Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Oh the last few days of Autumn and the first few days of Spring are just so delicious aren’t they? Gradually you stop reaching for your big woolly coat, those fun, floral prints work their way back into your wardrobe, your makeup becomes more fun, and you daydream of long days spent picnic-ing in the park or lazing on the sand as the waves roll in. It seems like ages since I’ve done a Face of the Day (that’s what the abbreviation “FOTD” means, for anyone who doesn’t actually write a beauty blog.) Actually looking back it hasn’t been THAT long, but still… This is a makeup look I’ve been wearing a bit lately, it feels fresh, fun and most certainly spring-worthy!

A lot of people have been asking me to do a “how-to” post on this particular look, so here it is guys: An easy peasy spring makeup look!

1. SKIN: Skin was prepped with Face of Australia Face Base Primer, then I applied Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Medium/Deep with my fingers, warming it first, before spreading it onto my skin. I followed with a light dusting of MAC Cosmetics Prep+Prime Transparent Finishing Powder. I used quite a stiff powder brush to then dust Dior Amber Diamond Highlighter onto my cheekbones, nose, and just above my brows. Then buffed the foundation over with the same powder brush. A little highlighter in the cupid’s bow above your lips never goes astray either.

2. EYES: Using the MAC Colour Added Eyeshadow Quad, from the Shop MAC range, I washed “Laundry Daze” on the inner corner of my eyes across the lid to about halfway. Then using “Self Serve” I filled in the outer corner, swept it into the crease and up towards the brow bone. I double lined my eyes, first with Australis StayPut Liner in Black, then with Smiink Eyeliner Pen in Black/Noir, flicking it out beyond my lashline a little. I finished by curling my lashes and applying a coat of Face of Australia Impact Curl Mascara — starting by placing the brush at the base of my lashes and zig-zagging it to get some product build up for added hold — then sweeping the brush upwards through my lashes. Two coats minimum, and then combed through with a final coat of Maybelline’s The Falsies Flared Mascara just on the tips of the lashes for good measure. Then blended the shadows out to remove the harsh edges.

3. BROWS: Using a q-tip dipped in makeup remover, I swiped it across my brows to remove any foundation residue, then combed my brows into place. I tamed and filled with SAX Cosmetics Perfect Brow Shaping Kit (awesome, awesome product, go and buy it now)!

4. CHEEKS: Rimmel London’s Sun Shimmer Matte Bronzing Powder works really well as a contour as well, I used the Medium shade for this look in the hollow underneath my cheekbones, across the top of my forehead near my hairline, under my jawline and down the bridge of my nose. NARS Blush in Sin provides a beautiful soft, berry pink glow on the apples of the cheeks.

5. LIPS: Face of Australia Sheer Gloss Crayon in Cupcake

6. HAIR: Bed hair by my bed

Has the warmer weather inspired you to change your makeup or your wardrobe? What changes have you made? Let me know!

Love,
Rosie
p.s. sorry ’bout the crappy photos, I’ve been snapping far too much with my phone lately. Need to take some time to stop, smell the roses and shoot things properly with my SLR!

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I’m breaking up with my foundation

Well, we’re having some time apart. As much as I love my current foundation (and really, I do), I just feel like I haven’t had the chance to experience everything that’s out there. So we had a serious discussion about our future together on the weekend.

Me: We need to talk.
Foundation: That sounds… ominous.
Me: It’s not you, it’s me! Really, you’re wonderful.
Foundation: Are you breaking up with me?
Me: I think we just need some time apart… to figure things out.
Foundation: But I’ve given you everything you ever wanted: long wear, great coverage, a matte finish.
Me: I know, and I love you for it. I’m very happy and comfortable with you. But maybe I need to try some new things. How will I know you’re the one for me if I’ve never tried anything else?
Foundation: (sobbing) Well don’t come crying to me when your face is all shiny and you start breaking out!

There were tears, and some makeup remover was spilt. But I think I’ve made the right decision. Maybe I’ll realise that my current foundation is the love of my life. Or maybe I’ll find something even better. I need to play the field a bit. See what’s out there. And reassess what I want.

So I started at the top, with a little luxe foundation haul. Chanel Perfection Lumière and DiorSkin Forever. Let’s enjoy our freedom and ogle these gorgeous foundation bottles for a moment.

Right, I think I’ve successfully run that metaphor into the ground.

Wish me luck on my quest for the perfect foundation!

What’s your favourite base? Do you have one? Or are you a player? Let me know. Leave me a note, stop by facebook or tweet me!

Rosemary xox

Dior Shimmer Amber Diamond – Wonder Dust

I was going to be all clever and come up with a headline something along the lines of “a diamond in the rough”. But, this really isn’t a diamond in the rough. It’s a diamond that’s been perfectly polished, packaged and is ready to be worn and enjoyed. I discovered DiorSkin Poudre Shimmer (Ultra Shimmering All Over Face Powder) in Amber Diamond (or as I’ve dubbed it “Wonder Dust”) on the gorgeous Makeup & Macaroons. I was so impressed with the review (and the pics), that I jumped straight onto StrawberryNet to rustle me up one of my very own.

Firstly, can I just say how much I adore buying Dior products. They are always perfectly packaged, oh so pretty and just unboxing them makes you feel like a million bucks. Velvet compact case anyone? *swoon* This little diamond is a highlighter powder made up of five differently coloured shades, which combine to create an absolutely stunning shimmer and highlighter. You can either swoosh your brush along length-ways, picking up a little of each colour, or you can be a bit more precise and choose just one or two. I chose the former, because I’m greedy. And I wanted to see what the results would be like.
I’ve used plenty of highlighters in my time: creams, liquids, powders, almost gel-like solid illuminators and I am I.M.P.R.E.S.S.E.D. The combination of colours neatly sidesteps the obvious patch or line that you sometimes get from one-colour highlighters, creating a soft, gradual shimmer wherever you use it. The extra colours also mean you can completely substitute or use this in combination with your usual blush or bronzer. The powder is super-fine, meaning a) It won’t sit on top of your foundation looking all powdery; b) It won’t make your skin look dry or cakey and c) It looks incredibly natural and blends superbly.

I created a face of the day (FOTD), with the excuse of getting dolled up to go Christmas shopping, using DiorSkin Poudre Shimmer in Amber Diamond as the basis for my look.
The products I used:
Face: Napoleon Perdis Stick Foundation in Look 4, Revlon PhotoReady Powder in Medium/Deep
Eyes: The two purple shadows from Revlon’s CustomEyes Palette in 015 Party Pops, Maybelline Eye Studio MasterLiner 24 Hour Cream Pencil in Black, Revlon Fabulash Thickening Mascara in Black followed by Australis Killer Curves Mascara in Black.
Brows: Benefit Brow Zings in Medium
Cheeks: Natio Pressed Powder Bronzer (as a contour below my cheekbones) and Estée Lauder Signature Silky Powder Blush in Peach Nuance (along the cheekbone)
Lips: Natio Lip Liner in Nude (used to outline and fill lips completely), followed by ModelCo Lip Service Lip Duo in Kitty (just the gloss).

How I used DiorSkin Poudre Shimmer in Amber Diamond: as a highlighter along the top of my cheekbones, one swoop down the middle of my nose, on my brow-bone and the outer corners of my eyes to lift the whole eye area and lastly a little bit (applied with the tip of my finger) on my cupid’s bow, for a bit of extra lip va-va-voom.

I absolutely adore this product. I love the way it gives you a nice soft shimmer, a natural glow that doesn’t look overdone or fake. It is definitely my must-have for the party season. I’m going to be using it again and again.

So lashies, what are your must-have party season products? Have you made any excellent  makeup discoveries lately? Please share! Leave your comments or tweet me. I’d love to hear from you.

Rosemary xox
p.s. all the images above have been taken with a flash