Showing posts with label matte. Show all posts

AUGUST

Do you guys remember when I was all about mattes? Matte shadows, matte contour, matte base, matte lip (still loving those though) and matte everything, essentially?

Let’s all laugh together, shall we?

This year was the year I not only learnt how to strobe, but how to do it properly, and all the joys that come from having THE LIGHT OF APOLLO ON YO FACE.

Highlighters. All the highlighters. ALL OF THEM.

Liquid. Cream. Powder. Eyeshadow (hear me out) – you name it, if it gives the skin a glow, I’ve used it on my face. August saw me swapping my beloved Sheer Glow for the Nars Velvet Tint; a satin finish, medium-full coverage skin tint that made for the perfect base for all kinds of highlighting and glow. And it wasn’t something I restricted to a full-face kinda day – even study days saw me whipping out the Josie Maran Argan Oil Illuminiser, as the Argan oil base gave that bit more hydration and protection to my skin on long library days.

So here are my top fave highlighter/illuminators – for the time being, of course!

Josie Maran Enlightment Illunimiser – liquid crème with a rosy gold

NARS Illuminator in Copacobana, and Super Orgasm

NARS Dual Intensity Blush in Frenzy – used with a wet brush for a POP like you wouldn’t believe!

Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder in Incandescent Strobe light – silvery pink that sits beautifully with a blush, and best used with a sponge

Too Faced Candlelight Glow – Rosy Glow

Stila Kitten Eye shadow Single – when used with an extremely light hand, this is the ULTIMATE glow-getter. I’m obsessed. And a multipurpose product that’s so so easy to travel with? SOLD!

Stay tuned to @beautybyasparrow on Instagram for swatches and daily looks with these bad, bedazzling boys!

Tweet tweet xx

Summer 2014/15


(A photo of yours truly, as I accurately appear during the summer season)

Summer. Sun, sea, sand, surf, skin and sangria.
Also heat equivalent to what an individual must feel at the doorway of hell, in Australia at least. 

As the weather slowly, but surely, starts to warm up, it's gotten me thinking about not only my favourite parts of my favourite season, but my general tips and tricks for surviving some of the harshest conditions that can be thrown at a lil' bird. 

For starters, if you're pale, don't kid yourself. Slap that sunscreen and, in some cases, invisible zinc on, and just deal with it. Don't try to tan, because believe me, I have had enough summers attempting a natural glow only to end up with a glow similar to that of a HOT STOVE. Sunburn HURTS, it SUCKS, and it can damage your skin (to the point of melanoma!). A great thing to do is use a body moisturiser that already contains SPF, so even if you forget to use sunscreen or are planning on staying indoors for most of the day (whether that be for work, school etc.) at least your skin is a little protected. 
My top picks are
Palmer's Cocoa Butter with SPF 15+ https://www.priceline.com.au/skincare/hand-and-body/body-moisturisers/cocoa-butter-formula-spf-15-body-lotion-250.0-ml
Dove Gradual Tan in Fair-Medium SPF 15+ https://www.priceline.com.au/skincare/sun-and-tanning/instant-tan/summer-glow-gradual-self-tan-body-lotion-fair-to-medium-400.0-ml
Invisible Zinc SPF 50+ https://www.priceline.com.au/index.php/skincare/sun-and-tanning/sun-protection/spf-50-4hr-water-resistant-lotion-50.0-ml

Unfortunately when you fall into the above category of white, sunburn does occur
When this does happen, I have a few sure fire ways to soothe my skin and heal the damage.
First and foremost, ALOE VERA IS THE BOMB DIGGITY. The plant, absolutely, but the gels that you can keep cool and ready in the fridge are amazeballs, super soothing and calming. Although they are, unfortunately, sticky and take a little while to seep into the skin, they instantly cool any heat and make it easier to concentrate on whatever it is you want to be doing besides feeling the pain of the burn.
Coles have an excellent aloe vera and green tea gel that goes for about $7 a tube. I have one at home, one at the boy's house, my best friend has one in her fridge... you get the idea.
If you're not up for the stickiness of the gel, Aloe Vera sprays are also a quick way to relieve the heat and pain.
Aloe Aftersun Spray https://www.priceline.com.au/skincare/sun-and-tanning/after-sun-care/aloe-aftersun-spray-250.0-ml
And if you're as desperate as I was last Thursday, and in as much pain and overheating, follow the below steps. 
1. Wet a face towel
2. Place in freezer for 10 minutes
3. Take out of freezer
4. Place on burn until it's no longer cold, and feel the relief!
(Also HYDRATE. Your skin is in shock and dehydrated, your body is working super hard to fix your skin, and you've also been out in the sun. DRINK WATER.)

TIPS & TOES
Summer means thongs, sandals, open toe wedges and pumps, and bare feet running quickly across burning sand. This means there's a tiny bit more pressure than usual to have a nice(ish) pedicure and polish happening. 
(http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_li8kk8vxkb1qezpw2.jpg)

OK, don't feel pressured to do anything as cute as the above, because those skills are reserved for the beauty elite. Also if you're working a lot this summer (like yours truly) there simply isn't time for tricks and patterns, so my favourite polishes are quick-drying and one-two coats. Throw on an episode of your favourite TV series and chill while they dry, so you can be 100% sure they won't scuff or smudge. 
Rimmel 60 seconds dry https://www.priceline.com.au/cosmetics/nails/nail-polish/60-seconds-nail-colour-8.0-ml6
I love shades of blue, turquoise and jade for summer - they're such deep, jewel tones that go along with many trends, and look so pretty against sandals or peeping out of a cute pair of flats.
Sally Hansen Complete Manicure https://www.priceline.com.au/cosmetics/nails/nail-polish/complete-salon-manicure-14.7-ml
I also love a pop of pink or orange on the toe, whether they be pastel or rich, as they compliment a nice (fake haha!) tan and also go with summery colours and tones. 
Another trend I still love from Summer 2013 is the all-white manicure. Use smooth, soft strokes to ensure your polish looks like polish, and not White-Out.
Maybelline Color Show in Porcelain Party https://www.priceline.com.au/cosmetics/nails/nail-polish/color-show-nail-color-7.0-ml

In terms of manicures, my line of work means keeping polish un-chipped is IMPOSSIBLE. Which is why I absolutely love love love LOVE press on nails. They don't damage your nails like DIY stick-ons, and they look AMAZING and last for about 2-3 weeks depending on how rough you are with your hands.
House of Holland offer AMAZING textures, colours and shapes, but come in at around $17 a pack https://www.priceline.com.au/cosmetics/nails/false-nails/house-of-holland-nails-royal-explosion-1.0-kit
Fing'rs are a little more affordable and ADORABLE https://www.priceline.com.au/cosmetics/nails/false-nails/prints-girlie-glam-on-the-dot-1.0-kit
And my go-to are Broadway nails - they're quick, easy, and the packaging is a prime example of someone seeing an opportunity and TAKING IT, and I appreciate that https://www.priceline.com.au/cosmetics/nails/false-nails/b-press-and-go-nails-190-call-my-agent-24.0-pack

Stay tuned for another post about how to live, as well as survive Australian summers! 

Until then, tweet tweet and much love my little birds xx

Maybelline FIT ME did not fit me. At all.

Before I post the image that you'll see below, I just really want to emphasise that I'm ok, my skin will be ok, and I'm not in any pain or suffering any kind of irritation.

I woke up on Wednesday morning thinking that hey, my skin may have a few pimples at the moment, but it'll be all right. When I saw my cheeks, however (more commonly known as the G zone, opposed to my usually oily and problematic T zone) I scrapped that thought and replaced it with "OH MY GOD".


The photos above haven't been altered or had any sort of Instagram filter put on them. Those angry, red and pink blotches were a bit more vivid in real life, and they weren't pleasant at all. 

I mentioned in an earlier blog that the FIT ME stick foundation was for occasional use - the last time I'd used this product more than a few days in a row, it'd irritated my skin a little, but not to this extent. This time around I'd used the FIT ME stick to contour perhaps four days in a row, and obviously my skin did not appreciate it. 

As much as I would love to give this foundation the benefit of the doubt, after I stopped using it all together my skin calmed down SIGNIFICANTLY, and I'm unfortunately now certain that it was definitely the foundation that set it off. 

I may use this product again in future for nights out, where I need heavier make-up or a heavier contour, but otherwise it'll be shelved.

I want this to serve as a warning to my little birds with sensitive skin - stick foundations are heavy-duty, long-lasting, and for want of a better word, cake wear. Unless you are appearing on stage, need heavy, full coverage, or are heading to an event (such as a wedding or formal), I would recommend staying CLEAR of this product, or, not using it at all. 

Sorry to be a downer! I promise my next blog will be a lot more cheery! 

Tweet tweet xx

NYX Matte Finishing Spray Review



I picked this up from Target about a month ago - I'd heard a bit about NYX Cosmetics, and I'd been looking for something (aside from powder) to set my make-up and minimise shine. It retails for around $14.95, so I thought, why not? 

Below you can see my face from the first day I tried the product. The picture on the left was taken around 7:40am, the one on the right was taken at 8:45pm (no filter!) 
Between then I'd worked a full eight hours, travelled to and from home to work, and everything else you'd do on a daily basis. 



I'll admit the lighting wasn't perfect in the first shot, but you can see my make-up is set, matte, and looking as good as it usually does when it's freshly done!
On the right you can see the shine along my nose, as well as my forehead, however I hadn't touched up with power as I usually would during the day. Considering this, I thought the NYX spray had done an excellent job.

I now use the setting spray for long days at work, uni, and evenings when I need my make-up to stay in place. I do usually use a powder, as well as the spray on these days. Overall I will re-purchase, however I don't think I'll be trying the Dewy Setting Spray as my skin already has a shiny tendency, and I don't think a dewy/shiny product will help with any of that. 

So - if you're looking for a setting spray, love a matte finish as much as I do, give this NYX Matte Setting Spray a go!
 Tweet tweet xx
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