Color Club - Wild at Heart

My BF wanted to pick a shade for my next manicure and who am I to deny his wish. His choice was Color Club in Wild at Heart. Good one, right? :)

This is how it looks like in the shade.

And this photo was taken on direct sunlight.

Wild at Heart is quite opaque, but I couldn't get away with only one coat. I had to apply 2 coats, but that doesn't really matter, 'cause it dries really fast. I do have a problem with it. Whenever I bump my nails (which happens a lot) it just scrapes off. Maybe it's only my fault, maybe not. I'll see in the next few days.

Tell me: Do you own this beauty? What do you think of it?

Thanks for looking!

Swatches: Beauty UK Pearl Eyeliners

Wow, that was fast! I ordered these Pearl Eyeliners on May 25th and I already got them today. They really have a great customer service over at Beauty UK, I must say.

Now I own a complete collection of Beauty UK Pearl Eyeliners. Wooohoo! The color swatches on their website are a bit off, but I've seen worse. You can get a good idea of what these eyeliners look like, but they might also surprise you.

Here are color drops of the eyeliners in bottles. I took these photos in my lightbox. Did I mention I have a new lightbox? I'm gonna call it Crappy II from now on. :D

And eyeliners on my hand. I'm so glad I bought these. I was super impressed by Oceania and now I see it's my least favorite. My heart still beats faster and I can't stop staring at them. My favorite are Rich Mahogany, Eclipse, Sorceress and Blue Lagoon. Can't wait to do some eye make up looks with them.

Here's a video with swatches and a smudge test. You won't believe your eyes. :)




So, tell me. What do you think of these eyeliners?

All of these eyeliners (with the exception of Oceania) were purchased by me with my own money.

Thanks for looking!

Review: Illamasqua Sheer Lipgloss in Torture

''Super glossy, with a sensual, sheer colour designed to enhance your lips. Use Illamasqua Sheer Lipgloss on its own or with Illamasqua Lipstick for added pout. Add a little more sexiness to your smile.'' (Illamasqua)

Torture is a Sheer Lipgloss from the Illamasqua Toxic Nature collection for Spring/Summer 2011. It's described as a warm coral peach, but I see almost neon orange in the tube. It doesn't look as vibrant in real life, but it's still quite bright. At first I was afraid it would look ridiculous on me, but the outcome turned out to be a lot more subtle. This is how it looks on my lips.

Illamasqua suggests wearing this lipgloss on it's own or layering it over lipstick. Illamasqua Lipstick in Flare was the perfect base for this lipgloss. Look how defined and glossy my lips look with Torture lipgloss applied over Flare lipstick.

Here's a close up of my lips with Torture. If you look closely, you can see an orange micro shimmer on my upper lip. It gives you a bit of a color while looking very natural at the same time. Don't get scared off because of the way it looks in the tube. ;)

Price: £13.00 for 7mL tube

Where to buy? Illamasqua online store, drugstores that carry Illamasqua.

***

I'm not a huge lipgloss fan. It usually bothers me to have it on my lips. I can't drink without leaving the marks on the glass, I can't kiss my boyfriend (well, at least not without sharing my lipgloss with him), I get cat (and my) hair on my lips... Everything sticks to gloss. So, the first thing when it comes to gloss - it must not be too sticky. This one is sticky, but not as much as some other lipglosses I tried. Still, it bothers me. I would also love a different package. I don't like squeezing tubes, because I always squeeze too much or too little. With this kind of applicator, you don't have as much control as with the wand applicators and for clumsy people (like myself) that's bad news. I sort of like this product, but I don't love it. And if I admit it, I like it only because it's Illamasqua. I guess I can't be objective when it comes to this brand. I'll try. And here it goes. Illamasqua is a great brand with some of the best products I've tried, but this lipgloss... is just nothing special. There. I said it.

Pros:
+ Subtle scent (I hate lip products with strong scent).
+ Subtle color. Well, it is sheer gloss after all.
+ It's quite long lasting for a lipgloss.

Cons:
- Packaging. A wand type of applicator would be much better and easier to use.
- The gloss is a bit sticky.
- Price.


Do I recommend it? If you're into lipglosses, then I recommend you to give it a try. If glosses aren't really your thing, then just skip this and buy yourself a Precision Ink instead. ;)

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

Thanks for looking!

My 5 Favorite Eye Make Up Brushes

I got a request from my reader Ana: ''...Just wanted to request an overview of makeup brushes you use. Your eye makeup application is simply flawless!'' Why, thank you Ana!

I've been meaning to post about my eye make up brushes for a long time... I think I promised it to some other readers as well. Better late than never, right?

We all know that good brushes are the base for good make up. I tried to ignore that fact for a couple of years, but then I realized it's for the best. Investing in good brushes is a must for all beauty junkies. That doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune on brushes and it doesn't mean they need to have a brand name printed on them. Well, at least not for all of us. ;) A good look at the bristles can tell you a lot about the brush and you'll get better at it in time. I suggest you buy individual brushes and not sets, because they often include brushes you'll never use.

Here are my 5 favorite eye make up brushes (I'll post about my face brushes some other time). These brushes are pretty much everything I use for all my eye make up looks.

Body & Soul Eyeshadow Brush - This is my favorite basic eyeshadow brush. I use it all the time. I got it in Müller store (Body & Soul is their brand) and it costs ~ 2.00 €.

Coastal Scents Chisel Fluff Medium Brush - I use this one for inner eye corner, for wet eyeshadow application, for my lower lid, sometimes even for my crease. This is a great and very useful brush. I got it at Coastal Scents for $2.75.

Coastal Scents Round Crease Brush - As the name says, I use this one for my crease. It does a great job, but if you're on a low budget, you can also skip this one and use Chisel Medium Fluff Brush instead. It works just fine once you get a hang of it. I got this one at Coastal Scents but I can't find it on their site anymore. I guess they stopped selling it. There are some other crease brushes on the site though.

Coastal Scents Divine Large Eyeshadow Brush - You might think this one is great for full lid coverage because of it's size... but I don't use it that way. I find it too stiff for that. I use Divine Large Brush for highlighting my browbone and for blending in the eyeshadow line. I know it doesn't look like a blender brush, but it does the job. I got it at Coastal Scents for $2.49.

Coastal Scents Taklon Angle Liner - This one is just great. Everyone should own it. I use it for smudging the eye pencil line, for my lower lash line and for filling in my brows. It's my favorite of all the brushes. I have three different angled liner brushes, but none is as good as this. This one is simply perfect. I got it at Coastal Scents for $1.95. You have no excuse for not getting it. And if it happens you don't like it, send it to me. I'll love it until it falls apart and beyond. :D

So, let's sum it up. You need 4 basic brushes: one for your eyeshadow, a smaller eyeshadow brush for lower lid and details, blender and liner brush. If you like to make your eyes appear deeper add a crease brush. That's about it.

I hope you find this post useful. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me by posting your question in the comment section.

Thanks for looking!

Review: Beauty UK Pearl Eyeliner in Oceania

I got this pearl eyeliner from Beauty UK and even before I received it, I heard a lot of good things about it. That made me even more eager to try it, but the expectations were also sky high. Wanna know what I think of it? Then read on. :)

Beauty UK pearl eyeliner has a great applicator, just the kind I like the most. I admit I don't like the ones with brushes that much, because I find them hard to work with.
Here's a close up on the wand. The color of the eyeliner is a bit off. It's not as blue in real life. It's a beautiful shimmery teal. A little bit greener than on the photo.

This is a relevant photo of the color (below). I applied the eyeliner to the back of my hand and waited for it to dry. After I photographed it, I had to try to smudge it. I was expecting it to smudge a little, to be honest. But you know what - it didn't smudge even one tiny bit. I almost dropped my jaw. The last eyeliner that impressed me as much was the Illamasqua one. I immediately clicked on the Beauty UK online shop and bought all the other (seven) shades of this eyeliner. It's that amazing.

The make up look I did doesn't do this eyeliner any justice. Neither do my skills of photographing my make up. Once again, the color of this eyeliner is greener than it appears on the photos.

The false eyelashes are from the KKcenterhk I already wrote about (item number A500).

Price: £3.49 (I can't find the information about the amount of product in the bottle)

Where to buy? Beauty UK online store

***

As I already mentioned, this eyeliner is very easy to use. The wand and the applicator are noob proof aka suitable for eyeliner beginners. The color is very pigmented although you can still get some bald spots because of dragging the tip along your lashline. I suggest a light hand or wait for the liner to dry and apply another layer of it. I got the pearl eyeliner in my least favorite color (for an eyeliner), so I decided to buy all other shades. The quality of this product is outstanding and the price is great as well. I also have to mention the shape of the bottle. It's soooooo sexy and the curves don't make the application any harder. A + for the design. Although the name suggest this eyeliner is pearly, don't get scared (like I normally would when I hear the word ''pearly''). It's actually a pretty shimmery color. Can't wait to get the rest of them.

Pros:
+ Great quality - long lasting.
+ Bottle design.
+ Applicator tip is very easy to use.
+ Price.
+ Good color range.
+ Pigmentation.
+ Great service when buying from the website.


Cons:
- Dragging the tip of the applicator can cause bald spots.


Do I recommend it? YES! The fact that I actually went and bought all the other shades tells you everything you need to know. :D

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

Thanks for looking!

Don't Go Chasing Butterflies

''Love is like a butterfly. The more you chase it, the more it eludes you. But if you just let it fly, it will come to you when you least expect it.''

He came to me. And sat on my foot. Please ignore those ugly crocks. They are so comfortable... *makes apologizing face*

And then he posed like a true model. :) This is Meadow Brown (Maniola Jurtina).

It was one of those moments when you're just so glad you took your camera with you.

Thanks for looking!

Essence Cracking Combo

I said I wouldn't buy Essence Cracking base coat (or step 1), and I didn't. My boyfriend got me the base, because the only thing he saw on the bottle was ''cracking''. And he thought it cracks. :D That's why I don't recommend him to buy me cosmetics. I know what's out there and what's new and he doesn't even know what I already have. It must be so confusing for him. Hee hee. I bet it's the same with you ladies.

This is Essence Cracking top coat in Crack Me! Black over Essence base coat in Sparkling Silver. I dig this silver and black combo. What about you?

Thanks for looking!

Sending You Some Bunny Love

I dare you to look at these photos and not say: ''Aaaaaaaawwww!'' :x

Thanks for looking!

Neither Here Nor There

I'm caught in a big blob of blur. I don't really know where to go or what to do next. Although I know what I should do. I need a lot of energy and the same amount of motivation. And I need someone to tell me it's all gonna be OK. I also think my love for nail polish is slowly fading away. I don't find it hard to look at photos of new collections. There's nothing new for me anyway. At least not something I would like. I paint my nails every once in a while. Once a week maybe (if it's a good week). Otherwise I just leave them naked. Sometimes I'd paint the nails on my left hand and loose the interest before I finish the nails my right hand. Yeah, I shouldn't tell you that. Let's pretend I didn't. Deal?

The last nail polish I showed you was Misa Dirty Sexy Money. I got bored with it soon and layered Essence Crack Me! Black over it. Call me crazy, but I like this cracking effect. It's not as cool as Barry M ones, but it's still very cool. And a lot better than Essence Crack Me! White. What's the deal with that? The black one cracks a lot better.

My looks of the past few days are practically the same. Some black eyeshadow on my upper lash line makes a better choice in these hot days than eye pencil. It doesn't stick as much to my lid when my eyes are open. And as the result - I'm not walking around paranoid and in fear there's a black line on my eyelid. Yeah, that happens sometimes when I'm using eye pencil. Not everything is bad though. My fairly new Essence mascara is cooperating with me and I use it all the time. I should write a review. *writes a note*

For the last three days, I was in a purple mood. Perfect opportunity to finally try Sinful Let's Talk. I don't know if it's coincidence or fate or something else, but I saw a person which was very important to me once. And we haven't talked in almost 4 years. There it was, the chance to start talking again. But you know what, I moved on. I don't need THE talk anymore. It made me feel kind of powerful and in charge of my life. At least for a little while. :)

Now I wanna lay back, relax and read a good book. Something from the fantasy or horror genre. I was thinking about George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice & Fire. Any other suggestions?

Thanks for looking!

Review: KKcenterhk ES A500 False Eyelashes

I was contacted by KKcenterhk to do a review of their false eyelashes. I chose a pack of 10 different styles of eyelashes by brand ES (product code A500).

I couldn't do a review of all styles, that would just take too much time. I picked three different/random eyelash styles and tried them out. Here they are:

This is the first make up look, made with Style #1 eyelashes.

Products used for this look:
* Urban Decay Primer Potion
* Pure Luxe in Galaxy (all over lid)
* Pure Luxe in Kisses in the Dark (outer corner, crease)
* 88 Matte Eyeshadow Palette
* Essence Black Mania eye pencil
* Essence Black Mania mascara
* ES False Eyelashes (A500)
* Eye Charm false eyelash glue


Here's a second look with Style #2 eyelashes.

Products used for this look:
* NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Slate
* Pure Luxe in Demure
* Essence Black Mania eye pencil
* Essence Black Mania mascara
* ES False Eyelashes (A500)
* Eye Charm false eyelash glue


And last, here's a look with Style #3 eyelashes.

Products used for this look:
* Urban Decay Primer Potion
* Fyrinnae in Cheshire Cat Grin
* 88 Matte Eyeshadow Palette
* Essence Black Mania eye pencil
* Essence Black Mania mascara
* ES False Eyelashes (A500)
* Eye Charm false eyelash glue

Price: $7.96 for a pack (10 pairs of different style eyelashes)


Where to buy? KKcenterhk online store.

***

I think I already told you I'm no expert when it comes to false eyelashes. I'm actually a newbie. I did try Illamasqua eyelashes, so I have a great high end experience. :) These can't be compared to Illamasqua's, but I don't think anyone is expecting that. For the price you pay you get a decent product, but you don't get glue - and you can't use them without it. Don't forget about that. ;)
The band which holds the lashes together is not very soft, but it is flexible. I had some troubles with the lashes lifting from my lash line at the ends, but that could be because of glue or because I suck at applying falsies. I like to keep all options open.

Pros:
+ Different styles for every occasion.
+ Price.
+ Eyelashes can be re-useable.

Cons:
- Doesn't come with an eyelash glue.
- The packaging of the eyelashes looks cheap.

Do I recommend it? Sure. If you're into false eyelashes or you like to experiment with make up, I think you'll be very pleased with this product.

And a question for you: do you wear false eyelashes?

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

Thanks for looking!

Essence Eyeshadow in Mystic Lemon

Mystic Lemon might be the most wanted Essence eyeshadow at the time. It's buzzing all over beauty community... is it really a dupe of Nars Highlighting Blush Powder in Albatross? I'm sorry, but I can't answer that question. I can only show you how Mystic Lemon looks like.

If you're planning on getting this eyeshadow, don't be fooled by the sticker on it. It's not holographic. As a matter of fact, I think Essence needs some information on finishes. It seems like every product with shimmer or duochrome finish gets that label when it comes to this brand. OK, enough rambling. Here's Mystic Lemon in the pot. It's a very pale yellow with the most gorgeous micro shimmer.

You can't see the shimmer on the photos while the eyeshadow is in the pot, but you can see it here. I applied it to the back of my hand using a finger. I just love the sheen it creates.

Here's also a photo of Mystic Lemon on my finger and on the highest point of my cheekbone. What do you think? Does it make a good highlighter or not?

Price: €1.89 for 2.5 g


Where to buy? Wherever Essence is sold.

I personally wouldn't think twice about buying Mystic Lemon. I even wouldn't think twice when it comes to using this eyeshadow as a highlighter over Nars' Albatross. But that's just me and I've never had the chance to own a Nars product, so what do I know, right? :D I still think this is a great product for a price you can't beat. I recommed you try it.

Thanks for looking!

Green Meadows

Green on eyes, green on nails.

Products used for this eye look:
* Urban Decay Primer Potion
* NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk
* 88 Matte Eyeshadow Palette
* Essence Black Mania eye pencil
* Essence Black Mania mascara

And on nails - Misa in Dirty Sexy Money. I believe I used 2 coats.

Is green your color? Do you wear it often?

Thanks for looking!

Pure Luxe Eyeshadow Pigment in Faceted

Faceted is so special it deserves a post of it's own. It's one of the shades from the Pure Luxe Kaleidoscope Collection which change colors depending on the light and angle. Each color is supposed to shift to three different shades.

Pure Luxe site says: ''Faceted is dark taupe/purple in jar. Color changes from red to copper and gold.''
Well, I don't agree with this description. Faceted looks light grey with pink micro shimmer in the jar.

I also can't see the three shades it's supposed to shift to. Red, copper and gold... Hmmm... All I can see is pink, grey and warm orange-y (like sunset). It's still very pretty and worth every cent, I just don't understaind their description of it. Are we looking at the same shade? It doesn't seem so.

Here's how the colors shifted after I applied Faceted on the back of my hand using foiling method. That's a fancy way to say - I applied it with a damp brush. :) I didn't use any primer under it. Please keep in mind it's very hard to capture this kind of shade on camera. It looks far more interesting and beautiful in real life.

I also applied it wet on my eyelids. I used nothing else but Faceted on my upper lid. No primer, no other shades. Pretty, right?

I also made a short video featuring Faceted. :D






Price: $2.00 for sample, $8.00 for 5g jar and $15.00 for 10g jar

Where to buy? Pure Luxe website.

If you're planning on ordering from Pure Luxe, I suggest you try sample sizes first. Most of the regular eyeshadow pigments are only $1.00 when you're buying sample sizes and the amount of the pigment in the jar is really generous.

Thanks for looking!

Pure Luxe Pigment Swatches

This is going to be a massive post about the pigments I received today from Pure Luxe. Let's get straight to it. Here are the color drops of the pigments in the jars.

Quite a haul, right? Now I'm gonna show you how they look swatched on my hand. I used Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy as a base. All pigments are applied dry.

Kisses in the Dark (''deep smouldering blue/green'') - This one looks dark in the jar and it's also dark on the skin. I was afraid it's gonna look plain grey, but it's actually a very pretty shade. Smouldering teal, perhaps? I love the name as well.

Lush (''smokey green with a very subtle blue/green finish'') - Whoa, this one is soooo pigmented. I'd say it's a forest green with light green sparkles. Very interesting shade with a great color pay off.

Galaxy (''smokey blue/green with a strong golden interference'') - Isn't this a pretty shade... It's neither blue nor green. I'd call it a seafoam green with golden sheen. Mermaid-ish color. Subtle and stunning at the same time. Love it.

Dubloon (''deep khaki in jar, smokey antique gold once applied'') - I agree with the Pure Luxe description. Pretty color, but nothing too special. Gotta try it wet, maybe it will impress me then.

Demure (''light green leaning towards blue, gold when under the right light'') - It's supposed to be a two tone eyeshadow, but I just don't see it. It looked so nice on the PL page, but it didn't convince me. It's too light, un-pigmented and just ... blah. I could easily live without this one.

OMG! (''deep bright red with metallic red hlighlight'') - Yeah, it's red. It's also bright and very pigmented. It's not that deep, neither is it so amazing you'd have to pay a double price for it. Yep, sample jar of this pigment won't cost the same as other regular shades (that's $1.00). You will pay a double price. It's an OK color, but it doesn't make me go ''OMG, this is so freakin' amazing!'' But I imagine my mother saying it if I use it for my eye make up. :D

Intimacy (''deep brown with beige and gold highlights'') - It's not a deep brown at all. It's a mushroom-y taupe with shimmer, that makes it look almost gold. I've seen that before. Many, many, many times before (I think I just had a Police Academy moment). Pretty but boring. And intimacy shouldn't be boring, yes?

Chocolate Cherries (''medium brown with reddish/pink interference'') - The interference in this one is mostly pink. I don't see as much red as I'd want to. It looked much better on the PL website. Disappointed.

Luxe (''chocolate with pinkish copper flash'') - I'd call this a reddish bronze. Not something that would suit everyone. Pretty, shimmery, but again ... not *that* special.

Faceted (''taupe/purple in jar; changes color from red/bronze/gold'') - This one is from the Kaleidoscope Collection. It costs more than other pigments ($2.00 for a sample jar) and it's tri-chrome. I shall apply it wet someday and show it to you. If I manage to photograph it properly. It's also very pretty when applied dry. It has a subtle base with strong pink sheen. For princesses. :)

Molten (''deep red with brighter red highlights'') - This is my absolute favorite of all pigments I'm showing you today. It's like a crushed burgundy velvet in a jar. It's a part of the Heavy Metalz collection and this one costs a bit more. But it's totally worth it. Amazing. You have to see it for yourself.

Solitude (''deep brown with subtle copper highlights'') - I expected it to be deeper brown. It's still a nice shade. Pigmented, not too shimmery... I really like it.

Russet (''deep burgundy/brown shimmer'') - Well pigmented, dark and warm shade. I agree with the description... it's hard to say whether it's a red or brown shade. I don't like the pink sheen though. This one left me unimpressed.

Ravishing (''beige with a pearly finish'') - I don't know what I was thinking when I ordered this one. It says it has a pearly finish, why on earth did I order it? Oh, it says it's the PL owner's new favorite. OK then. It's my least favorite. Too pearly for me.

Cinnamon (''brown with red undertone and beige highlights'') - The PL site suggests this is an excellent smokey shade for contouring, I say it's perfect for bruised look. I'm not sure if I'm gonna wear this one. It's pretty, but the pigmentation isn't the best plus it's too light for me.

Scandalous (''cool brown with pumpkin glimmer'') - too shimmery for my taste, but pretty. I'm ''meh'' about this one.

Forged (''deep bittersweet bronze, with strong metallic cast'') - this one contains bronze powder and it's a part of the Heavy Metalz collection (like Molten). If you want to look like you have molted metal on your eyes, go for it. It's very strong though. Beautiful.

Fetish (''metallic bronze'') -It's more orange-y brown than bronze in my opinion. I admit I got it because of the name. And it disappointed me. It should be bolder.

Terra Cotta (''medium copper brown'') - I'd call it a washed out brick orange with extra sheen. It reminds me of salmon and I don't think it would look good on my eyes. Perfect for brown-eyed girls.

Iris (''purple with blue and violet interference'') - It's more blue than purple, but let's meet halfway and say it's blurple.

Jazzy (''medium blue with purple undertone and lots of shimmer'') -Very pretty and pretty shimmery. :)

Rococo (''intense medium blue with a satin finish'') - I have to try this one over dark base (NYX Slate). It's so vibrant and strong I don't think I could pull it off on it's own.

Erotica (''deep jewel tone violet'') - This is actually an electric blue. Yeah, I know, I bought this color from Fyrinnae and Taylor Made... I think I'm addicted to it. This one is also hard to apply (as the Fyrinnae and TM ones). It's almost matte and it applies with bald patches. I have to practice. Amazingly pretty though.

Well, this is it. Can you pick your favorite?

Thanks for looking!