Starting out in Makeup : Part 1 - Using Primer

Face - Creating the Base

I've met so many ladies who don't wear any makeup but really want to. The problem is that they don't know where to start. 

You'll find millions of different makeup products out on the market ranging from inexpensive to very expensive all declaring they can do amazing things. It can be confusing and intimidating for those who don't know much about makeup to know just where to start and to work out if it is worth paying extra for the luxury brands . Plus some makeup shops (and staff -ha ha!) can be really intimidating...

The best way to enter the makeup world, is starting off with the basics. I'm going to help you cover all the basics starting with the "Face" and breaking products into little sections so it isn't too overwhelming. I will also cover brows, eyes and lips once I've finished with covering the face

Lets gets started!

Face Primer

The purpose of using a face primer is to help your BB cream/foundation last longer, blend easier and look smoother. It also fills in fine lines and pores and can help control oil for those who have a oily skin type. 

Primer is used after your moisturizer and before your BB cream/Foundation.  It creates a base for your foundation and I consider it an essential product in summer as it really helps your foundation last through the heat of the day.

Affordable Options: 

• She Pure Magic Primer (all skin types ) 

• Rimmel Stay Matte Primer (oily skin)

Splurge Options: 

• Smashbox Photo Finish

• Mac Prep and Prime Natural Radiance

Personally sometimes I skip using primer in my makeup routine...  Some day I just want to do wear a touch of makeup but I can really tell the difference in how long my makeup lasts and how fresh it looks.  So if you want your makeup to last all day I really recommend using a primer first and you will be able to see the difference.

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REVIEW - NYX Professional Makeup - Lip Lingerie Lipsticks

NYX Professional Makeup 

Lip Lingerie Liquid Lipstick

Lip Lingerie Liquid Lipstick

OK I'm probably a bit late to the party in trying this product as I realise they have been around for a while...  However until relatively recently it has been rather tricky to get your hands on this range in NZ. I'm definitely pleased to see more NYX Professional Makeup products available in the local market :)

(NAME CHANGE - We are used to talking about NYX products the proper company name is NYX Professional Makeup so I'm going to try to use this going forward!)

NYX Lip Lingerie lipsticks are liquids lipstick with a soft matte finish. The range is well known for the large range of nude colours and their must be a nude to suit every single skin tone!   When you are looking at all shades in the holder it can be rather overwhelming and personally I found it rather tricky to see the difference in some of the colours as they look so similar. However when you swatch them you can see they are actually quite different on your skin tone. 

Before I even applied Lip Lingerie I noticed the yummy smell...  I love vanilla scent and these are vanilla scented :) I tried 'Lace Detail' and it is really pretty on my lips.

To be honest I didn't really like the applicator wand, I mean it is ok but could be better.  I didn't feel it necessarily applied the product that evenly and smoothly on my lips. They have a mousse-like texture and although they are quite pigmented I did apply a second coat to ensure my lips looked perfect.

The product dries to a soft matte once it is on your lips.  As seems standard with liquid matte lip products they can feel a bit drying depending on your skin type. However the product looked good and lasted all day through eating and drinking etc. and that is really important to me.  Costing under $12.00 from LoveMy Makeup it was a thumbs up purchase!

All in all I would recommend this product but probably wouldn't wear it every single day but then with so many great lip products on the market I need to mix it up!

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NEW - LA GIRL PRODUCTS....

LA Girl Lipify Stylo  Lipstick & 

LA  Girl Ulimate Intense Stay Auto Lip Liner

Shown :

LA Girl Lipify Stylo Lipstick in Ambitious

LA Girl Ultimate Intense Stay Auto Lip Liner in Unlimited Wine

LA Girl Ultimate Intense Stay Auto Lip Liner 

What LA Girl says-

Define lips with long-lasting color! The extremely soft formula is smudge-proof, anti-feathering, and sets to a matte finish. Ergonomic gel grip allows comfort and ease of application in a quick twist. Dermatologist tested and free of preservatives. Available in 8 shades.

What I think-

I really like this lip liner.
 It’s easy to use and glides smoothly on the lips without any tugging or pulling. It had good pigmentation and lasted well on my lips. I agree with LA Girl that it defines your lips well and it has a great formula. It definitely makes your lipstick stay longer and can also be used to fill in your lips.
I just wish it came in more shades...  I like it that much!

LA  Girl Lipify Stylo Lipstick

What LA Girl says-

Lipify glides on rich, intense color in just one swipe. Enriched with hydrating argan oil and olive oil, the non-sticky lightweight formula moisturizes lips with a luxurious soft and shiny finish. Available in a wide range of shades. Easy to use, non-retractable tip.

What I think-

This lipstick is super velvety and is almost like a creamy liquid lip colour. It feels ultra light on your lips when applied and is definitely non-drying. It has great pigmentation and a single swipe really does give great colour pay off. The colour lasted well on my lips.

To use the lipstick you need to twist the bottom part of the packaging. Unlike usual twist mechanisms only a very little bit comes up when you twist so you may need to twist a few times. However be warned the tip is non-retractable so make sure you don’t twist up many times as you can't wind it back in!

My final opinion-

Definitely both these products are worth purchasing in my opinion...  I have since purchased a few more colours in the lipstick range and really loving this range.

They represent great value for money definitely perform as expected after reading the advertising from LA Girl :)

LA Girl Lipify Stylo Lipstick - $9.09 from LoveMy Makeup stores
LA Girl Ultimate Intense Stay Auto Lip Liner - $8.39 from LoveMy Makeup stores

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An expensive habit...

Loving Makeup can prove to be an expensive habit...

There is so much hype around makeup & unfortunately we are often led to believe that only high end makeup lines create great products & all quality makeup is expensive.  The big  cosmetic firms have massive advertising budgets & are tempting us to pay an arm and a leg in the vain effort to find that one cosmetic product that we just can’t live without.

The truth is that is possible to get the feel of high-end makeup without paying HUGE money & drugstore makeup was actually comparable to high end products...  Believe it or not!

Now I'm not saying all cheaper makeup products are great & that they are all comparable to the pricey designer cosmetics you so often covet from afar. But there are definitely  drugstore makeup alternatives that are absolutely awesome without costing the earth.

So over the next while I'm going to concentrate on sharing drugstore dupes that I LOVE & that I hope you will LOVE!

I hope you will share your favourite dupes in the comments section below too

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FREE ZA???

FREE gift with purchase on now!

Who doesn't love a FREE gift with purchase promotion???

Currently all LoveMy Makeup stores are running a ZA Cosmetics promo....

Just buy any 2 ZA products & receive a FREE gift worth up to $23.00 <3

I've always liked the ZA range although it can be a little tricky to find it in stores. I'm not quite sure why more shops don't stock their products as they are generally great quality and good value for money.

 Usually LoveMy Makeup has a good selection of the product range although when you find a favourite item it is worth buying a couple just in case they don't have it next time you want it.  So since there is a promo running I suggest you buy anything you need so you get your FREE gift :)

I'll post a review & swatches of a few of my recent purchases over the next day or two but I did buy a few bits to take advance of the promotion

There were 3 free gifts to chose from and I went for the mascara.... I've 'stolen' a  graphic off their website to show the options available :)

Happy shopping...

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PRODUCT REVIEW : LA Girl Metal Liquid Lipstick

LA Girl Metal Liquid Lipstick

LA Girl Metal Liquid Lipstick

18 stunning shades
Only $11.19 each
Available now from LoveMy Makeup stores

 It is always exciting when LA Girl releases a new product so I was thrilled to get my hands on some of their new Metal Liquid Lipsticks.

Now LA Girl is one of my favourite brands as they offer on trend products at an affordable price point.

I wasn't too sure what to expect when I saw they had released this line. Maybe I was worried they were going to be that heavy metallic look that I think is horrible! However I'm pleased to advise they although they do give your lips a metallic look but not too heavy & they look really pretty on (swatches below)

They are a long lasting lip product and I really like they way last even through eating and drinking, so you aren't always needing to reapply. I felt the texture was a bit like a whipped mousse to apply,  wasn't drying on my lips and didn't feel sticky after application.

There are 18 shades available ranging from a good selection of nudes through to more funky shades like deep purple, bold orange & blue.  

Definitely a must buy product in my opinion...

My favourite shades are Smoulder & Lustrous.  

Let me know you have tried them yet & what you think - I'll keen to know!

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Save or Splurge on Mascara?

Mascara: Splurge! 

If only we all had a limitless makeup budget...
But we need to make choices on where to spend our hard earned money and I think splurging on mascara is well worth it.

Not all mascara is the same and they can create drastically different looks. Depending whether you want some length and definition, noticeable volume, or you don't have naturally black eyelashes and need colour, you will be able to find a mascara that cater to your needs. 

Although a lasting, non-irritating formula is a must, the effectiveness of the mascara is in the brush. Better quality mascaras will have brushes that maximise volume, lift, and curl.

I suggest you buy the best mascara you can afford, ask your friends for their recommendations and speak with some makeup artists about what you are wanting to achieve with your mascara.


 However remember drug store brands like Maybelline and Rimmel do make fantastic mascaras as well  :)

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Using Cream Blush

USING CREAM BLUSH

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