Makeup Withdrawal

OPI Sheer Tints Nails

Sunday, April 13, 2014

So a few days ago I posted a review and a sorry excuse for swatches of the OPI Sheer Tints. I finally completed a successful manicure using these shades. Well by successful I mean that it didn't bubble up, I didn't actually care for this manicure much! In the end, I used a lot of thinner to really dilute the polish until it was quite watery and used a striping brush to just doodle it on.

Short and sweet post! Hope you had a great weekend.

(I'll be back in just two more days, this is a scheduled post while I'm on vacation!)

Holo Watermarble

Friday, April 11, 2014

Here's a recent manicure I did using Nubar Kiss the Sky and Color Club Eternal Beauty in a watermarble. This was maybe... 3 weeks ago? 2?

Anyways, I'm still on vacation so I won't be able to read/reply to comments until after I get back.

Have a great weekend!

Anthony Logistics For Men Instant Fix Oil Control

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Ever since my beloved Urban Decay De Slick in a Tube was discontinued, I've been on the hunt for a similar oil control product to use on my t-zone. Even though I am leaning much more towards dry skin these days, my t zone remains oily. With the warmer weather here already well on its way, I definitely felt a greater sense of urgency as without grease control, my t zone is likely to just melt when I walk outside. A few months ago, a sales associate and I were discussing primers without much or any silicones when she offered to show me Anthony Logistics for Men Instant Fix Oil Control.

This product comes in a pretty standard looking squeeze tube. The first thing I noticed was how big the tube was (well in comparison to Smashbox Photo Matte Anti-Shine which I reviewed here), for $28 you get 3.0 fl. oz. of product. Pretty fantastic if you consider that most primers in the mid price range at Sephora or Department tend to be $20+ for usually 0.5 to just over 1.0 fl. oz. Though geared as product for men, I found this milky gel to definitely be usable as a makeup primer.

You can use this either under your makeup as a primer or on top of oily skin. I only use a small dab, as pictured. As a primer, it sinks into skin very quickly without drying it out, giving me a few hours without shine. It doesn't hinder makeup application in any way; no pilling of foundation or the like. It's tricky to apply on top of oily makeup (I suggest lightly dabbing it in with your fingers, taking care not to smear your foundation) but works fantastic if you want to apply it to bare oily skin. In fact, if you know a guy (or you are a guy) looking for a product to combat a slick face, this is for you.

On the left, I applied two drops of jojoba oil and rubbed it into my hand to mimic shiny skin. I then dabbed Anthony Logistics For Men Instant Fix Oil Control right on top.

It's very similar to other silica gels out there, perhaps a bit on the thin side. It works reasonably well but not as great as De Slick in a Tube. It does however make your skin really soft and pretty smooth which is a plus over oil control products I've tried. One slight problem I found was that it contains limonene. Limonene is a major component in citrus oils and gives Instant Fix Oil Control a light citrus scent, not unlike a sweet clementine. Unfortunately for me, I have a sensitivity to citrus oils. This sensitivity runs in my family; my brother and sister also experience dry peely skin when we are exposed to it. So it made me a little bit itchy and therefore it wasn't exactly a suitable replacement. However most people don't have a problem with limonene, so I hope my experience doesn't deter you from trying this product if you'll looking for something with light to medium oil control.

Anthony Logistics For Men Instant Fix Oil Control is paraben free. It does contain silicones but not nearly as much as say, the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer line. You can find this line at Ulta or online at Sephora.

(By the way, this is an scheduled blog post, I'm on vacation! I'll won't be able to respond to comments until after I get after April 14th)

What's your current solution for oil control?

Product featured was purchased by me, for my own use. Post contains affiliate links. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Mundane Mondays, Vol. XVII: Pysanky

Monday, April 7, 2014

Recently I took up an old hobby, making Ukrainian Easter eggs (pysanky) by way of wax resist. I learned this in elementary school and I think the last time I dabbled in this was about a decade ago.

This was the first egg I made. I was so rusty and it was so ugly due to my clumsiness and constant mistakes. I was ridiculously proud though of completing it though!

I don't know if you know much about these eggs, but they are using covered in wax using a kistka which is a tool with a funnel at the end. There's electric kistkas these days but I use a manual one. Basically I scoop a bit of beeswax with the mouth of the funnel in the kistka, hold it near a candle and let the flame melt the wax. Using the finer end of the cone, I draw designs all over the egg. You dye various colors in order of lightest to darkest, adding wax in between to keep that color. Pictured above is Egg #2 after I've drawn the designs in wax. The blue stuff is also wax, just a refined wax that works in a finer kistka.

Here's what Egg #2 looks like after I've colored it with blue dye.

Here's what the finished egg looks like. After you've completed the dyeing process, you hold the wax covered egg by a flame and wipe the wax off as it is melted. At this point, I poke holes in the top and bottom of the egg, swirl a pin around and blow out the yolk and egg white so that the egg is hollow.

Egg #3. Remarkable improvement over Egg #1, no?

Anyways if you're interested, this website goes over the basics and tools needed for this interesting craft.

Do you have any unusual hobbies or crafts you like to do?

Laura Mercier Cheek Colour Brush

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Another day, another brush review! Today I'd like to discuss the softest cheek brush I own. This is the Laura Mercier Cheek Colour Brush. This was one of those 4 a.m. purchases that seemed like a great idea at the time, but when I woke up in the morning I was feeling a bit more WHAT HAVE I DONE? Luckily all I manage to do was to purchase a sublimely soft brush that is unlike other cheek brushes in my collection.

Before we continue, I have to mention that I have the long handled version, which took some finagling (I cannot express to you how much I dislike short handles). The version available at most department stores these days is with the travel handle. The two have the same head, handle length is the only difference.

The bristles of this particular brush are blue squirrel and let me tell you, they are ridiculously soft, very fine and quite pliable. If you find yourself to be quite heavy handed with blush, this is blush brush for you. The hairs don't pick up as much powder as my other blush brushes, which can be a good thing for some. The application method is also different compared to blush brushes with a more full dome shape (like for example, the MAC 129).

Left to right: Hakuhodo 210, Laura Mercier Cheek Colour, Sephora Cheek Brush (part of a set), unknown cheek brush.

This is definitely the most flat brush that I own, the closest brush in shape being the Sephora one. However, the hair lengths are quite different. The Sephora bristles are all on the longer side, causing a more poofy shape whereas the Laura Mercier brush's bristles are arranged with more of a taper (think of it like layers in a haircut).

Since the LM brush is shaped more like a paddle, I find that sweeping motions rather than any sort of circular buffing work best. Using the side of the brush, I pick up and deposit sheer washes of color. This brush works fantastically with blushes that are alarmingly pigmented, it gives you a great deal of control and allows you to increase the intensity in gradual layers. However, I can see how some might find the bristles too soft and possibly annoying to work with, especially if you're in a hurry and want that blush to apply itself.

My brush did shed a tiny bit when it first arrived but I noticed that it was only in one particular spot on the , as though something wasn't quite glued tight in a specific area. In other words, I would consider this a defect unique to this brush and it wouldn't keep me from recommending the Laura Mercier Cheek Colour Brush to others.

At $45, I certainly won't insist that this is an absolute must. However, if you're in the market for a luxury brush and having found yourself to be perhaps a bit heavy handed with the application of powder rouge, this marvelously soft brush may be perfect for you.

The Laura Mercier Cheek Colour Brush can be purchased from Nordstrom and similar stores.

What's your favorite cheek brush? Do you prefer softer brushes that glide or stiffer blush brushes that pick up pigment nicely?

(By the way, I'm on vacation until the 14th of April! I won't be able to read and respond to comments until then.)
Products featured were purchased by me. Post contains affiliate links. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.