Makeup Tools- Brushes

Just like a plumber cannot get a job done satisfactorily without a wrench, a mechanic without some spanners, a dentist without the forceps(hehehe, just had to add that in) and a gardener without a shear, so too makeup can never be completed without the use of basic, proper tools. Not only does it ensure hassle free and easy application, but also an expertly flawless look. I LOVE makeup brushes but despise that they are so overly priced here in South Africa. But there is hope- I will be doing another post on a brand of brushes introduced here which is soooo ridiculously cheap, I can afford to buy 3 of their brushes for the price of ONE of Mac's and Smashbox's or even Estée Lauders brushes.

Brushes come in two main categories: NATURAL brushes and SYNTHETIC brushes.

Natural bristle brushes: these are brushes made from the hair of animals like ponies, goats, badgers and squirrels. Because of the soft, silky and flexible nature of these brushes, they are perfect for picking up powder and for blending. This texture allows for ease of application without poking or hurting you. Natural bristle brushes, if cared for properly, can last you a lifetime as they are naturally very resilient and durable.

Synthetic Brushes: are mainly made from nylon and are much firmer, slightly thicker(individual strands) and harder in texture. They are good for foundation, concealer, eyeliner and lipstick applications. Nylon bristles do not pick up eyeshadow properly and are terrible for blending. They are less expensive than natural hair brushes.

You have brushes for basic use and brushes that are used for precision application. If you are comfortable with simple application of your makeup, then the set of  basic brushes will suffice. However, if you are someone that loves experimenting with different looks, you'll find that you never seem to have enough of makeup brushes....


The basic set of brushes that one would need to apply their makeup is:

1. Powder Brush: a powder brush is a large headed, fluffy brush. It is great for picking up loose or pressed powder to apply onto the foundation to set it in place. It allows for an even, sheer application of the powder as opposed to sponge and fluff applicators. Must be made from natural hair(sable, squirrel)
2. Angled Brush: I love using a medium sized angled brush for shaping the eyebrows after the foundation and powder application. Use it with a brow shadow to define the brow and set the brows in place. (Natural hair)
3. Flat Shader Brush: I prefer a flat shader/ eyeshadow brush that is not dense with bristles. I feel it allows me more control in the application of pigments or pressed shadows. They should be firm and held in place tightly in its barrel. (Natural hair)
4. Crease Brush: my favorite of all brushes...A crease brush will help you pack on color in the crease area without working its way onto the lid or brow bone. Here again, I like a medium to small brush. (Natural hair)
5. Blending Brush: the name of this brush is self explanatory- it's bristles are not compacted together but are held together rather loosely(at the top) for ease of blending out or softening harsh lines. I believe that you can never have too many blending brushes. (Natural hair)
6. Eyeliner Brush: you have straight eyeliner brushes and angled eyeliner brushes. Whatever your preference, no brush collection is complete without an eyeliner brush. Gel liners are most efficiently applied with an eyeliner brush or a small angled brush. Eyeliner brushes do not have to be made with natural or sable hair. The synthetic bristles work very effectively in scooping up product and for applying.
7. Blush Brush: another one of my favorite brush types. You have the angled blush brush as well as the rounded brush. Both work as effectively. I couldn't imagine applying blush without a brush....really, how would one apply their blush 'sans' a brush????
8. Lipstick Brush: lipstick brushes provide a hygienic application for your lipsticks- even if you are the only one using them. You can easily apply product with one lined areas of your lips without smudging it all around your mouth. Use it to also apply lipgloss over. It is also super advantageous if you love mixing your colors without having to spoil your lipstick tube.

Makeup brushes are the most important beauty tool, for makeup, that you could ever own. We spend lots of money on makeup, yet use poor quality tools to apply it which can essentially be the difference between flawless makeup and makeup that leaves you looking cheap and tacky....

Which is your favorite makeup brush????

Review: Inglot Eyeshadow Trio No124R, Magenta No74, Purple No445, Light Pink No48 & Gold No25

Recently, I had a bridal group that needed their makeup done for the pre wedding function and the wedding itself. Now for me, as a norm in the way that I work, I always request at least a picture of the outfit prior to the day so I am not caught off guard only to realize that I don't have a particular shade of eyeshadow to complement or match the outfit. I am not the type of artist that would simply be content with applying auxiliary or alternate colors like silver/ gold only as the lid shade if I do not have the color of what the person is actually wearing. And.....so it happens that one of the girls from the bridal party had the most exquisite magenta outfit and I couldn't find anything in my makeup collection that would,for me, be the perfect color for the look that I envisaged creating. So, amidst a very hectic morning, I drove off to my nearest Inglot store to purchase just ONE eyeshadow....and ended up purchasing 9 Freedom Palette eyeshadows and a blusher. So with just over R1000.00 worth of makeup later(so much for self control), I created an amazing pink/purple palette that has become 1 of my favorite favorites...lol.

Notice how satiny and shimmery the # 445, 48 & 25 looks. Inglots Pearl finish eyeshadows are a dream to work with.

What I love about Inglots Freedom system is that you are able to buy refill eyeshadows, blushers and lipsticks individually to create palettes with colors of YOUR choice and know that every shade on that palette will be used as opposed to a pre built palette where most times you end up purchasing a palette just for one or two colors while the other colors remain totally unused. Money wasted....! You additionally score when you purchase more than one refill product by getting the palette absolutely FREE.

Back to my favorite favorite.....I created a 'shades of pink/purple' with the 5 eyeshadow palette with:

No 124R: this is a trio which is made up of burgundy/red/pink. The colors on this trio feels a bit hard initially to the touch and needs a bit of pressure to pick up the color. It has a matt texture which is heavily pigmented and all the colors in this trio have fine, gold reflective shimmer in them.

No 74: is a deep magenta color(the color that I really needed for that day), with specks of silver shimmer. Also deeply pigmented. This is more of a matt finish which blends really well. Easy to build up to an intense finish.

No 445: this is a lovely mix of a medium plum/ deep lilac color blended into one. It has quickly made its way as one of my favorite colors now and is certainly one of the most beautiful shades that Inglot  has invented. It has a pearl finish and is soft and smooth in texture. They are intensely pigmented and requires no effort to blend as I've come to expect from Inglot's Pearl eyeshadows.

No 48: is a light pink color. It also has a pearl finish. Super soft and smooth and literally requiring no pressure to pick up color with the brush. Easy to blend as well as to build up color from a light  to intense look.

No 25: this is a gorgeous warm bronzey gold which is not too bright/shiny or dull. It has an equal blend of shimmer and pigment(one does not overpower the other)- just perfect for day or evening use. Now, I know that this is not a pink/purple shade but it was a must have after I swatched it and I certainly have no regrets purchasing it as whenever I am looking for a gold shade to use, I most often than not, find myself reaching for my #25. It's a pearl eyeshadow that is very easy to work with. The soft, smoothness of its pearl texture is felt immediately when you swipe it.

I've always used a primer and base with these eyeshadows and found them to have sufficient staying on power with little or no creasing. There may be a little fall out- but that also depends on how you apply the shadow. If you pat it into place, it reduces the fallout rather than sweeping the brush over
the lid.

More Inglot eyeshadow reviews coming up shortly.....!

Mac Online Store South Africa

Finally and with a  great sigh of relief, the much anticipated Mac online store has finally been launched here in South Africa. Better late than never, you can order your entire Mac wish list from right here. Delivery Is FREE- yes you've read correctly. From holiday special editions to your favorite makeup tools...it's all available at this link.

A Preview of Mac's Online Store

Getting your Mac supplies have never been easier especially for those that do not have a Mac counter near them or for Pro artists that do not have a Pro counter in their city....Yay!!!

You can also subscribe to their mailing list so you are never left behind on any specials or new additions to the Mac product lists.

Happy shopping....

Before & After Pics

Simple Everyday Look!

Before & After Pics

Before & After Pics

South Indian/Tamil Bride

Eyeshadow Tutorial: Mauve/ Lilac Soft Smokey Look

Lilac smokey look using Inglot Eyeshades

Step 1

Always use a base primer to intensify the color of the eyeshadow

After priming your lids with an eyeshadow primer, apply a white base color over the entire lid area and blend out well.(Click here to learn why it's important to use a primer and base before applying your eyeshadow)

Step 2

Using a lilac shade eyeshadow, apply it to the inner 3rd of your eyelid. I used Inglots DS493 for the inner 3rd. Now take a bluish/purple shade eyeshadow and apply it to the outer 3rd of your eyelid. For this look, I used Inglots DS 491. 

You will notice that there is a defined line(marked with an arrow) where these 2 colors meet. Take a flat shader brush like the one used in the next picture and gently pat onto this line until you see the 2 colors blending into each other.

Step 3

Pat in the lightest shade onto inner 3rd

Now for the inner 3rd of your eyes, use any mauve shade of shadow that is the lightest of all 3 colors. I used Inglots DS 492. Pat into place and blend out any harsh lines as explained in Step 2. 

Step 4

Create a smokey effect to the intensity of your choice

Using more purple, blend the outer 3rd of the eyeshadow, bringing the color on onto the crease line as far in as you want to. Blend, blend, blend using a windshield wiper movement so the color starts fading upward towards the eyebrow. To further intensify the smokey effect, you could add a bit of black eyeshadow when blending out the outer 3rd.

Step 5+6

Using a highlighter of your choice, highlight the brow bone and blend out any hard lines. I used Coloressence's EP15 from their EP1 8 shadow Pearl palette.

Line your lash line. Used here is the Bourjois Ultra Black felt-tip liner. Line your lower lash line with black kohl pencil.

Step 6

Final Look

Apply your mascara to upper and lower lashes. I used The Body Shops define n Lengthen mascara.

And now you are ready to go.....hope you enjoyed this picture tutorial. Please send me pictures of your looks so we can add them here. 

What did you think of this look?

Eyeshadow Tutorial: Creative Green & Brown Look

It's amazing how certain colors when paired together look absolutely stunning, yet when on the palette, you would never even dream of having them share a common space. Bottle green and dark browns are 2 such colors. But in this look, they complement each other so well...you'd think that they are a marriage made in heaven. It's no wonder, the artist(Molly A) has aptly named it the look 'Fairy Tale'

Want to know how to create this look and what products to use? Read on to find out...

Eyeshadow Tutorial: Green & Brown Look

Makeup doesn't have to involve many colors in order to look stunning. Simple also makes statements. To create this look, I used just 2 colors apart from the highlight color.
*Priming and a base is as important as breathing when it comes to makeup.
*For the lid color, I used Mac's Sumtious Olive over NYX jumbo pencil in Horse Raddish.
*For the crease color, I used Kryolan's Brown and simply blended the 2 colors.
*For the brow bone I used Mac's Vanilla pigment.

As much as I love bold looks, I was pleasantly surprised how good this look turned out to be. I guess the saying: Less is more, definitely has some truth in it!

What do you think of this look? Would you wear ?..

Review: Mac Mineralize Blush Fad-Dabulous

Am I on a roll or what?? This week has been a week for reviews, reviews and more reviews. Thanks to the many Christmas vouchers that I have received, my makeup collection has literally grown by the day. This is my second blush review that I've ever done- I get so caught up with eyeshadows that I barely reserve time for other makeup products.

Mac Mineralize Blush- Fad-Dabulous

I had purchased this blush a while back and had even used it a few times but it failed to impress me to a point where I'd label it as one of my favorites. It's an ok overall performer but I find that it just does not give me the outcome that I've come to expect of Mac blushes- probably due to its mineralized nature.

Notice the peachy/brown colors with the fine shimmery gold specks.

The color can be described as a very warm, neutral brown which when swatched or applied has a peachy pink undertone. I know- it sounds like it has too many colors all infused in one. It is also marbled with fine reflective gold shimmer. I've read many reviews where people complained that the shimmer was very overpowering but I honestly don't believe so. I feel it gives you the perfect amount of sheen and glow perfect for day use. Some may differ with my opinion and would prefer to use it at night but I find that although the shimmer in it may make it perfect for evening use, the blended color is not intense enough to be used at night. It truly is a dream to blend but I feel that there is way too much fallout. You have to make sure you tap out excess product each time you pick up the product. It's staying power is commendable and when it does start to fade, it does not become patchy. It is almost half the normal amount of other Mac blushes- 3.2gr compared to the regular 6gr.

It's quite nicely pigmented and would be good to use to complete any neutral look- so if you are a fan of neutral shades then this is a blush you should really consider getting. In the mean time, I will be giving Fad-Dabulous  another chance to work its charm on me....

My overall rating would be a 4 maybe 4.2 out of 5.

Did you like what Fad-Dabulous did for you??? Share your experience with us....we'd love to hear from you.

Review: Mac Springsheen Blusher

It seems that I have been bitten by the review bug this week as I have been drawn to doing only reviews this week- don't know if its my way of making up for the past few weeks when I was MIA. I have mentioned previously that I am an out and out eyeshadow girl. You would rarely find me buying many different shades of lipsticks and blushers. I have very few but very versatile shades(apart from the WOW lipstick haul that I recently purchased) of lipsticks and blushes that I have become comfortable using and never really wanted to be adventurous and expand on my collection. My blusher collection mainly consists of many tones and shades of coppery reds/plums and pinks. Unable to restrain myself at Edgars Red Carpet sale 2 weeks ago, I ended picking up my very first peach/ apricot toned blush.

I could literally kick myself for not getting this color earlier as it's such an enticing shade. It gives you a warm, youthful look(and who doesn't mind looking youthful all the time) and it is great for everyday use. It gives you a healthy glow without looking overly done. I am slightly fair in complexion but not pale- so on my skin, I've never had the problem of it going on too heavy or dark. It has very fine shimmer in it but when it's blended out, it leaves an iridescent glow on your cheeks. It's great for giving any dull skin an instant splash of glow...

It comes from Mac's Sheertone collection and is part of their permanent range. It's 6gr in quantity and would last you longer than you would expect. It applies on like magic and blends into the skin magically. It's very pigmented and you can build up from a sheer to intense look quite effortlessly. It lasts quite long if it's not humid but begins to fade in about 4-5 hours if you get hot and sweaty.

Final verdict....I love, I love, I love....if ever I go through this, a replacement is definitely finding its way in my palette.

Have you had any good/ disappointing experiences with Mac's Springsheen??? Why not compliment or vent in our comment section below....

Review: Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer

Here in South Africa, we are never spoilt for choice when it comes to makeup brands and their products. Although in recent years, the makeup market has been opening up, there still is a lot of products that are readily available in other countries, which are not even heard of here in SA. One of these products being eyeshadow primers. With Mac being a popular brand here, most artists multi- use their products meant for other purposes to substitute for products that are not readily available here. I know I'm speaking in circles here and you are probably cursing me for not getting to the point.

I am venting my frustrations on the lack of availability of decent eyeshadow primers here in SA. Whilst overseas, I came across numerous brands offering quality primers that make even the most chalkiest eyeshadow stay on until YOU decide its time for it to come off. Recently, my backup Urban Decay primer started showing signs of depletion and I was back on the search for a suitable substitute.

Not wanting to spend a fortune on a trial brand, I shopped most Clicks, Dischem and Hub makeup counters with no luck. Eventually, I settled on Smashbox's Photo finish Lid Primer. I think more so because it resembled Urban Decays Primer Potion(a primer that I believe is the best in the makeup industry). I silently prayed that its performance matched that of Urban Decay's as well.

The Price: R185 for a 2.5ml tube. Now that's pretty expensive for such a little amount.

The Packaging: The primer comes in a neat little rectangular box which has enough printed information on it about the ingredients used, suggested application method, shelf life etc and even a photo of the exact size and picture of the tube on the front of the box. I especially love this layout as it saves me the time needed to open the box and pull out a pamphlet that's folded over a hundred times to get the necessary information that I need. It's a 'made in USA brand' that supports animal cruelty free manufacturing.

The Product: It comes in an elongated round plastic tube with a doe footed sponge applicator at the end of the wand. It comes in a universal shade and is oil free- making it perfect for increasing the longevity of the eyeshadow and in reducing creasing to a minimum. It contains Phytomoist, which is a plant based ingredient to help in maintaining the moisture in the area that it is used in. Once opened, it has a shelf life of 12 months.

What Did I Think: I must admit that I found this primer easy to work with. It glided on easily and smoothened out to a soft finish. The one advantage that Smashbox's Lid Primer has over Urban Decays Primer Potion is that it does not dry tight on the lid. It feels silky smooth and gives you ample working time before it sets. My eyeshadow stayed on well over 5 hours without creasing or fading. A little goes a long way and u'll find yourself just needing a tiny dot of product which spreads out quite nicely.

So I guess, until I find a better primer, Smashbox Photo finish Lid Primer will be my choice of eyeshadow primer. It has met all my expectations: a creamy formula, easy to blend, and a little going a long way.... with the exception that I find it heavily overpriced.

My Overall Rating.... a well deserved 9.5 out of 10(minus half for the price).

If you have come across any good lid primers, please let me know. I'm eager to see if there are any other brands that can match the competency of Smashbox.

Review: Mac Nocturnals- Green & Teal Set

I normally do not purchase makeup that comes in pre built sets as I prefer buying individual items(although you do end up spending a bit more) that I know I will definitely be using rather than cluttering up my draw with items that I would never use. I made an exception this past week when I bought Mac's Holiday Edition- Nocturnals, the Green & Teal set. I am a bit disappointed with this buy and need to remind myself why kit purchases are not for me.

The Price: R530 for 5 little vials- 3 of which are pigments and 2 glitters.

The Packaging: The mini vials come in a neat gift box with a transparent lid that allows you to see the product and product shades without opening the box itself. The store assistant told me that the vials are stackable- which unfortunately is not true, with or without the lid...unless I'm doing it all wrong. Each vial is smaller and works out much cheaper than the full sized Mac pigment or glitter. This has an advantage for those that prefer buying makeup in kits as you end up getting more for your money for the quantity- and honestly speaking, I'm sure majority of us will not even be able to get through the entire amount.

The Product: As mentioned earlier, there's 2 vials of glitter and 3 vials of pigment.

• Reflects Gold: is a super fine shimmery white powder that has a glint of gold in the reflecting light. I remember seeing something similar at the Inglot stands. I think this is perfect for applying over your completed eyeshadow look to give it that dancing stars effect for bridal and evening makeup. It can also be used on the body as a highlighter.
• 3D Gold: is a much grainier sparkly gold glitter. This as well can be used on the body and on the nails.
• None of Mac's glitters are recommended for eye use- which is a pity as nobody really wants to spend a lot of money on glitter that you are just going to sprinkle on your hair/ body or used on your nails. I have to admit though that I have used Mac's glitters over glitter glue to create glitter lines without any hassles. Don't know if this is just a way of Mac protecting themselves but I strongly suggest that if you have sensitive eyes or if you would just prefer to be cautious, then do avoid using their glitters on the eye area.
• Old Gold: I have been using Old Gold for the past 10 years and have come to realize that this is one of Mac's most sought after pigment in their permanent range. It's a highly shiny, metallic, olive green gold that looks very antiqued at certain angles in the light. It's highly pigmented, very easy to blend but without a primer on my lids, tends to crease after a few hours of wear time. When I've used it over a primer, I got a longer use from it with little or no fading. 
• Deep Blue Green: This is an intense blueish steel grey color that would be perfect for smokey evening looks. This is the first time that I've owned this color and already I'm loving it... It's color pay off is excellent and is soft and smooth to work with. I haven't used it to create a look with it as yet- so I can't really comment yet on it's staying power. I'm sure like any other pigment, used with a primer, will give you good wear time.
• Just Before Dawn: I was a bit hesitant to purchase this set after seeing this brown pigment in it as browns are really not my favorite shade. After playing around with it, I realized that its an excellent color to use in the crease area and when blending the outer V to a gradient. It's a medium brown that is matt in its finish and very soft and smooth to work with.

I know I will not succumb to impulse buying in the near future as when I got home, I realized that only two vials of the five really catches my eye. If I did not already own Old Gold, I would've been happy with 3 out of the 5- finding uses for the other 2 is really not my idea of intelligent shopping. But all does not go to waste as thankfully I have nieces who would be only too glad to become owners of them. 

Makeup Ideas for Green Eyes

Here are some looks that will not only enhance your look but also bring out the color in your eyes....


Photo Source: Preen Me

Review: WOW Moisturizing Lipsticks with Swatches

I've never been one to buy a lot of lipstick shades. I generally stuck to the few shades that I was happy with. Recently, I've become more adventurous and ordered a whole lot of shades from the WOW range and find myself recommending it to my clients as touch up lipsticks for their functions as they are very inexpensive and safe to use- (by safe, I mean they are not the 'made in China' brand)

They have 2 types of lipsticks in their range- the moisturizing lipsticks and the long lasting, matt lipsticks. The ones I have swatched is the moisturizing lipsticks which has about 90 different shades. I hope to slowly buy a lot more to build up a collection as I really like the quality of the product-especially since it is not overly priced.

They apply very easily with little effort and have a glide on application with no tugging on the lips. As the type suggests, it's moisturizing and has an amazingly pleasant smell. They are creamy and highly pigmented. The color pay off is excellent and did I mention that they are cheap??? Lol.

I realized after swatching them that I was attracted to shades very similar to each other in color. But, I'm not complaining as I'm thoroughly happy with each and every shade that I've bought. Right now, in Durban, u can purchase it through individual agents and the prices range from R25/R30 for a 3.8gr tube.

The swatch colors on my hand are bang on but the pictures of the lipstick itself is not the best. My apologies....

Review: Essence 3D Duo Eyeshadows- Irresistible Mermaid Kiss, Irresistible Green Dreams, Irresistible Purr-ple

Last week I purchased 3 of Essence Cosmetics 3D duo eyeshadows. Each shadow comes in 2 tones- a lighter shade which can be used as a highlighter or on the inner corner of the eyes and a deeper, darker shade that can be used across the entire lid, on the crease line or just to smoke out the look.

Each of the shadows has a nice soft feel to it and the darker shades are extremely well pigmented. What I like about them is that they are packed with fine, blend-able shimmer(and who doesn't love shimmer?) If you want a deeper intensity, try applying them wet and watch the colors POP. They have a long enough wear time on their own but if you want more than 6 hours of wear, apply them over an eyeshadow primer and base. One thing that I really loved about these eyeshadows is when a bit of pressure is used to apply it, it did not go on patchy- instead it leaves a very evenly pigmented layer that is very easy to build and blend. The lighter colors in this duo pick up powdery but once applied, gets the job decently done. They are currently retailing at R39.95 for 2.8gr of product and can be found at most Clicks, Hub and Dischem pharmacies.

Essence 3D Duo Eyeshadows

The colors that I purchased are:

• Irresistible Mermaid Kiss(No 06)-  this is a mint green color, just like the green of the deep ocean waves.
• Irresistible Green Dream-(No 01)- the lighter shade in this duo leans more towards a very pale mint green but the darker shade is more of a darker avocado green. It's an amazingly beautiful shade which you would definitely enjoy using...alone or accompanied by a complementing shade.
• Irresistible Purr-ple(No 02)- this duo comprises of 2 shades of purple from either extremes...the lighter shade borders more on a silvery lilac shade whilst the main color is an intense mauve color with shimmery blue specks. Here again....a color not to be ignored.

Swatches

Irresistible Mermaid Kiss- No 06

Irresistible Green Dream- No 01

Irresistible Purr-ple- No 02

Colors swatched without any base or primer.

Four Top Quality & Affordable Makeup Brands in South Africa

Recently, I seem to be drawn more and more to store brand beauty and makeup products and I'm beginning to realize with each day how misguided we are in terms of the make of products that we keep in our private collections. Most makeup artists and even prospective clients turn their noses down at anything other than Mac and Kryolan....myself included. Truthfully speaking, in the past few years, I would not have even considered swatching ANY other brand except Mac. After spending thousands of rands on brand named items, I became a lot more disillusioned in my beliefs as I encountered items that did not meet my expectations and which left me totally disappointed and regretful that I had spent so much on them only for it to be tossed at the back of my drawer never to be used again:(

Now I get an unusual high when I get 2, 3 or even 4 products for the price of what I would normally pay for just 1.

Here is a list of store brand makeup or beauty products that you should seriously consider experiencing. It's definitely worth the try... Being a once upon a time self confessed, die hard Mac fan, I can safely state that the products that I have tried and liked are comparable in every way...quality, duration of wear, pigmentation, texture and application.

My 4 top favorite affordable, quality makeup brands in SA.

The first brand that makes my list is:

Essence Cosmetics

I love the fact that the Essence range is extensive and well thought of it includes everything that you
would ever need- from eyebrow stencil kits to trios and quad eyeshadow palettes. Whatever I have
tried thus far has exceeded my expectations and I honestly cannot figure out how this awesome brand had escaped my makeup radar. They can be purchased at Clicks and The Hub stores.

WOW Cosmetics

Super, super cheap range of quality products catering for all ages and skin types. Here again, the range extends from makeup brushes to eyeliner stickers and ANYTHING else in-between. Am LOVING the range of lipsticks(have 19 colors out of the 30 some odd shades in the moisture range). The gel liners are TO DIE for. I have just placed an order for 12 of their single eyeshadows. Oh, and did I mention their range of eyelashes??? Need I say more??? I didn't think so....! WOW cosmetics is available in Durban only through private agents at the moment. There possibly are a few pharmacies that stock them but I am not really aware of which ones.

NYX

A brand boasting an extensive range of makeup goodies as well. The color range of their eyeshadows and lipsticks are endless and what I especially like about this brand is that they are often introducing combo editions that keeps their fans waiting and guessing. They are a little higher priced than Essence and WOW cosmetics....with good reason I suppose. There are a lot of NYX eyeshadows whose colors very closely resemble Mac eyeshadow shades so if you are finding that Mac is not within your budget range, check out our Mac/NYX dupes. Their quality also is something worth raving about. The only place that I have seen NYX products is at Clicks.

Catrice Cosmetics

I have very recently discovered Catrice whilst browsing through a local Hub store. I am simply taken by their eyeshadows and they are priced from R39 for 2gr of product. I was very attracted to the
texture and pigmentation of their products and will be posting reviews of my purchases in a few days. Their prices are so reasonable that you can have the luxury of experimenting with many of their products without feeling guilty. Catrice is a 'sister brand' to Essence cosmetics and are available at Clicks and selected Hub and Dischem Pharmacies.

So far, these are my 4 favorites that top my list and I'm hoping to add more along the way. If you know of other worthy products, give me a shout out so we can share them with the rest....

Review: Catrice Eyeshadows(420- Talk Like an Egyptian, 640- Don't Touch my Mosserati)

I've always been an eyeshadow gal and I can never resist the temptation to buy when I come across a good brand that offers quality and affordability. I usually end up with many similar shades of eyeshadows made by different companies simply because I just cannot resist them. Tempting my weak sense of makeup willpower is another brand that I have recently discovered- CATRICE. Catrice is the 'sister' brand of Essence which was launched by ex Miss South Africa Cindy Nel and her husband Clive Roberts. Now Essence has been a hit ever since it was launched here in 2009 and I can see that Catrice is going to be giving it some stiff competition. Both products are European brands and we can all breathe a sigh of relief as that eliminates the 'made in China' phobias.

Like Essence, Catrice offers an extensive range of makeup products which are priced well below the budget of the average buyer. It's a very trend focused brand that revises their range every 6 months and releases one trend edition every month to keep up with the ever changing trends. Once a color is taken off the shelf, the chances of a reappearance is very slim- so if you see something that you are super impressed with, purchase backups upon backups as you may never be able to set your hands on it again- and with their crazy low prices, you certainly will be able to afford many backup purchases for future use, lol. Their products are of premium quality and are not tested on animals.

I purchased 2 of their eyeshadows a week ago despite me having so many of those colors already in my collection.

The Price:  R34.95 for 2gr and it has a shelf life of 24 months

The Product

• 420- Talk Like An Egyptian: which is a pearly beige gold color. It feels a bit sheer but when packed on with a brush, has good color payoff. It's excellent for creating a shimmery, luminescent sheen on the eyelid and can be paired beautifully with almost any other color. It's perfect to use as a highlighter on the brow one and on the inner 1/3rd of the eye.
• 640- Don't Touch My Mosserati: this is a rich dark green with shimmery gold specks. It picks up effortlessly and applies like heaven. Once it's packed on, the gold specks even out leaving you with an intense pearly green color with a goldish undertone that dances in the moving light. It kind of reminds me of the 'mother of Pearl' effect without the multi colored hue.

Swatches

Pros

• I love the packaging- very elegant looking. The eyeshadows come in a transparent case without any distractions of labels and images allowing you to appreciate the color the minute you lay your eyes on them and without you having to open it.
• It has a luxurious, soft, velvety feel to your touch.
• A firm, single swipe is all it takes to pack on the color.
• It is extremely blend-able and lasts the whole day with an eyeshadow primer.
• It is intensely pigmented.
• It is very affordable- the price is definitely not an indication of its quality.

Cons

• There is heavy shimmer fall out from the gold shadow- which I couldn't remove as I had already applied my foundation. Although on the lid, I loved the shimmery effect, under the eye area, it was a nightmare. To overcome this, apply a thick layer of powder under the eyes and once you are done, use a fan brush to clean up. Leave foundation application for after applying the eyeshadow.
• Be wary...u might develop a strong addiction!!! They've got me addicted and I can't help purchasing LOTS more from their product range...

Brand Name Makeup....Rip Off or Justified???

All of us have grown with the mindset that the more we pay for something, the better the quality. We tend to look past the fact that we should never judge a product by its price tag...I too belonged here not so long ago until I forced myself to become more broad minded about price and quality. I cannot deny that makeup brands like Mac, Inglot, Bobbi Brown and others have some really good products out there however, I cannot condone the prices attached to their products. I have learnt the hard way, that we certainly are not paying exorbitant prices for their quality only, as I have recently come across many product brands that are not as well advertised or are not sitting in designer decorated aisles, that match or even exceeds the quality of these overrated and overpriced brands. What we are really doing is footing their bills of advertising, staff salaries that are designated to particular makeup houses, fancy makeup lighting blah, blah, blah....

To put my money where my mouth is, I have come across something which I felt I had to share with you. Whilst surfing the internet recently, I was directed to Mac's online store and noticed that Mac did not have their own brand of eyelash adhesive but instead sold a brand called 'DUO'. I then remembered that Inglot also sold the same adhesive for their eyelashes.
Wait....It gets more interesting....Mac resales the DUO eyelash adhesive for....wait for this...a whopping R290 for a 14gr tube. The very same product is sold by Inglot for R149. Now that is a difference of R145.....you can get up from the floor now...there's more to read lol. You could actually buy 2 of the very same product at Inglot than at Mac!!!! and, and, and...the quantity is the same. WHAT THE HECK!!!!

The Proof is always in the Pudding....

Does the product perhaps turn to gold once it's reached the hands of Mac.??? Am I missing something here??? Are we ALL missing something here?? I know what I have been missing...my marbles!
Now if that does not blatantly spell out 'daylight robbery' and set off alarm bells, then I definitely am an idiot.

There's nothing much left to decide...NOT justifiable at all...total rip off. Create your brand so that it becomes affordable to all...and do not use superior quality as the reason to overcharge the very people that are helping you survive....

Have you come across any proof of overcharged products??? Share them with us....

Makeup Looks: Silver & Teal Smokey Look

This look started off as a simple silver and black smokey look but then we decided to give it a pop of color by adding the teal blue. We were more than impressed with the outcome.

Products Used

For the Face

• Smashbox face primer
• Kryolan Dermacolor corrector- D2
• Kryolan cream foundation- OB3
• Kryolan translucent powder- TL2
• Mac blusher in Breezy
• Gold/Pink shimmer powder above blush line to highlight cheek bone

Doesn't she photograph beautifully?

For the Eyes

• Mac Shadestick in Overcast as a base for the eyeshadows
• Mac Elektra for inner 1/3rd of the eye
• Mac Freshwater for middle 1/3rd 
• Kryolan Black for outer 1/3rd 
• Mac Knight Divine to smoke out crease area
• Mac White Frost for highlighting brow one
• Star Dust pigment over the White Frost on brow bone
• WOW glitter dust over entire lid for more glamour
• WOW gel liner
• Mac eye pencil in Smoulder to line waterline
• BodyShop mascara
• Store brand fake lashes

For the Lips

• Lipliner- WOW No 15
• Lipstick- Mac Rocker 
• Clicks brand lipgloss

Take it up a notch by applying some lip gloss