Halloween Tutorial: Poison Ivy

Happy Halloween everybody!

No partying for me tonight though. Maybe a Mamak and Nasi Lemak session with the gang. As promised, here's the tutorial for Halloween that I finally thought of a nice name for -- Poison Ivy. It's a lot of work but not very difficult so just be patient, follow the tutorial step-by-step and your transformation should be successful.

Camwhore Alert!!

Enjoy!

Read on if you wanna learn how to recreate this look or just wanna see more pictures.

Items Used (Very long list!):

Face and Cheeks
Majolica Majorca Skin Lingerie
Missha Perfect Concealer
RMK Creamy Foundation
Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer #1 (Golden Yellow Illuminizer)
MAC Beauty Powder/Loose in Dancing Light (with Golden Shimmer)
Giorgio Armani Sheer Blush #6 (Plum/Rose)
MAC Mineralized Skin Finish in Light Flush

Face Pattern
Fishnet Stocking
Elianto Eyeshadow in Soft Yellow, Lemonish Green (Lime Green) and Autumn Green (Forest Green)

Eyes
MAC Paint in Stilife
Global Face Paint in Metallic Gold
Manly 80-Color Eyeshadow Palette (2-I2, 1-D4, 2-D1, 2-D4, 1-D2, 1-J2)
in2it Long Wearing Liquid Eyeliner Pen
Bloop Eyeliner Pencil in Black
Urban Decay Brow Beater in Bombshell Brunette
Flamingo Mascara
Falsies from Chamelon

Lips
Eastgirl Eyeliner (Plum)
Giorgio Armani Eye Crayon #5

Brushes
Buffer Brush
Eyeshadow Brush
Small Eyeshadow Brush
Medium Crease Brush

Start off with a foundation base. Then, apply your blush.

Get all the cash out of the register, now!!
Stipple the shadow over the fishnet stocking with a buffer brush.

The colors will be going on the cheekbones, forehead and chin. Work your way from inwards to outwards. Start with the Soft Yellow, then the Lime Green and finally the Autumn Green.

There's your pattern! We can move on to the eyes now.

After prepping the lid with Stilife, apply Metallic Gold paint all over the lid with a synthetic brush. Then, apply 2-I2 with an eyeshadow brush all over the lid until right before the crease. Using a small eyeshadow brush, apply 1-D4 on the inner corner of the lid.

Starting from the outer corner of the lid, create a wing with 2-D1 using the small eyeshadow brush. Extend the shadow to the outer lower lash line. Blend all the colors on the lid with the eyshadow brush by sweeping the brush back and forth until everything goes together seamlessly.

With the crease brush, apply 2-D4 on the crease and blend well. Apply 1-D2 on top of the crease and blend to the top.

Apply 1-D2 on the inner lower lash line. Clean off the excess shadow on the brush. Apply 1-J2 on the browbone as highlight. Extend the shadow on the bridge of the nose and connect with the shadow on the other eye.

The hard part's over! A little more and we'll be done.

Line eyes with liquid eyeliner pen. Wing it! Line the water line with eyeliner pencil. Apply mascara on the bottom lashes.

Line the lips to create shape and fill in the color. Use finger to blend the colors.

Stick on falsies and you're good to go!

It's Halloween. I'm allowed to look scary :p

I warned you about the cam-whoring, didn't I?

Gotta do that I'm-biting-on-something sexy pose. Wahaha :D

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Fall Look Tutorial: Candied Apples

This fall look was inspired by Tiffany and I absolutely love this combination. The main eyeshadow used, Chameleon, is iridescent and gives a multi-tone effect so at certain angles the shadow may appear to be a brownish green or brownish red. It's one of my favorite pigments from Sweetscents Minerals. All the shadows used in this tutorial are from Sweetscents except for the highlight which is my usual Ricepaper from MAC.

Hope you'll like this look!

Read on for the tutorial.

And you will need...

MAC Paint in Stilife
Global Face Paint in Lime Green
Sweetscents Pigment in Chameleon, 12th Night, Lover's Moon and Blackstar.
MAC Eyeshadow in Ricepaper
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
Rimmel Glam' Eyes Mascara

Start off with the base -- Apply Stilife Paint all over the lid up to the brow bone. Next, dilute some Lime Green face paint on the back of your hand with some water to reduce the gooeyness. Apply the paint into the inner lid with a small synthetic brush/lip brush.

Using an eyeshadow brush, apply Chameleon on the rest of the lid up to the crease. Shape the eyeshadow according to the slant of your eyebrows. Clean off the excess shadow on the brush with a tissue and blend the edges of the shadow.

Using a small eyeshadow brush, pack 12th Night onto the green base. Clean off the excess on the brush and pick up some Lover's Moon. Blend that color on the separation line between Chameleon and 12th Night.

After that, get some Blackstar on your crease brush and dab the excess on the back of your hand. Start at the outmost corner of the eye and bring the brush up into the crease in circular motions back and forth. If you need more color, get it off the back of your hand instead of double-dipping so that you won't get too much.

Apply Ricepaper under the browbone as highlight. Using back the small eyeshadow brush, apply Lover's Moon on the inner half of the lower lash line and Chameleon on the outer half. Line the lop lashline with Blacktrack, smudge the excess on the outer half of the lower lash line and apply mascara.

Done!

The completed look with blush in Slopes from Bobbi Brown and Once Upon a Shine Lipgloss in Sheer Bronze from Origins.

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Steal or Splurge? Fruity Scrubs

Fruity facial products always look very promising because they're usually colorful, smell yummy, and packed with Vitamin C and anti-oxidants. I choose fruity products over highly technical this-and-that technology anytime. Probably it's the perception that products using fruits are more gentle and "organic" (although that's not always the case).
The two fruity stars for today are Freeman Raspberry Facial Gel Scrub and RMK Gel Scrub. Can you guess which one's the 'spensive scrub?

What's your favorite fruity scrub? (if you've tried one, that is)

Read on for the reviews.

Freeman Raspberry Facial Gel Scrub (~RM18/150ml)

"This moisture-rich facial scrub, with raspberry extract and aloe vera, gently clears away impurities that clog pores, revealing brighter, smoother skin."

This HUGE tube of scrub that will last you ages smells so sweet and yummy (needs a dash of sour though) that you'd feel like wanting to squeeze it over your vanilla ice cream. The scrubbing granules are relatively small and dissolves as you scrub, making it gentle on the skin. I'm not too sure about moisture-rich but the scrub definitely doesn't dry out the skin. It's probably too gentle to do much deep cleansing but it does get out the dead skin cells. The result: brighter, smoother skin as claimed. All in all, this is a pretty decent scrub and it's gentle enough to be used every other day.

Available from selected Watsons and Guardian Pharmacies. FreemanBeauty.com




RMK Gel Scrub (RM120/100g)

"Cleansing scrub that gently exfoliates dead skin cells while moisturizing the skin. Gently dissolves sebum that clogs pores and eliminates roughness."

How many types of scrubs do you think this product has? One? Two? Try four! This gel scrub exfoliates with crushed aloe, peach seed, chamomile flower and soft scrub. I don't think the peach seed was properly ground because I've gotten a hairline scratch from it before. Stings! After scrubbing, the skin feels clean and soft but not moisturized. In fact, there was a slight tightening of the skin which I wasn't too fond of. The granules do dissolve as you scrub so it still rather gentle. But what I really like about this scrub is only the very kiwi-like scent. I know I've only gotten a scratch once but that's enough to prevent me from frequent scrubbing with this scrub.

Available from RMK counters.

For this round, I much prefer the drugstore scrub to the high end one despite the price.


In The Shadows...

St. Ives Invigorating Apricot Scrub

I like the fact that the formula isn't drying but the granules are so friggin' big! Use it for the body instead. It's way to rough for the face.

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Halloween Look: My Boyfriend Is An Artist

Clearly, I am not because I can't understand this form of "art" at all. He had fun.

Here's a reminder of what I actually look like. I know I don't look as "beautiful" as in the picture above. The wonders of makeup eh?


Do you REALLY wanna see the up-close picture? Read on if you do.

My baby, Tremmie.

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Tagged! Know More About Connie!

The only post that I can think of doing while I'm not at my own laptop

Thanks for giving me something to do, Gio! While my boyfriend's playing DOTA. I've done a tag somewhat similar to this so some of the answers may be repetitive.

Rules: Each player answers the question themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment letting them know that they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve answered the questions on your blog.

10 Years Ago (1998):
1. I was 11
2. I've just moved to a new town with no people
3. I went to Sunway Lagoon with my couz Eve to watch The Moffatts. Remember them?!
4. I had my first loan-shark-banging-at-the-door-for-my-dad experience. Lol
5. I helped my mom and aunt working at warehouse sales

5 Things on Today’s “To Do” List:
1. Get cracking on my case study. Who'd think that Barbie Dolls are so complicated?
2. Attempt to no sleep past 2pm.
3. Wash and change the bed spreads.
4. Annoy my cat.
5. Get excited that I only failed 2 subjects instead of 3 and I got 3 As! Yes! I got my exam results! Wheeeeeee!

5 Things that I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. Own 12 cats, 3 dogs, 2 turtles, 3 tortoises, 30 spiders, 20 scorpions, 20 snakes, 10 lizards, 2 hedgehogs, 3 sugar gliders, 2 guinea pigs, 2 frogs and a helper to help me feed and clean :D Oh and I'll have a big big area for all my pets. Oh! and I want 3 ducks and a goat. And a pot-bellied pig.
2. Travel! And SHOP! FOR ONCE I'D LIKE TO SHOP WITHOUT THINKING!
3. Invest and save for my future and my future generation because that's the responsible thing to do. It's cool to leave my grandchildren 1 million each when I die.
4. Do charity and not have to sweat about not having money to do big charities. C'mon people! It's October 27th and we're only at RM253! The target is RM450! I need a big donor. Volunteers?
5. Buy my mom her dream car.

5 Places I have lived:
1. Damansara Jaya, Petaling Jaya: Grandpa's house
2. Taman Bukit Maluri, Kepong: two houses in 10 years. Both rented
3. Bukit Sentosa, Rawang: two houses in 6 years. One bought, one rented.
4. Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur: Rented for 4 years
5. Semenyih, Selangor: Finally a house of our own! But I'm also renting a room near my college and partially staying at my boyfriend's.

5 Jobs I have had:
1. Helper at my aunt's restaurant washing cups and pouring coke.
2. English tutor to primary school kids. I miss them!
3. Exotic pet trader and exhibitionist. My bf and I were business partners.
4. Beauty consultant at cosmetic counter. Which initiated the current cosmetic-obsession.

Let's see... I'm gonna tag Pretty, Beetrice, Nikki, Tine and Lily.

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Hello Ladies

Hello ladies, this is Taggy speaking. I'm hijacking Skindeco for a moment. Smellyocheese is now bound to her study chair and i'm performing a make-over for her. So hang around for pictures.

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And The Giveaway Winner Is...

Lucky No. 26!

Congratulations, Paula (oldergirlbeauty@gmail.com)! I hope you'll have loads of fun with you $250 Pur Minerals Shopping Spree.

Thank you to everyone who has participated and helped spread awareness for Breast Cancer.

Paula, I've sent you an e-mail so please reply to it to confirm that you've received it.

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Halloween Look: Rainforest? I Have No Clue

I was initially inspired by a tarantula that I once had which was a Green Bottle Blue Tarantula and I liked the idea of spider webs. But I got sloppy and ignored color accuracy that I think that part of the look turned out to be quite messy. On the other side I just wanted to play with greens and a fishnet stocking (as seen in many YouTube videos) so I didn't really pay much attention to the look but I think that side turned out much better! I could easily do like a reptilian effect with that. Don't you love it when you unintentionally discover something neat?
If I'm in the mood, I may just retry the green reptile look or I may just think of something else to do. But I'm looking for non-cliche stuff eg. Vampire, Pin-Up, Fairy, Frankenstein

Which side do you prefer? Any other suggestions for Halloween makeup?
We don't celebrate Halloween though. Just doing this for fun.
Read on for close-up pictures.




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How To: Apply Mineral Foundation

Eh... that's a pretty straight forward title?

So, I've started to use mineral foundation quite often ever since I've tried Everyday Minerals' foundation. I use their fantastic flat top brush as well which makes it so easy to buff on the foundation. For additional glow (you know I'm all about the glow), I mix the foundation with my crushed e.l.f. Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in Luminance.
If I'm doing this at home, I'd use my "mineral dish" but if I'm traveling, I'd just use the lid of the Luminance's sifter jar.

Hope you find this tutorial helpful!

Read on for the tutorial and some tips.

First, apply your makeup base so that the foundation has something to grip on. However, if your base is very moist or sticky, allow it to dry a little before you apply the foundation to avoid the foundation looking blotchy. Next, apply concealer wherever you need coverage. I'm using concealer beneath the foundation because my concealer is liquid. Liquid should not go above powder or it'll just cake up.

Using a spatula, scoop out your desired amount of foundation into the dish/bowl/jar lid. Now, add a 1/4 teaspoon (fine, spatula) of Luminance. Then, dip in the brush and swirl it. To get more powder on the brush, you can try tapping the handle on the table, vertically, then swirling again. I usually re-swirl after I apply the first layer.
You can also use mineral foundation wet simply by giving the brush dipped in foundation one or two sprays of water/mist/Fix+/homemade Fix+. Keep in mind that you may tend to use more foundation and the color may change.

Buff on the foundation in circular motions all over the face. I start with the cheeks since there's where I usually have most foundation on and then my nose and chin. Finally, I do my forehead because that's my problem area and I don't want so much foundation on it. The flat top should be flat on the skin so you don't need to be too rough. It doesn't matter in which direction you buff either -- clockwise, anticlockwise.

Done with the foundation! I'm starting to hate pictures without flash. They accentuate flaws that aren't all too obvious when seen with the naked eye.

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Paint It Pink Contest Going International!

After thinking long and hard, despite the poll results, we've decided to open the Paint It Pink Contest to International readers as well EXCEPT U.S. and Canada residents. Y'all get the Total Beauty Total Cure Giveaway instead.

The contest deadline has also been extended to 31 October 2008 so get cracking on those photographs!



Contest details here
Makeup ideas here


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Falling for Everyday Minerals

Finally! I found a mineral face makeup line that I really like! After all the disheartening experiences with other brands of mineral foundation... Thank goodness I decided to keep looking for a mineral makeup line that would work well for my dry skin. That's when I've decided to give Everyday Minerals a try aided by encouragement from all the raves that it has gotten.

For my little Everyday Minerals haul through a spree by Shenay, I picked up the Original Glo Foundation in Olive-Golden Medium, a blush in Waffle Cone and what's an Everyday Minerals haul without the ever famous Flat Top Brush? I got the Everyday Everywear Chamomile balm as well but that'd have a separate review. Hint: Not for Malaysian weather!

For my next EDM order, I'll definitely get more blush and some lippies!

Read on for the reviews and swatches!

Original Glo Foundation (Sample/USD2.50, Mini/USD5.00, Big/USD12.00)

The texture of the foundation powder is very smooth and is able to buffed evenly onto the skin. I don't know how to explain this but have you ever experienced powder foundation that doesn't seem to "adhere" to the skin? Thankfully, this foundation "adheres" to the skin so that the coverage can be easily built up from light to medium. The foundation doesn't look powdery or cakey at all on the skin which is one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to foundation. I like cake on a plate, not my face! In fact, it gives a healthy subtle glow that I always seek for in my fondation. The staying power of the foundation was surprisingly, as good as liquid! But of course, I always use a makeup base underneath the powder foundation so that contols the oil secretion on my nose area, helping the foundation to last longer.

I understand how many people find it challenging to get a good match for their mineral foundation shades as I've had my fair share of overly tanned or fair foundations. Lucky me, I was rather spot on with the shade selection and didn't have to try out so many sample sizes before I could get the correct shade (Olive-Golden Meidum). The color did not dull down or oxidized into a tangy orange hue compared to some of the other mineral foundations that I've tried.

"Olive - Golden Medium is ideal for yellow and green undertones. It works especially well to give coverage for common problems faced by Olive-family users, such as visible blue veins and uneven pigmentation."

This stuff is potent with only a teeny half pearl-size needed for a light coverage on the whole face. It wouldn't be too soon that I'd need to upgrade my little sample jar to a full-sized one but it's definitely on my shopping list! I'd love to try the intensive formula next to build up more coverage. As for the O Glo, it's perfect for hot and humid school days.

There's also Semi-Matte, Matte and Intensive formula.


Blush (Sample/USD2.50, Mini/USD4.00, Big/USD8.00)

This would be the first ever mineral blush that I've ever tried out. Prior to this, I've never really been too keen on using mineral blush because I thought that it would be too much hassle but I'm so glad I gave this a chance!

The shade I got was Waffle Cone (Sheen) and it's probably one of their most famous shades because I seem to see swatches and reviews of it everywhere! I had to get this shade, hadn't I? The the pinkish bronze color isn't too obvious but it certainly gives the cheeks a kickass glow (as seen here and here). Usually, I'd add a more pigmented blush on the apples of the cheeks to give it more flush. This blush gave me hope that I will soon find a substitute for my much-desired RMK Ingenious Cheeks in #25 Rose Pink. The girls on the EDM forum recommended Opening Day and Nick Nack. I like Walkee Talkee, Evening Out and New Car Smell too.

"A sweet treat for your cheeks, Waffle Cone has a sugary sparkle that warms your face with a soft brown sheen and mauve undertones. To top things off, Waffle Cone can also be used as a soft bronzer, a neutral lip color, or an all over eye color."

Staying power of the blush is just fine. I don't think I'll be getting a full size of this though because there are so many colors I wanna try out and you really only need very little blush.

Also available in Matte, Shimmer and Lucent formula.

Flat Top Brush (USD10.00)


THE MUST-HAVE in any first-time EDM orders. It doesn't even matter if you don't use mineral make-up. You need this brush. Why?

1. It's so so incredibly soft. Hands down. Softest brush EVER!
2. The density is just perfect for buffing mineral foundation or applying blush or bronzers or plain buffing out harsh lines
3. Unlike many kabuki brushes and flat top brushes, the bristles doesn't "sink" on the skin which is the whole point of a flat top brush is so that the flat top is touching the skin. I hope you understand what I mean. The brush shouldn't be bending in on the skin instead *coughs* Coastalscents Deluxe Buffer Brush *coughs* This is a true flat top buffer brush that really buffs!
4. Flawless application of mineral foundation. Easy to control so you won't get on too much foundation on a particular area.
5. The bristles pick up AND keeps powder effectively so you don't have to keep on dipping into your powder because it's flying away before you can even get it on your skin.
6. Comfortable to grip. It's not too long or too short while it fits perfectly into my cosmetic case making it very portable. It's be greater if it had a case though!
7. The synthetic bristles are so so fine like baby's hair and yet they don't shed nor do they bleed.
8. The brush itself looks classy with a glossy bamboo handle and a shiny nickle ferrule.

Eight reasons enough?

http://www.everydayminerals.com/


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CLOSED:Giveaway! Win a $250 Shopping Spree!

In the spirit of Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2008, for TODAY ONLY, you stand a chance of winning a

$250 shopping spree at PurMinerals.Com


"Pür Minerals combines the finest in technology with the finest in nature to produce high-quality, mineral-based colour cosmetics, treatment products and our claim to fame, the 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup that works for all women, of all ages, with all skin types.

Pür Minerals products contain the finest micronized minerals that give you excellent coverage yet look and feel as if they are part of your skin. Our products contain no harsh chemical dyes, just pure pigments from minerals. There is also no fragrance to irritate, no talc to dry or dull skin, no oil to clog pores and no fillers to take up space. We have even taken our minerals one step further by adding Shea Butter and Vitamin E to bind them together. You get the fantastic "good for your skin" benefits without any of the traditional mineral mess." -- Joli Baker, President of Pur Minerals.


Answer this simple question:

Which Malaysian landmark was illuminated in PINK for Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2008?
(Hint: The answer can be found in a previous post)

Got your answer? Great! Now, leave a comment on this post with your answer, name, location and e-mail address.

Please include your E-mail address or I won't be able to notify you if you've won!

It may just be your lucky day!

This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only.
All entries should be submitted by 23rd October 2008 2:00a.m. Central Standard Time.

* Sorry for the delayed post. I overslept! Good luck!

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Giveaway Coming Soon!

Exclusively for U.S. and Canada residents only!

There'll be a giveaway for a shopping spree worth $250!





Entries must be submitted within 24 hours of 22nd October 2008 Central Standard Time

Watch out for the giveaway post coming up really really soon

You don't wanna miss this!



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