My Top 10 Blushes

I love blushes.. I love how they transform your whole look instantly.. A makeup look without blush just isn't complete in my opinion.. So writing this post was really hard because I have so many blushes but I did it!!

So here we go..

My Illamasqua Blush Collection

If you've been following me for a while, you'll know how much I LOVE Illamasqua and their blushes are my favourite! They're just such great quality and the price is pretty reasonable in my opinion..

Throughout the months, my Illamasqua blush collection kept on growing.. Here's what I own so far..
 

Bronzer Talk: It's Bronzing Season So Lets Get Bronzed up!

I was never that huge of a bronzers fan but that's because I haven't really found the right bronzer for my skin tone.. After trying out many bronzers, I now understand their importance and I never go a day without a touch of bronzer ;)

Here are the bronzers I own...

Blushing Lippies

Because I have too many lipsticks, a large number of them sit in my drawer untouched for months! So one day as I was going through my lipstick collection, I found some amazing shades.. For my cheeks..

I've been really enjoying wearing lipstick as a blush..

And here's why:

- It's Long-wearing

- Pigment is amazing

- Multi-purpose

Application:

I like using my MAC 188 Duo-Fibre Brush to apply them.. I just brush it on the lipstick a few time to pick up the colour then blend it on my cheeks.. I found that using my fingers makes it a little blotchy and not blended as well..

Image taken from Google



Here are swatches of some of the lipsticks I've been using as blush and how they look when blended out.. Oh I do prefer working with matte lipsticks for my cheeks:

MAC Candy Yum Yum (Limited Edition)

Now this is a scary colour that I'm not brave enough to wear often.. I'd wear this to pool parties and that's about it.. But this shade makes an amazing blush because of its cool tones.. Gives a beautiful girly glow!

Estee Lauder Double Wear Lipstick - 01 Stay Rose

I like to dab this colour on my lips for that rosy/berry stain.. And that kinda shade is amazing for blush!

Inglot Lipstick in 231

I really like this coral shade.. Looks especially amazing on my lips when I'm tanned.. But for my cheeks, I can wear it whenever! It's not completely matte like the others, but it has a beautiful luminous finish..

 

Makeup Forever Rouge Artist Intense - Mat 4

This is completely matte! I love the shade.. Very natural.. It's a dusty rose.. Very waterproof too! 

Illamasqua Welt

A beautiful pinkie magenta that gives the nicest "I've-been-out-in-the-cold" cheeks

I won't go through my whole lipstick collection, but you get the idea.. I've been really enjoying this technique.. Especially now in the summer.. And for those who want to use up their rarely touched lipsticks, this is the way to go ;)

Have you tried wearing your lipstick as a blush?

Yet Another Blush Combo for the Summer!

If you've read my review on the Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric in #4 here, you'd know that although I really liked the formula and the colour of it, the fact that it applied sheerly (but buildable) did not impress me much.. However, now I have found a way to make that sheerness work for me beautifully..

Here's how...

First: I apply the GA #4 using my MAC 187 Brush

Second: Dust Illamasqua Powder Blush in Lover on top

The GA #4 turns Lover in to a deepened bronzy peach rather than the bright peach it is.. And it looks so flattering for the summer time!

Now most of you know how much I adore my Illamasqua Lover blush.. I found that it works sooo great with so many blushes (see how I used it in another combination here) and the fact that it's super smooth and blends effortlessly makes it one of my all-time favourite blushes!

Have you tried been combining your blushes to get that right shade?

Possessions: Cream Eye Shadows

Since it's summer, cream products work so well as they're stay put better than powder eye shadows...

Here's my cream eye shadows collection...

So starting with the top row...

Makeup Forever Aqua Cream #13 - Lovely bright champaign shade with peach undertones but sets quickly so you gotta work fast with it.. I use this as an eye shadow but you can also use it as a highlighter..

Consistency: Light and smooth but can look patchy if you don't work fast with it

Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Enigma - I got this as a gift from my girl SJ and I really enjoy this product.. It makes a great eye shadow base.. However, I mostly use this for my under eye area and it eliminates my dark circles wonderfully.. Paler skin tones can also use this as a blush..

Consistency: Buttery smooth and blends so beautifully

MAC Constructivist Paint Pot - This is my first and only paint pot from MAC and I love this shade.. It looks dark but with a light hand, you can totally make this sheer.. It has tiny gold shimmers that aren't extremely obvious on the lids.. I wear this alone on the lids and on the lower lash line and it gives me such a lovely bronzey eye look..

Consistency: Not super smooth.. Has sort of like a dry smoothness texture if that makes sense.. Which why it can look a little patchy if you don't work fast with it..

Benefit Creaseless Cream/Liner Shadow in Flatter Me - I never wear pinks on my eye lids but love this shade! It’s so flattering and when sheered out it just gives a beautiful hint of colour to your lids.. Great for everyday..

Consistency: Smooth and easy to apply but can look blotchy

Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Eye Shadow in #6 Nola - This is the weirdest eye shadow formula I have come across.. It’s like a pressed pigment.. You do get a little fall out but nothing too crazy.. The shade is so unique.. It’s a bronzed khaki and I have never seen anything like it.. Looks amazing when worn sheerly as it gives that beautiful shimmery wet look to your eyes..

Consistency: Buttery smooth and blends like a dream!

Benefit Creaseless Cream/Liner Shadow in Birthday Suit - I thought that is would be so similar to the MUFE #13 Aqua cream but that one a bright champaign and this is more muted.. Gives your lids a hint of colour.. Makes a great eye shadow base..

Consistency: Again, lovely but high risk of patchiness

Julie Hewitt Shimmy in Cleo - I did write a review on this here.. It’s a nice very sheer bronze that is super easy to wear..

Consistency - Almost like a shimmery hard gel that melts on your skin and blends nicely..

NARS Cream Shadow in Mykonos - This is a muted plum.. I was kinda disappointed in this.. The shade is nice but is not long lasting on me at all when worn alone so I tend to wear Benefit’s Flatter Me first then this on top when I wanna rock a plummy eye look..

Consistency - Slippery and blends well

Bobbie Brown in Black Pearl - This is the most glittery of them all.. And I’m talking chunks of glitter.. Great for the night time..  It is a great sheer shade.. And is the most long lasting out of all of them.. But the glitter in it is very dominating..

Consistency - You gotta really work your brush in pot to get the product out and it does not blend easily because of the amount of glitter in it

And Voila!

What are some of your favourite Cream Eye Shadows?

Illamasqua Pigments: Furore & Ore

Ok seriously when I came across these two pigments, I nearly cried.. Ok that's too dramatic.. But you know what I mean..

I got Furore & Ore a long time ago but I have completelly forgotten about them.. And I don't know how that happened because they're just way too gorgeous to be ignored..

Product

- Super light and smooth

- Blends like a dream

Thanks to my lil sis @spookz for modelling for me ;)

Furore

- No chunky glitters

- So finely milled

- It can be used as both eyeshadow and a highlighter

Ore

- Has some glitters

- Gives a kind of glossy look to your lids

My Final Thoughts: These pigments are truly stunning! They're so buttery smooth and they just look amazing on.. If you're near an Illamasqua counter, you gotta check these out and I assure you, you'll fall in love!

Have you tired an Illamasqua Pigments?

Illamasqua Dixie & Rude Cream Blushes

I can never have enough of Illamasqua.. It's a brand that I reckon by far beats MAC blushes and lipsticks..

Dixie and Rude are new to my blush collection.. But I have fallen in love with them instantly...

Product

- Creamy but light formula.. Almost emollient like

- Very easy to blend

- Very pigmented as all their blushes are so you'll only need a little bit

- No shimmer

- Gives a beautiful dewy look to your cheeks

- Lasts all day

- Makes a great base for other powder blushes by intensifying any poorly pigmented powder blushes

How I Apply It

- I dab my MAC 188 brush on the product and blend away at the my cheeks

Who Will Enjoy This?

- Anyone who is looking for a long lasting cream blush

- Anyone who likes a dewy yet not overly dewy look

- Anyone who is looking for a cream base for their powder blushes

Who Won't Enjoy This?

- Those who aren't really into cream blushes

My Final Thoughts: Amazing amazing products.. My favourite cream blushes by far.. And I can see this lasting me a long time..

Would I Re-Purchase? Hell to the Yah!

Are you a fan of cream blushes?

Have you tried any Illamasqua Cream Blushes?

Illamasqua: Scandal & Welt Lipstick

As many of you may know by now, I adore Illamasqua.. I just think that they have some really great quality products to offer which I did write a post about here..

I talk about Illamasqua's blushes a lot.. But I never really mentioned their lipsticks..

So here's the two lipsticks I own..

In my opinion, Illamasqua lipsticks beat the MAC Matte Lipsticks in terms of staying power and dryness.. And I say Matte because all Illamasqua lipsticks are Matte.. The shades Illamasqua has to offer are just divine..

Scandal is just such an amaaazing shade! A great one for the summer

Welt is also lovely.. Not one I reach for a lot as it's a little bit too deep/dark colour for me.. But when I do wear it, I just dab a little bit on my lips and it gives a lovely magenta stain

Here's how it looks on the lips (a huge THANK YOU for my beautiful model & best friend xoxo)



Note: The face & the background have been edited but the lips remianed untouched so you could see the true colours of the lipstick



 Product

- Matte

- Amazing staying power

- Can be drying if lip balm is not applied beforehand

- Very pigmented

- Great colour selection

Who Will Like This?

- Anyone who loves Matte lipsticks

- Anyone who (like me) tends to eat up their lipstick

Who Won't Like This?

- People with very dry lips won't enjoy this

- If you want something glossy, don't come near these lipsticks

My Final Thoughts: These beat any high-end lipsticks I've tried in terms of pigmentation and staying power.. Can't wait for Illamasqua to come out with more shades!

Have you tried Illamasqua lipsticks? What's your favourite brand for lipstick?





1- De.Like.Ful

I'll be doing this series where I'll post about the things I've been loving lately.. Kind of like Monthly Favourites but not necessarily monthly.. Could be weekly.. Or daily or whatever..

So here we go in no particular order...

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation - Been really enjoying this foundation.. It feels so light on the skin yet provides really decent coverage.. (Full review here)

My Fingers - No I'm not vain.. It's not like that =P But I've been loving using my fingers to apply foundation.. Yes brushes and sponges are all fancy and nice but my fingers do a much better job for me..

Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Powder SPF10 - I love this powder.. Hands down the best powder I've tried.. It sets my foundation flawlessly and never looks cakey.. I love applying this with a face puff (Full review here)

MAC Studio Finish Concealer SPF35 - Amazing concealer for scars.. This hides my scars like no other concealer I've come across.. Only downside with this is that it doesn't stay on as much as I would like it to even with powder.. But overall, really great product (Full review here)

Illamasqua Blending Brush 1 - Love love love this brush! I use it to apply and blend in my concealer.. It's SO soft and doesn't scratch my eye area.. Buffs in my concealer so beautifully..

Korres Monoi Oil 02 Sunglow Warmth Bronzer - You know how you get that sort of slightly tanned look after the redness from the sun goes away? This bronzer gives you just that.. It doesn't give you that dirty muddy tanned look.. It just adds that subtle warmth.. Been loving this a lot lately.. It also has great properties that are beneficial to your skin (Review here)

Burberry Blush in #01 Russet - This is a recent purchase which my lovely enabler Tracy from Beauty Reflections kinda tempted me to get it.. When you look at the blush it's nothing special.. But when applied.. Ahhh it's so beautiful.. Works as a blush and a bronzer in one.. Sculpts your face so nicely and gives you such a beautiful summer warmth.. Been really enjoying it.. 

Dior Nude Healthy Glow  002 Sunset Powder - Since I got this, I have been using it a lot! It's such a soft creamy formula that just blends in so beautifully and gives my complexion such a nice peachy bronzy warmth (Review here)

MAC Margin Blush - This is one underrated blush from MAC.. It's a peachy gold blush that makes the perfect highlight for darker skin tones and the loveliest summer glow for light to medium skin tones (Swatch here)

MAC Virgin Isle Cremeblend - Now y'all know how much I adore this.. This makes the perfect base for bronzers and blushes.. Gives them that extra coral glow which I'm a huge fan of (Swatch here)

MAC Warm Soul Mineralized Blush - I always say, if you wanna get just one blush from MAC, get Warm Soul.. It's a peachy/rosy bronzy shade with very fine shimmer that give your complexion the right amount of glow! (Full review here)

Kanebo Sensai 38c (Separating & Lengthening) Mascara - Beautiful thick lashes.. That's what this gives me.. This is my all-time favourite masacara.. Nothing comes close to this it.. And another thing I LOVE about this is that it's a Fibre mascara.. Which means that it's not messy and doesn't give you panda eyes! (Full review here)

Shiseido Eyelash Curler - Never really thought that eyelash curlers could make SUCH a huge difference to my lashes.. This is the perfect tool for when you don't feel like wearing mascara.. Makes you look more awake (Full review here)

MAC Sable Eye Shadow - This was an impulse buy and booooy am I glad I had that impulse =P I adore this eye shadow.. Been wearing it a lot on it's on.. It's a hard colour to describe.. A sort of brown/bronze peach? I dunno but it's unique and you gotta swatch it next time you're at MAC..

Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm - This lip balm not only adds moisture to your lips, but gives it that bitten look if you know what I mean.. When I don't know lippie to wear, I slap this baby on and voila! (Full review here)

MAC Russian Red Lipstick - This instantly takes your whole look to another level.. Gives you that effortless polished glamorous look.. And it's Matte which I prefer..

MAC Toxic Tale Lipstick - Wish this wasn't limited edition.. The colour is just stunning! Not too orangey and not too peachy.. Not too bright and not too dark.. The perfect in between shade..

Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm - This is a staple in my collection.. Love the way it hydrates my lips without giving it that glossy look which makes the perfect base for lipsticks! (Full review here)

The Rose That Grew From Concrete by Tupac Shakur - I love poetry! And I love the kind poetry that speaks about life, struggle, real issues.. And Tupac is an amazing poet in my opinion.. I never get bored of reading this book..

Kahlil Gibran - This guy is one of my all time favourite writers.. I really enjoy his stories and poetry.. He writes with so much feeling and emotion and his description of moments is just outstanding..

Jean Paul Gualtier Summer Fragrance - I love the classic one of this but it's way to strong for summer.. And this is lighter scent is the perfect amount of musk? I don't know how to describe a scent.. But if you want a non-fruity, non-flowery, sultry, slightly heavy fragrance for summer.. This is it..

Finally, I have been really enjoying communicating with my My Twitter Buddies =) I have met such amazing people that are just so supportive and so helpful with anything and everything.. Thank you my lovelies and I do hope that our friendships continues to grow!

Peace

xoxo

My Blush Collection 1: Nars, Illamasqua, Bobbi Brown, Chanel & Estee Lauder

As some of you may know by now.. I LOVE blush! It's my favourite makeup item.. I think it transforms the whole look completely... So here's evidence of my obsession with blush...

So allow me to break it down for you...

NARS have one of the best colour selection in blushes.. And a lot of them have some kinda shimmer running through them..

Torrid is a gorgeous peachy blush with gold shimmer..

Penny Lane I don't love so much.. But it does make an ok base for other blushes..

Outlaw I've had for about 3 years now.. It's a beautiful plummy pomegranate colour.. And it's very pigmented that you'll need the tiniest amount.. I think it's been discontinued though..

I luuuurve Illamasqua blushes.. Extremely pigmented.. So finely milled.. So smooth in application, not chalky and Matte which I prefer.. The colours they have are amazing..

Lover you all know I adore this light peach blush.. Very similar to MAC's Melba in colour but not in formula.. This is I find to be much better

Panic looks scary but I promise you that with a light hand, it looks so natural on.. Very similar to NARS Exhibit A and Sleek Scandalous but less orange.. Panic is more like brick red.. Beautiful!

Tremble is such a soft beautiful pink for Medium Skin tones..

Bobbi Brown falls into one of my favourite makeup brands.. Her blushes are pigmented and long-lasting..

Apricot is one of my favourite blushes.. So gorgeous and really brightens up your complexion.. 

Pot Rouge Pale Pink is lovely formula.. Gives you that beautiful dewy look and it can be used on the lips too.. 

Desert Pink is a subtle dusty rose.. Really good if you're working a smokey eye..  

These are all pretty sheer.. So you gotta pack the product on to get the colour showing which makes me hesitate when buying any blushes from these two brands.. But they're still so gorgeous

Chanel Espiegle was a limited edition light peachy blush with a little bit of fine shimmer to it.. The shimmer doesn't show up that much on the cheeks which is why I loved it..

Estee Lauder Peach Nuance - This is a pinker version of Illamasqua's Lover.. It is really gorgeous on and it's Matte.. 

Chanel Caprice - I got this a long time ago.. Not sure if they still sell it.. But I love this colour too.. Gives me a beautiful summery look without the bronzer..

Stay tuned for part 2 ;)

Illamasqua Review - Foundation, Blushes, Lipsticks, Lipglosses etc.

To me Illamasqua is one of the few makeup brands whose displays and creativity really attracts me.

And on top of that, their products are really worth every penny as they produce products that deliver what they promise..

Now what I'm saying of course is based on the products I have tired only... Which are:

Rich Liquid Foundation

- So pigmented

- Thick formula that doesn't feel too heavy on the skin
- I like applying this with my Sigma F80 brush as it buffs it in so nicely.. However, using your fingers also works because it can be a bit tricky blend and if not blended well, it can sit on your pores making them obvious
- You only need a tiny bit for the whole face

- Great coverage but I do find that I have to use extra prodcuts on my stubborn acne scars

- Can be used a concealer

- Clings on to dry patches, so it must be applied to a well moisturized face or can be mixed with your moisturizer
- Not exactly a flat matte finish.. Can be more luminous depending on the moisturizer underneath

- Stays on all day

- I do find that it looks better during the day rather than when you first apply it
- Colour range is not so bad.. I found my shade in RF233 but it's a tad bit peach toned for me.. I have read that many people tend to mix up the shades to get their right shade with Illamasqua

Overall Thoughts - A nice foundation for those who have acne scars and for those who are a looking for a long lasting foundation.. But it does time a little bit of time to work because of it's thick formula..

Powder Blushers

- They're all matte which are my favourite

- So pigmented

- Stay on all day

- Stunning shades to suit all skin tones

Overall Thoughts - My favourite products from Illamasqua for sure..

Precision Ink in Abyss

- Glossy finish

- Felt-tip applicator

- Very small that it looks like you're not getting much product but you do

- Long lasting (Does not budge during the day)

- Very black

Overall Thoughts - If you're not into a glossy finish eyeliner, this is not for you. But I personally love it and I think it gives me such a nice polished look. And the applicator is really easy to work with..

Lipsticks

- Matte

- Amazing shades 

- Very long lasting

- A bit drying so you will need to put on a lip balm beforehand

- Very pigmented colours

Overall Thoughts - I looove their lipsticks.. Did I mention they are very long lasting?

Intense Lipglosses

- So pigmented

- Sticky but not overly sticky

- Stay on all day

- Controllable gloss (Meaning if you don't want it to be that glossy you can spread it out and still get a great colour payoff without it being too shiny)

Overall Thoughts - Uncomparable to MAC glosses which can be too glittery, watery, smelly and don't stay on all day. These are so nice and when the wear off, they almost melt away without patchiness..

Nail Varnishes

- Unique shades

- Easy to apply

- Not sheer

- Chipping for me occurs on the 3rd or 4th day like any other nail polish

Overall Thoughts - I like these polishes but I wouldn't go on a limp to purchase them as there are other brands that are just as good but with a lower price tag..

Blusher Brush 1

- So So So Soft

- Do not shed AT ALL

- Blends products so easily

- Great for powder and cream products

- Easy to clean

- Synthetic bristles

- Looks very sleek

Overall Thoughts - These brushes are very high quality brushes and the fact that they do not shed at all has me hooked on them..

What are you favourite Illamasqua products?