Heureka!

Having watched a ton of YouTube makeup tutorials, I was craving one particular eye pencil - NYX Jumbo Eyepencil in MILK. It is a perfect base for eyeshadows (it gives them something to grab to) as it brings out the true pigments. Just watch this:

Understandably, I tried to order it online, but they are always out of stock for this particular colour (at least every time I checked on Boozyshop). As it turns out (I love google!), there is another Dutch based shop that has NYX and plenty of other interesting brandS on offer: www.beautybyelke.be. Quickly go and check it out, it is perfect! And do not be put off by Dutch, I am sure Elke speaks English perfectly! :-)

Open up your eyes

In my opinion, there are three easy ways to look rested, sophisticated and "put together":

• Blush - for that fresh outdoorsy face
• Undereye concealer - an alpha and omega in beating the tired appearance
• Eyeliner - defines the eyes, deepens, intensifies your look, optically thickens and elongates the lashes

Eyeliners are available in many shapes and forms but they have different effects.

• Pencil eyeliners are easy to work with and chances are you are most familiar with this type. However they smudge quickly.
• Felt tip pen eyeliners are relatively easy to work with, because they offer a steady tip
• Liquid eyeliners - I find it really difficult to place them as close as possible to my lashline, my hand is shaking like crazy when I do that, so the result is...shaky. Moreover, they tend to "crack" during the day.
• Cake eyeliners - usually dark coloured powders pressed into a small pot, they are smudge-proof and the colour intensity is strong
• Gel eyeliners - are equally long lasting and colour intense as cake eyeliners, there are my favourites

Favourite brushes list

You do not have to search long and hard if you want to start building up your brush collection - that is once you know where to get what. I bought my starter brushes at a pharmacy (yes, a pharmacy at Merode, on the same side as EXKI, T.LeClerc brand) HEMA and Réserve Naturelle. (RV)
Here are my favs:

T.LeClerc is a luxurious brand: both price and quality of these are high (cca 20 EUR/brush)
1)eyeliner brush
2) eyeliner and eyebrow brush
3) crease brush
4) concealer brush
I love all of these, but with time I found cheaper alternatives. Quality is superior in these, though.

Furthermore, any of these brushes will be invaluable in your collection:
ESSENCE (Kruidvat)
5) gel eyeliner brush, came in the package with the eyeliner itself. Actually a very good brush. (4 EUR)

MAYBELLINE (Di, Kruidvat)
6) gel eyeliner brush, again come together with the eyeliner, price at Di 12,99 EUR. Also a very good brush.

HEMA (price ratio between 2 - 10 EUR)
7) small angle brush - I only use it to define my brows with an eyeshadow
8) eye shading brush, good quality
9) fluffy blending brush, works best if you have a lot of eyelid space
10) flat shading brush, your best buy for eyemakeup in HEMA
11) foundation brush - super soft bristles make the job of applying foundation really easy

Beauty little helpers

Every little helps: here are some basic tools for cleansing, plucking, grooming....(clockwise)

Cotton pads: for taking off the makeup, nail varnish, spot cleaning for brushes

Q-tips: there is no makeup mistake that these little guys can not fix

15 ml plastic container: to depot your creams, for travel...(Di drugstore)

A clean mascara spoolie: use to comb your eyelashes before you put mascara on and after to get rid or clumps, to brush your eyebrows into place 

Blending sponges: ideal for pressing fond de teint into the skin (esp. around the nose and the chin) and removing visible foundation streaks (Di drugstore)

A pair of tweezers: for plucking your eyebrows and removing ingrown hair (Ici Paris sells Tweezerman)

Eyebrow stencils: (bought at Kruidvat) perfect for defining your brows before plucking

Eyelash curlers: curling your lashes before you apply mascara will help your eyes look bigger and more "awake". (the nearest Shu Uemura shop in Antwerpen)

Baby wipes/De-makeup wipes (not pictured): for spot cleaning your brushes and general cleaning of your tools

Biggest beauty blunders

Makeup is as old as humankind and has been loved by women (and men) for thousands of years. Just remember Cleopatra and her massive eyeliner...Yet there are still lessons to be learned in how to wear it without looking like the notoriously made-up Queen of the Nile. This funny video perfectly demonstrates 10 biggest makeup mistakes: (but let the one who has never sinned cast the first stone):

However, it is not only makeup that can make you look errrr less perfect:

• hairy legs - ladies, please shave your legs, especially in the summer! Long hairs are NEVER a pretty sight...
• hairy armpits - just three words: SHAVE IT OFF
• facial hair - modern technology should do the trick
• no pedicure - yet another summer specialty. Cute sandals and long protruding nails, cracked and calloused feet...you get it.
• chipped nail varnish - not a good trend, carrying around a nail polish in the handbag for a quick touch up could be a solution to this one
• greasy messy hair - there is no point in trying hard with makeup and clothes, when your hair is killing your look...
• generally neglected appearance BUT perfect gel manicure

Online shopping tips

I just wanted to give a shout out to a couple of well tried and tested Internet shops:
Happy browsing! :-)

http://www.cherryculture.com/index.php

A US-based Internet shop selling cosmetics for face and body, tools and sets, offering over 20 different brands.


http://www.allcosmeticswholesale.com/ - quote: All Cosmetics Wholesale specializes in discount, high end cosmetics at below retail, wholesale and below wholesale pricing. I especially recommend it for low priced L'Oreal (HIP - high intensity pigment series) and Maybelline products (a lot cheaper than in Europe).


http://oth.strawberrynet.com/main.aspx?region=OTH&CurrId=US$&langBox=BE -  the world's leading provider of discounted designer skin care, make-up, cosmetics, perfume, fragrances, cologne and hair care.





http://www.fragrancex.com/ - perfumes, shipping free anywhere in the world.

For nails:
http://www.head2toebeauty.com/ - another US based company, shipping for around 18 $.

Metal Mania palette review

It is only me, or this Metal Mania palette is the same as Coastal Scents 88 Metal Mania? Mine is marketed as a Boozyshop product. Not that it matters, as the palette is simply beautiful! I was a bit (pleasantly) surprised about its compact size (23 cm x 16,5 cm x 1 cm). It arrived exquisitely protected by a number of boxes and plastic bubble wrap. It costs 18,95 EUR.

The colours are really well pigmented with a shimmery finish. They transfer well on the eyelid without much fallout. The palette is a super gift for anyone who is crazy about eye makeup. The colour combinations are endless enabling you to go for a subtle natural look or an evening smokey eye. I am enclosing links to sites with swatches, as this has been done really well already by other people.
http://www.pursebuzz.com/2010/04/coastal-scents-metal-mania-palette-swatches/
http://pinkboxmakeup.blogspot.com/2010/05/coastal-scents-88-metal-mania-swatches_23.html