FOTD: 'Ombre' Eyes Using Lime Crime Eyeshadows

Hello,

I thought I would share the FOTD from my Babette Review. I haven't really shared a FOTD lately and this is one of Mr PM's favourites. He encouraged me to put it in a post!

So here we go!

Please enjoy my dodgy instagram generated photo! lol

I used the following products:

FACE

• Illamasqua Matte Primer
• Kryolan TV Paint Stick in NB1
• Illamasqua Skinbase Foundation in #6
• Napoleon Perdis Camera Finish Powder in N2

BLUSH

• Illamasqua Blush in Tremble

EYES

• Kryolan TV Paint Stick in NB1
• Kryolan Translucent Powder in TL1
• Lime Crime D'Antoinette Palette - Mercurious (Inner Corner)
• Lime Crime Aquataenea Palette - Seahorse Discourse (Next Colour)
• Lime Crime Aquataenea Palette - Atlanteal (Next Colour)
• Lime Crime Aquataenea Palette - Nautilus Prime (Outer Corner)
• Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette - Bootycall (Highlight)
• Napoleon Perdis Mesmer-Eyes Mascara
• MAC Fluidline in Blitz and Glitz
• Eyebrows: Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake in Gaze
• Lashes: Ardell 117's

LIPS

• Lime Crime Lipstick in Babette

I was super pleased with how this turned out, and plan to do the same thing again soon, but with different colours (of course! lol)

Are there any looks of mine that you would like to see featured? You can see any daily FOTD's I post on Instagram (@polishedmakeup)

Love,

Your PM x

FOTD: Illamasqua Speckled Liner

Hello,

Today I am sharing a FOTD with you. Since it was released with the I'Mperfection collection, I have admired Illamasqua's Speckled Eyeliner technique. Until now, I have not attempted it as I have not been overly confident with eyeliner. Looking at this (dodgy phone) photo I would say this is one of my best eyeliner attempts yet!

I used the following products:

FACE

• Illamasqua Matte Primer
• Kryolan TV Paint Stick in NB1
• Illamasqua Skinbase Foundation in #6
• Napoleon Perdis Camera Finish Powder in N2

BLUSH

• MAC Mineralise Skinfinish in Stereo Rose

EYES

• Kryolan TV Paint Stick in NB1
• Kryolan Translucent Powder in TL1
• MAC Eyeshadow in Satin Taupe (Crease)
• Bare Minerals Eyeshadow in Nude Beach (Lid)
• Napoleon Perdis Loose Eye Dust in Mosaic Gold (Highlight)
• Napoleon Perdis Mesmer-Eyes Mascara
• Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Liner in Equinox
• Illamasqua Precision Ink in Abyss
• Illamasqua Precision Ink in Scribe
• Eyebrows: Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake in Gaze
• Lashes: Lash Republic's 'The Hunter' (these are definitely my favourite lashes!)

LIPS

• MAC Lipstick in Embrace Me

The key to this look is the Precision Inks in Abyss (Black) and Scribe (White)! If you are keen, you can play around and use different colours (gold instead of white for example!). Either way, I feel liquid eyeliners would work best! (for the spots at least anyway!). Because the liner is reasonably simple, I paired it with a bright lip for a bit more interest.

There is a great tutorial for Speckled Eyeliner on the Illamasqua website which you can view here if you are interested!

Have you tried the Speckled Eyeliner? Do you want to?

Love,
Your PM x

FOTD: Fancy Function!

Hello,

Last week I went to a function and I thought I would share the makeup look that I did for the occasion! (Sorry they are dodgy phone photos but you'll still get the idea!)

My dress was orange lace over beige so I didn't want to go too gun-ho with colour! I chose a co-ordinating bright lip because I like to be matchy like that! haha. The end result made me feel very glam!

I used the following products:

FACE

• Illamasqua Matte Primer
• Kryolan TV Paint Stick in NB1
• Illamasqua Skinbase Foundation in #6
• Illamasqua Skinbase Foundation in #1 (used for blending #6 foundation into my neck... I have a very pale neck!)
• Napoleon Perdis Camera Finish Powder in N2

BLUSH

• NARS Blush in Deep Throat
• MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Stereo Rose (on apples of cheeks only)
• Napoleon Perdis Contour Palette (brown contour only)

EYES

• Kryolan TV Paint Stick in NB1
• Kryolan Translucent Powder in TL1
• Bare Minerals Eyeshadow in Nude Beach (applied damp with MAC Fix+)
• Sleek i-Divine in Original (brown-y colours used)
• Napoleon Perdis Loose Eye Dust in Mosaic Gold
• Napoleon Perdis Mesmer-Eyes Mascara
• Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Liner in Equinox
• MAC Pearlglide Eyeliner in Black Swan
• Illamasqua Precision Ink in Abyss
• Eyebrows: Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake in Vehement
• Lashes: Lash Republic's 'The Hunter'

LIPS

• MAC Lipstick in Ablaze

There you have it! I hope this serves as inspiration next time you are having a night out!
Love,

Your PM x

FOTD: Glam With Red Lips

Hello,

Another FOTD from last weekend here! I felt like going glam last sunday and wore a pretty dress to match! Once again, it's dodgy picture quality (thanks to the phone!).

I used the following products:

FACE

• Illamasqua Matte Primer
• Kryolan TV Paint Stick in NB1
• Illamasqua Skinbase Foundation in #6
• Illamasqua Skinbase Foundation in #1 (for blending into neck)
• Napoleon Perdis Camera Finish Powder in N2

BLUSH

• MAC Mineralise Skinfinish in Stereo Rose
• MAC Marilyn Monroe Blush in The Perfect Cheek
• Napoleon Perdis Contour Palette (brown contour only)

EYES

• Kryolan TV Paint Stick in NB1
• Kryolan Translucent Powder in TL1
• Bare Minerals Eyeshadow in Drama
• Bare Minerals Eyeshadow in Celestine
• Napoleon Perdis Colour Disc in Queen of the Night
• Napoleon Perdis Loose Eye Dust in Mosaic Gold
• Napoleon Perdis Mesmer-Eyes Mascara
• Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Liner in Equinox
• Illamasqua Precision Ink in Abyss
• Eyebrows: Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake in Gaze used wet with Illamasqua Sealing Gel (I'm trying something new! lol)
• Lashes: Lash Republic's 'The Hunter'

LIPS

• MAC Lipstick in RiRi Woo 

The lippy is the LE Riri Hearts MAC Collaboration... I bought it because I got sucked in but I must say I was throughly impressed! The colour is really nice and it wore REALLY well and it didn't bleed! I am usually really clumsy with red lipstick but I didn't end up getting this one everywhere. It is a matte finish but it doesn't feel overly drying which is a huge plus! If you are Aussie, it's still available on the MAC website, otherwise, there is a second release in June (I think it is... actually that's quite soon!!).

Love,
Your PM x

FOTD: Anniversary Dinner

Hello,

It's been a busy ol' week for me (which is why it's been a bit light on with postings, so my apologies for that!). On Wednesday, the Fiance and I went out for a 4 year anniversary dinner! (no, the dinner didn't go for four years! haha... I wish!). I did a reasonably simple FOTD for the occasion but I was really happy with it and it was very much liked by the other half!

I used the following products:

FACE

• Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Primer
• Kryolan TV Paint Stick in NB1
• MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC15
• Napoleon Perdis Camera Finish Powder in N2

BLUSH

• Sleek Blush by 3 in Lace (Middle only)
• NARS Blush in Seduction

EYES

• Kryolan TV Paint Stick in NB1
• Kryolan Translucent Powder in TL1
• Bare Minerals Eyeshadow in Drama
• MAC Paint Pot in Blackground
• Illamasqua Pure Pigment in Alluvium
• Napoleon Perdis Loose Eye Dust in Mosaic Gold
• Napoleon Perdis Mesmer-Eyes Mascara
• Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Liner in Equinox
• Illamasqua Precision Ink in Abyss
• Eyebrows: Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake in Vehement
• Lashes: Ardell Beauties (I had previously washed/soaked them so they are a bit straighter than normal!)

LIPS

• MAC Mineralize Lipstick in Luxe Naturale

I went for a pale lip due to my bright/bold eyes (and also because I was less likely to end up with my lippy all over my face during dinner... It has happened with brighter colours!). The best part about it was that it was pretty quick to do! WOOHOO! (always keen for a bit of time saving!)

I hope this serves as a bit of inspiration when you are next getting ready for a night out!
Love,

Your PM x

PM'S TOP FIVE: FACE ESSENTIALS

Hello again,

Tonight is another installment of PM'S TOP FIVE (my previous editions have been on Illamasqua and MAC if you've missed them!). Tonight's focus is a quick round up of my five favourite face essentials - these are the things I consider a MUST when doing my daily makeup!

My favourite Face Essentials

Kryolan TV Paint Stick (I use colour NB1)

Formulated for TV usage, this product has fantastic coverage! Its main purpose is foundation but I actually use it as concealer, because it's one of the few things that actually does a decent job of covering my dark circles! I also use it on my eyes as a base for my eyeshadow, so it's going on to even colour! (not my splotchy eyeballs!).

(p.s. I have previously raved on about TV paint stick in my Bargain Makeup-ing Post!)

Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake (I use colour Vehement)

Filling in eyebrows is a must! It really finishes your face off and makes your overall look more polished! I simply use this eyebrow cake dry with an angled brush, but you can also use it with a sealer gel, wet, for added definition!

(p.s. This Eyebrow Cake has also made it to my top five Illamasqua... What a handy little thing it is!)

Kryolan Translucent Powder (TL1)

I use Translucent Powder over the TV paintstick to set the foundation when I do my eyes. However, It could also be used for an all-over powder (nice and versatile this one!). Translucent powders help to set your foundation without adding any extra colour to your face! If you struggle to find a good match for powder, translucent powder could be a good option for you!

Illamasqua Medium Pencil in Hex

I am in love with Hex pencil! It's a nude colour (like an actual pale nude, not every other makeup company's definition of nude lip liner... which is actually brown!). It's actually a really good match for my skin tone! (I definitely got lucky there!) Anyway, I use it around the edges of my lips to stop my lippy bleeding (and I use it instead of co-ordinating colour ones because a) I'm lazy, b) It goes with everything and c) I don't have to be accurate). You could even wear it alone for a nude lip if you wanted!

Mascara (I use Napoleon Perdis' Mesmer-Eyes Waterproof)

Mascara, no matter what brand you use, is a mascara is essential! Mascara helps to define your lashes and make you look more awake and with it! The one I use (NP Mesmer-Eyes) I like because it has a plastic comb-style brush, rather than one with heaps of bristles (and considering I frequently stab myself in the eye... I feel like I'm less likely to do damage with blunt plastic!)

I hope this helps next time you are looking for some face essentials!

Love,

Your PM x

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE: Kryolan Satin Powders and HD Pigments

Hello,

I'm on a bit of a blogging roll at the moment (I am trying to reduce that list that's longer than the Great Wall of China...) so tonight's second post (my first was my Top 5 MAC Picks) is on my little collection of Kryolan Satin Powders and HD Pigments.

A few people in my neck of the woods haven't really heard of Kryolan, but they make some great stuff! They aim for the Stage/TV makeup artists, but that doesn't mean the everyday makeup lover can't use their products! I swear by their TV Paint Stick for concealer, and I also love their translucent powder!

There are 16 available colours in the Satin Powder collection (I have four) and there are 16 available colours of the HD Pigments (I have three). I wanted to swatch the few I have, because I struggled to find swatches of them on the net when I went to buy mine. So hopefully if you are in the same predicament, this helps! 

Top: HD Pigments
Bottom: Satin Powders

The HD Pigments are supposed to be of a higher quality, and have good adhesive properties to bare skin (I will agree with this as I tried to use a HD Pigment with NYX eyeshadow base and it wouldn't grab!). The main difference, formula wise, between the HD Pigments and the Satin Powders is that the Satin Powders have a talc base and the HD pigments do not (good if you are allergic to talc, which some people are!).

First, the Satin Powders:

(L-R: White Gold, Rose Gold, Champagner, Majestic Green)

White Gold: A white base with a prominent gold shimmer. This would work great on the inner corner of your eye or as a brow highlighter (or both!).
Rose Gold: Looks alot more pink in the jar but on the skin is a nice soft candy pink with a gold shimmer. Very pretty and girly!

Champagner: A champagne coloured bronze. It's not a full on bronze (like Napoleon Perdis' Copper Element) but is a nice medium between gold and brown. This was the most metallic/shimmery of the Satin Powders.
Majestic Green: A green base with a green shimmer. It reminds me of a grass green. Can't say I love it, but I think this one would be great used with a Khaki green colour.

TOP TIP: For more intense colour, I press my loose pigments onto a base such as NYX Eyeshadow Base (there are others you can use but I use that one, and like it, so I recommend it! lol) to help keep the colour intense and lasting longer!

The HD Pigments:

(L-R: Dolomite, Marble, Emerald)

Dolomite: This has SUCH an interesting finish! It is a nude-y pinky lilac and the finish isn't like a sparkly metallic and it isn't quite matte. It's really hard to describe but it's awesome!

Marble: A really pretty pale sparkly purple! A really intense colour! Would be nice to mix into your everyday makeup routine!
Emerald: A beautiful green! It's an intense green and is simply stunning! If you love greens and wear green eyeshadow, this will not disappoint!

The texture of the HD Powders are different to the Satin Powders. The Satin Powders are a powder, and if someone says to me "loose pigment" that is the formula I expect. The HD Pigments are a bit clumpier (which I'm sure would be due to the absence of talc!). They remind me of a smaller version of MAC's Crushed Metallic Pigments!

Stats-wise, you get 3gms of Satin Powder for AUD$18 (VERY competitively priced) and for the HD powder you get 3gms of powder as well (though Dolomite is marked at 6gms... bit confused there?) for AUD$32. After swatching them side by side, you really can notice the difference in quality. The Satin Powders aren't bad quality, but the HD powder is just so much better! If you are one that is pedantic for quality, go for the HD powders if you will get the use out of them! If you aren't sure if you will get much use, and there is a colour you like, the Satin Powders are not too much of a strain on the hip pocket!

My picks: Dolomite (simply for the finish), Emerald (for the colour) and White Gold (for the versatility).

In Australia, you can buy Kryolan from www.kryolan.com.au and in Melbourne (for those in Melbourne) there is a shop in Little Collins St (so you can try till your heart's content!).

Have you used Kryolan before? Which products do you like?

Love,

Your PM x

Here's Looking at You! FOTD/NOTM

Greetings!

Tonight I am going to share with you my FOTD/NOTM that I had for my trip to Salon Melbourne! I thought I better be all pretty and fancy so I look like I fit in! (no orange tracksuit unfortunately!) I even went to the effort of putting some curls in my hair (and that is a special occasion thing! lol). I had a great time (even though I was only there for about 2 hours!) but I am full of wonderful blogging ideas to share with you over the next little while! (so make sure you visit back regularly!)

Here was my FOTD (Face of the Day):

(Sorry for dodgy iPhone quality - was in a rush so didn't get a camera photo! lol)

FOTD

And for those interested, I used the following products:

FACE

• Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Primer
• Kryolan TV Paint Stick in NB1
• Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation in No.6
• Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation in No.1 (for blending into neck)
• Napoleon Perdis Camera Finish Powder in N2

BLUSH

• Napoleon Perdis Eyeshadow in Flamingo Road
• Yes, you read right... Eyeshadow! It is such a pretty colour but I am not the biggest fan of wearing reds on my eyes! (I posted about Flamingo Road in my Multi-Use Products Post)
• NARS Blush in Torrid
• Illamasqua Bronzing Duo (Glint only) as a cheek highlighter

EYES

• Kryolan TV Paint Stick in NB1
• Kryolan Translucent Powder in TL1
• Napoleon Perdis Eyeshadow in Green Living
• Napoleon Perdis Eyeshadow in Queen of the Night
• NYX Eyeshadow Base in White
• OCC Loose Colour Concentrate in Flicker
• Napoleon Perdis Loose Eye Dust in Mosaic Gold
• Napoleon Perdis Mesmer-Eyes Mascara
• Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Liner in Equinox
• Eyebrows: Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake in Vehement

LIPS

• MAC Mineralize Lipstick in Lady at Play

PHEW! If you've managed to survive that you'll realise I use alot of products! Sometimes, a little splash of product X or Y can take your makeup from nice to really nice! I really liked my blush in this FOTD. I had Flamingo Road on the outside from my hairline, blending down to mid cheek. Torrid was blended from the apples of my cheeks, up! I then added a touch of Glint from Illamasqua's Bronzing Duo along the top of my cheek for a bit of interest!

Now, nail polish lovers don't be disappointed! Here is my NOTM (Nails of the Moment):



Zoya Kimber

I'm calling it a NOTM rather than a NOTD or similar, becuase I don't know how long they will last! haha. My nails, as mentioned, have the habit of chipping polish like it's nobody's business. However, as I write this (after being on for two days), there is only one tiny chip... amazing! (I think it's becuase they are filed bone short but Murphy's Law is probably not wanting me to try out my new polish yet!) - and yes my hands are still in terrible nick. I'm working on it!

The polish pictured is Zoya Kimber from their Surf Collection (part of Beach and Surf). Surf is such an amazing collection! It's a set of 6 foil-y polishes in fabulous colours! (to date, my fave Zoya collections are Surf, Sunshine and Sparkle! Though, with my newbies I've just picked up I may be adding Ornate when I get a good look at it!) But I'm digressing...

Anyway! Zoya Kimber is a beautiful rasperry red/pink with a foil-y gold shimmer! The bottle in the picture is quite accurate, and the nails show the shimmer up well. I constantly find myself staring at my nails! (and for those wondering I used Cult Nails' 'Get it On' base coat, and two coats of 'Wicked Fast' top coat). Kimber certainly has alot of appeal and would make a great colour for your toes too!

I am full of blogging ideas at the moment, so stay tuned for more posts over the coming days!

Love,

Your PM xx

The PM's Guide to Bargain Makeup-ing: Multi-Use Products

Let's face it (pardon the pun) - makeup can be expensive. Yes, there are a few gems that come with a reasonable price point, but as a general rule you get what you pay for. Therefore, it's always good to stretch your dollar further! You can do this by a) hunting down a bargain (which I'll touch on eventually as I'm an avid bargain hunter!) or b) buying products that have more than one use - which is what today's post will be on!

Now, the products I'll be talking about are from my own collection - therefore if you have something similar, by all means use that! (unless you want to try something new of course!). These are things that work for me and I find good to multi-use, but they may not work for you! (and that's ok too!)

So here are some products (in no particular order) that I use for a variety of things. Keep these in mind next time you are perusing the beauty aisles or packing for a holiday!

NAPOLEON PERDIS BRONZE PATROL
Main Use: Bronzer
Multi-use: Eye Shadow
The NP 'Patrol's' (Bronze and Blush) are great as they are a marble of colour and you can have lighter or darker depending on where you pick from in the pan! (If you get one that is good enough you will even have larger colour blocks to pick from). Usually, I am not the biggest bronzer fan and mine rarely get used (mostly due to the fact I am only a few shades off ghost white!). However, I love using Bronze Patrol in the crease of the eye as a nice soft brown - it makes a great everyday colour!

Bronze Patrol

ILLAMASQUA BRONZING DUO'S (as seen in Easter Feaster!)
Main Use: Bronzer
Multi-use: Eye Shadow and Highlighter
These are similar deal to the NP Bronze Patrol. However, this product comes in two silky-soft colour pans - one lighter and one darker! I used the paler-side (Glint) for my Easter Monday FOTD and was pleasantly suprised. I also used the darker colour as a subtle contour under my blush. They would also make great eye shadows and brow bone highlighters depending on your skin tone!

NAPOLEON PERDIS COLOUR DISC IN FLAMINGO ROAD
Main Use: Eye Shadow
Multi-use: Blush
Personally, I tend to avoid red/coral/pinky coloured eyeshadows becuase I feel that if it's not done right, your eyes just look sore. Therefore, I usually avoid it unless I'm specifically in the mood. While this would be good for crease-blending, it's not something I am keen to reach for on a regular basis. Until the day I had a champion brain wave... BLUSH! TOTAL WIN. Now I get more use out of those Coral/Red/Pink eyeshadows I just HAD to have... (It's a slightly more expensive way to do it, but if you use it up it's value for money!)

Flamingo Road

KRYOLAN TV PAINT STICK
Main Use: Foundation
Multi-Use: Concealer
I bought my first TV Paint Stick for use at my deb in 2004 (yes, I did my own makeup!) and I've loved it ever since. While I don't wear it as a full face foundation these days, it's the best concealer i've ever found! It's thicker than any other concealer I've ever come across. Why? Well, I have very dark circles under my eyes (something I am not the biggest fan of) and this is the only thing that does a good job of covering them up! When I have my makeup professionally done, they do put concealer under my eyes but I'm always asking for more makeup because these circles stand out like a sore thumb. I've also taken to using it under my cheeks, with good results! When my face gets all hot I get all red under my cheeks, if I don't cover it up it pokes through and makes it look like I have no idea what I'm doing with blush! (not cool!)

My Red Cheek (I rest my case...)

ILLAMASQUA MEDIUM PENCILS
Multi-use: Eyes and Lips
The beauty of Illamasqua is they appeal to all those left field makeup lovers! They have awesome products that come in a variety of colours to suit your every wish or whim! Illamasqua Medium Pencils come in just about every colour under the sun (pink, blue, red, yellow you name it!) and can be used on either the eyes or the lips! So with some crafty buying you can have your bright eye liner and wear it on your lips too!

SMITH'S ROSEBUD SALVE
Multi-use: Everywhere!
Being that this blog is supposed to be on nails too (oops!), I thought I best include a nail-friendly product. This stuff smells great and can be used just about everywhere. I know of some Nail Polish Bloggers that use it on their cuticles (and I don't blame them!). I haven't used mine very much but it's very highly spoken of in the beauty world. Rosebud Salve can be used on chapped lips and skin, blemishes and soft hands. If you have heard of/have used Elizabeth Arden's 8-Hour Cream, that will probably do the same thing (just not smell like roses). I use 8-Hour Cream on my nose when I have a cold and it's all chapped from blowing my nose! lol

Rosebud Salve

Anyway, I think that is a good start to the "PM's Guide to Bargain Makeup-ing"!
I will likely do another multi-use post when I find some more products and I will definitely do some more instalments for bargain makeup!

Are there any products you use for a variety of different things?

Love,
Your PM x