MAC COSMETICS // BLUNT BLUSH

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HAUL // BUDGET BUYS

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Contour // My Go To Contour Powders

I use quite a few contour powders and over time I've grown to create a collection that works well for me and my skin tone and by request I'd be happy to share them with you guys!

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Anastasia Beverly Hills Custom Contour Kit

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Lorac Tantalizer Baked Bronzer

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MAC Sun Power Mineralize Skin Finish Natural

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Sleek Bronze Block

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My Bronzer Collection

The search for bronzers for Women of Colour can be a REAL LIFE STRUGGLE.

Bronzers were practically non existent to us (must be that WoC are so dark they must not need it...KMT) a few years ago. 

Ridiculous I know!

Thankfully with time and more awareness, a few brands (very few) have really stepped up and are starting to realise that even WoC need bronzer from time to time.

I've been on a search for bronzers suitable for WoC like myself for a long time, I've purchased more than a few duds (NYX, Seventeen, B. is for Beautiful) which are now collecting dust but I've also come across a few gems which I'm going to share with you today.

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Valentines Day Look: Bronzed Glow

With Valentine's Day almost upon us I thought it would be good to create a few looks that you could wear on a date or a night out with your girls for all the single ladies up in hurr!

This is the second look I came up with (you can see the first HERE) this is a really subtle but effective look, here, instead of a bold red lip we're making the focus your natural glow.

Now, a natural glow can be hard to create especially if you're not an angel but fear not! 

With the right products it can be achieved!

Click To Enlarge

Brows 

I started off by filling in my brows with a generic soft dark brown pencil, I then set my brows with Maybelline's Brow Drama in Dark Brown. To clean up my brows I applied MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC50 at the top, NC45 at the bottom for a natural highlight.

Face

Start off with your favourite flawless finish foundation, mine is MAC's Studio Fix Fluid in NC50.  
Once buffed into the skin well, start highlighting. 
We want our highlight to be noticeable but in a good way, I would recommend going in with a full coverage concealer no more than 3 shades lighter than your skin tone. Here I am using the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in SX11, this concealer is great and really effective in creating a glow/highlight to the desired areas. I applied the SSE to my t-zone including my philtrum and my chin. I blended this in with a fluffly brush and then set it all with a light beige eyeshadow from my JC Paris 28 Neutral Palette.
I've found the key to a natural highlight in blending out harsh lines, I used my 

Inglot AMC Pressed Powder in 60 to blend out concealer as well as to set my face.

I also used my Ben Nye MediaPRO Poudre Refill in Mojave Americano to contour (my new favourite contour powder!)

I then went in with my Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure, this a great neutral plum toned blush with not too much shimmer, really subtle but gorgeous.

Afterwards for warmth and more of a glow I used my Inglot AMC Pressed Powder in 68 for bronzing around the perimeter of my face and my neck. For more highlighting I used Illamasqua's Powdered Metal in Ether along the same areas in which I used SSE.

Eyes

I started with MAC's Studio Finish Concealer in NC45 for a base. I then applied La Femme's Sparkle Dust in Antique Gold all over the lid (applied with a damp brush)

I used fluffy brushes to apply the Dark Brown and Black e/s from the JC Paris 28 Neutral Palette to smoke out the edges.

I always use Inglot 335 e/s  as a transitional shade, it's the perfect warm terracotta colour for my skin tone.

For a bit more shimmer I placed Inglot 406 e/s on the exact center of my eyelid lid using my finger for precision. This gives a 3-Dimensional effect when your eyes close, a little something extra that can help a lot with simple eyeshadow looks.

I wanted to keep this look soft so instead of a black liner I used a soft brown pencil in my waterline, I smudged this out with the brown e/s from the JC Paris 28 Neutral Palette paying more attention to the outer third of my eye for definition.

Next I applied several coats of my favourite mascara Maybelline The Falsies Waterproof Mascara in Black.

Lips

Lips are very simple!

I firstly started out with NYX Lip Pencil in Brown to outline my lips.

I then went in with the beautiful nude Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Dulce Caramelo, however this didn't really provide enough coverage for me so I went in on top of that with my Kiko Lip Gloss Pencil in 11.

I then applied my favourite lipgloss NYX's Miami Babe to warm up my nude lip.

Last but not least, I finished with my setting spray, the NYX Makeup Setting Spray in the matte finish.

And viola!

Done!

A wearable and relatively easy glowing skin look for Val's Day!

Your date is sure to be impressed!

MWAH...don't forget to send me one back, I don't have the lurgies...I promise!

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Guerlain Terracotta Moisturising Bronzing Powder in Ebony 08

If you're a regular reader of the blog you would have seen me mention this beaute on more than one occasion.

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Vamptress

Hi guys!

I wanted to share with you this quick FOTD that I posted on my Instagram the other night.

I love experimenting with make up and this is what I was doing when I came out with this look.

Below is the product list:

Face: 

ELF Eyebrow Lifter and Filler in Ivory/Dark
Maybelline Brow Drama in Dark Brown
MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC50
NYX Concealer Jar in Orange
ELF Mineral Personal Blend Foundation in Dark (mixed with Ben Nye Topaz Powder) 
LA Girl Pro Concealer in Fawn
ELF High Definition in Yellow
MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC50
ELF Mineral Blush in Peachy
MAC Blush in Format
Guerlain Terracotta Bronzer in Ebony 08

Eyes:

MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC50
Makeup Geek Gel Eyeliner in Immortal
Benefit's They're Real Mascara
Maybelline The Falsies Mascara

Lips:

MAC Nightmoth Lip Liner
Coloured Raine Lipstick in Plum Fairy

Contacts:

Freshlook Colourblends in Grey


I really love everything about this look especially the lips, Nightmoth and Plum Fairy are near identical in colour giving you the perfect vampy lip!

I also used a few new products which have swiftly become some of my favouties including the ELF Mineral Personal Blend Foundation which is FANTASTIC and the gorgeous Guerlain bronzer that I have been lusting over for months now!

Reviews will be up shortly for both!

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Summer Beauty Lush List

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Summer means new make up! 

Plain and simple!

I've been looking for new additions for my summer beauty lush list and I think I've done prettttty well!

Check out details below:

1. Guerlain Terracotta Moisturising Bronzing Powder in 08 Ebony - I came across this bronzer whilst window shopping in Beauty Base. The thing I loved about this bronzer was it's shade, suitable for women of colour and just stunning in tone. I've been dreaming about it ever since I swatched it! Pricey at £34.00 but you get what you pay for with luxury make up! LUSH!

2. MAC Prep + Prime BB Beauty Balm SPF 35 in Medium Deep - If you are a regular reader of DOS you would know about my love of BB creams. I love their light weight consistency and the ease in which you can apply them.

I literally received the email regarding the new shades of the MAC BB creams yesterday! I am so happy that they have now released darker shades, it would be silly not to really. I have figured out that I am the shade Medium Deep but will be making my way to MAC just to make sure. Can't wait for this one and with SPF 35 too which is fab for summer! UPDATE: Medium Deep is FAAR too light. Maybe not for this one!

3. Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush in Spicy - If you watched my IMATS haul you would have seen that I already own a watercolour blush; in the colour Dare which I love but I originally wanted the colour Spicey.

Spicey is a warm orange that would really compliment my skin tone and would give a gorgeous summer glow! 

4. MAC Smoked Purple Lipstick (Pro) - I first saw this lipstick on Instagram and when I did I instantly fell in love! Granted it isn't a summeriest colour but I've really been reaching for my dark lippies lately.

This is a matte dark purple which is just stunning, if you don't believe me see for yourself. Smoked Purple is from the MAC Me Over collection which was released 2 years ago (late, I know!) however it can be purchased from the MAC US site and I believe this is now a Pro lipstick. Will definitely be seeing if I can pick this stunning lippie up!

5.  Diorskin Nude Tan Natural Radiance Bronzing Powder in 007 Mocha - As you can tell I'm falling in love with bronzers. It is so difficult and almost  impossible to find bronzers for my skin tone so when I do find one I fall for it immediately! I came across this bronzer whilst walking around Boots. It is just urgghhh, BEAUT-TI-FULL! Mocha is a gorgeous burnt brown with slight shimmer that compliments women of colour perfectly! Once again slightly pricey but this is Dior!

6. OCC Lip Tars - I love these things! So much so I can't even choose what colours I want, I just want them all! 

Right now Anime, Pretty Boy, Yaoi and Beta have caught my eye. That's the shortest my list can get! 

I love these lip tars and the great thing is they can be used to create custom colours for your lips. Lip Tars are an absolute winner in my books and a great product for summer!

Do you own any of the products?

Do you have any recommendations? Let me know in the comments section!

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