dressjunkie » MSF

FOTD

dressjunkie — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:42:52 +0000

As promised, this is my FOTD using Estee Lauder’s Sand & Sea Eyeshadow Palette from the recently released Bronze Goddess Collection.

I’ve kept the blue to the lower lashline and the warm golds to the main lid. I have tried a number of different combinations but find that mixing the main turquoise with any of the other colours actually turns it quite an unattractive muddy green.

Therefore this palette isn’t as versatile as I had first thought, however the two blues on the main lid still look amazing together & any of the other colours work well on the lower lashline.

I love this particular look though, I instantly feel summery and bright & I think it works well with my dark hair

Products Used

Face

Estee Lauder Doublewear Foundation in Desert Beige
Estee Lauder Doublewear Concealer in 02 Light Medium
MAC MSF in So Ceylon to contour
NARS Orgasm Blush
MAC Belightful to highlight

Eyes

UDPP with MAC Painterly Paint Pot on top (base)
Gold Nugget (main lid)
Ginger Drop (inner 1/3 of lid)
Bronze Cube (crease & outer corner of lid)
Tea Biscuit (brow bone)
Turquoise (lower lashline)
L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara

Lips

Prestige Lightshine Sheer Gloss Liner (all over lip) in Lily

xoxox

Dupe Triumph?

dressjunkie — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:35:34 +0000

I was up in Belfast on Sunday and did a little bit of ~~premeditated~~ unplanned hauling. Among the bits & bobs I picked up were two of the Prestige Skin Loving Minerals.

Basically these are dupes of the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish which I already <3

I think I have purposely avoided picking these up until now because I am such a devotee of the MAC MSF’s, my So Ceylon is definitely one of my holy grail products….. or should I say was…. Eeeeeeeee

First things, packaging. It could just be me being all fingers and thumbs but I find the Prestige compacts difficult to open, however I’m willing to put up with this because of what is inside.
I purchased 03 Pure Shimmer, a gorgeous highlight and 01 Rich Bronze, such a flattering warm tan but not quite as deep in colour as So Ceylon.

L: Pure Shimmer R: Rich Bronze No Flash

As before but under flash

In my opinion these are unbelievably good. The actual product formulation is very finely milled and therefore requires practically no buffing, unlike the MAC MSF’s, where the art of application can be hard to master! I use the 181 with my MAC and it takes a good 30 secs of continuous buffing until I feel happy it isn’t just sitting noticeably on the surface of my face. With the Prestige I use a very narrow Chilli Pepper brush and simply sweep on as I would blush, it takes 5 seconds max.
It gives superb instant skin brightening. Glowing & healthy looking skin. Already I’ve had numerous compliments from the other mums at the school gates about it, and believe me, they’re a tough crowd.

However the end result of both is so so similar its hard to call, but the fact that prestige is so quick & easy to apply makes it the ideal choice.

L: Rich Bronze R: Pure Shimmer

Please excuse the bumpy skin above, still in recovery from the Liz Earle incident, and bare in mind I have applied a bit more than I would normally for the benefit of pics

MAC weighs in at a pretty steep £17.13 for 10g, while Prestige rings in at a much more purse friendly £8.80 for 8g.

I would definitely check the Prestige range out, you’ll find it in any large Boots within the UK.

xoxo

All that glitters……

dressjunkie — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:15:53 +0000

FOTD

Todays look was classic and glamourous wihout being OTT. Neutral eyes with a strong lip.

It’s a common misconception that you must always wear eyeliner or smoke it out in order to play up your eyes, a simple neutral eye with good shading and black mascara will not only open up your eyes but also make you look fresh and youthful.
Lets face it we can all be doing with a bit of that

Its’s easy to achieve and to apply, however it does require a pigmented lip so lip gloss alone may not be enough…..don’t fear the lippy!!!
I’d also suggest spending a little longer than you may normally applying your foundation, for this look you want your skin to be as flawless as possible, make sure everything is well buffed into the skin and go back in with concealer over any problem areas (such as dark circles under the eyes). Use a transluscent powder to set all your good work

This is also a fab and fuss free way to go from a day in the office to a night out with the girls. By simply applying winged liquid liner and some scarlet red lipstick you’ll morph into a pin-up girl!

Products Used

Face

MUFE Make-Up Forever HD Foundation Shade 117 (will review this in depth soon)
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer (under eyes “after” foundation)
MAC MSF So Ceylon (cheekbones)
NARS Blush Outlaw (apples)

Eyes

UDPP (base)
NYX Jumbo Eye Shadow Pencil Milk (over lid up to crease, any pale eye crayon will, Miss Sporty do some nice ones or Barry M)
MAC Vanilla (crease up to brow, again any cream highlight eye shadow colour will do)
MAC All That Glitters (apply a good amount all over the main lid)
MAC Soft Brown (buff it lightly into the crease and outer corner, should be very subtle with no harsh lines)
NYX Pigment Nude (inner third of lid & under lower lashes, use any sparkly pigment that is a light cream/gold, Barry M do lots, again Miss Sporty has some for £1.99 each and they are more than up to the job)
L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara Carbon Black

Lips

NYX Round Lipstick in Topaz

MAC Haul

dressjunkie — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 19:41:50 +0000

I picked up a few things in MAC today as I had some vouchers given to me at Christmas. I kinda knew what I wanted before I went, and barr one thing I got all the products on my list

The one I didn’t pick up was the penultimate liner. They had a tester one out, it was in good condition (I know a few people said the display ones had dried up), nice and wet, gave a good true black colour. However the felt pen type nib was extremely flexible towards the tip. I tried it a few times on the back on my hand and just felt that this aspect made it difficult to control. So I gave that a miss.

Heres what I did pick up…

Mineralize Skinfinish in Medium/ Natural and Shimmer
Aprés-Ski Eye Shadow from the Chill Collection
Frozen Dream Lipglass from the Chill Collection
Angel Lipstick

I just adore MAC’s MSF, I picked up medium really as a finishing powder for my entire face after foundation. I got the one which has one third as highlight as I thought it was better value, just call me the Credit Crunch Queen

Aprés-Ski is the answer to my prayers, a staple matte grey/ taupe. Great for blending out harsh lines when doing grey smokey eyes, I think it will work equally well with blues too. Can’t wait to try it out. I also want to go back and pick up Wintersky from the Chill Collection, its the most gorgeous frosty pink and very me, I’m so silly for putting it back. I do that all the time though!

Aprés-Ski Swatch

In regards to my 2 lip purchases, I am delighted! I have been after a “true”, wearable pink for quite some time, and Angel totally fits the bill. I can’t really do the whole concealer/ neutral lip thing terribly well, mostly because my own lip colour is quite pigmented and bleeds through, making it look…. well… cheap tbh.

Left Angel Lipstick, Right Frozen Dream

Angel sits perfectly on the border of where I can go up to in the pale colour spectrum. Pairing it with the Frozen Dream Lipglass is subtle but gorgeous. Frozen Dream is very sheer, a beautiful pink with a pearlised mauve undertone. Its my new fave lip combination.

Click pics to enlarge

Angel Lipstick

Angel topped with Frozen Dream Lipglass

Weekly Winners

dressjunkie — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:08:25 +0000

I’m more than a little late with this post this week, but better late than never
I blame Christmas! It’s much too exciting and fun!

Benefit’s High Beam – I’ve been experimenting with winter looks this week and in the process have fallen back in love with this product. I completely forgot how precise you can be with this high lighter, an area where MAC’s MSF’s fall down. I particularly like concentrating it just on the brow bone, gives the most gorgeous frosty shimmer. Beware around the nose/ inner cheek area if you have visible pores like moi, this product just loves to accentuate the bad as well as the good
Estee Lauder’s Lash Primer Plus – Love love love this. No gimmicks, packaging is very uninteresting, wand regular and unshaped, but the formula is fab. It conditions, seperates and bulks out my lashes. Can turn a relatively average mascara such as Miss Sporty Studio Lash into a lash sensation. I just apply one coat and let it dry for around 30 seconds, then apply my regular mascara. Brilliant product!
Christina Aguilera Eau De Parfum – I have numerous expensive perfumes which I love but I’m quite open minded on the whole scent front. If I like something I will wear it regardless of cost/ brand. This is one of those items. I’ve been wearing it non-stop this week, I really like it and the husband has given it his seal of approval too. It is quite musky but floral too, sexy but feminine. Try it!

What have you been reaching for this week? xox

Beat the blues!

dressjunkie — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:42:13 +0000

Its a rainy, dark, dismal day in Northern Ireland

So in an effort to cheer myself up I created this icy blue look.

Excuse the reddish tinged brows in the close-up, I thought I would try a different eyeshadow as a filler, and lets just say it doesn’t quite work

So what did I use……?

Face

Revlon Color Stay Foundation in 180 Sand Beige
Barbara Daly @ Tesco Concealer in Medium
MAC MSF in So Ceylon
Coastal Scents Blush Palette (second row, 2 from left)

Eyes

UDPP (base)
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in 606 Baby Blue (main lid & under lower lashes)
NYX Shadow in White (crease to brow)
Barry M Dazzle Dust in 20 (outer two thirds of lid and crease)
No 17 Eye Dazzle in Star Crossed (inner third of lid and under lower lashes)
Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Electric (top lash line)
Jemma Kidd Crushed Jewel Gel Liner in Diamond (over Electric)
L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black

Lips

Gosh Lipstick in 134 Darling
NYX Lip Gloss in 104 Sweet Heart

Rose Gold

dressjunkie — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:38:00 +0000

This is a nice look if you like your safe browns but fancy trying something a bit more daring. I have used 3 different shadows on the lid & crease, sable which is a beautiful shimmer brown with undertones of plum and bronze, cranberry and a soft matt brown. The first picture shows the colour under flash, the one under that is taken without flash, you can see the rose tone better.

Its very dull here today though and hard to get great lighting. Its good to bear in mind though that when you wear eyeshadow, blush, lipgloss etc, depending on what lighting you are under you will get a different effect. That is why I am quite fond of a veluxe pearl or lustre finish, you get a number of different tones and effects from one shadow dependent on surroundings. If you do like these finishes though remember to always balance it out with matt eyeshadow somewhere in the mix

The secret to this is Blend Blend & Blend especially if you are fair skinned like myself. These colours will work effortlessly on medium to dark skin types but for us pale and interestings you will need to keep a lighter hand to avoid looking like you just have sore eyes!! Pinky bronze is hard to wear but so worth getting right as it makes brown/ green eyes pop beautifully.

I used a black kohl eyeliner pencil and completely lined my eyes, upper & lower including the water line. Flick/ tick is optional but instantly sexes the look up. Finish with 2 coats of black mascara.

If I was wearing this out for an occassion I would definitely make sure I have a fake tan done and bronze up my cheekbones with some MSF, but you get the idea. Have fun with your eye make-up, experiment

(if you can’t pose on your own blog, where can you, eh?!!)

Eyes

MAC Paint Pot in Painterly (eye base)
MAC Eyeshadow in Sable (main eyelid)
MAC Eyeshadow in Cranberry (crease & outer corner)
MAC Eyeshadow in Soft Brown (crease and lid to blend harsh lines)
Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Zero (upper lashline, lower & water line)
L’Oreal Double Extension Mascara Carbon Black

Face

Revlon Colorstay Foundation in Sand Beige
Barbara Daly @ Tesco Concealer in Medium
NARS Blush in Deep Throat

Lips

Benefit Color Plump in Love Ya
Bobbi Brown Lipgloss in Nude

Ten Products I Can’t Live Without

dressjunkie — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:18:45 +0000

xexfx from Twitter gave me this idea, although I think she managed to break it down the 5 products. Unfortunately I’m just not that restrained

These are 10 products I would choose above all others if I was forced to. I have literally hundreds of pieces of make-up, creams and potions in my kit but I could happily live with just these 10.

I haven’t included eyeshadow as although I love to wear it and play with it, I think mascara is all that is truly necessary to open up your eyes and make you feel gorgeous!

1. Laura Mercier’s Foundation Primer (all skin types), I discovered this when I was looking for a primer to keep my wedding make-up in check all day. I bought this and Smashbox’s Photo Finish, and although I like the latter it isn’t a patch on Laura Mercier. I use this every day, much like a moisturiser before adding my face. It has the lightest cleanest fragrance, and makes the skin feel incredibley smooth without the waxy, greasy finish I get from Smashbox. I use the all skin types version but it is available in oil free should your skin require that. Its pricey but totally worth it and lasts about 2 months per 50ml tube.
RRP £27.00

2. MAC’s Select Cover-Up in NW20. I know that everyone has a different preference to how they apply concealer, I apply mine prior to my foundation, as I feel just slides off if I try and blend it over it. I think everyone should do whatever works best for them though. Consistency is great, creamy and fantastic coverage, especially on spots, without being drying or overly thick. Lasts for absolutely ages too.
RRP £11.00

3. Revlon Colorstay Make-up with SoftFlex SPF 15 Normal/ Dry Skin, this is a recent discovery. It was recommended a number of times by You Tubers and I decided to see what the fuss was about. I love it! I have and still use (hate waste) various MAC foundations, but to be honest I have never been overly impressed with them. I have found them to be quite drying and patchy as the day goes on. I also feel that there is no one particular shade that completely suits my skin tone.
This make-up is superior to MAC’s Studio Fix Fluid IMO. It gives silky even coverage, that is buildable, without caking or feeling mask like. Comes in 2 finishes, depending on if you skin is oily or dry and it also doesn’t come off on everything you touch. Bonus! I wear shade Sand Beige 180.
RRP £11.99 (NB Boots have 3 for 2 on all Revlon cosmetics at the moment)

4. MAC Mineralize Skinfinish MSF in So Ceylon. I can’t begin to describe how much I love love love this product. It brightens and highlights giving the most amazing glow and polish on my cheekbones.

This is it swatched on my hand prior to buffing. The colour is metallic and bronzed without too much glitter. Using a MAC’s dinky 181 brush you buff it into the skin to acquire the finish you want. Go heavy or light, its up to you!

This particular colour is limited edition now and is sporting the triangle of death beside it online so I will definitely buy another and store it.
RRP £16.50

5. NARS Blush in Deep Throat, I adore these blushes. The colour variety, the finish, the pan sizes. I particularly love Deep Throat because it is a beautiful peach with shimmer that doesn’t try too hard. It gives a healthy flush, perfect for attaining that natural make-up look on days off from being a glamour puss
Other colours of note in the range for me are Sin, Torrid, and Outlaw.
RRP £18.50

6. MAC Brow Set in Mink, this was a limited edition colour within the Emmanuel Ungaro collection I believe but its the formula which I love and there are still comparable colours in the range. I normally use it over pencil, but if I had to use just one item it would be the Brow Set. It holds and tames my brows into place, once this stuff is on, I find they don’t budge all day/ night. But not in that cakey, rock hard way some brow gels can give.
RRP £10.00

7. L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black, its just the best mascara ever. I try others regularly, but I always come back to this one. It makes my lashes thicker, longer and more seperated looking without any clumping. And I always used to think black is black, right? wrong! this truly is dark dark black, really makes my eyes pop. I think the wand and formulation work together to make this unbeatable IMO. Bargain that it is pretty inexpensive too
RRP £6.99

8. Nivea Caregloss & Shine, in the Winter my lips get so dry. I can’t possibly wear lipstick all the time or gloss. This is a saviour, repairing my lips while still letting me pout with glossiness
Some chemists are doing 3 different flavours in a little gift set for £3.19 which is a total bargain considering one costs me just shy of that!
RRP £2.69

9. Flower by Kenzo Eau De Parfum, this is my signature scent. I wear others now and again, normally at night, but this is my daytime staple perfume. Its a love affair that I know will last forever.

Whats number 10? My MacBook Air *strokes it, hugs it, cries with pride* nuff said