A Few 'Every Day' EOTDs

Waking up at 7am most mornings to go to uni, my standard way to apply make-up is 'throw it on and hope for the best' because that early in the day - who can be bothered?! Not me, that's for sure. However, recently I realised that because of this approach I have a hell of a lot of unused/ barely touched neutral eye make-up. In a bid to change this, I shoved it all into a box and plonked it next to my make-up bag, as a reminder to get more use out of it.

 

These are just a few miscellaneous looks from over the last 6 months or so which never made it into a blog post for one reason or another  - a few every day type of looks.

 

Sleek 'Ultra Mattes V.2 - Darks' palette and Catrice (I think...) eyeliner. I wore this with a tonne of bronzer and deep red lipstick.

I'm not gonna lie - I can't remember which shades I used here exactly, but I know everything was from Little Mouse Ears 'Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die' collection. The duochrome brown-blue shade is 'How Much for the Ape?' - my personal favourite :)

 [[ Have you noticed how my 'brows have gotten gradually less fierce?! ]]

TFSI, Kryolan peachy orange (applies as a soft pink-peach), Sleek dark brown, Sleek cream, MUA honey gold shade from the 'Starry Night' palette, mascara, MUA waterproof eyeliner (this stuff is THE SHIZZ).

Recently, my ancient SD card died, which means I can't take any blog pics until I buy a new one. RIP, SD card - you lasted eight long years, but now the sellotape just isn't enough to keep you going :'(

 

Do you have a 'go to' daily make-up look? Or do you change something every time?

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Miss Argentina

Miss Argentina's always been one of my favourite film characters and I honestly don't know why! Maybe it's just because she has fabulous turquoise skin and bold red hair? Ever since I first saw 'Beetlejuice', age about 11, I've wanted to dress up as her and this year I finally did it for a night out with some friends :)

 

 

 

 TURQUOISE BASE - Kryolan aqua colours in turquoise and kelly green with Snazaroo body paint in pale green.

PURPLES - Sleek 'Ultra Mattes' purple, dark purple and white, Collection 2000 purple glitter eyeliner.

MISC - 17 'Hot Chilli' lipstick, Collection 2000 eyeliner, mascara. I also drew lines of my wrists in a dark red Collection 2000 lipliner since in the film she's slashed her wrists (couldn't be fussed with proper prosthetics!)

The wig, dress and sash were all from eBay. I'd show you the full length shots, but the dress was so shapeless AND I was wearing jeans underneath so...yeah...I looked like a sack o' spuds. I wish I'd had the time to make her awesome cape and style the wig properly but, alas, free time has been super rare over the last couple of months!

I kept getting asked who I was/ what I was from/ why I was green which leads me to the sad conclusion that not everyone has seen 'Beetlejuice' - if that's you, sort it ooout!

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Sleek Saturday - Sleek Original Palette FOTD

Today I'm taking part in Liloo's 'Sleek Saturday' series! I decided to create a look using the Sleek 'Original' palette. I've literally had this palette for about three/ four years - it was one of the very first make-up palettes I owned and I still think it's a beaut'! 

Something mega fast and simple, since all I'm doing today is tidying up and avoiding getting roped into decorating! 

First I applied Urban Decay Primer Potion to keep my eye make-up in place all day. Then I patted on Sleek black eyeshadow to the lid and blended just past the crease. I then took Sleek bronze-gold eyeshadow and applied over the top of the black, blending a little past where the black finished. To highlight, I used a sheer cream eyeshadow by Esteé Lauder. For my lashes, a good coating of Maybelline Falsies Mascara, as always! I then coloured my waterline with a cream Kryolan eye pencil.

What is your favourite Sleek product? Do you have the Sleek Original palette? Don't forget to check out Liloo's look!

Pink Lipstick Lovin'

When it comes to statement lips, the first colour which springs to everyone's mind is the classic Hollywood starlet red. Recently I've become a bit tired of red lips (even though they're perfect paired with my trusty Jack Daniels top)  and have started reaching for its younger, livelier sister - pink. 

Hot pinks and vibrant fuchsias are a little more 'me' than reds! They're fun, fresh, playful, loud, modern and occasionally a little wild...

[[ The colours I'm wearing follow the order of swatches below. ]]

Lets take a little look at my pink lipstick collection...

[[ Kryolan LC001, Kryolan LC002, 17 'Heart Throb', MAC 'Bombshell' ]]

Kryolan LC001 and LC002 both fall slap bang in the 'Barbie pink' category and look pretty damn crazy on me! LC001 leans a little lavender and darker, but other than that they're pretty much identical. 17 'Heart Throb' is a creamy, blue toned bright bubble gum pink. MAC 'Bombshell' is a frosty pink with golden shimmer throughout - it's fairly sheer, I think it looks best paired with a similarly coloured gloss.

[[ Barry M '52', Barry M '145', Barry M '144', OCC 'Anime' ]]

If you're after a neon, eye catching, BRIGHT AS HECK pink look no further than Barry M '52'. This colour is so bright is practically jumps off your face and attacks the eyes of all who look. Barry M 145 and 144 are so close you really don't need to own both! 145 is a touch deeper, redder and more heavily pigmented. OCC 'Anime' is a bright, hot pink...not as neon as Barry M 52, though it's hard to tell really since they're totally different shades.

When it comes to what to wear with pink lips, I usually keep it mega minimal - just as you would with red. Black, flicked eyeliner and a touch of pink on the cheeks for a bold yet balanced look. Of course, a touch of glitter never goes amiss if you're feeling a little more fun ;)

What's your favourite colour for statement lips? Which pink lippy do you always return to?

FOTD - In the Pink

Since we had plans to go to a metal gig last night, I figured I'd make an attempt to wear something other than just silvery taupe and eyeliner!

EYES - UDPP, Darling Girl 'Glitter Glue', Darling Girl 'My Little Pony', Shiro Cosmetics 'S.S Anne' (obsessed with this eyeshadow much?!), peachy pinky e/s from MUA 'Heaven and Earth' palette, Eyeko black graffiti eyeliner, mascara, Kryolan white pencil eyeliner.

FACE - Natural Collection 'Shine Away' foundation, No. 7 'Beautifully Matte' foundation, Witch anti-blemish concealer, Kryolan powder, Shu Uemura matte peach blush, Fyrinnae 'Centre Stage' highlighter.

LIPS - Nekked!

Safe to say, bright blue and bold purple remain one of my favourite colour combos :) Seriously need to get some hot oil on my hair, don't I?! Has anyone used olive oil on their hair before? Any tips?

EVERYDAY BEAUTY - My Make-up Essentials

When I first started in make-up, I'd buy different things to replace whatever had run out each time. Bourjois foundation empty? Buy some Max Factor. Collection 2000 concealer dried up? Buy Rimmel. Gradually I became loyal to certain products (as you do) and learnt which shades suited me best - these became my make-up bag staples...

I start of my make-up by applying either Urban Decay Primer Potion or Too Faced Shadow Insurance to make sure my eye make-up will survive the day. For bases, it's usually E.L.F 'Black' Cream Eyeliner since it is sooo long lasting and pigmented, or Darling Girl 'Glitter Glue' (which I am a little in love with). The eyeshadows I reach for most are usually indie - most recently Shiro Cosmetics and Darling Girl shades. I define my eyes with Eyeko Graffiti Eyeliner* and Maybelline Falsies Mascara, before filling my 'brows with MUA Shade 19 (see how much I've used?!) and Stargazer Eyebrow Pen*.

Once I'm happy with my eye make-up, I start on my skin. Firstly, I dab on some Kryolan Ultra Foundation to any blemishes to completely conceal them (I also use this on my dark under eye circles). Next, I mix up a combination of three products - No.7 'Beautifully Matte Foundation' in 'New Ivory' for its strong yellow tones, Natural Collection 'Shine Away Foundation' to create the perfect colour and Avon 'Invisible Light Illuminator' to sheer everything out and give a dewy finish. Everything is then set with an old and trusty favourite - Kryolan Translucent Powder.

With my skin looking clear and fresh, I decide what to do with my cheeks. If I fancy a bronzed or sculpted look I blend Kiss My Sass 'Sun Tan' Bronzer under my cheek bones for a defined look. Warm pink, neutral peach and terracotta blushes suit me best - Ben Nye, The Balm and Topshop are my 'go to' brands for beautiful shades and textures. To top everything off, I highlight with either Sleek 'Glo Peach' for obvious, dramatic shimmer or Fyrinnae 'Centre Stage' for a more natural finish.

Warm neutrals are my favourites to complete any look - with MAC 'Honeylove' being my absolute lipstick holy grail! I think MAC make loads of great neutrals, I also love MAC 'Blankety' and MAC 'Creme d'Nude'. For brighter shades, I love deep pinks such as Urban Decay 'Jilted', hot pinks like OCC 'Anime', neon brights such as Stargazer '106' and unusual shades like OCC 'Hoochie'. To make matte lips more bearable, I slick on a decent balm - these days I'm loving Darling Girl 'Apple Jacks' Balm, it smells delicious!

Are you a fan of any products I've mentioned here? Are any on your wishlist?

* Item received for PR purposes.

FOTD - Pink Vanilla

Sometimes you need something pretty, shiny and dramatic to make your day complete. I wanted to wear something which would work with my plum polish...but not match. Along came MAC 'Pink Bronze' pigment in all of its duochrome glory...

EYES - TFSI, E.L.F black cream eyeliner, MAC 'Pink Bronze' pigment, Fyrinnae 'Fire Opal', Yaby matte white, MAC 'Vanilla' pigment, Yaby matte black, Urban Decay 'Lucky' eyeliner, Eyeko felt tip eyeliner, mascara

FACE - No.7 'Beautifully Matte', Natural Collection tinted moisturiser, Kryolan Ultra Foundation as concealer, Kryolan powder, Ben Nye pink blush, Fyrinnae 'Centre Stage' highlighter.

LIPS - MAC 'Blankety' lipstick, Darling Girl 'Gold Finger' hologloss.

I LOVE how it looks over a dark base! Just incredible! It brings the pink out so much, adding some metallic brown to the crease helps to smoke it out with ease. Aaand MAC 'Vanilla' pigment makes for the perfect highlight shade (yeah yeah, technically it "should" have been matte, but who cares?!)

Do you have MAC 'Pink Bronze'? How do you wear it?

FOTD - Everyday Glitz

I've been OBESESSED with Shiro Cosmetics 'Master Sword' since it arrived - it was love at first swatch. 'Master Sword' is a silvery taupe, with tonnes of fine, silver glitter and a hint of gold - really, it's the silver for people who don't really suit silver...

EYES - TFSI, Darling Girl 'Glitter Glue', Shiro Cosmetics 'Master Sword', Eyeko black graffiti eyeliner, mascara, Kryolan peach eyeliner

FACE - No.7 'Beautifully Matte' foundation, Natural Collection tinted moisturiser, Kryolan 'Ultra Foundation' as concealer, Kryolan powder, Ben Nye pink blush, Fyrinnae 'Centre Stage' highlighter.

LIPS - Darling Girl 'Gold Finger' hologloss.

I'm really enjoying the added 'drama' of glitter and jet black winged eyeliner - a bit different to my previous lazy everyday face :) Fyrinnae highlighters are AMAZING by the way! I think everyone needs one in their stash. I'll probably order full sizes of the other two shades at some point...

What is your favourite highlighter? Favourite everyday eyeshadow?

FOTD - Phoenix Pink

Do you ever set out to do one kind of look and end up doing something totally different? I intended to do a blue look with a little gold...then this happened...

EYES - TFSI, NYX 'Milk' jumbo pencil, Venomous Cosmetics 'Ogopogo', Yaby matte white, Yaby matte black, Ben Nye 'Fuchsia' blush, MAC 'Vanilla' pigment, Eyeko graffiti eyeliner, Kryolan peach pencil eyeliner, mascara.

FACE - No.7 'Beautifully Matte' foundation, Natural Collection tinted moisturiser, Kryolan powder, Shu Uemura matte peach blush.

LIPS - OCC 'Trick' and 'Anime' mixed, Kiss my Sass Cosmetics 'Innocence' gloss.

Maybe I'm nudging my way back out of my neutral phase?! You should see my eyeshadow drawers right now - I have one for brights and one for neutrals. My neutrals are fit to burst and my brights are seriously lagging behind. There was a time when  I didn't even understand the need for a brown eyeshadow and now I have at least 20! Eeesh...

What are your favourite bright eyeshadows? What about your favourite highlight shades?

(P.S) My camera's mirror has a scratch on it, so my lens is struggling to focus right now. I'm having to use full auto mode (which I hate with a passion) until I can have it fixed. So if photos are a bit crap for a while,  sorry!

TUTORIAL - How to use Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy

Whenever I mention Fyrinnae pixie Epoxy, I get one of two responses - 'I love Pixie Epoxy! Use it all the time!' or, 'Pixie Epoxy just doesn't work for me. At all. Ever.' so I figured if you're one of the latter, this post might just help you out...

I like to use Pixie Epoxy with satin, duochrome and glitter eyeshadows. It really makes the colours and textures stand out - plus its great for keeping glitter from falling down onto your cheeks! Pixie Epoxy is really versatile and I think people make the mistake of thinking it's only for bold, loud colours, I use it with neutrals and it really helps to bring out their beauty. The only thing you have to be careful about is not to put any where matte eyeshadows are going - they will apply patchy and look awful!

  [[ Left: No Base/ Right: Pixie Epoxy = MUA Club dupe, Aromaleigh 'Pique', Urban Decay 'Midnight Cowboy...', Fyrinnae 'Digital Faerie' ]]

1. First things first - Pixie Epoxy is a BASE, not a primer (click to learn the difference). Bases are to make eyeshadows stick, or to enhance their colour - not to make them last, so without a primer they will crease! When using Pixie Epoxy, always layer it over a primer such as Urban Decay Primer Potion or Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

2. Primer on? Ace. Now you've got to get to grips with how much Pixie Epoxy to use. I use the tiniest amount I can possibly pick up - so little that I actually question if there's any on my finger when I'm rubbing it in! This is a bit trial and error and at first you'll probably use way more than you need to. I also only apply it to the lid, mainly because I prefer the contrast between the bold, glittering lid and a duller crease and matte highlight shade.

 3. Pat your eyeshadow over the Pixie Epoxy using a firm brush. To blend, just dab the lighter colour slightly over the darker shade a few times. Try to resist any 'windscreen wiper' blending actions - I find this gives a muddy finish when blending over sticky bases of any kind.

4. Finish off your eyeshadow look however you choose and bask in the glory that is Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy!

I USED - Too Faced Shadow Insurance, Fyrinnae 'Pixie Epoxy', MAC 'Platinum' pigment, Too Faced blue from the Smokey Eyes kit, Urban Decay 'Zero', Kryolan 'Eggplant', Estee Lauder 'Rose Confetti', Kryolan white pencil eyeliner, ELF black cream eyeliner, mascara.

When you come to remove your make-up, I find an oil based eye make-up remover works best with Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy. I hope somebody out there finds this useful!