25 Sept 2009

Halloween: Mermaid Look


 



Another much requested Halloween look: Mermaids!! This was kind of a pain in the ass to do because my sequins were just not cooperating, but I think the labor of love paid off in the end! I don't know exactly how long this makeup took to do but I think 1 1/2 to 2 hours would not be totally off. If you want to do this look, make sure to allow for adequate time to get everything glued on. Sequins can be purchased at any craft or fabric store.

By the way isn't the intro music cheesetastic? Reminds me of the Little Mermaid, that's why I chose it. Under da seeeeeea *gulp*....*splutter* Yikes I think I choked on some floating by seaweed! Ahem!


Face
Revlon Colorstay foundation in Ivory, assorted sequin pack from a craft store, Ben Nye Glitter Glue

Eyes
Ben Nye Grand Lumiere palette, MAC Blue Flame e/s, Max Factor blue eye pencil, L'Oreal Voluminous mascara, MAC Transparent Teal Reflects glitter

Lips
Barry M Palest Lavender lipstick, MAC Transparent Teal Reflects glitter, Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Fierce

Nails
Zoya Kotori

Remember, Halloween requests must be made as a video response to my request video, I will not be doing requests sent in by private message, comments or email.

23 Sept 2009

Vote: Celebrity tutorial

I thought I might do a celebrity inspired makeup tutorial to break up the Halloween series a little bit for people who don't celebrate Halloween. So I've pulled up a couple of pictures I've had sitting in my "makeup inspiration" folder on my hard drive, and also a few pics sent in by my readers on Twitter and Facebook! (Follow me on both sites to have input in future polls!) I thought I'd let you, my viewers and readers, have the final say on which look I should do a video on. Here are your choices!


Evan Rachel Wood as the Vampire Queen in True Blood: very 40s inspired but with a double winged eyeliner which I think is a great modern twist to this glam look.



Taylor Momsen channeling Debbie Harry apparently in this sultry rocker chick look.



Kim Kardashian wearing smokey purple eye makeup and nude lips for a photoshoot.



Kat Von D sporting her signature badgirl punk rock look.



Lady Gaga in her signature kooky look with hot pink eyes and orange lips.



Beyonce sporting sultry eyes with a smoked out thick black eyeliner.


Vote now in the poll below. Please note you will be voting for the exact makeup look that I have chosen for each celebrity.

Vote for your favorite celebrity look!

22 Sept 2009

MAC Style Black collection




I've been looking forward to this collection all year! I've skipped over so many of the MAC collections because they've been very "ehhh" for me so far this year, but Style Black is so me. It's dark, edgy, gothic inspired - what more could I want? The collection is officially being released on September 24 in North America, a bit later in Europe and elsewhere. If you're unsure of what's coming out, you can check this thread on Specktra for all the details and you can also find Swatches of the products here. Temptalia has also made this compilation video with swatch pictures of the products:





I have to say I am really looking forward to this collection. Since I'm so impatient, a lovely person from the States has agreed to do a CP for me. I'll be getting:

Night Violet Mattene lipstick
Blackfire Glimmerglass
Young Punk Mineral Eyeshadow
Bat Black Cream Color Base

Although I have said before I am not a fan of the Dazzleglasses, I do think this particular one would look spectacular layered over a dark lipstick shade. Absolutely useless on it's own, but over a dark lipstick I think it will shine. Bat Black CCB is actually a product I've been wanting for a long time but it's Pro only, so I can't buy it here. I want to get this specifically for layering for my darker eye looks, and I think it will work fabulously with the purple Young Punk Mineral shadow, as it has a burgundy undertone itself. I've never purchased MAC's mineral shadows before because I always felt the color payoff was poor, but this purple one looks so pretty so I'm going to give it a shot. I'm also really excited about the lipstick, and in the CP I'll also be getting a couple more dark colored lip products from other collections, so I'm really looking forward on doing a Haul video, and then a tutorial with those products for you all!

I have to say, this is probably my favorite MAC collection since MAC Cult of Cherry last autumn. Which MAC collection are you looking forward to? Will you be picking anything up from Style Black? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

21 Sept 2009

Brazilian newspaper "O Globo" feature

Thanks to one of my followers on Twitter Christine Alves for letting me know I was featured in a Brazilian newspaper called "O Globo" today! She sent me this scan. Click for full size.


Thanks to one of my subscribers, Jenny, for the following translation on the part about me in the article:

The dynamics of the tutorials is similar. The make up artist start the video with a clean face and they show the look they´re going to make. Sometimes, one of the two eyes is already done to give an idea of what's to come. Along the next ten minutes they alternate their eyes between the mirror and the camera, while they show how to do a smokey eye, an innocent bride look or an exotic arabic make up made by the swiss-canadian from the channel MissChievous (<www.youtube.com/user/MissChievous>). The lack of topics is not a problem. The thickness of the eyebrows, the fleshy lips, the graduation, everything can become a class. Specially the requested tutorials that teach how to achieve a celebrity make up. Lauren, for example, taught how to make the Amy Winehouse look..."

Thanks so much to my readers for alerting me and helping me out with a rough translation!

19 Sept 2009

Fallen Angel Halloween Makeup

This type of look was requested quite a few times in my Halloween requests video, and I was really excited to give it a go. I got some of my inspiration from the pictures that were posted as ideas, and the eyeliner is inspired by another makeup videographer, Risa. I did, however, try to make it my own by combining it with a lot of glitter, rhinestones, and black lipstick. This look would be perfect for a whole slew of costumes: dark angel, dark fairy, fantasy gothic girl, etc. Give it a go and let me know how it works out!


 
 




Face
Illamasqua cream foundation, Illamasqua Intrigue blush dusted lightly all over

Eyes
ArtDeco eyeshadow base, La Femme Sparkle Dust in Aqua, MAC Reflects Transparent Teal glitter, NYX White e/s, black gel eyeliner (generic brand from ebay), false lashes (generic brand from ebay), small rhinestones from the craft store, Ben Nye black eyeliner, DUO adhesive glue, Essence glitter eyeliner in blue

Lips
Ben Nye black eyeliner, Obsessive Compulsive Lip Tar in Tarred

Link to the video

18 Sept 2009

NOTD: Max Factor Nailfinity - 882 Angel Nails


Above: Indirect daylight



Above: Direct Sunlight

Oooh what a pretty nailpolish! This is the first time I've ever tried out Max Factor nailpolishes and overall the available colors at my drustore were not very original, save for this one and maybe a couple of others. I have to say I absolutely love this polish and find the name very appropriate: Angel Nails!

It's a shimmer finish with micro glitter flecks in it, and the overall color I would describe as a very pale silvery mauve shade. This picture was taken on the second day of wear, 2 coats, with a base coat and top coat applied as always. So far so good! I don't think Max Factor is available anymore in North America though. This brand is still available here in Europe, although it's not cheap: This polish cost about 14 Swiss Franks, but it came with a mini glass nail file. Score!

Oh and for people who have been asking for a manicure tutorial video. I will try to do that at some point but I have to figure out how exactly I'm going to film it so I can get it close up but still have good lighting.

What's on your nails right now? Share in the comments!

16 Sept 2009

Great drugstore lipstick find for Fall! Nivea Beaute

Contrary to popular belief, I do like to browse through and make the occasional purchase from the drugstore or pharmacy. The only products I absolutely do not buy at drugstores are eyeshadows, but I always have a peek at what else has come out from the more budget lines. Recently I was browsing and the Nivea Beaute line had a fall line out called their "Paris" collection. Although Nivea body lotions and some cosmetic products are available worldwide, I believe their makeup line is only available in Europe.

I was instantly drawn to this blackberry plum shade, even though it seemed to be the least popular one of the few colours they had available with this collection, judging by the stock. (Leave it me to me to go for the less popular and slightly less "everyday wearable" shades!)

This is Nivea Beaute Colour Passion lipstick in Nr. 86 Bedtime Plum.


The colour is slightly more cool toned than on these pics, the swatch on the lips is probably most colour accurate. The pigmentation is very rich, the lipstick is creamy and moisturizing without being thin and slippery. Overall I have to say this is a fabulous colour for fall and so on trend with the fall collections where berry toned lips are a highlight.

If you're not sure how to wear a lipstick like this, I showed how to pair such a color with a pretty fall inspired eye look. Click here to check out that video in case you missed it. Of course you could also just wear this with some dramatic winged liner, mascara, some blush and call it a day. I frequently do this when I'm lazy with my makeup but still want to look a bit "done up".

Speaking of drugstore products - has anyone tried that new vibrating mascara that I believe Maybelline just recently released? I hope that becomes available here, I have a hankering for testing out gimmicky products and reviewing them on my blog.

14 Sept 2009

Huge Rave for Hakuhodo Brushes





I was recently given the opportunity by Hakuhodo to try their brushes. Clued out as I was, I had never heard of this company before but became much more interested when I saw "Made in Japan" and celebrity makeup artist Elke Von Freudenberg mention them on her blog, as well as a handful of beauty bloggers who had tried out and raved about them.

I was not disappointed. Without a doubt, these are the softest, densest and most luxurious makeup brushes I have ever used. The company's PR DVD that I was provided with further elaborated how the brushes are actually handmade in their Japan factory, and you saw crafty Japanese workers laboring over each individual brush head, removing lesser quality hairs strand by strand with a fine toothed comb, until the finished product resulted in a luxurious makeup brush. Their factory is located in Kumano, Japan, where over 100 brush companies produce 80% of all brushes manufactured in Japan. Hakuhodo has also become an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), meaning they produce the makeup brushes for various high end cosmetic lines. This article has an interview with the founder and also some pictures of their meticulous production.

I was also impressed by the wealth of information available to the customer about each type and grade of hair that is used for a particular brush. No less than 6 different types of goat hair are used and elaborated on, as well as squirrel, weasel, horse, badger, and synthetic fibres, all of which are attained cruelty-free, as I was assured by the company.

The brushes I show in this video in order of appearance are listed below. Click on the link to take you to the exact brush on the Hakuhodo website.

1. Kokutan Finishing Brush LAG
2. S 103 Blush Brush
3. K002 Finishing Brush round and flat
4. H1062 Blush Brush round and flat
5. E0154 Highlight Brush round and flat
6. K004 Eye Shadow Brush round and flat
7. S 142 Eye Shadow Brush round
8. E0183 Kokutan Eye Shadow Brush T
9. E1143 Eye Shadow Brush Pointed
10. E1112 Eye Shadow Brush round and flat
11. K 005 Eye Shadow Brush round and flat
12. E1116 Lip Brush round and flat

My personal favorites so far are Nr. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 although I have used all of them by now for a couple of weeks and will certainly continue to use them in the future.

In the video I kept stressing how expensive these brushes are, which in retrospect isn't really right. While these brushes certainly are no eBay bargain bin set, I've actually now realized the prices are about the same to what you would pay for department store brushes here in Europe such as MAC or Bobbi Brown, and some are even a bit less expensive. So while they may be a bit more costly than MAC brushes in the States, they are in my opinion a step up in quality overall, and they come in a variety of series and price lines. Definitely not brushes I would recommend to a beginner makeup aficionado but a great investment for professional makeup artists or people passionate about craftsmanship and makeup brushes in general.

About the short handles as I've addressed in the video: I sent a follow up email to Hakuhodo and they told me that some of the brushes are available in different handle lengths: short, medium, and long. So if you wanted the longer handles ones, I'm not sure what you would have to do exactly as I see no different options on the web shop. I guess I would contact Hakuhodo before placing an order and if any of the brushes you're interested in do have the option of long or short handles. Besides the issue of the shorter handles on some, I was trying to think of any other cons to these brushes and I honestly could not find any.

Overall, I highly recommend these professional makeup brushes and like them better than many of my MAC brushes. I have dubbed them the "Rolls Royce" of makeup brushes. You can order through their online shop, or catch them at a makeup tradeshow in the future (apparently they were at the IMATS show this summer in California.) The quality is superb and the hairs are so soft and of such a high grade. I also loved how the bristles didn't splay like crazy after washing, even without using the Brush Guards I normally use for my other brushes. All the brush heads took on their shape again easily. A note on washing - do not "overwash" these brushes. You can find out on their website how to properly care for your Hakuhodo brushes, and you can be sure I will be treating mine like the treasures they are.

http://www.hakuhodousa.com/


Link to the video

13 Sept 2009

Halloween Makeup: Pantomime Mask

Are you READY?!!!



This is my 1st Halloween makeup tutorial, of hopefully many. Five are already filmed and edited and ready to go; I'll be working on more looks until end of October so that you will have lots of ideas for costumes and makeup to go with it of course. The sad thing is, Halloween isn't even really celebrated where I live! Boo hoo :( Oh well, I will live vicariously through my viewers and friends.

The first look is a simple but effective mask tutorial inspired by Pantomime theater, especially by the French mime character Pierrot, the sad clown. The typical depiction of Pierrot is a white face, and sad eyes with tears running down his face - these were the main themes of this look.

Costume ideas: You can wear the traditional Pierrot garb which is loose fitting white clothes with a ruffled collar, or you can just wear all black clothes, white gloves, and a black French beret. You could even make this look more feminine and daring by wearing a sexy black dress and doing a fun hair updo.



Face
Jofrika white clown paint, Illamasqua Intrigue blush, Ben Nye Final Seal spray

Eyeliner for tears and outer rim
Ben Nye black cake eyeliner

Eyes
NYX White e/s, MAC Carbon e/s, black pencil for eyebrows

Lips
MAC Red Enriched lipliner, Illamasqua Maneater lipstick


Want to make a request for a Halloween look? Click here and make a video response with your idea.

7 Sept 2009

Quick personal update

It's been a while since I uploaded a new video on my makeup channel, or posted here! I've just been really busy lately and my mother Elisabeth has also been visiting me and her family for the past few days. She is Swiss but lives in Canada with my father for the past 20 years or so, while I've moved back to Switzerland. Funny thing.

Anyhow it's been really great to see her again, we went on various little trips around the region where I live and had lots of fun together. I often wish I lived closer to my parents, living in a different continent across a vast ocean makes frequent visits very cost prohibitive. It's been years since I've been to visit them in Vancouver - I am hoping to have the chance to go next summer maybe and also go on a little roadtrip through BC. Hmmm....

On Sunday my mother, my boyfriend and I went on a boating trip over the Thunersee, which is a beautiful lake located near the Swiss alps. The lake is so turquoise blue and we had a lot of luck with the weather - sunshine, warm, superb. We took a trip on a restored steam paddle boat called the "Bluemlisalp" which was originally built in 1905 but recently renovated. The engine and the paddle wheels still function in the traditional method, and the inside of the boat looks really old fashioned but beautiful. It was so much fun. I've been trying to upload a video of our daytrip to my other channel for the past few days without success - Youtube seems to be having some hiccups and it's very frustrating. *sigh* Subscribe to my new channel if you want to get an update when that video goes up.

In the meantime, you can watch this funny vlog my mom and I filmed where we ramble about a bunch of nonsense and spend a lot of time giggling and acting silly.



Makeup wise I really need to get my butt in gear and film more Halloween videos. Things have been so busy on my end that I'm afraid I won't have enough time to be able to complete as many videos and requests as I initially had aimed for - but, that's life and Youtube isn't my Nr.1 priority sometimes.

Oh, I've also been using some new makeup brushes that I am absolutely over the moon about. So I will be doing a video on those new brushes soon, they are the softest natural hair makeup brushes I have ever used, softer than MAC even! They are simply amazing. So keep on the lookout for that video, can't give away too many details yet.

Well, hope you have a great Monday! Toodaloo!