Essence - Deep Blue Sea VS China Glaze - Up All Night

Pif and Lyra wanted to know about Essence Deep Blue Sea and China Glaze Up All Night. I already made a dark blue shimmer comparison back in June, but here they are anyway.

1 coat of each:

2 coats of each.

China Glaze is darker. It looks almost black in low light. Essence on the other hand has a very visible shimmer and you can see it's blue even when you're indoors. Essence is also a lot glossier than China Glaze, so I'd have to say Deep Blue Sea wins this battle.

Thanks for looking!

China Glaze - Up All Night

This beauty has been waiting for me to try it for a long time. Almost 4 months to be exact. =) Thank you for sending me this one, Marsha!

This one is so pretty, but also very dark. In low light it looks almost black - midnight black. I can't wait to see it tomorrow under the sun. If there will be any sun, that is.

China Glaze, Up All Night, 2 coats

Thanks for looking!

Orbs

Diana from Painted Lady Fingers posted about Orbs recently. For those of you who aren't familiar with this phenomena - orbs are the circles that appear in photographs and videos. Some sources say they are ghosts in the form of balls of light (What are Orbs?).

Now, I remember of having a ball of light on a photo from one of my college trips, but I don't have it anymore... So I wanted to check my other photos, but didn't have time (I had a lot of work with my niece's birthday party) and today, my sister was taking some photos with her camera. When I uploaded them on my computer, I saw something strange. There was a huge ball of light over my sister's head and a few smaller ones underneath. Check it out:

I only cropped this photo and blurred our faces. I swear. There are other photos taken from the same spot in the same direction (with the same camera settings) that don't have these ''suckers'' on them. I'm actually speechless. I don't know what this is, but one thing is for sure. I DON'T want to believe these are ghosts. I do believe in them, but I don't want them near me. That creeps me out. Unless if it's one of my cats. Gaia? Yeah, I'm loosing my mind...

What do you think, Diana? Is this a coincidence or what!

Let me know your theory on these balls of light, dear Readers. Do you have them on any of your photos?

Thanks for looking!

P.S: I just realized it now. Vita kind of looks terrified on this photo.

Green Shimmer Comparison

Comparison time!

Four nice green shimmers. Illamasqua and Essence are the most opaque - one coat would be enough for some. China Glaze is close too, but the definite loser in the opacity category is Dickweed with 3 coats (for an OK opacity). I used 2 coats of each on the photo below, except for Dickwed (3 coats).

I said that Illamasqua Viridian might be my new favorite green shimmer. And today I found out - it's not. Essence All Access still kicks all the green shimmers' asses. Still, All Access is the closest shade to Viridian in my collection. It appears to be a tad darker than Viridian, but the shimmer pops out better.

And for all of you, who were wondering about Viridian and Emerald Fitzgerald: they're not dupes and don't even look that close. Viridian has a blackened green base with a lot of green shimmer. Emerald Fitzgerald, on the other hand, has a dark blue-ish green base with green shimmer and silver specks. This one is frost, although it doesn't streak. I'll let the photo speak for itself.

So, what do you think?

Thanks for looking!

Happy Birthday, Vita!

On September 25th 2009 at 00:12, my sister's little bundle of joy was born. =)

Illamasqua - Viridian

My nails have been naked for more than a week now. And it was time for me to paint them. With a beautiful color by Illamasqua. I present:

Illamasqua, Viridian, 2 coats

This color looks gorgeous in the bottle: green shimmer with blue-ish glow. But still, my hopes didn't go through the roof, because I know how deceptive bottle color can be. So I put it on. I have to admit, I kind of expected it to be sheer (like my Dickweed nail polish is), but it was surprisingly opaque and it only needed 2 coats. This might be my new favorite green shimmer, but I'll know for sure when I make a comparison. =)

Beautiful color, good application, great opacity and fast drying... It deserves 5 kisses. This one is definitely one of the prettiest green shimmers in my collection.

*Product was sent to me by Illamasqua. Read my disclosure policy for more information.

What do you think about it? Let me know.

Thanks for looking!

Illamasqua Liquid Metal - Resolute

 

I took these photos on Thursday, but haven't post them yet... Anyway, here it is: Illamasqua Liquid Metal in Resolute.

Resolute is a brownish red metallic creme. It doesn't look as red on skin, at least not on mine.

I used Resolute as a base for eyeshadow. It applies quite smoothly, but I did get some bald spots (like with nail polish) on some areas. Or maybe that's just because of the metallic reflection. I'm not sure, but what I'm sure of, is that eyeshadow sticks really nicely to it. The downside is this liquid metal isn't as long lasting as I'd want it to be. I do have greasy eyelids, so I think I'd be better for those of you who have dry eyelids. Another solution might be eyeshadow primer. I don't know why, but I never wear primer under creme shadows. Am I missing something?

I love the color, although I hoped it would look more red once applied. Actually, I like everything about this product, except the staying power.

This product gets 3 and a half kisses from me. It's better than your average creme eyeshadow (or whatever this thing is), but I really want my eye products to stay put. Well, who doesn't.

What do you think about this product? Do you like it?

*Product was sent to me by Illamasqua. Read my disclosure policy for more information.

Thanks for looking!

Here I Am

I've been avoiding writing this post... I know it will bring me even more sadness and tears, but it needs to be said.

First of all, I'd like to thank you for all your kind words! They mean a lot to me. Thank you!

I still can't believe this has happened. It kills me to know that I'll never be able to touch her sweet little furry face, to cuddle with her... Maybe some of you think I'm overreacting, because it's ''just a cat'', but it's not and it never was just a cat. Gaia was a family member and she was unique. She had a warm personality although she knew how to hide it. I miss her so much. I miss her sniffing whenever she would walk into the room. I miss how she sat on the radio and turned it on and off and on again. When I go outside, I look at the meadow... there was her spot and now - it's empty. So fuc*ing empty. Just like I feel. I'm sad and angry. I feel useless for not being able to help her, for not being there for her when it happened. I do blame myself. Maybe things would turn out differently if I called her into the house an hour earlier... Maybe.

My BF called me a few minutes after I found out. He loved her so much, she was his girl. He came the next day, but he couldn't give me any comfort because he was just as upset as I was. Pills were my friend. I couldn't even sleep without them (prescription drugs FTW).

I was so paranoid about my cats being hit by a car. Everytime I went outside, I'd look on the road and see if there's a ''furry ball'' rolling around on the warm asphalt. And we live in a village. There are only a few cars... And it happened. Gaia was walking home from the neighbours and she got hit. She wasn't even on the middle of the road. And this question keeps going through my mind: was she hit on purpose?
Yes, I'm angry. You know about that wish I made for Christmas? Well, fu*k that! I lost Shiva, Puma and Gaia in less than 6 months. That's just not fair. And not being able to say goodbye, to kiss her for the last time... Now her little ''doghouse'' is empty. The radio is empty. I feel the emptiness.

I know someone might come by and say: well, you should keep your cats inside, if there's a road near your house, so it's your fault! I do take some of the blame, but I don't agree with that. My cats were so happy outside, I couldn't have the heart to lock them inside just because something might happen. I couldn't take that away from her. And after all, we do live in a village where there's a minimal amount of traffic. I wish I could turn back the time. I wish to hold her again and see her sitting on the radio...

I hope I'll see you again, my little friends.

RIP Gaia

You will always be in my heart...

My heart is broken. I feel empty, angry and so fu*king sad. I'm gonna loose my mind... Sleeping pills... I might see you again in my dreams, my little Gaia...

Sneak Peek

What are you most excited to see first?

Thanks for looking!

House

I have a thing for this as*hole. I don't know what it is, but I feel it.

Don't you just wish you'd be the one to make his pain go away? Or maybe not. Because then he wouldn't be such a bad boy, which is a big part of his charm. *sigh*

Yeah, I'm just gonna go watch House MD now...

P2 - Gigantic

Can you spell G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S?

 

Of course, this polish doesn't photograph as it should. The best way to describe it would be - an electric royal blue. In low light it looks somewhat like China Glaze's Bermuda Breakaway, but when the sun hits it ''Hello!''. All I can say is get it, get it, get it if you can. Really. I'm not kidding. Thank you Ivy and Ioewe! :*

P2, Gigantic, 2 coats

This polish reminded me of Orly Royal Navy. But not because they're similar... it's because the awesomeness rate is equaly high with both of them. I love it!

Thanks for looking!

Smoky Eye

Smok(e)y eye is definitely one of my favorite eye make up looks. This is my mild version of it. =)

I used:

* Urban Decay Primer Potion
* Coastal Scents 88 Matte Palette (silver & black)
* Miss Sporty Mini-me eyeliner in Snow (on my waterline)
* Maybelline Great Lash mascara

EDIT: Biberlee wanted to see this look with my eyes closed. Here you have, honey. =)

Thanks for looking!

Purple Comparison

Mickellerocks said:
''This color reminds me a lot of the one I am currently wearing, Orly's Velvet Rope. Any chance you could do a comparison swatch?''

She was talking about the Love Bites Purple Haze nail polish. I'm afraid I'll have to say: they're completely different. LB is shimmery blue-ish based purple and Velvet Rope is red-ish purple with silver glitter. But they are the warmest of this bunch:

Here they are on my nails in the same order, starting with P2 Rebel on the pointer, Love Bites on the middle finger, Orly on my ring finger and China Glaze on pinkie. Sorry about the tipwear on my middle nail. I was doing the dishes. =)

Hope this helps.

Thanks for looking!

Autumn Gold & Cat's Eye

Two more make up looks...

The first one is called Autumn Gold and these are the products I used:

* Illamasqua 4 Colour Liquid Metal Palette (Solstice)
* Vollare Quatro 3D eyeshadow
* Coastal Scents 88 Matte Eyeshadow Palette (black)
* Revlon Colorstay eyeliner in Black
* Maybelline Great Lash mascara

And this is Cat's Eye. I used:

* Coastal Scents 88 Matte Eyeshadow Palette (black)
* Avon Perfect Wear Liquid Eyeliner in Evening Black
* Essence Dream Lashes mascara

Thanks for looking!

Love Bites - Purple Haze

Saturday has been awesome. I got to spend almost whole day with my sister and Vita. And you know what? Vita started walking. She did a few steps before, but this time I was there to see it and video it. =)

Anyway... Let's move on to the nails. I cut them off. They're short and I like it, but they don't look as good on photos when they're short. Is that just me or do you think the same - are your nails more photogenic when longer?


Love Bites, Purple Haze, 3 coats


Bonus photo: Baby + Kitteh = Double Awesomesauce


Thanks for looking!

There's No Place Like Home

Vita joined kindergarten two weeks ago. And she doesn't like it at all. First couple of days all she did was cry. She didn't want to eat or sleep...


It's slowly getting better (If we count out the kid who bit her in the arm yesterday), but I think it's gonna be a long way for her to be happy there.


After all, there is NO place like home. And she knows that already. =)


Thanks for looking!

Black Beauty

She doesn't have blue eyes in real life, but I don't care. Jimi rocks!


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Evil Shades - Twinkle, Twinkle

I've had this yellow Evil Shades eyeshadow for quite a while. I didn't know what look to do with it until I saw this tutorial by Monroe Misfit Makeup. I decided to give it a try and this is what I ended up with.


I used:

* Urban Decay Primer Potion
* Evil Shades loose eyeshadow in Twinkle, Twinkle (applied wet)
* Coastal Scents black & nude eyeshadow (from 88 Matte Palette)
* Illamasqua Precision Ink in Abyss
* Essence Black Mania eye pencil
* Rimmel Volume Flash mascara


I'm not happy with how this turned out, but I guess it's OK for a first try. At first I thought this yellow isn't gonna be vibrant enough, but then I applied it wet and KABOOM! =) And it looks even more vibrant IRL. Impressive!

Thanks for looking!

P2 - Stormy

I had to try out one of my new polishes I got from Ivy and Ioewe. It's gorgeous, check it out...

P2, Stormy, 3 coats


2 coats of this classy beige would have been enough, but as always - I'm clumsy, so I added a third one.

Here's a close up:


EDIT: For all of you on the other side of the Atlantic, Chinda-Chan has some good news for you. This color is supposed to be a dupe of Sephora by OPI - Run With It. Or vice versa. =)

Thanks for looking!

Catrice - Expect the Unexpected

Catrice has a new trend edition out called Expect the Unexpected. Here are the nail lacquers.
From L to R: Spruced Up, Looking Greyt, Purposely Purple and Crispy Crimson.


I'm dying to get my hands on the first three (green, grey, purple) and if anyone can help, please let me know (thinking especially of Slovenian ladies).

Thanks for looking!

Narnia

My BF: ''Narnia called. They want their ring back.''

I still love wearing my rings. =)


Nail polish: Depend, 170

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Mail

I got the cutest package in the mail today.


It was sent to me by Ivy and Ioewe who have their own nail polish blog called Quick Dry is a Lie. If you like nail polish and pretty nails, go check their blog.

And what was inside the package? P2 nail polishes in Stormy (beige one) and Gigantic (blue one). Aren't they just lovely? Thank you so much, ladies! :*


I also got this owl ring. I guess everybody wants one. =)


Thanks for looking!