Hitting Pan

On one particular day a few weeks ago, I was in need of some good luck and as I sat down to do my makeup at my desk in the morning my mind was rolling ahead to the big day I had planned and wasn’t really on task. Naturally I reached for my standard and classic eye combination of MAC ‘Jaunty’ with MAC ‘Coquette’ over a base of Maybelline Color Tattoo ‘Bad to the Bronze’ as I often do during distracted mornings, and lo and behold I looked down after applying the cream base to see a glint of pan (in this case, glass jar!) peeking out at me! I immediately took it as a sign of good luck, as a pan hit has to be one of the best feelings for a blogger, don’t you think? A sign of love and respect for a product! 

 

I thought nothing else of it until I finished my eye look, and saw that a glint of pan was also peeking out at me from my single MAC shadow ‘Coquette’! Such is my love for this perfect crease shade, I have avoided depotting it as I like to be able to take it with me when I travel and find it easier in its original packaging. To have two pan hits in a single day might seem silly to some, but I went on to have a great day and it seems that the dual pan hit indeed brought me the luck I craved for the day!

How often do you hit pan? Does it make you feel good, or disappointed that you’re almost out of a much loved beauty product?

-Emma

A Fresh and Summery Pink Makeup Look

Ever since the Chanel JC blush in Pink Explosion came into my collection, I’ve been rocking pink like there is no tomorrow.  A flush of fuschia on the cheeks and lips has been my go-to, and I’ve been feeling very fresh and summery.

 

I put this look together with a neutral but heavily lined eye and bright lips and cheeks, and for me the result is very wearable. I brought out some new additions to my collection along with some old favourites, with the star of the show definitely being Pink Explosion. 

 

Base:

Face of Australia Face Base Primer

Illamasqua Skin Base

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder

Cheeks:

Chanel JC in Pink Explosion

Eyes:

MAC Painterly Paint Pot

Dior Fairy Golds Palette (from the Grand Bal collection, review here)

MAC Coquette (for lower lashline and brows)

Face of Australia Liquid Liner in Black

Face of Australia Impact Curl mascara (upper lashes)

Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara in Black Shimmer (for lower lashes)

Lips:

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Smitten 

 

I’ve been so impressed with the Revlon Balm Stains, the most pigmented ones are my favourite (Smitten, Adore and US only Rendezvous) and they really do last on the lips. I’ve been wearing Illamasqua’s Skin Base for a while now and the colour match is perfect, and the coverage is quite nice as well. I’ll wear it a little more before I commit to a full review, but so far I’d say it is a winner. There are quite a few of my old favourites in this look, and a whole stack of my beloved Face of Australia.

What colours are you gravitating towards this season? I absolutely love reading your comments, they make my day,  so feel free to throw your thoughts below.

 

4 Easy Ways to Feign a Fresh Face

Even though Christmas and New Year celebrations are now behind us, the party season is still in full swing and I think it is safe tos ay that there are plenty of drinks and late nights at this time of year. If you work late and don’t get enough sleep, are a bit of a party animal or are addicted to Temple Run on the iPad like I am, these beauty tips will help you look fresh as a daisy come morning time!

 

A hydrating mask is one of the key players when you are suffering from a hangover or a late night. The reason your head is pounding and your face is parched is because you are dehydrated, and by applying a good mask and drinking water, you are replenishing stocks. The Jojoba Company makes a mean mask, and this Botanical Hydrating* one is one of my very favourite masks all round. If you are short on time, a creamy but lightweight moisturiser (like Cosmecology’s Hydra Skin) can provide a boost and smooth out your lacklustre skin.

I tend to wear a semi-full face of makeup every day, but if you are short on time and just want to look put together, doing your eyebrows can really make your face seem polished. I switch up my eyebrow routine quite often, but at the moment I’m using an eyeshadow (MAC’s Coquette) with my EcoTools angled liner brush. I also like the BYS Brow & Eye pencil (which is a great bargain!) and I follow up either of these colours with a clear browgel. Touching up your brows, as cliché as it sounds, really does shape your face and help you look sleek when you feel sloppy.

As well as touching up my brows, I find an essential thing to do when I look tired is to apply a mascara that really opens up my eyes. I am a big fan of the Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes mascara, but a cheaper favourite of mine is the Face of Australia Impact Curl mascara. It holds a curl on my lashes really well, and is the mascara I recommend to everyone. Another eye saviour is the much revered YSL Touche Eclat, which is now something I use on an everyday basis, even when I haven’t had a late night. I don’t have a big problem with dark eye circles so the light coverage work for me, and it really does brighten up my complexion.

 

These tips can really help make you look alert when you are hungover or tired after a late night working on the blog. I’d love to hear what products you use to feign a fresh face?

*Marked items were provided for review, which doesn’t affect my review of them. I honestly use all of these, and like/love them.