This month I wanted to kick off a few new series, and this is the first of them. Birthstones are the inspiration, and as such – you’ll see one a month, unless there are multiple options or additional inspiration. By no means is this anything new, but it’s something that leaves a lot of room for interpretation.

One of my favourite birthstone series was done by one of my favourite YouTube gurus EmsyJay. Browse through her videos to have a look at her work.

Birthstone Series: Sapphire

Face

• Revlon ColorStay Makeup / 370 Toast
• MAC Studio Finish Concealer / NC42
• NYX Lip Liner Pencil / 1000 Years
• MAC Brow Set / Clear
• MAC Mineralize Skin Finish / By Candlelight (highlight), Brunette (blush)
• MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural / Medium Dark
• MAC Blot Powder / Dark

Eyes

• ELF / Eye Primer
• MAC Eye Shadow / Moon’s Reflection (inner half), Submarine (outer half), Contrast (outer v & crease)
• MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural / Medium Dark (transition)
• MAC Mineralize Skin Finish / By Candlelight (brow highlight)
• Bobbi Brown Gel Liner / Denim Ink (upper lash line)
• N.Y.C. FlatLiner Eye Pencil / 866B Metropolitan (lower lash line)
• L’Oreal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara / Carbon Black

Lips

• NYX Lip Liner Pencil / 1000 Years
• Maybelline Mineral Power Lipcolour / 200 Nude Shell

Birthstone Series: Sapphire 2

Birthstone Series: Sapphire 3

Birthstone Series: Sapphire Close Up

For the third installment of the series, I decided to go with purples.  Purple is great year round and tends to be universally flattering, especially for those with green and brown eyes.

Intense Smokey vs Subtle Smokey

I used the same products again, with the exception of using the plum liner as a coloured base to bump up the intense look.

• Urban Decay Primer Potion / Original
• Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner / Plum
• Maybelline Eye Studio Color Plush Silk Eyeshadow / Purple Icon 30)
• MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural / Medium Deep (transition colour)
• Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner / Blackest Black
• Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara / Very Black

Purple Icon Review:
If you’re into purples, this quad will definitely grab your attention.  The first shade is an iridescent white gold, with a pink/lilac shimmer to it. The second shade is a stunning example of a light purple with a pink duochrome effect. While there is a visual difference in the pan and in swatches, the third plum shade didn’t really do much for me. The deepest shade, a smokey purple is absolutely gorgeous.

There is no denying the colours are gorgeous in this quad, but I found that the shimmer finish was really overwhelming here. I wasn’t able to fully appreciate the subtle shift in the third colour because once applied, the reflection takes away from the depth of the shade. All but the second shade are quite shimmery with noticeable glitter, which in my opinion is just too much for most people. On a more positive note, the formulation is consistent with the other quads, and is very soft and easy to blend.

Which of the two looks do you prefer, or do you like both?

After the bright aqua of the first installment I decided to go with something more neutral.  This second round of looks is featuring the Eye Studio quad in Sunset Seduction.

Classic vs Smokey: Sunset Seduction

Just like the first time around, I used the same products for simplicity’s sake.  The one exception was the liner.  In the classic look, I used the charcoal gel liner, whereas in the smokey look I used the brown liner for the waterlines.

• Urban Decay Primer Potion / Original
• MAC Paint Pot / Coral Crepe
• Maybelline Eye Studio Color Plush Silk Eyeshadow / Sunset Seduction (100)
• MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural / Medium Dark (transition colour)
• Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner / Charcoal
• MAC Eye Pencil / Coffee
• Maybelline XXL Pro Extensions Mascara / Very Black

Sunset Seduction Review:
Visually, I found this quad to be rather unassuming.  It appears to be a typical neutral combination, but in truth there is nothing typical about it.  The first colour is a very pretty iridescent pink, which blends perfect with the peach shade.  The third shade is a slightly plum tinted brown, which adds a nice cool element to the warmth of the other colours.  The fourth colour is a rich, deep brown which is dark enough to contour and line softly with.

Again, the formulation is easy to blend and leaves a very smooth finish.  Like the last quad, there was one colour that wasn’t quite as smooth; the dark brown.  In comparison to the aqua of the last quad, the brown had a lot less fall out but I feel like they shared the same infusion of gold.  I found myself left wanting for a matte shadow, but again I just used a face powder to blend out as necessary.

I quite like this quad and I feel like it’s a great way to get into the peach & coral craze for the summer months.

Which of the two looks do you prefer, or do you like both?

A while ago I received the Eye Studio Kit to review and after taking some time to test the products, I’ve decided to run an eye of the day series through June featuring the quads.  I will be featuring some of the other products as well, but the focus will definitely be on the quads.  I’ve also decided to add mini reviews to the posts as well, so that I can share my thoughts for each specific quad – rather than just a general overview.

As the first post in the series, I wanted to feature Irresistibly Ivy because this is my favourite quad of the bunch.  I actually bought it myself before I received the kit, because it really caught my attention.  Two looks were created to showcase the versatility of the quad.  I know that some people can be thrown off by bright colours, but this deep aqua shade is very wearable – whether in a more bold look or in something a bit softer.

Dramatic vs. Soft: Irresistibly Ivy

I decided to used the same products for both looks to keep things straightforward and simple. Again, it just shows that with the same products you can come up with a variety of looks depending on your preferences.

• Urban Decay Primer Potion / Original
• Styli-Style Line & Seal 24 Twist for Eyes / 172 Emerald
• Maybelline Eye Studio Color Plush Silk Eyeshadow / Irresistibly Ivy (90)
• MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural / Medium Deep (transition colour)
• Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner / Blackest Black
• Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara / Very Black

Irresistibly Ivy Review:
What really grabbed my attention with this quad was the colour combination, the three neutrals make for a great look on their own but the added aqua really bumps it up.  Personally, I feel like this is the quintessential summer quad because aqua is such a great look for the season.  When you use it all over the lid or just along the upper or lower lash line, the pop of colour switches up the usual gold/bronze looks you see at this time of year.

The formulation of the shadows is quite nice and they blended easily, although I did find that the aqua colour was not as smooth as the others.  This might be due to the infusion of gold through it, which is pretty – but I did need to clean up some fallout after using this colour.  My only major problem with this quad (and with the entire line) is that all of the colours are frost or shimmer.  This is a personal preference, so I just used a face powder in place of a matte shadow to blend things out to my taste.

All in all, I think this quad is pretty good and definitely worth checking out.

Which of the two looks do you prefer, or do you like both?

For this look I decided to try an experiment. I picked up a Maybelline quad at the drugstore the other day, and when I got home I realized that I could dupe it with some of my MAC eye shadows. So I put together a quad of similar colours and used Maybelline on one eye and MAC on the other eye. It’s mainly to demonstrate that using a good base and strong application techniques can have to very different products looking similar.

Amethyst Smokes Close Up Open

Can you figure out which side is which?

Amethyst Smokes

Face

• Maybelline Super Stay Makeup 24HR / Honey Beige
• MAC Brow / Stud
• MAC Brow Set / Clear
• MAC Mineralize Blush / Gently
• Ben Nye Luxury Powder / Banana

Eyes

• Urban Decay Primer Potion / Original
• L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara / Carbon Black
• Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil / Ransom (waterline)

One side:

• Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow / Amethyst Smokes
• Lid (upper lid, above crease, lower lid)
• Brow Bone (inner corner & brow bone)
• Crease (in crease)
• Outer Corner (in crease, outer v, upper & lower lash line)

Other side:

• Lid = MAC Fashion e/s
• Brow Bone = MAC Crystal Avalanche e/s
• Crease = MAC Poison Pen e/s
• Outer Corner = MAC Mont Blanc e/s

Lips

• E.L.F. Studio Line Lip Primer
• MAC Cremestick Pearl Liner / Lush-N-Lilac
• MAC Creamsheen Lipstick / Lavender Whip
• MAC Dazzleglass / Pleasure Principle

Amethyst Smokes 2

Amethyst Smokes Close Up Closed

I also filmed a tutorial for this look, but at the moment it is quite long. If I can figure out a way to edit it down, it should be up in the next day or so. Otherwise, I’ll re-do it if anyone really wants to see it. :]

Even though today is the first day of fall, I figured I would add the third installment to the Pre-Made Palette series. Just like the first one, this quad came out of MAC’s Cult of Cherry collection last fall.  It’s a beautiful cool toned palette, great for those who love purple.  The colours are extremely versatile and allow for subtle day looks or more intense evening looks.

Quad Look: Shadowy Lady

Face

• Korres Vitamin E Face Primer
• Make Up For Ever HD Foundation / 153 & 170
• MAC Eye Brows / Stud
• MAC Brow Set / Clear
• MAC Powder Blush / Plum Du Bois
• MAC Blot Powder / Dark

Eyes

• Too Faced Shadow Insurance
• MAC Paint / Art Jam
• MAC Eyeshadow / Lightfall, Smugded Violet, Shadowy Lady, Tete-A-Tint (upper)
• Lightfall, Smuged Violet, Shadowy Lady (lower)
• MAC Technakohl Liner / Smoothblue
• MAC Eyeshadow / Deep Truth
• Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner / Black Ink
• Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash / Blackest Black

Lips

• MAC Cremestick Liner / Caramellow
• MAC Frost Lipstick / Frenzy
• MAC Lipglass / Underage

Shadowy Lady Quad

My favourite colour in the quad is Smuged Violet. It’s a very pretty purple, and it’s unique in my collection. The texture is unique as well (though easy to work with), it is labelled as a frost but it strikes me as a fusion of a frost and a lustre.

As much as I love this quad, I definitely have had better luck when I use it with a similar toned base. My favourite base to use with it is MAC’s paint in ArtJam. This may be because of my skin tone, but the base just adds a depth that is otherwise absent.

Quad Look: Shadowy Lady 2

Quad Look: Shadowy Lady Close Up

This is the second installation of my summer look series: Pre-Made Palettes. This particular palette was my first experience using Too Faced eye shadows, the three colours I worked with I was very happy with. Once I’ve used the other colours, I’ll post a review.. but onto the look!

Palette Look: High Impact Shadow Collection

Face

• Make Up For Ever HD Foundation / 170
• MAC Eye Brows Crayon / Stud
• MAC Brow Set / Clear
• MAC Gel Blush / Just A Pinch
• MAC Mineralize Skin Finish / Warm Blend

Eyes

• Urban Decay Primer Potion / Original
• Too Faced Eye Shadow / Boy Toy, Socialite, Full Frontal (upper)
• MAC Eye Shadow / Soba, Blanc Type (upper)
• Blanc Type, Socialite, Full Frontal (lower)
• MAC Fluidline / Blacktrack
• Annabelle Smudgeliner / Ohmygoth! (water line)
• Too Faced Lash Injection Mini Mascara / Black

Lips

• MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner / Soothing Beige
• MAC Cremestick Liner / Gingerroot
• Revlon Créme Gloss / Crush On Coral

Palette Look: High Impact Shadow Collection 2

Palette: High Impact Shadow Collection

This palette is part of a set that came with a full sized tube of Too Faced Shadow Insurance primer. The colours used in this look had a decent colour payoff and the texture was very smooth and easy to blend. The colours aren’t particularly unique however and I think a similar look could be created using Pink Venus, Expensive Pink and Glamour Check eye shadows from MAC. As with most palettes however, it’s convenient to have the colours all in one place.

Palette Look: High Impact Shadow Collection Close Up

This is my first installment of the summer look series: Pre-Made Palettes. I thought it appropriate to start with one of my all time favourite PMP; Spiced Chocolate.

Quad Look: Spiced Chocolate

Face

• Tarte Clean Slate Face Primer
• Make Up For Ever HD Foundation / 153
• Make Up For Ever HD Foundation / 170
• MAC Lustre Drops / Sun Rush
• Annabelle Smudgeliner / Ohmygoth!
• MAC Gel Blush / Just A Pinch
• MAC Lustre Drops / Sun Rush
• Make Up For Ever HD Powder

Eyes

• MAC Paint Pot / Indianwood
• MAC Eyeshadow / Nanogold, Brash, Sweet Chestnut, Spiced Chocolate, Tete-a-Tint, Blanc Type (upper)
• Brash, Sweet Chestnut, Spiced Chocolate (lower)
• Annabelle Smudgeliner / Ohmygoth!
• Lancôme Définicils / Black

Lips

• Blistex Lip Medex
• Lip Pencil / Half-Red
• MAC Amplified Lipstick / Vegas Volt

Spiced Chocolate Quad

This quad was released with MAC’s Cult of Cherry Collection in the fall of 2008. It was one of the most popular pieces of the entire collection, but interestingly enough – it’s very easy to mimic with colours from their permanent collection.

Nanogold (lustre)
very similar to Vex (frost)

Brash (veluxe pearl)
very similar to Coppering (veluxe pearl)

Sweet Chestnut (frost)
very similar to Cranberry (frost)

Spiced Chocolate (matte)
very similar to Handwritten (matte2)

Cranberry eyeshadow isn’t a part of my collection (yet?), but another excellent (although limited edition) alternative is Heritage Rouge pigment.

Quad Look: Spiced Chocolate Close Up

I decided last month that I wanted to do some sort of a summer series when it comes to looks. Of course, coming up with something different is always a bit of a challenge, since they are so many beauty blogs and vlogs out there.

What’s the idea?

When I go through my collection, the one thing that always catches my eye are the pre-made palettes/quads/trios. I love them, but since I’ve started depotting and buying pro-pans for my 15 (26) slot pro palette , I don’t reach for them as often. So, what better time to dust them off and show them some love?  Now, I do realize that a number of pre-mades are limited edition, so I’ll try to suggest some similar colours that are more easily accessible if I can. Or if you know of any, leave them in a comment.

Some of what’s coming up:

• Deluxe Shadow Box [Urban Decay]
• Eye Shadow Insurance Policy [Too Faced]
• Jade Jungle [Annabelle]
• Piccadilly Punk Double Decker Beauty Palette [QUO]
• Pink Punk and Black [Lancôme]
• Spiced Chocolate [MAC]