Natural/nude look for spring

Winter is over, spring is coming soon so I have decided to show more natural or (nude) look which is more "spring appropriate" I guess:-). New season is coming so I am adding more "light" and  natural make up looks to this blog because heavy smokey eye- and dark lip season is over. Finally. We all need some spring and summer time. So stay tuned for more natural, neutral and light looks.

I was testing Maybelline super stay 24h concealer (shade 2) so I have used it all over my face as a foundation. Result is pretty good I think, it is quite heavy and thick so it might be bit unnatural as a foundation but concealing power is AMAZING. I will make separate article on testing this concealer soon. 

Further nothing special, just some light nude eyeshadow to define my crease and applied to lower eyelid as well, very fine thin gel liner at lash roots and 2 coats of mascara. Some contouring done (as always), pretty rosy pink matt blush, bit of highlighting powder (from Sleek contouring palette). I did my brows too (I always do) and applied lipstick which matches the blush colour. 

24H Lipsticks - Max Factor, L'Oreal, Maybelline

I have looked in my lipsticks drawer lately and I have realised that most of lipsticks I own are 24hour stay lipsticks from several brands - Max Factor, L'Oreal and Maybelline. I decided to try them all on with same face make up and see how they really look like when I am wearing them. Also I was kind of curious whether there is any significant difference between brands. What I have find out is that there is really tiny difference between product itself (brand wise) although each brand uses different brushes (Max Factor's lipsticks have more "fluffy" brushes, L'Oreal ones have same fluffy brushes but they are also much longer than those from Max Factor and Maybelline have long brushes but not fluffy and much more pointy - personally I like the brushes from Maybelline the most). There is difference in texture between shades though - shimmery shades of lipsticks have different texture than matte ones. On the pictures below you can see the results.

Max Factor Lipfinity 140  Charming

Max Factor Lipfinity 001 Pearly Nude

Max Factor Lipfinity 056 Glazed

Max Factor Lipfinity 008 Tanned Rose

Max Factor Lipfinity 088 Jeweld

Max Factor Colour&Gloss 
560 Radiant red

Max Factor Lipfinity 113 Fiery

Max Factor Lipfinity 070 Spicy

There is my whole Max Factor lip makeup collection. I have been using these Lipfinity lipsticks since they have appeared on our marked. First time I've used them I was surprised by the texture which is very nice, coverage is decent as well, (although it depends on texture and colour) so one coat is usually enough, I like the lip balm which comes with the package in order to add shine and more comfortable texture to the lips (lipstick itself might make lips feel bit dry-out, I personally don't mind). Colour really DOES stay on lips ridiculously long although I am not very sure how long exactly because I never go to bed with make-up on but I can honestly say that it stays till you remove it with make-up remover AS LONG AS YOUR LIPS DON'T GET IN CONTACT WITH ANY FAT OR OIL. That is where all trick stops working. So if you really want this lipsticks (all of this kind, not only Max Factor brand) to stay on, you should avoid eating or drinking anything what contains fat, grease or oil (if you are on diet this might work excellent as a fat-control:-)) 

L'Oréal Infallible 110 Timeless Rose

L'Oréal Infallible 121 Flawless Fuchsia

As you can see I owe just a couple of L'Oréals lipsticks. Reason for this is that they are on our market just recently (in this version which is comparable with Max Factor's Lipfinity and Maybelline's super stay). Before were these products (Infallible lipsticks) under same name different kind of lipsticks - they were creamy "bullet" versions with duo package (together with lip balm) which looked bit like lightener with little mirror on the back. Therefore it was kind of different product for me. I am not saying if they were better before (with cream texture) or now (as a liquid stick) because it is very hard to say but I guess that precise application of cream "bullet" lipstick is much easier than of the liquid one. Well, they are not on the market anymore so all L'Oréal lipsticks I will purchase in the future will be these new liquid ones. They are not any different from above mentioned Max Factor Lipfinity's, same product, same coverage, same no fat rule, same long-lasting product so no competition here:-) Only thing which differs is the applicator tip (which I have mentioned above). It is slightly easier to work with than with these from Max Factor.

Testing Sleek I-Divine Storm eyeshadow palette (golds, browns & green)

I have purchased this palette mainly because of neutral brown shadows and very pretty shimmery pinks which I find awesome for my eye colour particularly. I needed a palette which would have everything I need for creating neutral looks. Well, I have this palette several months but I haven't created single neutral look with it so far:-). I find it amazing for all kinds of looks but recently I've been using it especially for smokey eyes (or how I call it - smokey winter eyes:-)). I'm attaching just some pics of few looks I have created with this palette. I tried not to use any other eyeshadows which was quite challenging because there is no light matte neutral colour for blending in this palette. However, all colour are amazing, I really love shimmery ones - 3 different shades of gold, beautiful browns, amazing pinky wine colour and trio of the best shimmery shades for smokey eyes - grey, forest green and navy blue...of course, there is no Sleek palette without black colour as well. As usually, all shadows are highly pigmented, with proper base they will stick on whole day and you really don't have to be worried about fall-outs that much (shimmery shades intend to be more tricky in this area, but good brushes will minimize the problem).

Winter grey smokey eyes

December is a month when I really like to wear smokey eyes. Still no snow, everything is grey and cold outside so what would be more appropriate then some nice cool-shaded  smokey eyes...Lots of women consider smokey eyes only evening or night wear appropriate. Well, smokey eyes are amazing for evening but it might be also cool for daytime - depending on many factors such as intensity of shading, or a season...I personally would not wear smokey eyes for daytime in summer or spring but I find them okey for autumn and winter (if it makes sense). Smokey eyes might have been bit extravagant in past but they get more and more popular, which is good news for women who like to go for bit more than standard light shadows-fine liner-bit of mascara-daytime look (me included). This look will just work amazing with women with light-coloured eyes such as green, blue, grey, hazel...anything which contrasts the dark shadows. You can also use shadows which will compliment your eye colour (dark grey or dark blue with blue eyes, dark green with green or grey eyes etc.) or shadows contrasting your eyecolour (brown or dark browns with blue or grey eyes, dark purple with green or hazel eyes etc.). Both effects looks beautiful. For this look I wanted to try out how will grey shadows work with my eye colour. I also didn't go too dark (shadows-wise) but I couldn't resist going crazy with black eyeliner. Little trick is to use black gel eyeliner in waterline. Common black kohl or eyepencil will never make such a strong effect. And of course - there is no smokey eye without very black, voluminous and defined lashes. To achieve this I have applied more than 3 coats of volumising mascara (list of products below).

Products used:

Eyes:

Sleek Eyeshadow Palette Storm nr. 578

Gosh Quattro eye shadow nr. 22 Driftwood

mascara: Max Factor False Lash Effect Fusion
L'Oréal Gel Intenza Eyeliner nr. 01 Pure Black


Face:
Vichy dermablend ultra-corrective foundation cream-stick shade 14 Nude and 12 Opal (as foundation)  
Vichy dermablend Setting powder
contouring: Sleek Face Form contouring and blush palette 373 light 
blush: Sleek Blush nr. 921 Suede


eyebrows:
Catrice eyebrow set (powder)
Catrice lash brow designer clear shaping gel

Lips:
Max Factor Lipfinity nr. 008

Classic mokka brown smokey eyes

I am completely in love with smoky eyes. It is an exceptional look which will never be out of style and it fits to every woman and can be adjusted to every occasion. This is my version of evening look. To make it even more outstanding (dramatic) it could be combined with bright red lipstick. I wanted main focus to be on eyes therefore I have chosen very nude lips with just a bit of neutral gloss.

Testing Sleek I-Divine Candy Collection palette (purples & pinks)

Palette without flash

Palette with flash

Testing Sleek I-Divine Candy Collection palette (lime, aqua & blues)

Testing Sleek I-Divine Ultra Matts V2 palette (white, navy & purple)

I have created this look with white and navy blue eyeshadow with bit of a purple on the outer-V area. Pretty simple, though it was much more radiant than it shows on pictures.

Ultra matts V2 palette with flash

Ultra matts V2 palette without flash

Green so green

I am so in love with green...I was wondering how would it look like on my eyes which are green as well...here is the result...like it?

Electric blue

Little Elf

My sister loves "artistic" or "fantasy" looks therefore I have created this kind of look for her. Obviously, it is not sort of daily-wear style, I wonder if anyone would have courage to go like this outside hehe...well, she really liked it, I think she looks just wonderful:-)