Shiro Cosmetics- Master Sword

This beauty blogging business has opened my eyes to the world of indie cosmetics. I am the kind of person to always buy from the local businesses, as my Dad always taught me to help out those who need a boost. Rather than always shelling out bucks to bigger businesses like Starbucks or MAC, I like to get my kick from small coffee shops on corner stores or online only cosmetic companies. Shiro Cosmetics is an easy company to give my money to!

This image courtesy of Shiro Cosmetics, was not taken by me

I bought a stack of samples from Shiro a while ago and never got around to showing you the haul. One of my favourite shades from the bunch was Master Sword, and I wore it a while ago and took some shots.

Master Sword is described by Shiro as a

'Super-glittery pale taupe - a blend of silver and gold, with bright silver sparks. Lip-safe!'

This is quite a cool-toned taupe, and I thought I would show you it in comparison to the more golden S.S. Anne which is my very favourite from Shiro (so far)

I just threw a wash of Master Sword over the lid and did a rushed mascara application. I recommend applying Shiro eye shadows over primers/bases as I feel they need something to grip to in order to last without creasing. This doesn't faze me at all as I use a base every day, it's my auto pilot mode. 

A shimmery, satin sort of finish for this shadow. I love shades that can be worn by themselves but still look really nice, and this really does. It looks even nicer in real life than in these images.

Master Sword adds a nice subtle light to the eye, and topped with mascara is easy as pie.

I really liked the sample shadows I purchased from Shiro, they are only $1.00 and full size retails for $5.00. I chose a whole stack of samples and my shipping only came to $1.75! You can buy Master Sword (from the Legends Collection) here, and see what else Shiro has to offer here.

Have you purchased from Shiro Cosmetics before?

What indie makeup companies do you recommend I try next?

A Green Look for Depression Awareness

As many of you might know, October has been flooded with pink looks and products to support Breast Cancer Research (My pink post is on the way!) Some may not know that October also is also Depression Awareness Month! An amazing group of bloggers have created green themed looks to tie in with the green ribbon, and I decided to show my support and hop on board. My talents are nothing compared to theirs but I'm happy with how my eye makeup turned out.

The weather in Melbourne is ridiculous, yesterday I was in a summer dress and today I am layered up with a scarf on! So please excuse the low lighting, I took the best pictures I could while in the car on the way to uni (was a passenger, don't worry!) The eyes took about 5 minutes and the rest of my 'getting ready' (clothes,face and didn't do my hair) took about 2 flat. Which, I suppose, is why after my coffee at uni I realised my singlet under my cardi was on back to front! Here is a closer look of the eyes:

PRODUCTS!

*Bourjois HealthyMix Foundation in #52

which I applied with my Rae Morris Radiance brush^

*NYX Peach blush

*Models Prefer Glitz & Glamour Highlighter (review here)

*Nothing on the lips but I later put on Smashbox Overexposed gloss^ (review soon)

EYES!

*MAC Painterly paint pot

*Face of Australia Mini Mousse in Magic Mist (swatched here)

*NYX Algae applied all over the lid

*Shiro Farore's Wind over the top of the whole lid, on top of Algae

*MAC Mink & Sable in crease and blended right into other shades

*Urban Decay Virgin as highlight, from Naked Palette

*B by Bloom collection mascara^ (new, review soon)

*

I love the contrast between the grass green of the other shades and the khaki of Mink & Sable- it's fast becoming my all-time favourite shade and I've worn it almost every day this month. I like NYX Algae a lot more once I put the Shiro pigment on top, it's a little too stark by itself on my pale face. I have been using NYX Peach a heap lately, pretty much this whole year it's been my go to and I love the way it goes with green eyes looks perfectly. I'm not sure if it's the amount of steps my eye look contained which made this look crease a little during the day, I have a feeling it's the Shiro pigments but aren't certain just yet. Will let you know if this is the case!

Here are the links to the looks which inspired my look, please refrain from comparing their made skillz to my lack of!

My favourite lady Jerry Dazzlepants!

Wendy!
Kathy!
Helen!
Priscilla!
Robyn!

If you are feeling down and need some help, or know someone who you think may be struggling with life at the moment, let them know you care and direct them to beyond blue, an amazing Australian organisation that supports depression, anxiety and related issues. No-one has to suffer alone, and the more we talk about these issues the less stigma there will be in the world.

All items followed by a '^' were provided for consideration for review, which does not affect my opinion of the product.

A Grey FOTD for a Grey Day

Yet another cloud-filled day on Saturday in Melbourne, and I had grey on my mind. Trying to take nice pictures of my IMATS and ABBW haul had me frustrated,so instead I snapped a few shots of the look I went with. I recently bought a cute grey Sportsgirl handbag, and I've been loving all shades of grey ever since.

A simple grey eye with pink lips and strong-ish brows (got them tinted at Benefit cosmetics over the ABBW weekend)

I really like the way the cool tones of the shadows go with a sweet pink lip. Usually when I wear a grey eye I go for a super baby pink shade on my lips, but I had just bought new warmer pink shades from Essence so chose them instead. Really liked the way it came out, felt like it was a a really pretty look for such a miserable day.

Here are the products I used:

Bourjois Healthymix Serum Foundation #52

NYX Powder Blush in Peach

MAC Painterly Paint Pot

Essence Quattro in Chic-ify (pale grey shade in bottom left hand corner)

Chi Chi EyeShadow Dust in Door Bitch

Shiro Cosmetics pigment in Magneton

Avon Ultra Luxury Eyeliner in Black

Clinique High Impact mascara

Nutrimetics Recharging Hydration Mist with Ruby 

Urban Decay eyeshadow in Buck (from Naked palette, for brows)

*

I used the Essence shadow over the paint pot before playing around with Magneton over the lid, and added Door Bitch in the centre of the lid to add a bit of brightness to the eye. (Everytime I say/write/think about the name Door Bitch I giggle, cheers Chi Chi!)

*

And for the lips...

Two brand new lip products from Essence!

The lip stain at the top is from the You Rock collection which has just hit Australia (which probably means it's old hat to those overseas) and is called Let me in Rose. It's one of two lipstains from the collection, and I will be showcasing these shortly because I am in love with them. The gloss at the bottom is from another collection also just released in Australia Blossoms etc... This gloss is called Flowerkissed, and I love the way it looks when paired with the lipstain.

*

In keeping with the grey obsession, I painted my nails!

I used Sportsgirl 'It Nail' in Storm with Sephora for OPI in I'm Wired on the ring fingers to spark it up a bit. Next I'm going to pair a hot pink shade with the grey.

What colours are you obsessed with at the moment?

Have you used any of the products featured in this FOTD?

emmabovary xx

August Favourites!

Had a quiet month with most of my time spent in the uni library or at home studying, and these are the products I used and loved most.

Face of Australia 'Outback Translucent' Powder* and Models Prefer 'Glitz and Glamour' highlighter were an everyday staple for me. The FOA powder is everlasting, I can't imagine ever finishing it despite using it all the time. I have a review of the highlighter almost ready, it's a lovely product.

Essence Palm Tree Party trio from the Return to Paradise collection, MAC Painterly and Shiro Cosmetics S.S. Anne loose pigment were eyeshadow winners for me this month! I use Painterly under every eyeshadow and it works well for me. I use S.S.Anne over a natural eye look to finish it off, and I love the shimmery, multi-dimensional effect it gives. From the Essence palette I've been using the third shade across which is a beauty in disguise- so so in swatches, this pops hard on the eye! It's a hard shade to describe, for me it leans brown, purple, grey and taupe all at once. Beautiful!

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation was a wonder for me this month, the original is my HG and this is just as good! Not very serum like, but great coverage and very moisturising. My Sugar Baby Vanilla hand cream was a bargain at $4.95 from Portmans, and the smell is incredible! Non greasy which was a must as I was (am still!) contantly typing on the computer.

Essence mini Colour and Go polish in Space Queen was popped over every other colour this month! I originally bought it to go over a navy for a galaxy inspired mani (post up soon) and loved the effect! A really pretty sparkle for over the top of other shades, but I'm also on the look out for a glitter fest polish to wear all on it's own. If you know of a great one, let me know!

That's it for August, did any of these products catch your eye?

emmabovary xx

(Face of Australia's translucent powder was sent to me for consideration for review from PR, but all opinions are honest and not influenced by that. Promise!)