Super Light Summer Foundation Featuring Maybelline's Clear Smooth All in One

My Dearest Beauties, 

I was lucky to receive Maybelline's new Clear Smooth All in One Shine Free Cake Powder to try out. Even luckier that it turned out to be a winner product. This little powder claims to control shine all day, protect from UV, give fairer skin, conceal and smooth. It really does give you the most natural pretty almost weightless coverage for summer. I do enjoy it a lot, but as a very oily girl I have to blot my face a bit after around four hours specially around my nose. 

What I love the most is that it is not only easy to use but it is weightless and even good for your skin because of its 25 SPF sun protection. I see this product as a BB cream in powder form, honestly, for me it even results a lot better because I can't ever use a cream product in the heat without setting it with some kind of powder. I find that during summer the less layers I use on my face the more long lasting the makeup is which makes a good coverage powder with these qualities, hit the problem right on the head. The quality is outstanding particularly when it is paired with it's price point which is only 10.000 LL (6.66$).

Now that I am done expressing my love for the little powder I will walk you through my easy routine. So, after I've washed my face and slathered it with sunscreen I go on and conceal my panda eyes and my spots using Maybelline's Super Stay 24 Hr Concealer (very long lasting). Once Im done working that really well into my skin, I proceed to dip my beloved Ecotools Domed Brozer Brush into the powder and work it in circular motions from the center of my face out. I find that a dense brush is so good at buffing the product into place and making it look super smooth and natural. So that is it for my summer face makeup, easy, quick, long-lasting, natural, and light. 

Flash Photo (I look a bit white because of my really thick layer of SPF)

P.S.: I love the pearly pink packaging!

Much love,

Samar

Autumn/Winter Smokey Eye for Hazel/Brown Eyes

My Dearest Beauties,

Plums and dark warm browns are really in this season. They are not only beautiful colors to use for a smoldering smokey eye but they are also very flattering against hazel and brown eyes. If you have been reading my blog for a long time you may have seen my lovely cousin in a previous makeup pictorial, see it here. So, without further due, I am going to try to explain the steps to achieving this look.

I started off by applying Clinique's Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup, concentrating on the center of the face and diffusing it with my fingers to the edges and neck. I concealed the under eye circles and highlighted the cheekbones, bridge of the nose, center of the forehead chin and cupid's bow with Maybelline's DreamLumi Touch Highlighting Concealer. I don't rub this on the skin but I rather tap it away until it is undetectable. Applying a highlighting concealer helps to sculpt and lift the face which gives more dimension. I set all of that liquid makeup with translucent powder in order to keep the face as fresh as possible. My favorite is Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre applied with Real Technique's Blush Brush.

The key to a great eye makeup is layering. I like to start off by applying a creamy or gel type product. For that I heat the tip of my Dali pencil in Electric Mauve just a tiny bit with a kitchen lighter. This transforms it into a gel that will easily glides onto the eyelid without having to tug or pull on this delicate area. Once I apply it on the eyelid and lower lash line, I blend the edges with the warmth of my fingertips. I then pack the lovely and matte MaxFactor Mono Eye Shadow in Dark Plum #8 using an Ecotools flat shadow brush. Once again, blend, blend, blend. I love to line the upper and lower waterline of the eye with an intense Dali Black Pencil. The combination of the glittery and shimmery base with the matte shadow gives a dimensional and interesting finish to the eyes.

I take the lightest eyeshadow color in the Benefit's Cabana Glama palette and apply it to the inner corner of the eyes to bring light and open them up. I, then, use the Real Technique's Duo Fibre Eye Brush with Hoola bronzer from the same palette and blend it just over the plum color to wrap the smokey eye up and make the lovely Lorena almost look like she was born with a smokey eye on.  I also go in with the the Real Technique Duo Fibre Contour brush with Hoola again, this time I use it along the hair line, a little on the temples and on the sides of the nose to warm Lorena's complexion up.

To finish the skin off I use a very fresh and shimmery blush, on the cheeks blending it up towards the temples, from Benefit called Coralista using again a Real Techniques Duo Fiber Face Brush. Duo fiber brushes are great because they allow you to build up color slowly which helps you avoid applying too much product. Remember that it is easier to put more that to take off.

I then go on and fill in the lips with this amazing Seventeen lip pencil and then add a little shine with Dior's clear gloss. Last but not least, is L'oreal Lash Architect Waterproof Mascara on the top and bottom lashes. A smokey eye calls for a LOT of mascara. I didn't show it, but I did use some Samoa Clear mascara on the eyebrows to ensure they are not moving around.

This last picture was taken with the camera's flash on to see if the makeup passes the picture test. Help me be the judge. Tell me what you think on the comments below.

Remember that you can use any products that you have at home to achieve this look. In case you are to buy any of these, know that I only use my trusted products for makeup pictorials. I hope you found this fun and useful.

Much love,

Samar

Morning After a Night of No Sleep Makeup Look

My Dearest Beauties,

Whether you didn't get enough sleep because you were out partying or because you had too many things on your mind, makeup is an amazing tool we can use to make ourselves look pulled together and as if we got the ideal seven hours beauty sleep. Unfortunately, we have to wake up the next morning and either go to work or uni, or even just run our daily errands, but I know from myself that looking ghostly affects my mood a lot (plus the lack of sleep). Think of it as a pick me up!

You wake up with a dull complexion, extra dark under eye circles, and sometimes it goes as far as your skin breaking out. If you were out partying the smoke and alcohol dry it out completely and it looks extra dull.

I was inspired to give you my tips after a night of less than three hours of sleep that made me think it would be interesting to actually think of my makeup routine for those days when I feel like that.The aim is to add radiance to your skin, cover under eye circles and break outs, make your eyes look awake, finally boost your confidence level and even change your mood.

Face washed with cold water to tighten everything and letting the moisturizer sink in.

Face

I start by using my everyday moisturizer to give my face life again. I drink my coffee and let it sink in and work with my natural oils. I also apply some EOS lip balm to start preparing my lips for lipstick. I then go in with L'oreal Paris Le Teint Accord Parfait (equivalent to the american true match). I dot it on the center of my face and smooth it, using my fingers, out onto the edges so that I end up with no makeup lines. This foundation has a truly undetectable and satin finish. You can go really thin and cover everything or layer it for a full on look. Once I even out my face I go in to cover dark circles, and you guessed it, I am using Benefit's Boi-ing because on days like these I only use ultra trusted products. To give my face life, I apply Dali's bronzer  with my index fingertip as a highlight on the tops of my cheekbones (I find it is too glittery, shiny and light to use as an actual bronzer). This adds a little shine to my face so that I do not look so dull. Then I go in with Dali's blush on the apples of my cheeks, I blend the highlighter on the top of my cheekbones really well with the blush I added on the apples of my cheeks. Think of blending till you look like you were born with a natural flush. My tip for that is using a clean blush brush so that you blend without adding any additional product. Notice: I didn't powder! I want my skin to look extra natural and radiant. Plus this foundation gives me a really demi-matte finish which I powder only around four hours later.

Face Procucts

Eyes

When your eyes are extra swollen and have huge bags and dark circles; the best thing to do is go light on the eyes but use something effective. Think, all matte eye shadows. You want to recess the swollen lids while still adding some definition. I start by smoothing Benefit's Stay don't Stray eye primer with my ring finger tip to make my eye shadows last longer and appear more vibrant. For that, I use this NYX palette, I just apply the darkest shade (similar here in the color betrayal) of the palette all over my mobile lid and under my lower lash line (don't go too thick, we don't want to look like we got punched in the eye). I use a flat Ecotools brush to apply the color and blend it with a fluffy eye shadow H&M brush. Then, I go in with Dali's white eyeliner on the lower water line, this covers the redness and makes my eyes look wide awake. I curl my lashes with Tweezerman's lash curlers and apply L'oreal Paris Lash Architect 4D mascara. As a last note, I use the same shadow to fill in my eyebrows (it is a matte cool toned brown that is good for eyebrows).

Eye Products

Lips

I have a love affair with these Rimmel Apocalips lippies. They are the perfect marriage between a lip gloss and a highly pigmented lipstick. These are perfect with color pay off and have an amazing shine that lasts and lasts and lasts. I cannot say enough about them. Go for a peachy nude like the shade Luna, because it will make your face look a bit tan. But, you may also choose to go for a fun bright color for an instant pick me up with the shade Apocaliptic. I am obsessed.

Lip Products

Eyes Close up

Complexion Close up

What are your thoughts on this look? What do you usually go for to change your mood after a really bad night?

Much love,

Samar 

No Makeup Makeup Pictorial

My Dearest Beauties,

We all need that makeup look to resort to when we are in a hurry or maybe when we simply do not feel like putting in the effort. This makeup is even useful for school, work, a flying day,  a picnic, and for a day-to-day basis. It is a pick me up look, so that you won't look like you just got out of bed and hit the road. This look will make you look put together and to the eyes of many, it will look like you are not wearing any makeup at all, hence the name.

1. Start off with a clean face that already has all the skin care on (moisturizer, sun screen, eye lotion, wrinkle treatment, whatever it is you use).
2. Conceal. I use the Benefit Boi-ing concealer in shade # 03 under my eyes to conceal the circles. Note that I don't go all around the eye because I use the natural pigment of my upper lid as a shadow. Use the same concealer to hide any blemishes or undesired pigmentation. Make sure to blend away the edges with the use of your fingers or brushes.
3. Powder. I use stay-matte sheer pressed powder oil free by Clinique all over my face. As the name implies this powder intends to mattify your face without adding tons of coverage. I use it to set my concealer (having oily skin I don't want the cream concealer to move around and crease) and to give my complexion a more evened out look. I apply powder with a Ecotools brush.
4. Eyebrows. Don't ever forget to give your eyebrows some love, remember they not only frame your eyes but also your face; so if you are not naturally blessed with perfectly shaped brows then go ahead and give your eyebrows a little filling. I use Seventeen Longstay Eyebrow Shaper in shade 90. 
5. Mascara. I use one coat of Maybelline The Collossal Volum' Express Waterproof first and then I go ahead with Dali Vibralash, both in black. This combo gives me volume, length and separation; which results in flirty and fluttery lashes without going OTT (over the top).
6. Blush. Blush makes you look healthy and glowy, I use a natural but satin shade on my cheeks by Chanel, 99 Rose Petale. I apply blush with an Ecotools brush.
7. Lips. Finish off with a Lip Maximizer Collagen Activ by Dior. This will give your lips a nice shine, moisture and a cool plumping effect.

Now, you are all done, this literally takes me under ten minutes. It doesn't require any extravagant makeup skills and it will make you look awake, healthy and radiant. You don't need to use these same products, I just share them with you because these are the most trusted products in my makeup collection. For something like a no makeup makeup always go with your most trusted products, because you know that they won't let you down.

If only I looked like that when I wake up every morning! Thank goodness a little bit of makeup can do a lot. Tell me what you think of this look in the comments.

Much Love,

Samar

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