Pretty Pretty Pretty

All that’s pretty and fun and shiny

 

Oh make me over June 23, 2008

Filed under: Amy, Girlie Party, Joanna, MakeMonday, Rachel, make-up — johubris @ 8:58 pm

A while ago at Make Up/Over Monday, we decided that we’d set ourselves the challenge of looking different. What this translated to was that Rachel who normally doesn’t wear much makeup at all got the full on loads of bright eyeshadow ala me, and since I normally do my makeup very loose and smudgey, Amy applied mine neat and straight out of Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin, in the style of “Temptress”, modeled on Barbara Streisand. It was a learning experience for everyone involved!

The results and revelations after the jump.
(more…)

 
 

Sale: makeup at Farmers June 17, 2008

Filed under: make-up, sale — Amy @ 7:04 pm

I just picked up these beautiful eye colours at the Farmers sale. Most of the cosmetic counters have a range of red-dot sale items. Napoleon Perdis had a bunch of products 30% off. So these little babies were $26 less 30% which is… umm… like… $18 (phew - that just made my maths degree worth it).

Top: Avocado #48 Bottom: Turquoise #22

eye colours

 
 

My free BareEscentuals make-over June 15, 2008

Filed under: Amy, make-up — Amy @ 5:12 pm

I has gots ma free make-over today! And unlike every other make-over I’ve had by a cosmetics lady (I’m looking at you Clinique lady!), I didn’t end up looking like a clown.
In fact I really liked how I ended up looking, and even bought a product from the lady.

But rewinding a little first, here’s how the make-over panned out:
Mineral foundation - powder stuff, must be applied with brush and buffed into skin. Surprisingly good coverage of red broken veins and dark circles.
Mineral bronzer - real natural looking - so impressive I bought some.will review more later.
Mineral eye shadow - I tried the ‘Joy’ and ’sex kitten’ - lovely strong brown and gold colours. Needs careful application as the powder has to be packed onto lids with brush than blended out.
Mascara - just mascara really.
Lip gloss - just lip gloss really.

This range is a bit different in terms of application since it’s all mineral powder based. so you have to have good brushes for each product. and boy is it expensive.
BUT they say the powders ae actually improve your skin too, and the finish and colours are superb.

Personally, I’m not likely to buy the foundation, just ’cause it’s $75, but i did buy the bronzer and if i win lotto i’ll go back for the eyeshadows.

This is an excellent freebie though, and the lady was nice and knew a lot about the products.
and I went out on the town after my make-over feeling a million (dollars that is).
Oh and there was no obligation to buy.

The free make-overs are available each friday this month at Nature Unplugged.

Here’s a little video review of it too.

 
 

Prime and prejudice April 17, 2008

Filed under: Amy, make-up, reviews — Amy @ 7:02 pm

Dearest readers,

A while back i discovered make-up primers. If you’ve not used one, it’s just like a paint primer - it prepares the surface of your skin for foundation application. Foundation goes on smoother, glides over imperfections and lines, and stays put longer. So if you’re after that kind of thing, read on.

(Actually, I’ve only ever used Napoleon Perdis make-up primer. I’m really impressed with it, but tell me if you’ve used any other priming products and what they are like.)

So, dear friends, with the discovery of the make-up primer under my belt, i decided to try out an Eye Primer and tell you what it’s like. For this post I chose MAC’s Prep + Prime for the eyes. I don’t usually splurge on such expensive cosmetics, but for you my beloved readers i will stop at no cost.

MAC Primer and base eyeshadow

The MAC sales assistant told me the primer would make eyeshadow last longer and make the pigments appear brighter. Before making any recommendation to you, whom I hold in highest regard, i thoroughly and scientifically tested these assumptions.

This morning i applied the primer to my left hand with an applicator brush. I then applied four colours atop of the primed area with a blending brush. On my right hand i applied the same four colours without the primer. Pictured below is each hand at the beginning of my experiment (click for big version).

Hands

(From left to right on each hand: MAC Ricepaper, Clinique Purple Dazzle, Living Nature #5, Living Nature #16)

I found that the colours applied on the primer were much brighter (except perhaps the MAC ricepaper). Without the primer you can barely see the Living Nature colours, but on the primed hand they really pop.

I left the swatches on my hand for a number of hours. The primed hand definitely lasted longer.

On the Pretty Rating i give this eye primer 3 out of 3 Pretties!!