Makeup In Green

The black eye pencil used to be my no.1 makeup item in my teenage years. At that time I also enjoyed playing with various makeup styles. However, I never showed the results of my tries to the outside world. Once, I especially liked my 'green eyes' and decided to see how my neighbor (a girl at my age) would like it.  The girl was not at home and I only talked to her mum. The lady was a kind and polite woman so she sad nothing on my look, but I noticed it in her eyes - the impression my green and black makeup made. I could tell she found it rather surprising, if not improper.

Nowadays, it would be nothing very much unusual, but in the early 80s it was definitely not a kind of everyday teenage look. Anyway, I was quite happy with the effect of my 'ahead of time' makeup experiment then.
These days, I would rather use a green eye liner (along the upper eyelashes only) instead of the black eye pencil. I recently got a Kohl Duo, orange and grey black pencil, by Yves Rocher - also an orange line completes the green eyeshadow quite nicely.

Kohl Dou Eye Pencil is enriched with Cotton Oil. Both the green eyeliner and the Mandarine side of the pencil contain shimmery particles.

St. Patrick's Day is coming,  it is a good time to think of a special green or green-and-white look.

Luminelle Eye Pencil by Yves Rocher

What you need is: a green eyeshadow/green eye shadows, a white eye shadow, a green eye pencil/ eyeliner and a white eye pencil. To make it more colorful, you can also add orange shades to it, including the Mandarine eye pencil mentioned above. Play with various combinations of these  ingredients and choose your most favorite look for this year's celebrations. Have fun!

One of my tries...

For the nails: my choice is the matte green (seems to be discontinued by Sally Hansen) and pearl white (by Yves Rocher) nail polish.

Mini nail polish by YR gives a shimmering, light coverage. The green shade by SH was found at Dollar Tree

In Red

Despite many trends in makeup, which come and go, change so often - almost every season, red lipstick and red nail polish have always been in. An intense red shade adds a touch of glamor to an evening image and enchantingly complements an elegant outfit. That is why it is good to have 'something in red' in our beauty/makeup collection.
My current choice is a Grand Rouge moisturizing lipstick by Yves Rocher which contains camellia oil, vitamin E and organic sesame oil. Thanks to the creamy texture, it is really smooth and covers the lips evenly. Another positive feature: the red lipstick stays on the lips long, I do not need to reapply it again and again. I got this lipstick as a free gift when I ordered some other cosmetics from the Yves Rocher store - a great and very useful present (regular price = $16)!

A lipstick shade looks better on the lips when they are defined by a lip pencil. It enhances the color of the lips/lipstick. More over, a good lip liner is also supposed to prevent  a lipstick layer from bleeding.
I like the color of the Red Love lip pencil by Oriflame. The deep red looks gorgeous on the lips, and the tip of the pencil is very soft. It is easy to 'paint' all the lips red. However, a disadvantage is that during eating/drinking, the lip liner smears beyond the lip line and messes up the look. It is not a perfect lip defining tool but I like its shade, that is why I have kept it.
A better, and not that totally soft lip liner, is Long Wear Lip Definer (4240 Berry) by Oriflame also. This self-sharpening liner matches matches my red lipstick well, is soft enough to define the lips and does not bleed at all.

A red nail polish complements our evening chic appearance.

Revlon Sheer Nail Enamel

The Red (Revlon Sheer Nail Enamel) by Revlon, in my opinion,  is truly great. An intense red tone, the nail polish smooth application is nice and easy. It gets dry on the nails quite quickly, does not chip and lasts long (usually about a week time, at least five/six days), even when I do all the regular everyday washing and cleaning at home.

In Red in practice. Happy New Year!

Eye Makeup: Glittery Glitter

I am a great fun of these glittery, nicely pigmented  eye shadows by Sephora. Each of them contains tiny, glittery, star like particles which add the sparkling light to the makeup. They are long lasting, paraben free and 'eye friendly' - the shimmery and pearly pigments do not irritate my eyes. What's more, they simply give a flawless and pretty look.
I have had these eye shadows for some time (I decorated them with the two flowers to cover some obvious spots which appear when an eye shadow disappears) and I have been using them in various combinations - blending all the three shades or adding another one of a different brand. The white eye shadow works great as a highlighter too.
Although Tender Pink and Tango Night are no longer available in the current Sephora Collection (and Wedding Day is marked as No. 67 now), there are still other, also similar colors, on offer.

The blue lagoon eye shadow by Clinique complements the above colors, eg. used to crease, as the shimmery factor is much lighter and more delicate than the one in the glittery shades described above. What is important, the eye shadow is suitable for very sensitive eyes. Well, I find it quite beautiful and it looks lovely when used on its own as well. The Lagoon is part of  'All About Shadow Single' collection which includes Soft Matte, Soft Shimmer and Super Shimmer colors.

3W Lagoon - Soft Shimmer - by Clinique

Another slightly glittery product is the eye and cheek luminizer by Sephora. This little thing adds some twinkling magic to the makeup when I use all mat shades. It gives sheer, almost transparent coverage so it can be applied on any matte shade or on 'naked' face/ eyelids. It is also paraben free so my skin and eyes like it too. I was hesitating whether to by this luminizer or not as it was not cheap. I am glad I finally decided to purchase it - since I use only a little while applying it, it will last long. Besides, the shade has already been discontinued.

And now the eye liner - to complete the eye makeup. It has no stardust or shimmery ingredients but the bright blue color by Oriflame defines the eye in a grand but also cute way. In my opinion, it is a good quality product - its texture allows to draw precise, thin and thicker lines, it does not smear and stays on the eyelids long.

Finally, if you feel like adding a glowing, golden touch to the eye, you can decorate the eyelashes with this Shimmer Tips mascara by Avon (after applying a regular black mascara to the entire eyelashes). I bought it some time ago, when it was available, but I do not use it very often. Actually, I have never tried it with the all glittery eyeshadow makeup. Certainly it is not a part of my everyday look but it can add some fun to the carnival or party image.

Eye Makeup: Everyday Look

Eye makeup and makeup, in general, has always been to me what painting on canvas may be to others. A way of expressing myself, yes, but also the fun of playing with colors. Although I appreciate the 'nude look', I have always been more on the 'luminous look' side: bright shades and colorful liners. Why should I wear dull and one-tone eyeshadows only if the world (and the world of makeup) is full of colors! Which does not mean looking ridiculous as I do adjust (at least I try) the makeup style to everyday life circumstances and occasions. Another thing is, that due to my complexion and beauty type, dark shades on my face make me look sick and sad. It all results in quite a delicate but still bright eye makeup.

Here is one of its options:

1. Eyeshadows:
a) white - in the inner eye corner and in the eyebrow arch;
b) shimmery golden-beige - on the eyelid;

Eye shadow from Eyeshadow Palette by Yves Rocher

c) light pink - crease;
d) light blue - outer eye corner and more or less 2/3 line along the lower eyelashes line;

Both eye shadows from Profusion Cosmetics Eyeshadow Palette

 e) eye pencil - a line along upper eyelashes line

Waterproof eye pencil by Miss Claire - the liner is quite well pigmented, smooth and creamy and does not smear

g) black mascara

The light shades create a soft, bright look.

2. Lips
a) for 'bolder' look: a pink lip pencil eg: the one by Estee Lauder described here + a vivid pink lipstick ( Vivid Impact Lipcolor, 08 Sweet Tart by Max Factor - intense and saturated color) ;

b) for softer look: a nude beige lip liner by Oriflame (self-sharpening liner, really soft, shapes lips nicely) + Luminelle Lipstick (Chestnut) by Yves Rocher.
The Chestnut lipstick's texture is creamy and moisturizing. It makes the lips look smooth and gives a sheer glossy coverage.

Here - you can see 'me' in this bright makeup :). I do not color my eyebrows - they are naturally black.

Another option for the pink and blue look is quite simple (below) and I used to wear it more often in the past.

Pink and blue eye shadows, eye liner and mascara option.

Colors of Autumn: Orange - Lips

My favourites: no. 1 & 2

1. Glazed Coral by Avon
2. Peach (Giordani Collection) by Oriflame
 
Sparkling pigment, covers the lips evenly with a nice creamy and bright glow. Both kinds of lipsticks soften the lips and stay on them quite long. All in all, they give quite an elegant look. The shade by Oriflame is a bit lighter though, less orange.

 

3. Pure Color No. 25 Melon SHIMMER by Estee Lauder

I got this sample lipstick at a Douglas cosmetics store in Poland. The color is quite fair, vibrant and juicy, shimmering indeed. However, the lipstick covers the lips with a very thin layer of pigment which does not look good on my lips - it accumulates in the lip vertical lines and highlights them a bit at the same time. I like the color but the texture and its appearance, unfortunately, do not work for me.

4. Pink Brandy No. 825 by Max Factor

The shade name is slightly confusing. Despite the word 'pink', the lipstick color is more similar to a dark orange pumpkin.  Quite interesting though. Rich and mat, creamy consistency feels and looks good even on drier lips. However, it is always good to use some lip balm as a lipstick base, no matter what kind of brand or shade you use.

5. Couleurs Nature Lip Pencil, 04 Orange by Yves Rocher

Simply a good lip pencil - contains Shea Butter. Easy to apply and define the lips with precise lines which stay in place and do not smear. No. 4 Orange goes well with all orange/coral lipstick shades.

Till The Last Drop: Lip Gloss

In the 'Till The Last Drop' posts I am going to write about products I have run out of and I enjoyed using, and I simply wish a bottle or a box of this particular product was not empty.
Today something connected with the past season - glittery lip gloss.

Soft Coral and Soft Pink of Power Shine collection by Oriflame were definitely my summer favorites. It is really a pity that the cosmetics made by this Swedish company are not available in the US (at least I have found such info on the Internet). Anyway, the gloss was quite light, when spread on lips it softened and smoothed the lip skin. The color of the gloss was visible but almost transparent at the same time. Both Soft Coral and Soft Pink contained little shiny particles which created a twinkling effect, especially in the summer sunshine.
When I first bought these Power Shine items, I was a bit surprised not finding any sponge on the lip gloss applicator. I thought it might have fallen of and got sunk in the gloss, as it sometimes happened when I was using lip gloss by other manufacturers.

The non sponge solution is actually called 'ShineBoost' and it worked quite well. The gloss was applied evenly but its layer was really thin. On the other hand,  the application was very efficient as no amount of gloss was lost - usually some part of it sinks in the sponge. All in all, the bottles of the lip gloss could be a bit bigger than 5ml ..

Miami Pink of Ultra Shine Lip Gloss collection by Sephora  is another nicely sparkling lip gloss but its formula is a bit thicker than the consistency of the gloss by Oriflame, mentioned above. Miami Pink is also more pigmented, it hydrated and distinctly smoothed my lips. The 'hour-glass' shape of the applicator, compatible with the line of the lips, is quite convenient and practical. The gloss lasted on my lips rather longer than the one by Oriflame. Ultra Shine Lip Gloss by Sephora is available in various shades.

Summer Favourites

Summer days are gone, it is getting cooler, sudden snowfall has already appeared in some places. The days when we were missing cooler weather and lower temperatures were not so long ago, that is why we would like to tell you about some of our favorite, everyday summer treats. On hot and humid summer days I found them quite useful.
1.  Waterproof mascara - Luminelle - by Yves Rocher 
It worked well - applying it was quite nice and quick - no lashes glued together, no clods, a bit volumizing but still natural effect/look. It didn't smear even on very humid days and did not irritate my eyes. There was no problem with removing the mascara with eye makeup remover. It is a pity the product has been discontinued by the manufacturer.
2. Double Wear Light Stay-in-Place Makeup by Estee Lauder
It does stay in place and looked nice on my face even when the temperatures outside were reaching 100F. When I first applied it on my face, I thought it would be drying my skin but actually it didn't. It really lasted long and is quite light - I didn't feel it on my face even when I was wearing it all day long.
It is good for 'bigger' and 'smaller' summer outings and workdays too. It gives quite light coverage (which I enjoyed) and at the same time did not look like a mask on my face. However, it is important to shake the tube well before applying the makeup. At least, the better I shook it, the better it worked for me.
The manufacturer provides the Double Wear makeup in several shades and it is fragrance free (luckily). This is something I would definitely buy again.
3. Waterproof eye pencil - flashy silver 02 - by Sephora
The eye pencil is my summer eye color 'tool' no. 1.  During hot and sunny days, when it was not very comfortable to wear regular eye makeup, this touch of flashy white added a lightening touch to my look. Well, the color of the pencil is white - it has some little, sparkling silver particles - nothing too glamorous, just a really delicate accent. I put it on the middle parts of my upper eyelids and below the outer eyebrow corners. It lasted long, despite the heat, and it didn't crease or melt into my eyes. The pencil, including its inner part, is very soft which makes it not very efficient, it was worth its price though.
4. Solutions plus+ Total Radiance - visual perfection tint release moisturizer SPF 20 - by Avon
On hot summer days, when I did not want to wear any makeup, but also wanted to give my face something more than a bare, pale look, I treated it with this product. It worked like a hydrating cream but was a bit different than other tinted  moisturizers. It contained tiny balls of light brownish, sparkling pigment which  were mixing into the almost transparent, creamy base during the application. It gave my face a fresh and shiny look, no matter how hot and humid outside was. I also liked how light it felt on my face. However, it did not cover skin imperfections which was a small disadvantage. Anyway, it kept my skin relaxed and moisturized, and there was no need to reapply or correct it during the time.
5. COLORTREND pencil play - white - by Avon Cosmetics
This eye pencil is a bit harder than #3 but I have found it soft enough to put it gently on the inner corners of my eyes and draw lines on the inner lower eyelids (water line). The white is eye-friendly, 'opens' my eyes and gives a bright look.
6. Avon Naturals body renewing body spray - black cherry & nutmeg
Just a pleasantly scented alcohol free body spray. The fragrance is not too strong - sweet cherry with light nutmeg accent. Much better to wear on sunny days than any great perfume as no alcohol makes it skin friendly. Also, the light scent doesn't 'choke' or bother with too strong notes.
7. Blusher in Pearls

The pearls I have been using are actually a mix of two products: Sun Touch Blusher in Pearls by Wibo (some of the pink pearls) and blushing pearls by Oriflame. They give my face satin, natural but also a bit sparkling colours, shape it nicely, and do not dry my skin. Easy to apply evenly with a smaller brush.

8. Sheer & Shine Lipstick by Yves Rocher
It is quite a good alternative to a regular lipstick or lip gloss, especially meaning the summer days but not only. Gives a fresh and soft look, covers my lips with a light moisturizing layer of pastel, radiant color. The stick is a bit thinner and smaller than most lipsticks (2g) but quite long-lasting.
9. Nourishing lip balm  with Sweet Almond Oil by Yves Rocher
This balm stick is actually quite useful all year round. Hydrates my lips, softens and protects the delicate skin and makes my lips look nice. Sometimes I use it also before applying a lipstick. The stick is soft but quite solid at the same time - it doesn't melt or change its form during spreading it on lips.
10. Powdered blotting paper by Sephora
I found it very handy in the summertime. The blotting sheets are not big (the package doesn't take much space in a purse) but helped with keeping my face dry and mat without wiping of the makeup. Useful but it could be a bit cheaper.
11. Flawless Finish Concealer - Dark Circle Corrector Stick by Yves Rocher
I almost forgot to mention it. The concealer does what the manufactures says: 'Naturally hides dark circles and blemishes'. The texture of the stick is not too rich and not too thick - so it is quite good for a summer outing. Covers my darker under-eye spots  quite well and gives the look a nice finish. The concealer contains Musk Rose Oil softening and soothing the under-eye area. I like it although after a few hours of wearing it, the corrector dries my skin a bit, which makes little fine lines more visible (a good under-eye moisturizer applied before makeup time solves the problem). On the other hand, it doesn't irritate my eyes/skin and is quite light. More over, the stick makes the application of the concealer quite comfortable. Available in two shades. Photo friendly.