FOTD exhibitionistic movement

i just wanted to play around a little bit, trying new eyeshadows and old foundations ;) i wonder why Mauvement Pigment by MAC doesn't look mauve on me at all - rather a golden taupe. and the purple-plum shade from Hourglass Exhibition also gets a dark brown when combined like this.

foundation: 2:1-mixture of Lancôme Teint Miracle + Giorgio Armani Lasting Silk UV + BeautyBlender

Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre + Artdeco skunk brush

Shiseido brow pencil GY901 + Shu Uemura curlers + Maybelline Stretch&Define waterproof + L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes mascara + Hourglass Hidden Corrective concealer + Hakuhodo brush + Manhattan Wake Up concealer

Urban Decay Primer Potion

MAC Mauvement Pigment on the lid + lower lashline and up to the crease with MAC 242 + dark shade of Hourglass Exhibitionduo in the crease & outer corner with MAC 272, blended out with Sigma SS217

MAC Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Raven (looks like a blackened marroon when applied) as a liner and Orpheus (looks like a dark greenish brown when applied) in the center to avoid sick-eye-look. i smudged the liner in the outer corner to melt it into the eyeshadow.

contour: NYX Blush in Taupe + MAC 138

MAC Well Dressed Blush + MAC 116

highlight: MAC Too Chic Beauty Powder + MAC 131

lips: Chanel Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss in #56 Imaginaire

cheek stains

i have some cheek gels that were released (limited edition - sorry) last summer in the drugstore range.
with cheek stains, your own skin colour is an important factor of how the colour will look on you, please keep in mind ;)

Yves Rocher Watercolour effect blush

these two are by Yves Rocher and were in a watercolour-theme. i tried them first and was pretty impressed. while they aren't the easiest to handle, they give a beautiful effect.
this gel is very watery, so when you open the cap, you have to hold it upright to not spill any product. then i would give a little drop of this on my plate/bowl and use a small stippling brush to apply it stippling on in thin layers - this method is better than using fingers to blend because it won't mess up your foundation underneath. they won't get blotchy if you apply with a fast hand.
the scent is artificially sweet and fruity and it gives a very sheer wash of colour. but it is very buildable and will give you glowing cheeks if you concentrate it in the center of your application area. i find this effect very beautiful and lifting and always wear it alone - i don't tend to put a powder blush over top as i think it's not neccessary. the finish is without shimmers, but with a moisturized
sheen.
i like to use this in the summer to get a natural skin-effect, as it feels so light and fresh. the lasting power is excellent. i also like to use these on my lips to get an "innocent" reddish lip.
each tube contains 7ml and cost something between 2-4€, i have seen it last weekend in the "sale"-bowl at Yves Rocher, so i think you can still get it if you're interested.

Coquelicot léger - a peachy coral

Corail nude - a peachy pink

MNY Liquid Blush

the next two are by MNY, each of these contain 14ml and were about 3€, i think. i forgot the name of the collection they came out with.

these are also gels, but they are much thicker than the Yves Rocher ones. as they contain more silicones, they are more blendable and i can use my fingers to apply, too. they also blend evenly and are buildable but already quite pigmented in one layer. the finish is a bit dryer than with the Yves Rocher stains, so i like to use a cream highlighter with these. staying power is also very good.

 

#111A looks like a bright fuchsia but blends to a soft pink (in one layer)

#112A is a apple red and blends to a coral stain

all in all i find these are a very good product if you want to try cheek stains - it mustn't always be high end, and with such "special" products (at least for me, as i don't use them on a daily basis), these drugstore stains are totally sufficient. i believe there will be some cheek stains released this spring/summer again, so keep your eyes peeled!

foundation overview #4: YSL Teint Resist.

i can't say "No" to a foundation, that claims to be long lasting and transfer-resistant (in the first place - because almost every foundation claims that in their "promises - list").
this is Yves Saint Laurent's Teint Resist foundation. it has an spf of 10 and is oil free. a bottle of 30ml costs 39€. the packaging is typically YSL. cubistic and minimalistic frosted glass bottle with a gold cap and pump, the emblem on it looks really old school -  i don't like the combination of it's colours.
the pump is great, very exact and it doesn't pump a ridicoulous amount of product.
i really like the scent of watermelon, although that is quite strong and could bother you sensitive noses ;)
i have it in shade #4 - a light neutral shade with yellow undertones, probably around MAC NC20. it doesn't oxidize on me.
it has a liquidy texture, but not runny.
it's blendability is ok, i don't say that it's especially spready. it feels very light and weightless on the skin.
the coverage is of a lighter medium. it gives a satin finish - not dewy but not matte, and sadly not flawless, too. it seems to seep into every unevenness and creates a thin layer of coverage on top, so of course it can't give you the look of an even skin.
the staying power is just ok, i find myself still getting oily after about 6 hours and this foundation will start to fade by then. it's also not as transfer resistant as i would like. so i tend to use it for mixing purposes, not on it's own, although the colour is a good match.
all in all no rebuy product for me, as it doesn't hold its claims. i would recommend it if you have an even and smooth normal skin and want a long lasting foundation to cover up some discolouration.

a blob of YSL Teint Resist in #4 on the left and MAC Pro Longwear NC 20 on the right.

directly after applied - you see it doesn't look very smooth

about 10 minutes after application

cream blushes part II: TopShop Cream Blushes (+NARS Cactus Flower)

next part and also the rest of my cream blushes ;-)

i bought some of their Cream Blushes when british clothing&accessories brand TopShop newly released a make up range. each contains 4g and cost 6£, shipping rates were reasonably, too.
i find the packaging very cute and the design goes with the young, cute&trendy image of the brand. it's rubberized plastic with a polka dot print and has a mirror inside.

the texture of these is on the dry side, but rather silicony-dry than waxy-dry. it reminds me of a cream-to-powder finish, but is a bit more silicony than those. the blendability is ok - but stippling on light layers is better than swirling, best tool would be your fingers with these, though (but i don't like to use my fingers).  the finish is silky-matte, but gets more dewy during the day. i chose non-shimmery shades, but had to make my choice based on internet-swatches. i would have purchased a more beige-y shade instead of one of the brights i got.
there are some more colours, but i went for those 3:

Pinch is a bright hot pink.

 Flush is a bright peachy pink.

 Neon Rose is a pinky coral.

NARS Cream Blush in Cactus Flower (5.4g - 29€/20.50£/26$) i have already swatched for you here. it is a coral/red with gold microshimmer + sparkles. the texture is quite waxy-dry (as it melts on your warm skin), but applies and blends very well. the finish is satiny-glowy.
sadly this seems to fade rather quickly on me, after about 4-5 hours. i don't know if it's some sort of skin reaction, but i know this isn't an uncommon problem with NARS Cream Blushes. do you own cream blushes by NARS and have you experienced this, too? is there a trick to avoid it fading aside from pairing with a powder blusher?

so these are all of my cream blushes, next time i'll move on to the cheek stains/gels. stay tuned :)