HALLOWEEN: Creepy Cute Doll Makeup

Another Halloween makeup look (see more here!!). Probably one of the most common/cliche Halloween makeup looks I've seen around youtube/the blogosphere - the Creepy Doll. It's one of those weird looks that you can still make "pretty" with pastels eyeshadow and blush. 

Products Used: Hard Candy Sheer Envy Dark Spot Correcting Primer, Hard Candy Single & Loving it in "Oink", Hard Candy All Lid Up in "Lady Like", Hard Candy Top Ten Eyeshadow Palette in "Smoke Out" (Hard Candy products are available exclusively at Walmart), Kiss Ever EZ Lashes in #3, Kiss Looks So Natural Lashes in "Flirty", Kiss Eyelash Adhesive with Aloe, Revlon Skinny Liquid Liner in "Blackout", NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in "Milk", GOSH Giant Blush in "Pink Parfait", Almay Smart Shade Mousse Makeup, Rimmel Apocalips in "Apocaliptic"

EYES:  Primed the lids with the Hard Candy All Lid Up in "Lady Like", applied the Single & Loving it Eyeshadow in "Oink" all over the lid and then used a combination of purples from the "Smoke Out" palette to create deepen the outer corner of the eye. Underneath the eye, I extended the whites of my eyes with the NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in "Milk". I lined the eyes with the Revlon Skinny Liner. Oh and let's not forget the  two pairs of false lashes from Kiss. 

FACE: Dolls have prefect porcelain skin, duh. So I primed my face with the Hard Candy Sheer Envy Dark Spot Correcting Primer, then applied a medium coverage foundation from Almay all over the face and to conceal the lips. For the cheeks, I focused a cream blush from GOSH on the apples of the cheeks for a "dolly" look and then drew some freckles with a liquid liner. 

LIPS: I drew out the barbed wire with the Revlon Skinny Liner. The messier, the better! I drew out my lips a little smaller for a fish-face effect with the Rimmel Apocalips in Apocalyptic. 

All in all, a super easy Halloween makeup look to create. Wear it with bow headband and carry around a teddy bear for extra creep-factor! 

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The Body Shop Colour Crush Nail Polishes [Crimson Kiss, Frosting Fancy, Pink Cream, Meet Me at Dusk, Peach Babe, Mint Cream & Got the Blues]

Me and nail polish, we're good friends. New formulas from different brands are always fun. New and shiny at the Body Shop is the Colour Crush Nail Polish ($6 each). The formula boasts "nail-loving" (enriched with Marula Oil) , quick drying, and high gloss. It's also vegan-friendly and 5-free in 24 shades. I tried a combination of brights, pastels, and one dark colour - Crimson Kiss, Frosting Fancy, Pink Cream, Meet Me at Dusk, Peach Babe, Mint Cream, and Got the Blues. 

The brush is square and medium in width, allowing for one layer of polish to be applied in three easy swipes. The nice thing about these polishes is that the formula is consistent. From the darkest to the lightest colours (with the exception of Pink Cream), all of the polishes require two coats for full opacity. Furthermore, the polishes lasted me 4 days before chipping, which is pretty impressive. 

The "quick dry" claims are very, very true. I'm a fidgety person notorious for getting polish on white shirts and laptop keyboards. I can only wait 2-3 minutes between coats. So far, I haven't experienced any sort of smudges or accident. 

The "high shine" claim only just met my expectation. If you like ultra-shiny nails, you'll still want to add a top-coat. As for the "nail loving", I can't really say. None of these polishes stained my nails nor have I seen dramatic results to my nail health. Perhaps we shall see in the long run... 

Anyways, time for swatches!! (warning... very photo heavy!!) :) 

110 Crimson Kiss

810 Frosting Fancy

340 Pink Cream

820 Meet Me at Dusk

220 Peach Babe

640 Mint Cream

620 Got the Blues

All in all, a high-perfoming formula of nail polish that's vegan-friendly and nail-friendly. These polishes definitely exceeded my expectations in terms of colour and lasting-power. Beyond the 7 Body Shop Colour Crush Nail Polish shades shown here, there are 17 more beautiful colours available... all for $6 each, too! Keep in mind that the Body Shop almost always has some sort of deal both online and in-stores, so you can definitely snag these awesome polishes for even less and get more bang for your buck. 

Which colours of the Body Shop Colour Crush Nail Polish would you like to try? 

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eos 2014 Breast Cancer Awareness Collection

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a great opportunity to learn more about the breast cancer. eos (evolution of smooth) makes it easy to support the cause with a limited edition three-piece collection for which 100% of the net profits are to be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society. The eos 2014 Breast Cancer Awareness Collection ($9.99) is available September 2014 through November 2014 at Shopper's, Loblaws, Target, Walmart, Giant Tiger, Rexall, Lawtons and evolutionofsmooth.com! 

As mentioned, the set contains three eos products - the Strawberry Sorbet Smooth Stick Lip Balm, Pomegranate Raspberry Smooth Sphere Lip Balm (see blueberry acai review) , and Berry Blossom Hand Lotion. I've tried two of the three products (everything but the Limited Edition Strawberry Sorbet Smooth Stick). 

My feelings about the eos are just about the same as the rest of the world. Awesome 96-100% natural and organic, paraben-free, gluten-free product housed in stylishly ergonomic, purse-friendly packaging. I love the scent of the Pomegranate Raspberry Smooth Sphere and find the Berry Blossom fragrance a little strong but still nice. The Limited Edition Strawberry Sorbet Smooth Stick looks and feels just like the Smooth Sphere in Strawberry Sorbet (except for the tube form). Like all eos balms, the scent is fairly lightweight and the balm is on the hard side, which can be good or bad depending on what you're into. 

All in all, if you're a fan of eos products, this is the perfect way to stock up and support a good cause at the same time! 

Have you purchased any products for Breast Cancer Awareness Month? 

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Shu Uemura #BraveBeauty Look [Peacock-inspired Makeup]

"Be brave in pursuit of beauty." While I take joy in finding the perfect set of neutral eyeshadows, by far my favourite thing about makeup is experimenting with colour. I'm no makeup artist but colour pushes me to explore beyond the bounds of my comfort zone. The Shu Uemura Vision of Beauty Collection Volume 1 - Brave Beauty is the epitome of power and bravery through colour which does nothing but fulfill the colour-crazed beauty fiend in my heart. 

Shout-out to the wonderful boyfriend who bought me some peacock feathers to play with. It made for easy inspiration. The colours of the feather paired perfectly with the greens of the Shu Uemura Brave Beauty Eye Palette and its fragility seemed so reminiscent of the Shu Uemura Brave Beauty False Eyelashes. 

Shu Uemura Brave Beauty Eye Palette in Green, Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Lipstick in Maroon, Shu Uemura Drawing Pencil in ME green 51 and M black 01, Shu Uemura Face Studs

To create the look, I first applied a piece of clear tape from the outer corner of the eye to the tail of the brow to create a sharp edge, then applied NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk to prime the centre of the lid. Featuring the Shu Uemura Brave Beauty Eye Palette in Green, I patted the pale silver-green (GR4) on top of NYX Milk, used the matte aqua (GR1) to the inner and outer corners, blended the iridescent yellowy-green (GR5) above both and used GR4 as a browbone highlight. I mirrored the dark green/silver green sandwich on my lower lashline and then applied the Brave Beauty False Eyelashes. I lined along the lash band with the Shu Uemura Drawing Pencil in M Black 01 and along the lower waterline with the Shu Uemura Drawing Pencil in ME Green 51. Last but not least, I added some bad-ass Shu Uemura face studs atop my cheekbone and used the Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Lipstick in Maroon to complete the look. 

While this ain't your everyday makeup routine, this could make for an awesome Halloween costume paired with a green and blue dress and a few peacock feathers in the hair. 

Do you like playing with colour? 

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Sephora Collection VIP Pass Eyeshadow Palette

Eight neutral eyeshadows housed in a single, travel-friendly palette, all for $12. Sounds like a steal, right? Meet the Sephora Collection VIP Pass Eyeshadow Palette ($12 CAD). 

The Packaging: Gold, envelope-shaped, cardboard packaging a little larger than my hand. By my terms, it's fun size (i.e. good for travel, perfect for tossing into your purse). The only things it's missing is a mirror and some space for a little brush or sponge-tip applicator, perhaps. 

The Product: The palette includes 8 shadows in varying iridescent and matte finishes. The taupe grey and the black are matte, the rest have varying degrees of shimmer.  Pigmentation and blend-ability is good, albeit a touch chalky. The top row contains soft browns, while the bottom shades are more smokey. Although the 8 neutrals aren't entirely unique, they're a great combination of shades to create a day look. The addition of a matte blending shade and a matte highlighting shade to this palette would make this palette even more versatile. 

That being said, here's two looks I've created using the Sephora Collection VIP Pass Eyeshadow Palette: 

The Daytime Look 

The Evening Look 

Overall, a steal of a deal - great combination of decently pigmented neutral eyeshadows that's super convenient for on-the-go. It's limited edition so get your hands on it now - as a gift for yourself or for a friend! (pssttt... Sephora VIB sales are coming). 

What do you think of the Sephora Collection VIP Pass Eyeshadow Palette? 

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Annabelle Stay Sharp Self-Sharpening Waterpoof Kohl Eyeliner in Cappuccino

The Annabelle Stay Sharp Self-Sharpening Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner ($9.95) is the latest of Annabelle's 5 varieties of pencil liner. You may have noticed that the Annabelle Stay Sharp Self-Sharpening Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner bears an uncanny similarity to last week's eyeliner feature, the Smashbox Always Sharp 3D Liner. Annabelle's version is less than half the prices but the packaging and self-sharpening functions are very much alike, so the Smashbox Always Sharp will be the basis for comparison. 

The Annabelle Stay Sharp Eyeliners are available in 6 shades (as opposed to 8 from Smashbox) - Go Black, Cappuccino, Graphite, Midnight (blue), Ultraviolet and Forest (green). Pictured above is Cappuccino. 

The self-sharpening function of both the Annabelle and Smashbox liners are essentially the same. The sharpener is housed inside the cap, so that when you close your eyeliner, the used tip is sharpened. Both liners provide the same degree of sharpness and with the Annabelle Stay Sharp Eyeliner, you can create both thin and thick lines. 

Here's where the liners differ. The Annabelle Stay Sharp is much smoother in texture, takes longer to set, and is more easily smudge-able for a smokey, sultry look. However, the creamy, smooth texture comes at a cost. Despite Annabelle's 14-hour long-wearing claims, this liner only lasted on my upper lash line for 6 hours. After about the sixth hour, I could see the liner had transferred onto my lower lash line and began fading away along the upper lash line. 

Overall, price-wise the Annabelle Stay Sharp Self-Sharpening Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner in Cappuccino is a great option if you want to try self-sharpening liners. However, if you're looking for something more long-wearing, look elsewhere. 

What do you think of self-sharpening eyeliners? Gimmick or innovation? 

Press sample featured. This is part of my eyeliner monday series - where I review a different eyeliner every...Monday. :) See more eyeliner reviews here. 

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HALLOWEEN: Bleach (Manga) Ichigo Hollow Mask Makeup

It's that time of year again - that time when you can make-up yourself into anybody you want. HALLOWEEN TIME! Check out last year's Halloween looks here. Yep, I'll be doing a series of Halloween looks and first up is a Hollow Mask (for HOLLOW-EEN... eheheh I'm so punny). If you're familiar with the Anime/Manga Bleach (see here), then you'll know that a "Hollows" are "corrupt spirits with supernatural powers which devou the souls of both living and deceased Humans". Pretty fitting for a spooky occasion like Halloween, right? :) 

Products Used: Hard Candy Top Ten Eyeshadow Collection in "Smoke Out" (available exclusively at Walmart), Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in 08 "Grand Cru", Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet Plus Foundation, NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in "Milk", Shu Uemura Drawing Pencil in "Black", Madison Street Beauty Eye Shadow in "Pink Tulip", NYX Collection Liquid Black Liner, KISS Ever EZ Lashes in #11, KISS Strip Lash Adhesive with Aloe, Angel Contacts

Tools Used: Make Up For Ever Artisan Brush #154, Real Techniques Pointed Foundation Brush, Real Techniques Silicone Liner Brush, Real Techniques Detailer Brush, Eco-Tools Travel Eyeshadow Brush, Shu Uemura Lash Curler

FACE: On half my face, I applied my go-to full-coverage foundation (the MUFE Mat Velvet Plus). I coloured the other half of my face with the NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in "Milk" and evened it out with the Real Techniques Pointed Foundation Brush making sure to cover both the eyebrows and the lips. 

EYES: For the black and red details I used a combination of cream/liquid products and set with a corresponding eyeshadow. For the sharp winged liner, I drew the shape with the NYX Collection Liquid Black Liner, filled in lines with the Shu Uemura Drawing Pencil in "Black" and set everything with the darkest shade in the Hard Candy Top Ten Eyeshadow Collection in "Smoke Out". For the red detailing, I used a detail brush to draw narrow triangles with the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in "Grand Cru" and set with the Madison Street Beauty Eyeshadow in Pink Tulip. 

For extra contrast, I "prettied" up the other side of my face using a purple shade from the Hard Candy Top Ten Eyeshadow Collection in "Smoke Out", some KISS false lashes, and a little  Shu Uemura Drawing Pencil in "Black". 

LIPS: On the lips, I drew teeth with the Shu Uemura Drawing Pencil in Black. 

I had a few realizations when creating this Halloween makeup look: (1) some of my eyeliners are actually solid black, some are not (I would highly recommend the ones I used) and (2) everything needs to be set with powder if you don't want it to move around. 

All in all, a fairly easy Halloween look inspired by the manga/anime Bleach. You could totally wear this makeup look to a fan expo, too! 

Do you or did you watch/read Bleach? What do you think of this look? :) 

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