Pics Using The 120 Eyeshadow Palette

Model: Alyssa Chaves
Photography by: Dustein Sibug

I did her makeup under difficult circumstances- in the car parked in a quiet place but it rained that I had to continue doing her makeup with my hubby holding up an umbrella for me. The color pink wouldn't pack and kept falling off. The colors were difficult to blend on top of UDPP. This was not the look I had in mind but I had to innovate a little because of the faulty blending and packing.

Practicing it on myself. It is easier to blend without a primer.

Attempting face painting on my niece

120 Eyeshadow Palette

This eyeshadow palette is a hit among youtubers and bloggers. My guiding principle in purchasing cosmetics or any goods for that matter is that you get what you pay for. I don't usually fall for cheaper alternatives unless the feedbacks are really good, otherwise they'd end up gathering dust or locked up in the closet. By scrimping, I end up paying for more.

As a makeup artist, branded products are the easier way to go, but the ability to hunt for more affordable but good products is a skill to be learned. Otherwise, your fees will keep on surging to keep up with the pricey arsenals. If practicing, it's good to start with cheaper alternatives. Think of it this way: when practicing how to drive, using a cheaper, less advanced vehicle like a jeep, will make you a more adept driver who knows how to work it in difficult circumstances. If you start on an automatic transmission, power steering and all, you will enjoy the comfort of it that you will no longer be willing to drive a less powerful and cheaper car because it will put you in a very stressful situation. Same goes with makeups: if you know how to make an ebay 120 eyeshadow palette work, you will have no trouble shifting to a Mac or Make Up For Ever palette. If it's the other way around, you will complain a lot and might even ditch the 120 palette and stick to the branded stuffs and practice on really expensive products. For me, the 120 palette is a good buy for practicing creative makeup because of the striking colors but you will have to deal with its weaknesses.

When my 120 palette arrived, there were about 10 colors that cracked. It was enveloped in a very thick layer of bubble wrap yet it didn't prevent them from cracking. When I dipped my brush on some intact colors, they went phloof and disintegrated as well.

Here's my assessment of it:

PROS:

• Cheap- I spent less than P1000 or around $21 including shipping (which was pricier, by the way)


• Wide color selection.  You get a variety of dime- sized 120 colors. You won't need  pool-sized eyeshadows to practice, anyway.


• Highly Pigmented- no need for a primer on this one. Bold, striking colors in a single wipe. You will enjoy making rainbow patterns and let your creative mind go wild. You can go face painting using this palette.


• It came with a free gift- a travel size brush set

CONS:

• They crack big time-It was a good thing I still had my binder and pressed them back together.


• Some colors are not that great- when I tried fuschia pink on my model, it wasn't as good as it looked. It won't pack and kept falling off. I had to keep retouching only to fall off again. It was too powdery.


• They won't blend when used on top of UDPP. I didn't get the look that I wanted in my model because of the blending problem. Lesson learned: No primer should be used for this palette.


• It has a scent. A baby powder but not an overpowering kind of scent.

Verdict: 3.5/5.0. A little messy to use with the powdery consistency of some but the pay off of most colors is worth it. Good for practicing.

Do I regret purchasing it: At first, when I saw the cracked colors but when I started practicing on them, the colors were amazing.

Will I repurchase? Maybe not in a long time. By the time I consume all the colors, I will be skilled enough  to move on to Ben Nye, Kryolan or other professional theatrical makeup lines.

Smashbox Ultimate Palette

I was about to sleep when an email alert caught my attention- the Smashbox Glam Holiday Kits which include this one:



A $225 value that you can get for only $59! The palette contains the following:
70 eyeshadows
8 cream eyeliners
8 lipglosses & 4 lipcolors
2 blush shades
brow tech
soft lights
4 brushes

Smashbox does not ship internationally but since my friend will be coming home from the US, I lost no time in ordering one for myself. Darn, I broke my no-buy rule. But hey, this is a limited edition and a chance too good to pass up.

This is available online from Smashbox.com. Avail of a free mini fusion soft lights in Celebrity for every $50 worth of purchase. Use the code: Celeb. I 've been smacking my head when I forgot to use this code upon checkout. I must have been too excited about my order.

Gel Liners From Coastal Scents

Yup, you've read that right. Coastal Scents introduces its latest addition to their products, the gel liners. Your addiction to fluid eyeliners doesn't have to come at a steep price. The Coastal Scents Gel Liners are only $6.95 each, with 10 colors to choose from. These babies are said to be highly pigmented and should last all day. Will it deliver its promises? Let's find out. Let's wait who gets to review it first. Probably I'll dish my own when I do get my hands on it it. The color selection is interesting. It should be nice for creative makeup.

Preparing For Halloween

Halloween means a time for scary face paint designs and costume parties. My nieces hate make ups but love face painting. I'd probably get more freaked out if they loved make ups more than I do. For our bonding session, I got them face paints from a local store (Toy Kingdom at SM Department Store). I couldn't believe that I could actually find these stuff in this side of the country so I grabbed three sets, each at only P49.75 or a little over $1.

As much as I want to try famous face paint products from Mehron, Ben Nye or Snazaroo, I 'll make do with what's locally available. The important thing is that they aren't toxic.

I previously bought face crayons and a mini palette at national bookstore but these sets have more color selection. I haven't opened them up but will do as soon as the creative bug bites me, will then start practicing.

Make Up Artist Booboos To Avoid

With make up schools aiming to professionalize the field of makeup artistry, there are things that separate a professional make up artist from just anybody who wants to play with colors and brushes. Sometimes, passion isn't enough and manners do count. The following are acts that are often neglected but committed by make up artists who do not realize the importance of taking care of their client base.

Follow these rules so no one will be left traumatized by your carelessness:

1. Don't break your client's neck. Make sure she's in a comfortable position when you do her makeup. Let her sit with her back leaned against the chair, do not let her hyperextend her neck for several minutes to adjust to your moves, unless she's from an elastic superhero descent. It will strain her muscles leaving her in pain the next day as if she went on a boxing match instead of a pampering makeup session.

2. Do not rest your hand on anyone's face, especially on her delicate eyes. This is bordering on barbaric. Some strokes need careful and precise motion that can fatigue your muscles but it doesn't give you an excuse to transform her face into an armrest. Your hands should be as light as air when working.

3. Do not blow into your client's face. Some cosmetics need to dry before you can proceed to your next step but please, be hygienic enough not to transfer the germs from your mouth even if you don't suffer from halitosis.

4. Say "Please". When you want your client to move in a certain direction, say " look up, please," or "close your eyes, please." Do not move her head with force  or instruct her in a dominating fashion even if you become the most famous make up artist in the world.

5. Use sponges or brushes. When doing your own makeup, you could get away with using your hands in applying makeup. There are certain cosmetics that blend more easily with the heat of your hands. Some claim to have better control in blending using bare hands. I personally started on this technique in applying makeup to my own face but when working professionally, use a tool. Some people don't fancy the idea of your hands touching their delicate skin.

6. Make sure your sponges or brushes are clean. Use 1 sponge per client. When doing makeup of several faces in one setting, having a different set of brushes for each person may be impractical. Sanitize your brushes with alcohol or wipe them off with wet tissues in between clients.

7. Do not wear a strong perfume. Your work needs getting close to another person and although you want to smell good, don't overdo it. You might trigger some allergic reaction from people around you or cause them migraines. In the same way, please don't smoke before a makeup gig. Tobacco is not a very pleasant smell to stick on one's face. Bring mints or breath fresheners, instead.

8. Do not gossip in front of a client. Talking about another person in a malicious light does not make you look professional at all. If you want respect, earn it. For all you know, the person you're backstabbing may be a relative of hers or in case of celebrities, she may be a closet fan of the one you're dissing.

9. Do not talk about another make up artist's mistakes or ditch a competitor. If you are truly good in your craft, it will show in your works. You don't have to make another artist look bad to make yourself appear better.There is no Hippocratic oath among makeup artists to protect their colleagues but do have the decency not to spread negative talks.

10. Do not pry into your client's personal affairs.  As much as you want to build rapport with your client, do not ask rude questions and intrude her private life unless she volunteers information. Be a good listener, interact nicely but do not cross the line.

Bottom line is, have some finesse, be gentle, courteous and hygienic. Observe professional demeanor at all times.

My Strawberrynet Package

Last week, I received my orders from Strawberrynet.com after 7 days. How cool is that? Shipping was free and each item was neatly wrapped and safely packed in a small packet parcel.

I ordered for a Smashbox High Definition Healthy Foundation in Light 4 shade plus a Laura Mercier Secret Concealer. I got a 14% discount as a returning customer and a freebie Stila Lip Glaze stick in Fruit Punch. The Smashbox order came with a free sample of a Photo Finish Primer as well. I'm a sucker for freebies and big discounts.

The Smashbox foundation, my first HD makeup, looks very promising. I have tried it for a couple of days and I'm loving it so far. I don't know how it would compare to Make Up Forever's HD foundation because I haven't tried the latter. If only I could find an online store that sells MUFE. Being in this part of the country can get frustrating as I don't have access to the high end cosmetics save for online shopping.



The Laura Mercier concealer is similar to Cinema Secrets in consistency and just as good, with minimal creasing on the undereyes.

The Stila lip glaze stick is lovely. It's too good to be for free.

I will have to test the products longer to give out a fair judgment of my recent purchases but so far, so good. I am all praises for Strawberrynet for the quick shipping and huge discounts.

Strawberrynet Bonus Pack Specials

Strawberrynet.com is offering 40-70% off from brands such as Chanel, Lancome, Clinique, Christian Dior,  Stila and more. These are some beauty sets at marked down prices:



Stila Vanity Fair set consisting of:
Eyeshadow palette- 3 colors
1 Lipstick- Becky
All Over Shimmer Face Luminizer Powder No.7
1 Makeup bag

From $39, now only $13



Models Prefer Professional Makeup Palette
6x Eye Shadow
2x Blush
6x Cream Lip Gloss
2x Applicator

From $25, now only $9.50



World Traveler Lip Case
Limited edition of this cute container with 4 lip colors

From $49 to $34



Lancome Travel Set

1x Le Rouge Absolu - Vintage Rose
1x Color Design 4 Color Eyeshadow Palette ( Drape, Off The Rack, Fog, The New Black )
1x Cils Booster XL Super Enhancing Mascara Base
1x Definicils - Black
1x High Resolution Intensive Recovery Cream
1x Promordiale Cell Defense Skin Perfecting Serum
2x Bag

From $100, now $30

More brands and exciting deals over at the strawberrynet.com site.

Think Pink

This post may be a little delayed as it is already the 7th day. October is celebrated as the breast cancer awareness month. Breast cancer a condition that I had 3 years ago. Sometimes I don't want to remember it hence I don't actively participate in events or discuss it that much. I want to live a normal life without speaking "woundology" or becoming a poster girl of the disease.

However, I feel that I have a responsibility to educate people about the disease, being a medical professional and a patient at the same time. It can happen to just about anyone with or without a family history of cancer. I didn't have it in my lineage but it did affect me. The good thing about it is it doesn't have to be a death sentence if detected earlier.

Websites are going pink for this month to advocate breast cancer awareness. I'd like to show my support by mentioning it through this post. Being a beauty blog, this message should reach population greatly afflicted with the health issue: women.

Here are some helpful tips for preventing cancer from creeping into your lives:

1. Have the right mindset- Pessimism is a deadly habit. Have a cheerful, positive disposition in life and cancer is not going to like it. It harbors on a depressive, worried and confused body.

2. Eat healthy- go easy on animal products especially fat contents. Cancer likewise feeds on sugar.  Fruits and veggies provide you with anti-oxidants to fight free radicals not only to prevent cancer but also give you a healthy, glowing skin.

3. Load up on Water. Unless you have an impaired renal function, hydrating your body will do you a lot of good.

4. Get adequate sleep. I quit my previous job because of the 24 hour duties. You have to give your body time to recharge and your cells to heal from daily toxin exposure.

5. No smoking, alcoholic beverage intake and late night outs. In other words, don't abuse your body.

All of the above were crimes I committed save for smoking and alcohol drinking. See where it got me.

Several companies are supporting the cause to fund research and help patients who cannot afford the costly treatments. Locally, Avon is constantly supporting breast cancer groups and events like "walk for a cause." Internationally, Sephora is donating proceeds from sales of selected pink products. Several beauty blogs are likewise giving their support by giving $1 for every comment you make on particular posts.

Stay healthy, people!

High Definition Makeup

The technology in makeup going along the high definition age. The aim is to look as flawless as possible when focused up close on a high definition TV set which has an extremely sharp resolution. HD makeup was formulated with the celebrities in mind, who cannot afford not to look perfect when on screen. No pores, no craters, no lines, without having to resort to airbrushing.

As average beauty consumers, why do we go for HD makeup, then?  Of course, we want to be as beautiful as those celebrities that we watch- with perfect, gorgeous skin. With the advent of high resolution media including digital cameras, it wouldn't hurt to look flawless when posing for your candid shots. As a makeup artist working with great photographers, I have to make sure that my models' flaws aren't exposed when zoomed in. A clean canvas saves the photos from unnecessary editing.

So what are the products that carry the HD line in the market today?

1. Cargo Blu Ray collection-


It consists of the HD blu ray Pressed Powder ($30), Mattifier ($24), Blush/ Highlighter ($27), Mascara ($20)  and  Lip Gloss Palette ($28). The whole set sells for only $59 at Sephora, valued at $130 but it is unfortunately temporarily out of stock. Active Ingredients include photochromatic and optical blurring pigments for the pressed powder and hyaluronic acid spheres for the glosses.



An addition to the collection is the Cargo Blu Ray Concealer which is not included in the $59 set but is worth mentioning. It contains Bisabolol to make the skin smooth with improved elasticity ang Visilox to make the skin more relaxed, less lined and smoother.

I'm not too keen on the  HD mascara as I wonder how would it would make a significant difference from the usual, cheaper mascaras but I read good reviews about it, though.

Bad news is, Cargo is not available in the Philippines. I had to ask my friend in the US to buy this one for me when she comes home.

2. Make Up For Ever



MUFE HD Invisible Cover Foundation ($40)- it is decribed as an oil-free medium-to-full-coverage liquid foundation that covers skin imperfections flawlessly while remaining invisible on-screen and in real life. Exclusive to Sephora, comes in 25 different shades.



MUFE HD Microfinish Powder ($30)- a 100% silica powder meant to soften the appearance of imperfections. A cheaper alternative would be Aromaleigh HD Ultra Resolution Powder ($13) in clear, translucent , peaches and cream and english rose variants. I tried the translucent one but somehow it went a little chalky on me. I'll still have to try the other variants because some reviews like Mayaari's, would vouch that Aromaleigh is the better deal. If you want an even cheaper option, blogger Tracy found a perfect dupe in coastalscents' silica powder ($4) for almost 3x more than the contents of MUFE . Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil ($19) works wonders for me, which is another alternative to MUFE despite that it's not marketed as an HD product, has additional ingredients but nonetheless aims for the same effect.



MUFE HD Microperfecting Primer ($32)- comes in Clear, Green, Mauve, Caramel, Blue, Yellow and Pink that serve the purpose as a primer and color corrector at the same time. This doesn't thrill me that much, as Smashbox has long came up with primers/correctors similar to this, minus the HD tag.

3. Smashbox



Smashbox High Definition Heathy FX Foundation SPF 15- speaking of Smashbox, it came up with its own line of HD foundation. I ordered one for myself  from Strawberrynet.com which is still in transit. I can't wait to try this one out. It is an oil-free, weightless liquid form packed with vitamin C, cell-energizing ribose to renew the appearance of skin, a uniquely patented bio-delivery system for time-release moisturization and firming effects to last the whole day. It has 13 shades to choose from.

4. Christian Dior



Christian Dior Capture Totale Foundation ($75)- just from the name alone tells me I won't be using this due to the prohibitive price. Sephora describes it as: 'with its unique blend of antiaging ingredients (alpha longoza and centuline), optical correctors, and HD liquid crystal pigments, Dior Capture Totale Foundaction is a revolutionary serum foundation that gives skin a radiant "high definition" perfection in every dimension." A luxury in a bottle.

5. Graftobian



Graftobian Hi-Def Glamour Foundation ($9)- The cheapest one in the bunch. This brand is a theatrical staple  but also used for actors of  popular TV shows like "Law and Order."  I have been eyeing this on makeupmania.com for the longest time but international shipping ($23) is way too expensive than the merchandise's cost. Even the palettes ($19.99) are cheaper than shipping. It has a wide array of shades divided in warm, neutral and cool tones.

To be honest, none of these products have been used on my models or clients. Working with models would be no sweat because they usually have good skin to begin with. But even in special events with non-models like brides or debutants who have been stressed out for their big days, I make sure they will be confident for their close ups. The right prepping of the skin, the use of cinema secrets or o'leary concealer for problematic areas, plus mineral makeups are my arsenals for an HD effect. But you bet I am aching to try these HD products very soon. I'm all for perfection.