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My new found love for khol eyeliner

I’m not big on eye makeup, I never have, and never thought I ever will. Until a few days ago, when I realized that I sometimes forget how fun makeup is, and get stuck in a strict flawless base makeup routine that feels good but not too creative.

I’ve had the Rimmel Scandaleyes Kohl liners for a few months now. When I London, I bought 4 in Boots, a gorgeous brown with golden shimmers, a deep blue, a crazy purple and a emerald green. I purposely never wore them because I kind of decided it actually was not for me. I have brown eyes, quite dark lashes and eyebrows and because I’m ~~the worst~~ not the best at eye makeup, sort of instantly gave up to be honest. But with spring rolling around, sunny days lifting up my mood, new horizons and all that… I mean, I know it’s just makeup but as you may know if you’ve been reading the blog for a while, makeup for me is way more than just makeup. It’s how you present yourself to the world, it’s something to play with, it’s inspiring, exciting and deeply profound I think.

That’s why I want to try new things! Get out of my daily routine and play! So, the other day, I decided to put a bit of the Rimmel Kohl in the brown shade on the top of my lash line, and smudged it. I basically start from the outside and work my way right into the center of the eye. Then do the same on the lower lash line. I then added a tiny flick, that I kind of, you guessed it… smudged. It really adds depth without looking too harsh, and it enhances the color of my eyes, which I actually really enjoy. It makes me feel different but like a better version of myself, which is exactly what I’m looking for when I wear makeup.

These eye pencils are super long lasting yet creamy so I’m glad to say it’s easy to replicate. I’ve been doing this look for the past few weeks and I’m not bored of it yet. I now want to play with the different colors I told you about and experiment! Sometimes I even add mascara to this chic/easy smudged look, I KNOW!

Will keep you posted on my eye makeup journey of course! Do you find that you’re sometimes too quick to think, “meh, that’s not for me” when it comes to makeup?

The Eyeshadow Edit

Last night, I went out. I just fancied redoing my makeup before hands, but after applying a bit more concealer and blush, I wanted more. Does it happen to you sometimes ? You know how, when you were little, playing “let’s pretend that I own a shop, here’s your change my dear” was simply the best, and nothing else would exist ? Makeup’s like that for me. When I’m in the mood for it, it feels like I’m playing, and noting else matters. Yesterday was one of those days where I wanted to pile it on !

Truthfully, I think not wearing mascara gives my smokey look a bit of an editorial twist. Well that’s what I tell myself anyway !

Eyeshadows are not something I wear often. I don’t believe it particularly suits me, and even though I’ve watched hundreds of tutorials online, I always feel like I could be better at it, and I am never entirely satisfied in the end.

However, the products I now use, I trust, and they don’t make me feel like I’m bad at doing my makeup, which, you know, is pretty nice ! I thought I’d share with you my holy grails products, eyeshadows, eye pencils and sticks… If you don’t know where to start, or if you’re simply looking for a good, solid, selection that won’t disappoint, scroll down !

My go-to look is sort of an underrated smokey eye. My take on it basically. One or two different shades on the lid, sometimes a tiny bit under the eye on the outer corner, and voilà ! I don’t wear mascara when I have eye makeup on, but it’s in the pictures because the only one I use, like three times a year, is the amazing Diorshow mascara that I thought you should know about. But, truthfully, I think not wearing mascara gives my smokey look a bit of an editorial twist. Well that’s what I tell myself anyway !

If you want to see me play with eyeshadows, I suggest you head over to my Instagram, you’ll see me applying some of these products on the stories saved on my profile ! I often do these little tutorials, and also hauls, makeup/skincare reviews, share my recent beauty related discoveries but also anything that inspires me !

For a one item, underrated smokey

By Terry Ombre Black Star eyeshadow stick in Bronze Moon. This is the simplest way to wear something on the lids. I apply it straight on, close to the lash line, and blend it out with my fingers. The result is a soft wash of color, adds a bit of definition, and definitely makes your eyes pop. If I’m feeling myself, I might add a soft line under the bottom lash line, and blend it outwards.

The I have time and I want to play with makeup smokey

The Naked Palette by Urban Decay, the OG one ! You could do pretty much anything with this palette. I remember when I first got my hands on this, it was all over the internet, people could not get enough of it. It’s gorgeous, and versatile. I tend to use either half baked, an intense gold on the lid and add a bit of the shade naked in the crease to blend it all together. I also use darkhorse, a dark bronze or hustle, a taupe with the exact same method. I use the Real Techniques brushes to apply these shades.

To add a bit more drama and/or play with colorful shades

Rimmel Scandaleyes Kohl liners are a great alternative. I own a dark blue, a deep green, a purple and a bronze. I either try to do a flick that I blend, or I do a line on top of the lashes, and one in the waterline to have a more dramatic effect.

There you have it, a fuss-free smokey eye situation !

Face brushes 101

A few of my friends have asked me questions about brushes, and it seems like it can be a whole unknown world so I decided I’d tell you all about the ones I own and why ! I don’t tend to wear eye makeup, and when I do I usually apply products with my fingers. I might use one or two brushes but to be honest, I’m not at the stage where I feel I can’t you give advice on that yet. Today’s article is about complexion a.k.a bronzer, blusher, setting powders, concealer, that’s it.

First off I think – if you don’t own any brushes – to get a good base to work with, you should definitely check out Real Techniques. That’s what I did. Created by the makeup artists sisters Sam and Nic Chapman, they are great, well priced, soft, and super well made brushes. I got the “Core Collection” featuring all the essentials : contour brush, pointed foundation brush, detailer brush and a buffing brush. I only really use the contour brush to, well, contour but also to set concealer with a little powder and sometimes to blend concealer (works nicely). I also like the buffing brush to apply concealer all over the face, or blend a CC/BB cream, though I have to admit I truly prefer using a beauty blender to seamlessly blend the product. Real Techniques is simply the perfect entry point to your brushes collection.

Now, let’s get more into this. Here are the only brushes I use day to day. Oh also, they have names and are meant to be used for this or that… I don’t really care for that.

Actually lots of makeup artists, Sam and Nic Chapman included, say that you should use them how you want to. Brushes are versatile, don’t be put off by the name and think “oh this is a foundation brush, I can’t use it for bronzer then”. Just give it a try and experiment !

Real Techniques Powder brush

I use this big powder brush to diffuse bronzer all over my face, or to set my makeup with a light powder with not much coverage. It’s a quick and easy brush, great for all over, not so much for precision.

Real Techniques Blush Brush

I would not necessarily use this brush for blusher, because it’s a bit too big for my cheeks. I love it for bronzer though, like the Nars Laguna, and I do use it for blusher that are super pigmented because the bristles on the brush diffuse pigments in a light way which is perfect if you don’t want to look like a clown with red cheeks.

Real Techniques Stippling brush

This one is amazing for cream and liquid blush. I put the product on the back of my hand, swirl the brush in it, and then gently dab on the cheeks for a super fast and gorgeous finish. I’ve recently discovered how good it is for foundation. Its super soft bristles really distribute the product evenly and it gives a soft finish, with good coverage because it does not drink up all the product. Perfect combination with Daniel Sandler’s watercolor liquid blushers and Glossier Cloud Paints.

Real Techniques Powder bleu Soft Finishing Brush

I LOVE this new addition to my brushes collection. It’s perfect for powder blush, AND bronzer if you want to be quite precise with your application and slightly contour. Extremely soft and amazingly gentle for my sensitive skin.

Eco Tool Precision Blush brush

Again, good for powder blush, if you really want to go for it. Its bristles are densely packed so the brush does give a good amount of pigment, better to use with a blush or a bronzer that’s not too pigmented or too bright. I love it with the Max Factor Cream Puff Powder Blushers.

Kiko Face Stippling Foundation Brush

This is my go-to for bronzer, because of the two levers of bristles on it : it gives a lovely light yet noticeable result. It has stayed really soft and is gorgeous to use if you want to build up a healthy glow with something like Chanel Les Beiges Powder.

Beauty Blender

This is my go-to to blend liquid or cream base products like Glossier’s stretch concealer, the Bourjois 123 Perfect CC cream, the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer. I run it under water and keep it quite wet, so the product really melts into the skin. It gives a flawless finish and really ties the complexion together. It’s the one thing I would not dare to imagine myself without.

Do you guys use brushes ? What are you favorites ? I’d love to know !

What’s in my handbag : the makeup edition

I don’t walk around with a ton of makeup in my bag, but I do have a few items that I’m always glad to find when I’m out and about ! My take on this is : I only need products that would help me touch up, that’s it. Therefore, being “radiant skin” obsessed, here’s what I carry around with me.

First of, I have to tell you… I don’t have a red lipstick, because I’m not one of those people who say they always need a red in their handbag because they just slap it on if they have to go out for a dinner or something that was not planned. What I do is blusher. Correction : what I need is blusher.

BLUSH My blusher of choice is Chanel Joues Contrastes in the color 72, Rose Initial. The powder is baked and the color itself is simply the perfect rose shade. It’s not crazy pigmented, it simply has the right amount so it works well to touch up, and stays on really well. The brush in the blush case is actually good which does not happen often enough to be honest. It diffuses the product nicely thanks to its natural bristles, which makes it extremely easy to use.

CONCEALER Rimmel Wake me Up in the shade Ivory is simply my best friend in a on-the-go situation. Cheap, not drying, good coverage, good for dark circles and spots, which is just exactly what you need in your handbag, isn’t it ?

LIP STUFF I only ever wear nude lipsticks, so I carry around my favorite lipgloss by Clarins in the shade 07 because it hydrates the lips and almost, temporarily may I add, erases fine lines and simply makes them look juicy. I also have the amazing – and as you can see in the pictures almost finished – Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in the shade Boy. It’s a sheer nude shade with tiny shimmers which make the lips look fuller, plumped : the perfect color for me. Though it’s a lipstick, because of how sheer and smooth it is, it’s super easy to apply and wears off beautifully which, to me, is one of the most important thing in a lipstick. That way, you don’t have to bother. Just apply it straight from the bullet and you’re done !

BROWS I take this item in my bag because I believe it has the best spoolie I’ve ever tried. It is the Catrice Slim‘Matic Ultra Precise Brow Pencil Waterproof in the shade dark. Now, I never use it at home – I should really – because the packaging is really handy for a handbag item and the spoolie is the best to brush the brows, either if you’ve applied too much product in the morning and need to rectify that, or if you simply want to brush the hair up to put them back in place ! The color’s good, I’ve seen better, but the tip is extremely precise and the consistency is lovely. Also, did I mention it costs around 3 euros ? Now, we need more shades of this !

There you have it ! Do you carry makeup around with you ?