L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow!!!

Over the new year's break, I created a wishlist of makeup items for 2012.  In the list was the L'Oreal Colour Infallible eyeshadow.  I first heard about this from various blogs I follow.  Bloggers have been raving about how beautiful, vibrant and affordable it is.  So, obviously, I HAD to get my hands on it too.  The promise of this product is vibrant, long lasting colour!!!!

I bought three colours.  White, Permanent Khaki (a khaki green) and Goldmine (gold)

Texture:
The texture is very smooth, soft and creamy.  However, this is NOT a cream eyeshadow.  It's a powder eyeshadow. The powder is very fine and smooth and it is packed into the container very tightly so it doesn't come apart.  

Colour:
The colour  is as intense as promised.  I picked up some product with my fingers, applied it on my hand once for each, and it was already more vibrant than regular eyeshadow.  However, when I applied it to my eyes with a brush, it did not appear to be as vibrant.  I suggest using your fingers if you prefer a more prominent look.

Staying power:
This weekend, I went out using all three colours.  The gold as my middle base colour, the green on the outer corners and the white as my highlighter colour on my brow bones and inner corners.  I was out for several hours, came home and left it on until the evening before heading in for the night.  I was impressed at how it had not budged at all.

The colours can be much brighter than what you see on my eyes.  For those of you who have known me for a while, or have followed this blog since it started, you may have noticed I like to wear my makeup more natural unless there's an occasion for something more vibrant!!!!

Price:
I bought my colours for only GBP 3.99 each.  The regular price is GBP 6.99 but it is still on post Christmas offer at Boots Pharmacy and Superdrug.

Regardless of your location in the world, I think it is priced very reasonable for such a good quality product.  They have a range of colours in both shimmery and matte finishes.  Because the colours are so bright, I recommend this if you are just starting out with eyeshadow.  You can just use one shade and it will look gorgeous

Intensifying Eyeshadow Colour!!!

There are many eyeshadow products that have great colour intensity.  Cream eyeshadow probably has the best intensity and vibrancy of all, but unless you have incredibly dry skin around your eyes, cream eyeshadow will not last throughout the day.  However, it can be a great base that you layer under your powder eyeshadow.  It will bring out the colour of your powder eyeshadow and give it some staying power!!! 

Here are two main ways to make your powder eyeshadow come alive.

Using a Cream Eyeshadow Base:

As mentioned earlier, layer your cream and powder eyeshadow.  Use the cream first.  Choose a cream eyeshadow colour similar to the middle base colour you have chosen if that's the colour you want to intensify. You can also choose a cream colour that will mix with your powder to create another shade altogether.  Cream eyeshadow can also create a nice undertone.  I like to use a pink cream shadow under my MAC Soba (light brown) powder shadow.  It doesn't change the colour but gives it a pretty pink undertone.

Look at the picture below.  The eye makeup with the cream layer is much more vibrant!!

Using an electric blue eyeshadow

Using Water to Intensify the Colour:

As children, we all played with watercolour paint of some sort and to some extent understand the technique of using a wet brush with paint. This is exactly the same concept.  Wet your eyeshadow brush before swiping your eyeshadow.  Make sure it is not too wet and not too dry.  Now apply your eyeshadow colour as you normally would. 

Look at the difference it makes!!

Using a pastel greenish eyeshadow

Again, these are great ways to turn what you already have into something new.

At Home Solutions for Makeup!!!!

Last year, the world's economy was still in a slump and just like me, many of you probably had to cut back on some of your little luxuries in life.  Hopefully this year will be better and we'll all get that job, bonus, promotion or raise we want.  However, if it doesn't happen right away, there may still be a need to be conservative with our spending.  When it comes to makeup, here are some ways you can save a dollar or two, using everyday products found in your home.   

You want:  A new lipstick to replace a broken one
Solution: Keep any empty makeup container that has a twist top (like MAC Paintpot or Fluidliner containers).  You can transfer the broken product into this container, turning it into a 'potted' lipstick.  Use a teaspoon or blunt breakfast knife to press the product into the container until it has molded into the container nicely.  Now you can use your fingers or a lipstick brush to apply the product on your lips.

You want:  A new eyeshadow to replace a broken one
Solution:  Similar to the lipstick, keep a container with a twist top and just transfer all the loose eyeshadow powder into it.  You can still use powder eyeshadow in its loose form.  Many makeup companies even sell eyeshadow this way.

You want:  A makeup mixing palette
Solution:  If you're someone who likes mixing two foundation colours together but hates the mess it makes, a mixing palette is probably a good way to go.  However, before you go out and buy one, check at home to see if you have any old CDs you no longer use.  These make great mixing palettes.

You want:  A fan brush for dusting away fallen eyeshadow from your cheeks
Solution:  More often than not, eyeshadow falls on our cheeks during application.  It's quite unsightly when it's a very dark colour.  Fan brushes work really well to dust off the powder without disturbing your concealer and foundation.  But don't go out and buy one right away.  I'm sure you have a scotch tape of some sort lying around your home.  Use this to pick up loose eyeshadow powder that has ended up where it shouldn't. 

You want:  An eyelash curler
Solution: Curling your eyelashes is a very important step in completing any look.  However, eyelash curlers can be quite expensive.  Instead of buying one, use a teaspoon and press your eyelashes between the edge of the spoon and your thumb.  Heat the spoon with a hairdryer before using it if you want more staying power!!!

You want:  An eye makeup remover
Solution:  Waterproof eyeliner and mascara can be very hard to removed with just water and face wash.  It usually requires some kind of makeup remover.  Again, if you're trying to save some money, an extremely small amount of olive oil from your kitchen cabinet will do the trick.  Put some olive oil on a cotton ball just like you would with your makeup remover.  Olive oil is safe to use in this way and is an ingredient found in many skin products.

WARNING!!!!  DO NOT USE OTHER COOKING OILS!!!!

You want:  A makeup fixer spray
Solution:  Makeup fixer sprays are great if your makeup tends to fade quickly.  The spray helps to hold your makeup in place similar to how hairspray helps to keep your hairstyle in place longer.  A good solution is to use hairspray on your face too.  Once it dries, you won't feel the stickiness. 

And there you have it!!!  Just a few little ways to save a few bucks here and there!!  Don't forget, in these hard times, a little goes a long way!!

My 2012 Makeup Wish List!!!

In 2011 I tried out several new makeup products.  My Benefit Cosmetics Watt's Up highlighter and K-Palette 1 Day Tattoo Real Lasting Eyeliner became my all time favourites.  This year, I have my eye on several products that I've heard great reviews about as well as some products that I've wanted for a while but never got around to getting.  Here is my 2012 wish list!!! 

1) Revlon Colourburst Lip Butter lipsticks
(http://www.revlon.com/Revlon-Home/Products/Lips/Lipcolor/Revlon-ColorBurst-Lip-Butter.aspx)

This product has been around for a little while internationally but has not come to the UK.  Bloggers have been raving about this product and I heard it should be here by March 2012.  It's said to be an amazing lipstick that moisturizes and gives lips a beautiful, dewy colour!! 

2) MAC 182 Buffer Brush
(http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=mac+182+buffer+brush+reviews&hl=en&prmd=imvns&resnum=4&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.,cf.osb&biw=1366&bih=649&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=7388240362358743526&sa=X&ei=a_UBT_SqI4mphAe389GqAQ&ved=0CFYQ8wIwAA)

This type of brush is also called a Kabuki brush.  It's usually used to blend powder products such as loose mineral powder foundation.  However, Kim Kardashian's makeup artist uses it to apply her cream blush and foundation and it works beautifully, giving her that gorgeous, natural looking glow she has.  I've been using a cheap Kabuki brush and it's time for an upgrade. 

3) Inglot Eyeshadow Palette
(http://www.inglotcosmetics.com/eye.shadow/products/146/165)

This is a Scandinavian makeup company that was never available in any of the countries I've lived in previously.  However, they are available in Europe, Asia and North America and have been a cult favourite for quite some time.  They are said to have professional quality, long-lasting eyeshadow.  What makes them unique is their "Freedom System".  You can create your own palettes and it's cheaper than just buying individual colours separately. 


4) MAC Lipstick in Red, Russian Red or Chilli (http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/shaded/168/310/Lips/Lipstick/Lipstick/index.tmpl)

Every girl should have a classic red lipstick.  It suits every skin tone and on days where you want a glamorous and polished look but don't have too much time, a red lipstick is the perfect solution.  Paired with simple eye makeup, it will dress you up with minimal effort.

5) Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Belladonna (http://www.illamasqua.com/shop/catalogue/category/lips/products/intense-lipgloss/28/)

This colour is a little brighter than what I normally use but it's gorgeous.  It is said to last for hours, even after eating and drinking.  Best of all, it's not sticky!!

6) L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow
(http://www.loreal-paris.co.uk/cosmetics/eyes/color-infallible.aspx)

This is another product I have heard great reviews about.  It's an extremely affordable eyeshadow with a range of intense colours that are said to last all day long. 

 And that's my wish list for 2012!!! 

I'm sure this list will get bigger as I start to read about and discover future makeup launches but these are just some of the products I've been reading about and can't wait to try!!!  Products that are raved about by bloggers all over the world usually end up being as amazing as they sound.  I would recommend you try any of these too and let me know what you think about them if you get to them before I do!!! 

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.