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So yesterday I did a whole new makeup look on myself and I have to say I was very pleased with the result. I’m relatively new to the whole makeup / beauty blogging scene though, so please give me some credit. The products I used you can see on the picture below and I will quickly talk you through how I did it.

For preparation of my face, I started off with the Estée Lauder New Dimension Shape + Fill Expert serum. This serum has only recently launched and I was lucky enough to be selected by Estée Lauder to test it, through a campaign on someone’s blog I like very much, mostlysunnyblog. Its purpose is to redefine facial contours and lift the cheekbones and jaw lines. Like any other serum, you can use it before applying makeup or just before bedtime. I have been using it for about a week now and this far I am very pleased with it. You have to use it for at least two weeks to be able to tell the difference, so I will definitely get back to you on it!

Then I used the Be Creative Make Up photo perfecting primer. I only got this some time ago as I didn’t even know what a primer was till like a year ago. This is a budget product by Ici Paris XL, but what a difference it makes! It definitely persuaded me that a primer is indeed very effective before applying makeup. And I only used three drops!

 

Then the first thing I did were my eyes. For eye shadow I used my Jupiter Ascending palette by Pür Minerals. This is a palette I purchased online because I really liked the colours. It also holds an eye liner and a lip gloss with a light inside and mirror! Not really sure about its goal though (‘cause like, who applies lip gloss in the dark anyway?) and you can’t even see yourself in the makeshift mirror, but hey… 

As for the palette, I must say I’m not really convinced about it. The eye shadows seem nice after you put them on, but really they don’t last too long. Pigmentation is mediocre. I started off by applying the colour Jupiter just under my crease, which is a very lovely colour once it’s on the lid! I then used the colour Cosmos above my crease  and to fade the Jupiter out. In the outer corners of my lids, I used the Majesty colour. The brush that’s in the palette is not very nice to use either, as the hairs on it feel like little metal pins on your eyelids. So definitely a no. I used my Real Technique brushes instead! For mascara, I used my Chanel Le Volume mascara, and applied it just very lightly. Then I did my wings using the Pür Minerals eye liner and applied some fake eye lashes. As it was really my first time using them, I have had to redo it a couple of times but finally got them right! I guess practice will make perfect in the end! I really liked the effect they gave though! They really made my eyes pop!

 After I was done with my eyes, I noticed the eye shadow already began to fade so I had to retouch both eyes (pity!). I guess you can’t expect much about a palette that was put out for promo of the corresponding movie, but I’m going to keep using it for my stay-at-home makeup.

For foundation I used my Infallible 24H matte foundation by L’oréal in the shade 20 (Sand). I absolutely love this foundation. For concealing my under eye circles I used my brand new Estée Lauder Double Wear Brush-on glow BB highlighter, and then applied a fine line under my eyes using my Réserve Naturelle black eye pencil and the colour Night Sky on the palette.

To finish everything off and settle my make up, I used my much loved Bourjois Healthy Balance matting powder in 55 Dark Beige, before putting on some golden glowing highlighter by Topshop. What I forgot on this picture was my bronzing powder by The Balm, which I lightly applied over my highlighter.

On my lips I used the Max Factor Colour Elixir lipstick in the shade Mulberry.

 

 

So this is a complete resumé of my look. Let me know what you think!

I have a confession to make: I have been absolutely adoring Dior lately! I sort of love everything they put out beauty wise recently. I can’t say it any other way… I’ve also been reading so much about the Diorific line and I love the new nail lacquer collection. Especially the transparent one with the golden flakes, called Golden Shock (Duh! Sparkles!!!). I saw them worn over the Diorific Smoky nail polish and I thought it was absolutely gorgeous. Evidently, I already have the holidays on my mind and I’m already thinking festive ensembles; and this on my nails is gonna make me look so elegant and ladylike! I have to say though that I originally thought Smoky was black, but I discovered it isn’t. It’s actually very dark purple, but that just makes it all the more special.

You have to know that whenever I see something new that I really like, I have this imaginary neon sign in my head that flashes on and off and spells “Want! Want! Want!” :-) I openly “daydreamed” about it on my facebook profile (which isn’t public, sorry) and it generated a lot of (positive) reactions from many female friends. As Dior is kind of of a higher price range, I thought I’d wait till pay day and then see if I could order or buy it somewhere.  

But… last Saturday we had some friends over and guess what… one of my best friends said she’d been shopping and something made her think of me… She had a little gift for me, wrapped in the tiniest Ici Paris Xl bag. I honestly had no idea what it was at first but then I opened it and the first thing I saw was a little golden box that had “Diorific” on it. I just about lost it! Lol My God, I blab about it on facebook and a week later my best friend gifts it to me! Don’t I have the best of friends ever? I was so over the moon! 

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the size of the bottle. Judging by the pics I’d seen, I assumed it was gonna be much much smaller. The size of the seasonal colours Yves Rocher has every summer/winter. They come in cute little bottles. But no, this one is really much bigger! I don’t have the smoky nail polish yet but I couldn’t wait and tried it over the one I still had on. And I love it! The sparkles spread surprisingly well and they dry really quick. Also, it doesn’t feel like there’s something on your nail when you touch it (I hate that). It feels really flat and looks beautiful! (Please excuse my granny hands - I know - I hate them! Blah!)

Signed, a very lucky girl!