Looks: Soft Icy Winter

Hello everyone,

I hope you are all having a very nice Wednesday. Today I wanted to show you a look I did a couple of weeks ago (I’ve only just got round to cropping the pix, I’m so lazy, I know!) with colors that reminded me of the winter season.

The look turned out to be slightly colorful and soft. I’m not sure what I think about it. I don’t love it but I don’t hate it either. I think it’s time to start using my beloved bright shades again but in the meantime, here’s the look:

Products used:
– Urban Decay Primer Potion
– Pupa Beauty Bijou Palette (pale pink, dark lilac)
– Barry M Dazzle Dust #15 Aqua
– Sleek Original palette (bright purple + dark blue)
– Clarins Crayon Yeux in Silver Flash
– L’Oreal Telescopic Explosion mascara
– Max Factor Masterpiece Max Mascara

Directions:
– Apply UDPP all over lid as a base.
– Sweep a pale pink shade (I used the one in Pupa Beauty Bijou palette) on the browbone to highlight.
– Apply a dark lilac shade (I used the one in Pupa Beauty Bijou palette) on the inner lid and inner crease of the eye. With MAC 219 pencil brush, I applied some on the inner lower lashline too.
– Apply a aqua shade (I used Barry M Dazzle Dust #15 in Aqua) on the outer lid and crease and blend where it meets with the lilac. With MAC 219 pencil brush, I applied some on the outer lowerlashline too. Blend again where it meets with the lilac.
– Apply a bright purple shade (I used the one in the Sleek Original palette) on the crease just right above the aqua shade and blend well.
– Darken the outer corner with a dark blue shade (I used the one in the Sleek Original palette). Apply some on the very outer corner of the lower lashline too and blend.
– Apply a silver pencil eyeliner (I used Clarins Crayon Yeux in Silver Flesh) on the upper lid.
– Finish off with mascara.

New Collection: Clarins Palazzo D’Oro Holiday 2009

Inspired by the light and sumptuous radiance of the architecture of Venice, Clarins’ Palazzo D’Oro collection features sparkling shades of gold in both makeup and packaging.

GOLD ATTRACTION EYE QUARTET AND LINER PALETTE ($66.00)
This beautiful golden palette includes a dark chocolate eyeliner and four eyeshadow shades: pink with silver shimmer, pearly yellow-gold, soft burgundy and shimmering gold brown.

GOLDEN ATTRACTION FACE PALETTE ($57.00)
A soft beige powder presented as a kaleidoscope of matte and glossy colour to give a soft golden sparkle to face and décolleté.

JOLI ROUGE PERFECT SHINE SHEER LIPSTICK ($23.50)
Gold reflection: gold and silver pearl

SPARKLING WONDER VOLUME MASCARA ($23.50)
Clarins’ volumizing black mascara is now infused with golden shimmer.

Product Review: Clarins Express Compact Foundation Wet & Dry

Name: Express Compact Foundation Wet & Dry
Brand: Clarins
Size: 10g
Price: €35.00

From Clarins’ website:
An incredibly fine, silky, creamy powder that ensures quick and easy application while promoting total skin comfort. It evens the complexion, smoothes out skin tone and promotes a matte finish with long-lasting results thanks to specific “matte luminosity” pigments. The complexion remains the same, in any type of lighting.

What I liked:
- silky texture
- good coverage
- makes skin very soft
- matte natural finish
- longlasting
- no breakouts
- the packaging

What I didn’t like:
- not many shades available
- the price

Clarins Express Compact foundation wet & dry isn’t available in many shades and most places only carry 3 or 4 of them, usually in middle or dark tones, so not many people, esp those with pale skin, will be able to find a match. That’s why I always overlooked this product at the counter till one day the SA offered me a sample of the foundation. Unfortunately I only realised when I got home that the shade she gave me was way too dark for my pale skin (seriously, what was she thinking?) but I thought I’d try it anyway.

The foundation has a slight nice scent, a silky texture and makes my skin feel soft and velvety, thanks to silicones like Dimethicone and Cyclopentasiloxane. It can be used either with a dry or damp sponge. The coverage is good, esp when applied wet: it evens out the skin and hides redness, but not brown spots or pimples. You need to use a concealer for that. It doesn’t settle in fine lines and the finish is matte but still natural looking.

I have combination skin and my T-zone is oily, so I need a foundation that controls oil. This one contains nylon-12, nylon 6/12 and silica, which are all absorbents. However, the product controls oil well for only about 5 or 6 hours, probably less if you have oily skin.
It didn’t make me breakout and didn’t dry my skin. The staying powder is amazing: it stays put all day and doesn’t transfer on clothes.

The product also contain ascorbyl palmite, which is a form of Vitamin C, and tecopheryl acetate, a form of vitamin E. Both ingredients are effective antioxidants.

The compact is gorgeous: red and sleek. It contains a sponge to apply the product (although I prefer using a brush) and a big mirror. The price is quite steep but refills, which are quite cheaper, are available.

Summary:
Overall, this is a great powder foundation. It provides a natural matte finish, great coverage and makes skin feel very soft and smooth. The price isn’t cheap but refills are available. However it is hard to find and there aren’t many shades available.

Rating: 4/5

Disclaimer: I got a sample of this product as a Gift With Purchase at my local beauty store. The review is based on my own personal and honest experience with the product. For more information, please see my disclaimer.

Inside Kim Metcalf makeup bag

English actress Kim Metcalf is best known for playing Sam Mitchell in the British soap opera EastEnders. Here are the beauty products this beautiful actress can’t live without:

L’OREAL ELNETT HAIRSPRAY (£5.49)
It helps add body and shine, helps to increase volume and hold. Kim says: “It’s such an old classic and you can’t beat it to give your hair that little bit of extra oomph. It’s nice and cheap, too.”

BATISTE DRY SHAMPOO (£2.09)
It refreshes hair between washes and revitalises greasy, dull and lifeless hair. Kim is a huge fan of this shampoo, saying: “I don’t like to wash my hair every day but it doesn’t smell great when you’ve had a night out, so I use this – so not only does it make my hair smell better, it gives it a real lift, too.”

NIVEA SOFT MOISTURIZING CREAM (£6.99)
A moisturising cream for everyday use on face, hands and body.

CLARINS SUN WRINKLE CONTROL CREAM FOR FACE with SPF15 (£15.50)
A lightweight, non-oily cream for face that helps protect skin from the hazards of immediate and long-term sun exposure. Kim says she’s religious about making sure she applies sunscreen on her face whenever she leaves the house.

BENEFIT BADGAL LASH (£14.50)
The big brush and the rich black formula give your lashes that dramatic, falsies effect.

Inside Vanessa Hudgens Makeup Bag

Vanessa Hudgens shot to fame for her role as Gabriella in High School Musical. She has released two records, V and Identified, which is out now. The singer and actress is also a spokesperson for Neutrogena. Here are her fave beauty products:

RODIAL GLAM BALM ($95.00)
Rodial Glam Balm is a multi-tasking product can be used on face, lips, neck and hands. It contains soothing moisturizing ingredients and antioxidants to nourish skin, increase collagen production, reduces wrinkles and heals dry skin. It is great for a quick fix during the day or as an in-flight treatment.

GIORGIO ARMANI LUMINOUS SILK FOUNDATION in no.8 ($58.00)
An oil-free, luminous and weightless foundation that provides a natural finish and an all-day light to medium coverage.

CLARINS INSTANT LIGHT PERFECTING TOUCH in no.3 ($30.00)
It conceals dark circles, small imperfection and signs of fatìgue as well as highlighting cheekbones, browbones, forehead and chin.

BY TERRY LAQUE DE ROSE ($44.00)
This tinted lipcare product moisturizes and conditions lips. It also contains SPF 15 to provide protection from UV rays.

JOUER MOISTURIZING LIPGLOSS in Starfish ($20.00)
It contains Vitamins A, C & E, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil and Pomegranate Seed Oil to moisturize, soothe, nourish, rejuvenate and protect, keeping lips smooth and hydrated.

STILA GLAZE LIP LINER ($16.50)
Its lighter and lower pigmented formula is designed specifically to work with glosses, extending the life of any sheer, luscious lip. Vanessa uses this in Melon.

MAYBELLINE LASH DISCOVERY MASCARA ($6.94)
This mascara lenghtens and defines lashes. Its mini-brush allows you to get hard to reach lashes. Vanessa says: “No matter how much you layer, it refuses to clump.”

SHU UEMURA PRESSED EYESHADOW in ME Blue 600 ($20.00)
Long-lasting, intense color with light-capturing powders. Vanessa likes to use this with a black liner.

DIOR 5 COLOUR EYESHADOW PALETTE in Stylish Move ($54.00)
A selection of five pigmented and long lasting pinks and purple shades. Vanessa likes to create a purple smokey look with this palette.

THREE CUSTOM COLOR SPECIALISTS WATERCOLORS FOR CHEEKS ($22.50)
A sheer, faintly shimmering color wash that gives a fresh, natural glow to the cheeks. Vanessa uses this in Pink Hyacinth.