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