Favourite Mascaras 3 Hits 1 Miss

Happy Friday!! Hope everyone is had a great day! I certainly did. We went to Canada's Wonderland for the first time and went on a lot of "line rides". haha! I mean fun rides!

I'll be sharing 3 of my favourite mascaras and 1 not so favourite (although it's a very popular one in Asia).

1.

L'oreal Voluminous Hydrofuge Waterproof Mascara (Drug store)

Love this because:

• Gives a lot of volume
• Does not smear, smudge, or flake
• Long lasting
• Affordable

Sometimes I hate it because:

• Definitely need to rub it in a little bit more when washing your face to get rid of everything
• Might leave residue on the lower lashes after cleaning your face

2.

Bobbi Brown Lash Glamour Extreme Lengthening Mascara (Sephora or Shopping Mall)

Love this because:

• Gives both lengthening and voluminous finish to your lash
• Does not smear, smudge or flake
• Easy to remove

Hate this because:

• Expensive
• Takes a LONG time to build up to the desired look

3. 

Prestige My Blackest Black Lashes Mascara (Drug Store)

Love this because:

• Gives a voluminous finish
• Easy to remove
• Does not smear, smudge, or flake

Hate this because:

• It only works better for me after I've used it for several weeks when the products becomes more dry

There is actually another one more mascara that I really like but I did not repurchase it due to the price point, that is Make Up Forever Smoky Lash Mascara. It is absolutely amazing but so expensive!!

Last but not least, my 1 miss!

Majorlica Majorca Lash Enamel Glamour -NEO (Asian Drug Store)

Hate this because:

• Absolutely ridiculous to remove. I could scrub off my eyes with make up remover and it will still be there.

Hope this helps some of you out there that are looking for new mascaras to try! 

If you have any recommendations please leave a comment so I can try it out next. ^.^

Lazy day make up (suitable for work/going out)

*** GIVEAWAY : http://aivysbeautyadventure.blogspot.ca/2012/06/maybelline-dream-fresh-8-in-1-beauty.html ***

Hello there! Today I'll be demonstrating a look that I often wear out during my lazy days. It's suitable for work, hanging out, and humid days. This is also a very cost friendly look!

First remember to put on your sun screen! My apologies that I look sleepy here. I think I didn't open my eyes properly when the camera flashed at me!

Completed Look

Before

Begin with setting your face with some face powder. If you have anything you wish to conceal, do so before the powder.

Ecotools Angle Brush (available at drug store); Elf Powder Brush

ZA 2 Way Brightening Powder

Use the ELF powder brush to apply your favourite powder and blend evenly. 

Prestige Blackest Black Mascara, Physicians Formula Eye Bright Pencil in Black

Tight lining

Then tight line your eyes using the Physicians Formula pencil liner. This eyeliner is smudge proof and I am using it a lot at the moment!! 

Left eye: tight lined; Right eye: Bare

Tight lining makes your lashes look thicker and your eyes more awake. This technique is not for all as some people get very irritated on the eyes. Although it does come with practice and finding out which product suits you more. I particularly like doing this on myself, people with sparse eye lashes, or blonde lashes.

Close up

Use the eyeliner to go across only half of your lash line for a more natural look.

ELF Brightening Eye Color Quad in Hazy Hazel

Use Ecotools Angle Brush with the darkest colour on the palette and smudge it all across your lash line to blend out the eyeliner. I usually use a brown colour for this look so that it'll create a more natural effect.

Like so!

Apply the lightest colour on the inner corner and all over the lid to bring some light onto the eyes. Apply your favourite blush with the same ELF brush and blend, finish off with a lip colour of your choice!

ELF Studio Baked Blush in Passion Pink

ELF Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Raspberry

Close up of the completed look!!

Tomorrow Yoshi and I will be heading to Canada's Wonderland so I may do a theme park themed topic!

Maybelline Dream Fresh 8-in-1 Beauty Balm Review

Hello everyone! As promised I'm back today with the Maybelline Dream Fresh 8-in-1 Beauty Balm review.

Maybelline 8-in-1 Beauty Balm with SPF 30 in colour Light/Medium

I thought today was a good day to test it since the weather is pretty hot and humid. I put this BB Cream into a serious test under this weather! Although I was at home the whole day doing nothing much, I made sure that I was in the heat to imitate the conditions if I was running out and about.

BEFORE

AFTER

Upon application, the texture was smooth and nothing like the BB Cream they launched before (picture at the end of post). It has light coverage but still gives an overall even complexion.

Close up of the BB Cream

As you can see it doesn't cover much of my flaws or redness.

3 hours later...

3 hours later after application

Close up

It doesn't feel very oily, however due to the weather, I could start seeing the foundation gone from my face especially in the cheek area.

After approximately 5 hours

Close up of face after 5 hours

Foundation was completely gone on the cheeks, what's left is only on the forehead. Keep in mind I do not have oily skin!

Pros:

• Light weight
• Sun protection of  SPF 30
• Not oily
• Affordable (about $9 at Walmart)

Cons:

• Very light to no coverage - I have a lot of Asian brands BB cream and they all have decent coverage
• Probably only good as a sun screen 
• Have to reapply quite often

On the side note, I have to say it is a big improvement from the Maybelline Pure Mineral BB Cream that they launched previously. The mineral BB cream was horrible, it made my face REALLY oily after 1 hour of wear and it oxidises into a very dark colour. Maybe it works for some but certainly didn't work for me!

First Generation Maybelline Pure Mineral BB Cream

To end this post, I would like to thank my readers for the support by sending out a gift to a random reader!

Brands include: Etude House, Kiehls, Maybelline, Skin Food, My Beauty Diary, Skin79

Conditions:

1. Please follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AivysBeautyBlog

2. Please go to my Facebook page and click like.

3. Leave a message on my Facebook wall and let me know what you would like to read next in my blog!

Random draw will end on the 30th of June 2012 at 9pm EST. Open worldwide!

Good luck and see you tomorrow :)

Make Up Remover + Skin Care featuring Sibu Beauty

Hello there! It's so hot in Toronto today it made me want to glue myself in front of the fan permanently!!

One question that I get often is whether what make up remover do I use. Most people find that eye make up is particularly hard to remove with all the mascara and eye liner.. That's true. Since I started wearing make up over 10 years ago, I've tried almost all types of make up remover existing. I've fell in love with some products and found others better throughout the years, but recently, I came across a brand name Sibu Beauty and it has for now taken over all my skin problems!

I've used this line for about 5 months now and I have to say that it's really working well for me. I started out by watching Michele1218 on YouTube and she recommended it. Immediately went online and purchased it and has repurchased once so far (I got a 40% off coupon, no longer available).

All the products are made with sea buckthorn, which means they are all high in Vitamin C and antioxidant. Great to prevent aging skin!

I have to apologise to my readers outside of US and Canada, because they company does not currently ship worldwide. Maybe if there are enough requests they might start?

Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Facial Cleanser

Consistency

I swear by this facial cleanser! It removes EVERYTHING! It has some non visible small particles that gently exfoliates your skin while being cleansed. All the products have a mild citrus scents and this make your skin feels absolutely clean without being dry :)

Moving on to skin care.. I have a weird problem with my skin that it will rash at random and the rashes will not go away unless I apply Dermovate. I know that Dermovate is used for Eczema but there's really nothing else out there that can really get rid of the random rashes. 

However using the Sibu line has significantly reduce the rash that my skin produces.

Sibu Replenishing Night Cream; Sibu Hydrating Serum; Sibu Daytime Facial Cream; Sibu Clarifying Toner

I'll start off with the Sibu Clarifying Toner as I don't have a picture to show the consistency. It is like a normal toner but comes with a spray bottle. The spray is not so great so the projection is rather lousy. I spray it onto a cotton pad and wipe my face lightly with it. It removes the remaining make up that might not be removed properly during shower.

Sibu Replenishing Night Cream Consistency

The night cream is rather thick compared to the rest of the moisturiser. I use it only when my skin feels VERY dry, especially in winter nights. I am currently giving this product a rest since it's pretty hot and humid in Toronto right now.

Sibu Hydrating Serum Consistency

I love this serum and I've been using it by itself as a moisturiser or sometimes a make up base. It leaves your skin feeling sooo smooth after it dries.

Sibu Daytime Facial Cream Consistency

This cream is also rather heavy. I only use it when I'm not going out (hot weather) as I tend to feel the need to wash it off when my face feels like something heavy it's on.

I hope this helps some people out there who are still in search for great skin care products and make up remover.

See you tomorrow with the new Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream review! 

Smokey Eyes Tutorial (Sigma Paris Palette)

Happy Monday!

I'm back today with a simple make up tutorial! I have to say I am not so much of a smokey eye wearer, however if I do, I'll make sure it has a pop of colour or that it is bright enough so that my eyes don't disappear in the dark make up.

Most people find that smokey eye make up is hard to achieve, however if you try to complete your eyes before the rest of the make up, this will give you the freedom to clean up with Qtip + make up remover.

Today's look

Base completed (because I was out earlier during the day) and tight line + upper lash line

Products used:

Sigma Limited Edition Paris Palette

MAC Mineralize Blush in Daft Pink

NYC Bronzer in Sunny

Prestige My Blackest Lashes Mascara; Physicians Formula Eye Brightening Eyeliner

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin

MAC Lipstick in Ever Hip

Tools used:

Sigma ss188/F55 Small Duo Fibre Brush; Elf Complexion Brush

Sigma Tapered Blending E40; Sigma Blending E25; Sigma Paris Eye Shading E55; Random brush

Steps required:

Use the Sigma Eye Shading E55 brush to apply colour "Eiffel" (Black with sparkles) on the outer corner of the lid and drag it along the lash line. Remember to keep looking back up into the mirror with eyes open to find out where you want the black to end.

Like so :)

Apply next colour in the centre of the lid

Apply colour "Triomphe"(green gray) in the centre of the lid to create ombre effect. This prevents your entire eye to just be covered in black.

Final eyeshadow application

Apply colour "Orsay" (Bright green) in the inner corner of the lid and lower lash line. Use the colour sequence like before to line the rest of the lower lash line too.

Blend.

Blended look + eyeshadow and mascara!

Apply highlight colour underneath the brows and a little bit on the inner corner as required.

Feel free to reapply any eyeshadow that you find necessary to make it look more vibrant. Apply eyeliner and mascara. Finish off with a nude/peach shade lipstick and your favourite blush!

Thank you for reading and I'll see you tomorrow :D 

Favourite Make Up Palettes

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers in the world! I hope everyone is having a great time with their family members! Unfortunately my dad is so far away right now.. Hopefully I get to see him soon.

Today I will share a few palettes that I've used quite extensively and enough to call it my favourite compared to other make up palettes I have. Anyone who have seen my collection knows that I have piled up quite a bit  of cosmetics over the years!

Note: You are only able to purchase these products online. Which means all my readers from all over the world is able to access it!!!

Number 1

Smashbox Photo Op 78 Shade Mega Palette

Folds into a compact size

This palette has 56 eyeshadows, 2 blushes, 8 gel eyeliners!!, 5 brow wax, 3 highlights, and 4 lip glosses. I LOVE this palette. I've used this for my mother-in-law's wedding and mine as well. It has awesome pigmentation and it's a great palette for travel and even make up artists. It has everything that you need for all types of looks!!!!! 

I HIGHLY recommend this palette. Yes it does come with a higher price tag, but I assure you that you will not find one that is as complete as this and as good quality!!!

Number 2

Coastal Scents 78 Shadow Blush Palette

This cost $18.95 on Coastal Scents but you can certain search for one with a lower price tag on Ebay! Simply put in the name of the palette you'll be able to get over 100 hits.

The reason this is my 2nd favourite is because the pigmentation is great, and it has a good variety of blushes. This is also convenient when I take this along to do someone else's make up, I'm able to create many colourful looks that is not achievable in the first palette.

Number 3

Coastal Scents Warm Palette

Great palette if you like neutral looks. Suitable for wedding make up as most ladies prefer a more natural look on the big day. Same as the palette above, try searching it on Ebay to save yourself a few bucks!

To end my post today, I'll share with you a very simple LOTD.

Hello!

Close up

I used Physicians Formula black eyeliner to tight line and lined half of my top lash line. Smudge it out with an angle brush using a brown colour eyeshadow for a more natural look. Finish the look with your favourite blush!

See you tomorrow :)