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All about mascara

14. June 2012
Makeup, Review, Tutorial
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Mascara is one of the most important makeup items that you can own. It gives your lashes definition and really opens up your eyes. It can be difficult to find which ones work for you as there are so many different kinds out there. Most mascaras fall under one or more of the categories below, and is based on the formula and the shape of the wand. Putting on mascara is an easy step that can make the whole difference in your makeup look. You would want the lashes to look thicker, longer, but at the same time separated and not clumped together, and most of all you don’t want them to break!

Thickening mascara is supposed to make your lashes look thicker and voluminous. The bad thing about thickening mascaras is they tend to clump, so you may want to swipe the wand against a tissue before applying.

Lengthening mascara is supposed to elongate your lashes. This is the time to splurge, because cheaper alternatives may cause your lashes to break.

Waterproof mascara is great if you’re wearing it while you work out, go swimming, or if you just tend to be emotional at times. This mascara is smudgeproof and of course, waterproof. Avoid wearing this mascara every time as it can be a bit tough on the lashes.

Conditioning mascara is the least popular of mascaras as not a lot of people even think of buying it. The great thing about it is that it conditions your lashes with Vitamin E so you can safely wear it every day.

Clear mascara is for those of you who prefer the natural look. It will give the lashes a slight definition without giving them color.

It is also possible to use a primer, for example with fibers to make the lashes thicker, but this is not recommended if you like me wear contact lenses.

A great tool to combine with mascara is an eyelash curler. Although there is a big risk here of breaking the lashes straight off, which have happened to me at more than one occasion. It is important to replace the rubber band often in order to avoid this problem. If you are unlucky and have broken your lashes, don’t worry, if the hair follicle is still intact then the lashes will grow out in about six months. A great tip is to heat the curler with hot water of with your blow dryer before curling. Take good care of your lashes with serum or some almond oil.

My favorite mascara is Lancome Hypnôse. It gives me length and super volume, with several coats it really gives the false lash effect. The formula goes on so smoothly, and although it takes some time to dry completely it does not flake as much as many other mascaras. Apart from the fabulous formula and texture, the wand is also perfect: not too large, or small, shaped normally, the bristles aren’t too thick or far apart. The biggest con is that it is kind of pricy, but in the end its worth every penny.

Must-haves

11. April 2012
Makeup, Review, Tutorial
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This is my most essential beauty products, that I mostly use everyday and simply cannot do without.
Water and sleep

The most obvious beauty tip one can give! Staying hydrated and getting enough sleep is crucial.

Favorite perfume

Smelling good is really a mood lifter. Picking your scent is as personal as finding the right foundation shade for your skin. It has a science behind it along with a touch of personal preference. The combination between the chemicals that our bodies produce and the perfume that we choose will ultimately determine if that specific scent suits us. Perfume always have three notes, top, middle and base. The base note will last you the longest. When you are picking out you signature scent, it is important that you smell for all these notes before deciding. I typically go for sweet ones that smell fruity. My favorite at the moment is Taj Sunset from Escada, but I switch it up all the time. It smells like mangos, with a hint of pineapple, orange and peach. I always get lots of compliments on it.

Lip balm

Keeping your lips moisturised is actually more important than many would think. It should be a part of your daily routine. Licking your lips instead of putting on lip balm will only do more damage, and may cause them to dry up and chap. The lip balm provides a protective layer on the surface of your lips and seals the moisture in. My favorite is the strawberry one from Rosebud, it smells like candy! And it will literally last you forever. I have it with me at all times.

Body butter

An important part of my everyday routine is putting on lotion, and since I have dry skin I find a body butter best fit for the job. I always buy mine at The body shop, my favorite at the moment is the peach one. If you use the right skin care body lotion your skin would have a healthy and glowing look. An essential step before putting on lotion are scrubbing! Once a week is enough. Doing this will make your skin soft and smooth, it also reduces the chance of premature aging.

White eyeliner

White eyeliner can work wonders, I use it almost everyday. It is literally an eye opener. Apply a light line on the lower waterline, if it turns out to harsh blend it out abit. I have been using the shade called satin white from Isadora for a long time, and they dont test on animals!

Face spray

I have really dry skin, and in the wintertime it is truly a nightmare. After applying my makeup it is difficult to moisturize with a gel or creme without ruining the makeup, so then I use a face spray instead. You can also use it to prep your skin for makeup, set your makeup, especially nice for getting rid of that powdery look after application, or as a moisture boost on-the-go. Mine is from Clinique and is part of the moisture surge set.

Eye-makeup remover

Gettin off mascara or heavy eye-makeup after a night on the town can be quite tricky! I find that it always help to use something targeted for this purpose, to avoid unnecessary stretching and pulling on the thin and sensitive skin around the eyes. I have put my trust in one from TheBalm, called balms away.

You may find my full skin-care routine here, where I use some of these products.

Primer potion

8. April 2012
Makeup, Review
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The product claims that by applying this potion on your eyelids before your eyeshadow, you will get a long-lasting, more vibrant eyeshadow that doesnt crease. It will last you like half a day, but may crease if the air is humid enough. Before I bought this stuff I never bothered to wear eye makeup because it would always crease and wear off. And with the new packaging you dont have to worry about not getting out all the product. Typically I have to apply it with my finger tip but that really isn’t much of an inconvenience. And you only need a small amount, so it last quite a while!


However, the primer dry up very fast. So once your have gotten the product out of the package be quick to apply it and blend out. If you dont it may look dry and flaky. It does not live up to its hype, and there may be better products out there. I have only tried the original and have yet to test out the one from MAC, but will use the full tube before purchasing anything similar.

Urban Decay does not test on animals which is a big pluss, although, I wish it didnt contain any parabens.

 

Shady Lady

30. March 2012
Makeup, Review
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If you are looking for the perfect consistency in an eyeshadow, look no further! Each pallette contains 9 different shades, I have vol. 2 and 3, but I could have easily gone by with just one of them since they are very similar and will last me a long time. My favorite colors are racy kacy, a rusty brown, and insane jane which is the perfect taupe. Almost all the colors have amazing pigmentation aswell, I would dare to say better than MAC. And all the shades can be used either wet or dry. It also contains good ingredients that is great for people with sensitive eyes and contact wearers. The best of all is that its not tested on animals!

I’m blushing

29. February 2012
Makeup, Review, Tutorial
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While some people consider blushing to be a problem and try hiding it, most of us apply it everyday with makeup. Using the right blush can give your skin a healthy and vibrant glow. It can give you a young fresh looking face, or transform you into a clown. Finding the correct shade and using a good brush is key! You will want to select a blush that is close to the natural glow of your cheeks.

If you have a darker skin, you can wear a darker blush like burgundy or wine shades. Lighter skin tones need to wear lighter blushes like pink or coral shades. Next review your skin tone. If you have yellowish skin, you should wear cool colors like pink or plum. Olive skin tones should wear apricots or if you have a dark olive complexion, an orange. Neutral shades can wear anything, though rose and mauves are recommended.

1. Place a small amount of blush onto the brush and tap off any excess.
2. Smile or suck in you cheeks and apply the blush to the apple of your cheek.
3. Use a circular motion when you apply the blush. If you are using a stipple brush apply with a dabbing motion.
4. Blend any harsh edges with a sponge or another brush.

- Dont apply blush to the underside of your cheeks.
- To get a natural look, apply blush sparingly.
- Dont apply in streaks.
- Daytime blush should be light, while nighttime blush can be a little heavier.
- Remember to start with a light application and go heavier as you need it.

I have a very pale scandinavian skin and prefer using cool pink blushes, and I have found the perfect match. Down Boy from TheBalm is the one I use every single day. The packaging is adorable, the concistency is creamy and the blush will last you forever. It gives me that natural flush. I really hope that the word gets out with this brand, it has been my favorite for over a year now and they never let me down. On top of not doing animal testing!

Naked Palette

12. January 2012
Makeup, Review
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Before this product was released it was already very hyped amongst the makeup freaks. I have had this for a couple of months to really test it out before giving a review. This is the ultimate palette for neutral colors, and it is so versatile. You could do almost any type of look by using these colors. Even bold ones, it doesnt have to be boring. Like I did a smokey eye by using the brown tones, and the black can be used as a eyeliner to create a cateye look. The brightest colors can also be used for highlighting around the eyes. This makes great for traveling as you have all the colors you need for every occasion in one single palette.

The texture is very nice, not as creamy as TheBalm, but still. Application leaves almost no falloff and the pigmentation is really good and buildable. I got the second stock of this palette and that came with the brush instead of the eyeliner like on the picture. The brush is stiff and great for applying color on the eye in a precise line. It also came with a travel size primerpotion. Im addicted to this stuff, and I have the full size tube one as I dont care to much for the old packaging. Before the naked palette Urban Decay typically carried bright colorfull palettes and eyeshadows, so it was about time they did something like this. Most of the colors have a frosty finish, but you also find some matt ones. Considering the price and what you actually get this is a great deal! You get 12 full size Urban Decay eyeshadows.

Pictures are taken with flash so colors may differ. The black is much darker in real life. Some of these colors are limited to the naked palette and is not available anywhere else. One thing I dont like about palettes is that there may be some colors that I would not use, but I just got the palette for the other ones. In this palette I can use every single one of them! The only thing I miss in this palette is a matt black, like mac carbon. The creep color is the one I like the least, and it is also the one with the most glitter in it.

This will last me a long time, I havent even hit the pans yet. Urban Decay has now made a second naked palette, but I cannot justify buying something so similar. I really love the packaging aswell. It has a velvet feel to it, sturdy in the hand and easy to open. Even though the design is fairly simple, it really looks expensive and beautiful.

Blush rush

27. December 2011
Makeup, Review
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Im a sucker for great packaging, and these blushes from Smashbox is no acception, I really like the packaging on this product. The bottom folds out to a mirror, which is really handy. I bought it in the color flush, and its a cool pink with shimmer. The pigmentation however is not all that great, it gives more shimmer than color. Although it could be built up, but then the product will most likely run out quickly. It gives a natural finish, and a bit glammed up for that everyday sparkle. I wear this on top of my other blushes. The texture of this product is not as creamy as I like them, but still I would buy it again.

Skin care routine

13. December 2011
Makeup, Review
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I’ve been longing to do a skin care routine as I get so many questions about it. My skin is sensitive and very dry skin, if you have it to this routine may work for you aswell. If you have oily skin you may change some of the products that go more with your skintype. This is all the products I use for that purpose.

Step 1. Cleansing

This is for removing your makeup, if you do not wear makeup jump to the next paragraph. Find a good cleanser for your skin and stick with it. I use Simple facial whipes for this, as it has no perfume, color, alcohol or oil in it and goes perfect with my skintype. Dont go and spend a whole lot on these facial whipes as they run out really quickly. There is no need for me to explain how to use facial whipes, only thing is dont use it to roughly, especially around the eyes as the skin there is really sensitive and thin. Whenever I use heavy makeup on my eyes I gently remove it with some kind of butter from TheBalm called balms away. Apply a small amount of the product onto closed eyes. Keep eyes closed and move the product in circular motion. Wipe away all the product with a cotton pad. You may use a facial whipe every day before going to bed.

Everything below this line is also for those of you who dont wear makeup. Im a huge sucker for Clinique products and have been for several years after I discovered how well they work with my skin. Like 1-3 times, depending on how my skin is at a given week, I like to use their cleansing foam for blemished skin. Pump out two or more pumps of product, apply to wet face and gently rub the product in circular motions all around your face, only not the eyes. Let it set for a couple of seconds. Then take a clean damped towel and remove all the product. Finish off by washing your face with some water to get all the product off, this part is important as you dont want residue of these strong ingredients left on your skin.

Step 2. Exfoliate

Now its time to exfoliate, and this step is really important to remember. Every night before I go to bed I use a toner, mine is from Clinique and its the number 2 for dry combination skin. This product is a must-have for all skintypes and Clinique has one for all. It was from the day I started using a toner that my skin got so much better as it is really hard to get rid of that blemished skin when it is as dry as mine. Whenever people compliment me on my skin and ask what products I use, I always tell them to try out Clinique products and especially this toner. Apply the product on a cotton pad and swipe it across your whole face except the eyes.  Remember to leave the product on.

Scrubbing your skin is also key for this step. I try doing it once a week, but it tend to be twice a month. Make sure to do this before putting on the toner, and if you do use a scrub you dont have to use the cleansing foam. Scrubs work by removing the top layer of dead skin cells and helps keep you face fresh and glowing. Make sure to use a gentle scrub with small grains rather then big ones as they can tear your skin. I use a scrub from REN with jojoba oil in it, and it smells kind off minty. Im really loving this product and as you dont use it that often it lasts a long time. Remember to apply to damp face, massage it around preferably upwards and outwards as this doesnt make your skin saggy. Rinse off with warm water.

Step 3. Moisturize

It is so important to moisturize your skin, especially if you have a dry skintype. There are a crapload of bad products out there that give you false promises, I know Ive been through my fair share of them. About a year ago I discovered the utimate moisturizer, even my mom swear by this product and the is a tough one to convince. The product Im talking about is one by Clinique again of course, and its called moisture surge. The texture is kind of a gel, and its pink. Such a nice packaging aswell. Apply to your hole face except the eyes. No matter what kind of skintype you have, you should moisturize! Even oily skin should not skip this step, the key is to find a product that works for you. Everyone will benefit from moisturizers, only exception is those with severe acne, I dont know what goes for these. If your skin feels tight or is flakey, its crying out for moisture. Be careful though, not to overmoisturize as it can clog your pores. For that on-the-go moisture you may use a facespray, this goes perfectly on top of your makeup aswell. I use one from Clinique also from the moisture surge set, it doesnt smell anything and has a handy travelsize.

The one part of the face that I havent mentioned yet is the eye area. It is important to moistuize this part aswell. No strong products are to be used on the eyelids or under the eyes since the skin here is so thin and delicate. Wrong usage may cause wrinkles. Whenever putting product to this area dab it, dont drag it! And use a very light hand. If you’re not sure if you are to rough, apply the product with your ring finger as this has the smallest amount of pressure. Eye creams is also great to reduce those fine lines and wrinkles. For everyday use I splurged myself with a cream from Dior, and its the capture r60/80. The lady at the store said that this was for those of the age 40+, but after I got a sample of it and saw that it actually worked I just had to get it. I have a huge scare of aging to soon, and wrinkles is a sign of that. This product is amazing and money well spent as it gives me visible results! I’ve had mine for about two months and only made a slight dent in the product, so this will last me atleast a year I think. For those days I dont want to put money on my face, figuratively speaking, I use the eye gel from Clinique’s moisture surge set, this one works great for giving moisture. I tend not to use this product that often as my eyelids and undereye area is not dry, but if you do this product will work wonders.

In the morning all you have to do is to take a splash of water to remove excess oils from your nightly moisturizer and to get that fresh feeling. Reapply some moisturizer if needed before you do your makeup.

Forgot to mention that both Clinique and REN is not tested on animals as far as I know. TheBalm is my favorite makeupbrand so no shock that it is not tested on animals either. As far as Simple and Dior goes, I havent found any trusted sources to tell me if they do or dont. None of the products in this guide where sponsored, I bought them all with my own money and everything that is said here is my honest opinion.

O-glow or no glow?

4. November 2011
Makeup, Review
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Smashbox has a product called O-Glow which is a silicone based blush with about the same texture as the photo finish foundation primer from Smashbox. The product won the Cosmopolitan Beauty Award in 2008 and is said to have won several other beauty awards worldwide. The blusher comes out as a blank gel and like magic it is supposed to transform into the perfect shade of pink to match your own skin type.

I found nothing magical about this product at all. One must use a whole bunch of product for the color to appear. There is more color left on my finger than on the cheek after application. I might just as well pinch myself on the cheeks to achieve the same result.

So what is this magic ingredient that transforms the gel from transparent to pink? Without having alot of knowledge in the chemical field, I dare say that it is Red Dye #27. As soon as it comes in contact with moisture, the color shows itself. It changes even on plain white paper because of moisture in the air. The reason I bought this product was because I thought it would be perfect for summer since its not powder-based, but its really useless, overrated and really hard to blend for a natural result. Maybe my skin is weird, but this product did not work for me. The price is also a little bit stiff compared to what you get. I will not buy this product again, but if you want to try it aswell you may buy it from the norwegian Coverbrands or like I did on Strawberrynet.

Beautyblender

30. October 2011
Makeup, Review
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This is a product I discovered a couple of months back. Since then I’ve used it almost every day, which means that I know this product and can give you my honest opinion.

The one rule whenever using this product is to always use it wet! When its not wet, its almost like any other sponge. Rinse the beautyblender in warm water and squeeze it inside a clean towel to get of access water. Use a good foundation and dab it quickly around your face. Now take your beautyblender and evenly distribute the foundation all over, and finish off by bouncing the sponge against you face point by point. Use the big tip for most surfaces, and the small tip for all the nooks and crannies in your face. What the beautyblender does it matting the skin, making a flawless finish! To get the perfect glowey look use a highlighter on your cheekbones.

This product was not sponsored and all the opinions is my own. You can buy the beautyblender at the norwegian Coverbrands, or like I did, on Beautybay where I got two instead of one for the same price. You might think that a sponge isnt worth that much money, but I can promise you that it is. This is an absolute must-have in any makeup collection!

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