and wondered what's the purpose of each brush.  You've probably wondered if all the brushes serve a specific purpose or if they are just there to increase sales.

Makeup application is an art in which the face is a canvas.  That's why its called makeup artistry.  Like other types of art, the tools are important to the artist.  Some brushes facilitate in drawing fine lines with more precision, some help to blend out colours and other brushes aid in the application of the colours. 

These are the brushes I typically use in one makeup application. 

FACE: 

Illamasqua Liquid Metal Product Review!

Before Christmas, I purchased some products from an amazing UK cosmetics company called Illamasqua.  For those of you unfamiliar with them, they have amazing quality makeup, similar to MAC.  However, their brand image is a little more whimsical and artsy, preferring the dramatic and theatrical, as well as incredibly creative runway looks. 

The products I bought were 6 out 7 colours of liquid metal eyeshadow.

http://www.illamasqua.com/shop/catalogue/category/eyes/products/liquid-meta/38/

This was the product I used for my Venetian mask look.  As you have seen, the colour is very metallic and shiny.  The texture is not as creamy as I thought it would be for a cream eyeshadow but rather slick and oily.  What I love about it is that the colour builds beautifully when applied using a dabbing motion. It can be subtle or intense.

However, I used it on Christmas day with my MAC Prep and Prime as my eyeshadow base, the darker silver as my all over base colour and the gold on the corners of my eyes.  It was an extremely natural look with a pretty metallic sheen but it did not stay put for even an hour...even with a primer.

I also tried to use a natural powder eyeshadow first and applied the liquid metal over it.  The product held on a bit better but not as well as powder eyeshadow alone does.

I later used a powder eyeshadow all over my eyelids and the liquid metal over it, but only on the outer corners of my eyes and a little above the creases of my eyelids.  I feel like this is the best combination.  The liquid metal held on as it did not get pushed around when I blinked, and I loved the pretty metallic sheen it gave my eyes.

In my opinion, unless you are older and have dryer skin around your eyes, powder eyeshadow is really the way to go.  Cream shadows look great for theatrical looks, but they are not very practical for everyday use unless you are using just a little bit of it combined with a powder eyeshadow. 

Radiant Light Traveller!!!

At this point, you have all probably gathered with the family, stuffed your faces silly and maybe drank a little bit too much.  After all the partying and family madness, I know many of you have planned a relaxing getaway.  No matter where you are, sun or snow, you always feel good when you look your best.  But with all the craziness of Christmas travel, you want to pack light to avoid the long line ups at the check in counter or even worse, the airline losing your luggage in all the chaos.  Trying to fit everything can be frustrating so here are some tips on how to bring your makeup with you, look radiant and refreshed on your holidays and keep the frustration of trying to fit your cosmetics to a minimum.

The number one way to save space is to bring products that have multiple uses.  These are my holiday makeup must-haves!

1) BB Cream: This is an all in one foundation, tone corrector, anti-aging cream and sunblock.  This product usually has an SPF of 30++ minimum.  BB creams are great because there are so many benefits in just one bottle. 


2) Cream highlighter:  I've mentioned before how highlighting can make you look instantly refreshed.  Don't leave the highlighter at home.  Bring a cream highlighter like Benefit Cosmetic's Watt's Up because it doubles up as a highlighter and a base for for your eyeshadow.

3) Eyeshadow:  Bring one natural coloured eyeshadow.  If you want to skip out on this, you can just use your highlighter on your eyes.  It will instantly brighten them.

4) Eyebrow pencil:  Your eyebrow pencil is usually in some shade of brown.  This is a great item to bring as it can double up as an eyeliner.  Even if you're used to wearing black eyeliner, a brown will give you great definition as well, but look appropriately natural.


5) Natural coloured lipstick:  This is a good one to bring.  Lipstick can also be used on the cheeks, as a blusher.  Apply some lipstick on your cheeks and blend it out with your fingers.  If you feel the texture of your lipstick is a little dry, use a little bit of moisturizer to help you spread the colour.

6) Mascara:  Bring a waterproof mascara with you if you're going to the beach so it doesn't run or smudge when you go in the water.  You can skip out on the eyelash curler too.  Use a teaspoon from your hotel room.  Press your eyelashes between the teaspoon and your thumb.  Trust me, it works!!!

7) Compact powder:  This is optional and only  if you have oily skin and going somewhere tropical. 

There you go!!   An extremely natural and refreshed look!

And it's just 6 or 7 small items that fit perfectly into a teeny, tiny makeup pouch.  Skip out on the makeup brushes too.  All you need are your fingers!!!

Inspired by Venice and Illamasqua!!!!

Mysterious like a phantom in the darkest night, hidden by a flawless exterior, revealing only the exquisite beauty of a Venetian mask!

This is my Alter Ego.  Inspired by Illamasqua.

What I used:

A range of Illamasqua Liquid Metal colours.  For more information on the products go to:
www.illamasqua.com

Eyeshadow Palettes and Which Colours to Use!!!

I've spent this week talking about and showing you the different eyeshadow colours you can combine.  The simplest and most brainless way to go about choosing eyeshadow colours is to go with a palette. Usually, palettes come in 4 colours.  You'll have a darker colour, a medium colour and maybe 2 lighter colours.  This is because they are giving you an option for the evening (usually darker and more intense) and an option for the day (usually lighter and more natural).

Have a look at the palette below from Illamasqua.

www.illamasqua.com

Just choose any three shades you want, remembering to always use the darker colour on the outer corners of your eyes, the medium colour as the all over base and the lightest colour on the inner corners of your eyes and on your brow bone.  These colours match and have been put together for your convenience.  Use a combination of any 3 in the palette.  You can't go wrong!!

Now take a look at the palette below from Ros n' Roy.

Ros n' Roy is available at Bugis Junction in Singapore

It looks intimidating, but if you look carefully, the matching colours have been organized in each column in pairs with the the lightest (highlighter) colours on the far right column.  Pick a combination of any 2 using the dark, medium and light technique, pair it up with a highlighter and there is no way you can go wrong. 

Important tip:  When in doubt, white and cream coloured highlighters go with any colour combination.

Palettes are out there for consumers like you.  So take advantage of them. 

Matching Eyeshadow Colours: Day 3

Smokey eyes can be achieved with a whole array of colours too.  Traditionally, a shimmery grey or silver is used as the all over base colour, with a black eyeshadow on the outer corners.  However, you can create a smokey eye look with purples, blues, greens, browns etc. 

Today, I chose to go with a traditional grey as I had used a purple in my previous blog on smokey eyes. 

FOR A LOOK AT A PURPLE SMOKEY EYE, CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW:
http://jazzo-princessjasminem.blogspot.com/2011/12/smokey-eyes-for-night-out.html

What I used:

OUTER CORNER: MAC eyeshadow in Black Ted
ALL OVER BASE: MAC eyeshadow in Electra
LIGHTEST: Krayolan eyeshadow in white

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO APPLY THESE COLOURS, PLEASE SEE PREVIOUS BLOG:
Basic Eyeshadow Application
http://jazzo-princessjasminem.blogspot.com/2011/12/basic-eyeshadow-application.html

Here are a few more colour combinations for smokey eyes!!

MAC Black Ted            MAC Blue Edge            Krayolan white

MAC Black Ted          MAC Pompous Blue          Krayolan white

MAC Black Ted          MAC Beauty Marked          Krayolan white

MAC Black Ted              MAC Mulch              Krayolan white

FOR A CLOSER LOOK AT THE EYESHADOW COLOURS GO TO:
http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/shaded/154/363/Eyes/Shadow/Eye-Shadow/index.tmpl

Important tip:  In order to make the smokey eye even darker, apply a black cream shadow first.  I like to use MAC Paintpot in Blackboard.

Matching Eyeshadow Colours: Day 2

Today I am playing with earthy colours.  These are colours like brown, beige and rust.  You can accomplish a polished nude look with these colours, or a more intense look for the evening.  I find that brown and beige looks good on any skin tone, from fair to tanned.  However, the rust colours will definitely look better on a tanned skin.  But play around if you like it.  You never know what you will come up with!!!

Today, I chose to combine a rust with a much darker colour in the outer corners of my eyes.  It's more intense and looks good for an evening out but natural enough to be worn in the day. 

Here's a closer look at the eyes!

What I used:

Outer corner             All over base colour             Lighter colour

OUTER CORNER: MAC eyeshadow in Blue Edge
ALL OVER BASE: MAC eyeshadow in Mythology
LIGHTEST: MAC eyeshadow in Nylon

FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO APPLY THESE COLOURS PLEASE SEE PREVIOUS BLOG:
Basic Eyeshadow Application  
http://jazzo-princessjasminem.blogspot.com/2011/12/basic-eyeshadow-application.html 

Here are a few more colour combinations with earthy colours!!!

MAC Mythology            MAC Gleam            MAC Nylon

MAC Mulch             MAC Mythology             MAC Nylon

MAC Mulch          MAC All That Glitters          MAC Nylon

MAC Black Ted                  MAC Mulch                  MAC Nylon

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND A CLOSER LOOK AT EACH EYESHADOW COLOUR, GO TO:
http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/shaded/154/363/Eyes/Shadow/Eye-Shadow/index.tmpl

Important tips: 

1) The general rule (although I hate the term 'rule' for makeup) is that lighter colours should be worn in the daytime and darker colours in the evening.  If you do want a more intense look for an evening out, play around with darker colours on the outer corners of your eyes.

2) In order to fade the colours into each other nicely remember to BLEND, BLEND, BLEND!

 

Matching Eyeshadow Colours: Day 1

This whole week is dedicated to my amazing friend and fellow makeup fanatic, Raven!!!  Like many of you out there, Raven loves makeup but has never really ventured past foundation, blush, eyeliner and mascara.  With all the colours out there to choose from, how do you know what goes with what?  I've heard this so many times before from other friends who are just starting to wear makeup as well.  In terms of knowing what looks good for your skin tone, just stick to the basic warm skin tone, warm colours and cool skin tones, cool colours.  For the more adventurous, just play around with whatever colours appeal to you.

Today I'm playing with pinks and purples.  A floral combination!!!

Here's a closer look at the eyes!!

What I used:

Outer corner     All over base colour       Lightest colour

OUTER CORNER: MAC eyeshadow in Satellite Dreams
ALL OVER BASE: MAC eyeshadow in Sushi Flower
LIGHTEST: Krayolan eyeshadow in white (A good MAC substitute for this is MAC eyeshadow in Vanilla)

FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO APPLY THESE COLOURS PLEASE SEE PREVIOUS BLOG:
Basic Eyeshadow Application 
http://jazzo-princessjasminem.blogspot.com/2011/12/basic-eyeshadow-application.html

Here are a few more colour combinations with pink and purple!!

MAC Satellite Dreams    MAC Sushi Flower    MAC Pink Freeze

MAC Blue Edge        MAC Sushi Flower        MAC Pink Freeze

MAC Satellite Dreams         MAC Electra         Krayolan white

MAC Electra          MAC Pink Freeze          Krayolan white

For a closer look at the eyeshadow colours go to http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/shaded/154/363/Eyes/Shadow/Eye-Shadow/index.tmpl

Important tips:
1) Don't be afraid to mix eyeshadow textures.  You don't have to stick to just powder shadows for one application.  You can use a cream shadow for the middle base colour with a powder shadow elsewhere or a powder shadow for the middle base colour and a cream shadow for the outer corners.


2) There are many powder shadow finishes to choose from as well such as matte, shimmer, frost, lustre etc.  You DO NOT have to use one finish either.  Mix matte and shimmer, shimmer and frost etc.

The Crow!!!

I was looking through old photos this morning and came across this!!  Here's a look at an old favourite of mine from Halloween 2005 in Suncheon, South Korea!!! 

Beauty Makeover!!!

Just a quick note!!!  For readers in London, England, I am now available for beauty makeovers.  You can email me at jazz80m@yahoo.com for inquiries and bookings or just click on the appointment widget and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. 

Frosty Friday!!!!

It's finally Friday and it's a cold one!!!  I was sitting in my apartment freezing my butt off and somehow just got inspired by the cold winter day!  Here's a look inspired by this Frosty Friday!!!  It's a little more dramatic than usual, but take away the bottom lashes and I think you might be able to get away with it on a night out on the town!!!  Enjoy!!!

Here's a closer look at the eyes!!!

What I used:

FACE: Missha Perfect M BB Cream in 31, Covergirl stick concealer in , Benefit Cosmetics Watt's Up, MAC contour powder in Shadester, Covergirl loose translucent powder in medium

EYES: Covergirl stick conealer in 710 , Sephora eyeliner in white, MAC eye shadows in Blue Edge and Tilt, Ros n Roy eyeshadow in a silvery white (no name), 17 eyebrow pencil in natural brown, Dior Show waterproof pencil eyeliner in black, Makeup Forever Aqua eyes eyeliner in blue, K-Palette 1 Day Tattoo Real Lasting Eyeliner 24 Hr in black, Rimmel Max Volume Flash mascara in black, criss cross eyelashes, end piece of a drug store brand false eyelash set

CHEEKS: MAC eyeshadow in Electra (to just give some added metallic shimmer)

LIPS: Dior Addict lip gloss in 257

Getting the Right Shade!!!!

Just a quick one to let you know that if you have difficulty finding the right colour foundation, go from tanned to fair during the different seasons or totally love the coverage a BB Cream gives you but are a little bit too dark for the range, you can always mix two colours or two products. 

I like to mix my Missha Perfect M BB Cream in 31 with MAC Studio Fix Fluid in 45.  I find that being in London I've become very pale (yes I'm still tanned but paler than what I'm used to) and the BB Cream sort of blends in with my natural skin tone.  So I end up with a face fairer than what I like.  By mixing a darker foundation with the BB Cream, I get a great BB Cream finish in a shade that suits me better!!!!

Basic Eyeshadow Application!

I realized after blogging about two different looks, for those who are fairly new to makeup, I should probably explain some basic eyeshadow application techniques.  I keep writing reminders to use darker colours on the outer corners and lighter colours in the inner corners and BLEND!  But what does all this really mean??  This may clear things up a little.

STEP 1:
After applying your eyeshadow primers (I like MAC Prep and Prime with paintpot over it) over the entire surface of your eyelids, the first colour you should apply is your medium base colour.  Apply it over the eyelid but stop at where you feel the bone of your eye socket.

STEP 2:
Blend to soften the hard edges!

STEP 3:
Apply the darkest colour to the outer corners of your eyes!

STEP 4:

Blend to soften the hard edges and to fade it into the first colour!

STEP 5:
Apply the lightest colour on the inner corners of the eyes, just above your lashes, right on the corners and right below the lower lash line.

STEP 6:
Blend to soften the hard edges!

STEP 7:
Apply the same light colour as you did in the inner corners but this time on your brow bone, just below your eyebrows!

STEP 8:
That's right!!!  Blend to soften the hard edges and to let it fade into the colour below it so that all the colours now melt together!

STEP 9:
Almost there!!!  This is what it looks like all together!

STEP 10:
Apply eyeliner, mascara and eyebrow pencil!  Voila!!!  You are done!!!!

Important tips: 

1) You can apply this technique to any colour combination you choose!!!

2) CLEAN UP YOUR EYEBROWS, it'll look so much nicer.  I know...I'm so in need of an eyebrow cleanup myself!!!