FOTD/NARS Luster review

My good friend 32517 was having a difficult time with NARS Luster so I thought I would do a quick review on it. I myself haven't used this blush in quite awhile. So today I whipped it out and did a simple day FOTD with it.

Products I used for today's FOTD :

Face:

Gowoonsesang Brightening Balm BB cream
La Prairie cellular loose powder

Cheeks:

NARS Luster

Eyes:

L'oreal star secrets hazel eyes quad
By Terry ombre veloutee Midnight blackberry
Bobbi brown gel liner
Chanel Inimitable mascara
Brows were left bare and brushed softly with a brow brush

Lips: (wore off quite quickly)

MAC Siss l/s
MAC Revealing l/g

Nails:

OPI You don't know jacques!

Obviously I didn't pile on the makeup during the day because I didn't want to look like a drag queen thats why.

Tried to take some shots but obviously they weren't fantastic. I'm still trying to get used to taking FOTD pics so be gentle! :)

As you can see 32517, NARS Luster doesn't look too orange or peachy on me at all! It shows up as a pure apricot color, a little pinky in fact! On me, its quite similar to NARS Orgasm just that Orgasm is more pinky. Luster looks best paired with smoky eyes.

Peachy blushes that I can never get to work on me : MAC Peaches and Benefit Georgia. For the love of the man living upstairs I cannot get them to work it frustrates the hell out of me. Any recs on how I can get it to work on me?

xo

NARS Holiday 2009 Collection

NARS attempts to tempt/impess us with his holiday collection which features bold colors for that 'hollywood star look' that model Heather Marks potrays so well.

This collection features 3 brand new eyeshadow duos; Brouse, Taiga and Eurydice. Besides that, the Soft touch eye pencils will be making their first appearance in 3 shades; Goddess, Skorpios and Aigle Noir. Also, look out for the brand new pine green single shadow Mousson. The ever famous Multiple welcomes a new member Luxor. The Velvet lip pencils will have 2 new additions, Toundra and Pop life. Also their famous line of nail polishes has a new addition of fiery red polish; Red Andalou.

For the NARS Holiday 2009 Collection, makeup artist Diane Kendal designed a look that was sultry and sophisticated for model Heather Marks.

Look created by: Diane Kendal for NARS Cosmetics.

Face:

• Apply NARS Concealer as needed, to cover any imperfections.
• Apply NARS NARS Sheer Matte Foundation all over for a perfectly smooth finish.
• Contour cheeks with NARS Cap Vert Multiple Bronzer and NARS Deep Throat Blush.
• Finally, she highlighted the cheekbones, under eyebrow, and top of lip with NARS Copacabana Multiple.
  

Eyes:

• Apply NARS Brumes Duo Eyeshadow (brown side) over the entire upper lid.
• Layered NARS Eurydice Duo Eyeshadow (purple side) on top.
• On the inner eye, she applied NARS Taiga Duo Eyeshadow (white side) and blended outward. NARS Brumes Duo Eyeshadow (the dark side) was used to line the lower lash line.
• NARS Nuits Blanches Eyeliner Stylo was used to line the top and bottom lash lines.
• Curled lashes with NARS Eyelash Curler and applied two coats of NARS Larger Than Life Lengthening Mascara.
• The brows were drawn using NARS Ipanema Eyebrow Pencil.

Lips:

• Apply NARS Mitzi Lipstick

Contents and picture courtesy of NARS Cosmetics USA

The loved one

The boyfriend is complaining that he doesn't get mentioned on this blog so from now onwards he'll be making a more regular appearance here! :) *hopefully if he consents to having more of his pictures taken*

An ode to my beloved violin

Hi guys. This post is not makeup related. I was supposed to do a FOTD today but I have a slight infection on my left eye (which hurts like mad) so I couldn't.

Besides being passionate about makeup, another thing which I am v passionate about is music. I have been learning music since I was 6 and I have played the organ and the violin. Today this post is an ode to my beloved violin. I ♥ it. It is what I go to when I feel the need to isolate myself from the outside world.

Heres my beautiful Suzuki acoustic violin.

Its so pretty and serene that even Nemo likes it. Right Nemo? :)

What else are you passionate about besides fashion and makeup? :)

Kindly,

Aretha

FOTD and a lazy friday

I picked up my Urban Decay Book of Shadows Volume 1 (BOS) and looked at it. Its a super pretty palette. I had wanted this palette for the longest time and I totally missed it when it came out in the UK last x'mas. Nonetheless the search for this palette continues until summer when we boarded a UK budget airline 'Bmibaby' to Paris, I was browsing through the inflight shopping mag and guess what they had this palette on board! Plus it was duty free price which means I didn't have to pay for sucky tax. It was freaking tax free! :) Mega happy. ♥

Today I used 2 colors from the palette 'Last Call' (a cranberry color) and 'Smog' (a mid tone dusty brown). Nothing special there. Just a wash of color on the lids but I love the simplicity of it. :) Sometimes simple things can make an impact too. Eyebrows were left bare today *gasp*.

Other products used:

BRTC Jasmine water BB cream
Chanel poudre universalle compact #clair
Benefit Thrrrob
MAC MSF Northern light
HR glorious mascara
Shu uemura drawing pencil (tightline)
Chantecaille lip chic Camellia


Random shot of my hair hehe. ♥

The UD BOS Volume 1. Volume 2 is out but sadly we don't have UD here. :(

This is definitely abit gimmicky. The mirror is superfluous but..oh well.

^__^ v

♥

The weekend is here. Happy times ~ ♥

My collection of lash curlers ~

Today I am introducing you all to my family of lash curlers. :)

The very first curler I got (about 2 years ago) was from Anna sui (the black one). Its a super pretty curler and I admit that I got it purely because I love Anna sui :). Previously, my mum didnt approve of me using curlers just in case i accidentally yank it too hard and yank out all my lashes.
From left to right;

Artisan & artist curler (plaza style LE), shu uemura, anna sui, sugarbaby (i think thats the name for it)

My pink Artisan & artist curler! The prettiest curler I own and also the most comfortable to use. :) I got it from the online website Ichibankao and I can't remember exactly how much it is but it wasn't very expensive. I ♥ it alot but I am trying not to use it too much because I have no idea where to get the refills. :(

The famous Shu curler which has won numerous awards in fashion magazines. You might think that this curler is the best out there and fool proof? Wrong! I have a love hate relationship with this curler. Some days it gives me a lovely curl and sometimes it does nothing! Although I don't think its a bad curler I won't say its the most excellent one. Somehow it does pinch my eyelids a little and it doesnt grab hold of all of my lashes. Its also abit stiff which I dislike. I might try out Shiseido curler next as I have read many good reviews about it.

My very first lash curler from Anna sui. (We're currently not on speaking terms)It has a pretty black frame with purple pads and purple anna sui words. Its super pretty. :) Unfortunately doesnt do a v good job in curling my lashes. I admit I got it purely because I love Anna sui.

Some plastic curler (brand is Sugarbaby or sth) that I received in a swap not too long ago. Again, I prolly don't have to mention it but it does nothing to curl my lashes. Blehh.

What are your fav lash curlers? :)

October/November must haves

I have not done this in awhile and since October has ended and we are just a few days into November I decided to do a 'joint must-haves' as I have reached for these items alot during October and I can see myself using them v often in November. :) Because October was breast cancer month, you'll be seeing alot of pinks this time around~!

A mismatch of items from various brands.

1) Giorgio Armani Luminous silk fluid foundation - This foundation has the most amazing texture. It leaves a slightly dewy finish, its easy to blend and it never irritates my skin. Its also very lightweight and you really don't need a lot to achieve that flawless face look.

2) YSL Semi Loose powder - I nicked this from my mother's drawer. :P Mum is a huge fan of YSL cosmetics and she really likes this powder. Semi-loose meaning you have to turn it clockwise (like a cheesegrater as what Paris B of mywomenstuff says) to get a small amount loose powder to use. Repeat the procedure if you need more. One thing good about this concept is that wastage is less so more economical in the long run. :) Its also handy because you can lug it around when you go travelling without worrying that your powder will spill inside your bag.

3) Bobbi brown platinum shimmer brick - I have had this some time ago (last year i think). I got it when it came out as part of the Platinum colletion. I have to be honest that when I bought it, I got it purely because it was an LE item and that I thought it was pretty. I never used it much until recently when I whipped it out, used my small kabuki brush to apply it to the apples of my cheeks and voila I get the most beautiful flush! Its of course more sensible to use this after a powder blusher because if you were to use it as a blush, color payoff isnt strong enough. You can also use the individual colors as eyeshadows. I especially love the platinum color as a shadow.

4) NARS Angelika blush - NARS remains my fav makeup brand and his blushers being his star products are truly amazing in terms of pigmentation, color payoff and color selection. In this case, I have been reaching for Angelika almost everyday lately partially because I have issues and this time I am going through a phase whereby I will only use pink blushers. A few months ago I would only use peachy colors because of a blog post from Xiaxue that I read and in it she stated that peachy blushers are circa 1972 or some bull crap like that. Because she only uses pink and because I don't think v highly of her I decided not to use anything pink. Anyway I digress, I'm not bothered about that now and so Angelika is my most reached for pink blush because it is a cotton candy pink with silver sparkles. Gives me the prettiest dolly cheeks. Imma do a FOTD with this blush soon. :)

5) Shiseido Maquillage x Alexander Wang palette BR365 - Bad picture ~ i blame it on the poor lighting. So yea thats my thigh and hand and bracelets you see in the pic :). I got this initially because the lovely Anna Tsuchiya used it in the Maquillage advert. Its a v safe choice of colors, v neutral (i love neutrals) and v versatile because I can use it all the time and I won't look too made up/look like a tranny mess. I also used it in my latest FOTD. :)

6) Anna Sui lipstick - I do believe that this is an LE item from Anna sui but I can't recall the name for it. The SA there kept asking me to get this and sure enough I love it alot. Its a really unique color, its a pale nude beige color but it also has some gold reflects in it. It doesn't make me look too made up too because it is a v sheer lipstick. (♥ sheer lipsticks for summer lips :) )

The other 4 items are...

7) Shiseido mascara base - A perennial fav. I have always switched between using this, Lancome's cils booster or Anna Sui's mascara base. Recently whipped it out and it was love rekindled again. :)

8) Chanel glossimer wild rose - I posted a picture of this in one of my previous posts. This is definitely a MLBB (my lips but better) color. V similar to NARS Chihuahua l/g which I also love. I have a weak spot for rose colored glosses. :)

9) YSL fauxcils - No guesses why this is here. It lengthens, it thickens, it doesnt smudge, it washes off easily. What more can a girl ask for?

10) Benefit creaseless cream shadows - Couldn't get a decent pic of this because of the lighting. Anyway, this is like a copper rose color and its absolutely lush. I do believe that its LE because it came out in spring. Great color for the summer. :)

I tag:

32517
Mel Stothard
Kimdydumdumkins
Jni teh (whos prolly enjoying herself at Ibiza now -.- )
Fidy teoh

to do their versions of Nov must haves. :)

Feel free to link me to your Oct/Nov must haves~!

Santa oh santa ~

Dear Santa,

All I want this year are these 3 items stuffed into my xmas stockings. Kthxbai. ♥

1) Marc Jacobs Lola

2) RMK Liquid foundation #201

3) RMK Makeup base

A lazy sunday and a new purchase :)

So yesterday was Sunday and I dragged the boy to go shopping with me. I didn't particularly have a very long wishlist because I was on a budget and trying not to spend v much on makeup. =/ (project 5 pan to begin again very soon! trying to be realistic here)

So anyway I went to MAC and got what I wanted which is the sculpt and shape powder in 'Accentuate/sculpt' from their D Squared collection. This collection proved to be quite popular here to my surprise. The items were practically sold out in all the MAC stores! Which caught me by surprise because I didn't think that asian girls bother to 'contour or bronze their face'. Anyway I digress, unfortunately for us only 3 MAC stores in Malaysia carry this line so I was pretty lucky enough to get the last one for the powder. There were a few other items in store which caught my eye yesterday (ie Shimpagne and Light flush MSF both of which I have to purchase in sets which I couldnt bring myself too because I wasn't itching for the other items. Anyway more on that later..)

Heres the Accentuate sculpt in all its glory. =) My friend 32517 hates the DSquared sticker though.

On the left is my old Bone beige emphasize which I got quite some time ago from a CCO. Loves it. Bone beige is described as 'palest cream/tan' whereas Accentuate Sculpt is described as 'pale blushed pink with matte brown taupe'. Although several reviews state that Bone beige is of a cooler tone, I seem to think that its the opposite.

Next post: October/November must haves =) and possibly a vampire look inspired by Michelle phan Ricebunny's seductive vampire look~

Have a great monday everyone!

FOTD for the night

Yesterday night was the boyfriend's parents' silver anniversary. It was held at Hilton hotel and obviously I had to amp up my makeup a step higher from my usual simple daily makeup. :) The focus here is on the eyes so lips and cheeks are kept subtle. Eyes were semi-smoky (not v smoky but enough to make an impression if you know what i mean). So here are some of the pictures taken when I reached home ~

Face:

La Prairie skin caviar foundation #porcelain blush
Benefit erase paste #fair
La Mer loose powder

Cheeks:

NARS Sin (v lightly on hollows of cheeks)
MAC Bone beige emphasize (to contour)

Eyes:

Shiseido Maquillage x Alexander Wang e/s palette BR 365
Bobbi brown gel liner #Black
YSL Fauxcil mascara
Rimmel brow pencil #Hazel

Lips:

Shiseido Maquillage x Alexander Wang lipstick RS721

Dress is by REISS :)

No false lashes in this case. Tried countless times to put them on (the girls aloud cheryl and nicola lashes) but they kept falling off! So I had to put up with only mascara because I was pressed for time.

There were many pictures taken yesterday night but very little of me because I was the photographer of the night. lol. So I will post them up after the boyfriend passes them to me (their all in his cam).

Hope you guys enjoy this FOTD!