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...