FOTD: bronzey eyes with Urban Decay Naked Palette

Hey! Today I did a basic bronzey eye with Urban Decay Smog and Darkhorse eyeshadows. I think this was the first time I've ever used Smog, and I've had the palette for a few months, how crazy is that.

I used MAC Margin as a blush, which you can see in pic3. I can never stress enough how much I love this blush, it's a frosty bronzey colour with a reddish tone to it, and it works amazingly on fair complexions as well (I'm NC15). It gives an instant sunkissed glow and doubles as a highlighter because of the frostiness in it. Check it out. 

 Product breakdown 
FACE
OCC skin primer
MUFE HD foundation 117
Clinique line smoothing concealer 03-moderately fair
EL Bronze Goddess soft matte bronzer
MAC Margin

EYES
TFSI
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Yogurt (I wanted to use Iced Mocha but ended up with this in my hands, oh well)
UD Smog (lid), Darkhorse (crease, outer corner, lower lashine)
MAC e/s Blanc Type (highlight)
Stars Makeup Haven e/s Creme d'Nude (transition)
MAC clear brow set
The Makeup Store pencil liner in Taupe (to fill in beauty mark)
EL Double wear eye pencil in Onyx
EL Sumptuous Extreme Mascara
Clinique High impact mascara

LIPS
MAC lipliner in Subculture
OCC lip tar in Hush

hope you enjoy it!! xx

May Photoshoot #6: Amanda

PRODUCT BREAKDOWN

FACE
OCC Skin Primer
MAC Face&Body foundation in C3
Ben Nye Total Cover-All Wheel Sk-100
KIKO Natural Concealer n. 03 mixed with MAC Pro Longwear Concealer NC15
NYX Powder Blush in Taupe
MAC Blush in Melba
Sue Moxley Shimmerbrick in Light
Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder

EYES
MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre
Make Up For Ever Diamond e/s 311
KIKO e/s 121
KIKO Eyeshadow Stick n. 20
NYX black e/s
MAC e/s Scene, Copperplate, Blanc Type
MAC Blacktrack Fluidline
Avon Supershock Gel Liner in black
Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme mascara
Alcone Paramount lashes n.335

LIPS
NYX Slim Lip Liner in Mauve
NYX lip palette mauve purple lipstick

Photographer: Luca Cadamuro

FOTD: winged liner + bright lips!

This is possibly one of my favourite make-ups ever: a thick and defined winged liner + bright lipstick. It doesn't really need any explanation!!

Products

FACE
OCC Skin Primer MUFE HD Foundation 117
MAC Pro Longwear concealer NC15
Clinique Redness Solutions pressed powder
NYX Powder Blush in Taupe (contour)
MUFE HD Cream Blush in Nip Slip

EYES
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Stars Makeup Haven e/s in Creme d'Nude (lid), Showstopper (crease)
UD Sin (browbone)
NYX Black e/s
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
Clinique High Impact Mascara
MAC Eye Brows in Fling (brows)
Ardell accent false lashes 311

LIPS
Rimmel Moisture Renew l/s in 610 Spring Bouquet

NARS Habanera: EOTD, Review, Photo, Swatches

NARS Habanera e/s duo is amazing! Maybe a tiny little bit too glittery/shimmery for my liking, I have to take extra care when applying to avoid fallout. But it brings out ANY eye colour, believe me, not just blue eyes.  It comes in a nice sleek black packaging (NARS signature) with a mirror. Overall, the packaging is great, very sturdy and practical. Inside you have two shimmery eyeshadows: a light blue/mint with a silvery sheen and a deep aubergine colour. The latter is also rather glittery, as i mentioned.  

  They are super pigmented, soft and buttery and I would say the best feature of this duo is the blendability. They literally melt into each other with just a few brush swipes.  

  The price is in line with NARS products, therefore expensive. I purchased it at Selfridges for £23.50 for a self-treat! I'd love to try more of this duos but I don't see that happening in the near future since NARS is not available in Italy at the moment, and having it shipped would come out quite expensive.  This is my preferred way of wearing Habanera (by the way, don't you just love the name?)   

Product breakdown
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
NARS e/s duo in Habanera
MAC e/s Blanc Type (browbone)
Clinique High Impact Mascara
Avon Supershock gel liner
MAC Brows in Fling (brows)
Ardell lashes 110

EOTD: smokey taupe and falsies

I'm sure you all know what a great eyeshadow MAC Satin Taupe is. I like it in the crease with a lighter colour on the lid, but I LOVE it all over the lid for a subtle daytime smokey eye. 

Also, I'm all over these falsies for everyday make-up. They're soft but noticeable!
Please excuse the gross red spot under my brow, I need to keep in mind NOT to pluck before doing my MU. 

 Product breakdownToo Faced Shadow InsuranceMAC e/s Satin Taupe (lid)
Urban Decay e/s Buck (crease)
Stars Makeup Haven e/s in The White Shadow (browbone)
Estee Lauder Double Wear Liner in Onyx (waterline)
Clinique High Impact mascara
Ardell False Lashes 110

May Photoshoot #5: 70s Erica

Model: Erica

Product breakdown:

FACE
OCC Skin Primer
MAC Face and Body Foundation in C3+C5
Ben Nye Total Cover-All Wheel (SK-100)
Ben Nye Neutral Set Powder
NYX Powder Blush in Taupe
MAC Cream Colour Base in Luna
MAC Blushbaby Blush

EYES
Bobbi Brown Gel Liner in Denim Ink
KIKO e/s 86Avon Supershock Gel Liner
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
MAC e/s in Scene, Blanc Type
Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Mascara
Ardell Fashion Lashes 120 Demi

LIPS:
ELF Lipstick in Ripe Rose

Photographer: Luca Cadamuro 

June RAVE: OCC Lip Tars Review, Photos, Swatches

L-r: Strumpet, Hush, Harlot

 I had been reading about these Lip Tars for months until I finally caved in and purchased some on Love-makeup.co.uk. I've had these for a month or so and I can honestly say they're one of the best make-up products I have ever encountered!! They definitely deserve the rave.

These Lip Tars are popular among make-up artist, because basically they are lipsticks in liquid form, which means that a) you can mix colours to get unique custom-made shades b) they have the ease of application of a lipgloss but the finish of a lipstick.

Picture taken in natural light w/out flash

When you squeeze the product out of the tube it comes out like a very thick lipgloss and it is indeed very easy to apply and spread on your lips. You need to be EXTREMELY careful though, because these are super concentrated in pigment, so you only need the teeniest tiniest drop to get full opacity. A tube will last forever! Do not even think about applying straight out of the tube!! It would result in a hot smeared mess. These need a lip brush and possibly, lipliner for best results.

So after a few seconds the Lip Tars dry out and assume a beautiful velvety finish on your lips. They contain mainly natural ingredients (they're vegan) including some moisturizing oils, so the feel is extremely comfortable. They last for hours but they are not transfer-proof. Actually, they are likely to stain your skin (especially the brightest colours) so be careful when handling these. I swatched the Lip Tars on my arm and then vigorously rubbed TWO make-up remover wipes on it and here's the result:

So, I am a sucker at bright&bold lipcolour and Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics totally made me happy with these since they released 33 beautiful shades including some of the brightest I have ever seen (Anime).  
- Harlot is a stunning coral red, incredibly bright, think MAC Lady Danger but with a coral base.
- Strumpet is a complex shade, not easy to describe. I didn't own anything like this! It is "seedless grape red" on OCC official website, it definitely has lots of red and purple and plum in it, and although it is quite a deep colour I find it incredibly flattering on my pale skin as well!  
- Hush is the only nude colour I picked, it is a pastel pink with hints of beige and peach in it. It almost nudes out my lips and it's the least moisturizing of the bunch.

Now onto the lip swatches: please excuse the messiness, I couldn't be bothered to pick up my lip brush, so I used my fingers to apply (I am aware it's bleeding in the pics):

Hush

Harlot

Strumpet

I'm in LOVE with these and I'm totally purchasing more. The price is also very reasonable IMO, around £8.50 on UK websites although buying in the US would be cheaper.

I've also been testing OCC Skin Primer and I will post a review soon, but let me just say it's another amazing product from this brand.