Drugstore V High End: Golden Bronze

Morning lovelies!!!

It's nice and sunny here in Sydney today! It would be perfect if I get to sleep in till 9 and head to the beach after. However, this is reality- so I will spending all day at work. A girl can wish right? =P

ANYWAYS,

today's post is slightly different from the usual FOTDs - keep reading to check it out =)

Can you tell the difference between 

THIS

and

THIS?

They look VERY similar isn't it?

 I think the gold in the first picture is slightly shinier and the application on the second one is slightly smoother.

What do you reckon? 

The first look is created using my Urban Decay Alice in the Wonderland Book of Shadows Palette while the second one is created using my NYX Eyeshadow Trios which is 10% of UD palette price. 

This is gonna be a Drugstore V High End FOTD post, where I share with you guys the tips and how to achieve similar look using drugstore products. We all know that MAC or Urban Decay is a luxury that we can't splurge on everyday.

I am thinking of making this into a series but I am not sure how much time I have in hands at the moment as I am still trying to adjust my time around full time work. But I will definitely try to make this a fortnight series thing or something like that. =)

Urban Decay Alice in the Wonderland Book of Shadows Palette

NYX Eyeshadow Trio 

My apologies for the shit photo quality here - my camera has problem focusing sometimes. Bummer =/

Here are the products that I used:

URBAN DECAY

On my EYES

ELF Mineral Eyeshadow Primer

UD Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows Palette:

- Oraculum (all over the lids colour)

- Mad Hatter ( Crease,outer corner and 3/4 of the lower lash line)

- Mushroom (Outer V)

- White Rabbit (Inner corner and browbone)

Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Eyeliner in Black (Upper Lash Line)

Milani Liquif'eye Metallic Eyeliner in Black (Lower Lash Line)

Random Asian Falsies 

DRUGSTORE

On my EYES
ELF Mineral Eyeshadow Primer
NYX Eyeshadow Trio in TS12
- Golden (All over the lid)
- Walnut Bronze (Crease and outer corner)
NYX Eyeshadow Trio in T27
- Platinum Pink (inner corner and brow bone)

Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Eyeliner in Black (Upper Lash Line)

Milani Liquif'eye Metallic Eyeliner in Black (Lower Lash Line)

Random Asian Falsies

I am not sure if you guys can tell but I combined 2 different lashes ( my favourite criss-cross ones and a simple lengthening one) here to get the full volume and length effect. I thought I had a picture of it but I couldn't find it in my folders. So fail. =.=" But yeh, I really like this combination as it really opens up my eyes and make it took bigger, without looking too OTT and dramatic!

On my FACE

NYX Concealer in a Jar in Light

Revlon PhotoReady Foundation in Natural Beige

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in Ivory Light

MAC MSF in Stereo Rose ( In the Groove Collection)

MAC MSF in Candlelight ( In the Groove Collection)

On my LIPS

Milani Color Perfect Lipstick in Rose Hips

( I love LOVE LOVE this colour!)

PS: I used the exact same products on my face and lips on both days!

This is created using the Urban Decay palette. :)

And this, using NYX Eyeshadow Trios. :)

Gonna throw in a few photos from the night too @ Mr B's:

It has been a while chicas!

Are you a high end brands person or drugstore person? Or a good combination of both like yours truly? :)
Let me know if you like me to do more of this sorta post where I use both high end and drugstore products to create similar look. =)


XOXO,
A

Snippets of my life

I need to remind myself that I am now working full time and no longer 18 - having a fully packed weekend when I really should be recuperating from a long week at work is not really a wise thing to do. I am always knackered by Sunday night. Thank god its the long weekend next week! :) It has been a LONG time since I last stayed at home with my nerdy glasses and pjs, just lazing around watching dramas or reading a book. 

Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining; in fact I am VERY fortunate to have finally found a FT job). I am still in the transition period of  bludgy-casual-job (where I can chuck a sickie whenever I have my cranky pants on) to full-time-job (with a gazillion responsibilities). I am sure I will get use to it soon! =)

I shan't bore you guys with anymore of my random babblings. This is gonna be a quick picture posts of what has been going on with my life in the past 2 weeks. =) Most photos are either taken using my iPhone or I got it off somewhere - hence, no watermarks. 

I attended Nuffnang's tea party @ Tea Parlour today and got to meet some lovely bloggers :)

Spring has finally arrived in full swing - with a lovely 27 degrees sunny day yesterday. The GMTA (Great Men Think Alike) crew *yes, miss CSJ just came up with this awesome name* decided to hit Centennial Park for some BBQ, frisbee and biking. 

Om noms noms.....

One thing really awesome about the crew is - we party hard and drink hard but we do healthy activities together too! How many of you have Friday night drinks, get hammered ( with yours truly being the sober one. *so proud of myself*), then biking and BBQ the next morning? Not many, I believe =P

China Glaze Vintage Vixen Collection

The prize I won from A Day In The Life Of Dollface's Giveaway has finally arrived!!! 12 gorgeous colour from the China Glze Vintage Vixen Collection - CAN'T WAIT TO TRY THEM OUT =)

(For you nail fanatics out there,you guys should definitely check out her blog for some crazily cool nail designs!)

Sandwich which is as big as my face (I kid you not) from Big Bite on Pitt St.

Smoked Salmon Sandwich (MY ALL  TIME FAVOURITE :D)

$9 for such a MASSIVE sandwich is pretty worth it - except that I was pretty damn stuffed after consuming the entire sandwich. That probably explains why 99% of the patrons are guys, with the 1% being S and I. 

And some photos from last weekend =)

Miss CSJ, Miss M and yours truly @ Verandah Bar -which brought back memories of the good ol' days! 

Charlie Chan on Friday nights after work might have became a weekly affair for Janice and I. 

Maybe I should learn how to photoshop - all the photos taken and edited by Janice is much nicer than mine. =.="

Flaming Charlie which made the both of us VERY happy girls at the end of the night LOL

Blair & ChaiGyaru ♥

 Hope you enjoy the little snippets of my life lately. =) Look out for a pretty awesome post (may I say so) either tonight or tomorrow morning. 

How was your weekend, lovelies? 

Have a great one! ;)

XOXO,

A

Illamasqua Art of Darkness Launch Party

Howdy! 

How's everyone's week so far? I am struggling to survive my second week of full time work - and now I truly understand the definition of "exhausted". Shouldn't call my friends "oldies" anymore for wanting to call it an early night over the weekend. I have been trying to go to bed earlier too - just so I fulfil the 7-hours-sleep-a-night requirement just so I wouldn't accumulate too much sleeping debt to pay off during the weekend and more play time LOL. ( Working as an accountant for 1.5 weeks has brought out my nerdy side LOL)

HOWEVER, the crazy yet epic weekend I had (stay tune for more updates) and lack of sleep did not stop me from being all excited and hyped up for Illamasqua Aus' Art of Darkness Launch Party on Monday at Woolloomooloo. Thanks Sassisam and Christabel for the invite. I had a really good time playing with the make up, meeting bloggers while sipping my sangria and most importantly, it actually got me thinking about what I really want in life - careers wise. 

Art of Darkness Collection 

" Its a melting pot of individuals, where ideas are exchanged, and new ones created. A surreal gathering from which the guests might never awake. Which is why this night can never end, and the game must be played for eternity. SO take your place at the table and let the banquet begin. This is the Art of Darkness"

STUNNING poster that caught my attention! LOVE THE EYES AND LIPS! 

Illamasqua aka British Cult brand differentiates itself from other main stream make up brands such as MAC and Urban Decay by pushing beyond boundaries and dare to be different. There's no rules stating that your lips has to be red/pink in colour and blue is something you shouldn't wear on your lips. It's all about creativity and expressing yourself through make up. 

Take the absolutely stunning poster above as example - bold eyes and bold lips,so what?

For a split second, I thought I was in heaven. Beauty heaven, that is!

Christabel Draffin working her magic on the model of the night to recreate the Gypsy Goddess look from the EPIC promo video.

LOVE everything about this look - the cut crease look (LOVE The peach pigment used all over the lid), the FALSIES ♥, the lips and the contouring.

A few tips that I managed to remember at the top of my head at the moment :

- ALWAYS apply lip balm before applying bold coloured lipsticks ( I am guilty for not doing this)

- ALWAYS apply mascara BEFORE applying your falsies (Once again, I am guilty)

- Open your eyes while trying to wing the liner up as it gives you a better idea of the shape of your eyes - to ensure that the wing is going up and not down.

More tips HERE. 

My very own play ground. :)

Top to bottom : Pure Pigment in Furore (which is GORGEOUS champagne-peach colour), Liquid Metal in Resolute (which was used as lipstick on the model above) and Cream Blush in Rude

Was playing with random stuff and this is one of the many random swatches I manage to catch on camera :)

And, I am actually purchasing them. BE GOOD, ADELINE! 

The Art of Darkness Collection - I am currently lemming for the Hermetic Intense Lipgloss too but it's more like a lipgloss that I will collect rather than wear. So.....

Liquid Metal in Superior

Liquid Metal in Solstice

Their brand new Precision Ink in Alchemy (Gold) and Abyss (Black) which dries within seconds and SUPER pigmented! It does come off when I rub with water though so its not suitable for someone like me who's constantly having watery eyes =.="

Jadegrrrl from Jade Musing and I decided to camwhore with Hermetic Intense Lipgloss. :)

Looks better with flash IMO 

I am surprised how such intense and bold colour actually suit the both of us, which obviously has different skin tone. Not a colour that I will wear often but its something really unique which will be nice to be included in my collection. What do you think? =P

Goodie bag I got to take home with me :) 

The powdered Metal in Ether from their new collection. 

which is perfect for highlighting and it can be applied on face AND body. :)

The packaging - 

and it comes with a sponge for easy application too...

Liquid Metal in Solstice 

a GORGEOUS gold colour♥ 

After my first not-so-pleasant encounter with Illmasqua, I gotta say I was really impressed by the people and the products this time. The Illamasqua team was really friendly and make sure we felt at home and were constantly refiling our drinks and be sure to have our questions answered.  I am NOT saying this simply because I got invited to their event and was given free stuffs. 

Prior to my invitation to The Art of Darkness Launch, I was actually contacted by the Trudi, the Director of Illamasqua International Brand Management after Sam found out about my first Illamasqua experience. Trudi offered me another complimentary full make over lesson, at my convenience. (which btw, I am yet to arrange an appointment with them due to my busy schedule. =.=")  I was actually impressed by how my feedback was taken so seriously.

* Just to make things clear, I did not complain to Sam about my previous experience. It was only brought up because she was kind enough to offer me a make up lesson voucher and I told her that I had already been to one and was rather disappointed.* 

Enough of my random blabbings, its time to sign off, have a shower and hit the sack soon. 

I can't wait to try these babies out this weekend and I will be sure to update you guys when I do and will do a more detailed reviews along with a few FOTDs. :) So, STAY TUNE for that! ♥ ♥ ♥ 

Have you bought anything from The Art of Darkness Collection? What's your favourite product from Illamasqua? 

XOXO,

A

FOTD : Glory Glory Man Utd

Hey lovelies,

How have you been? This is gonna be a quick post over my Earl Grey Tea and Oats.Sorry I have been MIA-ing for the past one week.  I just started full time work last Monday and still trying to get used to 37.5 hours of work a week. On top of that, out of all the weeks where I have all the time in the world, my friend decided to go all out and have a hectic weekend this week. Instead of recovering from work, I spent all weekend killing my liver and partying. It was good fun, nonetheless. And now, I am extremely exhausted and lack of sleep. Monday Blues is probably starting to kick in soon. 

Anyways,

Here is just a simple FOTD I did using my NYX Eyeshadow Trio - which is suitable for work or school and it only takes about 5 minutes.

( I do realise that this FOTD is not at all Manchester United inspired - its more of a shout out to Berbatov's spectacular performance yesterday against Liverfool and defeated Liverfools with his hatrick. And coincidentally, I was in my ManUtd jersey while camwhoring for this look =P) 

Simple & Easy

On my EYES

MAC Coral Crepe Paint Pot

NYX Eyeshadow Trio (TS27)

Platinum Pink ( Browbone and inner corner of my eyes)

Salmon ( All over lid colour)

Jazzy Bronze ( Outer V and crease)

Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Eyeliner in Black

Milani Liquif'eye Metalic Eyeliner in Black

Cover Girl Lash Blast Waterproof Mascara in Black

ELF Eyebrow Kit in Medium

On my FACE

Garnier Anti Dark Circles Roll On

Etude House Magic BB Cream

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in Ivory Light

Crayon Cheek Blusher in CCH (803) [ A Japanese blush a friend got me]

Benefit Luminous Liquid Girl Meets Pearl

On my LIPS

NYX Round Lipstick in Fushion

Glory Glory Man United :)

Have a great week ahead lovelies!!!

XOXO,

A