IMATS Adventure: Part 1 of 2

Hey guys! 

I know I've been away for a week but I am really busy with the influx of uni work and assignments, as we all are. This will just be a short catch up post to show you some pictures of IMATS (International Make Up Artist Trade Show). They bring in international products, mainly from America to our willing Australian hands. It was really an amazing experience. We got to see some talks about makeup, and flooded with make up after make up after makeup! Part 2 will be much more detailed, especially with descriptions on the items that I bought. Also, if you want some tips on skin care that I have asked from my friend who has worked with Clinique tune in for my blog next week as well. 

Presale Tickets: All day - $35-$45

Tickets at the door: All day - $50

Entrance: it's like Cosplay for makeup ^^

ermergerd Makeup forever!!!  

Top end budget brushes, ranges from $4 to $18 (Bargain!)

IMATS Makeup Talks: Showing professional make up (and us noobs) artists how to contour, highlight, and apply eye makeup correctly.

Mac store. Nothing special, just 20% off everything :)

Amazing Camo Man painted by Mac Makeup artists using their 'body paint' line.

I didn't get anything from Inglot but the prices were really decent! 30% off all products. I didn't buy anything but my best friend bought a lipstick ($27 down to $19)

More Inglot! People were crazy. We spent a good 30 minutes waiting to purchase the liptsick. 

 Couldn't stand close enough, but make up artists doing their magic on models and giving 'runway' tips to the public. Putting gloss on your lids after finishing your eye make up will make it last longer and seem more intense!

 And we are done ^^ 

Isn't she pretty ^_^

Goodbye IMATS! See you next year :)

My haul for today. $242. Overspent but I will justify my reasons in Part 2!

As a person who has become really interested in makeup, it is great that there are shows and conventions for pretty much any interest group! I didn't hear about IMATS until I came across some beauty bloggers who raved about the discounts. Because it was Australia, I assume that the discounts weren't as great as say in Toronto but it definitely gave me a look into the professional make up field. There were make up artists everywhere buying 20 of the same make up brushes to stock up. And many sales people were treating everyone as if they were make up artists. It was really an enlightening experience. But yes, I would recommend any upcoming make up artists or those who are getting into makeup to check out IMATS tomorrow or next year. It is like walking into the industry in one exhibition room. Anyways, I will be showing you guys what I bought next week and my reasons for it. 

Till then, stay beautiful! Hope you have a great weekend and good luck for upcoming assessments and mid-semester exams.

Toodles,

Janie 

BB-Cream Mania. Which one's for you?

Hi lovelies! 

Another week, and another instalment :) So this week, I've decided to do a review on Western BB creams that rival some Asian BB cream brands. It is so difficult to find a BB cream that actually does what it's meant to, as well as 'perfecting' our skin to make it flawless. The colours, the ingredients, and the SPF quality always plague our minds when buying a Beauty Balm. So here are my reviews on the products and hope it helps you to find one just perfect for a perfect you! Of course I don't have all the BB creams, but below are just some pointers you should be looking out for.

Fun Facts on BB creams:

• BB creams are short for beauty balms of blemish balms. 
• It is considered an 'all in one' product which makes your skin feel smoother without a too much of the thick consistency of foundation. Many of them claim that they will 'beautify' your skin, to make it better over time. BB creams treat your skin and can contain:
• Vitamins A, E and C as well as peptides and antioxidants
• Moisturising elements such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin
• Light reflecting Mica to give skin a luminous finish
• Silicone based ingredients which could act like a foundation primer
• ingredients such as licorice and arbutin that help even out skin tone
• Many women use this all in one beauty balm to replace the zillions of products they need in their beauty regime.

(L to R: Garnier, Nude by Nature, Natio, Maybelline, Loreal) 

(L to R: Natio, Garnier, Nude by Nature, Loreal Paris, Maybelline New York) - BB creams.

Maybelline Dream Pure BB, 8-in-1 BB Cream (For Oily Skin) - Light 
Pros: 

1. One of the first BB creams that contains 2% Saliclyic Acid which fights against acne, and redness on the skin.

2. The consistency is not too thick or too runny, so when you apply the product it feels like a moisturiser that sinks into your skin. It gives a relatively flawless finish, that is nicely dewy.

3. It is for Oily/Combination Skin so it doesn't dry out your skin.

4. Contains SPF15 which is one of the highest in BB creams.

5. The light colour complements lighter skins without a yellow tinge that some foundations and BB creams contain.

5. Does not flake off the skin, and feels again much like a moisturiser.

Cons:

1. Some people say that the light colour, although not yellow, makes your skin look grey. This has yet to happen to me, but on those days that your skin is extra pale I wouldn't recommend using this BB cream.

2. It is not very long-lasting on the skin, so it would be better used as a primer under foundation for long-lasting finish.

3. Not a great range of colours - Light, Medium and Dark. It is hard to find a good colour for every skin type.

3. Not suitable for dry skin - You might want to try the older version Dream Pure BB cream with pink writing!

4. Even though it claims to fight against acne, it doesn't really but does hide redness and blemishes.

Rating: 4/5

Loreal Paris Nude Magique BB Cream 5-1 (Bare Skin Beautifier) - Light Skin Tone

Pros:

1. Contains SPF12 and 24 hour hydration - Suitable for Dry Skin

2. It has smart pigment capsules. It comes out as white and blends into the skin in the 'light tone' skin colour. These beads also make the skin feel very soft!

3. It has a dewy glow as opposed to the Maybelline's Dream Pure BB cream which gives are more matte and 'dull' finish. It is also quite long-lasting

4. Light Skin Tone colour has a yellow tinge - suitable for those with more 'yellow pigmented' skin.

5. Gives flawless skin and colours up all the redness even though the product is quite light in consistency as well.

Cons:

1. For those who want a natural look, this BB cream results in a more foundation like look.

2. Since it takes a lot of effort to blend the beads in, if you're not careful you may not get even coverage as it claims. Sometimes when you're in a rush you might have patches all of your face. (Has happened to me a couple of times!

3. After a while, the product itself gets leaky and doesn't feel as nice on the skin anymore.

4. Can't use a makeup brush with this BB cream - only your hands. 

5. It seems to look like a layer of foundation on the skin rather than sinking into the skin and beautifying it that way.
Rating: 3/5

Nude by Nature BB 5-in-1 Miracle Cream - Medium

Pros:

1. Contains Natural Sunscreen (Zinc Oxide) so in flash photography, you would get less of a 'white' face than those above.

2. Unlike the two above, it contains more product (50ml as opposed to 30ml)

3. The colour is quite nice for lighter skin as it blends well into the skin. The Medium colour is good for  fair skin, but the lighter one is too 'pinkish'.

4. Long lasting, with good coverage.

Cons:

1. The smell is strong. It smells like a eucalyptus kind of foundation which may be annoying when blended into the skin.

2. It has a thick consistency which feels heavy on the skin - less of a moisturiser and more of a foundation.

3. Good coverage, but not so flawless. It flakes when you touch it, even straight after you apply it. Has a quite 'cakey finish.

4. Only contains natural sunscreen, and not SPF so it wouldn't give you as much UV protection. 

5. It has a very dewy finish and doesn't blend in well with the skin - you're left with a sticky layer of BB cream.

Rating: 2/5

Natio Pure Mineral Skin Perfecting BB Cream - Fair

Pros:

1. It is a pure mineral BB cream. Minerals and nutrients are needed for your skin because it oxidises your skin, giving it 'air to breathe'. It is also 'light reflecting', so gives you a radiant glow.
2. Contains SPF15.
3. Gives you lasting hydration - because it contains Vitamin E, Jojoba and Shea Butter. Good for Dry Skin
4. Contains Green Tea and Chamomile to soothe the redness on your skin.
5. It has good coverage which you can replace your heavy foundation with. It is long-lasting.
Cons:
1. It has a very strong foundation smell that is quite off-putting.
2. It covers well but when you look closely, it sinks into the 'lines' of your skin and look like you are wearing foundation.
3. Also gives you a 'sticky' finish on your face after you finish, and doesn't absorb well into your skin
4. The colour selection again isn't wide, and some of the colours are quite light. Even medium is light on the skin
Rating: 3.5/5

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector - Light/Clair

Pros:

1. Contains SPF15

2. Recommended for drier skin because it leaves an oily finish.

3. Gives you a natural skin glow, and glides along the skin well.

4. Lightweight on the skin, which is good because the chemicals used do not sink into the skin

5. The colour is quite nice because it is so lightweight, blends with your skin-colour

Cons:

1. Because it is so light, it is not as long-lasting as other BB creams.

2. Like the Nude by Nature, it is quite cakey and flakes when you are in more humid/hot weathers.

3. There is a certain smell to it that might be off-putting.

4. It is quite oily/greasy on the skin, not dewy like other products, so it not recommended for Oily/Combination skins.

5. Many people say that this product breaks them out, probably due to the lack of minerals like Natio's BB Cream.

Rating: 3/5

My top picks: Maybelline's Dream Pure BB 8-in-1 BB cream and Natio Pure Mineral BB Cream!

Have a lovely weekend!

Toodles,

Janie.

Taylor Swift RED lipstick look! Check it out :)

Hi lovelies!

A busy week at uni again but I couldn't leave you guys hanging for a week. I was looking at some photos of taylor swift, and was in awe of her flawlessness and perfection. Her red lips are amazing, and she suits it so much!

Here you go! My lips are actually brighter in the light, kind of like the cherry lipstick colour Taylor Swift uses.


Products used:

• NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk - available @ urbanoutfitters.com or cherryculture.com ($4.50)
• E.L.F. Mineral Eyelid Primer - available @ elfcosmetics.com.au ($2)
• Maybelline 24 Hr Color Tattoo in Too Cool 05 - available @ priceline stores and priceline.com.au ($11.95)
• Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Liner in Blackest Black - available @ priceline stores and priceline.com.au ($13.95)
• Maybelline Full 'n Soft Mascara in Noir Black - available @ priceline stores and priceline.com.au ($18.45)
• Maybelline Colossal Volume Express Regard Feline -  available @ priceline stores and priceline.com.au ($19.25)
• Lime Crime Velvetines in Red Velvet: $20 (US) - available @ urbanoutfitters.com or lime crime website 
• Victoria's Secret Eyeshadow Palette - available @ victoriasecret.com (price unknown)

Have a great weekend guys!
SORRY FOR THE LATENESS AGAIN.

Toodles,

Janie.

Product Review: Bourjois Healthy mix serum Gel Foundation

Hi guys!

The weekend is finally here, and I'm finally free to do a review on a new product that I received in the mail. I bought Bourjois' Healthy mix serum in the colour 52 (Vanilla) from Asos for $13 which is dirt cheap from Australia's retail price which is $32 at Priceline.

 Product Review:

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serium (52: Vanille/Vanilla).

First look of it:

Top

Front

Back

Review: Packaging: 4/5

- It's in a glass bottle which makes it have a very professional feel.

- The ingredients are clearly written on the back and the front: 

'Vitamin-rich fruit therapy'

- The red cap is very cute! Inside you can kind of see the pump. 

- I personally like pumps because it is easy to test how much of

the product you need to use. Screw caps are annoying because

you end up pouring out too much!

Review: Coverage - 3/5

- Since I have fairly clear skin, the product blended into my skin

very smoothly. But I only really like using foundation that is 1/3

coverage.

- I know many of you girls would like to have more coverage

especially for the evening when all cameras are on you! 

- HOWEVER, for daytime, this foundation is AH-mazing. It's

fruit extracts definitely brings out a healthier glow that it claims

on the packaging. I have quite pale skin so I can look sickly

mornings but this really does the job!

Review: Long-lasting - 3/5

- Many foundations often claim that they are long-lasting, this one

claims that it can last up to 16 hours.

- However, I think it lasts a maximum of 4-5 hours without any 

finishing powder, but does last a good 10 hours with powder.

- So, all of these claims are actually when you use primer under

the foundation and powder/finishing spray over the foundation.

- Otherwise, for a light coverage foundation that 'blends flawlessly'

into your skin, it does last quite a while!

Review: Colour - 4/5

- In other reviews on youtube, they seem to agree that this foundation

has a yellow undertone/tinge. But especially for us asian girls out there,

this is perfect for our skin!

- For other skin tones, don't let the yellow-ness put you off! The yellow

pigments are actually used to cover more blemishes and redness,

 and evens

out the skin tone.

- You could use a small portion of this foundation as 'primer', to correct

skin tone and then use another foundation that is more suited to 

your colour

- I absolutely loved the colour on my skin, as again my skin is very

 white/pale so it gave me a glow to die for!

Final Verdict: 4/5

- I really loved this foundation, it is very gentle on the skin and does blend

quite flawlessly with the stipple brush.

- The colour is great for my skin but for other skin types be sure to check out

all their colours!

- It has a fruity scent which smells delicious and feels so natural on my face

- Honestly, I don't even feel it when it's on my skin!

Have an awesome weekend guys! More Pics below!

Toodles,

Janie. 

Semi-blended

Unblended

Colour 52 - Vanilla. For reference, I'm a n20 for Mac.

Left: No Foundation, Right: Foundation

The 'Natural Looking Make up' using Maybelline products.

One of my favourite brands is Maybelline because I find that most of their products are 'skin-friendly'. What I mean by this, is that rarely have I broken out from using their foundations, concealers etc. Plus, their packaging is so cute and colourful! I would say Maybelline is one of the drugstore brands targeted at more youthful girls (aged 18-25), rather than Revlon and Loreal who focus above this age range. 

My Maybelline 'Natural Looking Make-up Look'.

No make-up and sad/stoned face :3

Problem areas: 

1. Dark circles under my eyes.

2. Redness on the side of my nose.

3. Scarring from pimples above and below my lips.

4. Straight/uncurled eyelashes.

'Natural Make-up' + Smile = A much better look

Step by Step Tutorial: After my facial routine (available for another post!)

1. Firstly you MUST moisturise before putting on any makeup - it just protects your skin from potentially harmful chemicals in your foundations, bb creams. (I use Sukin Daily Moisturiser which is alcohol and paraben free!)

2. An important step after this is using an eye cream, either one that helps with dark circles, or one that hydrates the under-eye area. I use the Nivea Visage Aqua Sensation Anti-Shadow Eye Cream. This will provide a protective layer where you can put your concealer on.

3. Next step is the concealer! At the moment I'm using Maybelline's Age Rewind Concealer/Brightener. Conceal any blemishes, scarring or redness with a brush or using your ring finger to dab and blend. It is important to be very gentle on your skin, especially the under eye area!

3. Next step, I dolloped (hehe what a funny word) half of a 5c coin blob of (New) Maybelline Dream Pure 8-in-1 BB cream, and get my E.L.F. stippling brush to blend it onto my skin in a circular motion. Usually I start off with my right cheek (I don't know why) and then go in a clockwise direction onto my forehead, left cheek, chin, and around my nose. 

4. After I am happy with the way it blended, I go onto my eyes. I am currently using the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler. For all you asian girls out there (this is not discriminatory but just genetic I guess), our faces are quite flat and our eye sockets don't stick out as much. The Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler is much flatter, and captures all your eyelashes and thus they are curled fantastically.

5. Now onto my mascara routine. Recently I bought the Maybelline Colossal Cat Eye Volume Express Mascara and must I say it really does give me a cat eye look! Using my favourite mascara of all time, Maybelline's Full 'n Soft Waterproof, I coat one layer of my curled lashes. This gives it volume and length but no real curled effect. Straight after this coat, I layer a coat of my Colossal Volume Express, and ta da! Eyelashes that only asians can dream of.

6. To finish off this look, I just smacker on my Baby Lips in the berry flavour (pink & blue) , which moisturises and has SPF 15. Done!

A long explanation, but I'm not ready to do video blogs yet! My voice sounds too weird. But that's essentially my natural make up routine when I'm bothered to put on make up before my 9am class at Uni.

List of products, price and where you can get them in Australia.

E.L.F. Studio Stippling Brush - R.R.P. $6.00 @ www.elfcosmetics.com.au

Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer - R.R.P. $18.95 @ www.priceline.com.au (and in stores).

Maybelline Colossal Cat Eye Volume Express Waterproof Mascara - R.R.P. $19.25 @ www.priceline.com.au (and in stores).

Maybelline Full 'n Soft Waterproof Mascara - R.R.P. $18.45 @ www.priceline.com.au (and in stores).

Nivea Visage Aqua Sensation Anti-Shadow Eye Cream - R.R.P. $14.25 @ www. priceline.com.au (and in stores).

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler - R.R.P. $39.95 @ www.davidjones.com.au (and in stores).

Sukin Daily Moisturiser - R.R.P. $9.99 @ www.priceline.com.au (and in stores).

Hope that was informative! Bye beauties :D

Toodles,

Janie.

How to organise your make up?!

Being a make up nooby, I wasn't sure where I would put all my make up. Last night in my excitement of creating this blog, I decided to find something in my house that would organise all my make up! Previously I just put them in various make up bags that I got from show bags and gifts so it wasn't very organised at all. I'd have to tip all of them upside down just so find my liquid liner! Anyways, here it is.

Tada! My old document trays for my HSC subjects. The cute pink colour makes my make up look extra pretty.

Top drawer contains all my eye products, e.g. eyeliner, mascara & my beloved Shu Uemura eyelash. curler, Second drawer contains all my foundations, BB creams and primers.
Third drawer contains all my lip products, e.g. lipsticks, lip balms.
Fourth drawer which you cannot see contains my brushes, e.g. elf stipple brush, revlon brush set.

Anyways, that's just a budget-friendly tip on how to organise your make up with things that you already have.

Toodles,

Janie.

Hi bloggers! :) My first ever post on blogspot! After I handed in my history assignment online, I got bored and decided to try some make up on, as us girls do.

So today I got my elf packages.

1. Lip Liner and Blending Brush

2. Makeup Lock and Seal

3. Studio Stipple Brush

4. Studio Blush/Blending Brush

5. Lip Exfoliator

6. False Eyelashes - Drama & Natural

7. Eyelash & Eyebrow Wet Gloss

8. Angled Eyeliner Brush

Also, I went a bit crazy at Priceline today and bought Maybelline products for 50% off! The sale is still one now :)

1. Covergirl LashBlast Waterproof Mascara

2. Maybelline Volume Express Colossal Waterproof Mascara

3. Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream 8-in-1 in Light, SPF 15

4. Maybelline Colour Tattoo in shades 06 Too Cool & 45 Bold Gold

5. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer/Highlighter

6. Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Liner

That's enough for my first post! Just thought I'd show a few products that I've been buying recently. 

Toodles,

Janie