LOTD: Sparkle and Smoke

The weather has been super hot in London at the moment and the minute the sun came out I… decided to wear a really smokey eye?! Hey, it just felt right!

Eyes: MUA Undress Me Too palette, Hi-Fi Paparazzi Flash Powder in Vengeance, Kiko Precision Brow Pencil in 04.
Cheeks: MAC Mocha
Lips: Dior Addict Ultra Gloss in Little Red Dress

Even though I wanted some smokiness, I kept my brows light and not too precise and skipped anything on the waterline, and went for some gloss rather than a stronger red lip than I might have done. This is pretty much the only eye look I’ve done that involves more than mascara for the last few weeks though, I simply haven’t been bothered with makeup in this heat – a bit of BB cream, mascara and a bright lip and that’s pretty much been it.

Labyrinth Mini Series Part 3: Ludo

SMELL…BAD!

Aw, Ludo is *so* adorable! He’s such a nice beast! I was really excited to do a look based by him. I was wondering how I would fit his horns in seeing as they’re really the wrong shape for liner, but I think working it into my crease shape actually turned out quite well.

I used: Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Permanent Taupe, Fyrinnae Damn Paladins, Sugarpill Flamepoint, Illamasqua Vapour, Fyrinnae Moon Child, dark brown from Sleek Storm Palette, Darling Girl Fire Inside, Barry M Dazzle Dust in 66, Inglot Duraline, Hi-Hi Cosmetics Down In The Underground, NYX JEP in Milk, FashionistA gel liner in Dressed Down Chic, Collection 2000 24/7 Extreme pen liner in black.

I wish I’d found a way to get his shagginess in, but there’s a lot going there already. Flamepoint is applied over Permanent Taupe, so that’s why it’s not as vibrant as it normally is – I didn’t want a super bright orange. Also, sorry for the messy part at the corner of my eye – it just kept watering and wouldn’t stop!

Labyrinth Mini Series Part 1: Sarah

Ohhhhh yes, kids! I’m going to do a little Labyrinth mini-series for you! Labyrinth is my favourite film and if you’re an even-slighty-geeky girl around my age, I bet it’s one of yours as well.

 

I’m going to kick it off with a really simple, pretty look inspired by Sarah, and then hopefully they’ll get a bit more exciting!

Eyes: Hi Fi Cosmetics Mornings of Gold, Sleek Eau La La Liner in Cocoa, dark brown from Sleek Storm Palette, MAC Gesso, Darling Girl Vicar in a Tutu,
Cheeks: Almay blush in 130 Peach, NYX Mosaic Highlighter, ELF Studio Radiance Enhancer
Lips: Wet and Wild MegaLast Lipstick in 909D, MAC Viva Glam Ricky lip balm.

Really really simple look for Sarah as she doesn’t wear much makeup, even in the ballroom scene. I didn’t think doing something fussy would work for her. I went much thicker on my brows that I normally would, a la Jennifer Connelly, and kept the eyes really subtle and shimmer. The lid is more of a white-gold, more like her waistcoat she wears throughout the film and then the inner corner has more of a green shift, more like her ballgown dress. I could have used things with less of a pink shift to them, but Mornings of Gold is from Hi-Fi’s old Labyrinth collection so pretty appropriate!

I went for coral lips, like the lipstick she uses to draw her marks when she’s in the Labyrinth and a coral flush to match even though Jennifer is pretty pale. (Would you not be blushing around David Bowies “bump”? You totes would.)

Stay tuned for some funkier Labyrinth looks, folks!

Blix Remix!

I don’t think it’s a secret that I think Blix from Glitter is My Crack is super-duper awesome, so I was really excited when the Never Too Much Sparkle challenge was to do a version of one of her looks. I fannied about for a while choosing which one to do, because she has a lot more lid space than me and often uses a lot more colours than I would. I finally settled on this glitter look, reasoning I couldn’t  balls it up too much!

Sorry about the ol’ pizza face there. Spots being spotty :(

Eyes: Sleek black, cream and brown from Bohemian palette (lid, crease and brow bone respectively), Fyrinnae Moon Child (inner corner), a mix of Hi-Fi Paparazzi Flash Powder in Vengeance and Darling Girl glitter in Jingle Bells.
Lips: Covergirl Lip Perfection in Flame
Face: MAC Cream Colour Base in Move Star Red, Evil Shades Burlesque.

I don’t think I did too bad! I should have brought the black further past the crease, and Blix didn’t blend hers out with a brown, but the black from this palette is really hard to blend and it was stop or ruin the whole thing. The glitter isn’t as vibrant either, but does look better in real life – you can’t really tell, but Vengeance has a royal blue in there as well, which is so pretty! I like the placement of glitter more in the centre of the lid – I’d be inclined to put it on the outer third of the lid normally. Thought I’d stick a picture of me with me ol’ glasses on as I always wear them, but never show them on my blog.

My awesome necklace (if you don’t think it’s awesome, we need to have words) was custom made and is from Velvet Volcano.

Black and White

Another look from the Never Too Much Sparkle’s (Wendi’s facebook group) weekly challenge. I haven’t done a black smoky eye for a very long time – to be honest, they scare me and even though I (think) I know what I’m doing most of the time I’m very wary of looking like Jordan/I’ve been punched in the eye. Anyway, I gave it a stab and tried to make the look more fun with some rhinestones and funky lips.

Not too shabby, huh? My top tip for black smoky eyes is to always blend the edges out with a purple or a navy as it stops it looking so harsh. I really liked this look on me – it’s not normally a placement or shaped I do, but I liked it a lot! The lips, however…

..Did not photograph so well. I don’t have the top lip for this look!

And nor did the white ones. I guess I’ll leave that to Jessie J. I also was playing around with foundations that day, which is why I look a bit darker/orange than usual. The hair dye on my head is down to stupidity.

Eyes: Sleek black, cream and purple from Bohemian palette, Hi Fi Phantom Stranger. MAc Reflects Black glitter. Maybelline gel liner. Rhinestones from eBay, lashes from local beauty supply.
Lips: For black/white: Barry M white Kohl, Sleek Pout Paint in Cloud 9/Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Zero and Inglot Sleeks Cream in 99. For the white, Barry M white Kohl, Sleek Pout Paint/
Cheeks: Benefit Hoola, NYX Mosaic Powder in Highlight.

Purple Party Look and Tutorial

I filmed my first tutorial yesterday! I hate Windows Movie Maker. Haaaaate. I also hate my other half (who I inevitably have to ask for help) for taking the piss because I bother to enunciate in the video. Annnyway, here’s the look, using one of the most beautiful shadows ever, Hi-Fi Between the Stars <3

Git yo’ hood up.

Eyes:
MUA Professional Eye Primer
NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk
Hi-Fi Cosmetics Between the Stars (lid)
Purple from Sleek Bohemian Palette (crease and lower lashline)
MAC Gesso (to highlight, not shown... I'm not sure what happened to that clip!)
Kryolan Aqua Color in white
Collection2000 Extreme 24/7 Eyeliner pen in Black
Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy
Wet n Wild Mega Sparkle Confetti in Lilac Frosting
Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama gel liner
Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in Dark Brown
Maybelline One by One mascara
Brandless eyelashes from local afro beauty supply shop.

Lips:
LA Colors lipliner in Smooth Plum
Gosh Light N Shine Lip Glaze in No 5

Face:
L'Oreal Studio Secrets Primer
Revlon Colorstay in 150 Buff
Hard Candy Glamoflague concealer in Light
Evil Shades blush in Violet Fire
NYX Mosaic blush in Highlighter

 

…And here’s the tutorial! Please let me know if you like it and then I will attempt to make more D:

 

Hi-Fi Cosmetics Evil From Beyond Collection

Hi everyone! So sorry I’ve been a bit of a slack Alice on the posting front – lots of things going on in Robyn land this week. But I managed to swatch the fabulousness that is Hi-Fi’s 2011 Hallowe’en offering. I utterly adored last years Hallowe’en collection and the sample sets from Hi-Fi are a pretty good deal so I couldn’t not grab these.

Swatched on bare skin on the top and Pixie Epoxy below.

 

L-R: A Demon in Your Bed ,The Vampire Club , Book of Lore, Supulchre,  Hell Hath No Fury.

A Demon In Your Bed and Book of Lore look very similar here, but BOL is a deep murky green whereas ADIYB is pretty much a straight up charcoal colour. I’m in love with Hell Hath No Fury – its got lots of green glitter and a beautiful glow to it. Sepulchre is a very nice murky silver and I don’t think I need to say much else about The Vampire club other than I have a ton of looks planned for it already!

 

 

L-R: Bela Lugosi, Miss Fortune, A Vampire Scorned, Straight to The Devil , Damned Soul

Click to enlarge this one! I wasn’t really looking forward to A Vampire Scorned as I have lots of metallic reds and they never get used, but this one has lots of tiny purple glitter and larger gold glitter throughout – subtle but stunning. Straight to The Devil stole my heart right away (although with all the red glitter to me it screams Christmas!) and Miss Fortune is gorgeous. I thought it was very similar to Darling Girl Honey Pot but it reads much more green than Honey Pot does. Bela Lugosi is stunning – a light, bright pinky purple that I can’t wait to use as a highlight colour. I probably won’t use Damned Soul all that much as I’m not a huge fan of glittery blacks, but if you are, you can’t go wrong with this one. It’s BLACK!

 

A few looks? Okay!

 

Bela Lugosi on the lid, Vampire Club in the crease, Book of Lore on the lashlines.

Hell Hath No Fury on the lid, Damed Soul on the lash lines.

Miss Fortune in the crease, Straight to The Devil on the lid and A Vampire Scorned as liner.

 

I’ve not got as much chance to play with these as I like, but rest assured they’ll be making some appearances soon!

 

Did you buy any Hallowe’en collections? What are your favourite Hi-Fi products?

Hi-Fi Cosmetics Looks

I’ve seriously neglected my Hi-Fi colours of late, which is very foolish of me as I have so many beautiful colours from them. If you’ve not tried Hi-Fi, I’d really recommend them, the shadows apply like a dream and they have a huge range to choose from. So without further ado, here are some photos of my eyeballs with Hi-Fi schtuffs on them!

 

Hi-Fi Creeper on the lid, Phantom Stranger on the inner corner (both Halloween 2010), Inglot Pearl 402 in the crease and lower lashline. Lips are MUA 11.

Lid, Hi-Fi Between the Stars and Ulta Gel Liner in Ink. Lower lashline, Hi-Fi Another Day Another Drama over Sleek Kajal Liner in Odyssey. Brow highlight, Hi-Fi Mornings of Gold. BTS and MOG are from the Labyrinth collection.

Lid, #1 hit Single. Outer V/lower lashline,Hi-Fi Dark Carnival. Hi-Fi Omen in the crease. Brow highlight is the white from Sleek Acid.

Well, sorry for the dodge full face photos and the shitty close-ups from the last look – I spent time on my makeup that morning (i.e, more than ten minutes) and almost forgot to take pictures before I was out of the door! But see what I mean about the pretties?

I’ll have swatches from the Evil From Beyond (Halloween 2011) collection up soon, as well as more hi-Fi looks (shall I do a Love Week for Hi-Fi?!) so keep your eyeballs peeled. You can see swatches of last years Halloween awesomeness here.

Lip Maths: Pens at the ready...

 I need your undivided attention today, class. The simplest theories are often the most important ones. Observe:

High Voltage Lip Candy in 'Vavavoom' + Hi Fi Spotlights Lip Glaze in 'Corrode' =

Hotness that is most certainly inappropriate for school.


Gloss addition has come up in every single exam paper for the past 10 bajillion years, and it's sure to come up again and again. When revising your stash, I strongly encourage you to practice the lipstick/gloss equation.


I'd be a crap teacher, wouldn't I?

The power of suggestion....

A few days ago, I reverted to my favourite 'emergency' colour combination of purple and green:







Eyes:
Lid: Hi-Fi Cosmetics Another Day, Another Drama
Crease: Evil Shades Zombie
Lower Lashline: Living Dead Grrl That's A Fact!
Inner Corner: Evil Shades Wyvern

Cheeks:
I THINK it was MUA Shade 2.

Lips:
Gosh Light N' Shine Lipglaze in no5

Nice colours, and I haven't used Zombie or ADAD in an age, but I've done green and purple a lot lately. So I asked on my blog for a couple more suggestions. Pixie_a_la_mode suggested yellow and gunmetal:





Eyes:
Lid: Barry M Dazzle Dust in Yellow
Crease/Lower Lashline: Sleek 'Gunmetal' from Bad Girl Palette

In my head, I envisioned this as more of a soft cut crease with the yellow extending further up toward my browbone, but I got halfway through this look and remembered that Barry M Yellow is horrible. It's just... the glitter particles in it make it look nasty. I should have done this with a matte yellow, and perhaps something like Evil Shades Double Barrell, as I thought Gunmetal leaned a little blue. You live and learn, I'll be returning to this combo soon.

Beauty's Bad Habit suggested pink, brown and cream, which I thought sounded pretty!




Eyes:
Lid: Maybelline Monowear shadow in Sand
Crease: Combination of pinks from the Sleek Good Girl Palette (can't remember which ones, all the top row though!)
Outer V: matte brown from Sleek Bohemian
Lower Lashline: MUA Intense Colour liner in Malt Chocolate
Waterline: Nyx JEP in Milk, white from Sleek Circus

Cheeks:
MUA Blusher Shade 1
Accessorize Baked blusher in Pretty Pink

Lips: MUA lipgloss tube, shade 2

I loved this combo, particularly as it gave an excuse to use the Good Girl palette! I think I should have used a warmer brown as this one looked a bit purple once blended with the pink, but hey. The colour placement was inspired by the lovely SilhouetteScreams, of course.

It's soooo nice to have people on hand to help you choose colours! Feel free to bung more suggestions in my direction.

Upcoming posts, I'll have some swatches and looks of the the Paraguaya palette from the Sleek Avior La Peche collection, a review and swatches of High Voltage Lip Whips and some fun with a Wet n' Wild Stars N' Rockets dupe! Oh, and some pics of stuff I've done for photo shoots if anyone is interested? *shy* Oh, and please take a lil vote on the poll on the left, if you would!


Robyn xxx