BEST OF MAKEUP 2012 (Part 3)

Assalamualaikum, Hello all! :D

We're finally down to the last part! This will feature all my favorite eye and brow products from last year.
I apologize for posting this so late, I had my exams. Furthermore, I wanted to include pictures of better quality in this post :)

Heres the links to the previous parts if you'd like to check them out :)
Part 1: http://vicinitymakeup.blogspot.com/2013/01/best-of-makeup-2012-part-1.html
Part 2: http://vicinitymakeup.blogspot.com/2013/01/best-of-makeup-2012-part-2_30.html


P.S, I talk a lot in this post, so please bear with me :P


Too Faced Shadow Insurance:
This is one of the best eye primers out there. It makes the eye shadow last SO much longer than it would if you were to use only some concealer as your base. I've worn bright eye makeup looks with this underneath it to even places where you can easily get sweaty like theme parks, the beach and such! And trust me, the eye makeup will never budge unless you deliberately take it off :)

Mikyaji's I-Kajal:

Even though I'm showing only one of these, its actually comes in a set of five, a purple, blue, black, white, and a teal, which my I got as a birthday gift from my bestie about two years ago, and I really love this white one! I use it on top of my eye primer as a base when I'm doing colorful looks to make the colors pop even more. It really does increase the longevity of colorful eye shadows even more. 

I initially wanted to get my hands on the NYX jumbo pencil in the color- Milk, but that particular shade is never available here in Jeddah :( if you know any place I can get it locally, please let me know as this Mikyaji one is going to get over and they don't sell these individually!

Maybelline's Define a Brow:

I don't usually wear makeup to school, but I often find it necessary to define my eyebrows, and I like to use this. I much prefer to use an eye-shadow instead but when it comes to school, I want something thats going to last a lot longer. Even after washing my face a couple times during the day, it doesn't come off. Sometimes I like to fill in my brows with this the night before because I'm mostly late for my bus and doing your eyebrows in a hurry can prove disastrous :P 

RIMMEL's eye-shadow do in no: 237 spice:

This duo I got as a gift when my sis purchased some other makeup stuff. Its currently been discontinued here though. I got two other trios as well but the pigmentation of those is horrible. Surprisingly, this one isn't so. Its really easy to create a dark brown smoky eye with this. Anyhow, I don't actually use it for that, I like to use it for my eyebrows- only the darker brown shade in general. Its the perfect cool-toned dark brown for my brows. What I really like about this is the fact that I've dropped, thrown, and abused this poor thing so many times (mostly by mistake :P) but then also it sticks around for me ;D also, its a really convenient size so I just easily throw it in my makeup bag if I'm going somewhere.Yes, it has shattered a bit but not as much as my Naked 2 palette did- even though I dropped it just once (you'll see what I mean as I proceed with this post). 

ESSENCE's lash and brow gel mascara:
I have never tried any other clear mascara- this is the only one I have, and the only one I use. I like to use this on days when I don't feel like wearing mascara, or I want to go for more of a natural look. Since its transparent, I like to wear it to school sometimes as well. Which clear mascara do you use? Leave it in the comments below as I'd love to hear :D

URBAN DECAY's Original Naked Palette:
Okay, prepare yourself to hear me rave.
I got the original naked palette somewhere in December of 2011, and I instantly fell in love. If you took me by a knife and threatened me to pick only one out of all my eye-shadow palettes, it will, without a doubt be this one. It has to be my all time favorite palette, and I'm pretty sure it'll continue to be so. I'll tell you what makes this palette so special. Firstly, the color selection- it has such complementing golds and other bronze-ey colors, it also has your highlighting shades, along with some really darker colors too. Just use the color "naked" in your crease, and any of the other colors on your lid, some eyeliner and mascara- and you are DONE! The end results looks like you put so much effort in it when you really didn't. Secondly, the texture of the eye-shadows- its buttery smooth, and fall outs aren't much of an issue at all. Thirdly, the packaging- its travel friendly! I've thrown this one in my bag, dropped it, and abused it unintentionally SO much but it never even shattered once. If you want to get a high end palette- I'd recommend you get this one. It'll definitely be a makeup investment, it'll last you for years altogether!

URBAN DECAY's Naked Palette 2:
I got this one during my summers last year. This and the original naked palette was what I've used mostly in terms of eye shadows ALL year long. I don't have anything different to say about this palette, than what I've said about the other palette. Only thing, of course the color selection is different. Just by looking at them, you can't really tell, but really- this is much different. This one has more of taupe-ey colors and most of these are cool toned, as compared to the original naked palette which has more of warmer tones. Only thing though, its packaging disappoints me as it looks super pretty and sturdy but honestly- its not shatterproof at all. And THATS really upsetting. You see the picture, I dropped it just once and it shattered. I'm just thankful that I didn't lose any of the colors entirely. Other than that, this palette is super awesome :D

CARGO's triple action mascara:
This mascara I purchased for only some 20 SR when CARGO was having a clearance sale at Sephora a couple months back. I kinda feel sad that they removed this brand from my nearby sephora as I really like this macara :( anyways. This gives me almost like a wispy lash look, and that I love about it. I have naturally curly lashes, and I love the way it makes my lashes look and it feels almost weightless! Although, I do have to mention that this isn't the most black mascara I've used. So if thats your priority, I don't think you'll like this one that much!

BOURJOIS' Volume Glamour Max-Definition mascara:

This is the BLACKEST drugstore mascara I've ever used. I love it. It volumizes and thickens the lashes very much. I do find it also lengthens for me, on the contrary, my sister said that it does nothing in terms of length for her. She also mentioned that it doesn't help hold the curl of the lashes since the formula is a little heavy, although that wasn't the case at all for me. So I guess it really is different for different people.

I used to love and use the MUFE smokey aqua lash mascara, its definitely a favorite of mine as well, but I ran out of it (I have to repurchase it), so I don't have the tube to show it to you guys, but that mascara is really separating, thickening and definitely lengthening! Its also very black and the formula isn't as heavy compared to the bourjois one! So definitely check that one out as well!

MAYBELLINE's eye studio gel eyeliner in Black

My favorite gel eyeliner ever. Very black, great formulation as it glides on super smoothly, stays on, and its affordable. Whats not to love about this liner! It looks very small in person but will last you a super long time! I've had it for almost two years now and I'm finally getting towards the end of it! Many people complain about gel eyeliners, paint pots and such that they tend to dry out very quickly. So here's a quick tip- pop it in the microwave oven for about 10-20 seconds, and VOILA! As good as new :D

If you don't know where to find these brands, below are the places where I purchase them from:

Too Faced and Cargo at Sephora in Al Andalus Mall 

Bourjois, Maybelline, Rimmel at Centrepoint in Al Andalus Mall

Mikyaji at Al Andalus Mall

Urban Decay from www.debanhams.com

Essence at a shop in Shallal Theme Park

Alright guys, thats end of it! I had a lot of fun doing these series, and I hope you all enjoy and benefit from them too! I definitely look forward to doing some series as such :D 

I'd like to end this post with a picture of this really cutesy lil birdie which was distracting me when I was taking pictures for this post yesterday by making SO many little chirping sounds! Oh don't you just LOVE little birdies?!

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Until then, take care fellas! 

Minimalist Beauty: Everyday "Fresh Face" Makeup routine

Hi there!

We are delighted to introduce: "Minimalist Beauty"- a new series starting on this blog in efforts to share tips, tricks and ideas that will hopefully assist you in creating effortless looks and ease your beauty routine without compromising on the results! *inshaAllah* :)

For the first post in this series, I want to share my everyday "fresh face" makeup routine with you :D

I divide this routine into 3 levels.

Level 1 (Super basic): Where I just want to look good enough to run out the door and work with the least amount of products.

Here are the products (used in the order mentioned):

Moisturizer: I use the Dove Intensive Cream. My favourite moisturizer I've found so far, works wonderful on dry to super dry skin.


Concealer: Concealer is a crucial step in a makeup routine especially if you don't want the full face to have coverage and only require to go over a few areas. The concealer I use is the Lancome Long Lasting softening concealer, which- I can safely say, is my favourite concealer of all-time. It's even better for on-the-go as it not only provides wonderful coverage but is also excellent at brightening as well (2-in-1!).

I use the concealer on my under-eyes to conceal darkness, and eye-lids (up till the brow) to cover discolouration. I also go over above the eyebrows and between them a little (helps in lifting and highlighting due to the brightening quality of concealer), around my nose to cancel redness, on the bridge of my nose (again, the brightening quality of the concealer helps in highlighting it), around my mouth to cover discolouration, and finally wherever else I may need coverage like on breakouts or anything like that.

Multi- purpose products are amazing at reducing the time one spends in getting ready, which is especially helpful in the mornings. In the case of this concealer, the fact that it conceals well and also brightens reduces the need to use another brightening product to bring glow to the face.

Setting Powder: Next, I set my face with the Milani Even-Tone Powder Foundation. Again, one of my favourite products. To see a full review of this product, click here.

White/Cream eyeliner on the water line: For me, this helps wonderfully- making the eyes look more awake and refreshed. Most days, I use the Max Factor Kohl Pencil in "White". If I get a bit tanner during the summer, I use their Kohl Pencil in "Natural Glaze".

White eyeliner may be too stark for tanner and deeper beauties, hence you will find more makeup enthusiasts recommending to use a cream/nude/beige/skin-tone coloured liner like Max Factor's "Natural Glaze", so as to make it look more natural. Play around and discover which one works better for you personally. You can also change it up completely and use a black kohl pencil you love instead. Many girls love using black liner on an everyday basis to make their eyes stand out, with rest of the face being neutral/natural.

Lip balm: Finishing off this level I use a lip balm- a must for dry lips like mine. I use TBS's Vitamin E Lip Balm, again, a favourite. Click here to read a full review.

Level 2 (Pump it up): This is where I "Pump it ("it" referring to Level 1) up" a bit- in case I have a few more minutes to spare.

Fill in brows: I fill in my brows using a brow pencil. The specific one I use is from MAC in the shade "Stud".

Filling the brows work wonders in framing the face, something I realized much later after I got into makeup. The difference it makes is just amazing.

Eye lash curler: Next, I curl my eyelashes. The eye-lash curler I use is from Mikyajy.

Transparent mascara: After curling, I coat the eye-lashes with a transparent/clear mascara. The one I use is from Essence (I got it from Shallal for around SR 35, if I remember correctly). I personally prefer clear mascara over using a black/regular mascara for daily basis. It just reduces the hassle of removing the mascara when I return home lol! Of course, you can definitely use regular mascara if that's more to your liking.

Level 3 (Full throttle): Usually only happens when I'm in a super mood lol! Most likely when I've gotten up way ahead of time and basically just feel  like it- going all the way.

Blush: I love how a blush that is perfect for your skin-tone totally transforms your look and makes you look fresh so effortlessly. Again, this is something I learned the importance of only much later from when I got into makeup. My favourite all-time blush is the NYX powder blush in "Peach" which is what I use for this step.

Highlighter: I love face highlighters! And it is definitely a must-use product in any of my makeup routines. It  may or may not be a necessity for everyone so I definitely recommend playing around with a few highlighters to see what difference it makes in your makeup look.
The highlighter I use is from Shiseido in the shade "WT905".

All done!

Some tips:

-Dividing the routine into levels helps quite a bit since I've already prioritized- I already know what products I truly need to look just presentable and don't have to fiddle with so many products especially when I'm running out of time and am in a hurry.

-As mentioned earlier, using multi-purpose products works effectively in handling lesser products and saving time.

-Another useful tip is a no-brainer: use your favourite products and/or products that work amazingly with little to no effort. Saves time again, and using products you trust will hopefully help you start your morning with less of a hassle.

-Replace and/or switch out products that you may find in this routine. Again, a no-brainer. What works for me may or may not work for you and vice versa. Someone may prefer using a foundation over using only a concealer because it attends to their needs better and they may not want a highlighter but prefer using a bronzer instead. See what works best for you and go with it! :) 

Hope that helps some of you!

Some of the products mentioned in the post

♥ Please share YOUR everyday makeup routines and "minimal beauty" tips in the comments. If you have a blog- write a post sharing your routine on your blog! We'd love to read! ♥

Until then, tc! :)