TOPSHOP Makeup

Last year TOPSHOP decided to launch a makeup line that reflect their fashionable clothes, with reasonable prices (or as they say). I dont know when exactly we had the make up in our stores because i have been out of market for a very long time!! But i am trying to compensate in my shopping sprees now :-D

I visited the Dubai Mall store and i had no idea they had make up in there, i was shopping for clothes and i saw the make up counter. My first impression that it reminded me of Mrs. Selfridge make up (if you can remember the store at Fotouh Al Khair before it was closed), but when i used it, it is definitely way better in quality.

The packaging is very cute, most of it is white with black strips and dots. But it kind of dissapoint me for not having a wide color range, they werent showing everything i've seen at the website, and the security tags and plastics were covering some of the numbers and names of the shades which ended by me getting the wrong shade of bronzer. Even the sales lady didnt help me, actually she's the one who insisted that the one i bought is the same shade i want. When i went back home and opened the package i was very dissapointed, the color was obviously darker than my shade. I couldnt go back and replace it..So i will probably give it to my sun tanned sister until i go back to store and get the shade i want.

Since they didnt have everything and i wasnt very much impressed with the available colors, i only picked up a bronzer and a matte lipstick called Desert. After using it i have to say that it is one of my favorites, i absolutely loved it, especially when i wear a MAC Kumquat Lipglass on top. The color is described as nude but its not at all, it has a lovely peachy tone into it, it even looks a bit orange in the photos (the lipstick looks very dark in the photos).

MAC Kumquat Lipglass

Image courtesy of freakdeluxe.co.uk

Image courtesy of freakdeluxe.co.uk

Image courtesy of freakdeluxe.co.uk

Image courtesy of freakdeluxe.co.uk

Image courtesy of freakdeluxe.co.uk

BURBERRY BEAUTY

Hello everyone, Eid Mubarak and Welcome back to Work. Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday :-)

I spent my Eid almost sick but thank God i took care of myself and controlled it, i hate being sick on holidays (being sick is really good during work days so i can have a sick leave lol).

Anyways, i havent been active in my blog lately, and i hope i can make it up this time and in the near future.

The thing i was very excited about is having Dolce & Gabanna and Burberry cosmetics available at Paris Gallery (Marina Mall). I have already tried the D&G cosmetics before and their lipsticks+quality is divine. Very opaque and glide smoothly, kind of like MAC's Amplified quality, even better! 

I was even glad that we finally had the Burberry cosmetics, i was so waiting for it, and excited to be able to purchases few pieces.

The big thing about the Burberry make up are the Light Glow blushes, they're very beautiful, the colors are divine and the quality is stunning. The most popular color is the Low Glow blush in Rose No.03, but my favorite is Russet Blush No.01. 

Russet Blush No.01

English Rose and Cameo Pink lipsticks

I was a bit dissapointed that the Burberry range is very small, the items were repeated alot on the display just to make it look bigger and i felt kind of stupid going over all the colors until i realized i was actually looking at the same. And i was wondering why do they all look the same on my hands while swatching hehe.

The collection consists of liquid foundation, compact foundation, sheer powder, blushers, bronzers, eye shadows and eye definers, lipsticks, lip glosses and lip definers.

The packaging is very sophisticated, its a dark grey kind-of-steel, and it closes with a magnet, very mysterious looking packaging. The magnet is really strong so if you put two packages beside each other they will stick together, and we have to be careful because when i opened the lipstick it got stuck to the blusher and it nearly hit the lipstick itself, so be careful not to ruin your make up.

Have you noticed the new face of Burberry BODY perfume? Yes, she's the new star of Transformers: Dark of the Moon and one of Victoria's Secret "Angel" models Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

You can check the line and the prices in AED at the official website http://ae.burberry.com

UNE Natural Beauty

UNE natural beauty is a new cosmetic brand developed by Bourjois supposedly mostly made of natural ingredients, some items are made of 100% natural ingredients if not mostly and part of it are organic and Paraben free (chemicals used in make up preservation).

The brand is fairly new and launched last year but i recently saw its advertisements in magazines and thought of trying it since its all natural and stuff. I know that mineral and natural make up is supposed to be good and healthy.

I didnt go wide with my collection, i only got the Skin-Glow Foundation, the Soft Minerals Powder Foundation and Breezy Cheeks Blush.

The Skin-Glow Foundation is described as a "light and moisturizing formula-fresh, luminous and ultra-natural complexion".
My thoughts of the product: there is barely any coverage, feels like more of a tinted moisturizer. I didnt feel any glow in it, maybe i should take a lighter shade since it doesnt have any noticeable coverage to be able to feel the glow.

The Soft Minerals Powder Foundation is described as "fine and light powder texture. Even, luminous and natural complexion."
My thoughts of the product: i used this powder foundation with a kabuki brush over the Skin-Glow Foundation, it didnt feel powdery or heavy which is good, and i can sense its a very light powder if its used alone.

The Breezy Cheeks Blush is described as "a cream powdery blush, instant glowing cheeks".
My thoughts of the product: yes it feels like a cream powder blush, the texture is a bit heavy but not very pigmented, even though the colors look very dark in real which shocked me at first, and i thought to myself how can a fair skined girl use any of the blushes. But they were very fine and i liked it.

But there is one thing that shocked me about the products (not the blush) that never happened to me before with any similar products (liquid and powder foundations).  After using the products and for a couple of hours i went to the toilet to just rinse my mouth after a meal, and i literally saw the product melting around the mouth area, the product was getting washed with the water. This never happened with me before with any foundation i used, ive never seen this and i was quite shocked.
For a sense of humor i thought to myself this is the perfect "Islamic foundation" for who are worried to wear make up and do ablution, this one will get washed away immediately :-)

Shelf Life of Make Up

This is a very important topic to talk about and most people dont pay attention to it. I am not very good at it, because i have alot of make up and i dont wanna throw anything especially if its discontinued or limited edition, i'd rather keep it forever (not necessarily using it) than stick to the shelf life. Bad i know!!

Now its important to check the expiry date of each item, and always check the container or the box before opening it. You will usually see a picture of an open container with a number inside it like 12M or 24M. This means that this item is best used within 12 months or 24 months from the date of opening the jar, pay attention, its opening the jar and not buying the product! Most products do tend to stay for a long time in the stores shelves before you buy it, and there is nothing harm about it except of its been there for 10 years!!

Foundation bottle marked 12M

Tinted moisturizer marked with 18M

 My tip is, for example you just bought a foundation in a bottle and just opened it, stick a label on the foundation bottle marking the date of the opening, so you will know after months or lets say a year if you're still safe to use the foundation or not..

Most probably it will not cause you anything if you used it after the marked date, but dont way exceed the limit date. If you kept on using it for a long time after the marked date it will probably cause your rash or irritation. So better be safe than sorry.

Regarding mascara, this product might be the only cosmetic that doesnt last long, usually its safe life duration is 6 months, so its better to throw it away once you exceed the period. But for me and since i use mascara almost daily i tend to finish it quickly, so i'm pretty sure i'm safe in mascaras.
(I tried so hard taking a clear shot, the mark is so small that my current camera didnt take it clearly but it says 6M).

Mascara with a 6M mark

Now for lipsticks, lipliners and eyekohl and such creamy stuff, they usually last 2-3 years but always use your nose! When you start sensing a weird smell stop using it, it probably started to rot. If you have doubted, just a small doubt, then in most cases you're probably right.

Lip tint marked 12M

Concealer marked 24M

Cream highlighter marked 24M

Eye pencil marked 12M

Powder stuff could last very long, until now i havent faced a problem with old eyeshadows or blushes, but some of them (probably cheap stuff) tend to change a bit on the surface and feels like rocks are mounting. The color payoff wont be the same..here you would know that its time to throw it away.

Blush marked 18M

At the end, always use your senses, if you doubted a little bit then stop using it. IF you really liked the color and its no longer available in market try to find a dupe before throwing it away, it will make you feel better :-)
Example Indian Pink by NYX is dupe for MAC Ever Hip (from Give me Liberty of London collection)

MAC Ever Hip

NYX Indian Pink

Hello! My Name is Yellow!

I've never dared to use such color until i watched this make up tutorial video, it looks gorgeous and very flattering in real. For my skin tone i didnt have to use a lighter shade like its shown in the video, the whole look was made by Chrome Yellow and a black eyeshadow (You can use any bright yellow eyeshadow). To enhance the color its better to use NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk as an eyeshadow base.

MAC Chrome Yellow (matte) eyeshadow

I've complimented the look with MAC lipstick in Ever Hip (Limited Edition) and Benefit bella bamba blush.

MAC lipstick in Ever Hip

Benefit bella bamba blush

Seal Your Pigment

I've noticed that every year and when the summer season "the real season" comes, which i mean by June, July and August, i always like to use MAC pigments instead of regular eyeshadows. Its maybe the pearl reflections that i love, its not glittery nor too shimmery but the reflections are so gorgeous in the summer, they wont even look too much on a sunny Emirati morning.

MAC defines pigment as "Pigment is a highly concentrated loose colour powder that contains ingredients to help it adhere to the skin. Create a subtle wash of colour or an intense effect. Does not streak or cake. Easy to blend and long-lasting. Please note: Pigments are sold by weight not volume. Containers can appear to be less than full due to settling of the product."

 

I like applying a light color all over my lid and a dark one on the outside corner and blend, blend, blend. The color will look like it's gradually getting darker. Then i use little, just a little amount of black eyeshadow for an outer corner shading, just to give it some extra deep look.

To apply the pigment on the lid you can use MAC 239 or Sigma E55, and for blending you can use MAC 217 or Sigma E25.

MAC 239 Shading brush

Sigma E55 brush

MAC 217 blending brush

Sigma E25 blending brush

MAC Vanilla Pigment is my favorite for all over lid

MAC Naked is second best

The old pigment containers

MAC Melon Pigment (old container)

Make sure you apply an eyeshadow primer before you use a pigment, and to have an intensified color you can use a mixing medium by MAC (available at MAC PRO stores) or Illamasqua Sealing Gel (Available at Bloomingdales, Dubai Mall). Lightly dab your brush in the mixing medium then put the brush into the pigment.

MAC water based mixing medium (image courtesy of Temptalia)

Illamasqua Sealing Gel

You can also make your own mixing medium and here how to make one:

- 1/3 spoon pure Glycerin.

- 3/4 spoon water.

- Container.

Put the Glycerin and water in the container and mix very well. Then you will have a water based mixing medium that will last for 2 weeks (You can buy empty containers at Daiso Store, Sephora Stores).

Image courtesy of thebeautyofmakeup