My Best of Makeup 2013

By best I mean that I just love all these products and that I feel like I just gravitate towards these products more so than the other things I have. And since this topic has been picking up quite a storm in the beauty circles, I thought to so do one too.

I realize my blog is not a whole year long yet, but still I felt that I've had all of these products for the past year or so and I so these are just my favorite picks. Besides, this post would allow me to cross out two resolutions I mentioned earlier, namely, get rid of the old stale stuff and also pick out products for my new go to makeup bag.

Here goes nothing:

I'll this category wise, starting with face, then eyes, lips and my fav brushes also. Most categories will have both high end and drugstore products.

Makeup and Beauty Resolutions for 2014

Come 2014 I feel I could do with some improvements and take some steps to really stick to new resolutions in all facets of life, but in this blog, I’ll be telling you about makeup and beauty resolutions…not that they totally go down the drain by the end of the first month. But no harm in trying once again.

Elf Haul and Mini Reviews

So I know that many of the Elf products are hit or miss, but I find that for the money, they're mostly pretty good. I was super excited to get a few items. They are so enormously marked up here but, they were on sale at 19 dhs a pop. Let's have a look at what I got and my initial thoughts:

From L to R Clockwise: Elf Cream Duo in Eggplant, Elf Blush and Bronzer Duo in Antigua, Elf HD Lifting Concealer in Brightening, Elf Eyelid Primer in Sheer, Elf Mineral Eyelid Primer in Blush, Elf Cream Eyeliner in Black (comes with a little eyeliner brush)

Bourjois 8 in 1 BB cream

By now we all know where BB creams originate from (the Far East), and how they're not exactly foundation but not a moisturizer...well not completely.There is so much influx of BB creams and more recently CC creams (but let's not get started on that shall we) that making a choice is mind boggling. I mean just look at the claims, it seems they have no fault.

I'll have to admit, it is nice to believe that something could actually do what most BB creams say that they do, a.k.a. even out skin tone, conceal, moisturize and reverse aging somewhat. I recently indulged in a purchase by Bourjois...and theirs have a whopping 8 advantages! Or so they claim:

Perfecting, Smoothing, Targeted Correction, Anti Fatigue, Anti-Shine, Anti Aging, Lasting Hydration and SPF 20.

Clinique Long Last Glosswear + High Impact Lip Color with a Twist

So today I want to tell you about,
A product that beautifies and emphasizes your pout.

A product so cute, nifty and handy,
After using it, your lips will look like candy.

So without delay and further ado,
Go on and read for an in depth review!

Shade 12 Kissyfit

Clinique Even Better Foundation

As you get older your skin requires even more attention due to sun damage, aging, hyper pigmentation, loss of elasticity. While there are many beauty creams out there that cater to these problems, finding a foundation that can help the outward appearance of the afore mentioned issues is a challenge. Something that will even out, correct and provide a healthy look to the face without the actual look of makeup is something we all look for in a foundation. Add the SPF factor...not too high that it might actually create a film and not too low either and anti oxidants to combat aging, you have yourself a winner.

This is the Clinique Even Better Foundation. I suppose the name means it better than other foundations because it gives you what most foundations do with the added benefits of an SPF and color correction properties.

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer

A product that claims that it corrects, highlights and conceals...a dream product indeed!! It's a tall claim...does it live up to it?

Shade 310 Radiant

When I bought this I was thinking okay, so here is a product, that if it actually does what it says, would be a magic wand for me due to the darkness and pigmentation issues I have. I knew it would do little for my panda like under eye circles, but then again, I have yet to come across some product that would fix that to my liking. However, with some extra TLC around those circles, this pen actually did do most of what it claimed.

Loreal 6 Hr Glam Shine Lip Gloss

Lip gloss is just such a feminine thing i think, very girly, very pretty. Some are creamy, some glittery and they all take the years off the maturing woman. It's less harsh than a lipstick and makes lips look fuller and poutier. It's a better alternative to lipstick if your lips are small and thin. And they are just lovely for young girls.

Of course there's the disadvantage that it disappears soon after applying, and you have to constantly touch up. But makeup brands everywhere started bringing out longer lasting formulas...when I heard I thought how could that even be possible. So I just had to try it out.

Left: 201 Loyal Wild Rose

Right: 106 Forever Young

The Wands

MAC Paint Pot in Rubenesque

Now and again you keep hearing about these cult products out there. They come up regularly over the course of many years and the mention of their name sort of keeps pounding at you much like the waves breaking onto rocks eroding them until they finally crumble. I'd keep hearing about these little pots that had a magic concoction that would do wonders for your eyes, a revolutionary product that other brands still try to mimic. To be honest, some even got it right, but a MAC paint pot, is after all a MAC paint pot.

So began my extensive research into which shade I should get. Should I get the natural matte ones? Naa...How about the amazing dark colors...probably wouldn't get too much use out of those even though they are OMG pretty. Finally it was a close one between "Indianwood" and "Rubenesque". I went with the latter because it appeared to be the most unique shade.

MAC Paint Pot

Rubenesque

The Makeup Color Series: Bright Whites

White is such an unassuming color. I suppose its the mathematical equivalent of zero...literally having no value, yet without it, the whole world would crumble away...

Though in "The Makeup Color Series" I'll be going through some products I think are awesome in that color range, I'm starting out by the most overlooked and underrated color...white.

These are from my stash, but loads of brands do all the items and they are easily available. So moving on...

Battle of the Blushes: Tarte Amazonian 12 Hour Clay Blush vs theBalm Instain Blush

Disappearing blush syndrome, a very common problem which many a women suffer from, but hardly can find a cure for. You think maybe you're doing something wrong, but really, its not you, its probably the product that just doesn't want to stay put. 

Many brands, thankfully, caught on to the issue, and started producing long lasting blush formulas. Today I'll be putting two of the most popular blushes known for their longevity to test.

On the left: Tarte Amazonian Clay12 Hour Blush in Fantastic (mini version)

On the right: The Balm Instain Blush in Pinstripe

Tarte Claim: (26 dollars for full sized blush)

A long-wearing, solar-baked blush that lasts up to 12 hours. Infused with natural clay harvested from the banks of the Amazon River and naturally baked by the sun, this nutrient-rich blush benefits all skin types for a fade-free flawless finish for an amazing 12 hours. Suitable for all skin types and paraben free. 

theBalm Blush Claim: (22 dollars for full sized blush)

theBalm’s long-wearing, STAINING powder blush is a fashion must have! With six shades, perfect for all seasons and skin tones, it will give your cheeks color that won’t quit.

Do these blushes live up to the hype and do they fare when pitted against each other?

Guest Post: Stila in the Garden Palette Review

Today I have invited a friend of mine FZ, who is just beginning to step into the world of makeup, to give her two cents on a certain makeup product that she was gifted. It was sad to see her not knowing what a jewel she had acquired, but as we all know, good stuff doesn’t need any selling, it sells itself. Surely she fell in love with the all famous “Stila in the Garden Palette”. I find it quite interesting to see what someone who is relatively new at trying out different products and brands has to say are unbiased and more pragmatic in their approach and this is what she has to say about it:

Hi all! I am a 24 year old housewife, just beginning to appreciate the world of makeup. It makes sense then that when recently I was gifted a Stila eyeshadow palette, as appreciative as I was of the gift sender’s gesture, the product itself didn’t cause me to swoon. I hadn’t heard of the brand name before this… but then how many brands do I do know?! :P. I tossed it aside as just another addition in my collection of unused shadows which will make it all the more difficult for me to choose a shade in the fifteen minutes that I  am willing to spend on makeup before going out. A certain makeup geek friend of mine had a totally different reaction however. One look at it and she exclaimed what a catch it was, envying my luck for having such makeup gifting friends.  (Boy ain't that the truth!)

The geeks are more right than wrong they say. This Stila “In the Garden Palette” is the first thing I reach for now when giving myself a quick presentable look. 

It contains ten shadows and a smudge stick eyeliner. The palette itself came in a cardboard box which doesn’t really look very appealing at first sight.

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

So many brands bring out eyeshadow palettes with a host of finishes and colors, sometimes it becomes difficult to just stick to the basics having so many options thrust into your face. And this is why this palette is holds a special place for me- its simple, to point and there is no drama.

The Front

The Back

The Inside (has a nice mirror)

An idea of the size of the palette.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tars

OCC lip tars.....all famous, revolutionary, trend setter product. These little monsters are highly pigmented lip colors in squeeze out tubes. You would have guessed I just love liquid products that have pumps or squeeze out mechanisms because of the sanitary advantage. But personally, I was just so disappointed with these tars not because they didn't live up to the hype of their extreme pigmentation of longevity, but because....

From Left to Right: Iced, Pretty Boy, Kava Kava, Hoochie and Lydia

Chanel Vitalumiere (discontinued) Dupe

One of my first high end foundations and one I love to this day is the Chanel Vitalumiere Foundation which has sadly been discontinued. This is not the other version they have called Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation which is a more recent formulation.

I'm in the shade 15 Opaline

Its so sad they discontinued it since it was truly beautiful. But I just happened upon a foundation which is more or less the dupe of this foundation in terms of the final finish. The Chanel one gives a dewy and soft finish to the skin which I really love for the winter months when the skin is more drier. It has an SPF 15 which the dupe does not but both smell very nice, both are floral and kind of similar. The smell may bother some people who are sensitive to strong smells. But I personally love the smell of both. 

So what is the dupe?

Victoria's Secret Metallic Eyes (The Trend: Glam shimmer and sheen)

I did a post on the items in my to go makeup pouch and I got a request to review this particular item. As far as tiny cute palettes go, this one definitely takes the prize. Its the opposite of the UD Basics palette in that it has all shimmer shades with metallic finish, which means they all have a high sheen. The word sheen implies that it gives off a reflective look, but not glittery. A nice sheen means that the shadows have to be finely milled and soft.

The Palette

Price: Around 60-90 dhs.

Packaging:

 Flips open, does not have a mirror, but has a magnet click when closed, so it won't open on the go. Made of hard cadrboard, quite sturdy.

This palette contains 6 shimmery eyeshadows, 1 eyeliner, 1 highlighter, there was a little brush but I've long lost it, it was not good at all.

So how does this palette fare....

Flormar Pretty Compact Quartet Eyeshadow in 47

When the Naked Basics Palette came out, it created such a splash that other drugstore brands wanted their piece of the matte eyeshadow craze. Mattes were back in style and who can blame these eyeshadows? They're subtle and look beautiful in all situations on all types of women, especially the nude variety.

Strolling along the stores one day, this particular palette caught my eye and it was on sale on the Flormar counter. This is a Turkish brand and not very well known, but I have sampled their products and always felt them to be top notch. On closer inspection I noticed that this palatte had all matte shades. It was too good to be true. I thought they'd be chalky, or really hard so that there would be hardly any color pay off even though they looked to vivid in the pans. But this is what I found out:

Eyeliner 101

As with all makeup products out there, the range and variety of a single type is overwhelming. Over the years, the quality has improved and innovation has played a huge part in terms of the choices we have when we go out shopping.

So today I want to go through the basic types of eyeliners out there, what effect each one is meant to give and a mention to some favorite drugstore brands with an honorary mention of one high end product as well if I have one that is.

My Five Lipstick Picks for the Cooler Fall/Winter Months

Frankly, I've never been one to wear any particular shades of lipsticks according to the season, but its a general trend to be sporting more mauve, plum, wine, purple and berry shades in the cold season. Peach, light pinks, coral and orange are more summery colors. So anyways, in accordance to this trend I picked out 5 shades for the current season.

And they are:

From the left: Viva Glam 3 (Matte)

Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick in 02 (Satin)

Diana of London Extra Long Stay Lipstick in Best Star 08 (Matte)

Avon Color Trend Lipstick in Intimate (Satin)

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Midnight Plum 338 (Satin with micro glitter)

DIY Eye Primer

Since I've done posts previously on eye bases and primers (click here) and cream eye shadows (click here); and while the subject is still fresh, I'd like the opportunity to share a recipe on how to make your own eye primer, completely free of cost at home.

To test this primer, I swatched a NYX single eyeshadow in shade "Springleaf". The first swatch is the eyeshadow without primer, the second with Urban Decay Primer Potion and the third with my own home made primer:

Eyeshadow, UDPP, DIY primer

Corresponding swatches

Makeup Brushes 101

When I first got into makeup, brushes were around, only not in the host of types and brands nowadays. Back then good ol' fingers were the main makeup application tool for at lot of your look. I know how overwhelming it can be to go out there and see 10 different types of eyeliner brushes and not know what to do, only to walk out in frustration. I hope this post can help you know what are the basic tools required to apply makeup and then you can shop for brushes with the intent of the brush you want to buy. This is singularly the most important question when buying makeup products...what will this product help me achieve.

Brush overload: Be gone...

Before starting you should know there are 2 types of brushes: Synthetic (man made fibres) and Natural (as apparent from the name, animal hair). The preference is a personal choice mostly. I don't mind either but synthetic brushes are generally more easier to clean and more commonly used.

Essence Stay All Day Long Lasting Eyeshadows (cream based)

Well since I discussed some eye primers yesterday, I thought it would be nice to talk about some cream eyeshadows.The difference between the 2 is that whereas primers are not pigmented, cream eyeshadows are meant to function as color for the lids. Primers prevent or minimize creasing but some cream shadows do crease, some sooner than others....so in fact primers can be used underneath to reduce the creasing and improve longevity. By design creams are quite pigmented to there is no issue there, although layering powder eyeshadow on top can give multidimensional effects as well improve the overall eye look duration.  These come in the tubs/pots or in pencil form. Today I'm talking about the Essence ones which come in these small tubs.

Many companies make them. MAC make paint pots, Chanel and Estee Lauder have some good ones and Maybelline have the all famous Color Tattoos. I intend to do a clash of the cream shadows (drugstore edition) some time in the future.

So onwards:

I have 6 of these:

Top row L to R: For Fairies 09, Raise the Curtain for... (limited edition) 02,Stars and Stories 04

Bottom row L to R: Coppy Right 01, Glammy Goes To 02, The Magic Must Go On 08

Price: Around 15-20 dhs and easily available at major supermarkets.

Packaging: Plastic tubs, twist open lids and a cute 3d design on the lid. There is 5.5 grams of product which is not bad.

Clash of the Eye Primers: Urban Decay Primer Potion vs Essence I Love Stage Eyeshadow Base

So what do eye primers do...I mean what is their function exactly? So far as all the key words regarding this makeup product is concerned, they are 'long lasting', 'more true to color, pigmented' and 'prevents creasing'.

Now its true that these do all the above to some capacity. Obviously every individual's skin type if different. Very oily eyelids  may need a cream eyeshadow or something extra, some people may find that its just the same anyway.

So here I want to put 2 primers to the test...one, the giant of all primers- the all famous UDPP and the other the lesser known the Essence I Love Stage Eyeshadow Base.

On the left: UDPP (sample size)

On the right: Essence Base (full size)

So I picked up some random Revlon 12 hour Colorstay eyeshadows and swatched them without any base:

I picked 3 shades, a light one, a medium toned and a dark shade.

My Perfect Shade of Red

I've always been on the hunt for a red that wouldn't make me look like Bozo the Clown. So whenever I strolled into the malls I'd swatch the red just for the heck of it, convinced the red of my destiny probably did not even exist. None ever clicked..and none were just your classic red...they always had pinky undertones or corally, or orangy and though they were beautiful, they were not quite what I was looking for. Until I picked up this lipstick. It whispered to me almost and I knew I had found it. Ladies...I'd like you to meet the red of my dreams:

 

Maybelline 14 Hour Lasting Lipstick in 540 Ravishing Rouge

What's in my out the door to-go Makeup Pouch?

Sometimes we're in such a darn hurry that we don't get time to even smear on some lipstick. For just such a situation, or if I have to be staying overnight someplace, I keep some hassle free easy to use products. A random moisturizer suffices as a primer which is usually haunting some dark nook and cranny in my purse but since the pouch is quite tiny, that does not get to hang out with the makeup itself. I would not normally use these makeup products or most of them if I have some time before headed out. I do admit that the only mirror I have is the tiny one that comes with the Bobbi Brown concealer but lets move on to the actual stuff:

From the top : Rimmel London Makeup Pouch

Victoria's Secret Metallic Eyes Palette

Max Factor Mineral Foundation in Warm Almond

Lancome sample size Mascara-Virtuous

Sample size Urban Decay lip gloss (came in one of the Naked Palettes)

Ecotools powder brush

Bobbi Brown corrector in Peach

MAC blush in Raizin

Avon Everlasting Lipstick in Ginger

Essence Long Lasting eye pencil in 02 Hot Chocolate

Little brush that came in the Nude 'tude Palette by The Balm

Sigma Blending brush, travel size E25

Makeup Masterclass Palette by Smashbox (2012 Limited Edition)

The end of the year nears, winter vacation approaches and all hell breaks loose with the makeup companies, with makeup palettes being released willy silly, left and right and literally blowing our minds away. You look at them and you say you need every one of them. But that's pretty impossible for the vast majority of us. So then we look at reviews online and if one is to be bought, we see the pros and cons, the quality and variety of products in the palette versus the price. Of course these are not easily available in the Middle East but if you're lucky enough to have someone who could being one down for you from The States or Canada, like I was last year, then you're in for a treat. And so to my utmost delight I got this one which really did blow my mind away!

The outside of the palette, it flips open and inside you find:

A whopping 28 shadows in various finishes and all types of colors.

8 cream eyeshadows which can be used as bases.

2 blushes

3 highlighters

4 lip glosses

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal (waterproof) Eye Pencil in 001

This is one of the best pencils out there...of the drugstore variety. We think of Dior, Chanel and Clinique, even MAC...but this particular pencil can rival them all and knock them right out of the race. I once had one by Dior and it was...hmmm....whats the word I'm looking for....'aweful, hard, and ridiculously expensive'. So this review is going to be sweet and short.

Price: 26 Dhs at the local Rimmel stands at almost every mall.

Favorite MAC Lipsticks- The Nudes

I've always felt it prudent that when thinking of buying higher end lippys, a color that is practical and able to be worn in every situation is the best way to go. Obviously nude lipsticks, i.e lipsticks that are close to your own lip color, maybe slightly darker or lighter are best situated in all case scenarios, be it natural, smoky or bold makeup. MAC lipsticks are not cheap, about 90-100 dhs these days. So obviously we have to choose wisely. Here my top 3 picks:

From the left: 

Half n Half (Amplified formula)

Viva Glam 5 (Lustre)

Blankety (Amplified)

Clinique Blush in Precious Posey

This is probably one of the most gorgeous blushes I own. I read in a couple of places that this is a better version of Nars Orgasm blush, but though I can’t personally attest to that, I believe these claims not to be far fetched. After having seen numerous swatches online I am convinced this must be true and this is why:

Price: I don’t remember exactly but it should be in about the 150 dhs range or so.

Packaging: B E A utiful…the cover is a sleek and metallic and when you flip it over its transparent so you can see the blush and the brush that comes with it. The brush is also quite usable. Its contoured and very soft. 

MAC Face and Body Foundation and MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Natural

So the dry weather is upon us…for oily girls, scratch that, oily skinned girls, this might be a blessing in disguise but for the ones with dry skin or even normal skin, it can bring on flakiness, patches, redness, roughness and so on and so forth. While we do what we can with moisturizers, facial oils, serums and the like, what many people so not know is that it really makes a difference if the type of makeup you’re wearing is adjusted to the changing weather.  Which brings me to these two products which, for normal/ normal to dry skin, are just amazing. A shout out to those gals who have issues with coverage because if you are looking for high coverage to hide that acne, or scarring or prominent discoloration or if MAC products simple break you out then these (or at least one of these) will not be for you.

MAC foundation in N3, powder in Medium+

Price: Both available for about 150 Dhs mark.

Packaging: The foundation has a nozzle and the bottle is slightly squeezable plastic. There is a little cap that twists over the nozzle. There are 2 sizes but I have the smaller one with your regular fluid ounce. The powder is standard MAC packaging. Only thing is it doesn't have is a mirror or a spongy applicator thing that many powders come with. I like that it clicks with a certainty that it won’t open in your bag.

What's all the fuss about- Bioderma Makeup Remover

Yes, its a decent makeup remover. But what makes for a great one? We all know the dreaded mascara panda eyes that ensue after the fun is over, and what girl hasn't fallen asleep with a full face of makeup out of pure exhaustion...we've all done it. Why? Because we know what its going to be like to scrub your lashes till your eyes feel sore, as if they weren't closing from sleepiness anyway. We talk about makeup but we don't pay enough attention to its removal process.

I suppose in such circumstances it would help to know you have a magic potion just lying there and you'll have to do is swipe your eyes a couple of times and your face and all the gooey gunk and the dried flakes come right off. And that's essentially why I bought this makeup remover...

A Classic Timeless Makeup Look

This look is a no brainer...

The type of look you could really pull of anywhere anytime.

Read on:

The Look:

Products Used:

From Top: Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner, Glossy Stain by YSL in 4, Tarte Blush in Magic, Lancome Tient Miracle in 3, Chanel Bronzer Base, Essence Brow Pencil in Black, Prestige Lip Liner in Spice, Wet n Wild Walking on Eggshells Eyeshadow Palette, MaxFactor Falsh Lash Effect Mascara, Rubenesuq Paint Pot, NYX Stay Matte but not Flat Powder Foundation, Givenchy Mister Light Concealer, Prestige Intensity Liner In Deepest Black, Essence Eyelash and Brow Gel, Bourjois Ombre Stretch Eyeshadow in Black.

Brushes:

From Top: Sigma Angled Kabuki, RT Blush Brush, Essence Eyeshadow Brush, RT dome shaped Brush, Maybelline Gel Eyeliner brush, Sigma Blending Brush,  Essence Crease Brush.

Gimmicky Mascaras That Actually Work

Huge wands, thin wands, tiny wands, spiral wands, tapered, curved, combed, thick bristled, pear shaped, hour glass shaped, the types of wands and formulations of mascaras is endless. Makes for tough decisions too…but two mascaras that I believe were unique (in design at least) and revolutionized wand shapes is the Givenchy Phenomen’ Eyes Mascara and more recently the Avon Mega Effects Mascara.