Product Comparison: MAC Select Sheer/Loose NC45 and Black Opal Deluxe Finishing Powder Medium

MAC Select Sheer Loose Powder NC45 / Black Opal Deluxe Finishing Powder Medium

It's been awhile since I did a comparison post and so I thought I'd do that for today. I'm comparing MAC's NC45 Sheer /Loose Powder and Black Opal Medium Deluxe Finishing Powder . Both powders have great reviews . I realized that they some how look alike during one of the clean ups I had in my kit.

 MAC Select  Sheer /Loose Powder ( 0.28oz / $24.00)  is a translucent, featherweight, ultra-fine, sublimely silky powder. It provides a sheer to fine finish thus keeping the skin very natural .
 Mattes the skin but keeps its natural glow. It's a good under-eye concealer setter for dark - deep skin tones and provides a matte finish to any makeup look. It's great for all skin tones . The only downside is that , It's pricey and the only shade available for dark skin is NC45.

MAC Select Sheer Loose Powder NC45 / Black Opal Deluxe Finishing Powder Medium

 Black Opal Medium Deluxe Finishing Powder (1oz / $8.95) is equally a translucent , ultra-fine jet milled powders which gives the skin a silky finish when used. It's hypoallergenic  and non - comedogenic . It's suitable for all skin tones especially for oily skin. When applied in the t-zone , It's able to absorb the excess oil on the skin leaving it matte. I find the MAC powder looser than the BO powder which is much heavier when used. I prefer to use the MAC powder to set the under-eye concealer than the Ben-Nye Banana Powder. The BO powder is budget friendly to a beginner's kit and it's available in dark and deep too.
Overall, I'll always get both products for my kit anytime I run out.

Swatches

MAC Select Sheer Loose Powder NC45 / Black Opal Deluxe Finishing Powder Medium

Huge MAC Haul

Earlier this year , I applied for a MACPro Card and I was  accepted . Six weeks after , I received my card. The card entitles me to some good discount. With my card , I decided to going shopping for my kit.

 

 Here We Go...

I got two single pro palette for all my eyeshadows. This looks just like the Z-palette.Palettes keep the kit well organized. I need to get two for my blushes and powders.

Also got some more eyeshadows in the refill. I most popular ones are Trax, Shadowy Lady and Plum Dressing.

Got 6 shades of the MatchMaster foundations ranging from 7.5 - 10.0.

 Prep+Prime Line Filler Base - great for filling in fine lines and wrinkles around the eye and the mouth area.

I finally got the famous MAC Matte. This is great for oily skin prepping. 

 I got the all that 217 blending brush.

Love love this dark concealer/corretor palette. 

Mineralised Skinfinsh in Deep dark.
 

 

Got three lipstick : Rebel  , Spice It Up and Viva Glam V

This is the most fun part. I got some samples .....
The Volcanic Ash Exfoliator  , Some Face & body Foundations , Natural Radiance , Prep + Prime Skin and Oil Control and two Zoom lash mascaras.

Got two eye kohl pencils , 1 in Feline and 1 in Smoulder.

The Fast Response Eye Cream .

This  is the prep + prime eye base in medium dark. It's an eye base and a lid corrector .

The fluidline brow gel creme.

I know you're dying to read the reviews and see some swatches too. I'm going to try them and will let you know my honest opinion ; however I got all this South Africa and the customer service was just excellent. 

Quick Review - Mini Sigma Spa Brush Cleansing Glove

  Mini Sigma Spa Brush Cleansing Glove

Mini Sigma  Spa Brush Cleansing Glove is a lovely gift I received from Sigma Beauty when I bought my Premium Brush Kit. The actual cleansing glove is available on sale on their website and It retails for $35.00.
The actual glove comes with two surfaces , one for face brushes and the other for eyes brushes.

 

Detail Description from Sigma 

The Sigma Beauty Sigma Spa™ Brush Cleaning Glove was specially designed as a quick, easy and effective method to deep clean your makeup brush collection. The revolutionary device offers a variety of necessary textures and surfaces for removing all makeup from brushes while using only a small amount of cleaning solution. The dual-sided glove provides a complete cleaning process for both eye and face brushes.

Five distinct textures for washing and rinsing.

For the first time ,I used it to clean my brushes and I realised that the eye brushes were just perfect for this mini glove. It was just a one-time cleansing affair. I really didn't like the experience when I used my face  brushes because they happen to be bigger  and the face texture for cleansing wasn't enough for effective one-time cleansing and so I had to repeat the cleansing process.

I'm really considering getting the actual glove . It made my cleansing really fast ; however I feel it will be more effective with brush soap than a liquid soap.
 
A quick demo coming soon.

Fragrance Friday : Narciso Rodiguez For Her Eau De Parfum

Welcome to another exciting edition of Fragrance Friday. Today I'm sharing with you all one of my favorite perfumes I've been using since the latter part of 2012.

What Is It?

Narciso Rodriguez For Her Eau De Parfum ( available in 30ml , 50ml & 100 ml)   is described as a
modern classic perfume for her femininity as it's most powerful. With its classic bold smell , it has the ability to charm and  seduce with purity, grace and subtlety. Having Musk as the heart of the scent , it's captivating when you walk into a room . Sensual and additive are some characteristics of this perfume. 

Notes 

Musky , Rose , Patchouli ,Warm Spicey , Balmy

Why I Love It?

•  It's so rich in smell
• Long lasting when you wear
• Love love the powerful femininity it brings me 
• The compliments I receive when i wear this perfume.

Usage 

For church , Social gatherings and during one -on -one meetings.


Hope you enjoy.

Happy Friday......

Drugstore Haul ( Featuring Maybelline & Wet n Wild)

I have been on a makeup shopping spree lately and trust me I have done some good damages to my account. I cannot say anything about these products now since I got them based on good reviews from others.  As a mua , It's always an opportunity for me to try new products and share my honest views to my lovely readers. Mind you I bought all these with my CASH.

Here Is What I Got..

Maybelline Expert Twin Brow & Eye Pencils ( Dark Brown & Velvet Black ) - Celebrity MUA Scott Barnes swears by these pencils especially the velvet black and so i wanted to try them .

Maybelline Color Tattoo ( Edgy Emerald , Bad to the Bronze , Tenacious Teal  & Pomegranate Punk ) - I really really wanted to try them based on the great reviews I've read from others. I also got the color in Fierce &Tangy     but my sister forget to add it to the items during shipping .. So so sad .

Wet n Wild Desert Festival Eyeshadow - it part of the Fergie Centerstage Collection - I got this palette for a client's wedding . I can't wait to use it during her trial .

Fuchsianista / Purty Persimmon / Taj Mauve -Hal

Wet n Wild Lipstick - I got three lipsticks ; Purty Persimmon an orange shade , Taj Mauve-Hal  and Fuchsianista from the Fergie Collection.

I also got the Wet n Wild Color Icon pencil in dark brown . Read lots of reviews on this pencil for the brows.

Finally I got the Wet n Wild Eyeshadow primer - A mua can never have enough of primer.

 What are your favorite drugstore items? Share by commenting below.


Lots of reviews coming up soon on this blog.

Men Makeup

So so so.... I was up for a gig and my model happened to be a male. Well I was told before time and I had to prepare for it. It was a magazine cover page and so i needed to do a good work.  Makeup on men is really the ''no makeup'' look and It's very necessary to take lots of things into consideration . Like the coverage to go for and the likes. It's just about correcting and making the skin better.

Me and My Model

 

Things I Packed For My Model

 

 

This is just a picture I took with my Blackberry phone during the shoot. 

This is just everything I used on him.

• Eve Pearl HD Foundation /Salmon Concealer - I chose this foundation because it's creamy  yet very lightweight . I love the sheerness of it's coverage. It's really good for men since they really do not want to feel anything on their face. I used the concealer NOT FOR HIGHLIGHTING but CORRECTING UNDER-EYE DARKNESS.

• Guerlain 4 Season Terracotta Bronzing Powder - This is a no -shimmer bronzer. Looks amazing on men. I applied it on the forehead and other areas where the sun would normally hit. The bronzer also prevents the face from looking flat.

• Moisturizer / Anti-shine - I used Eve Pearl Priming Moisturizer to moisturizer the face  and Anti-shine to eliminate excess shine on the T-zone. Men tends to be oily on T-zone. 

• Clear Mascara - Love Maybelline Great lash mascara , unfortunately  I left that and so I used the Anastasia of Beverly Hills Clear gel mascara to clean the brows and keep them in shape.

• Black Opal Invisible Oil Blocking Powder - Used a  setting powder with a light hand . Love it because it's invisible and controls the oil too. 

• Lip balm - just a little to keep the lips from drying.
• Facial Wipes  - to clean the face before application. 

• Brushes/Tools

           -  2 foundation brushes ( for moisturizer / Real Techniques Expect face brush for cream foundation )
           - 2 Powder brushes ( Bronzer and Powder application)
           -  Palette /Spatula
           - Disposable mascara wand for the brows



Hope you find this useful.

Fragrance Friday : Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum

I wish to introduce a new segment on my blog on Fridays called Fragrance Friday . On this platform I'll be introducing some fragrances I've been using and loving since the beginning of 2013. I hope you'll enjoy reading.

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum

What Is It:

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum ($105.00 - $175.00 depending on size)  is a fresh , citrus , spicy -floral fragrance. It represents the sexy young, fresh oriental fragrance which recalls the irrespressible spirit of the young Chanel woman. The classic bottle signifies personal luxury and is a welcome addition to any dressing table according to Chanel.

 Notes:

Orange , Bergamot ,  mandarin , Tunisian curacao .

Why I Love:

• Feels very fresh , feminine and sexy
• Most importantly , not overpowering.
• Long Lasting  
• I love the rich unusual smell of the parfum , It's like those ones you can't explain .

 Usage:

Love it for everyday wear  specially the office and church.

ENJOY YOUR FRIDAY

Mary Kay Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover

Mary Kay Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover

 Mary Kay Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover is described as a gentle eye makeup remover . It gets rid of makeup without leaving the skin oily. It's able to clear the eye of any makeup without burning , tugging or pulling the area around the skin. The formula is non -greasy and very suitable to sensitive skin and eyes.

Personally , this eye makeup remover does a good job by removing all my makeup without feeling any inflammation or greasiness around my eye area. Just a few drops into a cotton ball, it cleans my eye makeup including those stubborn eye bases which doesn't move when I use an ordinary soap. It's advisable to use eye makeup remover since they're made especially for the eye and the area around it. Remember that the eye and the area around it is very delicate and any unsuitable product could cause inflammation .The eye makeup remover is able to remove waterproof mascara off the lashes without hurting them.

It's a must have for ladies who love wearing eye makeup especially mascara and liners. Using water and soap only is not enough to remove all the residue and also some soaps can really burn the eye.

The eye makeup remover looks clear in the tube 

however it becomes whitish when shaken.

Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner

I've really had lots of issues with toners ever since I discovered the magic in having a skincare routine. All thanks to my makeup artist trainer , Anneke  in South Africa. She's such a wonderful teacher. My issues were over-drying of my skin and very unpleasant scent.

Witch Hazel is an astringent produced from a flowering plant. It's very inexpensive comparing it to some high end toners .

Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner

Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Pore Perfecting Toner (16 oz / $ 5.49) is a pore perfecting toner with a quite an unpleasant smell but really works magic on the skin.This is an excellent skin toner. This toner gives you a clean so pure skin, it leaves nothing behind. Its 100% all-natural formula tightens and refines pores, gently removing excess oil, dirt and makeup residue without over drying the skin. It evenly tones and leaves the skin feeling smooth . Before any makeup application on my clients , I always clean the face with a facial wipe and follow it up with a my witch hazel acting as a toner.

More product information

This is Not water but Witch hazel Toner

Ingredients

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis Virginiana) (All Natural) , Alcohol (14%)and , Witch Hazel (Hamamelis Virginiana) Extract . Note : Although it contains 14% alcohol , it's non - drying at all.

Why I Love It ?

• For all skin types
• No animal testing
• Oil-free and non-drying
• No harsh chemicals
• Dermatologist recommended
• Gently cleanses and conditions pores
• Maintains clear and balanced skin 

  After cleansing , I moisten a cotton ball and apply to my face in a gentle dabbling motion.  In Ghana, it's available at a beauty supply store in Dzorwulu just adjacent to Body Talk .Try it .

Nivea White Acne Oil Control Cleanser

Nivea White Acne Oil Control Cleanser

 Nivea White Acne Oil Control Cleanser is recommended for oily skin types as a cleanser for preventing acne. It's  been my go-to cleanser since May , and I've really enjoyed using it daily. I was first introduced to it in far away Togo . It was part of my Togo haul  . This is a Thailand product and yet to see one in Ghana, However you can check with any beauty supply store. 

It's a rich , white cleansing cream that is activated by applying a reasonable amount onto wet palms. It's really creamy and very easy to apply and remove. I really love the fresh and fruity smell of the product.
It's removes dirt and and clears the skin leaving it fresh and radiant.

Comes in squeezable tube

 
The cleanser eliminates blockages that have been accumulated deep into the pores. This cleanser is a pore minimizer. Cleansing of the skin leaves the pores more tighter. It very hydrating and non-drying to the skin. I really love this product for it's acne reducing feature. Yes , it works . I use every morning and evening .
 I have seen my acne-prone skin looking and feeling good. I follow it up with my witch hazel acting as a toner and my moisturizer.

Kit Addition : Maybelline Great Lash Clear Mascara

  

Maybelline Great Lash Clear Mascara

 Maybelline Great Lash Clear Mascara ( $6.0.47 fl) is one of the new product i just dropped in my kit . It's a clear gel mascara .

Why I Got It ?

• Great mascara for men 
• It's works as a brow gel - good for grooming those unruly brows specially for men.
• Great mascara for really natural looks. 
• For setting brows to keep them from moving

Observations ...

• The product smells like some hand sanitizer.
• The wand is very cute , thus good for the lower lashes too.
• The product feels very light and non-sticky when touched.

Mascara Wand

 I just dropped it because I'm doing a photo shoot and my model is a man ans so i need it for his brows and maybe his beard . It's a must -have for any makeup artist. It's a drugstore brand .

Hope you find this useful.

Guerlain Terracotta 4 Seasons Tailor - Made Bronzing Powder Review & Photos

Guerlain Terracotta 4 Seasons Tailor-Made Bronzing Powder

 Guerlain Terracotta 4 Seasons Bronzer is a medium to dark brown bronzing powder available in 4 different amazing shade all in one compact.  This 4 Seasons bronzing powder has a matte finish with no visuals of shimmer at all. The powder is feels very creamy and buttery in texture. It's so superfine and really true to color. The pigmentation is not chalky at all . It's so easy to apply and thus blendable. It's really sinks into the skin leaving it naturally bronzed with a long - lasting effect.

It's worth the price of  $75.00 and please it's was a gift from my sister who is a makeup junkie. The packaging is such a luxurious solid compact with it's pouch and nice mirror to go with. It's very handy and can be carried anyway.

Guerlain Terracotta 4 Seasons Tailor-Made Bronzing Powder

Guerlain Terracotta 4 Seasons Tailor-Made Bronzing Powder

 

Guerlain Terracotta 4 Seasons Tailor-Made Bronzing Powder

 



Overall , i love the texture and the color pay-off of these powders. I love the fact that these powders create endless possibilities of mixing and blending color together to create your own unique look. A must-have for men makeup kit  since it doesn't contain any shimmer or glitter. It's looks really good on my medium to dark ladies. Apart from being a bronzer i always sometime use it as crease color.

Hope you find this helpful ..
 

Book Reveal : Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual

Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual

 The Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual is  one of the makeup book i purchased when i decided to start my freelancing. I cannot tell you how much this book inspired me just reading the various tips and tricks and learning makeup application techniques.  It's a book for everyone from beginner to even the pro.

The book is divided into two sections , one for basic makeup application technique which is pictorially taught and the other for advanced makeup application and detailed focus on the makeup industry.

I. Basics  - this is where all the action is . Each chapter below is well represented with not only the act but most importantly the theories behind them. I really love how she taught color theory and the likes.
 The application techniques are straightforward , very easy to understand and adapt .

 Some of the topics discussed under Basics are:

1. Makeup Artistry 
2. Equipment
3. Skin 
4. Face 
5. Lips
6. Eyes
7. Ten _step Guide to Perfect  Makeup 
8. Special Makeup Application

II . Artistry - This is the part that really inspired me . Bobbi really took her time to explain the various fields in the industry, the dos and don't , how to break into the business and really everything one need's to known before taking the step to become a makeup artist.  From Bobbi s' own words - Artistry , What it takes to be a professional : this chapter is all about learning to see, formulating your style , listening , collaborating , and finding inspiration.

Meet Bobbi Brown 

A must - have makeup book .

Hope you find this helpful.