I’ve been playing around with my eyebrows, needed to find a good makeup routine to fill them in. Because i have a ‘touch’ of alopecia going on, my eyebrows have become sparse and thin. I still thread them once a month, although they are thin i need to have a proper shape to work on.

This is how they look on a daily basis:

These are the steps that im using to deal with my problem:

1. Thread/trim/pluck your eyebrows to give them a good shape. Because im useless at it, i always leave it for the professionals.  Ive used The Body Shop’s threading services in store (€12) and Clerys Wink Threading (€10), been happy with both.
2. Use an eyebrow pencil to draw the shape. Im using the Lancome pencil (02) or the Mac one (Spiked), both are good just the Mac annoys me because its hard to twist. You can get eyebrow stencils to play around with different shapes.
3. After you drawn the shape, fill it in with an eyebrow powder using an angular brush. I’m using the Smashbox powder in Taupe with the Smashbox Eyebrow Slanted Brush. Other great powders you can find at Sleek or Clarins.
4. Use a champagne/vanilla highlighting eyeshadow under the outer corner of the brows to highlight the shape. Im using Smashbox Eyeshadow in Fizz.

Pictures of the products are in my January Favorites, so you can have a look here.

I am very aware that they don’t look perfect (yes, i know they are a bit far away), but im trying to do the best of an awkward phase of my life. Im optimist that it will pass, but until then i will be playing more with makeup .

If you have any tips or tricks, share them bellow in the comments

Lots of love,

Andreea

My daily face for the last two months (Dec and Jan):

Estee Lauder Idealist serum. Use it every morning, under my day moisturiser to minimize my awful looking pores. Two drops its all you need, spread it in the essentials areas (my case cheeks and nose). I’m pleased to say it really works, seen a reduction after just a week and my pores are looking airbrushed.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation (shade 53). This is my ‘day off’ foundation, it provides a medium coverage with a dewy radiant glow. I only use it when im off just because i get loads of shine through the day and this foundation doesn’t have any mattifying properties, so its nice when i slap it on just for a few hours.

Lancome Teint Idole 24H (No. 03). Was lucky to try it before it was launched (which is 1st of Feb, tomorrow!) so had about 3 whole months of daily testing. This is my ‘work’ foundation – it doesn’t budge, needs minimal retouching for shine and has an excellent color range. I was a fan of the original Teint Idole Ultra, but sometimes i found it too drying and the coverage was too heavy. While the new is style full coverage, the texture its a lot smoother and velvety.

Bourjois Healthy Mix concealer (no. 52). An excellent concealer! Very moisturising, full coverage and with a brightening effect. I apply it first, then my foundation and then highlight with YSL Touche Eclat.

YSL Touche Eclat (no. 1). I use it on top of the Bourjois concealer, just in the inner corners of my eye and on my nose bridge.

Bourjois Smokey Eyes in 04 Nude Ingenu. I have been obsessed with these eye shadows, reach for them every morning and for the first time, hit pan on a color.

Lancome Artliner in Black. My signature look for 2011 and im sure for 2012 as well, the windged black eyeliner.

Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara in Black. Love the brush, it gives me length and separation. Think that this is the type that gets better with age, when it dries up a bit after a week from opening it provides the most flawless application.

Sleek Nude Blush. Because of the cold weather i was a bit over the pink blusher, it looked like a had rosaceea cheeks! Instead i reached for the nude brown/tan blush to sculpt some cheekbones.

Mac Mineralized Powder in Medium Plus. Dewy, natural, flawless coverage what is not to love?!

Eyebrows: penciled first with Lancome eyebrow pencil (02) and then sealed the color with my all time favorite Smashbox Brow Tech in Taupe.

Other Loves

F for Salvatore Ferragamo Perfume, probably a more summer appropriate scent as it is light and floral but it makes my happy so im gonna use it up.

Kerastase Nutri Sculpt Leave-in Conditioner. The first leave in conditioner that doesnt leave my hair flat and greasy. My hair drinks it up and re becomes shiny and soft.

Vichy Lipidiose Body Exfoliant. This is the old packaging version, they have re-vamped the range since i got it (a year ago). Use it once a week and it delivers the softest skin ever. Its definetly not a gently scrub, but sometimes rough is better .

Vichy Liftactiv Serum. This serum has been an absolute savior during winter months, have been using it religiously every night under my moisturiser to plump and boost my skin. I can really see a difference in my complexion in the morning, it looks brighter and more relaxed.

Promise the next Favorites installment will be a lot shorter than this, haven’t done one in a long time so had lots of loves.

Only two weeks in my cosmetic/makeup spending ban and i already break the rules. Jeez i have the willpower of a fly!

It just has taken me by surprise, the sale i mean. You see, if i know there will be sale in a shop i prepare myself and if it really comes to it, i just don’t enter the shop at all. The crowds and the mess put me off (unless it is a Zara sale!) and im usually too tired for a good rummage.

But what do you do when the sale its at your counter and you have to re-label the products for the sale?

It all started with some products that didn’t have a tester so i just checked the color out of curiosity. Big mistake! Cue three lipsticks and two lip glosses:

Lancome Color Fever Lipsticks and Color Fever Glosses

Warning! I’ve taken the photos at night time with a pretty crappy camera. Capturing the tones of a lipstick its an art that i haven’t mastered yet. Ill be doing swatches in the morning, with natural light and update the post.

Lancome Color Fever Lipstick 332 (was €24 now €16)

Its a lot prettier and lighter in real life than in the photo, its a beautiful barbie pink suitable for a casual day.

Lancome Color Fever Lipstick 147 (was €24 now €16)

The classic red lipstick! Not too pink, not too blue…just perfect. Need to byte the bullet and start wearing reds, im in my late twenties for heaven’s sake.

Lancome Color Fever Lipstick 104 (was €24 now €16)

My absolute favorite from the bunch. Yes, my camera fails miserably and probably you cant even notice the differences between the two reds. 104 its a coral/orange toned red who would look fabulous on blondes and makes an ultimate summer staple. Tanned skin, tasseled beach hair, a sexy maxi dress and this lipstick, can not wait for summer nights!

Color Fever Glosses in 326 (top) and 334 (bottom) (was €20 now €13.50)

Non sticky, medium coverage, delicious pink tones. 334 its a cooler pink, while 326 has a touch of peach in it, making it warmer.

Perhaps if i’ll stop buying lipsticks, i could afford a proper DSLR…

Disclaimer: I have paid for the products with my own money.

Time certainly flies when you’re having fun, can’t believe its almost a month since my last post. Ive been so focused on work and become too excited to think about anything else – im the typical workaholic when im not at work, im thinking about work lol.

Also it seems im not that inspired to blog, im craving for a new site layout and desperately need a better camera. Santa, are you reading this? Im very much into fashion blogs lately, find myself looking up lifestyle and fashion blogs on blogloving more then the beauty ones. Who knows, i might start doing some OOTD in the new year and maybe some videos to spice things up a bit here.

I haven’t been shopping loads in the last month, im trying to save my pennies for the January sales. Every year im promising myself ill have a decent budget to splurge on the sales and on my birthday (new year baby – 3rd of Jan) and i end up broke, so im determined to get organized. Im already so excited about the next year resolutions!

Well, enough chit chating ill get straight to business:

Took advantage of the 3 for 2 offer in Boots at the start of November and got my skincare staples: La Roche Posay Effaclar K and Vichy Normaderm Anti-Age. Seriously, this routine is the best ever for my skin! I tend to test out other products for ‘research’ purposes, but nothing agrees with me better then this two products. In just three days from re-starting with my routine my skin was looking perfect again: smooth, clear, no bumps in sight. I use the Effaclar K in the morning with Shu Uemura spf 30 priming mousse and the Normaderm Anti-Age during the night.

The Kerium Extra Gentle shampoo is for himself, its the only shampoo that he can use. Unfortunately he suffers of seboreic dermatitis on his scalp and face, when i met him was using Nizoral shampoo for every wash. Now he only uses the Nizoral once per week or even once every two weeks, and washes with the Kerium every day. He never looked back.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation

This foundation deserves a proper post by itself, it is absolutely amazing. Excellent color match on my skin (im no 53), light weigh with a medium coverage, dewy radiant finish. Find it very similar to the more expensive Chanel Aqua Lumiere that i’ve had a couple of samples during the summer. The only drawback is that it gives me shine on my t-zone, but again even the Double Wear is not strong enough for my oiliness. Also it doesn’t have any SPF, so make sure you use a primer or skincare with SPF.

Last but not least, got some Clarins goodies: One Step Exfoliating Cleanser and the Energizing Lotion for the legs. Had them both before, the One Step exfoliant is a cult product for Clarins, it gives such a good scrub and the smell is delicious. Felt the need of a more rigourous face exfoliant, the Liz Earle is good and still have loads, but with my oily skin likes rougher stuff.

The Energizing Lotion is a God sent for anyone working on their feet all day, its so refreshing and stimulating. The only warning is that is very, very cooling so use it sparingly.

Any news with you guys?

xo

PS. Sale alert: The Body Shop are having 30% off this Friday (25th Nov) and Clerys Department Store on O’Connell street (Dublin) are starting the Mega Days this Thursday (24th Nov) with 10% off on all beauty counters/cosmetics.

Seeing this online, my mouth salivated. Bold, bright colors mixed in with rich autumnals? Mine please. What arrived on my lap a few days later is a thing of beauty, 12 deeply pigmented shadows for less than a tenner. Bargainous. I was looking for a nice quality palette with some more interesting colors to play around with (despite owning several of the infamous 88 palettes).

This LE from Sleek in collaboration with PPQ was ideal. There’s definitely some scary colors, I’ll give you that, but honestly once you play around enough anything can be wearable! (even that scary red). Here’s a run-through off the shades with their finishes and my thoughts! Oh, and all swatches are over a light bit of NYX’s milk, as always!

Barry White – This one is a sheer wash of ivory sheen, not as white as the name suggests. No chunky glitter here, it works excellently as a wash over a matte shade or as a highlight colour. (I’m so pale this barely swatched in the photo!)

Black Box – Hmm, not as pigmented as the usual black inclusion in the sleek palettes, this may be useful if you find using a true black a little harsh. The finish is matte and quite chalky, good to set liner for sure.

Salt ‘N’ Peppermint – This is what drew me to the palette originally. I’m a total sucker for these beautiful teal shades, whether on the lid or underneath on the lower lash line. Again this is a matte shade, but creamy and nicely pigmented. This is very close to MAC’s  L.E ‘Surfin’ USA’ (which I love and have hit pan on sadly).

Simply Red -  I know, I  know, red? Not the most wearable of shades! When I saw this I thought, “Eye infection? No thanks.” But upon swatching I saw how beautifully pigmented it was and I knew I had to find a way to wear it! So, today I wore it in my crease with Chris De Burgundy over it to soften the colour, blended with a smidge of matte brown. It’s do-able, I promise, and I actually love it. I’m wearing it right now, and together they make this season’s very on-trend maroon shade. So don’t be put off!

Pink Beret -  Another matte, this time the name is completely unrelated. This is best described as a baby-neon-coral. Hard to imagine, I know! This is actually really cute for a pastel look and is nicely creamy for a matte. So nicely creamy that I may or may not have worn it as a blush..

Primal Green – This is a GORGEOUS golden khaki shade, a bit like a greeny version of Urban Decay’s Half-Baked. It’s a nice and easy way to update your basic neutral look while still playing it safe. This has a smooth, satin finish.

Fade To Grey -  Grey? You mean pure, metallic silver! I realized I don’t actually have any other silvers.. This one is super high-shine and has a lovely cool tone to it. It’ll be amazing as we approach the dreaded Christmas party season!

 Blue Monday – Okay, this most certainly is not blue. It has a slight blue tinge is some lights I guess? But anyway, to me this is a slightly darker version of MAC’s ‘Humid’, a dark, cool-toned khaki. This is a softer satin, not too shiny, would be lovely on the outer ‘V’ with Primal Green or Fade to Grey.

Super Nova – With a name like that you’d expect a nice metallic, no? Well this is a lavender-taupey colour, lovely to throw in the crease if you’re having a ‘no makeup’ makeup day. This one is again a matte, not overly pigmented though.

Chris De Burgundy – BEST NAME. BEST SHADE. I’m sorry, I lovveeee this. It’s such an amazing autumn colour, can’t stop using it! And wow, it is goood on blue/grey eyes. This one is a creamy matte, so beautifully pigmented it looks like a glass of Pinot Noir. Amazing!

Lilac Allen – A very frosted pinkie-purple satin shade. Not sure how much use this will be personally but if you like your frosted purple’s, this is really quite nice.

 Golden silver’s – A pale, very yellow-toned gold, this one I wore today with my reds (sounds crazy but it’s wearable). This is a little disappointing, not very pigmented but still usable, it fades a little faster than the others.

Overall

Under ten euro for twelve shades of this quality is unreal. Even if there’s two in there that stick out to you I say get it, or regret it.

 Availability

Sometimes found in the hair-extension shops on Moore street, your best bet is either Beautyemporium.ie or Cloud10beauty.com.

 Thanks to Lorrainne‘s Facebook status (Hi!), I found out that Cloud10Beauty has a promotional offer for every person who likes their Facebook page, offering €5 off to every order. You might think that’s not much, but when a Sleek palette costs about €9 it makes a slight difference. Also they have a point scheme very similar to Boots/Tesco so for every purchase you get a number of points redeemable against purchase. Also they reward you for signing to newsletters, referring people or writing reviews.

Must say that im very pleasantly surprised with the customer service, i ordered my goodies Thursday afternoon and had them by 8.30 this morning in a pretty box, plus 3 samples of my choice. I recommend them with all my heart!

I got the Sleek Nude Palette, the Suede Blush and the Rose Gold Blush all summing up to €20 after discount. Wanted to get the Oh So Special palette too, my friend Kate raved about it but unfortunately was out of stock.

Also got my sample of Garnier BB cream in the post, i know it sounds silly but i was very impressed with the packaging .

and with flash

Sleek Rose Gold Blusher (Flash)

Sleek Rose Gold Blusher (Natural Light)

Sleek Suede Blusher (Flash)

Sleek Suede Blusher (Natural Light)

Rose Gold is my signature cheek color: shimmery coral/peach while Suede its a beautiful matte, neutral peach/bronze shade ideal for contouring. I know it looks pinky in the last photo, i assure you its not. My camera finds it hard to catch the subtle undertones of my makeup.

I didn’t do swatches this time around because im dying with a head cold and im afraid to touch anything with my germy hands. My nose is resembling Rudolph and its dripping continuously, plus i have marathons of sneezing to my fiance delight.

This didnt stop me though to do a Mugshot of the day . Be kind, be very kind!

Blush used – Suede. Filled my eyebrows with Bark from the Nude palette. Eyeshadows used: Cappuccino all over, Bark on the lid and Conker on the socket. Lined with L’Oreal luminizer eye liner in purple, mascara Lancome Hypnose Precious Cells.

Used the Garnier BB cream instead of foundation, very happy i ordered the sample first because i don’t like it at all. Coverage, color, texture, scent all good. Shine, not so good. Its too dewy and makes my oily skin to look even shinier then it usually is. Think its most suitable for a dryer complexion.

I’ve accumulated a few priming products in my collection, i use them both for my kit (makeovers) or for my personal use. Being an oily type gal, need to use a primer under my foundation to keep the shine away as much as possible.

The line up:

From left to right: Shu Uemura UV Under Base Mousse, Lancome La Base, Mac Prep and Prime Spf 15, Smashbox Photo Finish Spf 15, Smashbox Photo Finish Light, Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correction in Blend, Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correction (old packaging), Smashbox Photo Finish Color Adjust, Shiseido Smoothing Veil, Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch.

Before showing you the textures and giving you mini reviews about them, i want to tell you a bit about the whole primer philosophy. I’m aware that all the beauty aficionados and beauty bloggers are going to roll their eyes, but dealing with ladies on the counter, most of them are not fully clear about what a primer does.

A Primer is a smoothing silicone based (most of the times) gel or lotion that is used under your foundation, to fill all the little pores and fine lines so when you apply your foundation everything will appear smoother.

1. What im asked about 90% of the time is if a primer can be used alone, without foundation. The answer is No, because it will not do anything for you in any way. See it as a filler or a film, you have your little lines or pores, this will fill them up so when you apply your foundation or tinted moisturiser, it will be a smooth surface. If you don’t apply anything on top, your appearance will not be changed in any way. I tend to joke and call primers, Photoshop in a bottle.
2. A primer does not act as a moisturiser. Yes when applied, your skin will feel super velvety but that’s just the silicon film. Some of the primers are more moisturising then other (Laura Mercier, the new Smashbox Hydrating Primer) but will not double up as a anti-age or hydrating treatment.

Shu Uemura UV Under Base Mousse SPF 30

Ive been eying this cult product since Shu Uemura set foot in Brown Thomas! It is very different to the gel primers I’m used to, it comes in a slightly tinted mousse (the shade is beige) and it has a whooping high Spf 30.  You have to be careful when pumping the product not to get too much out, literally an olive size of product is more then sufficient for the entire face and eyes. The skin tone its improved, the foundation lasts longer and goes smoother and it doubles up as a sun factor too.

Ideal for oily-combination skin, not great on dry types.

Mac Prep and Prime 

Prep and Prime its a lotion type primer with light reflecting properties. It doesn’t have any shimmer or glitter in it, just tiny, tiny particles that reflect the light for a dewy, radiant complexion. Raging to be honest that i didn’t get the Spf 50 one, wasn’t aware of its existence. Its not as slippery as a gel type primer, works excellent on a dry skin.

Lancome La Base

La Base is the classical gel primer, that gives an instant velvety feeling to your skin. To be honest i find the formulation and result to be identical with the Smashbox PhotoFinish, only at a cheeper price (La Base is €30 and Smashbox is €35). The formula its quite heavy, in the sense that you need a pea size amount for the whole face. Works on all skin types.

Smashbox Photo Finish Primers

Im a massive fan of Smashbox Cosmetics, love their primers, shadows, lipsticks…everything! Smashbox is my Mac if you wish .

Photo Finish UVA/UVB Spf 15 – doubles up as a primer and a sun factor, if your day time foundation or moisturiser doesnt have one. Smart!

Photo Finish Light – for sensitive complexions and very oily textures, its a lighter formulation (doh!) that doesn’t block up the pores or irritates.

Photo Finish Color Correcting different colors: Blend (salmon shade to even out skin tone), Green (against redness or rosaceea), Purple (for dull complexions, instant brightening effect).

Shiseido Smoothing Veil and Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch

Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch – this is my primer to go for a mature, dry skin. Its best to be used with your fingers, working it into the skin. Here’s a little test that you can do in the shop, to see for yourself the power of this type of primer: take a pea size of product and apply it on the interior of one of your palms, working it in the lines. Then compare. Comment bellow if you are amazed or not.

Lancome has a very similar alternative out in two shades (fair porcelain and sallow skin), it primes and evens out skin tone.

Shiseido Smoothing Veil – feels more like a light moisturiser rather then a priming product. It evens out the skin tone, brightens and smooths the skin surface. Ideal for fair, dry complexions.

Which primers do you use?

xo

Ive decided to do monthly empties instead of month favorites, simply because i don’t seem to change my favorites so much from month to month and usually i need to use a product for a long time to get a favorite status.

What i do find hard to do, is finish up products. It seems to take me ages to consume a tube of something, am i using to little? And then i keep buying new stuff and end up with a never ending ‘use up list’.

The Body Shop Almond Shower Gel

Soap-free shower gel, very gentle and moisturising. The scent is not as strong as i would’ve like it to be, but i suppose for the majority of people that’s a good thing. Didn’t feel the need for moisturiser after, my skin felt very comfortable. Lasted about two months, a little goes a very long way.

L’oreal Elvive Full Restore 60s Intensive Conditioner

This one was a total disappointment. Says that its meant for weak, limp, lifeless hair (read it in Cheryl Cole accent) and that it will intensively nourish. When used on the middle length of my hair, it did feel light but after rinsing it out, my hair didn’t feel moisturised at all. I actually had to add some leave in conditioner from Kerastase, to help detangle it.

Sadly, my mojo wasn’t back.

La Roche Posay Hydraphase Eye Gel

I’ve been using this baby for years on and off, in the morning time. It feels light and moisturising, reduces puffiness and dark circles. Suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lenses, it will be repurchased for sure.

After reading about the new liners and mascaras from L’Oreal on Beaut.ie, i knew i have to have them. When i’ve spotted them as part of a 3 for 2 in Boots, it was meant to be.

Got the purple (Black Amethyst/Hazel Eyes), the blue (Dark Sapphire/Blue Eyes) and the already cult liner Super Gloss in Carbon Black.

Had my heart set on the green version as well, but unfortunately it seemed to be sold out everywhere i went.

The liners are the felt tip type, very similar to Lancome Artliner. Making a comparison between the two, i find the Artliner tip being softer and more flexible, rather then the rigid L’Oreal one. Both though are very easy to use.

The colors are very intense, rich and highly pigmented and are very very long lasting.

Super Liner Luminizer in Blue

Super Liner Luminizer in Purple

Mascara: L’Oreal Million Lashes Luminizer for Hazel Eyes

Eye shadows: Sleek Palette – Storm ( blue eyeliner) and The Original (purple eyeliner)

FOTD – Cocktail Brights

I ‘ve decided to show a look using some of the brighter shades, just to show how wearable they still are. I’m wearing this look out to a club venue later, but it could easily be toned own with some neutral creasework. Use the photo with the names shadows for reference when giving it a go yourself!

I started off by priming my lids and the contours of my eye with NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk (white) but anything creamy will do. Next I took a firm bristled eyeshadow brush (MAC 239) and applied Omen all over the lid from about a third of the way in to the outer edges of the eye. Next apply Junkshow using a pencil brush (MAC 219) or any pointed brush into the crease, take it from a third of the way in all the way to the edge. Now take a fluffy crease brush like MAC’s 224 and go over just the line of the crease with Half Truth, just to soften the harshness of Junkshow. Wipe your brush off, then dip it in Vanilla. Apply this to your inner third, pushing it right into your tear duct.

Using your pencil brush again, apply Deep End just to the first third of your eye (Not down into the tear duct!). Line your lower lashline with Deep End too, then go over the outer ‘V’ and edges of the lash line with Evidence to add definition. Finally, Tainted can be used to blend out the harsh line of the crease and I cheated a little by using Inglot’s shadow in 395 as my highlight.

Lashes -  eyelure 145′s. The 101′s are a more wearable version of these.

Face – Chanel vitalumiere in 10 Limpide.

Bourjois healthy mix concealer in pale ivory.

MAC blush in Sakura.

Benefit 10 (to contour).

Eyes – UD Anniversary Palette.

Inglot 395 shadow.

Catrice gel liner in black.

Lips – MAC lipstick in Playtime.

        Rimmel lasting finish lipstick in Vintage Pink.

Overall

This palette is absolutely amazing value, I guarantee you’ll use this so much more than you think. It’s really versatile, containing everything you need to make both daytime and evening looks in one handy palette. Although Naked still owns the key to my heart, this one comes pretty close in the covet stakes. BUY IT! Available from Debenhams and online for 45 euro, the sales assistant says it’ll be gone around October time so hurry in for a gander

 Thank you Kate for your amazing review, hope to have you over here soon *wink*!