Product Review: Maybelline Super Stay 14 Hr Lipstick

My Dearest Beauties,

Matte, long wearing and pigmented; I say these are the main characteristics a lot of ladies look for in their lipsticks. Guess what? The Maybelline Super Stay 14 Hr Lipsticks have all of those three plus an amazing color selection and an impressive creamy texture that sets into a beautiful velvet feel.

They have been around for a while now and I think they are a very good option to wear out to work, or a brunch, or even a night out on the town. Their long lasting power is sure not to fail you.

I have three shades that I consider beautiful and pretty wearable. Judge for yourself!

The shades from left to right: Always Plum 260, Stay With Me Coral 430, Non-Stop Red 510

I'm wearing Non-Stop Red

Have you tried any of the shades? What are your thoughts on these lipsticks?

Samar

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Must Have Beauty Products

My Dearest Beauties,

Call it whatever you want to call it, makeup bag essentials, basic beauty products, or all the makeup I own; these beauty products are the building blocks of your collection and even your makeup routine. I think that some of you ladies that don't really care for makeup own at least one of the products I'll mention.

1. Concealer, because at one point in your life you thought I need something to cover the huge zit on my chin! Concealer is a must have and a savior because if you choose the right shade you get to be flawless in the most undetectable ways. No more under eye circles or blemishes.

Retrieved from www.makeupforever.com

2. Blush, because who doesn't like to look healthy and glowy? I know I do, and as a makeup junky I consider it very important because again I like looking healthy and glowy.

Retrieved from www.chanel.com

3. Eyebrow Pencil/Powder, specially as we get older our eyebrows start to get bald spots that make our eyebrows actually lose their purpose of framing our faces. Eyebrow product is a basic!

Retrieved from www.anastasia.net

4. Mascara, plus eyelash curlers. They go hand in hand, the eyelash curlers open up your eyes and the mascara helps your get darker lashes which will compliment your eyes and make them pop, no matter what.

Retrieved from www.lorealparis.com

5. Lipstick, in any shape or form, go for the formula and and variety of shades that make you feel like a million bucks. Creamy nudes, candy pinks or Valentino red shades, have the selection that works for you.

Retrieved from www.benefitcosmetics.com

These are the beauty products that I consider essential in any lady's beauty drawer, but, I would love to find out what are your must haves, leave them down in the comments.

Much love,

Samar

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

Product Review: Samoa H2O Lashes Mascara

My Dearest Beauties,

Let me just start by saying that this is straight out a really good mascara. At 15,000 LL (10$), it performs excellently! It is a waterproof and volumizing formula, it really works amazingly at volumizing and maintaining the curl all day long (I'm a straight down eyelash girl, and the only thing that keeps my eyelashes curled is a really goof waterproof mascara). My eyelashes are not only very straight but my eyelids tend to get really oily and a lot of mascaras give me the not so cute panda eyes, this one thankfully is waterproof enough not to allow that to happen; I even tested it at the gym and I didn't get any signs of panda eyes.

One last thing that I surprisingly really enjoy about this mascara is the wand. At first I saw it and thought it was too gimmicky for my liking but the shape of the brush is actually really good at getting those hard to get little hairs on the inner and outer corners of the eyes.

No Makeup & No Curled Lashes

Makeup & Curled Lashes

After Coats of Samoa H2O

I applied several coats without dipping the wand back into the tube to get this much volume and length. Mind that I do like clumpy lashes, but if you don't, just get an old and clean mascara wand and comb through them to get separation. What do you think?

Much love,

Samar
  

Product Review: Clinique Chubby Sticks

My Dearest Beauties,

The Clinique Chubby Sticks are, in my opinion, a product for those type of girls that love the effortless and the "I didn't bother but still look beautiful" kind of look. Anyone can rock them, really, because they are a tinted lip balms that come in the most practical packaging. Don't worry about sharpening because they are twist up jumbo pencils that are easy to throw on your lips and purse. These are so cool that you don't even need a mirror. 

The Chubby sticks are very sheer but with slightly build-able pigmentation. They are moisturizing on your lips and they give you that "my lips but better" kind of look.

I personally really enjoy them and have the following three shades.

07 super strawberry, 11 two ton tomato, 13 mighty mimosa

The chubby sticks have been around for a while now, have any of you tried them? What are your thoughts? Is there any specific shade you recommend me?

Much love, 

Samar

How to Pull Mac's Saint Germain Lipstick Off

My Dearest Beauties,

The Saint Germain lipstick by Mac is very popular and it is also, in my opinion, not so easy to pull off. I have a little technique to make it look really pretty and still have that very light color and blue under tone.

Use Dali's lip liner in the shade No 55. Line your lips and fill in the corners. Think of making an ombre effect that fades in the center.

Dab the lipstick straight from the bullet. Once you have the intensity that you desire then proceed to rub your lips onto each other, think that you want to make the lipstick stick to your lips and blend with the lipliner.

You'll be left with a lovely and delicate powder pink shade on your lips. I love to wear this combo in winter because of it's cool undertones.

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 

Back to School Makeup Look + Mini Product Reviews

My Dearest Beauties,

Reem and I wanted to come out with a makeup look that is wearable and durable. We also wanted it to give a very a awake and healthy look provided that it'd be almost undetectable. We came up with this.

I picked out products that I know last a long time and don’t need any touching up during the day. Now, the main thing to keep in mind with a back to school makeup is that the main aim is to look pulled together and presentable without much effort. These simple steps will make you look much more awake and ready to attack your day at school with full confidence.

All these products are pretty affordable and easy to find. 

Maybelline Super Stay 24H Concealer. Use this to lightly conceal under eye circles and any blemishes. This formula is very long lasting and doesn't move at all (not even on my oily skin). Dusting some loose powder is good to lock it in place just to make sure you won’t have trouble with it.

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24HR in shade 45-Infinate White. Apply this to the inner corner of the eyes to make your eyes pop and look more awake. This cream shadow sets and doesn't move at all. Great for school! 

Dali Brown Khol Pen. Apply this to line the outer corner of the eye (top and bottom). You can smudge it with a finger for the undetectable definition or you can leave it as it is and have super defined eyes. I chose brown because it is a lot more natural than black. This eyeliner pen will give you great color pay off and it will sure stay put all day.

Samoa Clear Mascara. Brush it through your eyebrows to tame them and keep them in place all day.

Dali Mosaic Blush Powder. Apply this to the apples of your cheeks to give yourself a healthy look. This product has great color pay off so be careful and don’t over apply. Remember you can put more but you can’t take off. So start with a small amount and build the blush to get the desired effect. This product is really cool because you can swirl your brush through the tiny squares and create your custom blush shade.

Maybelline The Collossal Volum’ Express. Apply a couple of coats to your lashes and get the most voluminous clump-free lashes ever. I love this mascara. It gives an amazing effect and it doesn't smudge at all, which is one of the most important features in mascara.

Bourjois Rose Cachemire-82 Lipstick. Apply to the lips. I love this shade because it is very pearlescent. So it looks like a gloss but it actually is a lipstick, which gives it more longevity. 

There you have it. Easy and with the use of not so many products. I hope you like this look. Tell me what makeup look you wear to school. 

Much love, 

Samar

When Makeup Goes Wrong: Foundation

My Dearest Beauties,

Today, I am addressing a mistake that is, I believe, one of the easiest ones to make. Foundation that is too light or maybe too dark. When your facial makeup doesn't match your whole body you will kind of look like you borrowed someone's face. When matching foundation, it is essential to think that our foundation perfectly matches the skin tone of our body not the color of our face. We always think that the color of the foundation should match our face but the fact is that most of us ladies either have lighter or darker faces. As I have said before in my foundation post, you should always match your foundation to your chest, shoulders, hands and your neck. I said neck last, because most of the times our neck is much lighter than our bodies. With foundation it is all about the big picture.

In this picture I just applied my winter foundation shade, I only use this when I am at my palest. That is a very important point as well, try to always have two shades as a minimum. One for winter use and another for summer, unless you don't go up and down shades in between seasons.

Wearing a different color of foundation also makes you give the impression of low self esteem, because it may seem to some people like you are not comfortable in your own skin. Remember, makeup is designed to make you more beautiful, to highlight your best features, and hide some of your tiny imperfections. Not to give you a new face.

I don't get extremely dark during summer and that is because I don't expose myself to the sun much. You may not be able to see a huge contrast between my face and my body but it is different, it doesn't look as natural and I don't look as healthy as I usually try to look.

I hope these tips were useful. Don't worry I have committed foundation shade suicide before. Just go to your favorite makeup counter and spend as much time as you need until you get the perfect shade. You might also need to go outside and make sure that the shade looks okay under natural light.  

Much love,
Happy Eid,

Samar xoxo

You might also like to take a look:
Diffused Eyeliner Look
When Makeup Goes Wrong: Nude Lips

A Review: Dali Eye and Lip Liners

My Dearest Beauties,

Dali is one of those brands that we see at the supermarket and at some makeup stores all the time. They have a wide selection of makeup and nail polishes. Dali is an inexpensive brand yet the most impressive in terms of quality. Today, I am going to be reviewing the eye and lip liner pencils that I have collected throughout time. Whenever I am at the supermarket I always take a look at the Dali counter and pick out a nail polish or some kind of liner.

Let me tell you about the eye liners in depth, they are phenomenal! They are very inexpensive, they stay put all throughout the day and the color selection is amazing. I just love these! From the black shade to the other more fun colors, these eyeliner pencils are a must have in your collection, they will not hurt your pocket but they will add a lot to your makeup kit. I personally use them on my lower lash line or even as an eye shadow base. They are so well pigmented and formulated that they work wonders under eye shadow, you will see how your eye shadow will appear more vibrant and will last longer when you apply and blend these on your lids underneath the shadow. These pencils are super soft and easy to work with, which is, again one more plus. I do not have all the shades but there are many more available, Dali offers some matte liner and some shiny ones.

From Left to Right: No 101, Electric Bronze, Electric Pistache, Electric Sky, Electric Mauve, Electric Deep Blue, No 09

The lip liners are equally as good quality. They are creamy and easy to apply and they stay put for very long. Again I don't own all the colors, but that is because I use the same lip liners with different colored lipsticks, just to give dimension to my lip colors. They are very well pigmented as you can see in the image and again, you can pick them up from your local pharmacy or supermarket for a great price.

From Left to Right: No 55, No 60, No 62

Have you tried Dali products? What are your thoughts? Tell me in the comments below!

Much Love,

Samar

Diffused Eyeliner Look

My Dearest Beauties,

Today, I bring to you a very easy way to fake eyeliner and to get a variety of looks from one single very well pigmented black eye shadow and a pair of brushes. I am using NYX eyeshadow in Black ES01 and a dual brush from H&M, that has an angled brush on one end and a smudge brush on the other end.

This look can be worn as soft or as strong as you prefer. It is all about building layers of color. If you are not an expert with eyeliner or simply don't have the patience for a perfect liner look, you can always refer to this method. It is so versatile that you can wear it soft for work in the morning and very strong in the form of a smokey eye at night by just adding and blending in some more layers of shadow.

I started with a flesh toned color all over my eyelid. This will not only make your eyelid a uniform canvas but it will also make the other shadows blend more easily.

Then I simply drew a line with the angled brush from the outer corner of my eye up, as if I were to join it with the end of my brow. I do the same on both eyes. I then push whatever product is left very close to my top lash line.

Once you have done that go ahead and flip to the smudge brush and blend this line inwards to the center of my eyelid and crease.

This is optional but you can add some to your lower lash line. Join the lower lash line with whatever you have done on the top. Don't forget to blend.

That is the finished look. And I said before you can make it stronger by just repeating the same procedure all over again until you get the intensity you are looking for.

What do you think of this way of faking eyeliner? Tell me in the comments below, if you like it and if you would try it! By the way, excuse my baby hair that just decided to be rebellious.

Much love,

Samar