Messy Smoky Eye Look

I actually wore this makeup look several weeks ago for a dinner party but forgot to take a picture at the time. I decided to repeat it for a face of the day post as I was pleased with the result and it was quite quick and easy to apply. I took my inspiration from this Lisa Eldridge tutorial but instead of a cream eyeshadow, I used my Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill eyeshadow in #4 which is a cream/powder hybrid.

When I did this look originally, I used Illamasqua Skin Base foundation. I only have a small sample tube of the Illamasqua Skin Base and I wasn't particularly taken with the formula when I first tried it. However, it's the only full coverage foundation that I own so I use it whenever I want a heavier coverage and I must admit that I've warmed to it a lot. You only need a small amount otherwise it looks cakey and I find it looks best buffed into the skin using a dense kabuki-type brush. Instead of Skin Base, today I used a sample pot of the new Rouge Bunny Rouge Time Defying foundation.

Face
Vapour Soft Focus Skin Perfector*
Rouge Bunny Rouge Skin Sanctuary Time Defying foundation in Linen Cream*
Ellis Faas Concealer in S202
Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer in SC-3 on blemishes
Brows freshly dyed with Eylure Dylash kit in Dark Brown
MAC Strada blusher to contour
Rouge Bunny Rouge blusher in Gracilis*
A tiny bit of Rouge Bunny Rouge Sea of Tranquility on the tops of cheek bones

Eyes
Kevyn Aucoin eye pencil in Basic Black*
Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill in #4 (Pulp Fiction)
Navy aqua cream from the MUFE Black Tango palette layered in the centre of the mobile lid
Maybelline The Falsies Flared mascara

Lips
Rouge Bunny Rouge Irreverence

I wanted to finish off with a few random brush thoughts. I used my MAC 217 to apply the Eyes to Kill eyeshadow, just as Lisa Eldrige demonstrates in her video. I was surprised how well the 217 applies this kind of product, I typically apply with my fingers but I've never been entirely happy with this. I will definitely use the 217 in future. I've been using my new Laura Mercier Eye Finishing brush to buff in concealer which it does really well, one of these days I will get round to using it with eyeshadows as I had intended.

Now this is probably a rather odd brush confession. I have been using my tiny Louise Young eyeliner brush to apply Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage concealer. I've hardly used the Secret Camouflage since I bought it two years ago, as I've always thought the formula looked too dry and obvious. After watching Lisa use it in her videos, I decided to give it a try using a small brush. Unfortunately, all of my concealer brushes are too big for this kind of spot application, hence the misuse of the liner brush. Using a different tool has definitely changed my opinion of Secret Camouflage and I intend to buy a dedicated pinpoint concealer brush to use with it in future.

* Items indicated with asterisk were received without cost for review purposes

Swatches: MUFE Black Tango Palette

I had a request from the lovely Leanne of Do Not Refreeze for some swatches of the Black Tango palette I showed you yesterday. Thankfully the sun was on my side today.

Slightly out of focus so that you can see the reflects

The darker three colours all contain shimmery reflects and the base colour sets to quite a matte finish. All three are well pigmented too. The plum colour has a brown undertone with stunning red reflects. The blue and green both have quite a black base however they do read as a colour rather than an off-black, if that makes sense. The ivory highlighter shade has a frosty finish and is more sheer than the other eyeshadows in the palette.

This is the result of a quick play with the palette from yesterday. I applied the plum shade as a base from lash to crease and then applied Ikat from the LMdB Silk Road Kaleidoscope over the top. I used the blue along the lower lashes, the green on the upper lashes and the ivory on the brow bone. I lined both upper and lower waterlines with Kevyn Aucoin Basic Black pencil.

First impressions of the MUFE Black Tango Palette

I'm currently in the grip of a major smoky eye phase and I spotted the stunning Make Up For Ever Black Tango palette whilst browsing the Sephora.fr website. After checking they had the palette in stock at Cite Europe (such a useful function), I sent my Mum instructions to pick it up on her travels.

It's just as beautiful in the flesh as the promo pictures suggested. It's essentially a set of four mini Aqua Creams: three dark, one light, and I love the fact that each individual cream has its own lid within the palette. I managed to hold off long enough to take pictures before I started using the colours but I confess it was touch and go!

Post photoshoot, I allowed myself a little play this afternoon and I discovered the double brush included in the palette works very well at applying the creams. I often get frustrated with synthetic brushes that remove as much product as they apply but this deposits and distributes colour evenly. The creams work well as a base for powder eyeshadows just as I'd hoped but I've yet to try using the colours on their own. So far, I've had no creasing either.

In my head, this palette is going to allow me to create an edgy Berenice Marlohe style smoky eye (yes, I went to see Skyfall this weekend and I have a new Bond girl crush). In reality, my looks will be more subtle and probably not as low or smudgy. Whatever the outcome, these dark creams do work very well at bringing intense colours to life and I look forward to experimenting.

My Black Tango palette came from Sephora and cost 39.50€, the palette is also available from gurumakeupemporium.com in the UK.

Image of Berenice Marlohe from KissandMakeup.tv

Help! What do I need from France that I haven't already tried?

As usual, I have left important decision making until the last minute. My parents are returning from France this weekend and I need to put my order in now for any beauty related items. My mind is drawing a complete blank though.

Last year when I was on holiday, I bought the following items: Bioderma face wipes, Bioderma Crealine Cleansing Water, Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentré, Gemey Eye makeup remover, Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk, Sanoflore 24H Sans Concession Deodorant, MUFE Smoky Lash Mascara, BcomBio Organic Intense Triple Action Eye Contour, Mavala Nail Polish Remover and Avibon Vitamin A Pommade.

I used up the Bioderma face wipes, Klorane dry shampoo and Mavala polish remover all quite quickly. Both the Klorane dry shampoo and Mavala are worthy of re-purchasing but you can buy both of these in the UK and I know that I can purchase the nail polish remover in a larger size online. The deodorant, MUFE mascara and Avibon ointment are things I wouldn't purchase again, so they are instantly off my list.

I've recently finished off the Bioderma micellar water and Gemey eye makeup remover. I loved the Gemey remover as it's really gentle and feels very much like a cleansing water. However, I bought this in duplicate so I don't need a replacement for it yet. I'm a bit more ambivalent about the Bioderma. It's ok for cleansing when you're feeling lazy but I always have to wash my face after I've used it as I dislike the sticky feel. It is great for touch ups but I do wonder whether it would be worth trying different micellar water cleansers? I do have the travel size bottle left too.

I rate both the Embryolisse cream and the BcomBio eye serum and think these were my best pharmacie purchases. I've not run out of either of these yet and I don't feel I need backups at the moment. If only the Embroylisse contained an SPF, it would instantly be re-purchase worthy.

What french fancies am I forgetting? I'm sure there must be an important must-have or two that I have missed? I am particular interested in skincare items but my Mum should have opportunity to go into Sephora at Cite Europe, so makeup is a possibility too.

Thank you in advance for your help!

IMATS London 2012

The International Makeup Artist Trade Show will be taking place in London at the beginning of February. The exhibition will be held at Alexandra Palace: Friday 2nd is open to professionals only but the trade show is open to the public on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th. This will be my very first time at IMATS, the show normally takes place in January so giving birth and birthdays have prevented me from attending in the past. I confess that tales of how busy it gets have also made me slightly reluctant too. I tend to get a little flustered in crowds but this year the show has moved to the Great Hall so hopefully there will be more room to move around and explore.

Image by SparklzandShine.com

There is a full list of exhibitors on the IMATS website as well as a schedule of the classes and events that will take place over the two days. I have been told by more seasoned IMATS visitors that it's best to decide which talks you're interested in attending in advance as there are often queues to hear the speakers and spaces are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. As a first timer I really enjoyed Lipglossiping's tips on how to get the most out of a visit to the show.

Image by SparklzandShine.com

Image by SparklzandShine.com

The stands that I am most excited about visiting are Hakuhodo, Make Up For Ever, Emryolisse, Guru Makeup Emporium and PAM. The thought of one big room filled with cosmetics and brushes that are usual hard to access is a huge draw. I fear I may struggle with my self-imposed eyeshadow ban as I browse the stands. There are a couple of things that I already know will test my resolve if I spy them. I'm sure there should be plenty to keep me distracted and I can always go and stroke some brushes if I get stressed!

Image courtesy of www.imats.net. Photo by Nick Wall

Many thanks to Sparklz and Shine for giving me permission to share her images from IMATS 2011 with you. Will you be going along to IMATS this year? Do you have any advice for a first time visitor like me?

MUFE Smoky Lash Mascara Review

The minute that I spotted the Sephora in France, I knew I had to pick this up. There are many items of Make Up For Ever that have I'd love to try and have quite a cult following but this was something I knew I could grab quickly.

I'm not sure what my expectation were exactly prior to using it. Just generally greatness maybe! To start with I was a disappointed and didn't know what the all the fuss was about. The brush is nice in terms of size, I can become nervous if they're too big as my lashes are weedy and sparse. The formula is quite thick and clumpy as you can probably see from the brush pictures below. It's quite thick on my lashes too and does draw the lashes together. This was initially frustrating as usually prefer a more natural look.

Strangely, I've found myself reaching for it more and more. It might not be a natural look but it does quickly create a lot of drama around the eyes. It looks good with simple liner or as a compliment to a smoky eye look. It is very dark too which I like in a mascara. Although it clumps the lashes, I find it does build volume and length very quickly and also layers well. It isn't crispy and despite looking quite fibrous, it doesn't flake which is really important for me.

MUFE Smoky lash is definitely not my favourite mascara but after an iffy start, I've grown to really like it. I think if you like dramatic lashes and don't mind a little bit of clumping, you may enjoy this mascara. MUFE is available from www.gurumakeupemporium.com in the UK and costs £17.50.

Chanel Topkapi Applied

Sometimes on a weekend I won't apply my makeup until the evening. It always feels like a treat after a day spent cleaning! This makeup was the result of one of these evening applications and I went a little bolder than I might do ordinarily. I first applied the Kevyn Aucoin lip colour and thought the Chanel Topkapi eyeshadows I showed you yesterday might be complimentary.

I applied the taupe shade first all over the lid and then layered the gold over the taupe in the centre of the lid. I'm nervous of gold with my colouring but using the Le Metier Kaleidoscopes has taught me that layering can make a scary colour work for you. I finished off by running a little of the deep chocolate brown colour along the outer 2/3rds of the lash line.

Face
LMdB Peau Vierge
BECCA concealer in Praline
MAC Clear Brow Set
Max Factor Soft Copper blusher
e.l.f. HD Powder

Eyes
Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Chanel Topkapi Quadra
MUFE Smoky Lash

Lips
Kevyn Aucoin Liquid Lipstick in Aquarouge

Here's a slightly different look with the same palette. I applied the taupe on the lid again but this time used the bronze-y shade in the crease and the dark brown along the lash line. I'm wearing Edward Bess After Sunset compact rouge on my cheeks and Forever Yours lipstick (swatch post here) over MAC Subculture liner.

French Pharmacy and Sephora Haul

I mentioned in my return home post that I had managed to do a bit of beauty shopping on holiday. I was actually a little surprised when I put altogether at how much I'd managed to pick up! Browsing pharmacies in France is an enjoyable pastime for any beauty junkie as there are so many fantastic brands available. Well known french brands such as La Roche Posay, Lierac, Caudalie and Nuxe are readily available although the prices are similar to the UK. I find I go a bit 'product blind' when faced with so much choice so I compiled a little shopping list. What I bought really is a mixture of items that I have wanted for ages and products that I discovered when researching french pharmacy must haves.

Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentré
This was actually quite tricky to find. A makeup artists favourite; I didn't want to leave France without it. It's only available in certain pharmacies, so it's worth checking their website for stockists if you're paying a visit. I bought this in the pharmacy within the large Carrefour Supermarché at Cité Europe and it cost €10.65 for 75ml.

Gemey Cils Demasq
This was a bit of a random purchase whilst food shopping. Gemey are Maybelline by another name and I seem to think I've read good reviews about this eye makeup remover in the past. Time will tell if my memory has failed me.

B Com Bio Organic Intense Triple Action Eye Contour
I was actually looking for a serum from this brand that I had seen mentioned in a blog post. It was nowhere to be found that and I was keen to give this line a try. I hope this will encourage me to use an eye cream on a regular basis as I'm still shockingly lax in this department. B Com Bio Organic had a large range of products and seems to be a really nice brand and I wish I had picked up a couple of other things to try.

Sanoflore 24H Sans Concession Deodorant
This is another product I came across through online research. I routinely use Lady Mitchum and I thought this would make an interesting alternative with the promise of 24H No Compromise! It's alcohol, paraben and aluminium salt free and carries the ECOCERT label. I've used it a few times now and I really like it. It has a nice, delicate fragrance and, although I don't think it's as powerful as Lady Mitchum, it is pretty effective.


MUFE Smoky Lash Mascara
I was so excited when I spotted Sephora and the MUFE stand. I've had my eye on various MUFE items for such a long time. I only had a few minutes in which to shop though so I opted for Smoky Lash as it didn't require a shade decision. If I'd had more time I would have chosen one of the HD blushes or the cream eyeshadows. I'm pleased I know about the Sephora at Cite Europe now, I feel a future day trip in the making!

Avibon Vitamin A Pommade
Avibon is an ointment meant for the treatment of skin irritations. It contains Vitamin A (Retinol) hence it's appeal as an anti-ageing treatment. It's a greasy ointment (lanolin, vaseline) so I have yet to smear it on my face but I'm intrigued. This is usually stocked behind the counter so you will need to ask for it but there's no prescription required. I'm not sure yet whether it actually contains sufficient Vitamin A to be an effective wrinkle treatment.

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk
I've never tried Klorane before and I saw this particular dry shampoo recommended on a couple of blogs. I'm really looking forward to giving this a try to see how it measures up to Batiste. In particular, I'm hoping for less of a synthetic scent.

Mavala Nail Polish Remover
This was another Sephora purchase. I'm always on the look out for nail varnish removers that don't strip the nail of moisture and I've read some encouraging reviews. I had hoped to find a stand with their nail colours whilst I was in France but strangely I didn't spot any.  

Bioderma Crealine H2O Cleansing Solution (150ml)
This is actually something I picked up for someone else but I couldn't resist showing you the bottle as it's so cute! I've never seen the travel bottle before and it was a harder to find than the 250ml and 500ml sizes which you find in every pharmacy. Again, I found this at the big Carrefour pharmacy at Cité Europe. If you're heading to France, it's certainly worth picking up a bottle of this cult favourite.

Some essential reference material!

I came home only to realise I'd missed the opportunity to get both a Helena Rubinstein mascara and the new Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara. Having said that, my husband is taking a trip to Spain next week, so my thoughts are already turning to what I can add to his shopping list. If you know of any Spanish beauty must-haves, feel free to make suggestions! Do you have any favourite finds from holidays abroad?

NARS Grand Palais FOTD

We can blame my husband for the silly face!

Face
Lancome Teint Miracle foundation in shade 02
RMK Super Basic Liquid concealer
Shu Uemura Brow Pencil
Hourglass Aura Cheek Stain in Rouge

Eyes
TFSI
NARS Grand Palais duo - taupe on the lid, dusky pink in the crease
A smidge of the peach shade from the NARS Delphes trio above crease and on inner corner
LMdB Dualistic Pencil in Champagne to line
MUFE Smoky lash mascara

Lips
Julie Hewett Nude Noir lipstick


I've tried both the Grand Palais and Delphes palettes now and I definitely prefer Grand Palais out of the two. The colours in the Delphes palette have really variable levels of pigmentation and the green seems to dominate the other two. As has already been mentioned, the taupe in the Grand Palais duo is quite sheer and I needed to layer it here. It's a very pretty shade of taupe though. I'm interested to try if over a base next time and may try it over the LMdB Champagne pencil that I used as a liner here.

As an aside, I curled my hair using the Enrapture Totem Styler. I was quite pleased with how it turned out, it always feels a little alien looking at myself with curly hair though. What do you think: is it a Yay or a Nay?! Review coming soon.

My Current Wishlist

Things have rather gone to pot in terms of my plans to send Santa shopping in the beauty halls. I was all set to buy a Tom Ford lipstick before disaster struck (or more accurately my smallest child). My phone was mauled and an immediate replacement required. Goodbye Tom Ford lipstick.

I thought I would cheer myself up with a post about my current wishlist. I can always hope that my birthday will bring more joy.


Tom Ford Moroccan Rouge

Obviously this is top of my list having had an almost but not quite moment with it. The nest time I'm in London, I will be paying a visit to Selfridges and this will be mine!

A Julie Hewett palette and a little something from Burberry

Image from www.misebeauty.com

I've mentioned both of these on wishlists before. I think both of these brands excel at exactly the sort of cosmetics I love. Beautiful neutral eyeshadows, gorgeous lipsticks and in the case of Julie Hewett, some pretty creme blushers. I'm pretty sure of my choices with Julie Hewett, the palette and pan system definitely make it easy to try a few things at once. Edit: This Hue in Mystere is the first thing on my list and you can see Gaia's amazing review over at The Non-Blonde.  It sounds even more prefect than I first though. I more unsure what to pick from the Burberry line. It's too expensive to go to crazy so I have to pick one or two pieces carefully.

Armani Eyes to Kill
Replica from Visionary Beauty started this lemming. To be quite honest, she can take credit for a good portion of my purchases (Grace can take the blame for the rest). This is a new eyeshadow formula for Armani. It's an unusual almost cream, almost powder formula and the finish and colours look rather amazing. Replica has the shade #14 a gold/black which you can see here. Cafe Makeup did a lovely swatch post of #15 and I'm eagerly awaiting Reigning Beauties swatches having seen her sneak preview.



Rouge Bunny Rouge

I'll have the lot please!

 
I don't think there's ever a moment when I don't want something from RBR. I would love one of their liquid highlighters, the blush wand in Vermeer and the Glassy Gloss in Fleur Parfait really caught my eye after the seeing the line up for the Journey Through the Stars collection. My next purchase though will most definitely be the blusher in Delicata. Grace at London Makeup Girl recently posted about her collection of beige pink blusher and it did nothing to disuade me from this lust. Although, I think she might have convinced me that Sue Devitt Koh Samui should also be added to the list....

Chanel Cassis eyeliner 
I admired swatches of this liner when it was first released with Chanel's Autumn collection. It wasn't until I saw Dempeaux's post that I knew I should have picked this up. I think it looks like a great alternative to black and it looks like it's a little richer than RBR Delilah. I think I may have found the perfect way to spend the £15 on my Debenhams Beauty Club card.

Something from Make Up Forever

Image from www.gurumakeupemporium.com

Again, this is a brand that I have mentioned too many times to ignore. 2011 will be the year for me to buy some MUFE. I want to try the Smoky Lash mascara to see how it compares to my favourite Hourglass mascara. The HD Blush is also something I'd really like to try but I'm not sure on shade choices.

I was going to mention brushes but as colour always wins over tools for me, it seems a little silly. Lets just say there are a lot of brushes I want but you can't easily justify more on the basis of "they look so soft" or "mine are all dirty and need washing". Maybe I just need to come up with some better excuses?

Do you have an after Christmas wishlist? Or will Santa be doing a spot of shopping for you this Christmas?

MUFE HD Foundation Offer

There's only a couple of days left to take advantage of the Make Up Forever HD Foundation offer from www.makeup-provisions.com. Quote MODESTY to get 15% off. The offer is available for the first 100 readers until 30th September.

Guest Post: MUFE Aqua Creams

Today we have another guest post from Katie at My Lips But Better. I've loved chatting with Katie and I find her reviews so helpful. I'm really pleased she agreed to do these Make Up Forever posts. So, without further a do take it away MLBB!

They say...

Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream is an ultra-pigmented, long-lasting waterproof cream. Combines the highest-quality pigments with mother of pearl particles to give immediate rich color payoff with a luminous finish in just one application. Long-lasting formulation will not crease or smudge under the most extreme conditions and the creamy and elastic texture allows for easy blending.

I say...

Ever since MAC discontinued some Paint Pots, I've been on the hunt for a good cream shadow. I was very impressed by MUFE's claims of all day staying power and taken aback by the level of pigment in

So I went off to Sephora and bought #2, a shimmering silver taupe. The closest thing in my collection is Benefit Skinny Jeans, which by comparison has less shimmer and is warmer.

I tested #2 during the last few weeks of summer heat here and am pleased to say that they do not budge! Without primer, the shadow looked fresh for 10 hours. Even after the 10 hour mark, there was plenty of color and shimmer to be seen, but it wasn't as intense as when I first applied.

The texture is smooth and slick; it felt less creamy and dense than Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadows (which don't last as long without a primer). My Aqua Cream was quite shimmery, but shades 5-10 are shimmer-free. Aqua Creams aren't just eyeshadows either! All shades are safe for eyes and cheeks, and shades 5-10 are also lip-safe.

I recommend applying these with a finger if you can, so if you're a makeup artist or just funny about germs, consider scooping out some product with a cotton bud and then applying with fingers. The heat from your hand melts the product so it applies smoothly and evenly.

My only suggestion for Aqua Creams would be to add some muted colors. I understand that MUFE has traditionally been a professional brand, but since they've moved into Sephora I hope they will embrace the mass market. And that's hardly a criticism... I'm merely asking for more!

You can purchase MUFE Aqua Creams at Sephora in the US ($22 for .21 oz) or www.makeup-provisions.com in the UK (£15.50 for 6 g).

Bottom Line

Aqua Creams have impressive staying power and great color payoff. If you see a shade you like, get it!

Thank you Katie for another excellent review! If you fancy trying MUFE HD foundation, don't forget about the discount for readers which is available till the end of this month. You can get a 15% discount on MUFE HD Foundation through Makeup Artist Provisions online store. The offer is available for the first 100 to quote MODESTY online before 30th of September.

Guest Post: Make Up For Ever Artist Intense lipsticks

I was really excited when Katie from the excellent My Lips But Better contacted me about swapping some guest posts. I thought I'd make the most of the opportunity and asked Katie if she wouldn't mind reviewing some Make Up For Ever products for me. I have been toying with making a purchase from this brand for a long time but find it awkward as it's relatively hard to get hold of UK and mostly purchasing is done blind. I always find it really useful to browse swatches and reviews in these circumstances. So, take it away Katie!

THEY SAY…

Rouge Artist Intense is a highly pigmented, long-lasting lipstick that delivers rich color in one stroke. Formulated with 50% more pigment than the traditional lipstick, Rouge Artist Intense gives an immediate true-to-color result. A blend of three natural waxes, the creamy texture glides on effortlessly for a long-lasting hold. The extensive color and texture range provides unlimited creativity.

I SAY…

They aren’t kidding about the pigment! I wouldn’t doubt that all of these swatches were done with one stroke of color, and to be honest that’s pretty amazing.

I’m also impressed by the staying power of Rouge Artist Intense. On my lips they last a good 4-5 hours, and would probably last longer if I didn’t eat lunch in the middle of the day (that pesky eating thing is always getting in the way…) The color lasts through a drink (or three), so you can count on these if you’re going somewhere for cocktails.

The key to the lasting power is the satin formula, which I would describe as semi-matte. I can’t comment on the matte or pearly formulas because I only own #30 (mauvey nude) and #35 (raspberry), which are satin finish shades. In my collection, the next closest formula is Revlon Matte (the MUFE lipsticks have a hint more sheen).

I find that the formula feels great right after applying but can suck the moisture out of my lips after a few hours. That’s the tradeoff with lipsticks – you either get moisture or lasting power. Some people try to combat this by applying balm underneath the lipstick. In my experience this prevents the lipstick from bonding properly to your lips, so I don’t recommend it. Instead, try applying balm or gloss on top.

Rouge Artist Intense lipsticks are supposed to smell like roses, but I find that the scent is strikingly similar to Chanel lipsticks. The packaging is sleek and functional with a cap that clicks tightly into place. The labels on the bottom are even color-coded for easy location! My one beef is that the shiny metal shows every imaginable fingerprint. Less neurotic people probably wouldn’t be bothered by this.

You can purchase MUFE products from Sephora in the USA or www.makeup-provisions.com and www.gurumakeupemporium.com in the UK.

Thanks Katie for the excellent review. I've been in touch with the lovely people at Makeup Artists Provisions and I have great news! As my readers you can get a 15% discount on MUFE HD Foundation through Makeup Artist Provisions online store. The offer is available for the first 100 to quote MODESTY online before 30th of Sept. This is excellent news if like me you've never got round to trying this cult favourite.