Impressing With My Powders and Pigments

By the miracle of scheduled posting I'm here when in reality I am probably lying on a sun lounger oh bliss! Anyways don't worry I've written a few posts to keep you amused whilst I'm away, starting with this one. A little while ago I decided to go ahead and try and press my loose powder shadows and blushers. I think I got the bug after my little attempt at pressing MAC pigments, I have loads and loads of powder shadows, pigments and blushers and to be honest I wasn't using them, loose powders just seemed a bit fiddly and too time consuming for everyday use so pressing them seemed to be the answer. Obviously it isn't as simple to press mineral shadows as it is to press MAC pigments, with MAC you just need a bit of alcohol however with mineral shadows and dazzle dusts you need a bit of filler, normally silicone alongside the alcohol, so I followed this tutorial from the lovely Lipglossiping use the same products as she does here. Generally I found it to be pretty successful but I learnt a few lessons along the way - first of all mattes are nearly impossibly to press, I found the more shimmer the better the result, I also learnt patience wait until they are dry before attempting to touch or press them otherwise disaster will strike. Another tip I would pass on is to be careful when adding the liquids a few times my mixture was way to wet I had to add more pigment to make it usable, and lastly be careful with them twice I dropped unpressed shadows and blushers on the floor and twice I dropped the pan when mixture was wet big mistake! I might be just a klutz but it you want to try it take care. I bought the alcohol and biosilk from ebay and the pans and palettes from Stars Make Up Haven who are great and usually include a freebie often one of their shadow singles :) On to the part you've all been waiting for pics of my handiwork - first of all blushers I've included some swatches for you so you can see how pigmented they are even after pressing, and I've made my pics a bit bigger than normal too x

Top Row From L-R - id Bare Minerals - Promise, Avon Mineral Blusher - Blushed, id Bare Minerals - Frisky and id Bare Minerals - Confidence

Bottom Row - First Light Minerals - Mistral

Pretty huh - bit of a colour theme developing there tho lots of peaches and corals :) OK eyeshadows - this palette isn't full yet but I still have a few to press and I'll probably need another palette to finish them all off but here it is at the moment, again with swatches :)

1st Row L-R - ELF -Natural, ELF - Earthy, ELF - Girly, id Bare Minerals - Poise, Space, ELF - Partier, id Bare Minerals - Motivate

2nd Row - id Bare Minerals - Pure Joy, ELF - Earthy, id Bare Minerals - Delight, Collection 2000 - Hazy Daze 20, id Bare Minerals - Bravo, Barry M Dazzle Dust - 91 Silvery Black, and Barry M Dazzle Dust - 51 Mushroom

3rd Row - id Bare Minerals - Purist, FirstLight Minerals - Bali Sunset, Collection 2000 -Stonewash, Space, First Light Minerals - Cornish Copper, Space, Collistar Lurex Pearl 2

4th Row - NYX Loose Pearl - 19 Mink Pearl, id Bare Minerals - Strength, Barry M Dazzle Dust - 3 Pink Gold, Boots Natural Collection -?, NYX Loose Pearl - 20 Mocha Pearl, Barry M Dazzle Dust - 101 Buff, and Barry M Dazzle Dust - 29 Yellow Gold

I hope you enjoy these pretty splashes of colour. Any questions on anything please let me know xx



FOTD + MUA Blush Review

I've learnt a few lessons make up wise today first of all why haven't I used a duo fibre / stipple brush to apply my foundation before, secondly why are duo fibre brushes so hard to clean and thirdly I am cack handed when it comes to applying eyeliner lol Hmm in the process of learning these lessons I created this make up look, thick lined olive green eyes, pink blush and pink lipstick :) It took my about 20 pictures to get my full face of the day pic today - I was having one of those days, the lighting was woeful - too dark or too bright, and my facial palsy was really playing me up - still I hope you get the idea







Poker Faced Lips :)


Trying to get a close up of my blush


Today I Wore

Revlon Photo Ready Foundation - 003 Shell
MAC Prep + Prime Eye - Light
Lancome Palette Mix Complexion Kit - 1 (Lightest Shade Only)
Boots No7 Translucent Loose Powder
MAC MSF Lightscapade
MUA Blusher Shade 1
MAC Paint Chartru
FirstLight Mineral Eyeshadow - Bali Sunset
GOSH Show Me Volume Mascara - Black *
Avon Daring Definition Cream Eyeliner - Black
MAC Viva Glam Gaga

(*provided by pr)

MUA Blusher - Shade 1 Review

I've had a few requests do a review of this so here you go x As you know I got this blusher in my recent MUA haul. My first impressions of the this blush were good - I loved the smooth texture and the pigmentation was really good for the price

A super bubblegum pink shade (the ideal match for gaga) this blush has a pretty strong colour on application but it blends down nicely to create a pretty pink look (which you can hopefully see above). One of the major questions I've had on this it is about it's longevity - I have to say on my skin (combination) it actually lasts pretty well -as I say it is pretty pigmented which helps it to last

I only have a couple of complaints about this first of all it is a bit powdery when you dip your brush on to it you do pick up a lot of powder so you need to tap it otherwise you'll end up with clown cheeks and lots of fallout lol, and because it's so powdery you do tend to lose a bit in the compact. Something I've also noticed when I've started using it is that it does have quite a noticeable smell - it's not horrible by any means more a sort of granny floral. All in all I am pretty impressed with this blusher for only £1 you really can't argue it has its issues but the pigmentation more than makes up for it. MUA products are available from selected Superdrug stores and online for £1 an item.

FOTD Featuring MAC Snob

I had to pop to the chemists today thankfully we went by car -my mum can drive again - hurray :) so I could wear make up without it sweating off - it's been a lovely day today :)Anyway I went with a brighter eye look than normal - I love bright colours but I don't tend to wear them that often - I used Delft paint pot but intensified it by using this teal Smashbox shadow

and I pared it with my new Snob lipstick which I love and can't believe I haven't owned before :)


Sorry this pic isn't the best I was trying to capture the intensity of the colour

Snob :)


Today I Wore

First Light Mineral Foundation - Breeze in the Beeches *
ELF Sheer Mineral Booster
Lancome Palette Mix Complexion Kit - 1 (Lightest Shade Only)
MAC Prep + Prime Eye - Light
ELF Studio Blush - Tickled Pink
MAC MSF - Porcelain Pink
MAC Paint Pot - Delft
Smashbox Eyeshadow Quad - Electric (teal shade only)
GOSH Show Me Volume Mascara - Black *
Avon Daring Definition Cream Eyeliner - Black
MAC Lipstick - Snob

(*provided by PR)

Quick FOTD

Just thought I'd show you a super quick FOTD - unfortunately Jake has been poorly again so we had to make a trip to the vets :( The vet gave him a few shots and we have to take him back tomorrow - anyways to the make up and my favourite lip combo of the moment x
Sorry I look a bit cross eyed in this one lol




Today I Wore

First Light Mineral Foundation - Breeze in the Beeches *
ELF Sheer Mineral Booster
Lancome Palette Mix Complexion Kit - 1 (Lightest Shade Only)
Benefit Thrrrob Powder
MAC Prep + Prime Eye - Light
Jemma Kidd Make Up School Iridescent Eye Silk Pencil - 02 Mercury
MAC Eyeshadow - Idol Eyes
GOSH Show Me Volume Mascara - Black *
Revlon Eyeliner Pencil - 01 Black
MAC Lipstick - Fabby
MAC Lipglass - Cherry Blossom

(*Provided by PR for review purposes)

First Light Cosmetics Review and FOTD (Pic Heavy)

A few weeks ago I was contacted by First Light Cosmetics asking me if I would like to try some of the products -loving mineral make up as I do my answer was of course yes! First Light is a new brand of mineral cosmetics which uses only 100% natural ingredients, using finely crushed natural minerals in all their products. I was lucky enough to be sent two products a mineral foundation and a mineral eyeshadow.
The first thing that impressed me was how the items arrived - they came in super cute multicoloured,cotton drawstring bag first impressions - thumbs up :)

Natural Mineral Foundation Breeze In The Beeches
The first product I was sent was the full sized 10g mineral foundation in the shade Breeze in the Beeches which is described a light neutral with cool undertones- It's one of 18 shades to choose from - The product comes in a screw top jar with the company logo on the lid - the lid has a rubberised type finish which unfortunately does get a bit grubby :(




The jar is in the sifter style so all you need to do is tip the minerals into the lid. This packaging does work but unfortunately it's not really practical for travel as the product will come out through the holes.

To apply the product I used my normal method of swirling with a kabuki brush, tapping of the excess then buffing the product into my skin. The shade I think is a tiny bit pale for me but mineral make up is pretty adaptable and as you can see the coverage is pretty good

gross before pics
Notice the redness and high colour

close up of evil spot prone area ie mingy breakout :(

after pics
bye bye redness -pretty good coverage don't you think

OK you can still see the spots a bit here but bear in mind I am wearing no concealer what so ever in any of the pics all I have on is the First Light foundation

In these pictures I haven't used a primer just a moisturiser - I did find it a bit harder to blend on top of primer but I found if I left the primer a little longer to dry properly I didn't have as much of a problem. I also found that this foundation lasted really well on my combination skin - I still had foundation on to remove even after 6 hours!! The only thing I would say is that I don't think that this would be quite as successful on a drier skin it did feel a tiny bit more drying than my usual mineral foundation.
So what can I say I am pretty impressed with this foundation I am a id Bare Minerals devotee but I will definitely consider buying from this range again - it really lasted and the coverage was impressive - this product retails for £12.99 for a 10g pot, or you can by a 2g bag for £1.50 - ideal for helping you find the perfect shade

Mineral Eye Shadow - Cornish Copper

The second product I was sent was one of the First Light Mineral Eye Shadows in the shade Cornish Copper.


It comes in a 2g jar with the same style sifter and it's the most gorgeous shimmery reddish copper shade

The swatch here is dry but you can imagine how nice it would look wet or foiled with water or say Fix +. Again I tipped it into the lid and applied it with and ELF Studio C Brush - pressing it in to the lid- it applied easily and it was super pigmented - I have no other eye make up on in these pics and no eye base




As you can see the colour is very strong - as with all loose mineral / powder shadows you do get a lot of fall out but it brushes away easily. It also blends easily with other shadows and it lasted pretty well without an eye base -all in all I am pretty impressed it compares easily to the id Bare Minerals shadows and it's a lot cheaper at £5.99 for a 2g pot.

So all in all I am pretty impressed with my First Light experience.I really want to try some more of their products and they have a really good selection including blushers, lipsticks, brushes and concealers. If you want to try First Light Cosmetics please check out their website (cick here) - they have also been kind enough to give me a discount code for my lovely readers - just enter First1015 at the checkout for 15% off your order - the voucher is valid until 08/04/2010.

FOTD

Since you've already seen bits of my make up today I thought I'd take a few FOTD shots (sorry they are a bit blurry and my hair is a disgrace)



My eyes with full make up


My Lips


Today I Wore

First Light Cosmetics Mineral Foundation - Breeze In The Beeches
MAC MSF - By Candlelight
First Light Cosmetics Mineral Eye Shadow - Cornish Copper
GOSH Velvet Touch Eye Pencil - Truly Brown
Collection 2000 Collagen Curl - 17 Ultra Black
Models Prefer Lipstick - Tawny Terrain


(Although I was sent the First Light Cosmetics products, both of these reviews are my honest opinions and I haven't been paid or compensated by First Light Cosmetics, to review, or use them on my blog).

A Quick FOTD

Just a quick look I created today excuse the insane hair - I did my make up before my hair







What I Wore Today

First Light Cosmetics Mineral Foundation - Breeze In The Beeches *
Bourjois Healthy Mix Correcting Concealer - 52 Medium Radiance
ELF Studio Blush - Tickled Pink
Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner - Skinny Jeans
Revlon Eyeliner Pencil - 01 Black
Collection 2000 Collagen Curl Mascara - 17 Ultra Black
ELF Luscious Liquid Lipstick - Baby Lips

(* This product was sent to me for review purposes - keep checking back for a review soon)