Catrice PR Event

Heyy Beauties,

Last Thursday I was invited to a Catrice PR event which was held at Level 22 Portomaso. I was sooo excited when I received the invite in the mail, I could not wait for the day to arrive.

At last it did, and I headed out all fancy and groomed up for the event. To be honest, I wasn't sure exactly what to expect...

When I arrived I was greeted with a flute of champagne. The first thing that I noticed was the stand full of Catrice make-up... could not stop staring of course.

As soon as I saw camera flashes, I knew immediately that that was the 'bloggers' corner', so I went that way. I sat on a vacant seat and some new bloggers, whome I never met before, introduced themselves to me, and from then on it was make-up make-up make-up.. These ladies are: Charlene from A Cosmetic Affair, Maya from Blue Jeans and Red Lipstick, Claire from This and That and Lyndsay from Splashes of Looks. Check out their blogs and follow them :)

L-R: Charlene, Maya, Claire, Lyndsay and me

There were a couple of new Collections on display that have been launched recently. The first one that I noticed was Celtica Collection, which seems to me very Spring oriented with pink and coral shades.. angelic like if you may. The next one is Eve in Bloom, which I think introduced Wintry type of colours but still at the same time bright. I will definitely check these out at one of Catrice's stands.

New Collections and Catrice Stand

Other makeup that was on display on all the tables are as seen below:

At the end of the event, we were all given a goodie bag (stay tuned for a haul next week). I could not wait to see what there was inside. As soon as I arrived in my car I had to check and was so happy to get some of the products which I had been eyeing all night.

Thank you Catrice for inviting me and for the products that were given.

That's all for this post,

Until next time,

Take Care,

Jessica xxx

Evening Smoky Eye: Makeup Tutorial

Hey Beauties,

Excuse me for not posting lately however, I have been too busy studying for my upcoming exams.

A couple of weeks ago I participated in a singing concert, were I wore a black, subtle cat eye, smoky eye. Hope you like it :)

Products Used

Step 1: Applied Essence Cover Stick Concealer and Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation.

Step 2: Applied NYX Jumbo Eye Shadow Base in 'Milk' all over the lid, and blended it out, to form a sticky base for the eye shadows to last longer.

Step 3: Used 77 eye shadow palette and applied a light beige color on top of the 'Milk'.

Step 4: Next, applied a dark eye shadow to the outer 'V' of my lid and blended it out as much as I could. Then, I built up the color little by little to the intensity that I wanted.

Step 5: Applied a black eye shadow on top of the grey and blended the two colors together.

Step 6: As a transition color I used a soft brown color and blended the grey and brown together below the brow bone.

Step 7: Used a highlight color from the palette and applied it exactly beneath the brow bone and in the tear duct, to reflect light. Then, applied a subtle code in the inner corner of my eye.

Step 8: Applied Essence Long Lasting eye pencil in the color 'Cool Down' under my lower lashes and blended it in between the lashes together with Essence Long Lasting eye pencil in the color 'Black Fever' on my water line.

Step 9: Next, applied Essence Gel eye liner on my upper lid in a subtle cat eye form, and then approximately 3 coats of Maybelline Colossal Mascara.

Final Look

 

Step 10: As for the lips, I applied MAC Lip Liner in the color 'Magenta' all over the lip. Then applied Essence lipstick in the color 'Flirty Pink'. At the moment, this is my favourite lip combination :)

Lip Combination

That is all for this post,

Let me know what you think in the comments section below.

Don't forget to follow this blog for the upcoming Essence Cosmetics Giveaway ;)

Until next time,

Take Care,

Jessica xxx

'At the Beach': Makeup look tutorial

Hey Beauties,

I know it may seem nonsense for some of you, but I still put on some makeup when going to the beach. So, I decided to show you the makeup look I like to do.

Step 1:

I apply 'Good Things Moisturiser' before applying any makeup and let it sink into my skin.

Step 2:

I start off with 'Essence Stick concealer' and apply it to scars and imperfections. Then, I apply a thin layer of 'Bourjois Healthy Mix' Foundation. I have tested the staying power of this foundation when going swimming, In a span of 6 hours at the beach I only retouched my skin once, so that is an added advantage that this foundation offers :).  I let these settle onto my skin whilst applying eyeliner and mascara.

Step 3:

I apply 'Essence Long Lasting' pencil in the color '09 Cool Down' on my lash line, after which I apply 'Essence Get Big Lashes Volume' Mascara in the waterproof formula.

Step 4:

Apply some powder all over my face


Step 5:

Last but no the least, I apply a lip liner since it leaves the lips tinted even after swimming, and also a lip gloss.

Hope you like this makeup look,

Until next time,

Take Care,

Jessica xxx

Haul: Essence Cosmetics

Hey Beauties,

It has been quite some time since I purchased some Essence Cosmetics. So today while I was at Pavi I decided to pick up some makeup (as if I don't have enough already.. oh well.. haha). These are the products I bought:

1) XXXL Shine Lip Gloss

Last week I saw my cousin using this product and I also tried it myself, and I really liked it. Therefore, as soon as I saw it available on the stand I grabbed it without thinking twice about it. It is in the color '021 Red Blossom'.

XXXL Shine Lip Gloss

First Impressions: I love this berry color especially for Summer, and I was impressed by its pigmentation. It also has a nice, not over bearing, scent. Most important thing is that it does not have a sticky consistency, but rather it feels smooth on the lips.

021 Red Blossom

2) Get Big Lashes Volume Mascara.

A colleague at work has these nice full and long lashes, and I always wonder what mascara she uses. A few days ago I decided to ask her and she recommended this mascara.

First Impressions: I haven't used it yet, however I like the wand, it is full and round, perfect to build up volume. We'll see how I like it.

3) Long Lasting Eye Pencil

Lately, I have been obsessed with the color royal blue. I end up buying everything in that color from clothes, to makeup, to nail polish, even my car has a very similar color. Therefore as soon as I saw this color in an eye pencil form, I had to get it. It is in the color '09 Cool Down'.

First Impressions: It is a very pigmented, true to color product. I really liked its creamy consistency and it glides on without tugging at the skin. When I washed my hands, it did not budge. I had to really rub at my skin to remove the product. It is truly long lasting.

4) Eyebrow Designer

I got this product on a whim, just to try it out. It is in the color '04 Blonde'.

First Impressions: Again, it is pigmented, and I like that it has a small eye brow brush attached to the cap. Value for money product ;)

5) Coverstick Concealer

I never tried any face makeup from Essence, apart from blush and bronzer. I thought I'd start with a concealer, also I needed a new one. It is in the color '01 Matt Sand'.

First Impressions: Have not tried it yet, however, it felt good on my hand whilst swatching it and it blended quite well.

6) Lipstick

Last but not least, of course, I had to buy a lipstick. I really like Essence lipstick and I have a couple of them. It is in the color '64 Flirty Pink'.

First Impressions: It smells really nice, like all Essence lip products. I like the color, and it is also pigmented. The only thing that I didn't like as much is that it has small sparkles, I thought it was a creamy or matt lipstick.

Overall I am content with my purchase. The fact that never ceases to amaze me is that these cosmetics are so inexpensive, which is a rarity in Malta to find inexpensive makeup. Even drug store brands are quite expensive, unlike other countries. For the above 6 products, altogether they cost me 12 euros. Great price right!?

Until next time,

Take Care,

Jessica xxx

Empties Tag

Hey Beauties,

Hope all of you are doing fine :) 

So lately I have been reading quite a lot of Empties Tags, and I decided to do it myself. I try to use up as much of my products as possible before buying anything new. Let's start:

1) Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation

I cannot rave enough about this foundation. Its the best foundation I have ever used; its takes care of my skin, doesn't clog my pores, really good coverage, and it has a natural finish. Of course, I repurchased this product and I pair it with Healthy Mix Concealer which is also a good product. 

2) ELF Blush 

This is the very first blush that I succeeded in using up.. :) Overall, I like ELF Blushes, they have the right pigmentation and there are a variety of finishes to suit everybody's tastes. 

3) Max Factor Powder

I wasn't that impressed with this product. Partly it was my fault because I did not choose the right shade for my skin. However, I didn't like the feel of it on my face and I found that it settles in fine lines. Its not a product that I am considering in repurchasing.

4) Essence Finishing Powder

Unlike the previous product, I liked this powder. Sets foundation perfectly and doesn't cake up during the day. Also, it is very inexpensive, would definitely repurchase this product.

5) Tresemme Hair Spray in Firm Hold

I have been repurchasing and using this product for about two years now, love it. However, I decided to try other hair sprays. I have been reading reviews and watching tutorials while using Elnette Hair Spray for ages, now I decided to try it out myself :)

6) Bioderma Sensibio H20

For those of you who unfortunately have oily and acne prone skin, this is a great product for you to try out. It can be used instead of a usual face wash. It cleanses the skin from makeup whilst at the same time reduces and prevents inflammation, and restores the natural Ph balance of the skin. This is the third bottle that I have been using, and I recommend it whole heatedly to anyone. 



Those are all the products that I have used up in the past month,

I tag everyone to do it, I would love to know your views on products that you tried out,

Until Next time,

Take Care,

Jessica xxx

Natural Green: Eye Makeup Tutorial

Hey Beauties,

Another weekend is upon us, during which we like to dress up and look our best. The following simple eye makeup tutorial would be perfect for flattering every eye color and for a relaxing night out with friends or loved ones. Hope you like it :)

Natural Green Eye Makeup

The following picture depicts all the products that I used:

Step 1:

I always like to start with a good base, and of course my ultimate favorite product is NYX Jumbo eye pencil in 'Milk' which I applied all over the lid.

Step 2:

Next I applied a generous amount of Catrice eye shadow in the Color 'Envy'.

Step 3:

I used my 78 eye shadow palette and chose a soft brown color which I applied in my crease and blended it with the green color.


Step 4:

Next, I applied a slightly darker brown color in the outer V of my lid and continued blending. I also applied the darker brown to my bottom lid.

Step 5:

Last but not least, I applied a black Essence eyeliner, curled my lashes and applied mascara.

That's all there is to it, very simple eye makeup which at the same time has a pop of color. I would pair this type of eye makeup with a slightly darker lip and warm pink blush.

Until next time,

Take Care,

Jessica :)

Review: Essence Color & Go 5 Day Testing.

Hello Beauties,

Hope you’re all doing great

Last week I tested out a new nail polish for about 5 days, that I bought a couple of weeks ago: the Essence Color & Go Nail polish in the color ‘Off to Miami’. I have been keeping notes on what I think about the product and how it lasted throughout these 5 days:

Day 1:

First off I really like this color. Spring is round the corner (even though at the moment its raining in Malta hehe), and bold and bright colors are back in style.

First impression as soon as I open the cap is that I was really impressed by the quality and size of the brush. I like how wide the brush is since it covers a larger surface area of the nail and I also found that I did fewer mistakes.

Till now, I like the quality of the product. The color is opaque, it’s not streaky, and it applies as can been seen in the bottle. I only applied 2 coats, and as one can notice from the photos the color is as bright as can be. The first picture depicts the 1st coat, and the 2nd picture depicts the 2nd coat.

Day 1

Day 2:

Nothing much changed today; however, the polish on the pointer finger has slightly chipped. I didn't think much of it since my work involves quite a lot of typing; therefore I think that that is the cause.

Day 3:

Quite a lot of chipping today. Also, I found that the color has not remained as vibrant as the previous two days. It does not hold up that much to the hardships of everyday life that our hands go through.

Day 4 & 5:

Chipping continued, to the extent that the 5^th finger nail has no nail polish left on it.

Conclusion:

As an overall opinion after these 5 days, I think that there are much better quality nail polishes in the market. However, for its inexpensive price (around 2- 2.50 euro), I didn't expect anything grand. Also, for those that like to switch their nail polish color every 2 to 3 days, I think this product would be ideal. Regarding the packaging, I like the fact that the cap is the same color as the actual nail polish. For these reasons, I would recommend this product; however keep in mind that it does not last as long as other nail polishes.

That’s all for today,

Until next time,

Take Care,

Jessica xxx

Haul: Catrice and Essence

Heyy Beauties,

I have a small haul for you guys today :)

It has been quite some time since I bought some Catrice and Essence makeup, and since I had to stock up on several basics, I decided to visit their stand.

First off, I bought a new setting powder by Essence called Mattifying compact powder in the color 01 'Natural Beige'. I have been using this product for a week now and I have no complaints. It does not cake up the face and is very natural looking. I recommend this product to anyone:

I have been searching for this next product for ages, and at last I found it. It was the last one on the stand and luckily I managed to purchase it. This is the Essence Gel Eyeliner in the color 'Midnight in Paris'. I also, have been using this product for a week, as can be seen from the pictures below, and I must say that I like it even better then the MUA Gel Eyeliner (Review HERE). It applies so smoothly and the color is blackest black. Love it!!

The last two "extra" products that I bought are the Essence Color & Go Nail Polish in the color '109 Off to Miami'. I haven't tried this yet, however I really like the color and it would also be a perfect Spring color:

The last product is a Catrice Limited Edition Lip Cream in the color 'Rest in the Forest' from the collection 'Siberian Call'. I am always looking around for new and different colors which I do not already own, and this was one of them. It is a versatile color, which can be worn both for work or school, or coupled with a bright lip color to tone it down.

Overall, I am satisfied with all the products that I bought, Let me know what you think if you have already tried any of these products,

Until next time,

Take Care,

Jessica :)

MOFTN:- Makeup of the Night

Hey Beauties,


So last night I decided succumb to all the hype and went to see the new James Bond movie 'Skyfall', I have to say it's great, you should really go and see it.

I want to share the makeup that I came up with for the night. I tried going with a very subtle cut crease and barbie pink lip.

Whole look

For the face I used:

• Deborah concealer
• Maybelline Dream Mat Mousse in the color 030
• Bright pink blush

For the eyes I used the following products:

• Deborah Eye Design Quad in the color 'Each and Every Rose'. I applied white all over the eye area, and then with a think brush applied a light brown color in the crease and blended it out. 
• Mua Gel Eye liner
• Essence Long lasting eye pencil in the color '04 Look at Me'. I applied this in the inner corner. 
• Catrice Fake It Mascara on the top and bottom lashes 

For the lips I used a MAC lipstick in the color 'St. Germaine' for the perfect barbie pink color. I applied this with a lip brush so as to minimise the opaqueness of the color.

To curl my hair I used the Remington Pearl curling wand that I bought recently.

That's all for today,

I hope you like this look,

Until next time,

Take Care,

Jessica :)