There was celebrations and jubilation when Urban Decay opened it’s doors in South Africa on 9 July 2016. Yes, this is a bit late, but so many of you wanted to see what the store looked like so when I got these pics Read more
If you do not know by now, last week, every make up lovers’ dreams were crush, I know mine was when it was announced that e.l.f would be launching in SA.
Hi beauties this is a new series I have started on my blog that I plan to do once a month. It’s called Bosso Ke Mang, which means Who’s the Real Boss? It’s the title of a song made famous by South African rapper Hip Hop Pantsula, also known as HHP. In this series, I take two similar products and put them to the test and decide which is better in my opinion.
NB. These views are based my own experiences and in no way infer that the brand rubbish and is in no way intended to bash the brand across the board. It is simply a case of, one product is better or one didn’t work for me.
Did you know that your eyelids are the oilest part of your face? (For most people anyway, some people have drier eyelids but I assure you they are in the minority)
Before we got all fancy pants and started using eye shadow primers, dabbing concealer or foundation on your eyelids and setting with a translucent powder was used to create a flawless base for your eyeshadow and this worked just fine and still does.
But an eyeshadow primer has its place in the make up world. It’s specially formulated to intensify the vibrancy of your eyeshadows, make them stay put longer and not twerk on your eyelids and not fade or crease. It also serves to create that flawless base on your lids so that your eyeshadows go on smoothly and blend seamlessly without a tug-of-war. You can get a clear eyeshadow primer but I prefer a flesh toned one that blanks out the discolouration of my eyelids (all those veins and pigmentation) so that the eyelid becomes a blank canvas and the eyeshadow colours remain true to pan.
There are so many primers out there, budget, high-end, the one you got from your friend or took from your mum (she doesn’t know, yet and I won’t tell) but for the second installment of this series I chose one of the most popular and inexpensive eyeshadow primers and an iconic one.
They are the Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer (SB) and the ever-so popular Essence I Love Stage eyeshadow base (E).
Let’s get into to it to see who is the boss!
The claims:
E: This claims to be an eyeshadow base for a long lasting eye make up result, ready for the stage. When I read that on bottle, all I can think about was Madam Zingara. If you haven’t seen it, you should, it’s amazing!
It claims to be multifunctional and can either be used as a base for concealer or eyeshadow. The creamy texture won’t settle in the crease of your eyelid and it makes every eyeshadow last longer and intensifies the color.
SB: This primer claims to create the perfect canvas for shadow with a formula that glides on and instantly helps smooth and perfect lids. It also claims that it has soft focus pearls help diminish the appearance of fine lines and discoloration on the lids. It also says that it can be worn alone as an eyeshadow and won’t cause creasing.
I swatched these eyeshadows over these primers to test the claims using both eyeshadows for the respective brands and a couple others.
Eyeshadows: Essence I Love Nudes (04) Sweet Like Chocolate
Essence I Love Nudes (01) Vanilla Sugar
NYX Nude Matte Eyeshadow (Blame It On Midnight)
Smashbox Photo Op Eye Shadow Trio in Auto Chrome (Phantasm)
Applicator, Application and Packaging
Both Essence and Smashbox come in plastic tubes that are durable with the Smashbox having a rubberized top. Both have doe –foot applicators. This makes for easy application. Both glide on the lid but the Smashbox primer tends to tug a bit. The wand is longer and doe-foot larger on the Smashbox primer but ever so slightly. I like that the Essence handle is shorter, which gives me more control of the amount of product I apply.
Amount:
SB: 2,5 ml
E: 4ml
Ja, nee! . . . Essence has almost double the amount.
Drying time
SB: This primer is a thick-ish cream that dries completely matte in 10 seconds. Don’t even talk about how it the G7 goes from 0-100kn/h in 30 seconds!
Essence: I applied it to my hand and it not as thick as the Smashbox primer and it took two minutes to dry and that too, it didn’t dry down completely.
Colour: Both are flesh-toned, beige /nude colours
SB: More cool-toned, can actually be worn alone as an eyeshadow by someone else but me. Very opaque and covers EVERYTHING!
E: I prefer this colour better than the Smashbox because it is warmer and better suited to my dark skin. But it is not as opaque because of its watery formula.
Staying power and Vibrancy
I did the test over three hours from application to the last picture.
E: Colours faded got darker and started moving into the other eyeshadow swatches.
SB: It didn’t move and the colours remained true to first application.
Price
E: R47,95 (RRP)
SB: R220
Overall
The Essence I Love Stage eyeshadow base was on point with the applicator, application and colour, which I preferred over the Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer but the formulation let this product down. I think that because it didn’t dry down completely and was watery, the eyeshadows initially looked more vibrant than when applied over the Smashbox primer because they were damp. How long should I wait for an eyeshadow base to dry? Xmas? I don’t have 5 minutes to wait for an eyeshadow primer to dry when I’m doing my make up in the morning. It takes me 10 minutes to do my whole face and I’m not about that waiting life . . . but you got more product at a far cheaper price.
The Smashbox Photofinish Lid Primer dried faster, was more opaque and a thicker consistency but tugged on the eye more than the Essence Primer. I love the opacity but preferred the Essence colour to the cooler beige. The eyeshadows didn’t move, it intensified the vibrancy of the shadows and remained that way.
And the Real Boss is . . . Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer!
#Bossokemang
Until next time
Stay blessed and beautiful!
Love you all to bits!
I love nail polish . . . every brand, every colour, every price (well not every price, I can’t justify paying hundreds of rands on a bottle. that’s not ayoba)
When it comes to using cheaper nail polishes, I always say, a good base and top coat and it will work just the same . . . and I’m happy to report that it usually does.
The most expensive nail polish I ever bought to use on myself to date was R170 and it almost killed me to cough that up for nail polish.
Although gel seems to be taking over nail polish is still the most popular, because you can buy it everywhere and you don’t have to spend a fortune on a bottle.
A simple coat or three of nail polish can lift your spirits. And there are so many colours to choose from. The finishes, holographic, matte, velvet, suede, sparkles, the list goes on.
And with the whole nail art craze, I see more embellishments on a single nail than a bridal gown. Yes, this can happen when you’re hit with mani madness!
I have always been of the opinion that it’s fine to have a nail polish collection, I mean it doesn’t hurt or harm anyone. But can you harm yourself? Yes, you can.
Here are some chemicals commonly found in nail polishes:
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is commonly used plasticizer so this may help your nail polish from chipping but the ugly truth us that his stuff has carcinogenic properties. (A carcinogen is any substance is involved in causing cancer.)
This so bad that European Union banned the use of this substance in cosmetics, including nail polishes. The use of DBP has been restricted in the European Union for use in children’s toys since 1999.
In the USA, DBP, all major producers began eliminating this chemical from nail polishes in 2006. DBP was permanently banned in children’s toy in 2008.
Toluene is a solvent helps your nail polish go on smoother and it smells like paint stripper You can be exposed to it through your skin (this can cause skin irritations) and breathing it in, can be harmful to your nervous system over time. This has also been linked to causing cancer.
Formaldehyde is used chemical to preserve and embalm dead animals (and humans). You know those jars you see in those mad scientist movies with those dead creatures in glass bottles, the stuff preserving that is this chemical. This
This is also a known carcinogen.
Formaldehyde resin is used in the production of coatings and adhesives, which make sure the nail polish adheres to the nail’s surface. This is not as toxic but is a known allergen.
Camphor is a poison that can cause seizures and disorientation if used in large doses. This chemical acts as a cover on your nails, depriving them of nutrients and causing yellow staining on your nails.
Now these are the 5 most common toxins in your nail polish but there could be 25 more and then some.
Now, you are not going to drop down dead because of these chemicals because we use so little at a time but there is such a thing called nail polish poisoning.
However, the point of this article is to empower you to make informed decisions about the products that you use. There are some certified ‘safe’ nail polishes you can use, so watch this space . . . more on that in my next blog.
There is in fact an article I found on nail polish poisoning. It’s an interesting read.
Link is down below
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002722.htm
Xoxo
Prativa
Beauty Bugle
Sources regarding chemicals: wikipedia
First things first . . . get your minds out the gutter . . . I don’t have a night job of that kind!
But, I love wearing make up and I do almost every day. Women often say to me, why do you wear makeup? Don’t you know it damages your skin? Of course, this usually comes from a women who chain smokes, drinks lots of coffee and doesn’t wear sunscreen.
Newsflash! Many things damage your skin. Make up can, if you use it incorrectly, or your skin reacts to certain ingredients in the product. (If you have that reaction action, stop using it, no matter how much it cost, saving your skin is worth more than money.)
I often hear women complain about how a foundation made them break out or how and an eyeliner, mascara or eye shadow caused an eye infection. Now, this can sometimes be true, but more often than not, it’s because you haven’t taken off your make up properly. I have one simple rule . . . NEVER sleep with your makeup on. Make up seeps into your skin and it will clog your pores and this will cause breakouts. Eye make up, if not removed completely can lead to infections. It stands to reason that this is inevitable.
I always use gentle yet effective make up removers. And I have a separate eye make up remover, which I also use on my lips.
I have been in love with The Estee Lauder Take It Away waterproof make up remover for a long time and my Body Shop face brush. It does the business.
I recently found two new products that I can’t live without.
The Estee Lauder Re-Nutrive Hydrating Crème Cleanser and the Olay Regenesrist cleansing brush.
I use the cleanser every day but the brush a few times a week because for me, over exfoliation leads to excess oil production, which leads to break outs.
I alternate with a deep pore-cleansing mask. On other days, I place a warm face cloth over my face for a few seconds to deep cleanse and remove any excess make up. I’m also a fan of mild exfoliators. I like using mixture sugar and a milky cleanser but my favourite has to be a mixture of honey, brown sugar and lemon.
Taking off my make up properly is very important to me, it gives me peace of mind and a good nights sleep!
This spring and summer trends are all about bold orange lips.
Bold? Orange? Yes, not apricot, orange.
Many women are afraid of wearing bright lipstick but often changing your lip colour can lift your mood, make your skin glow and keep your look current.
Finding the right shade of orange that works with your skin tone is key, just like finding the right nude heel.
My rule is thumb is simple: if the shade makes your skin glow and your eyes bright up, you have chosen the perfect colour.
Wearing the trend
How you wear an orange lip depends on the rest of your make up and playing with the intensity of the orange to flatter you.
For spring, I like to keep the look fresh, with dewy, luminous skin.
The best way to wear the trend is to buy the most pigmented lipstick that suits your skin tone and a matching lip liner. There really is no need to buy 10 shades of lipsticks with different finishes, and 3 lip-glosses and five lip stains.
Having a lipstick with a strong colour pay-off will allow you to sheer it out or amp it up!
The most important step is to neutralize the skin by covering up flaws with a light-to-medium-coverage foundation as orange lipstick can draw attention to redness and blemishes.
Look 1: For a fresh look, sweep a light wash of eye shadow about two shades darker than your eye base colour with a slight shimmer all over the eye. For cheeks , skip the bronzer and wear a peach/coral cream blusher .You can also dust a coral or peachy powder blush if you don’t like cream. Team with a brown mascara to soften the look. Go easy on the mascara, one coat will do. The less is more approach is the way to go to keep this look fresh and modern. Now, dab the lipstick on your lips with your fingers to get just a hint of colour – no need to line your lips.
Look 2: This look is office friendly and is great for both day and night, Like in look 1, dust a highlight all over the eye and sweep some bronze or copper shadow on the lid. Then take the same darker shadow and line the bottom lash line. Take it up a notch buy using a rich chocolate brown eye pencil to line the upper and lower lashes and smudge. Define the lips and apply the orange lipstick from the tube. You can then add another layer of lipstick to intensify the colour, if you a bit more daring. Sweep a peachy coral blusher on the cheeks,( a little bit more than a dusting)and finish off with 2 coats of mascara.
Look 3. For full out glam use the same highlight and lid shadows as in look 2. Add a silver (cool tones) or gold (warm tones) shimmer to the centre of the lids. Line the upper and lower lash line with an intense black and apply your lipstick. Make sure you define your lips well and use a lip brush to apply your lipstick to get a defined pout that pops. Add lashings of mascara and you’re red carpet ready.
Keep nails nude or bare. Wear hair tousled or in a messy braid. Alternatively try a super slick low ponytail or a shiny French twist.
The statement orange lip is a very beautiful looks that all women can carry off. Age, skin tone, it doesn’t matter, wear what makes you feel fabulous and stay true to your hue and you.
I’ve always believed that one should wear a trend and not let the trend wear you!
Orange Lippies
Today is kicks off Women’s month. It’s a month we take to appreciate and celebrate the strong, fearless, women of Mzansi. I can think of no better way to kick off the month with one of Spring’s hottest trends, the statement orange lip.
Yes, I know, orange is bright and this can be daunting for women who are afraid of wearing bold colours, but believe me
They key is to choose an orange shade that flatters your skin tone. Get that right and you’re sure to bloom, get it wrong and you could look like a throwback from the 1980s.
True orange shades look flattering women with cool under tones and those with caramel or darker skin while red-orange looks good on most skin tones.
If you have a neutral undertone (not extremely yellow or pink), you’re a lucky belle, any shade will suit you.
If you have a very red or very pink undertones – avoid yellow-toned orange lip shades as the colour will jar against your skin and appear artificial, sickly and odd. This is because it clashes harshly with your under tone, like the polar opposite of your skin tone.
you have yellow or olive toned skin, hot tomato shades will make your skin glow.
Once you have the colour sorted, out choose the finish you want. Glossy? Sheer? Matte?
I always wear a matte lip with bold and bright shades because with these colours, feathering and fading are more noticeable, so I skip glossy formulas that can slip and slide off your lips. My go to shade is MAC Pro long wear lip cream in Booyah!, which tends to stay put and has amazing colour pay-off.
That said most MAC lipsticks are clay-based so they tend to wear well regardless of finish. Lip liner is a must when wearing an orange lip. Make sure to define your lips and fill them in with a colour that matches your lipstick.
MAC’s cult classic Morange and So Chaud suit all skin tones.
