QUICKIE FRIDAY FAVOURITES: CONTOURING PRODUCTS (QUICK REVIEW + SWATCHES)

"Its Friday, Friday, Friday...."

And it's time for some Friday Favourites again. Now that it's summertime in the land down under - its all about the minimal makeup, sun kissed look! I shared with you my current spring/ summer fav lippies two weeks ago #badblogger. This week it's about my favourite "colouring" products. By colouring, I really meant contouring =P

Arbonne Bronzer, A$46* - I think I might have just discovered my favourite bronzer! Matte finish without giving you that dirty "greyish" undertone = #winning! Also, its moderately pigmented - which translates to you don't have to risk looking like someone who has just dunk her face into a bowl of orange powder. Just a few swirl with a large fluffy blush around the temple of your forehead, under your cheeckbones and your jaws (also known as the "3" zone) and voila - sunkissed finish! :) This has been my daily contouring bronzer since well, I got it from the lovely girls from Brand New Solutions and it’s safe to say I will definitely repurchase once it hits pan!

ELF Mineral Blush in Candid Coral, US$3 – Natural flush, pigmented, easily blendable, cheap, this baby here ticked the box for all of the above. Looking for something more subtle and give you the summer glow? This blush is your answer! This is my fail proof everyday blush and has been making frequent appearance ever since the land down under was greeted with spring.

WITH FLASH (L - R): Australis Highlighter, Benefit High Beam, Benefit Cha Cha Tint, Benefit CORALista, Bobbi Brown Bronze Shimmer Brick, ELF Candid Coral, Arbonne Blush in Blossom, Arbonne Bronzer

Bobbi Brown Bronze shimmer brick, A$85 - This is my to-go-to "blush" for my cheekbones when I want a really bronzy, sunkissed look with a glowy finish to complement either my bold eyes or bright lips (usually the latter)! Do keep in mind though, as the name is pretty self-explanatory, please keep the shimmer on your eyes to the bare minimum as the last thing you want is to look like a shiny disco ball. Unless, that's what you fancy.... If that's the case, go for it. :P The only downside is, it’s probably costs you a week’s worth of lunch to “invest” in this brick. #damnyouAustralianretailprice

Arbonne Blush in Blossom, A$40* - It reminds me of NARS Orgasm when I first received it (although I don't own Orgasm myself) - tell me if you agree? Blossom is a gorgeous coral blush with gold shimmer bits - the perfect blush to "wake you up" and give your look some colour. This blush is usually seen on my lazy days when I am a tad couldn't be bothered with my eye make up! The formula is super pigmented and very blendable. Like any good blushes, a little go a long way..

NATURAL LIGHT (L - R): Australis Highlighter, Benefit High Beam, Benefit Cha Cha Tint, Benefit CORALista, Bobbi Brown Bronze Shimmer Brick, ELF Candid Coral, Arbonne Blush in Blossom, Arbonne Bronzer

Benefit Go Tropicoral, A$59* – Your everyday carry-on beauty kit for instant beauty. No, you do not get a prize for guessing which colour family did I choose when I was given a chance to trial one of Benefit’s lip and cheeks kits (Including Sugarlicious and Feelin’ Dandy).  This compact but handy kit consists of a 4mL Cha Cha Tint, 4mL High Beam highlighter, 3g CORALista face powder & 6.5mL Ultra Plush CORALista lipgloss – perfect for touch ups and takes you from beach day to drinks at the bar. Blend away with a pea size of Cha Cha Tint on the apple of your cheeks; High Beam highlighter on your cheekbones/ undereyes and your nose bridge; and finally a sweep of CORALista lipgloss and you are ready for the beach! Ready to move on from the beach to the nearby pub? You can add on some CORALista face powder on top of your cha cha tint and instead of using the CORALista lipgloss on its own, you might want to apply some ChaCha Tint under the lipgloss for a more intensify lip colour for the night. My favourites from the kit are non-other than the famous Cha Cha Tint and High beam highlighter! :)

Australis Highlighter in Pearl, A$14.95* – Australis claims that it contains skin illuminators to reflect light, leaving your skin looking forever fresh, radiant and glowing. I couldn’t agree more with it! This has become a new favourite of mine – half a pea size is sufficient to brighten up your otherwise dull and “dead” morning face, giving you a glowy finish!  If you do not have the habit to highlight your face, you should probably start now. Trust me, it really makes a difference in “waking you up”. 

That pretty sums up my current favourite summer products - there are actually more to the list now that I have started trying a few new products. But, I shall keep that for the future! 

Have you tried any of the above products? What are your favourite contouring products?

Can you guess which one did I wear to work and what will I be wearing?

NEXT UP - stay tune for my last minute shopping gift guides :)

Disclaimer: Products marked with asterisk* were sent to me for consideration purposes. I was not compensated for this post. All opinions stated are 100% honest. For more information, please refer to Through Beauty Eyes disclosure policies.  

XOXO,

A

QUICKIE UPDATE: A little bit of everything + disco ball nails ft ORLY Can't Be Tamed & Be Brave

So, once again, I might have gone on another unannounced hiatus. 

#BeautyBloggingFail #12837127319237912 

This was my excuse - cramming and squeezing every drop of my brain juice dry for my final and (hopefully) last exam for my Chartered Accountant Program! That was how I spent my 24th birthday too -have a hot time sexing it up with my EBA notes.

Don't mind the fatty TimTams - its part of my exam diet. ;)

I know, I have left you ladies hanging from my Beauty Bloggers Utopia Day 01, which was over a week ago. Shame on me. Don't worry, I promise to kill your bandwidth in my next post with more photos from my #BBU12 weekend. ;)

For now, just a quickie update about what have been happening in the past 10 days or so when I disappeared from le blog:

Attended Bio Oil's 10th birthday at Chiswick which left me leaving with a 5-months-food-baby! A more detailed update on that to come. 

I won a giveaway from my fellow base toucher - Michaela from LatherRinseRepeat! She incorporates some pretty damn awesome GIFs in her blog post, show her (and her GIFs) some love! 

A word of advice, I hope you aren't drinking or eating as I will not be held responsible for anything that lands on your computer screen (mainly whatever you have in your mouth at that moment). ;)

 I received a MASSIVE love package from my favourite LA chica - Gwen <3 nbsp="nbsp" p="p">

I will be sending some love to your way shortly!! 

 Turned another year older - to the ripe age of 24.

And no longer do I enjoy a massive birthday cake - a variety of nomlicious cake pawns a massive cake of the same flavour ANYTIME. Maybe, I am just a #fatshit ;)

Those lemon tart & ricotta cheese cake were orgasmic!!!

Signed and sealed - starting a new job on Monday!! I am excited yet nervous at the same time as this is something quite different to what I have done in the past 2 years! Nevertheless, it's a fresh, new beginning!!!

Also, lunch buddy required in Bondi Junction, enquire within. ;)

Weekend DISCO NAILS featuring ORLY Can't Be Tamed & Be Brave - ready to PARTY ROCK tonight with birthday drinks and a night out with the crew!!! 

Hope you guys have a lovely weekend ahead and happy Friday!!! 

What have you got planned for the weekend?

XOXO,

A

FOTD & TIPS: Simple tricks to create a "done up" look!

Whats up buttercups? 

It has been a while since I last updated this humble space of mine. As some of you may already know, I have been living in a sea of tax textbooks, slaving away for my CA last week. Thank god, it is now over , for now. 

Hence, ThroughBeautyEyes.Com will be back and active again. No more solely Photolog and Instagram posts. :) 

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Have a party to attend but in a hurry? Wanna rock your favourite Kim Kardashian's smokey eyes but running out of time. Fret not, here are a few tips on how to create a "cheating" eye make up that looks more done up than it actually is. 

You can play around with different eyeshadows and lipsticks to look like you have created different look everyday but the basic techniques are the same! 

 Step 1: After applying an eyeshadow primer, apply a cream shadow which matches the eyeshadow colour you will be using later. It helps the eyeshadow stays better and makes it more vibrant. I used Bloom Eye Crayon in Taupe. Chanel D'Ombre in Illusoire is a my other to-go-for cream shadow. 

Step 2: Apply a dark-based eyeshadow such as taupe, grey, dark purple... anything that gives you the smokey effect all over your lid. I used my INGOT taupe e/s here but Minx from Smashbox Girls On Film Palette (swatched and reviewed) is also my other all-time favourite. You may pat on extra eyeshadow on the outer corner to create a more smokey effect. Don't forget to blend away the harsh edges! 

Step 3: Line the lower lashline with a waterproof pencil liner. The last thing you want is have your eyeliner smudging halfway through the day. My HG eyeliner pencil is Milani Liquif'eye Eyeliner Pencil in Black. 

Step 4: Set the eyeliner with a black eyeshadow. My favourite combination now is Milani Liquif'eye Eyeliner Pencil and the black eyeshadow from NVEY ECO Eyeshadow Palette. 

Not only does this step help your eyeliner stay in place, it softens the look and makes it smokier too. Double bingo! 

Step 5: Apply waterproof liquid liner on your upper lashline. Don't forget to wing it. I am using Maybelline Hyper Sharp Liner in Black.

Final step - Apply generous coats of your favourite mascara to complete the look. My current favourites which give me those luscious lashes are Australis Voluptulash and Australis Killer Curls. 

VOILA - the complete look! 

Don't forget to put on your favourite coloured contacts/ circle lenses. It does make a difference. I am using EOS J203 Adult Green (reviewed HERE) but EOS G201 Max Pure Gray(reviewed HERE) is also my other favourite when I want to go for the more dolly/Japanese look. 

On my FACE

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in Soft Nude

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in Ivory (as highlighted)

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Treatment Make Up

Hello Kitty Compact Powder in Pashmina Ambre (as bronzer)

ELF Natural Radiance Blusher in Glow

Australis Ready Set Go Finishing Powder

On my LIPS

Revlon Lip Butter in Peach Parfait

As it was just another casual Sunday, I decided to go with a more neutral-toned lips rather than a bold one. But feel free to swap it with a loud fuchsia lip or a bloody red lips if you wish to - whatever that floats your boat. 

Another version - using Minx from my Smashbox Palette and MAC Watch Me Shimmer lipstick PLUS falsies :)

This is what I like about make up - there is so much room for creativity - as long as you don't go overboard, mix and match fun times always give you a pretty final result. 

Running out of getting-ready time before a night out with the chicas? Here's the wrap up for a few tips that could come in handy :P

* Put on some coloured contacts/ circle lenses

*Use darker eyeshadows (swap taupe for grey or dark purple) for a smokier effect

* Smudge your lower lash line 

* Coat on LAYERS of mascara (Or you might add on some falsies if you wish)

* Play around with your lipstick collections 

What are your cheat-tricks when you are running out of time to get ready?

Have a great week lovelies!!

XOXO,

A

FOTD ft INGLOT & Illamasqua and Scunci Giveaway Winner!

 Hey lovelies!

It has been a while, AGAIN! These inconsistent update gotta stop before my backlogged posts and drafts get out of control! I blame it on my CA assignment which was due on Monday, Melbourne Cup on Tuesday and suffering from a midweek hangover on Wednesday. =/ At least, I have more time in my hands now, until finals, which is in mid Dec. Oh, fun! 

I hope you Aussie readers had a great Melbourne Cup day! This week has flown by pretty quickly and no, not complaining at all. :P Not looking forward to work again tomorrow though. :(

I am just gonna squeeze in a quick FOTD post (which I have not posted in a while) which I had during my birthday dinner with the girls and announcing my Scunci Giveaway, which ended a week ago! 

I was just playing around with my INGLOT palettes purchased from IMATS 2011 and I LOVE the final look! 

The GORGEOUS INGLOT palette, which I wish they had names for their eyeshadows instead of numbers because really, as much as I love numbers, numberings and naming make up don't go quite well together! 

On my EYES

Australis Eyeshadow Primer

MAC Coral Crepe Paint Pot

INGLOT #1 (All over my lid)

INGLOT #2 (Outer Corner)

INGLOT #3 (Gently tap on the inner corner of my lid, over the matte peach colour to give that lovely shimmer that brightens up the eyes!)

Mineresse´ Tight Liner

Milani Liquif'eye Eyeliner Pencil in Black

Maybelline Falsies Volume Express Mascara

ELF Eyebrow Kit in Medium

Random Falsies

Toric Circle Lenses in E-Natural 2 from MUKUCHU

  

On my FACE

Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation in #7

Maybelline FIT ME Concealer in Light

Nude by Nature Natural Mineral Powder in Medium

Illamasqua Blush in Lover

Illamasqua Powdered Metal in Ether

Nude by Nature Mineral Bronzer

Australis Finishing Powder in True Translucent

On my LIPS #1

Illamasqua Pencil in Bait

On my LIPS #2

Illamasqua Lipstick in Corrupt

I decided to go for the wavy look that night, using the good ol' MODIVA professional curling iron. 

(I have since then found an easier, cheating way to achieve similar curls - have my hair up in a tight bun when its 30% wet and go to bed. VOILA, curls!)

I LOVE the combination of Bait & Corrupt! Perfect fuchsia shade :)

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Not to forget, we have a winner for my Scunci Giveaway which ended on 25th October 2011. My apologies for taking so long to pick the winner! 

CONGRATULATIONS CINDY! :)

Please email me your mailing address at throughbeautyeyes [at] gmail [dot] com. :)

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Sipping CC Dry @ The Opera Bar. :)

What's your favourite fuchsia lipstick/ combination?

XOXO,

A

SMASHBOX GILS ON FILM SOFTBOX PALETTE 3 in 1 - Swatches, Quick Thoughts, FOTD

Don't you love the triumph feeling or the satisfaction you have when you manage to get hold of something exclusive or limited edition, something along those lines? 

Well, I know I do. 

(Yes, I am one of those consumers who get sucked into limited edition stuff pretty easily, a tad too easy for my own good.)

If you are a fan of Smashbox and happens to live in this continent that starts with an A and ends with an A, Christmas might have came earlier for you! :)

SMASHBOX brings you the brand NEW and limited edition Girls on Film Colour Collection, exclusive to KIT! This film-worthy collection is inspired by the magic that happens when you capture the perfect shot!

 

Girls on Film Photo Op Eye Palettes (Softbox / Smokebox) - $64.95

Girls on Film Cream Eyeliner Travel Brush Set (Blacklight / Sepia) - $39.95

Girls on Film Blush Rush (Pose / Silhouette) - $34.95

Girls on Film Lip Enhancing Gloss (Overexposed / Underexposed) - $26.95

The Limited Edition Smashbox Girls On Film Collection will be available exclusively at Kit Cosmetics & Mecca Maxima stores nationally from 24 October 2011.

I was lucky enough to be the proud owner of the Girls On Film Softbox Eyeshadow Palette courtesy of EGPR. on the launch day itself, which was Monday, the 24th of October. :)

TOP - L to R: Fizz, Pebble, Minx
BOTTOM - L to R: Vanilla, Ignite, Sienna

 All the perfect neutral shades in ONE palette! What more could you ask for? :)

SWATCHES:

Fizz, Pebble, Minx

Vanilla, Ignite, Sienna 

QUICK THOUGHTS:

Quick thoughts because I have only used this palette twice this week, hence, unable to provide a detailed review as yet. As you can tell from the swatches above, the colours are pretty pigmented but not the most pigmented eyeshadows I own. Pebble is a purpleish-grey colour, the only matte colour in the palette, which pigmentation is probably the lowest compared to other shimmery/pearly colours. My make up lasted all day and survived an intensive pump class with an eyeshadow primer underneath albeit there was some creasing on my middle lid area. I reckon that's more of my watery eyes issues than the eyeshadows' formula.

FOTD: 

Quick FOTD using my brand new Softbox Eyeshadow Palette. 

On my EYES

ELF Eyeshadow Primer

MAC Paint Pot in Rubenesque

Ignite - all over the lid colour

Minx - Outer V

Vanilla - Brow bone highlight

Maybelline Falsies Volume Express Mascara in Black

Mineresse Tight Liner in Black*

Milani Liquif'eye Eyeliner in Black

ELF eyebrow Kit in medium

On my FACE

Australis Tinted Moisturiser with SPF 15*

Nude by Nature Natural Mineral Cover in Medium*

ModelCo Desk to Date Blush*

Flomar Terra Cotta Blush in 43 (Bronzer)

MAC MSF in Candlelight

Maybelline FIT ME Concealer in Light

Australis Ready-Set-Go Translucent Powder*

On my LIPS

Rimmel Lasting Finish by KATE Lipstick in #12*

(New favourite for summer!)

PS: Excuse the quality of the photos. All photos were taken my new iPhone 4S. (Isn't the best quality I have taken but its actually pretty good for non-camera-pikchas.)

Are you a fan of exclusive and limited merchandise too? 

What are your lemmings from the Smashbox Girls on Film collection?

Disclaimer: The Smashbox Palette and items marked with asterisk (*)  were either gifted at events or sent to me for consideration purposes. I was not compensated for this post. All opinions stated are 100% honest. For more information, please refer to Through Beauty Eyes disclosure policies. 

XOXO,

A

FOTD - Spring is in the Air

TGIF

TGIF

TGIF

Humming Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night" (which pretty much put my Friday nights into a song LOL) while writing this post. Lets see how will I survive with 4 hours sleep today. Hopefully it will be an early night for me. :P

Today's post is going to be a quick FOTD post to keep my posting somewhat consistent as well as to preview a couple of products that I will be reviewing soon :P 

Spring-inspired FOTD

The mixture of plum and peach colour using MAC Play On Drum Mineralised Eyeshadow DUO to welcome the arrival of spring, which is in about a week's time!!! Everybody says whoop whoop! I foresee more colours revolving around the likes of corals and peaches very soon! :)

I have previously done a FOTD post using the same eyeshadow duo HERE.

On my EYES

ELF Mineral Primer

Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Delirium* 

MAC Mineralised Eyeshadow DUO in Play On Drum

Milani Techno Liquid Eyeliner in Black

Milani Liquif'eye Metallic Eyeliner Pencil in Black

Maybelline Falsies Volume Mascara in Black

Shu Uemura Eyebrow Pencil in Hard

On my FACE

Cover Girl Aqua Smoother Tinted Moisturiser

Rimmel Match Perfection 2 in 1 Concealer & Highlighter in Ivory

Jane Iredale Pure Mineral Pressed Powder*

Models Prefer Blush in Desk to Date*

Milani Baked Blush in Bellissimo Bronze

Illamasqua Powdered Metal in Ether*

Face of Australia Translucent Powder*

On my LIPS

Ciccone Cosmetics Lipstick in Oceanus*

Thank god its Friday and have a good weekend everyone!!!! Be it party it up or spending time with your loved ones. :) 

What is your favourite spring colours? 

Does your make up style/ colours revolve around the seasons?

(*) Asterisk marked products were provided to me by the PR for consideration. I am not affiliated with them, neither am I compensated for this post. 

XOXO,

A