Fyrinnae eyeshadows...

In anticipation of a tiny haul of Fyrinnae coming my way (cleared customs! now...on ze way), I have been using their stuff every day.

This post is a tidy round-up of some favourite Fyrinnae looks over the months. I noticed my skills have deteriorated over time. Again, let's blame the beverages. Caffeine is leaching important minerals from my brain!

(Btw, if anyone's fond of interesting/creative makeup and has a bit of time to spare, please check out her blog: http://dizzymakeup.blogspot.ca/ << pretty much a visual feast. She is UNE ARTISTE MAGNIFIQUE)

finished look (VERY OTT)

(Clinique perfect plum topping off EArden Neoclassical coral)

This is literally all Fyrinnae, from inner corner outwards: Electric Stardust (discontinued), Snow Leopard, Te Amo, and finally, for the crease and lining purposes, Sorceress.
 Two of these colours were Arcane Magics (slight colour shifting), so twas a complex look indeed!

Again, Sorceress for crease/lining. Evocation and Shenanigans for the lids. L/S: Revlon Fuchsia Fusion.

Unless used wet as a liner, Sorceress is hard to work with, as are all their shades with a black base. However, the effort is worth it. Teal and turquoise lovers will love it.
The colour shift is subtle but glorious. It's a pain to use as a crease shade, unless you have a big fluffy crease-shaped brush which does the majority of the work for you.

Eye Sweep brush, mine's called, from Spa Resource (INEXPENSIVE), and looks like the Bobbi Brown one of the same name.

You NEED a decent (more than 2) variety of brushes for loose shadows, especially duochromes and Arcane Magic shizzle. This way, you can simply pat them on, but the brush gently diffuses it for you, without having to lose the sheen/overlay with motion.

Ho-hum, another blue-green look. Nothing too creative as I was going to a Posh Wedding. I didn't want to be mistaken for a Punjabi aunty with a penchant for dancing in her socks. The one who is beating the doctor-sahab-who-looks-like-he-is-having-an-epileptic-fit-but-is-really-just-doing-a-bhangra at his own game.
"Bhai, koi in ke liye roh afzah laye! Inho ne to hum sab ka SATIYA NAAS kardiya hai!"

A khaki Hard Candy cream shadow as a base (thing went prune-like in a few weeks!), followed by Electric Stardust (discontinued! Thank GOD I haz backup).
The silvery-greens from Dior Extase Pink, which my amazing cousin gave me to use on my wedding, for the rest (crease). Rimmel Amethyst Shine l/s.

Electric Stardust is LEGIT my favourite eyeshadow ever. It goes from mint-green to pastel blue.

Now we come to a flinch-wince-cringe pose-y picture, but I was trying to balance the friggin iPad whilst nearly toppling, ever so gracelessly, off the stairs.
Electric stardust for an inner corner highlight.
Scarlet Macaw (lid) and Sultry Samhain (crease). These are both beautiful reds from Fyrinnae. However Macaw is a warm red, Samhain is cool-toned. So they kinda conflicted, the Electric Stardust just played off the incongruence of the pair. And Fyrinnae Enrapture for blush, way heavy-handed.
Lips are Clinique Ambrosia (buttershine)...

And now we come to my scarf-take-off-ing phase. I really really miss hijab. I felt happier.
But I know I'm gonna feel like turtle poop if I get any more reproachful glances, rude words about it, or about MoZlEmZ in general. I don't have the emotional stamina to deal anymore.
And on the other hand MoZlEmZ expecting me to be some kind of enlightened Madonna. The assumptions on either side.

K, whatevs. Rainbow eye. Again, Electric Stardust--a common theme--I can't resist it. Evocation, then Snow Leopard (I promise I do other combos, but it seems every time I hit on something I want to PHOTOGRAPH, it features these three colours), London Mod (inner crease--also lower lashline, to top off Cover Girl Liqui'line blue liner), and Meerkat/ Sultry Samhain for outer crease. Bourjois fuchsia lip crayon.

The dastardly iPad decided it preferred this lighting, to show off the eyeshadows. Unfortunately, this one's prior to lip balm thingy.

This is...Dior Rosy Tan and Fyrinnae Te Amo. Artist of Makeup Marrakech for a bright orange.

Anna Sui bronze liner again. Marcelle Kajal, which is a great cheap replacement for Arden's powder pencil liner (and a deeper, cooler black, whereas the EA one was pretty much a warm dark grey). Best bit is the Marcelle Kajal doesn't irritate my finicky eyes, and looks messy/smudged, without much effort.

Te Amo is a delicious colour. It's a greyish-copper with a tendency to look like multiple colours (bronze-brown in crease). They have renamed it 'Serendipity,' to keep us suitably confuddled.

If I look happy, it's because I managed to find a decent colour match in Cover FX cc cream. NOT because my life is amazing, or I am a blessed, successful little pixie. NO.

Finally, this (ok, the base wasn't all that bad--I had on SPF and it was near a window--case closed)...is nice. Black eyeliner as base (smudged out) with Fyrinnae Snow Leopard on top. A bit of Artist of makeup Espresso around the outer-V to smoke out the Anna Sui liquid liner pen (a sparklesome brown/gold).

This proved how versatile Fyr E/S are, to me.

Guerlain Liquid Eyeliner

I love this! It does not irritate my sensitive eyes, a first for any liquid liner, and is intensely, glossy black. The Kryolan cake/aquacolour is the other one that I love. Five star to both, but the Kryolan is a mellow black, this one is rich and deep.

The packaging is so beautiful to have.

N'est-ce pas?

 If a particular item of makeup is crucial for you, as eyeliner is for me, why not have it in beautiful packaging? Guerlain never spares on packaging, even if it cuts back on efficiency in some cases (e.g. Meteorites). I love it because it makes applying makeup a pleasant, elegant ritual.


The brush, c'est magnifique. Makes it easy to get precise, detailed pointed eyeliner looks. It's flexible so it won't poke and scratch your lids as others may.

I learned a good trick from watching the makeup artist Ahmad Koubeissy on youtube; he always uses this liquid liner at the edge (outer v) or in the outer edge where lower and upper lashline connect by making many mini strokes. 

He then blends these strokes out with a precise brush, and so, it creates a smokey haze exactly where you want it, along with the defined line. You get more control this way, for a tidy result. 

He also does another thing which is SO SO GENIUS. He takes two cotton buds, and moves them quickly, rotating them, scraping off any liquid liner that may have blobbed onto your lashes. Even experts make mistakes, after all. 

One thing I don't like: it is very washable. This is good, in case you make a mistake and want a quick clean-up, or in case it touches false lashes. On the other hand, I have to be very careful with facial mists and such, by shielding the eye area. Otherwise I will get a little splatter mark where this liner dissolved. 

Disconcerting, and means mirror check-ups are a necessity. A bit of a committment, much like red lipstick. 
So keep that in mind before purchasing. 

BUT WAIT! ZERE'S MORE! Mais oui!
Une vidéo CHARMANTE!

A fool-proof look that can work in any setting.

2013 Beauty Favourites

Trumpets! Unfurl the flags! Confetti! Parading horses! It's time...

Following are some beauty favourites from the past year. Not necessarily the most used items, just ones that make my heart flutter.

Hopefully, it is useful. In any case I had fun compiling it.

 L-R: Elizabeth Arden Poppy Cream Color Intrigue lipstick, Anna Sui 701, Elizabeth Arden Cassis Ceramide lipstick, Anna Sui 303, Elizabeth Arden Neoclassical Coral - Center: Cargo 'South Beach' lipgloss quad/wheel/thingamajigger

Poppy Cream: The red to surpass all reds. The formula was creamy, superb.
It has been replaced with "Power Red" in the Beautiful Colour line. Out of sheer obstinacy, I will not be purchasing that one, although I have swatched it to compare, it has NOTHING on Poppy Cream.

Anna Sui 701: My perfect nude lips. More on the honey side of nudes, than pinky/beige. Formula: feels sheer, but opaque. I use Lizzy Arden's Sugared Kiss lipliner beneath it, if I can be arsed.

Cassis: I love berries, I love plums, and this is the best one of my collection. The ceramide lipsticks have an amazing formula, smooth, not too creamy, it actually imparts a lot of moisture and colour to dry lips. Fine shimmer, nothing frosty. Understated compared to other berries/plums that I have, but not in a boring way. Luxurious, slightly weighty, golden packaging.

Anna Sui 303: A fun pink, the closest to "bubblegum pink" I can pull off on my skintone.

Cargo South beach lipgloss quad: I can't stand gloopy gloss, this is an extremely soft, like, softer than butter, formula. It is also quite moisturizing, like a soft, creamy balm. Doesn't feel heavy/sticky/gloopy andn gloppy.
Pigmented enough to be stand-alone lip colours.

Lypsyl, Dior Rose balm

Lypsyl: Cherry flavour reeks, plan to get the basic, unscented one, once this is fini. Dunno what's so special about it. The ingredients seem straightforward enough. Still, it's a little miracle. Weightless feeling on the lips, sinks in well, just need to apply a couple of times a day. It isn't one of those "addictive" balms which do more harm than good, and dry out lips over time so that you have to constantly reapply.

Dior balm: Feels very thick and "protective." Imparts the slightest bit of pale pink colour. Need very little, but still, as you can see, I've hit pan.

TOP L-R: Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy, MAC Typographic, Annabelle Smudgepot gel liner, LUSH Sophisticated cream shadow, Pupa Luminys Silk 701
MIDDLE: Revlon Naturally Glamourous palette, Fyrinnae Snow Leopard, Electric Stardust (discontinued), Immortality, Estee Lauder Cream Shadow Mochachino, Benefit Strut cream shadow.
LAST: Lise Watier Eye Shine in Fauve, Anna Sui pen eyeliner in 500, Elizabeth Arden Smoky Eyes Powder pencil, Artist of Makeup 9-pan eyeshadow palette, Benefit Big Beautiful eyes palette.

Fyrinnae Stuffffs: Pixie Epoxy-great little base to help glittery eyeshadows stay on instead of scattering onto your cheek (the cheek!). I use it as an eyeshadow primer, too. It works well with loose e/s. Snow leopard eyeshadow is a gleaming taupe. Electric Stardust is a colour-changing mint-green. Immortality is a basic black with multi-coloured glitter.

Eyeliners:
Annabelle smudgepot gel liner: I find it better than Bobbi Brown, etc. Also better than the more inexpensive Maybelline/Essence/WetnWild gel liners. It is very creamy, but a tiny bit spreads out across the whole eye, so it's not as cakey as some others can be, esp if they are built up. Easy to manouvre or build up, dries perfectly opaque, crisp blackest of blacks, and doesn't hurt when used in the waterline.
Lise Watier Fauve: Lavender taupe. Smooth, no tugging necessary. Je use it for the lower lashline, it gives the perfect amount of defining shadow, but the subtle shine/shimmer also makes the eyes look a bit bigger and shinier than if it were an opaque colour. Stays on all day, but you have a little window to smudge it out across the lid if you please.
Anna Sui pen eyeliner in 500: This is amazingggggg. It's a rich brown with a golden sheen running through it, soooo pretty. It is a great liquid eyeliner formula, in a felt tip pen form. The felt tip is fine, precise, but flexible, and can be turned on its side, so you can get a thinner line inwards, and thicken it outwards in ONE FELL SWOOP! You turn the end once, and you get enough 'liquid' for both eyes (unlike other twisty-pen liners where you have to turn again and again).
Elizabeth Arden Smoky Eyes powder pencil in black: You get a hazy line, so it looks instantly smokey. It is a sophisticated, smudged-out sort of look, and it lasts all day for me. It is pigmented, but not overly so (not like those overly-creamy, newfangled 'gel liners' which I don't like).

Eyeshadows:
MAC Typographic: Tis the divine Matte2 formula, smooth, rich pigment, blends well. A basic almost-black. You can build it up to black. Very versatile. It gives that powder kohl look, without hassle of fallout. I love it for outer V or to soften the edge of eyeliner... Everyone should have this.
LUSH Sophisticated: Gleaming lavender taupe, exact match for Lise Watier's Fauve. Cream shadow that you apply with a sponge applicator, great formula. it works well as a base for any taupe looks, or alone blended at the crease.
Pupa Luminys Silk 401: MY VERY FIRST TAUPE. Baked eyeshadow, it is actually more massive than in the pic (I have used it so much that the round dome shape has flattened, and I've hit pan). Shimmery pale brownish taupe. Lasts allllll day without primer.
Estee Lauder Mochachino: A cream shadow which never creases, yet not too thick and annoyingly paint-like. My fave cream shadow formula, better than Shiseido, etc, imo. Colour is a taupe with a bluish shimmer, builds up to a darkish cool brown.
Benefit Strut: Stands alone (although I have used it with other colours) as an all-over lid colour, with black liner (in waterline too).. A bluish-greyish, shimmery, Young Hollywood, smokey eye look for the masses! ( Caveat: needs some sort of eye primer.

Palettes:
Revlon Naturally Glamourous: Inexpensive, assortment of brown eyeshadows with a taupe thrown in for good measure. Good quality, except for the white-ish shadow (comes out as a dirty muddy pale...something. Not pigmented).
Artist of Makeup palette: Good formula! Addictively beautiful colours! The 9-palette is very useful! Magnetized! Have used it nonstop since acquisition! A closer look:

L-R: St Tropez, Hush, Espresso, Hollywood, Marrakech, Bare Canvas, Cocoa, Brazen, Nutmeg

Benefit Big Beautiful Eyes: A no-brainer, basic neutral look, the concealer isn't bad (I use it to clean up edges or define the eyebrow half the time). Comes with useful little brushes.

Skincare:
Neostrata Toning Solution Level 2: Keeps my skin smooth, clear (not this week though as I've been too lazy to use it), and seems to brighten it a bit. AHA, BHA? Am covered.
Saeed Ghani Rosewater mist: I use it every day, under moisturizer, over makeup, last thing at night... Was misting it in Little Love's face yesterday, to his delight... Here is his testimonial: "gah goo ba ba da mmm mmm." I like it very much, it's a hoot and a half!
Bioderma Hydrabio Riche moisturizer: Perfect for sensitive, dry skin. Superbly moisturizing, yet light texture, sinks in. Gives a nice boing to the skin, or maybe I imagine it. Has niacinamide not too far down the ingredients list, so here's hoping it's contributing some brightening effect.
Burt's Bees Radiance Night Cream: Just a good night cream, that, of the many ones I've tried, doesn't irritate or break out my skin. Rich and moisturizing, absorbs well on top of freshly misted skin, so long as I am cognizant of using only the teensiest amount. Downside: scent isn't the best,, but JE NE GIVE A DAMN PAS!

Didn't photograph: my fave body skincare, perfume, bronzer, blush, foundation. You need something to anticipate, don't you?

Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss

When it comes to makeup recommendations, I usually like to write a chunky big block of a post, encompassing several of my favourites. You get more for your (much appreciated) time that way. However, this item is superb enough to have its very own rave right here.

Lipglosses seem an easy-breezy enough purchase. But, I think, Ye Old Reliable, one to pull out and use with any and every look, is anything but.

A saleslady with a keen eye, remarkably well-versed in gloss, led me to this. Her name was Sakurina. I am forever indebted.

The genius of this, is in what it LACKS: stickiness, a slobby feeling of grease (which inevitably dries the lips out over time), fragrance, flavor, too much colour (can go blotchy after a bit, y'know), ostentatious packaging, sunscreen.

(Sunscreen?? I hear you cry. But! Surely! Come now, dear girl! etc. Look, sunscreen is nice, but with control. I don't want to be eating that stuff, 24/7, am also slightly allergic. I like to apply lip balm with 'screen when, and only when, I am exposed to the sun. Le soleil. Sooraj.)

'Tis simplicity itself. I can't rave ENOUGH! Look, neither Clinique nor this particular item, have much buzz about them. This isn't new, trendy, and the asking price is not obnoxiously "aspirational" either... but this season, it is the savior of my lips (<guess how often you'll be seeing that word)!

Of course am using a dedicated lip balm as part of my skincare routine at least once a day, but this lipgloss is keeping that hydration going strong, for every cold winter's day. It almost seems to morph, from gloss sitting on top of your lips, to a kind of mild treatment, which keeps working throughout the day.

Aesthetics, now! The tube is simplicity itself, and the slanted applicator is not annoying as wand/sponge ones can be, it's practical. The colour? It comes in a variety of sheers. I own "apricot" but it reads as clear. That SLIGHT tint, makes it blend easily into the natural lip colour, so it is more natural looking than clear gloss, which can look too glassy.

It makes every lipstick sit better and appear juicy (not OTT, mind), even if, deep down, in its cold, brutal heart, that lipstick sucks.
Previously impractical ones, become fine, even for a chilly Canuck winter.

I used it under the superbly long-lasting, and therefore, drying, Cover Girl Lip Perfection (Hot Passion) the other day. Result, excellent.
I've used it with NYC lipsticks, Elizabeth Arden, Dior, Chanel, everything in between. It's only been a few weeks, but I think it'll make the rounds with every other lipstick in my stash. The colours don't bleed out, and they seem to "hold" better.

So! Lip primer, conditioner, and gloss in one? Can it be? Ah, but it is.

Basically, you could use many lipsticks in your stash, that you nearly discarded for being dehydrating. You could pick out drugstore lippies based on colour alone, knowing your handy dandy Clinique Superbalm Gloss will make any cheap formula work. Therefore, this little staple WILL save you money!

(Obvious point is obvious: matte lovers need not apply).

AOM: It will make your heart flutter

Artist of Makeup: never have I anticipated a product launch more. If you know of Zukreat Nazar, you might know what I'm talking about. She has glorious makeup tutorials, which I adore for her elaborate Arabic style. The way she does eyes up is simultaneously too much, and just right. That sweet spot.

Anyway. She used awesome products in said videos, right? Contouring sticks, eyeshadows, blushes. And they looked pretty excellent but they were from her upcoming makeup line...WHICH TOOK FOREVER TO COME OUT. The wait period was excruciating!

When the site was finally up and running, I spent an hour(s)(s)(s) hunched over trying to figure out what to get. It looked so GOOD! Some of it didn't appeal to me, admittedly (the blushes-not a blush person, honestly. And foundations...I will never cheat on Vichy Dermablend! Never! Never! Except with Shiseido!). I toyed with the idea of maybe spending baby's university diaper fund on the magnificent pro HD eyeshadow palette and big fat professional brush kit. But...I'm not a pro. I'm an aficionado.

I got five neutrals loosely inspired by my Dior Rosy Tan. Neutrals, to better suit my warm, medium toned skin. Although I use the Dior palette daily (it is a perfect, harmonius blend of understatement), I have issues with 1. pigmentation 2. the tone (it was definitely made with lighter skin in mind) 3. creasing.

These were meant to pick up where that lacks.

So.

They are, in a word, though I despise the word, fabulous. Tres so. Substantial pigment yet they blend beautifully.

Cast:

1. Bare Canvas - a creamy, smooth pale peachy-pink (a warm pastel pink), with a sheen. The texture is similar to Wet 'n Wild's Brulee eyeshadow, but...smoother, if that is possible. I would compare it to NARS' All About Eve palette, the texture is something like that. It is almost overly-smooth, by which I mean your brush may pick up too much. You may have to dust it off a bit, if you are into more subtle looks. This is my favourite because it brightens the eyes so well.

2. Hush - A scrumdiddlyumptious soft mauve, similar to the top shade in Guerlain's Les Fumes, but with gentle micro-shimmer running through it. Satin finish. This is well-suited for hazel and green eyes, particularly, and I can't wait to try it on my mother, who, indeed, possesses such a pair.  [edit: OMG, I DROPPED IT REALLY BADLY, AND IT CRUMBLED TO DUST JUST NOW!! :'( I should've gotten a palette to put it all in...]

3. Nutmeg - Warm matte. Soft. Smooth. No issues with chalkiness or powderiness. Maybe a bit too warm to be an everyday crease shade for EVERY look for me, but I can see it working on some people. It plays reaaaally well with the other characters in this movie, though. (edit: just wanted to add that I have seen Zukreat use this several times as a bronzer/contour shade, so it is multi-purpose!)

4. St. Tropez - Bling. Zing zang zoopity zoop. A mixture of fine shimmer and glitter, which adds dimensional interest to what could otherwise be a dull Mac Woodwinked dupe. Very very gold. It actually matches my gold wedding jewellery perfectly. A good pick for desi brides, then. Very smooth, and it picks up the warmth of aforementioned Nutmeg, they make a good team. A+.

5. Espresso - Matte cool-toned brown. It blends out into almost a plummy shade. No issues with patchiness, which was my main concern.

So...following are some swatches, apologies as I have naught but an iPhone cam. :(
They look soooo much nicer in person. Swiped on with fingers, and no primer.

Nutmeg, Espresso, St. Tropez, Hush, Bare Canvas

See how nicely they sit on the skin? Particularly the mattes; rare to find mattes like this. On the lids, they blend and sit beautifully, perfect for a minimalist look as well as a standard "brown smokey"--and things in between (cut-crease, the Old Hollywood eye, etc). I went over the swatches a couple of times (did the same for the following Dior ones), because this is my first time swatching and I barely touched the product for the first swipe.

Arrogant comparison to Dior Rosy Tan shades (right of each AOM shade), although they are not supposed to be dupes, I just wanted to compare the colours.

(As you can see, the Dior is very well put together, almost too well put together, as it looks like a haze of meh on my lids.)

I'm wearing 'em today. No primer yet no creasing.

On my way to the pediatrician, not a calculus exam, although you'd be forgiven for thinking so, given my odious expression.

Lizzy Arden's smoky black pencil, L'Oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes 'scara, aforementioned Artist of Makeup e/s,

Omorovicza tinted moisturizer mixed with Shiseido Perfect Refining foundation,

Guerlain Terracotta liquid blush in Spicy Coral, Omorovicza Sunkiss bronzer, Essence Bronzer in Blondes,

Dior Nude glow sculpting powder in a shade much too pale for me, and ....Dior Nude "lip blush" (eye roll) in Trench.

 So in conclusion:
1. Get these. If not today, next Sunday.
2. Don't be une massive dope like me--acquire one of the empty (9, 15, or 30) palettes, so you don't end up dropping the unprotected little shadow and have to repress it. *weeps*
3. Well done, Zukreat.

Bodacious Lashes...and my admittedly genius combo

I'm not usually one to talk, think, or write about mascara. Gag. Lots of subjects are deeply fascinating. Iguanas, how the Cuban government operates, Venusian storms, or Saturn's for that matter, pomegranate farming, and so on. Mascara is NOT one of them.

Besides, there is not very even footing for discussion. Mediocre mascaras come and go, a good eyeliner is forever.
Preferences vary, as do lashes (curly, straight, sparse...). PLUS it takes at least a week of use in order to assess a mascara properly. The formula needs to be exposed to air, it takes time to dry out to a less goopy consistency, you need to see if it flakes/crumbles/causes allergies... blah di blah.

I've been through the expensive and drugstore ones. Whatever's available, I've tried. (Aside from YSL and Armani mascaras. Just can't bear to fork out my kid's college fund to a bi-monthly mascara habit, ya know.)

The worst one in recent memory was the gaudy gold tube by Guerlain, Le 2. Twas heavily fragranced, burned eyes, causing one to swell up for days so I resembled Quasimodo...
 Horrific. I actually mentioned this to some other makeup nerds  makeupalley forums, and some people said they had had the same experience. Weighed down my naturally curly lashes till they were completely straight, flaked, the works.
PLUS: Unnecessarily double-sided (two for the price of one? not good when both sides suck), a complete gimmick. BOO GUERLAIN, BOO!!


The best one so far, for me, was the Essence I love extreme volume mascara, about 3 dollars at Shopper's Drug Mart. Under-rated yet it delivers!
Volume, length, the darkest black available (just as black as the super-expensive 'scaras, and far darker than regular drugstore 'carbon black'). Blah di blah. Am on 3rd or 4th tube. Easy to overdo, though.

Coloured mascaras? If you use one that is not pink (ew Hunger Games lady!!), you are awesome.
 I remember using a blue mascara in high school, with sparkly gold eyeshadow. Fun fun.
An excellent reasonably priced blue mascara is Quo's, 15 dollars, and lasts ages! They also do a purple one.

Okay now that I've rambled on and on and lost my sole reader (hi sis! how many cupcakes have you feasted on today?), let me get to the FRIGGIN POINT ALREADY.

Having stumbled upon a splendiferous, fantabulous--and other made-up Roald Dahl words--mascara combo I need to share with the InTeRnEtZzZzZ...or die trying. (Typing takes a lot out of you, you know. Risky. Business.)

The combo is....(pens out. notepads ready.)....is....is...(quick inhalation)...
L'Oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes + Bourjois Liner Effect 'scara!
Do one eye first. Don't want the 'scara to dry in between coats. Otherwise: clumps.

You apply the white side of L'Oreal very fast (it is double sided. but unlike Guerlain, this is not a gimmick). The white side gives GOBS of length. GOBS, I say.

Then apply the black side (again, speed is of the utmost importance). No pause. THEN...the Bourjois just to fill in what you've already done. You can do the bottoms with L'oreals black side if inclined to.

Whew. Done. Fast. Heart racing. Clock ticking...
Move onto the next eye. Quick! Breathing is for amateurs! Hurry scurry little mouse...

Then collapse in a heap and await the ambulances.

Reasons why this amazing combo rocks:
~requires two reasonably priced mascaras, so it's like you're paying for a high-end scara, but with way better results.
~you can often find both of these mascaras on sale, or use a coupon. Or, you know, SDM points if you're lucky enough to be a Canuck.
~no flaking. long-lasting. you can use on bottom lashes and needn't fear charcoal smudges.
~literally: a false lash effect. The kind promised in doctored, photoshopped ads. Sans lash infills as with Penelope Cruz and Rai, Rai, Rai.
Length. Volume. Black. Perfect separation.
~easy to remove. No watery eyes and burning mascara remover required. Just warm water and a teensy bit of rubbing. BECAUSE THE L'OREAL DOUBLE EXTEND BEAUTY TUBES (L.D.E.B.T.) IS A TUBING 'SCARA! Different to a normal 'scara. Other tubing 'scaras include Lise Watier 24 Hours mascara, Clinique Lash Power, MAC Opulash, Blinc, etc.

One might go so far as to suggest this same effect can be achieved with any combination of tubing mascara+separating mascara. One might be right.
Me? Staying loyal to this combo till the devil possesses me. Or till the next mascara drives by, winking, in a flashy car and a flurry of hype.

I don't care to use an eyelash curler, by the way. SO SUE ME, PENELOPE. SUE. ME. (please don't, though. your lawyer's a fiend, I've heard.)




The End
APPLAUSE.

Credits:

Bourjois Liner Effect

          L'Oreal Double Extend Booty Toobz

Quasimodo, aka artist's rendition of the author of this marvelous piece

Penelope Cruz

Aishwarya Rai

A lawyer (Penelope's, je think)
 

Alternative to Chanel Notorious

For those of you who missed out on Chanel Notorious (or came, saw, and passed up for a Glossimer instead), have I got a dupe for you!

Try Annabelle Haute Chocolate eyeshadow trio! Yes, an eyeshadow trio, available only in Canada, land of moose cake and beaver pie.

So. Ahem. Completely ignore the darker, glimmery shade.
What you want to use are the two lighter, matte shades, with any angled contour brush.

 It takes just a dab, right where your cheek hollow IS (or would be), and then blend a smidgen--boom! Cheekbones! Egad! C'est ne pas possible!

But if you went heavy-handed by accident because you were busy fuming about how fast you finished that box of Lindt Chocolates which were SUPPOSED to last a month....well, just take a bit of your regular face powder or a bronzer and blend it out!

Jaadoo.

Now, were I a proper, dedicated blogger, this would be accompanied with high quality pictures, a nice before & after.

But because my sister has my camera, you get...nothing.

 Just trust me.

Annabelle trios are like, what, seven dollars? Maybe less? And if it doesn't work on your face (though I bet my dwarf pony it will), it makes for a beautiful look on the eyes.
I just LOVE LOVE LOVE it. It also happens to be praised to the skies on Makeupalley, and you know how discerning those gals are.

In other news, Guerlain Meteorites perles primer is THE SHIZZLE. FO DIZZLE MA GIRLIZZLES..
I used to hate this thing on myself (young, proud, noble bearing). "I get the same result mixing Benefit High Beam with aloe vera!"

Howver, I did love it on my mom, whose makeup I often do under the pretense of giving her a "facial" (yes, skincare is involved. But when she, unsuspecting, has relaxed sufficiently, on goes the makeup...heh). Her skin looked less parched, more fairy princess. (Same thing goes for the Guerlain Ballz...suit her to a T!)

Now that His Royal Plumpness occupies most of my attention, day and night, I can't do without it. With the scarcity of sleep  comes the need for illuminating products. And this is top-notch, because it 1. smells good (brain happy. soul sucking Dementors, not so much), 2. helps makeup last longer, probably, 3. lends the glow that used to be under monopoly of pretty Russian supermodels.

Plus there is something so satisfying about pushing the pump and ruthlessly crushing the tiny little balls into a luscious, sparkly gel  (someone could make a joke out of that, fit for less prissy company than mine and thine, n'est-ce pas?). Kinda like bubble wrap for grownups...I mean PRINCESSES.

 No 7 instant radiance éclat, MAC strobe cream, those are functional, sure, but are they pretty?

Do they blatantly resemble the little round candies that are usually suspended in layers of cupcake frosting? Do they have a swirly logo engraved on them?

My point is that the ostentatious and obnoxiously overpriced stuff is usually, definitely, absolutely worth it.


In other news, lemme share a bit of coolness from my Facebook feed...
A genius named Hubert Duprat supplied these caddisfly larvae with gold and precious stones. They built these blinged-out, protective cocoons!

Mesmerize with yo' smize!

If you're coming from makeup alley, apologies for the thus-far lacklustre blog. You guys are worth more effort.

Fyrinnae is an online makeup company.

 They are fab and my teensy little post to them won't do them justice. All I'm doing is adding to the praise all over the web. It's a crime not to illustrate this post with pictures & swatches, but all I have is a phone camera.  

 They make the BEST loose eyeshadow. Trust me on this. Whenever I use this stuff, I get compliments. Hubby calls it "jewellery...for your face!" Is there a better testimony than that? Women I don't KNOW want to know what I have on.
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MUST HAVE ITEMS - With most of these colours, if you blend them out, they have an in-built crease colour!

1. Evocation. Lovely cool-toned taupe. Makes for a beautiful neutral, has a glamourous *gleam,* pairs well with so many colours.
2. Snow leopard. Again, taupe. It's a mesmerizing neutral that's not dull at all. Much love.
3. Sorceress. Sexy deep turquoise. This will make brown eyes GLOW and bring out the honey tones. You can use it as eyeliner, delicately and subtle as a crease/outer V shade, or go all out and use it EVERYWHEEEEREEEEE...
4. Te Amo. It's like ash in the pot, but it looks amazing and complex once applied. Rose/grey/brown/WHATEVER.
5. Fire Opal. It's like a beautiful gleaming brown with a dark base. Makes brown eyes look intensely chocolate-y and rich! I have used it with restraint to add depth to  most looks. Cheryl Cole and Monica Bellucci would love this, if they knew about it.
6. Tyr. Pronounced "teer," which is the Urdu word for arrow, but I don't know what they were going for. Smokey green. This makes the sexiest smoky eye in history. Very Victoria's secret (Adriana Lima on a good day...although, yes, every day is a good day for her).

These are fun to play around with, and worth every penny.

There are more, I especially adore their neon brights! But the ones mentioned will be universally beloved. Even by the consumer equivalent of Sir Robin from Monty Python...if ferociously bright eyeshadows were a fire-breathing dragon, I suppose. Try not to unravel that mess of an analogy..

"Bravely ran away, away....
Yes brave Sir Robin turned about, and gallantly he chickened out!"

Lastly, their customer service is lovely. I cannot emphasize this enough.

Ta-ta for now, Chubby Chumpkin will be up any moment! Tick tock goes the clock...

Show some skin, that's what's in

A tittilating title for you there! Or it would have been at an all-girl's boarding school in, say, Victorian England. Or at a Bulgarian nunnery. I'm not cutting edge or risqué at ALL, not by today's standards. Phooey! Hoity toity! (<< try saying that in a Mexican accent). DOBBY'S SOCKS!

I wanted to do a short post on cosmetics and skincare I've been loving. Will this be another beauty blog? No, not exclusively. I'm not knowledgeable/experienced enough to commit to such an endeavour. Admirable and excellent beauty blogs include Pink Sith, Drivel about Frivol, Ars Aromatica, Musing on Beauty,  Musings of a Muse, A Model Recommends, Delicate Hummingbird. There are more, which I can't remember just now. 

I mention these to point those of you in the right direction, who accidentally found this blog searching for a good beauty-esque read. These are all good.

Now.

 As most new mothers know, skin takes a beating from all the hormones, late nights, broken sleep, and intense, crippling STRESS! 

Actually a cute baby does a lot to diffuse stress, but dark circles? Hormone related breakouts? Dry, flaky, vitamin-depleted skin? Not so, Pablo.

I want skin like hers!

The following stuff has made my skin absolutely pristine over the past few weeks.

Firstly. HUGE RAVE FOR SAAF SKINCARE.

I like the fact that this is a woman-owned business, it's all organic, highly certified. Their customer service is also great-always good to know, for etailers.

 I tried their face and body kit (sampler sizes) and had to order the full sized Pure cleanser and Ultimate moisture serum. Regarding packaging: LUXE! Regarding effectiveness: ULTRA FABULICIOUS BABYCAKES!

Pure Face Cleanser:

Smells nice. Beautiful texture. You just smooth it on, gently massage, remove with warm, wet cloth. (Shout out to MICROFIBER--available at Wal Mart for cheap-o!) Probably be best to use cotton wool for eye makeup, but who's to lazy to? JE!

Removes all makeup, my nasty (file into "regrets") Clinique Lash Power tubing 'scara included, leaves skin soft, fresh, cleaaaaan, and not aching for moisture.  Sometimes I follow it up with Dermalogica Tri-Cleanse which is a gentle creamy cleanser that has active ingredients to brighten the skin, helping with hyperpigmentation.

Ultimate Moisture Serum:

I did my proper, fanatical review for this on makeupalley.

Recreating that kind of enthusiasm here would render all of you numb to further raves, and a bit scared (tumbleweed and air, in particular). So let me say only that this is one of the best skincare products I have ever purchased. 

It soothes skin, absorbs just as well, if not BETTER, than the vastly more expensive Omorovicza Gold Rescue Serum, and Guerlain L'orchidee imperial--both of which seem to have been made only with yacht-owners and Arabian princesses in mind. 

Ultimate moisture serum leaves my skin IMMEDIATELY supple, soft, stronger over time (i.e. not as sensitive), and somehow has managed to fade several acne scars! I love this stuff as much as my grandma...'s knitting needles.

 When I run out (hard to do, as just a dab'll do ya), I will FRANTICALLY be on the website SCREAMING for more.

Be warned that it doesn't smell too pleasant. There's a nice scent, but a distinct rose hip scent lingering in the back. If you follow up with a moisturizer on top, you should be good, though.

For those with acne-prone or oily skin (Jiminy Cricket, pay attention), you'd much prefer the Complexion Boosting serum. I actually passed mine onto my sister in law.

Other serums:

Estee Lauder Advanced night repair is good to have around to calm down breakouts, but not much else. I've been through four bottles. "Meh" at most.

Boots' Hydraluron. You use this as a serum under moisturizer--supposedly makes the moisturizer more effective. Ok. So this has massive, rave reviews on the internet. You can read them all with a quick google. But wait. You're here for ME. So stick around if you're a bit younger than 49. You see, if you don't NEED need it, you may find it to cause pimples. At least, I have. 

Every usage has prompted itchiness and little under-the-skin pimples (dontcha hate those?!?!). So, i keep this to use under my eye cream, and around the "marionette lines" area. Is it effective--very. I wish it would work over the rest of my face.

Over this stuff, my eye cream has been the inexpensive c.Booth liquorice eye cream. Good, nothing miraculous. Is it doing anything? Who knows. 

Normal night cream has been Nivea cream, which I have cheated on in the past with fancier, flashier creams, but came back to each time with renewed affections (have used since teenage-hood). Masks vary, but currently it's Dermalogica Sebum Clearing masque, which is VERY brightening and effective for controlling pimples. Esp if used every few days--effect is cumulative.

NOW. The fun stuff. Fun because it's all flashy and expensive, like.

Omorovicza. Or, as my husband calls it "Oh-me-gaga" - it was originally a mispronunciation, but is now he's even invented a song "Omorovicza! Omorovicza! Oh me gaga, oh me gaga, oh oh!" to tease me for how  (GOD ALMIGHTY!) I have fallen for this brand. 

The sexy image, a whole fantasy that only very expensive, prettily packaged items can conjure up for the poor and infirm (moi). 

"Nobody went broke underestimating the intelligence of the consumer," n'est-ce pas? Here's their spiffy ad. 

Now you too can be privy to desiiire, set on fiiiire...

Ah! WHAT a model! There was a girl in my class, Tasneema, who looked exactly like that, except with even more elegance & beauty, if you can picture it. Pathan, obviously.

Shall I, with a spray of the Queen of Hungary mist, be spraying on such allure, such glamour and grace? Mais oui! Have my money! Have it all--and this coupon for Pita Land too! Good till June!

This facial mist IS very nice. I use it every day, whenever. It feels refreshing and it *does* hydrate. 

Not too enamoured with the (simple, herbal) scent.

 For THAT price one expects something more resplendent, and perhaps a little jingle to play at every spray--but hey! It makes for a good "setting spray" over powder, a good mist prior to skincare. Quite moisturizing. Good all around, wot! Mac Fix+ is similar and good, but too easily available, well-known, and AFFORDABLE for me to dribble over. 

Ooh i JUST had an idea for Canadian companies to follow suit (Marcelle, you listening?)! 

Bottle and sell L'EAU DU NIAGARA FALLS with a few other goodies thrown in (rose water, glycerin, chamomile perhaps? A bit of the famous Niagara wine?). Seriously, do it, and I will be the first to say WOWZA and a do a jump in mid hair, kicking my heels together, which Archie will demonstrate below.

.....

.......

My bad. Google doesn't seem to store such images in its bottomless pit/gallery. Well, this is close enough (replace  look of intense anxiety with Wink and Charming Grin)

Now. More Omorovicza. They do offer exclusive discounts on occasion, and samples with every purchase. BEWARE. The samples will tempt you to further purchases, not to mention all purchases on their site leads to garnering "loyalty pengo points" which will help justify further splurges. A slippery slope indeed.

To earn anything worthwhile, you'll have to accumulate a HELL of a lot of Pengo points, and will probably take the best part of a year, unless you're Queen Rania of Jordan. Or a very hard worker, Employee of the Month type. 

Here are pictures of me wearing only Omorovicza Complexion Enhancer. Am also using their Sunkiss as a bronzer in the second set of pics. 

As you can see, it makes the skin look natural + fresh. It is advertised to have a matte effect; forget this, it's satin-y. The finish (and feel) of my baby's cheek, to be honest.

Very sheer, but in a pretty way. When you use good skincare, you want to show off the results, not hide behind thick makeup.

 It lends this gleaming translucency to the skin that you usually find in young or very healthy people. 

Also--BIG POINTS HERE--this stuff has undoubtedly improved my skin. The first day that I wore it, two major pimples had totally shrunk by mid-day, and every time I take it off, my skin just seems better.  Very cool considering most tinted moisturizers and foundations, even the mildest mineral powder, seems to annoy my skin.

The Sunkiss is in a similar vein to the Complexion enhancer, but darker (not by much), with a very finely milled shimmer  from gold/ruby/mica particles! Ah me, oh my.... GOLD!!! This will suit darker skin tones as a tinted moisturizer, but I also use it as bronzer.

It is SPLENDID for looking as though you went on a short holiday to --take your pick--the Maldives, Tahiti, Brazil. 

Didn't put Morocco or Neelam Valley as options because those are my personal holiday picks. Nobody has gifted me with tickets to either, I'm a bitter hag about it.

Now a quick mention must be made of my other liquid bronzer love, Dr Hauschka Translucent Bronze Concentrate--fabulous and very versatile. You can use it on its own, mix it into foundation, or moisturizer, or SUNSCREEN (to take off the white cast). It also seems to improve my skin (must be the witch hazel). It DOES contain alcohol, so buyer beware. Actually, so does the Garnier Roller ball which is good for everyday, light concealing. (Lise Watier Les Beiges portfolio - concealer wheel - for formal events).

Shoutout to Vasanti Monoi Magic!! A recent release. 98% certified monoi oil (coconut oil with tiare flowers steeped in) with sandalwood oil and a bit of "parfum" as well. This smells gorgeous, it's about $35, and it soaks in lickety-split. Basically it's a great after-shower hair oil, along the lines of argan oil (but better imo), or light body oil. LOVE.

What now?

Confession.. j'ai un VAST array of foundation/base products, but am trying to go more natural, so I'm trying not to use them. I do succumb to Diorskin Nude Sculpting powder quite often, however. It's just TOO good not to. 

....

More crickets.

More tumbleweed.

Twiddling of thumbs.

While we're here, let me teach you a mild swear word in Japanese. YABAI!