The Balm "Balm Jovi Rockstar Palette" Review

Hi all! I'm back today with a short review of the Balm Jovi Rockstar Palette from The Balm cosmetics. 

After all the hype on the internet and YouTube, I decided to give it a go when I popped by Rexall Pharmaplus a few weeks ago.

Here is a look that I came up with using the palette. The more vibrant eyeshadows and lip colour are from another brand. I'll include the list at the end of this post.

Swatches

The eyeshadows are very buttery at the touch of the fingers. However I find it slightly powdery when picking up with an eyeshadow brush. If you tap off the excess before application it will be all good :) 

Pigmentation is great on both the darker and lighter colours.

Top: Lip and Cheek Tint
Bottom: Highlighter and Blush

The highlighter and blush are extremely pretty on. Despite the names on the palette, those are the exact same colours as their popular Mary-Lou Manizer and Fratboy Blush. What a deal! 

The lip and cheek tint are average, nothing to rave about. Although it is nice that those 2 products are sealed separately, that way the powder products will not get on them so easily.

Overall I do like this palette and I do feel that it can compete with higher end eyeshadows that you can find in Sephora. 

You can find The Balm cosmetics in selected Rexall Pharmaplus in Canada. 

As promised, the other products that I used to complete the look above.

Wet n Wild Palette in I'm Feeling Retro

Buxom Lipgloss in April; Tarte Blush (sorry I don't remember the name!); Maybelline Pink Pop

Thank you for checking out my blog and have a wonderful week ahead!

Drugstore Haul

It's that time of the year again! All the drugstore brands are coming out with new products for the coming season and it's time to go out and try some new stuff :)

Unfortunately here in Canada the products come out much later than in the US, so I don't have as much to share with you today.

Nonetheless, still exciting! Let's begin!

Maybelline Color Tattoo by Eyestudio in Gold Rush and Tough as Taupe

I  know that these products were out for awhile now and everyone is crazy about them! They are a really good alternative to the MAC Paint Pots (which I have but I find that they crease on my oily lids). Tough as Taupe is a matt finish cream eyeshadow, great for everyday makeup look. You can use them as a base or just as it is. I'm thinking to go back for more colours........ 

Cover Girl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in 250

Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede in 040 Flashing Lights

Maybelline Color Whisper Lipsticks in 100 and 30 

Swatch FLTR: Cover Girl, Maybelline (2), Revlon

The colours aren't exactly opaque on your lips if you have pigmented lips like I do. They feel nice and light so if you are one of those people who doesn't like the feeling of lip products, these are pretty good. Though I wouldn't repurchase any of them just because they are not THAT fantastic.

Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadows in 382B and 332

Like all of the Colour Icon series, these are just as pigmented and easy to use. They are so affordable and great quality. If you love colours and on a budget, do try the wet n wild eyeshadows because you'll be surprised how well they compare to some high end brands.

That's it for my drugstore haul. 

Please come back for more reviews and tutorials coming up sometime this week! Thank you :)

Bright Lip - Neutral Eyes Make Up Tutorial

Hello there! Today I'm going to share a rather simple make up tutorial that is suitable for everyday wear and evening night out :)

Since this is my first time doing it, please excuse if I've accidentally missed out some parts. Feel free to leave me comments to ask me about anything! Please click on the product names underneath each picture to purchase them online.

BEFORE

And of course I have to scare you with a photo of my bare face!

Revlon Photo Ready Foundation in Nude; Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki

MAC Eyeliner Brush 209SE; MAC Blacktrack Eyeliner

So I generally start with moisturiser/ sunscreen as a base and then foundation on top, blending it with the Sigma Flat Top Kabuki that I swear by. Fill in my eyebrows and then tight line! (Tight lining: Applying eyeliner to the upper water line). Tight lining helps to create fuller looking lashes.

Progression check!

Wet n Wild Eyeshadow Palette in Comfort Zone; Elf Eyeshadow Brush; Sigma E25 Blending Brush

Essence Stay All Day Creme Eyeshadow in 02 Glammy Goes To...

Use Essence Stay All Day Creme Eyeshadow as a base using bare fingers; Apply "Crease" colour (3rd left from top) all over the lid, "Definer" (Bottom right) on the outer corner. 

Before blending..

A lot of people find eyeshadow application difficult and super easy to messed it up. With a blending brush, just lightly go across where the colour ends and blend it in circle motion. This will ensure flawless finish!

Blended and Eyeliner + Mascara Application

Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Felt Tip Eyeliner + Serum

Prestige My Blackest Lashes Mascara (Michele1218's fav!)

NYC Sunny Bronzer; Elf Complexion Brush

I dust the bronzer around the face in the shape of  "3" and also the sides of my nose for minor contouring. 

Wet n Wild Coloricon Blush in Heather Silk

With the same complexion brush, I applied the blush on my cheeks! My apologies that this picture does not show up the colour correctly. In person this blush looks a lot brighter!

Finish off with Rimmel's lipstick (loves!)

Rimmel Kate Lipstick in number 12

Finish Look 1

Finish look with glasses!

Thank you for visiting my blog and please check back often as I update everyday! <3

Importance of Primers

Ever wonder why your make up disappears after just a few hours of wear? Or that they could never withstand any water or sweat? Or you could see your eyeshadow creased on your lids?

Here's the deal - primers! Application of a primer creates a layer of protection on your skin to prevent it from sweating or becoming too oily. Most of them also act as a "grip" for your make up so they the products look more vibrant than just plainly applied on your skin.

Today I'm specifically discussing about Eye Primers and some of the ones that I own. Keep in mind that different people have different skin conditions. I don't have oily skin but I do have oily eye lids, hence eye primers are essential for me if I want it to last all day long!

Today I'll be demonstrating the vibrancy using the "crease" colour in this Wet n Wild palette

Benefit Stay Don't Stray (tester); ELF Eyeshadow Primer

Top: Without primer; L: Benefit; R: ELF

At first glance, I'm sure you will notice that the swatch without primer is much less vibrant compared to the ones below. The reason I compared these 2 products together is because although they create the vibrancy, they are very lacking in lasting power. They generally last about 2 to 3 hours on me and will start to crease. 

Keep in mind that the ELF Eyeshadow Primer only cost $3! If you don't usually have much problem with facial oil, I'm sure that this product is more than good enough. In comparison to the Benefit product, I am certainly not a fan of it and it costs a lot more compared to ELF.

Too Faced Shadow Insurance; Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin

These 2 primers are the cult favourites as they both have amazing lasting power and work really well to enhance your eye shadows. They both come in variety of colours and note that my UD Primer Potion has shimmer in it to create a more shimmery effect compared to the eyeshadow itself. 

Bottom: Without primer; L: Urban Decay; R: Too Faced

I used to own the Urban Decay in nude colour but I've ran out of it and tried out the Too Faced shadow insurance instead. They both cost about $20-$25 per tube and would last you for over half a year even if used everyday! These 2 brands are very similar so I can't pick which one is better than the other.

Remember! Apply only a thin layer of primer on your lids before you apply your eyeshadow! A little goes a long way so don't waste it. :)

I hope this info helped some people! Thank you for reading and be back tomorrow for a make up tutorial! 

Favourite Drug Store Make Up

Hi there! I'm back today with some of my favourite drug store products! Most of them I've own and used for awhile now so please feel free to tweet/ leave me a comment if you wish for me to explain a little more.

Follow me at: www.twitter.com/AivysBeautyBlog

FTTB: Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Eyeliner Trio (from light to dark); MILANI Liquif'Eye Eyeliner

FLTR: MILANI, Physicians Formula Trio (from darkest to lightest)

These eyeliners are some of my absolute favourite as they stay on the tight line and water line and does not budge! Especially the Milani, which comes in a variety of super bright colours. 

L'oreal Voluminous Hydrofuge Mascara

This mascara makes my lashes really full and does not smear even after long hours of wear!

Sleek Make Up Palette in Strom 578

A brand from the UK but available in their online store. This palette offers great pigmentation and large mirror. Good for travel as it creates looks from day to night.

ELF Contouring Blush & Bronzer Powder

A dupe for NARS Orgasm and Laguna at the price of $3! Super pigmentation but slightly shimmery. If you are not into any shine on your face, you might want to give this product a pass.

Wet n wild Coloricon eyeshadow palette

Wet n wild Coloricon Blusher (Heather Silk 832)

Wet n Wild has been stepping up on their game lately. All their Coloricon products became a great hit in the beauty community. Their products are available at most drugstores (Walmart in Canada) and priced very reasonably. You should definitely get your hands on some of their products if you have a chance!

Revlon Photo Ready Foundation ( Nude - SPF20)

This foundation gives a luminous finish and offers medium to high coverage. It looks great in pictures and it gives a flawless finish! Definitely one of my top favourite foundation from high end to drug store.

All products mentioned are available in your local drug store or supermarket unless otherwise stated.

See you tomorrow for Asian exclusive drug store favourites!

$20 Make up challenge (Daily/ work appropriate)

Hello there!

So there is a tag going around the beauty vlog/ blogsphere that is spreading like wild fire! I gave it a try and it was surprisingly difficult. I certainly did not want to cheat and have everything from E.L.F. (btw, they are awesome) so I combined some of my own make up and just a few new ones that I got from Walmart to complete this look! 

Make up and tools (list and swatches below)

Feel free to click on the items to get you to the webpage where you can purchase them yourself!

1. Milani Minerals Mousse Foundation in 302 True Beige for $7.99
2. NYC Long Lasting Lip Colour in Fragile Pink for $1.50
3. Wet & Wild Eyeshadow Trio in  335 Silent Treatment for $2.97
4. ELF Essential Blending Eye Brush for $1
5. ELF Essential Eyeshadow Brush for $1
6. NYC Instant Lash Mascara for $1.50
7. ELF Essential Brightening Eyeliner in Black for $1
8. ELF Essential All Over Colour Stick in Pink Lemonade for $1

Grand Total: $17.96

FLTR: Eyeshadow "Eyelid", "Crease", "Browbone"; ELF All Over Stick; NYC Lippie; ELF Eyeliner

BEFORE

AFTER

Close Up 

The foundation was applied using fingers, I also would not use this product with a brush as it blends the best with fingers. Eyebrows were filled in using the tip of the eyeshadow brush with Wet & Wild "Crease" colour.  Also, I used the ELF Eyeliner to tight line and lined my lids. The rest are pretty self explanatory I suppose :)

The challenge was fun and I would definitely wear this look out. I understand that I did not use any eyeshadow base or concealer, but I don't often use those products, hence this look is based on what I usually wear out. 

Please try it out yourself too!!

Also follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/AivysBeautyBlog