The Little White Pencil

I decided to blog about this because to me, using a white pencil has made a tremendous difference.

I've been a fan of the light-colored (mostly light cream) eye pencil (inliner) for as long as I can remember, simply because penciling my waterline with black doesn't suit my eye shape and it makes my eyes look smaller; I also get that yesterday's makeup look and a completely tired face.

While I was looking for some tricks on YouTube I came across a video of a lady who explained that a white pencil can be successfully used as a 'highlighter', if you're on the run or don't own one. Boy was she right.

Apart from opening the eyes, making them look bigger and the entire face, more awake, using a white pencil is a life savior if you apply it exactly where you need it. How it's done- or at least, how I do it:

First off, you need a good quality pencil. I have always assumed that, since I am only going to use it on my waterline, I can use any type of pencil I want; wrong. If it's too creamy, like the one that I used (from Avon), it will leave small residues around your lash roots and appear like you're trying too much, the white will be too white. If it's too hard, it will do a great job when used on the eyes but will fail at anything else, being too hard to get properly blended in.

I am currently using L'Oreal's white eyeliner, just a 'regular' one, and I am pretty happy with it. It's pigmented, not too soft but not hard either, a little goes a long and it isn't expensive at all compared to higher-end brands.

I basically like to use it on my smile lines, in the angles of my mouth. That area used to be a huge stress for me because no matter what I did, the foundation and powder would accumulate in the small expression lines and age my face quite a lot. I constantly had to fidget with a mirror and touch my face every hour; it had become a sort of bad habit for me and using a cream highlighter didn't help at all.

Ever since I tried the trick, as suggested by the YT lady, things have definitely changed. The pencil seals the 'lines', creating an optical illusion (white reflects light) of fullness; no more foundation caking in! Yay!

Other than this, I like to use the white pencil on my inner eye angles, to bleach out any discoloration (dark/purple circles...) if I won't insist with the concealer (it's never a good idea). The pencils blends in beautifully and leaves a sort of halo on the skin; my personal opinion is that it truly washes away any fatigue and creates beautiful, rested eyes.

You can also use it underneath your lower lash line, for a more awaken effect, or on your dark circle line, to set the concealer/highlighter and create that optical illusion. I guess it's okay to use it on lines in general, cause ladies, it DOES work.

 Just remember not to overdo it, a white cast doesn't look good on anyone, and just gently pat it on until it blends in perfectly with your skin. Voila!

Products of the Month

Deciding the stuff i've rediscovered in my hidden stash deserves a holla. Stuff i've loved and used over the years yet i somehow strayed..but they're definitely making a comback.

Estee Lauder Double Wear

Part of the 10 pan project since i've already gone through two bottles. While scratching my head and looking for a dupe i realized there is no such thing....hence the 3rd bottle. Unfortunately i had to purchase the same shade which doesn't quite suit me (Ivory Beige)...thanks to the understocked EL counter. Grrr. Anyways, the problem isn't a problem at all considering i love mixing this rather heavy foundation with moisturizer, face cream on colder days, Le Blanc de Chanel, for a lighter, glowy base, etc. The ways of this foundation seem to be endless indeed and i couldn't love it more. 

H&M Brow pencil & powder set

Why did i stray in the first place, i don't know...over the past two years i've gone through an endless amount of brow products and always ended up coming back to these ones 3-4 times a week on average...i guess they're my to-go products when i want something fast, easy and natural looking. The pencil is from their latest 'collection', an improved version of the old formulation, with a softer, longer brush and a wonderful pigmentation that's just a teeny tiny bit less gray than Clinique's Superfine Liner for Brows in 02 Light Brown. Lovely! 

Red Lips are making a comeback!!

As a neutral, pink lips person i found myself inexplicably attracted to more colorful shades...cherries, raspberries, even russian reds. Hmmm something's definitely coming. I am currently loving the Maybelline lipstick in Fatal Red, it's great for both a dramatic look as well as a paler, chapstick-looking lip. Had this lipstick in my drawer for a year now (almost) and probably used it twice or three times- hence the strong comeback. 

Max Factor bronzing powder

MF Bronzing Powder & The Body Shop concealer swatches

I cannot believe how natural looking and smooth this bronzer is. I'm also shaking my head at the enormous pile of bronzers i've accumulated so far...while being totally oblivious of this one.

Why did this happen in the first place?? well...most of my other beloved bronzers are amazing as well, different pigmentation tonalities, so i guess that explains it. However, given the age and dent of this bronzer i dare say its newly acquired status as product of the month will go on since i'm planning on finishing it up in combination with other bronzers. I like that it's very, very natural, more on the pink/fleshy side with no orange tones whatsoever (shame on you, Smashbox Bronze Lights!). It works perfectly with every brush, it doesn't stain or get muddy and it' very easy to blend. There are many beauty 'gurus' and bloggers who love this product- no wonder i wanna use it every day from now on. Perfect for contouring as well as for a bit of a sunkissed look. 

The Body Shop Concealer

The one shaped like a pencil. It's really a great find. I found this in my 'old makeup' box, have never used it before since i was the impression it was going to cake and crease, as every Body Shop concealer/foundation i ever tried. Wrong. It's a beautiful, natural looking concealer that i love using as a foundation as well because it's sheer enough, doesn't settle into pores or fine lines yet has a great coverage potential. Its newest job is to serve as an eyelid primer as well and it does work better than everything i ever tried before (except for Estee Lauder's Double Wear, that stuff works great as well). However, the packaging, while being cute and all, it's hard to maneuver...which translates in buying a jumbo size sharpener. From the Body Shop. Which is expensive. To use for the concealer only. Yep.

Yves Rocher Luminelle powder

Whilst not being a powder person at all, i could say, this stuff got me hooked because of the packaging. The lovely Plexiglas compact has thick, transparent bubbles on the lid and it looks like a fatty baby-powdercase :) just cute and sweet and adorable- had to have it. Quite intriguing since it also comes in one shade only, aimed at working as a powder with illuminating properties.

No shimmer, no 'light reflecting particles' (which is usually a decoy for glitter)..yet it does the job without caking. Pretty much like Max Factor's Creme Puff, only a lighter, much finer consistency in the sense that it feels as satiny but the product picks up less and looks less obvious on the skin. It's very cheap i believe, i got it on sale in Stockholm, and i've been using it with its retractable kabuki brush from Yves Rocher that i've been carrying around in my bag ever since.

Never before had actually CARRIED a powder case in my bag WITH a brush (a fluffy, powder one!). I might not be a powder person, or think i am not, but it does come in handy whenever my t-zone gets a bit shiny. I'm so out of the beauty planet-i just began taking makeup with me. Plain stupid not to do it on a regular basis, right? Oh well.

L'Oreal Elvital Hair Mask

An amazing product.

I am uber surprised with this- the shampoo worked beautifully for both my brushes and hair; this product comes in a 300 ml jar and i got it on sale...pretty good deal if you ask me. The thing is this is BETTER than anything L'Oreal i've tried before, even their Professional line (the champagne, silver and light yellow packaging). It smells very strongly but i don't dislike it since it's sweet and flowery and lingers on the hair long after you've washed and dried it (no more Crispy by French Fry for me).

The effects are fantastic for a drugstore product-it conditions and softens my hair without weighing it down or making it look greasy two days after, it also combats frizz (!), which means i no longer have to use anything for that, gives a healthy shine and overall, it does work wonders as a treatment. Add this to UV protection and intense moisture (no oils or silicone whatsoever) and you've got yourself a little wonder. Makeupalley seems to agree with me as well, this being one of L'Oreal's most voted non-professional hair products.

The Makeup Store Microshadow in Ghetto (matte)

....the perfect eye/brow shadow ever. Very pigmented. Great dupe for MAC's Espresso as well. Larger packaging and lower price. Very silky texture. Needs a light hand since it's VERY VERY pigmented. Loves it.

Isadora Blush in Coral Blossom

This blush is currently on a fast paced climb on the HG ladder. I love everything about it, the color, pigmentation, even the little brush it came with.

What i especially love about this is that it can be used as an overall blush-powder as well, whenever i feel like peaching up my complexion or even for slightly correcting mismatched/grayish foundations. To me it works pretty much like Benefit's Coralista plus the very intense pigmentation-a natural bristle brush + light hand advised. It's just lovely and i think this is the only blush i am actually able to gently sweep all over my face for a healthy, rosy complexion effect. I dab the brush on the pan, gently swirl it on my palm to remove any excess and with the little bit of product that's left, i go all over my face. Ta daaa! Really pretty and definitely worth the (kinda low) price. 

H&M Hello Kitty lip balm

My favorite lip balm of all times.

I hate that H&M comes up with new formulations of lip glosses/balms every two-three weeks and finding an 'old' product becomes virtually impossible. I used to be a die hard fan of their Raspberry Vanilla Hello Kitty balm, a creamy, double-shaded lip conditioner that came in a round little pot. They obviously discontinued that but came up with something even better ingredient-wise.

This lipbalm is great for me because, in comparison with other lip conditioners (Vaseline, Rosebud, etc), it isn't 99% petroleum jelly with some flavor in it. It contains aloe vera leaf extract, chamomile oil and beeswax apart from the usual vaseline-butene-polywhatever-ates (cheap) lip balms tend to be packed with. Another great thing about this is that *...drums...* i actually think it works as a bit of a lip plumper...to a certain extent.

I don't know if it's just me, but as soon as i apply it I can feel an intense (but pleasant) tingle and my lips get smooth-no more creases/lines. I've cheked and double checked and it isn't the effect of the product deposited on the lips-just plain old science! While i definitely can't say 'buy this, it will plump your lips' given the low price and no plumping effects advertised, i do think it makes a difference in my case. I use it on top of every lipstick, lipliner or just gloss, for a paler, more natural look, i like the aroma (sugary with a hint of bubblegum) and the price tag (under $3).

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes mascara review

Tried twice so far, two days in a row. That's usually enough for me to deliberate on a mascara; if any significant changes appear i'll update this review accordingly.

What made me get this product was the hype surrounding the wand-several reviewers and blogs compared it to Chanel Inimitable or Diorshow Iconic. I personally believe the comparison is not far fetched at all:

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes

Diorshow Iconic mascara-image from makeupandbeautyblog.com

The brushes are fairly similar except for the fact that Dior's bristles are shorter and a little zigzagged.

The L'Oreal Million Lashes has a fairly creamy texture but it is a little liquid, like all L'Oreal mascaras. With a bit of air exposure it gets perfectly creamy and then follows its natural drying cycle (unfortunately). I don't know if it takes a short while to get dried in the tube or if it lasts a long time; i was mostly interested in the effect.

The first couple of application it can be watery, as i said, so careful with brushing your lashes beforehand and curling them; you have to have a very light hand because it tends to accumulate- not to clump, but get thick on the lashes. If you brush them once the mascara is tacky, then wait for it to get 80% dry and apply a second coat, the problem is solved. I am surprised by this mascara because i never expected it to be so easy to work with.

It gives much more definition and separation than anything L'Oreal  i have tried before and paradoxically enough, it isn't as clumping as i would have expected. The color is a real dramatic black which gives a sort of  'vinyl' kind of finish to the lashes, making them really stand out. It isn't porny-black as many other 'dramatic black' mascaras, which is a plus for me (i hate blue-black mascaras, they give an overdone and synthetic appearance).

The brush is soft yet resistant enough to be maneuvered accordingly, it catches all the tiny lashes as well as the longer one and coats them evenly; you can feel it working its way through the lashes, the bristles massaging the roots of the hairs. I wouldn't say it's a tricky wand you must be careful with as many reviewers suggest, claiming they poked their eyeballs more than once; it's a large brush with 'spikes' therefore the usual attention must be paid as with everything that comes in contact with the eyes or the surrounding area. The brush is easy to work with because of the 'aerodynamic' shape and even if the product accumulation on the top and the base of the wand looks a bit scary, it's just the usual little product top that will eventually get creamy as the mascara gets exposed to oxygen. 

This is what one coat looks like:

And two coats:

 It tends to go a bit thick on the lashes as you can see, so careful with that. The best thing to do is apply it in thin coats and wait a little in between applications or carefully brush the lashes afterwards; separating them won't solve the 'problem' because they don't stick together but have too much product on.

Therefore...: I am about to say 'i want to repurchase this product today, get a back up in case they discontinue it overnight'. It is a very good mascara that delivers a lot of volume but isn't that strong in the lengthening department- Lash Architect is still my nr. 1 for that purpose. It holds the curl of the lashes and doesn't weigh them down, it doesn't smudge and doesn't smell/look funky after a certain number of hours. I definitely recommend this for everyone, especially those who have long but thin lashes. However, remember to be patient with this mascara, at least in the beginning, and cut it some slack for the first two-three applications. It looks good, you only need a coat or two and you get truly dramatic lashes without having to fight with the wand and your lashes or scoop inside the tube fifty times.

Today's makeup and rambling

Obviously, in absence of anything really interesting to do today, after i finished all i had to do i went shopping for clothes...and got makeup as well. Nothing fancy, just drugstore products i am a bit excited about.

First off, i renewed my L'Oreal Lash Architect supply (the old one was getting a bit tired) and i also got the Million Lashes one, just to see what's the rave about. 

Another item i got is an Olay cleanser that i most certainly will like- i've already tried their eye makeup remover and all their products are so nicely scented. Next- a Nivea foundation and a bright coral lipstick. Finally found!

The foundation story is as follows: two days ago when i went shopping for the Rimmel goodies, i wasn't wearing any makeup and felt a bit embarrassed inside the store because people were 'staring' at me (they weren't, it's just my paranoia). I picked up the first foundation tester (Nivea Beauty Lift) and slammed it on, then a bit of mascara and that was it, i instantly felt better. When i got home my skin looked surprisingly well- i don't know if it was the humidity in the air, since it was raining, or the fact that i had no primer on (though it's supposed to be otherwise), or that i just slapped it on, no careful stippling/blending (though again, isn't THAT the correct way of dealing with foundation?), i have no idea, but it looked so nice. No pores, no blotches, my skin was positively glowing. 

Checked out some Makeupalley reviews and they all mentioned this effect; the foundation has quite a high score for a Nivea product (most people dislike their products, i don't understand why, but well...) and two or three reviewers actually compare it to Make Up For Ever's HD foundation. I haven't tried that and i would have certainly not purchased this foundation if i hadn't worn it for several hours and loved the effect. Picking up a shade was quite a trip because i hate wearing foundations that are as light as my skin (i know...i shouldn't) because they're just too pale and i like to 'cheat' a shade or two. I picked 060 Amber which isn't the darkest but neither the lightest. I'm really curious/anxious to see what this foundation will behave like on the long(er) run.

The lipstick is exactly what i was looking for. The pictures i uploaded as the depiction of my HG coral lips are obviously retouched and the lighting is way different than the one in my house; it doesn't look as pale as the photos but anything in that family probably wouldn't have complemented my skintone. The lipstick is from a brand named BeYu that produce their cosmetics in Germany (i don't know if it's German); it borders on drugstore/higher end (they have some more expensive items as well). This product is Star Lipstick in nr. 05. 

It's quite similar to Rimmel's Coral in Gold sans the golden frosty finish which i don't like that much, thus a plus. It's also lighter and has that Old Hollywood, late 1940's romantic touch; whenever i see a bright coral lipstick i can't help to think of Katharine Hepburn, Chinese silk and geishas.

Now about the face of the day- especially the Lumene mascara. 

The lashes look a bit spidery because i applied too much, however i am beginning to think this mascara is a real find.

First off, i have half a coat of Max Factor Masterpiece underneath the Lumene one, i couldn't imagine not wearing that one, ever (it's a sort of a 'primer' to me). The Lumene one is thinner than your usual drugstore mascaras (Maybelline, L'Oreal i mean) and creamier. It looks quite thin at a superficial glance and i was a bit worried it might clump the lashes together as Volume Collagen from L'Oreal did- it didn't. 

The brush is huge but it works- it's very soft or at least softer than anything else with that type of brush (even Diorshow..) therefore you can press as hard as you like if you feel like you need it-to prevent clumps from forming. It just glides, setting itself on the lashes and coating the tips with a fine, creamy layer of mascara. It looks a bit 'wet' until it dries, which is quite fast so no worries about that.

It leaves the lashes soft and most important of all, if you're not satisfied with the volume, or you want a true false lash effect, you can apply a thicker mascara on top of this one because it won't clump. The Lumene is similar to Isadora's in this respect- it 'softens' any previous mascara layers and does give a dramatic effect if you insist (uppercase example), but there's no spider effect as it would be with other mascaras.