Savvy Thinker » NYX

FOTD Meow eyes, NYX lips

Karin — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:24:49 +0000

I was happy with the way this turned out.

I spread out my Meow samples and thought what did I want to try:

Eyes:
Base: Nude Frost (there is some question as to whether this irritates me, but so far, so good today -- I gave it a rest, then tried again today) then my sparkly eye mix
Lid and Crease: Meow VandalEyes Misdemeanor (lime)
Crease and drylined top and lower: Meow VandalEyes Shoplifting (deep vibrant purple)

The lime is a little lighter and brighter than it photographed. You can see the glitter liner on the eye to your right.

Lined: Estee Lauder Plum Grey pencil (which turned out to be more grey than I remembered, so I went over the line and past the line with Meow)
Glitter lined over the top of liners: GirlActik Lavender -- gorgeous color, this line was my first foray into glitters, before AL Rocks! glitter
Mascara: (top, to your left) Mark Scandalash Indigo (purple)
Mascara : (top, to your right and lower lashes) Estee Lauder MagnaScopic purple
The EL is a tad darker.
Brows: La Prairie pencil

Finished look:

Primer: Smashbox Purple Primer
I like the color lift that this gives.

Foundation: Revlon Age Defying Liquid Color 04
I like this foundation and use it often.
Rouge: Mary Kay stick from a limited line
Powder: Lustre Aromaleigh Twilight supernatural powder
Nice gleam. Used my normal powder brush, not a FO.
Blush: Meow Masterpiece Water Lilies Love this color!
Lips: NYX Round Gloss Apricot 19
This is gorgeous and vibrant when applied heavily. Later it softens to a delicious stain-y look, but it is still moist with product on the lip. You can see how it looks here.

I quite like Meow mineral shadows. I am sampling several types, but they all seem to be equally pigmented and equally easy to use.

VandalEyes are our newest, most highly pigmented collection of multi-purpose eye shadows. Silky smooth and designed to be extra long wearing, they're intense and powerful but they are *not* for the faint of heart...Can be applied dry for a bold look, or foiled (applied wet) for the most intense color and sheen.

I'd love to try more of their Masterpiece blush line.

Masterpiece Blush Gallery: Our newest blush collection, uniquely formulated and unlike any other blush you've ever tried. They're sumptuously sheer, and sweep on your cheeks invisibly, leaving only a pure wash of gorgeous colors behind!

Karin

Originally posted 2009-03-23 13:32:53.

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FOTD BE Rocker Star

Karin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:14:24 +0000

BE Rocker Star is one of my favorite sets. I had some trouble applying it this morning, working around everyone that was getting in and out of the bathroom, then I realized I forgot to start with the sparkly beige powder base I usually begin with. Hello! It looks more even than the photos show, and I accidentally deleted one photo, but these give you an idea.

Eyes:
BE Rocker Star -- great colors and a wonderful brush, the one end does narrow lining
Medium Shade in crease; Darker sparklier shade in outer corners; Dry Lined with darkest black on top.
Inner eyes: flash of bright color from NYX Purple Shadow
Lined bottom: MAC graphblack in waterline; earthline just below it
Lined top NYX Jet Black pen liner -- probably should have bought extreme black.
Mascara: NYX Glitter Wand in midnight Hard to get this to show up on my eye, but it is a gorgeous shade. I might use it as liner.
Brows: Clinique Blond pencil

Cheeks: NARS The Multiple in Riviera

Lips: NYX Chandelier This is really a gorgeous color and very nice formula. The pictures don't do it justice. A really great light-medium orchid pink with a lot of sparkle. Every bit as nice as Too Faced; maybe not quite as sparkly.

I love the way the Purple NYX shadow pops the smokey eye look (though they don't call it their Smokey Eye set.)

What do you think?

Karin

Originally posted 2009-03-07 10:23:27.

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FOTD NYX +MAC +Too Faced+

Karin — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:11:03 +0000

This is the 3rd NYX trio palette in my amazingly cheap NYX haul.

Eyes:
TS 30 Baby Pink, White Pearl, Baby Blue
These are more my colors than yesterday's!
Base: Lancome pink cream
Pink on my lids; Blue in the crease and lined under lower lashes; White on brow bone.
Brows: Prescriptive pencil -- has a super thin lead, easy to use
Lined top: Lancome Blueberry wand
Tightlined Lined lower: Tidal Wave gel liner
Lined top and lower: Prestige Denim pencil
Mascara: Lancome Hypnose on upper; Tarte Bottom up on lower

Primer: Smashbox purple
Foundation: L'oreal N1
Rouge: Chanel stick
Powder: my sparkly mix + BE Mineral Veil as bronzer
Over powder: Benefit Georgia Peach
Blush: MAC Moon River
Concealer: Dior Skinflash

Lips: I liked this really well!
Too Faced Pink Diamond Gloss from their super Vintage sale
Rimmed with: MAC Baby Sparks Dazzler gloss

I was happy with the way this turned out. The color was nice with my denim top. And much more to my taste than yesterday.

What do you think?
Karin

Originally posted 2009-04-23 20:48:30.

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FOTD Weds NYX eyes +

Karin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:00:16 +0000

As I said in my earlier post today, I wanted to try the NYX colors I had not tried before. Once in a while a color combo blows you out of the water. This color combo is gorgeous and one of my faves!

Eyes:
Base: Nude Frost on lids, not under brows; then BE Queen Phyllis
Lids: NYX Luxor, square individual shadow with a clear lid, an exact match to my T
Drylined: NYX Red, square loose shadow with micro shimmer
Lined: Chanel blue duo pencil, lightest color
Tightlined: NYX Jet Black Felt Tip liner
Inner corners: Arbonne Illume (white matte)
Mascara: Clinique
Concealer: Guerlain
Brows: La Prairie pencil

Primer: Avon Magix
Foundation: Revlon Age Defying cream
Rouge under my sparkly powder mix: Chanel stick
Blush: Arbonne Promise
Highlight: Arbonne Bashful

Lips: AL Balm + MAC pencil -- see my LOTD for more.

Karin
www.savvythinker.com
don't steal my posts -- you know who you are

Originally posted 2009-09-04 15:29:17.

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FOTD Aromaleigh eyes + Cover Girl lips +

Karin — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:15:12 +0000

I felt like wearing turquoise on my eyes today, and outside of the Summer set by Mary Kay, my go-to for turquoise is Aromaleigh. Kristen has beautiful shades of greens, turquoises and teals, and I probably have most of them, at least in sample sizes, which are quite long lasting. They are vibrant and beautiful, if you are on a quest for this color.

I also felt like doing a 5 min makeup today, which I did. The only reason it took longer is because I kept thinking of things I wanted to take pictures of, such as the Chanel container and my powder. So I would digress to that. Aromaleigh is really fool proof. Easy to apply; always looks great and lasts all day. I knew I could do a 5 min makeup with AL. And I had a busy, busy day today, meetings, errands, music lesson, pick and delivery to school and more.

In all honesty, there were two things I meant to do and got sidetracked: concealer, and some of the new Arbonne white shadow in the inner corners of my eyes. That would have taken 30 sec. I just forgot.

Eyes: all Aromaleigh, except where noted
Base: Nude Frost, then BE Queen Phyllis
Lids: Azure
Drylined Top: Aqua Nightmare (love this color!)
Drylined bottom: Caribe, just a touch more blue
Mascara: Stiletto
Tightlined top: NYX pen black
Brows: Merle Norman powder

Primer: Avon Magix
Foundation: L'Oreal True Match, N1 Soft Ivory While it looks like this foundation covers well, when applying it, I'm a little disappointed in how sheer it looks in the pictures. I like my skin to show through, but I like it a little less sheer. I will likely use this more as a highlighter in the future, if I try it again, and it is equally sheer.
Rouge under my sparkly mix of powder: Chanel stick
Blush over: Arbonne Promise
Hightlight: Arbonne Bashful lightest blush

Lips: CG 912+928 + Stila Silver Mix
First: Guerlain liplift primer and conditioner and all round magic product
912 and 928 are plumping colors
1/2 and 1/2 each color, one on each lip, smooshed; then Stila-Silver Mix gloss when some of the lippie was gone to refresh it...this lipstick (928) is the one that hurt my lips after using it exclusively for months. After using every lip balm known to man and still having problems wearing anything on my lips, I remembered I had the Liplift. It fixed the problem with one application. I now have one in my purse and in the bathroom. And I made sure I used it before these colors. I never felt the product sting my lips. 912 is a particularly pretty soft shade. Perhaps tomorrow I'll show it alone.

What do you think?
Do you like to use plumping lipsticks or teals and turquoises for shadows? What is your favorite AL color?

Kristen's birthday is coming up and she'd love to have people participate in nominating her business. See the info here.

Karin
www.savvythinker.com
do not steal my posts -- you know who you are

Originally posted 2009-08-28 17:41:19.

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FOTD Tues Meow AL Fyrinnae

Karin — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 16:52:27 +0000

I'm running behind, as you can see, but here is my look for Tuesday.

Eyes:
Lids: Meow IdealEyes Cat got your tongue? light pink
Crease: AL Spring Solstice Bellflower purple orchid
Pencil Lined top: Clarins Midnight Flash, great purple, now discontinued
Pencil lined lower: Fyrinnae Iimmortalitythen more Bellflower below that
Brows: Clinique pencil
Mascara Upper: BE Buxom; lower: Stiletto

Primer AL
Foundation 2 Chanels to compare
Rouge under powder: Nars The Multiple Riviera
Powder: my sparkly mix, then BE mineral veil as bronzer
Blush: Meow
Lips: NYX Round Gloss Ballerina Pink 36

This was such a pretty, soft look. I felt like spring even though winter is giving us a last hurrah! It's going to be in the low 40s here tomorrow morning! What do you think?

What are you doing with your makeup to feel more spring-like?
Karin

Originally posted 2009-04-07 23:51:16.

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FOTD Thursday Chanel eyes +

Karin — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 04:30:28 +0000

Chanel Les Quatre eye shadow Sublimes: Marine, Beige Rose, Granite, Clear Blue
I rarely use this set, but I should use it more often. I originally bought it because I didn't have anything in this color family. All my blues were more of a normal blue.

This set leans toward teal. If you make an X, the upper right and lower left are both light shades, though I've never worn them alone, say, for day. Thinking about it, I wonder why, and want to do it sometime soon.

The opposite line, are two darks, very dark and extremely dark. One looks black-blue; the other looks black-black-blue. They would be very dramatic if used for evening -- or even to achieve a goth look.

You can see where I laid the lines. I used the lighter of the two dark blues to dryline the bottom. The darkest to dryline the top.

Arbonne mascara, 2 step. La Prairie brow pencil. Dior skinflash concealer with a touch of Arbonne in the outer corners.

Chanel foundation; my sparkly powder mix, followed by BE mineral veil sort of like a bronzer.

Highlight: Benefit Georgia
Blush: YSL # 19, also used as a bronzer

Lips: NYX Aphrodite + rimmed with Beauté Paramour (and a touch in the center.)

What do you think?

To buy Arbonne from Bookgirl, if you don't have a representative, go here.
Karin

Originally posted 2009-06-19 13:51:54.

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FOTD Meow AL

Karin — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 05:50:52 +0000

I started with the lippie I wanted to swatch, then had the hardest time thinking what direction I wanted to go in. Then I remembered I had wanted to try Beau Nelson's lip technique, and I had used a different gloss than I had thought of originally. That will be later today Too Faced -- and more pix. And I hadn't chosen my T yet.

I don't think I was in a light pink mode. After all that angst, I think it turned out nicely. I think it came together. What do you think?

Eyes:
Base: Dior light pink cream in wand; then my sparkly mix
Lid: Cat got your tongue? Meow IdealEyes Purrl -- light pink
Brows: La Prairie pencil

What direction to go in?
I knew I didn't want to do blue or teal or green -- but what?
Ah, grey with pink would likely be nice. But I hadn't sampled any greys from Meow. My BE greys are very dark, which would have worked too, and I might do it later over the lighter. So I went to AL and chose a light one.
Crease and outer corners: AL Avalon rocks! sonic eyes
Very light grey; almost no contrast with the pink, but enough.

Lined upper: Mary Kay Steely pencil (dark grey)
Lined lower: MAC graphblack in waterline, then earthline outside it -- whoa! dark and too piecy looking...had to soften for it to fit -- and also deepen the shadow shades by:
Lined upper and lower: AL evilwoman rocks! glam glitter, deeper sparkly grey
Lined just outside the lower, very carefully with more of the Meow to bring the pink around
Mascara: BE Buxom Black

Primer: Guerlain Meteorites
Foundation: Guerlain
Concealer: Mary Kay Highlighting Pen Color 2
Color under my sparkly powder mix: Mary Kay cream rouge
Blush over the powder: Meow Lush Blush Hugs and Kitties -- I thought this would hardly show, but it was perfect. First time I tried the sample.

Using Beau Nelson of Beauté's technique highlighting my lips
NYX Pink Sparkle Diamond Sparkle Lip Gloss
Lancome Starlight lip gloss to rim
You can read about this technique here.

I might do a Take 2 later today with other colors. Hope you enjoyed this one!
Karin

Originally posted 2009-03-25 13:29:38.

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Tools of the trade: Brushes

Karin — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:49:14 +0000

There are a number of brushes you need in your arsenal in order to apply your colors in the best possible and easiest way. In general, I like real hair brushes, except for ones that are meant to be synthetic (foundation and concealer.)

Keep them clean
Clean them whenever you see residue in the brush. If you are oily or prone to acne, this will be more often (even daily) to keep the brushes clean. And you won't contaminate any of your product.

Some people use a conditioning shampoo.

I use a cleanser made for brushes by Merle Norman. I do not use a whole capful. I use 1/4 of the cap, filled with 3/4 water (that is the percentage). Put it in the sink. Swirl my brush(es). Add more water to it. Swirl some more. Empty basin. Squeeze excess out of brush. Fill basin with water and swirl brushes. Empty and repeat until brush is clean and water is clear.

Why do you need so many brushes?
Because using the right brush makes application easier.

Much less blending is required. In general, I believe if you lay it down right, you don't need to do much blending.

And you won't look like a clown with too much blush, for example, unless that is the look you are going for.

And if you have sensitive skin, where blending can actually feel hurtful, the better the brush, the softer or less pull on the skin.

Do I have to have them all?
No, but these work. Use what you have, but begin to collect others as you need them. If you buy good brushes (consider buying them when there is a gwp offered), they will last nearly forever.

Several of these brushes have hit the market only in more recent years, so it is possible that a brush we can't live without will be offered in the foreseeable future that meets a need we didn't know we had.

BE gives their brushes as part of many of their sets for face or eye. They are really good, and many are only offered in their sets, they cannot be bought separately. That's an added perk for buying their sets.

You can also look in places that sell brushes for arts and painting. These may work just as well and cost less than something you find at a cosmetic counter. For the most part, I have shown shapes so you know what you are looking for.

Brands I like
Bare Escentuals -- every brush I've used has been top notch -- often included in sets

Clinique -- the two I have are great; one type I've only seen at Clinique, a large fluffy eye brush (will add the name later, if it is on the brush) (works great for laying down strong color without being too much)(which is how the SA used it on me and therefore sold me on it -- I don't have anything like it)
CVS -- nice quality; not so easy to use as they are dual ended (they won't stand upright in a container -- they have to be flat)
Estee Lauder -- I'm still using a 20 year old set.
Lancome -- nice quality, I especially like the L'angle brush for eyes and use it daily.
Update: Lancome's mineral foundation brush is superb! It feels like velvet -- you are transported to a spa. If you use mineral foundation, do yourself a favor, go to a Lancome counter and try this brush. Let me know if you do! Do you know if there is anything out there that is identical to this brush in a different price range?
Mary Kay -- nice quality for the price.
Sephora -- every one I've tried has been top notch; they have great travel sets.
Trish McAvoy I have a couple of hers. They are good. Hers was the first brush similar to the Lancome L'Angle that I bought, but it is bigger and fuller than the Lancome.
Ulta -- I just bought a very small angle eye liner brush (I wanted something similar to a drugstore one that I can no longer find -- this is smaller, but it works for what I want to use it for. I used it to line my FOTD today)

Brands that are said to be good, but I have not tried
Aromaleigh edit: I love their fiber optic brushes.
MAC -- edit: I use a fiber optic brush of theirs for blush.

Types of brushes that you should have at a minimum
Anything else you have is just a plus. These should be in your staples.

Eyes
Angle eye brush to lay down the crease
Medium fluffy eye brush to lay down a base color
Short almost semi-circular eye brush to lay down the outer corner color
Sephora makes one called a Smudge Brush. It's perfect.

Denser round eye brush to use with Chanel type colors, if possible.

Fiber Optic eye brush as much for fun as anything. I have a BE one. Aromaleigh's are supposed to be very good. I really like their fiber optic eye shadow brushes.

Brush you could use for blending, if necessary
Angled or flat eyeliner brush for laying down shadow as eyeliners, usually dry, but works with gel also.

Regular shaped eyeliner brush for doing a wet or gel liner or
Regular shaped eyeliner brush with bent handle This is surprisingly easy to use.

Brow Brush if you use a powder form. Often these brushes come with a comb on one side. I rarely use the comb.

Face
Use any soft good sized fluffy brush for blending away any mistakes, if necessary.
Concealer brush(es), synthetic (or use your clean fingers)
Some concealers feed through a brush, in which case you might not need one.
Small thin one, for spot concealing.

Medium one for under eyes.

Fluffy dense brush to apply mineral makeup with, if you use it. BEs is very good.
Take your pick:

Fluffy brush, not so dense angled or not, to apply powder or BE Mineral Veil. Just like the above only a bit smaller in diameter.

Medium sized fluffy angled brush, to apply blush

Dense, flat round brush to apply blush, for certain colors

Fiber Optic Brush to apply blush or bronzer, when the color is strong and you only want a bit. It looks similar to this. I have one by BE and by Prescriptives. I have a smaller one by MAC. Aromaleigh's are supposed to be very good. I really like their fiber optic eye shadow brushes.

Specialty
This is a nice brush. The one end applies dry liner nicely.

Optional
Lips, only if you use one
Or, use the brush on the end of a lip pencil, if you have one, rather than buying an extra brush.
Lip brush, only if you use one.
Lip brush with a cover for your purse.

Makeup foundation brush
Synthetic brush to apply liquid or cream makeup, if you desire. Using your fingers is just as good and there is no product waste. You could also use a sponge.

Eyes
Dense round eye brush Sephora makes one, for laying down intense colors, such as Chanels. See above. (You can use the half round flat brush above just as easily, maybe more so)
Brush suitable for applying shadows wet -- I sometimes use an older brush that gives it new life.

Travel Set if you travel a lot or if you should need one for your purse.
Sephora has some good sets. Check for the one that has the type of brushes you like the most. Chanel often has one, but expensive.
Aromaleigh carries a set too, see link above.

This is a quick run down, and I might have forgotten one or two.

Which brand of brushes do you know and love?
It looks as though ELF and NYX have brushes reasonably priced, but I have not tried them. I have used several from CVS that are good.

Karin

Originally posted 2009-03-06 16:54:13.

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LOTD NYX + Lancome

Karin — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 07:40:10 +0000

NYX African Queen + Lancome Electric Pink
African Queen, then Lancome La Laque in the middle -- what a beautiful color!

I love this color, how about you?

Karin

Originally posted 2009-05-28 11:12:26.

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