First ever Nars haul!

I 've been drooling over Nars stuff for ages, but I was always skeptical mainly because:

• they 're quite expensive,
• narscosmetics.eu charge 24€ for delivery (Nars, really???)
• asos.com does not deliver Nars to Greece
• they 're not available elsewhere, apart from hqhair.com, at least to my knowledge.

So, being pricy and not readily available online were the two reasons that turned me off from buying any Nars product.

That changed when they launched the The Happening" LE palette. As soon as I saw it I wanted it. Desperately. LOL!

So, I checked on narscosmetics.eu but there was no way I was going to pay 24€ shipping fee.

Instead, I just gave my email address in order to be included in their mailing list and waited for a free shipping code or something similar.

And, lo and behold, a couple days later I received an email about free shipping if the order was 50€ or more!

Also, there was a code for a free mini Orgasm illuminator for the first purchase.

It goes without saying that I decided not to wait any longer and rushed to the site to make my order.

While browsing the rest of the stuff, I noticed that the American Dream palette was still available (you can see it in my fall 2012 whishlist, here), and (against any reasonable thinking) I decided to fulfill my Nars appetite with this palette too!

Oh well, it's not a big deal to survive the remaining of the month on pasta and ketchup!!!

My experience on buying from Nars: the only really negative is their shipping fee, so, if you 're interested, make sure to be in their mailing list, this way you 'll receive notifications of new products, free shipping, etc.

The shipping itself took 7 working days, mainly because there was a delay in Italy due to weather conditions.

They also provide full tracking, meaning that you can check the status and the whereabouts of your order.

Packaging: very slim and tight (no bulky boxes), very well padded, everything safe and sound!

Enough said, let's move on tho the haul!

Orgasm mini illuminator:

This is a mini, 8ml deluxe sample. It can be used on the cheekbones etc as a highlighter or mixed with the foundation for a little "afterglow" result (insert naughty laughter).

Being on the pale side I'm a little afraid to use it in the middle of winter, although I think it will be ok mixed with my foundation.

If you have it, please let me know how you use it!

American Dream palette:

For 49€ you get 9 grams of product in 6 eyeshadows, that means almost 8€ for 1,5 grams per eyeshadow. In Mac terms it would cost 90€. Even in pan form, they cost 10€ each (if I'm not mistaken), so the total cost would be 60€. My point is that they 're not that expensive (at least in comparison to Mac eyeshadows).

Isn't it prrrreeeeettttyyyyy?

I think that apart from the lovely colors, this is a well thought of palette because you get your highlights, midtones and dark colors, as well as a matte, perfect for the crease. So, with this little tool you can accomplish quite a few different looks.

I love them all with Galapagos (the dark brown on the low left corner) being the most favorite, because of the gold shimmer.

There 's actually nothing not to like about them as far as pigmentation, blendability and texture are concerned.

The only issue I have is with Silk Road (the pink on the top right corner) because it has a few chunky particles, but it is a gorgeous color nonetheless.

The swatches are on bare skin, no primer underneath them.

Bellissima, Alhambra, Silk Road

Galapagos, Bali, Tzarine

The Happening Eyes and Cheeks palette:

It includes two iconic Nars products (Orgasm blush and Laguna bronzer) and for this reason alone I think this is not an item for the Nars loyal fans, but, on the other hand I think this is the ideal introduction to a Nars "virgin", like myself!

 

Orgasm blush is a pretty peach/coral shade with a gorgeous gold shimmer duo chrome, better suited for spring and summer.

 

Laguna is a lovely bronzer with fine shimmer, ideal for fair and light skin tones.

 

It also includes four eyeshadows: Night Star, Gstaad, Kuala Lumpur and Coconut Grove. I don't find them to be unique or outstanding in any way, but they do compliment beautifully the color scheme of the palette.

 

I think that it is the perfect travel companion because of its small size, it fits perfectly even into my purse.

Swatches on bare hand (with no primer underneath).

Orgasm in comparison to Benefit's Bella Bamba, Mac's Flower Fantasy and Mac's Legendary

Laguna in comparison to Nude on Board, Lush-Light Bronze, Equillibrium and Pressed Amber (all by Mac).

Here are some photos to give you an idea of the size.

In comparison to a Mac palette

In comparison to UD Naked 2 palette

In comparison to an Inglot palette

Have you tried a Nars product? Any recommendations?

 

That's it for now, I hope you 're all well and thriving!

 

Δημοσιεύτηκε με το Blogsy

Shiseido Camelia blush

I can't remember exactly how I first saw this blush but it was love at first sight! I googled it, read a few blogposts about it and then I was on my way to my nearest beauty store!

A little info: the Shiseido Camelia Compact is a limited edition blush that was launched a few months ago in order to commemorate Shiseido's 140 years of history.

Packaging: sleek, chic and luxurious without being fussy or over the top, adorned with the camelia flower.

The product: in a few words it's a glorious 3 in 1 blush.

When I first opened the compact at home, I discovered that the whole pan was covered by a layer of glitter. I'm not talking about shimmer or iridescent particles or anything fine and sweet, I'm talking about straight on glitter!

 

So, after skipping a couple of heartbeats, thinking that maybe this was a different product (lol!) I decided to try and see if I could get rid of this shitload of shattered disco ball. I took it over the sink and brushed the top with a big powder brush.

TG it was just a loose overspray so it took only a couple of gentle swipes and my blush was finally there (it goes without saying that my sink was sooo pretty, sparkly and festive afterward!)

What you get is two blushes and a highlight:

• the higlight is almost matte and very close to white, so it adds dimension without texture, I really love it!
• the pink blush is very pretty alone but also very handy to tone down the next blush
• which is a pigmented, vibrant poppy red

In application, I don't swirl my brush in it because I want to keep the shades separate and in pristine condition. Also, with swirling the brush picks up too much pigment.

 

So, I tap it in the red shade, tap it once on my hand and then I tap it lightly on my cheeks (tap tap tap is the way!). This way I get the much talked of "flush" on my cheeks and it looks very pretty and fresh.

I also wear the pink shade alone, or I apply ioften combination with the red shade, on the high planes of my cheeks, when I'm after a more sculpted look.

As for the brush I use with it, I find the elf studio blush brush exremely handy because it has the right size so as to pick up only the shade I choose.

Here's a hand swatch, I tried to blend the three together but it didn't work because I picked a bit too much of the red shade!

I also find it very handy for these days when I'm going out straight after work and want to have a kind of day to night touch up on the go.

 

Do you like multitasking products? If yes, what's your favorite?

 

That's it for now, I hope you're all well and thriving!

 

Δημοσιεύτηκε με το Blogsy

Makeup Storage: Pretty in Pink Winter Edition!

This is the winter edition of the things that I keep in my makeup caddy.

Here's the fall edition some months ago, as well as last spring edition here and the first ever post of this series, in Septhember 2011, here.

So, let's take a look at present status!

First tier from left to right

Here I keep a little eyeshadow duo that I wear when I can't decide what eyeshadows to wear, it goes with everything and I just slap it on and I'm good to go.

Next my all time favorite Instant Light Blush liquid blushes from Clarins, now that they are running low I start to despair over finding substitutes and try not to use them all the time! I really wish Clarins would make this product permanent.

Next to them I keep a Mac paint in Stilife, another emergency item, when I don't have much time, I just apply it on the lid with my finger and that's it!

Next my MUFE brow gel and a lipbalm.

On the far right I keep my Maybelline Color Tattoo eyeshadows and a Chanel cream eyeshadow. In order to stop them from rolling I placed an old Garnier concealer next to them, lol!

In the vertical slot I keep eye pencils (mostly Mac) and mascara as well as a mascara wand that I comb my brows with. As for the Diorshow Extase, not impressed, quite average I would say and definitely will not repurchase.

Second tier from left to right

Too Faced Shadow Insurance (still working on finishing it, lol!), Mac clear brow gel (not impressed, my brow hair still go downwards after a while) and a Givenchy mascara wand that I use to comb my lashes after mascara.

 

Next are my Mac fluidlines: Catch my Eye (I actually use this as a cream eyeshadow), Added Goodness, Avenue and Blacktrack.

 

Next are foundation and concealer: Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation #51' MUFE Full Cover concealer #4, Mac Prep+Prime highlighter in Radiant Rose and TBS Vitamin C Skin Booster.

 

Next a mini Mac travel bottle with Fix+

 

Next a couple extra Maybelline Color Tattoo eyeshadows.

Last tier/bucket

Here I keep the blushes that I'm currently using, all by Mac: Legendary, Azalea Blossom, Equilibrium (as a bronzer), Dainty, Crew and Sunbaque.

Also, my eyelash curler, Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch (special occasion primer), my Diorskin Nude Powder Foundation and my Guerlain MeteorIites #1.

On top of these I keep my Mac palette with the current configuration of eyeshadows

Also the Real Techniques brush roll. Now, something interesting: I just got these Real Techniques brushes (review will follow in some days) and I decided, in order to actually try them thoroughly, to use just them for my everyday make up and nothing else. Obviously I tossed in a couple other brushes (my Mac 208, 219 and 211) as well as two eye pencils that I use every single day (UD Zero 24/7 Glide on for the tightline and TBS kohl #18 Moonstone for the waterline). Last item I keep here is a mini Mac bottle with some brush cleanser

Here's all together with a little pink mirror as well

As you see there are no lip products and the reason is that I keep them elsewhere and I choose what to wear after putting my makeup on.

Before you go, here's a little extra. Since I got the Diorskin Nude powder foundation I used it non stop, to the point where I neglected my liquid foundation.

A week ago, I bought from the TBS the Vitamin C Skin Booster as a wake me up skin enhancer, to use before makeup and one day I mixed it with my foundation. Boom! I fell in love with the result because the silica in it makes the mix with foundation to glide on my skin like nobody's business! I've used silicon based primers before but this one is amazing!

I also use into the mix a drop of concealer for better coverage and a bit of the Mac highlighter. I mix them up into a clear plastic thingy (I believe it was from some Mac MSF or mineralize blush). Finally, I use the Real Techniques multitask brush to apply the lot on my face and I'm very happy with the result.

That's it for now, I hope you 're all well and thriving!

 

Δημοσιεύτηκε με το Blogsy