Catrice’s Defining blush in 010 Toffee Fairy

Can you believe, I only get to try Catrice’s Defining blush now, and that only because I was looking for a good contouring blush without any orange hues. So, I came across the 010 Toffee Fairy and I bought it mainly to contour my cheeks, and it is doing a great job so far,  really giving my cheeks a good structure. For contouring work I use mostly a kabuki brush and blend the blush into my base.



Catrice Defining Blush in (010) Toffee Fairy

Toffee Fairy is lovely beige brown shade without any red or gold tones. It really give me  a fresh  healthy natural glow, without being to red or orange that some bronzer can do.  It does contain some silver shimmer,  but I don’t find it to obvious, it almost falls of the face once applied and it leaves my face with a satin finish.  The blush goes on quite sheer at first, but it’s defiantly buildable if you apply more, just be careful,  the shimmer would be more obvious as  if applied with a light hand. I mostly would then apply a brighter blush on the apples of my cheeks.

I also find that Toffee Fairy is great dupe for Benefit’s Dallas, maybe the Toffee Fairy is tad lighter and more on the shimmery side. It also looks very similar to MAC's blush in Harmony, which is another favorite of my for sculpting the cheekbones. Harmony is completely matte though. 


See also my video how to apply a bronzer and highlighter strategically:



Catrice Defining Blush in (010) Toffee Fairy, Benefit Dallas, MAC Blush in Harmony

All in all, this is great blush for a natural bronzed look and if you are a lover of Benefit’s  Dallas or MAC's Harmony, you might want to check this beauty out and save yourself some money.

Cost in Ireland € 3, 99 for 5g.

Have you tried the Defining Blush by Catrice? What other shades do you recommend?

xxx Marina

Bobbi Brown's matte Eyeshadows

I love  matte eyeshadows, they are  perfect for the day time and they look softer and more natural than shimmery metallics.  Also shimmer sets in expression lines enhancing wrinkles, so using mattes will  give more of a smooth finish to the lids.

Also keep in mind that matte eyeshadows photograph better   in flash photography. If you have shimmery shadow all over the lid, and you take a photo with flash, the flash reflects off the shimmers, and makes your eyes look more closed.

I love the texture of Bobbi Brown’s matte eyeshadows, its very fine milled, buttery soft, and they apply like silk and blend like a dream and last all day long. The colors are very pigmented are crease free and skin tone flattering.

The flip-top packaging is good, and I also love the option of being able to arrange them into the palette pans to make my own custom color palettes.

They are quite bit pricy with a price tag of € 24 here in Ireland, but you get a lot of product and the container last forever.

Check also my latest YouTube video featuring my favorite Bobbi Brown Eyeshadows. 

 Eyeshadow: Yvory, Eyeliner: MAC Fluidline in Black Track, Lips: Supercover Lipstick wheel no 1 shade Ruby, Blush: MAC Dollymix

Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Ivory

Yvory Ivory is somewhat lighter than bone, but not bright white. I use it as a base eyeshadow or just to even out my lids. It brightens my eyes like nothing else and a great highlighter for the brow bone and on other parts of my face.  It is very sheer, almost like pale-colored face powder, so don’t expect any color payoff.

 Eyeshadow:Shell, Eyeliner: MAC Fluidline in Black Track, Lips: Lancôme Rouge in Love 128M Ever So Sweet, Blush: Shu Uemura glow on blush in M 345

Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Shell

Shell is a matte peachy-beige with a touch of pink. I use it as a base color and it just brightens the eye area and it provides a perfect clean and matte canvas and also keeps eyeshadows from creasing. It looks lovely when used on the brow bone.  Great shade for a minimalist look or for the retro pinup look paired with a winged eyeliner.  Very similar to MAC’s Orb.

Eyeshadow: Wheat, Cheeks: Make up For Ever high definition blush in (6) Quicky, Lips: MAC Lipstick in Morange

Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Wheat

wheat which is a light beige grey brown - it is quite sheer, so it would really show up on lighter skin tones. It’s a neutral base shade that blends quite well with other shades. Great color for the so called no makeup look, or if you want to balance a bright or dark lipstick.  I find it to be very similar to MAC Omega, so if you have that one, you don’t need Wheat. 

 Eyeshadow: Taupe/Shimmer Eyeshadow in Bone, Lips: Nars Red Lizard, Blush: Bobbi Brown in Blushed

Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Taupe

Taupe is a matte medium golden soft brown with yellow/orange undertones, not really taupe at all since there is not one spec of gray. If you are looking for taupe, you might have a look at  Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Blonde, which is cooler or  BB Wheat which is cooler and two shades lighter. This is perfect shadow for contouring without adding too much color or being too dark.

Eyeshadow: Sable, Lips: Boijours 09 Pop Orange,Blush: Style

Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Sable

Sable is a matte neutral medium brown with a slight peach undertone. I wear it mostly on the lids or the crease for depth and along my bottom lash line or as a middle color underneath my crease. Also great shade for blondes or redheads for filling in the brows.

Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Blonde

Blonde is a light ashy taupe brown almost the color of cinnamon. It is quite similar to Sable and Taupe, so you definitely don’t need three of them.  I like to use it in a crease paired with ivory as a base for a polished eye.

Eyeshadow: Heather, Lips and Cheek: Bobbi Brown Cream pot in Coral

Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Heather

Heather is a dusty grey brown plum with blue undertones. I usually wear it with BB Cream eyeshadow in Bone as a base and apply Heather over the lid today and in the crease and smoke it out lightly towards the brows. Great color for a soft smokey eye. I think this shade looks best on those with green/brown/hazel eyes and light skin.

Eyeshadow: Slate, Cheeks: Bobbi Brownb Bronzing Powder in  golden light , Lips: Rimmel in vogue 

Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Slate

Slate is a neutral medium grey-taupe with a hint of purple, and really looks amazing on green and brown eyes. It looks dark in the pot, but it goes on sheer and the color is buildable, really perfect for a subtle smokey eye. I personally love to wear Slate from lash to crease for a dramatic look paired with pink lipstick and blush.

Eyeshadow: Steel, Cheeks: Catrice 060 Strawberry Frappuciono,  Lips: L'Oreal 297 Red Passion

Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Steel

Steel is a medium warm dark grey with blue undertones. This shade is perfect for the dark smokey eye look and I like to apply it over a pink base. 

 Eyeshadow:Hot Stone, Lips: Bobbi Brown Rosy, Blush: MAC Pinch O'Peach

Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Hot Stone

Hot Stone is a matte cool neutral ashy brown with a hint of a plum, almost like a chocolate brown. I use it often on my lid for a light smokey eye and it really makes my brown eyes pop. I also like to use it as contour shade for a more natural look. Since it has no red undertones, it is perfect for filling in eyebrows.

Eyeshadow: Cocoa, Lips and Cheeks: MAC Something Special

Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Cocoa

Cocoa is a matte  warm chocolate brown with burgundy undertones. It’s both a great crease color and a great liner. I like to use is for the soft smokey eye paired with loads of black eyeliner. The shade is very similar to MAC's swiss chocolate, only less creamy. 

Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Rich Brown

Rich Brow is a  matte warm  deep dark brown with red undertones. Similar to BB espresso but warmer and softer.Very versatile eye shadow, I like to use it as a shadow liner, brow powder, crease shade or just plain lid color smoked out slightly. It is similar to MAC's brown down, so if you have that one, you certainly don’t need both.

Eyeshadow: Mahogany, Cheeks: MAC Blushcreme in Posey, Lips: guerlain rouge automatique nahema (143)

Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Mahogany

Mahagony is a matte rich deep neutral brown with a hint of grey. This eye shadow is perfect for a sophisticated brown smoky eye. I  like to pair it with the Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow in Petal all over the upper lid as a base and the Mahogany in the crease and  as a liner.  I also use it sometimes to line my eyes, which gives a softly smudged look. It also looks great with yvory as a base and Mahogany in the crease and outer corner.  It also makes a great brow powder for dark eyebrows

Eyeshadow: Caviar,Cheeks:Bare Minerals face color in warmth,  Lips: MAC Please me

Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Caviar

Caviar is a not-quite-black, but more very deep dark brown. This eyeshadow is perfect for lining eyes, just make sure to wet your angle brush first, to avoid the fall out. I also like to rim the whole eye, from the lower lid up to the crease, for a very intense smokey eye. Also great shade for the outer v-corner.

Have you tried Bobbi Brown's matte eyeshadows? What are you favorite matte eyeshadows? 
Please let me know in the comments!

xxx Marina

Blue Smokey Eye is back

Blue eyeshadow is back and its here to stay, well at least for the Spring/Summer 2013 season. The blue eyeshadow  didn't have the best reputation over the last years and actually it  hasn't been seen much around since the 80's. I am actually quite happy about its return, because this is such an amazing shade that suits every eye color, but it looks especially stunning on brown eyes. Here  is a easy step-by-step tutorial  how to rock the blue this summer. 

Add caption

MAC Paint in Untitled, Urban Decay 24/7 Eye pencil  in Electric,Urban Decay 24/7 Eye pencil  in Binge, Inglot Pearl 428, MAC blush in Melba, Bourjois Rouge Edition in 03 Peche Cosy

Products used and Step-by-Step application

Face

Step 1

MAC Body and Face Foundation C2 - Apply all over your face 

Step 2

Lacura Concealer pen - Apply the concealer where needed or like me straight down the middle of your nose, under the eyes, the forehead, cupids bow and chin

Step 3

Blend the concealer with a brush or your fingers

Step 4

NARS Illuminating Powder – set the base with the powder using a powder puff or powder brush.

Eyes

Step 5

 MAC Paint in Untitled - Apply a nude cream eyeshadow over the eye area as a base.

Step 6

Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil in Electric -bright blue shade – apply a thick line along the upper  and lower lashes and also onto your water liner.

Step 7

Blend the eyeliner out with  your finger or a pencil brush. 

Step 8

Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil in Binge (dark blue shade, you could also use dark blue eyeshadow instead) – apply a thick line along the upper  and lower lashes.

Step 9

Blend the eyeliner out with your fingers or a fluffy brush until there are no harsh lines visible

Step 10

Inglot Eyeshadow in Pearl 428 - shimmery navy shade - apply the eye shadow to the upper lid only to intensify the previously applied color.

Step 11

Apply two coats of black mascara (L'Oreal Lash Architect 4D Mascara – Black)

Step 12

Brush the brows upwards with a brow gel or fill out with eye shadow.

Lips and Cheeks

Step 13

MAC blush in Melba – matte peach – apply on the apples of  your cheeks with a blush brush in sweeping motion aiming towards the temples.

Bourjois Rouge Edition in 03 Peche Cosy – soft peach – apply with a lip brush.

Hope you liked the make-up!  Are you gonna try  the blue smokey eye this summer? 

xxx Marina

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NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer - Review

NARS Pure-Radiant Tinted Moisturizers in Alaska

I hardly use tinted moisturizers, just because they usually don’t provide enough coverage, but 
NARS Pure-Radiant Tinted Moisturizer has amazing coverage and looks so natural and feels weightless on my skin. I just use my fingers to put it on and it looks flawless, so perfect for these days when I am rushing out the doors. It has a light gel texture that blends easily over moisturized skin and it gives me a beautiful semi matte satin finish. It makes my skin glowy without being greasy and usually I just dust light pressed powder on top and am ready to go.

Now if you have loads of imperfections, such as dark under eye circles, pigmentation spots or scars, you still will need a concealer or corrector.

 It comes in a black matte sleek typical NARS packaging squeeze tube which seals and closes effortlessly and very little product is wasted if you are careful. And generally little products goes long way, only a pea size is enough to cover my entire face.

The color ranges isn’t extensive, and especially for fair-skinned people. I purchased this in the second lightest shade Alaska, which has yellow and pink undertones, and it matches my skin perfectly and since it is neutral in color it will suits most light to medium skin tones. So if you are on fence between a lighter and a darker shade, I suggest you go for the lighter shade, but again, since it is quite sheer, it can be easily blended in to the skin, without looking to streaky or to obvious.

The tinted moisturizer is oil-free, and contains SPF 30/PA+++ and it has also some skin benefits  to hydrate and help to reduce appearance of hyper pigmentation and dark spots on top of that.

 It costs €35 here in Ireland.

So if you want to look more natural and more like yourself, but still have some coverage, then the NARS Pure-Radiant Tinted Moisturizers is the one for you.

Have you tried the NARS Pure-Radiant Tinted Moisturizer yet?

 

xxx Marina

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