Hi everyone,

I got these brushes about a month ago, they're seriously amazing.

From the Illamasqua site:
"Illamasqua's range of brushes have been designed with the help of expert make-up artists to maximise the effect that can be created with our unique formulas and colour-true pigments. Using the latest technology, our advanced synthetic bristles not only give flawless application, they are hypo-allergenic and safe for all skin types. Each brush features a unique neck, which complements the individual brush head, holding the bristles in perfect place. Plus the long, tapered handle is sculpted to fit ergonomically and comfortably in the hand. They use no animal products and are completely cruelty-free."

The Blending Brush no. 1 is supposed to be similar to the MAC 224 brush (according to Marlena MakeupGeek).
I honestly don't know whether it's like the MAC one or not, I can tell you however that it's AMAZING. I had a crease that needed blending this week and I was trying to blend it with the Smashbox crease brush but that was too fluffy, the Sephora one was to pointy, the Urban Decay one was to small, and this one was perfect. So in size it's perfect for my eyes (even though it does look like a normal blending brush). The hairs don't shed!! And the weight of the brush and the length of the handle are fantastic. I have to admit that I LOVE this brush.

The other brush I got is the Highlighter Brush, this brush is a bigger short dome brush which is meant for highlighting on the cheekbones. I use it mostly for applying translucent powder under my eyes if I want a dewy look on the rest of my skin. I also use it to contour (more control over the application) and if I want an extra pop of colour on the apples of my cheeks.
Again this brush doesn't shed at all, it's got a great weight, the bristles are a perfect length and density and the handle is perfect. If I could, I'd buy all the brushes from Illamasqua right now because I NEED them all.


What brushes can't you live without?

Hi everyone,

Hi everyone,

Many many months ago, I was tagged to do a "what's in my makeup bag" post, and I'm only doing it now for two reasons, one because everyone was doing one then and after a while you're sick of seeing someone's makeup bag. The other reason is that I've actually had a very busy holiday. I thought I'd be home doing looks all day when the holiday started, but now on my second to last day, I'm only getting ready to do all the things I was planning to do back then.

Soooo here is my makeup bag, at home I have a HUGE makeup drawer in my bedroom and a shelf in the bathroom, but in my bag, I only have this bag. Now I have to be honest, this bag changes every couple of days, because then I suddenly think about something else I need to bring (like eyelash glue, a RED lipstick or something else which means (because it's a stuffed bag) that something else needs to get out of the bag. I have a litte mirror in my normal bag and I have a mini nailpolish remover there as well.

The bag I'm using is one I got about a month ago and many of the products in it came with the bag.
It's from the Laura Mercier Oil Free Flawless Face Kit (colour Sand) which includes:

• Oil Free Foundation Primer
• Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer (Sand) (SPF 20)
• Undercover Pot in no. 3
• Secret Camouflage Brush
• Camouflage Powder Brush
• Velour Puff
• Sponge (not photographed)
• Step by Step guide (not photographed)

In this bag I have my Smashbox Illuminating Serum which is only available in the Master's Class Volume 4 - Rescue Beauty kit that is available on the Sephora website.

The next thing I keep in this bag is the Laura Mercier Foundation Primer that came with the bag but you can also buy it seperately. I had to get used to this primer because it doesn't go on like the smashbox photofinish we all know I love. It doesn't make your skin feel as soft, but a plus is, that it does really make the makeup last amazingly. I got a tester with the Laura Mercier Hydrating Primer which does hydrate more, but because it's not oil free it does make me shine a little more.

I also bring the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer with me in Sand. The reason I have this in my bag is because I've been running around soo much these days, that I don't have time to actually put on anything in the morning, I wake, shower, moisturize and go. When I'm not the person driving I do my makeup in the car, or I do it in the bathroom when I get to where I'm going.
This Tinted Moisturizer is pigmented enough to make me not need a foundation at all, which is very very good.

Because I'm in love with what the Smashbox Photo Op does to my eyes I have one in my drawer, one on my shelf in the bathroom and one in my makeup bag.

As a concealer that I bring with me I use the concealer that came with the bag. It is an amazing concealer but not quite the colour I need, but I do love the texture and that's why I am using it. It's the Laura Mercier Undercover Pot in no. 3 which contains the Secret Camouflage and Secret Concealer. The Secret Camouflage is oil-free and really does conceal all day, it's made to cover blemishes, scars and imperfections. The Secret Concealer is softer in texture which makes the application very soft for the delicate skin under the eyes. If you then take off the lid you find a zifter and Translucent Loose Setting Powder which is a seriously AMAZING powder. You and I know that I seriously love the Make Up For Ever HD powder, but this powder is amazing in a different way. The MUFE powder makes my skin look flawless, but I do start to shine after 3+ hours on my nose and forehead. The Laura Mercier powder is oil free and contains cashmere talc which means I simply don't shine at all for an entire day. The packaging is very handy, the only thing I HATE is that I keep breaking my nails on the concealer lid (ARGH).

Because I have oily eyelids, I need an eyeshadow primer. The one I always use is Urban Decay Primer Potion and I bring a mini travel size one with me in my makeup bag.

As a basic eyecolour that works with every look and every nude look as well I always go to my Clinique travel size Touch Tint for Eyes Shimmer Formula in Gold Glimmer This is the actual travel size, I also have the normal one, because I thought I'd go through it sooo quickly, but this thing has kept my eyes naturally glimmery for a year and it still looks like new. You need about a dewdrop amount for an entire eye.

I have the two brushes that came with the Flawless Face Kitt with me at all times. The Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Brush which is a flat tapered synthetic brush. I love how the tip is perfect for concealing blemishes.

The other brush I keep with me is the Laura Mercier Camouflage Powder Brush which is great for applying powder under the eyes to set the concealer. But you can also use it to blend eyeshadow if you don't have a blending brush with you.

The other brush I have with me is the The Body Shop Retractable Blush Brush. This brush is soooo soft. I love to use it to use bronzer or blusher if I bring it with me. I also have it with me for a relaxing reason, I love how this brush feels on my face, so I keep playing with it when I'm bored or stressed.

The Laura Mercier Velours Puff that came with the bag is something I thought I'd never use, but I'd forgotten the blush brush at my friend's place once and I had to use the puff and since then I've only used the puff to apply this powder, which says enough, doesn't it? I throw it in the washing machine every 2 weeks (in a lingery bag) to keep it clean.

The Smashbox compact I can't live without is this credit card size palette that includes a brow wax and 3 browpowders and 6 cream eyeliners. It came in the Try Me kit by Smashbox. The eyeliners are a green (image), taupe (thunder), medium brown (putty), black (caviar), blue (picasso) and brown (midnight brown). I bring this palette with me because the cream eyeliners can be used as a shadow as wel as a eyeliner. If you use it as a smokey shadow, you can set it with a translucent powder to make it smudge proof.

I always bring at least one coloured pencil with me and the last holiday it's been this Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in 15L which is an amazing blue.

I have my Shu Uemura Eyelashcurler at home in my bathroom, I wouldn't bring it with me on a day to day basis simply because I treasure it too much. I bring this cheap eyelashcurler with me daily.

The mascara I have with me is the Make Up For Ever Smokey Lash mini I own. I have many mini mascara's but this one is my absolute favourite because it bulks up my lashes amazingly and the curl I put in it stays.

My hair is naturally curly which means that it's also naturally frizzy.... This means I always have a mini John Frieda Frizz Ease with me at all times. I used to have a Frederick Fekkai glossing cream tester with me as well, but that's empty now and I haven't found a new one yet.

As a lip and cheektint I've been using the Stila Cherry Crush lip and cheek stain which is an amazing colour and it feels very very hydrating and fresh.

The thing I've had in my bag for as long as I can remember (it's been filled and replaced dozens of times), are these soap leaves. I always hate coming to a sink to wash my hands and finding there is no soap, so I bring my own. I buy them at an outdoor (wildernis) store.

I also bring at least one Oral B Brush Always packet. I hate the feeling of bad breath or non clean teeth, so this is great for when I've eaten something smelly.

I also always have aspirin with me and these are ones you can take without water which is great for when you're on the road a lot.

I also am one of those prepaired women who brings band-aids with her.

I bring cuticle scissors for cuticles and recently for my bangs ;)

The bender mender by Anatomicals, it's something I bought in a whim and now always have a packet with me, simply because it helps your body rehydrate quickly. I don't drink alcohol (ever), so I don't have hangovers, but I do have the bender mender.

And after it's all put in the bag, the bag looks like this (yes it all actually fits!!):

And that ladies is what I have in my makeup bag.... I'd like to tag all of you who haven't done this tag already and ask the ones who have to be so kind and link to your post in the comments so that people who love these tags can find your site.

Big :hug:

Hi everyone,

I thought I'd come back with an amazing (and easy) summer look for you ladies. I hope this makes my absence of the last few months a little better ;) .

Face:
I've been soooo busy, that the first day I was free, I had I did a complete face for you. I'm starting to get more and more freckles because of the sun, which I love and hate at the same time. I love how it makes me look younger for some reason, but also it makes my skin look less flawless, which I don't love.

I started by cleaning my face using Shiseido - Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam followed by Shiseido - Daily Moisture Protection. I then used my favourite eyecream ever, it's by Elizabeth Arden and is called Prevage - Eye Anti-aging Moisturizing Treatment. I used Smashbox - Illuminating Serum to give my complexion more of a glow. This serum can't be bought seperately, they do however still sell it it the Smashbox - Master's Class Vol. 4 Rescue Beauty on the Sephora website. To make my eyes look more awake I used Smashbox - Photo Op Under Eye Brightner.

I used the Smashbox - Primer Light as a primer because it's the middle of summer here and it's sooo warm outside that every bit of makeup disappears if I don't use the Light primer.

To contour my face I used Baked Fusion Soft Lights by Smasbox, which is a Twice baked bronzer that looks amazing on my skin, on the apples I used a very light pink blush also by Smashbox called Soft Lights.

Eyes:

To prime my eyes I used Urban Decay - Eye Shadow Primer Potion. Urban Decay is bringing out a lot of primers right now

• Complexion Primer Potion - Pore Perfecting which should minimize pores and fine lines
• Complexion Primer Potion - Brightening which should brighten and diminish fine lines and pores according to their website
• Eyelash Primer Potion which should make lashes appear thicker, longer and stronger
• Lip Primer Potion which should make lipstick truer, apply smoother, last longer, and will not fade or feather, also it has an SPF of 15.

 

On my eyes I used a palette also by Urban Decay called Get Baked. This palette contains four eyeshadows (Twice Baked, Half Baked, Flipside and Baked) there is a mini 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in the colour Bourbon and a mini Sin primer

I already primed my eyes with the normal Primer Potion by Urban Decay because I didn't want my eyes to be overly shimmery. On the inside corner of my eyelid I used Baked which is the lighter golden colour. I used this because this adds a sparkle to the inner eyecorner, this eyeshadow was applied with the Urban Decay - Wonder Brush. On the middle of the eyelid I placed Half Baked with the Urban Decay - Shadow Brush. I pressed the colour in to get this colour depth, I then blended the colours using a little smudging movement. On the outer corner I placed Twice Baked in a < shape with the Urban Decay - Wonder Brush and blended it with the Urban Decay - Crease Brush. To ensure the top was blended perfectly I used Smashbox - Vanilla matte eyeshadow with the Smashbox - Shadow Brush which is a very fluffy brush that eases the blending.

On the lower lashline I used the Twice Baked shadow with a Wonder Brush that I moistened with Make Up For Ever - Mix and Fix Spray because this means the eyeshadow won't budge the entire day. I applied the Twice Baked only on the outer corner. I then cleaned the brush and dried most of the water off on a paper towel and wetted it again with the Fixer Spray and made a paste with the Flipside shadow and applied this to the inner half of the lower lashline. I then let it dry and blended it with the Twice Baked and a little more Flipside.

On my waterlines I used the Bourbon and I also used this on the outer third of my top lashline. As a mascara I used Dior - Diorshow Iconic.

Lips:
On my lips I'm wearing Urban Decay - Rush. This colour is almost my real lipcolour and is therefor the perfect colour for my lips.

Nails:
The nailpolish I'm wearing is Custom Kicks by China Glaze. This colour is a bright blue but it also has a little warmth that you don't see on the pictures, but it real life it has a minimal gold shimmer in it that's amazing. The only downside of this polish is that it chips very very quickly (I've never had this problem with China Glaze polishes, so maybe it's a fluke), and also for some reason I also had trouble with the brush (it was not filled with polish or overfilled with polish) and the polish bubbled. So the colour is jawdroppingly beautiful but the application is IELGH.

Click on the picture to go to the original blog explaining the look. Use Ctrl + click to open the link in a new tab or Shift + click to open the link in a new window.

EYES

 

LOOK ON MODEL

 

LIPS

 

NAILS