Night Out Eyeshadows!

Hey everyoneeeee

So my birthday's coming, and of course I planned my outfit like, last year. But I was thinking about my makeup and I couldn't decide on a night out look so I took everything out and looked through it. Though I'd share with you guys some of the colours I think are great for the night! And in the post, when I say I don't use a base, I mean I don't use a coloured base (like a  MAC paint pot). I never go without my Too Faced Shadow Insurance, even when I'm not gonna use any eyeshadow. It's a must!

Mac Club Eyeshadow (satin) 

Okay this is a really good picture cause it does look exactly like that in reality. It's the best (and my favourite) shadow for the night time because you only need one colour and you don't need a base colour under it. It's a duo chrome shadow so when you first pack it on your eyelids, it has a green tint to it but once you blend it out, it blends into a really nice warm brown. I use it with a MAC 217 brush and it does both the packing on and blending out for me. If you're interested, pixiwoo did a really nice video with this colour. Go check it out!

Nars Night Clubbing Eyeshadow

Sorry I know I used someone's picture but I couldn't get a better picture than this cause it's hard to capture how it actually looks. Credits to MakeupAlley for the picture.

Nars has a Nightlife Collection of eye shadows that are really fun and glittery and shimmery and everything good. This one is my absolute favourites. Its a black based eyeshadow with a high content of gold glitter. Not the heavy, huge, lots of fallout type of glitter. It's almost a shimmer. And the texture is wonderful. There's not really any fallout and yet the eye shadow is very easy to blend. No doubt their eye shadows are really expensive, I still feel that you are getting every ounce out of what you're paying for. I use this without a base and I'll pack it on with a MAC 239 and then use a MAC 217 to blend it out afterward. Very, super, pretty.

MAC Reflects Antique Gold Glitter Pigment

If there was a makeup staple, like how rice is with food, this would be it. K weird analogy, but you get what I mean. Who doesn't need a gorgeous gold pigment that goes with anything you wear and lasts forever? :) There's two ways I use this. One is with Sephora's glitter eye primer which is a nude base for you to pack your glitter eye shadows over to make them stay. The second way is with MAC's Blackground paint pot under it. I actully really like the look of just the glitter with nothing under it so it looks really sheek but not overdone. I think it works best with a stiff brush like the MAC 252. This is a pro pigment so in Singapore, you'll probably only get it at the MAC at Takashimaya or Tangs? Correct me if i'm wrong.


Mac Dark Soul Pigment


 I'm not sure if this is a Pro colour because I got it in the 5 Sexpot Smoky Mini Pigment set. It's a black pigment with blue undertones and silver shimmer in it. Very pretty. It's the kind of colour that you can really smoke out and go all dramatic with. You can use this with any brush but be careful of fallout. I use this on it's own without a base cause it's pretty dark and intense but if you really want to, MAC's Blackground paint pot goes great with this.


Urban Decay Goddess


 Every girl has to have her blue eyeshadow. It's really pretty when matched correctly. Some tips: Keep the rest of your face nude. Try and keep your blush to a peachy brown or brown tone. Avoid the pink lips and pick cheeks. Keeping the rest of your face nude helps the blue stand out more and also makes it the look classy and not "wayang" as my mum would say. But with the blues, you have to pack on the mascara and I'd go with a black liner on your upper lash line to make the look full. I'd also go with a black or even a blue pencil on your waterline. My favourite blue pencil is Chanel's Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Marine (30).

So that's all for today! Tonight actually. Thanks goodness it's Friday. Have a great weekend everyone!


Love, Tasha

All about Skin Care

I've found a skin care routine that works wonderfully for me and I thought I'd share it with you guys! Please note that everyone's skin is different and that everyone will react differently to different things but these products have been working really well for me and I thought you guys might be interested to try them out for yourselves! And as you'll see, I don't use too many different brands cause my skin's pretty sensitive and I don't like skin care that is too harsh.

Facial Wash

Kose Sekkisei White Powder Wash

I've been using Kose's skincare since I was about 14 years old. I must say that I trust Japanese products the most because they have the most organic ingredients that are usually made from plants and herbs and the products aren't too tough on your skin. It's a powder wash that lathers with water and it's made of a combination of Japanese and Chinese herbs like the Chinese Pearl Barley and the Angelica. It leaves a dry finish to your skin and it's the only face wash I've used that I feel really cleans into the depths of my skin. It also has whitening properties and one bottles lasts forever. I'd not use this more than twice a day though because it's pretty drying. I swear by this stuff and I won't be moving on from it for a long time. This product is for combination/oily skin. If you have dry/combination skin, the Sekkisei While Liquid Wash would be better for you because the wash leaves a very dry finish. 

Facial Scrub

Clinique Exfoliating Scrub

Ok I'm gonna say this out loud. I think everyone should use a facial scrub. Whether it's this one or any scrub that you've tried that goes with your skin, it's the key to keeping your skin soft and fresh. We're exposed to a lot of dirt and bacteria living in a city and you'll be surprised how much dirt and dead skin can accumulate on the surface of your skin. That's what leads to break outs and dull skin. This scrub is good for combination/oily skin and it can be used up to twice a week. I'd say just use it when you feel like your skin needs a good rub down. It has a very refreshing cooling feel to it and the beads are just the right size, texture and amount. Most of the time the beads are too harsh (St Ives apricot scrub is a BIG no-no) or they may be stingy with the beads and you end up scrubbing one bead around your face. This one is great, it's not too harsh but you still feel like it's giving you a good scrub. My mum uses this as well so it's great for all ages and most skin types. If you have drier skin, go for the 7 Day Scrub Cream which is creamier and that you can use more often.

Toner

Kose Sekkisei Lotion

I've heard people say they don't know what the purpose of toner it and they feel it's unnecessary so i'm here to justify it's existence. Toner is general evens out your skin tone by penetrating deep into your skin and helping keep it safe from sun spots, prevent pigmentation and keep your skin hydrated. It also closes up your pores and gets rid of any excess oil and residue left after your wash your face. Toner's supposed to be used after your facial wash and before moisturizer and probably not more than twice a day. I like this toner because it has whitening properties and contains Vitamin E. This is meant for all skin types but if you have drier skin, you can soak a mask in it and use it as a mask for about 5 - 10 minutes. It's pretty pricey but the bottle is huge and you use very little at a go. Just put a little bit on a cotton pad and pat it on your face and down your neckline.

Moisturizer

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

 I started using this last year and I was extremely impressed at the results. It's the only moisturizer I've used where I can actually feel my skin more moisturized and hydrated but not oily. I use one pump and that's enough for my full face and neck. Just to reiterate how wonderful it is, I use a Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer over this (so that's another layer of moisturizer) over this and it doesn't make my skin oily at all. I usually don't blot at all if I use a tinted moisturizer. So if you're looking for a good moisturizer, go get this. If you're hesitant, ask the Clinique counters for testers. They are pretty generous with giving out their testers which is awesome. I only blot if I'm using foundation. If you have dry/combination skin, go for the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion.

Eye Cream

Clinique All About Eyes

I also just started using this this year and it's pretty good but I think I'll only see the effects in the long term. My under eye area is extremely dry so I'm contemplating using the all about eyes rich once this is finished. I still feel my under eye area is pretty dry and dull but it's definitely much better compared to when I wasn't using any eye cream at all. I'm also looking to try the Origins Eye Doctor eye cream because that's a moisture surge eye cream. Or maybe the Orgins GinZing eye cream which I've heard raves about.

Eye Serum

Clinique All About Eyes Serum

This one I like. I use it on top of my eye cream and it's one of those rolly pen things that de-puff and really wake your eyes up. It helps ease the puffiness around my eyes after I've had a long night out or if I'm really tired and I need to head somewhere important. You can use it under your eyes or on your eye lids as well. It sets really fast and you can use your make up over it for a smooth finish and your concealer won't seem into your fine lines as much. Oh that's another tip! ALWAYS use an eye cream under your concealer to make it smooth and so that your concealer won't cake or seem into your lines.

Spot Treatment 

This is the only spot treatment/break out and panic stuff that I use on my skin. I've been very fortunate to not have overwhelming break outs so to me, a spot treatment gel is the best option. It has a little bit of a stinging feeling when you put it on a blemish but that's what supposed to happen so no panic. On an average, I'd say this speeds the clearing process up by half the time. It's really effective and it's a no frills thing which I love. I put a little bit on my fingers and apply it to my problem areas.

Lip Care

 

I use this once in awhile when I feel like pampering myself because the tube is ultra small. Most of the time I use it after a night out when I feel dehydrated or when I want to use a strong coloured lipstick or a matte lipstick to ensure my lips don't flake, peel or crack.

On a last note, a couple of days ago, my boyfriend asked me what the most important makeup item is. If I had to go out with only one thing on, what would it be? I said mascara. So I though I'd do a post on all the different mascaras that I've tried and tested! Let me know what you think :) Till the next post!

Love, Tasha

Best products of 2010!

I love it when people do these videos and posts cause it makes me want to go buy new stuff straight away! These are my picks for the best products of 2010. Actually they're products I just used the most and loved in 2010 :)

Bases

Foundation: Chanel Mat Lumiere (about S$80, all Chanel stores)
I raved about the NARS Sheer Matte Foundation and the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer for awhile but I think nothing beats the Chanel Mat Lumiere. It's a full coverage, long lasting foundation that's good for combination/oily skin. If you have drier skin i'd recommend the Vitalumiere or Pro Lumiere foundations (both from Chanel). Honestly, I just use it with my fingers and it gives a matte finish that lasts me all night. I powder it with the MAC's Select Sheer pressed powder (in NC20) because the coverage of the foundation is pretty heavy and you don't want to be over packing stuff on your face. So a sheer powder or even a translucent powder would be best. If you need to use a brush, a normal MAC 190 or any foundation brush is good. I've tried this with QVS Make-up wedges and it works really good as well. Best foundation ever.




Tinted Moisturizer: Laura Mercier  Tinted Moisturizer spf 20 Oil Free (S$66, StrawberryNET)
I don't leave the house without this. It has spf 20 and is oil free so it's good for combination/oily skin. If you have drier skin, go for the regular Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer with spf 20 as well. It has a light coverage but is fantastic for day wear with a light powder over it. The salesgirl at the Laura Mercier counter in London where I bought this told me to just use my fingers for the best application and it's been working great for me. The coverage is reasonable and this lasts forever. The tube never ends!




Eyes

Mascara: Covergirl LashBlast Fusion Water Resistant Mascara (Sorry guys but I have no idea where you can get covergirl stuff in Singapore other than overseas. My friend brought this back for me from NY)
I really don't understand why they don't bring Covergirl into Singapore. I think it'd be a hit! Anyway, I was using their LashBlast Volume Blasting Waterproof Mascara (it's a mouthful to say dude). But after I tried this one, I am a convert. Its both volumizing and lengthening and it's waterproof so it's pretty long lasting in our humid climate. I've tried expensive mascaras from Chanel and MAC and so on, but I always go back to the Covergirl ones cause they're cheap and good. 







Eyeshadow: MAC Pigment in Naked (about S$30+, all MAC stores)
I got this with the set of 5 mini pigments. I love ALL of them but I think this is my favorite of the lot. It's a nude, shimmery pigment that provides a very nice wash of all over color on your lid. You can use it to blend with a black to soften the black or use it on it's own. I love it cause I find myself using it both in the day and at night and it goes with everything I wear. I think this was my favorite and most used eye color of 2010. Works best with a MAC 252 or MAC 239 brush.   





Eyeliner: Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Black Ink (about S$30+, all Bobbi Brown stores)
I bought this on my flight back from Israel in a set that had the Black Ink and Black Mauve Shimmer Ink eyeliners. After I bought this, I never touched my MAC Fluidline ever again. This is so much easier to work with, doesn't dry out, and is so much more black than the Blacktrack fluidline. My MAC fluidline dried up and became clumpy really fast but the Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner is wonderful to work with. And it lasts forever. I use it on my waterline over a pencil and it lasts really long. I only need to touch it up maybe once when i'm out on a night out. I use it with either a MAC 266 or MAC 209. Best gel eyeliner in the world.





Eyeliner: Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Eye Pencil in Onyx (about S$30+, all Estee Lauder stores)
So i don't mean to be all, look at me, but a lot of people asked me what eyeliner I used once I started using this in about May 2010. I love my black eyeliner and I had yet to find a good one that actually did last more than 5 minutes on my waterline. This is wonderful because it stays in place on your waterline, but you can also smudge it out if you want. I use it on both my upper and lower waterlines, especially when I'm using a gel eyeliner for extra staying power. Love this stuff. Don't think i'm ever gonna stop using it. 




Face

Powder: MAC Prep+Prime Transparent Finishing Powder (about S$40+, all MAC stores)
This is a really good alternative to using a normal powder. Sometimes, if your foundation is heavy and full coverage, you don't want to be packing more of a pigmented powder over it because it's gonna make it look thick and cakey. This powder sets your foundation and gives it a nice, matte, powdered finish. I think it's a much better alternative than going with another heavy powder which is going to make your make up look like it's too much. I use this with either a MAC 209 just any kabuki brush. Works wonders.





Blush: NARS Orgasm Blush (I'm sure you can get this online but i'm not too sure how much it'll be)
Orgasm is a peachy-pink blush with a gold sheen to it. It's great for a night out or just to brighten your complexion up in the day. I find this to be my go to blush for all occasions because it's versatile and goes with any make up you do on your eyes. I like to pair it with a nude gloss. I find it works best with a MAC 168 or MAC 129.







Contour Powder: MAC Harmony (about S$30+, all MAC stores)
I never used contour powder till I bought this and then I realised how much of a difference it made. This colour is good for a wide range of people though if you're a darker than a NC35 this might not show up so well. If you're really fair, this might actually be too dark. I apply it with a MAC 109 to contour below my cheekbones and a little near my temples. It kind of makes your blush and highlight blend it together.






Lips





Lipstick: NARS Dolce Vita Lipstick (S$33, StrawberryNET)
I love this stuff. It's a sheer lipstick in a rusty brown colour and it looks great both on it's own or with a gloss on the top. It's one of NARS's cult favourite products and I have to concur. It'll go great with any skin tone. So if you're looking for a nice lip colour that goes with everything and isn't too overpowering, Dolce Vita is the way to go. And I never bother with a lip brush or a lip liner.









Lip Balm: The Body Shop Vitamin E Lip Care spf 15 (about S$10, all The Body Shop stores)
Vitamin is known to be good for your skins and I think it's important to have a lip care that has spf in it cause your lips can get burnt too. I found this in the beginning of the year and haven't stopped using it since. It doesn't have much of a sheen to it so it's really just purely for lip care purposes. But since i've used it, I find my lipsticks going on smoother and my lips don't crack as much as they used to. It's very important to use lip balm under your lipstick/lipgloss or it's not going to look very flattering.




K so that's all I have for now! Till the next post :)


Love, Tasha

A New Years Resolution!

Hey everyone!

Sorry we've been absent, but we're back! And part of our New Years Resolution is to keep the blog going. So Happy New Years everyone. Thanks to all those who've been reading our blog and pressing us to do updates! We really appreciate your support and we hope you enjoy what we have for you!

Till the next post :)

Love, Judy & Tasha