Makeup Geek – Product Review

I’ve been trying out these lovely three pans for the past few weeks and I thought I’d share my thoughts with you. Jaclyn Hill has made a shout out to these foiled eyeshadows a few times in her recent videos, and she tempted me into giving them a try.

This is my first time trying out products from Makeup Geek, and I decided to go for two eyeshadows and a blush.

Foiled Eyeshadow: Flame Thrower (copper) & Houdini (navy blue) – $9.99

Packaging: I was surprised to see that these shadows arrived in their pan, and a compact envelope instead of a sealed eyeshadow compact. Now that I’m taking a closer look at the website, I realize that I could have ordered them in a compact, but that’s alright. I will work with what I’ve got, and keep them in their envelopes for now. I’m not bothered by the fact that they come in their pan. In fact, I think that this helps keep things affordable!

Formula: These are really smooth and highly pigmented shadows that go on well with the warmth of your fingers or a flat eyeshadow brush that you use to pack on the color. It almost feels oily between your fingers – it’s very finely milled. There is quite a bit of fallout if you use it on your lower lashes, so beware. As you can see from the swatch, this applies incredibly dense and pigmented. It does crease by the end of a long work day, but a bit of primer should help manage that.

Finish: The finish is a flat, dense shimmer that isn’t glittery, but more of a tightly packed foil finish (just like the name!).

Blush: Secret Admirer (purple/pink) – $9.99

Packaging: This came in its pan as well. Doesn’t bother me!

Formula: The blush formula was disappointing, and not at all as impressive as the eyeshadows. It’s chalky and you have to apply it with a light hand to keep the chalkiness at bay. Does that make sense? Swirling it over your cheeks helps smooth it over as opposed to patting it over your cheeks. 

Finish: If you swirl gently of your cheeks, it does leave a pretty pinkish- purple flush on your cheeks. It doesn’t last very long, so be ready to reapply throughout the day!

Overall, the foiled eyeshadows are definitely worth giving a try and adding to your collection. The blush is definitely not a must, and I think you could find better alternatives at the drugstore.

Dance Like No One is Watching

I’ve been turning to a couple of songs lately for a quick and easy energy boost, and I would like to share these songs with you.

These two pop musicians are incredibly talented and well-known in their respective countries, and I thought I’d bring them together for you here. Go ahead and give it a listen. Bust a move!

Artist: Yemi Alade

Song: “Johnny”

Language: Nigerian English

Official YouTube Site: Yemi Alade VEVO

Artist: Stromae

Song: “Tous Les Memes”

Language: French

Official YouTube Site: Stromae VEVO

This Month’s Makeup Exam – Farah Dhukai

Welcome to This Month’s Makeup Exam. This is a new segment on my blog in which at the end of each month, I test/recreate a makeup look that a YouTuber has done using products that I have in my collection.

The goal of This Month’s Makeup Exam is to:

• learn new techniques
• experiment with different looks
• discover new tips, tricks, products, & dupes
• find bloggers who do excellent tutorials

I’ve chosen Farah Dhukai for my first Makeup Exam because I really value her tutorials, and I admire the fact that her main YouTube channel, farahdhukai has stayed true to beauty, and she hasn’t expanded to a million other things like most YouTubers eventually do. All of her videos are incredibly informative and she walks you through products and techniques step-by-step. She recently did a Blue Smokey Eye, and I knew I wanted to take a stab at recreating the look. Please click here if you would like to watch it.

Please bear in mind that the lighting and angles can really affect how things are conveyed to you. Trust me, I’m trying to improve my tech game!

 *All products have been linked to their own pages for more product information.*

SKIN

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in Light Beige 53 – This is the only foundation I’m wearing on my skin in the photo. Light Beige is a good match for me and I like the coverage and finish it gives. Two pumps give me medium to full coverage, and the formula is great for dry skin. It doesn’t cling to any dry patches, and if anything, it adds a healthy dose of moisture back into my skin. The Bourjois Foundations & Serums carry a light floral scent this isn’t overbearing. I like the dewy finish it gives and I it’s a nice drugstore foundation for everyday.

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in 20 – I had heard loads about this concealer and that a few beauty bloggers liked this more than the NARS creamy concealer. Though I haven’t tried the NARS concealer, I don’t feel like there is much of a need because this product does a great job concealing and highlighting under my eyes.

CHEEKS

Sleek Contouring and Blush Palette in Light 373 – This palette includes a matte bronzer, a champaign highlighter, and a pink blush with gold shimmer running through it. I really like that the bronzer is matte and that it has an ashy undertone for a more natural finish. I used the bronzer lightly along my cheekbones and hairline.

EYES

Clinique Eye Liner in Intense Ebony – Love this stuff! I used this as an eyeshadow and eyeliner. First, I applied this all over my eyelid, then tight lined my upper lid and lower lash line.

Stila Eye Shadow in Ocean – This is a deep navy blue with blue simmer running through it. This eyeshadow formula has a lot of fall out, so please beware to press down instead of smudging,

Stila Eye Shadow in Light Apricot – This is a pinkish-mauve color that is very pigmented. I applied this in my crease.

Victoria Secret Eye Shadow in Gold School [discontinued] – This is a very pretty gold pigment that I added to the inner corner of my eye.

MAKE UP FOR EVER Mascara in Smoky Extravagant – This is a late comer to my collection, but my goodness, how did I ever live without this stuff?! It’s the most black and volumizing mascara that I’ve found and the cone shaped applicator lets me get down to the roots.

LIPS

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Precious, 050 – I added this to just the center of my lips to add a bit of dimension and to mute out the pink in my lips.

“No Makeup, Makeup Look” Serious Drugstore Edition

Hello and happy Sunday! Out of all of the beauty blogs and YouTube videos out there, I find myself drawn to the “No Makeup, Makeup Look.” This look is appropriate for many occasions – from work, to the coffee shop, to a date.

Many women who do the “No Makeup, Makeup Look” still look like they have tons of makeup on, and I’ve tried to minimize the number of products I have used, and seriously create a “No Makeup, Makeup Look.” All of the products below are from the drugstore, and as a side note, this is also a perfect starter kit for those of you who are just getting into makeup. I hope you like it, and please do share any personal tips you have!

 *All products have been linked to their own pages for more product information.*

This is the “After” Shot. Check out my Twitter feed for the “Before” Shot!

SKIN

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in Light Beige 53 – This is the only foundation I’m wearing on my skin in the photo. Light Beige is a perfect match for me and I like the coverage and finish it gives. Two pumps give me medium to full coverage, and the formula is great for dry skin. It doesn’t cling to any dry patches, and if anything, it adds a healthy dose of moisture back into my skin. The Bourjois Foundations & Serums carry a light floral scent this isn’t overbearing. I’ve been wearing this for about two weeks now, and I like the dewy finish it gives and I it’s a nice drugstore foundation for everyday.

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in 20 – I had heard loads about this concealer and that a few beauty bloggers liked this more than the NARS creamy concealer. Though I haven’t tried the NARS concealer, I don’t feel like there is much of a need because this product does a great job concealing and highlighting under my eyes.

EYES

NYX Blush in Terra Cotta – This is marketed as a blush, but a wonderful way to add a natural shadow is to use your bronzer/blush. I use this in my crease and along my lower lashes to add subtle depth and dimension.

L’Oreal Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner in Carbon Black – This is a handy liner to have from the drugstore. I like the sturdy twist up applicator, and there’s a sharpener that comes along with this as well. I use this to tight-line my upper lid to add depth and to give the illusion of thicker lashes.

L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Black/Brown – The formula of this mascara includes small fibers which add a healthy amount of volume and length. I really like the consistency of the product – it’s wet, adds volume & length, and doesn’t clump! For a less severe look, I like to use brown mascara.

Maybelline Eye Studio Brow Drama in Transparent – I’ve been pretty lucky with my brows. They are dark and dense, and all I have to do is pluck them once a week to maintain a strong shape. I’ve noticed that the shape of my brown changes throughout the day, so I picked up this brow gel to keep the stray hairs from having a field day. I really like the shape of the wand. It’s bulbous at the tip, and tapers out into a standard mascara wand towards the end. For a natural look, I’ve gone with the transparent formula and swept up and away from the center of my face. The formula is nice – not crispy or heavy.

CHEEKS

NYX Blush in Terra Cotta – This was the first purchase of many that I made after getting hooked onto Essie Button’s beauty blog and YouTube Channel. If you haven’t heard of her, check her out. She’s great! This is a subtle shimmery bronzer with peach undertones. I use this along my temples and under my cheek bones. It subtly adds definition back into my face.

LIPS

Kiko Smart Lip Pencil in Rose Mauve, 712 – I prepped my lips by rubbing Aquaphor into them, and topped it off with this liner from Kiko. For me, THIS is definitely a ‘my lips but better color.’ This lip pencil is highly pigmented and goes on smooth. I used my fingers to blend them out for a stained look.

A Californian’s British Beauty Haul

I recently had a layover in Heathrow Airport, and I was so excited to use whatever dollars I had left in Boots, a UK-based drugstore. I’ve done a quick makeup look to demonstrate the products I purchased. Product reviews below!

Like my necklace? Please click here if you are interested in learning how I made it! 

*All products have been linked to their own pages for more product information.*

SKIN

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in Light Beige 53 – This is the only foundation I’m wearing on my skin in the photo. Light Beige is a perfect match for me and I like the coverage and finish it gives. Two pumps give me medium to full coverage, and the formula is great for dry skin. It doesn’t cling to any dry patches, and if anything, it adds a healthy dose of moisture back into my skin. The Bourjois Foundations & Serums carry a light floral scent this isn’t overbearing. I’ve been wearing this for about two weeks now, and I like the dewy finish it gives and I it’s a nice drugstore foundation for everyday.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in Beige 54 – This foundation is a bit light for me, and I haven’t had a chance to wear it very often. It’s similar to the serum, but it’s not as moisturizing and dries a bit more matte than the serum. I will try to use it more often and will give you a full review.

CHEEKS

Sleek Contouring and Blush Palette in Light 373 – This palette includes a matte bronzer, a champaign highlighter, and a pink blush with gold shimmer running through it. Let’s talk about the packaging for a second. The only word I can use to describe the packaging is sleek. The product comes in a thin, firm, black, matte casing that includes a large mirror. It’s functional and it helps that all three shades are on point. I really like that the bronzer is matte and that it has an ashy undertone for a more natural finish. The blush is a sophisticated golden-pink that reminds be a lot of the NARS blush in Orgasm. I don’t use highlighters very often, but this is a nice one that doesn’t leave a glittery finish, but rather a “lit from within” glow.

EYES

Sleek’s Eau La La Liner in Pumpkin – This is Sleek’s duo pencil that is both an eyeliner and lip liner. I’ve been wanting to experiment with more pops of color on my eyes, so I went bold and got an orange liner. As you can see, I’ve added this to the inner corners of my eyes and lower lash line for an unexpected pop of color. The formula is highly pigmented, though beware, it is a waxy pencil that is difficult to blend.

LIPS

Sleek’s Matte Me in Fandango Purple – This is the color I’m wearing in the photo. It’s a liquid matte lipstick that is a rich fluorescent purple. I love this color and I think it would suit all skin tones. Since it is a liquid lipstick that dries matte, it is no surprise that your lips get dry and the product begins to build up after about 2 hours of wear. This is a nice color for a short meeting or an evening show, but I wouldn’t recommend it if a lot of eating and talking is involved. Let me take a moment to say that the wand is straight, long, and without any shape to it, so precise application takes quite some time.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Nude-ist – Don’t let the name fool you. This is definitely a mauve with berry undertones, not a nude. This is another liquid lipstick that sets with a velvet sheen. I purchased this product because Vivianna from Vivianna Does Makeup raved about this formula in one of her videos, but what she failed to mention is the horrid smell of these formulas. It smells like burning plastic, and it really leaves much to be desired. I was unimpressed by the formula and this particular color as well. Though it looks mauve in the tube, it comes on a bit orange on me. The packaging is quite nice, and I do like the doe-foot applicator. I couldn’t stand the smell of it, so I haven’t kept it on long enough to honestly test the formula.