nudey FOTD with Guerlain #93, Rue de Passy palette.

these days i'm really loving the nude look, my favourite eye make up with the #93, Rue de Passy palette by Guerlain. it's a naturally polished makeup that lets my eyes appear warm and bright. this would be my version of "romantic eye makeup".

for the face:

foundation: Lancôme Teint Miracle in 01 Beige Albâtre (1) applied with Le Métier de Beauté Blush Brush (2)

undereye concealer: Giorgio Armani Master Corrector in #2 (3) and Giorgio Armani High Precision Retouch Concealer in #3 (4) applied with the fingers

powder: Giorgio Armani Micro-fil Loose Powder in #01 (5) applied with SUQQU Face Brush (6)

contour: NARS Multple Bronzer in Cap Vert (7) applied with Sigma F84 Angled Synthetic Kabuki (8)
 
blush: Cargo Tonga (9) applied with Hakuhodo B505BkSL Blush Brush (10)


for the eyes & lips:

brows: MAC Omega eyeshadow (1) applied with Louise Young Brow Brush LY30 (2) and K-Palette 1 Day Tattoo Brow Pen (3)

lips: Crazy Rumours lip balm in Juicy Grapefruit (10)

eye makeup: with Guerlain #93, Rue de Passy palette (4)

• apply the matte rose peach (#1 in palette chart) with Tom Ford Eyeshadow Brush (5) all over the lid and blend it up to the brow bone area.
• add the nougat brown (#2) as a soft crease colour using Tom Ford Crease Brush (6).
• again use the Tom Ford Eyeshadow Brush to apply the frosty pale pink (#5) to the inner corner and tearduct area, sweep it lightly onto the center of the lids to add some glow.
• apply the pearly taupe colour (#3) on the lower lashline.
• use the Sigma SS266 (7) to apply the pearly black shade (#6) as an eyeliner on the outer half of the lid and outer corner of the lower lashline.
• curl lashes with Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers (8) and apply Lancôme Hypnôse Doll Eyes Mascara (9 - sample)

the close up photos from the eye makeup were shot on another day but it was basically the same as in the full face pics!

FOTD with L'Oreal Electrified.

 

i wanted to show you what kind of make up look(s) i liked to wear the last weak. it was mostly a stronger eye make up paired with slightly nuded out lips. i used the L'Oreal HIP duo in Electrified relatively often, i love the metallic taupe in it. it also looks great with any other dark colour like blue, brown or black in the outer corner.


what i used for the face:

foundation: Lancôme Teint Miracle in 01 Beige Albâtre (1 - review) applied with the BeautyBlender (2 - review)

concealer: Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in 010 Ivory (3 - review) patted on the under eye area with the fingers

powder: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium (4 - review) applied with Lunasol Powder Brush N (5 - review)

contour: Burberry Beauty Light Glow in #07 Earthy Blush (6 - review) applied with Rouge Bunny Rouge's Blush Brush (7 - review)

blush: Cargo Blush in Polynesia (8) applied with Hakuhodo G5519BkSL Blush Brush (9)



what i used on the eyes:

brows: MAC Eyeshadow in Copperplate (1) applied with Laura Mercier LY30 Brow Brush (2)

eye make up:

for the softer look i used the metallic taupe of L'Oreal HIP duo in Electrified (3 - review) on the inner 2/3 of the lid and the lower lashline and applied the dark purple on the outer parts and into the crease area. everything applied with MAC 242 brush (4) and blended out with Edward Bess Luxury Eye Brush (5 - review).
i also used the purple as a liner shade for the upper lashline. then added a true purple eyeliner (P2 Perfect Look Kajal in 080 Lilac - 7 - review) on the waterline to give it some more colour.

with flash:

for the smokier version i applied the dark shade of L'Oreal Electrified (3 - review) all over the lid and on the lower lashline and added highlights on the center of the dark colour and on the inner corner with the metallic shade. everything applied with MAC 242 brush (4) and blended out with Edward Bess Luxury Eye Brush (5 - review).
a bit of MAC Vex (not on pic, sorry) in the inner corners, too, and lastly black liner for the waterline (P2 Perfect Look Kajal in 010 Black - 6 - review).

with flash:

i used the usual stuff for mascara (Shu Uemura curlers (8), Maybelline False Lashes Waterproof (9) as bottom layer and Shiseido The Perfect Mascara (10 - sample) as top coat).

lips: Manhattan Water Flash Lipgloss in a nude colour (11)

foundation overview #13: Lancôme Teint Miracle.

this Lancôme Teint Miracle Foundation is in my foundation collection since its release in september last year. it claims to intensify luminosity creating a flawless, natural appearance, that "lit-from-within" look.

it provides a spf of 15, 30ml cost 39.95€. it comes in a beautiful translucent bottle with precise pump. i have this in the shade #01 - Beige Albâtre, a medium light warm beige with peachy/yellow undertones, which is a good match for my NC20ish skin in MAC.
in the last year, it never really impressed me when i occasionally used it. initially i found the finish quite boring and average, nothing special.
when my skin behaved a bit touchy in the last month with drier and sensitive areas and little healing residues of zits and pimples, some other foundations i was using in rotation wouldn't melt onto my skin well and gave me that unflattering made-up look.

when i tried this foundation again just out of curiosity i was really blown away by the even, flawless and refined skin it makes, it covers all of my many imperfections very well and left me with a beautiful fine sheen that looks natural and healthy.
in the bottle you can see that it contains many golden pearl shimmer particles, but on the skin it's not shimmery at all, even in sunlight. i really really love the finish it creates, it makes my skin appear radiant and fresh, also thanks to its peachy undertone. i don't even like to set it with powder to avoid any changes of the look ;)

it has a light consistency with a fresh perfume scent. it spreads easily and applies evenly with a buildable medium to high coverage. i like to apply it with the BeautyBlender best.
it doesn't creep into large pores and fine lines and also doesn't emphasize dry and flaky patches but makes my sensitive combination skin of the moment appear smooth and moisturised. it sets to a non sticky, soft and dry surface and feels weightless on the skin.
it wears fine on me, although it doesn't perform like a long wearing formula, the coverage keeps up over the whole day and i don't end up looking greasy and overly glossy (but of course with a visible sheen on the forehead, nose and cheeks).
despite the awful campaign with the overly photoshopped Julia Roberts and the unrealistic claims that might have an inverse effect, this is a really good foundation and probably my favourite of the moment.

you can see a lot of pearly gold shimmer in the sunlight

one drop of: Lancôme Teint Miracle in 01 - MAC Pro Longwear Foundation in NC20

Lancôme Teint Miracle in 01 freshly applied

Lancôme Teint Miracle in 01, 10 minutes after application. you see no oxidation.

tihilw

i love the finish so much, that's why i'm showing you multiple pictures of me wearing it :P

last pic with full make up.

 

active ingredients: Octinoxate 3%. inactive ingredients: Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Alcohol Denat, Phenyl Trimethicone, Glycerin, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Bis-PEG/PPG-14/14 Dimethicone, PEG/PPG/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Glycerin, Rosa Gallica Flower Extract, Talc, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Polyglycerin-3 Crosspolymer, Methicone, Alumina, Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Sulfate, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Polyethylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate; May Contain: Red 28 Lake, Red 7, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Blue 1 Lake, Bismuth Oxychloride, Iron Oxides.

Lancôme Génifique Serum - do you use samples?

over the past few months i accumulated quite a several ( i think it was 10 or so) of these samples of Lancôme's Genifique serum.
as the amount would equal about a third of a regular bottle and would last quite some time, i started a trial and could use it over the last 4-5 weeks ago, morning and night.
a regular bottle of 30ml would cost 79.50€.
as i only used the samples, i can't say anything about the packaging. but it looks good, though.
it's a hazy viscid liquid that spreads very well and with a slippery feeling on your skin, so that you can get along even with a small amount. i always use it on a still very slightly damp skin after my thermal water spray.
it sinks in totally, leaving no residues or film or stickyness at all. so you might feel like you haven't apply anything, which i don't like that much.
i have a oily skin, with large pores especially on my cheeks and forehead, that is prone to blackheads :(
after using it during the last month, i don't see a large improvement of my skin. i feel it is soft and moisturised, but my pores are still enlarged, i still get some zits and blackheads that don't heal faster than normal. no glow, no youthful skin (but in fact oilyness + zits are the epitome for young skin ;)  ).
it is a good moisturising serum, maybe i can only see some effect after long term use of 3 months +, but i'm not willing to pay 80€ to see if it's going to work, when my skin would be ok with a cheaper moisturiser at this time.
maybe in some years. but on the other hand, i have seen better results (in a shorter time) with the Advanced Night Repair serum by Estée Lauder, so effectiveness is not impossible ;)

have you tried this? what is your opinion?
do you use samples in general? i know many don't use face care samples as they are afraid to break out, and the effect will only show when you use it longer, but as my skin is quite uncomplicated these days, i like to use deluxe size samples.

btw, i used a Lancôme moisturizer with this, it was a 15ml deluxe sample of a men's hydrating moisturiser. i don't shy away from this, as the ingredients and technology is mostly the same with men's and women's skin care from one brand, only the scent is more herbal with the men's stuff. and as long as it doesn't grow me a beard, i don't care ;)

Lancôme Ombre Absolue in Erika F.

last week i finally got the legendary Erika F. eyeshadow by Lancôme (1.5g - about 25€) after it being such a long time on my imaginary wish list.
the packaging is a simple black compact with a mirror and a small sponge applicator. a rose, the signature flower of Lancôme is on the compact and also stamped into the eyeshadow. all in all it looks quite old school to me and confirms the more "mature" image i have of this brand.
this eyeshadow is a beautiful shimmery greenish silver, with a silky dark greyed green with tons and tons of white gold sparkles. the shimmer bits are really amazing. you have to see it in real life, my photos don't do it justice at all. they are like crystal sparkles. sadly this shimmer is the one ingredient that isn't approved by the FDA and so this eyeshadow is not available in the US (but in europe&asia) - which maybe is the main reason why it got that popular. you want things even more when you can't have them ;)
the texture of Erika F. is rather dry but still very smooth, although it has so much shimmers it isn't gritty at all. the blendability and lasting power is also good (although it states a staying power of 6 hours on the packaging - which is quite poor and nothing i would brag with ;) - with a good base you get a lot more than 6 hours with this. )

the great thing is that blending doesn't wipe the sparkles away, i think it's a fantastic colour for the evening that's not too dark or smokey but will grab all attention to your eyes.

Lancôme Erika F. in direct sunlight

Lancôme Erika F. in the shadow

Lancôme Erika F. in artificial light

this shade is really right up my alley - as you can see i have some that are just  like it. but no dupes, no other has such a shimmer like this. (in these pics you can see the shimmer of Erika F. better)

Chanel Ombres Perlées Palette - Lancôme Erika F. - MAC Smoke&Diamonds - Manhattan Green Effects Palette (Colour Meets Elegance LE)

green shade of Chanel Ombres Perlées Palette - Lancôme Erika F. - MAC Smoke&Diamonds - lower right shade of Manhattan Green Effects Palette (Colour Meets Elegance LE)

here is a quick look i did with this eyeshadow all over the lid - sorry no close-ups, i was too sunny to make fotos without  squinting. i used Benefit Skinny Jeans Creaseless Cream Shadow on the upper lid  to oomph it up a little bit. i like the cool silverish moss colour on my eye.