Clean clean cleaner

So, after months of seeing you tube users cleanse their makeup off with wipes, I decided to give it a try. I usually used Simple skincare to remove makeup, using the eye makeup remover and the cleanser with some facial cotton pads. Using wipes looks so easy and defiantly less time consuming, so again, since I can't really get Mac stuff in here, I opted for Johnson's makeup remover wipes. I thought I still would feel 'grime' at the thought of 'wiping' all makeup, but it didn't. I t just feels clean as much as it used to with the bottles. Moreover, its got toner as well, so it ain't bad. I'll give these a week to see if it causes redness or anything, but I don't think it can cause any problems.

The Dior event

I got the call, and checked out the Dior Event. Well, I wasn't impressed. I was wrong and the promotional offer is a free Dior cosmetic mini pouch, a mini lippie, a mini lip liner and a GWP sized cleansing milk with every 80 euros spent. This is due to the release of the Spring collection Bloom in Dior. They still haven't got the bronzer/blushers in Malta yet. Well, I hated the lippies, the nail varnishes as well. I did like the Dior flower blossom compact and two lip glosses, but nothing to get crazy about.

Smellin yummy!!

A few days ago I received the sort of perfume haul. I got the Versace signature fragrance which I haven't used yet, but I was always using the sample and it's just great. And my bf got me the DKNY, be delicious which I'm using almost every day. It's really light & fruity, I'll def repurchase when I'll run out of it.


And, a few days ago he also got me the train case!! YAY!

Dior's Event

In the next couple of days a Dior event is to be held worldwide in leading stores. I was advised by an MA to wait for this event before dishing out money on Dior's cosmetics. Well, I did some research and most probably this is gonna be the promotion in some world wide stores.
This states buy 3 dior items & get the case for free. I really hope this ain't it though, as I'm not really keen on getting another case and dish money on Dior. I'd rather save my money for some MAC.
I'll post the real deal when I hit the stores.

Missha Skincare

Their makeup line sucks but apparently their skin care range doesn't.
I loved the bubble bath the most, they have a range of scents and come in metal milk jar shaped packing.

I also tried their body scrub and body soufflé. The portions are quite generous. I've used the scrub a lot and I still got left,apart form the fact I dropped it and wasted like half of it.
I tried their pomegranate lip balm, which really smells good, but that's just it. It doesn't moisturize or anything.
I got the apple body scrub, and its really faithful to its aimed smell. And it does work. It leaves the skin smooth for hours. The boy soufflé I got is the cucumber and yogurt one. I think its so much better than body butters, as they are less sticky smell less and leave a rather fresh feeling to the skin. Their body butters however are not bad at all. Very similar to the body shop with a different range in scents. Moreover the price range is very similar to the body shop as well. Definitely worth every cent.

Brand Spotlight: Missha cosmetics

As I'm used to say, here in Malta we're quite limited, cosmetic wise. There are only a few stores who basically carry the same brands, mostly Chanel, Guerlain, Dior, Shiseido, and a couple of others. No MAC, no NARS no Stila and so on. Then there's always a selection of drugstore makeup. A couple of years ago Korean brand Missha opened a store here. I think it was the first makeup store carrying a sole brand. Apart from makeup they also carry a skin care line which I think is far way better than their makeup.


Eyeshadows

On the bright side they do carry a fair amount of shades. I managed to swatch all colours and overall their not really pigmented. The once which do have enough colour are the khaki ones. Lasting power is not great but way better than some other drug store brands. Moreover, their price is same as drugstore makeup, so it surely worth a try.
The jar with the blue flower on top is a loose pigment powder. When watched it's a perfect peacock blue with shimmers. However, this is just right to dab. Once you try to blend the color totally disappears. Its pricier than then pan shadows and def. not worth it. If I could choose any other pigment shade I'd pick the white or silver one which I reckon that it would be suitable just for highlighting.

The pen shaped stick is a tip for highlighting, offering a range of mild colors. Not really pigmented as well. I could have passed this on.



Blushes

I managed to swatch most as well, and the warm colors look fairly nice, however the cool once look chalky and way to white. Lasting power is not great as well, maybe around 2-3 hours, at least on me.

I didn't purchase any lip stuff due to the fact that their lip glosses are way too much Stila's lip glazes. I did swatch them but eventually didn't like any of them.
They are now carrying a new makeup line. I swatched the blush and they are way too glittery and without any color at all. Moreover, one thing which I really hated is the rip off of the packing. The new blushes look like the Dior backstage blushes. YSL do have the same packing for their blushes as well, but there are way to similarities in the products to other brands-I figured out similarities with MAC, Stila, Dior, & YSL. I'd rather see new ideas.

The Brushes

Their brushes are pretty cheap, around 10 Euros each and are not bad quality at all. For instance they are not synthetic and provide a fair application. I've purchased two, since I'm still a Mac brush devotee and even if I wanted to purchase more, I doubt I could cause they only have really few brushes on display for sale.
The blush brush is pretty good, it adheres to pigments well and distributes color good enough. However hairs do fall out a lot, especially when washing. But for such a cheap price I can't complain, can I?
On a negative note, the base brush ain't so good-at all. It's way to stingy to use for the eye area, and pigment distribution can do way better. Maybe it's becaude of the harsh, flat ended bristles? I don't know, But the handles are pretty good lol.

Pure Luxe Mineral Makeup

I've been seeing alot of fotds with pure luxe minerals for quite some time, and in being so cheap and so versatile I thought I'd give them a chance.
I first ordered just 3 samples
sepia eyeshadow
driftwood eyeshadow
nymph blush-which is described as being similar Nars orgasm blush

Pureluxe is great for purchasing sample sizes before dishing cash on full size jars you probably would end up not using.

I really liked the shadows but as far as blushes are concerned I'm not tempted to refill. Lasting power wasn't great, at least on MY skin

Well, I then got a number of other shadows some of which I love, here are their swatches

(click pics to enlarge)


I had misplaced Charisma and totally forgot about it.

I totally love Forest, Jaded, and driftwood for their fab colour and pigmentation. Galaxy is better off foiled however even though foiling these piggies makes the colour pop out, lasting power is reduced like to an hour on my eyes. I've never used peacock and saffron yet, I like bold colours but eventually end up applying neutrals. Pink Champagne and Charisma are great for that 'blended' colours look as they already have a mixture of 2 colours. The most shadow which I recommend is Sepia. I've run out and shall stock up a full size soon. It's a great dark matte green gray colour which teamed up with Jaded is a nice version of a greenish smoky look.

In not being expensive, have an overall good quality and offering world wide shipping I do reccomend pureluxe minerals

Oh my darling Oh my darling Oh my darling Clementine!

hey all hope you had a good valentine's day, I surely had, I can't remember when I ate so much haha! I received a balloon once again lol and a rose nonetheless! I was so hoping to get that, I still got last year's :p And I had maki & tempura's for the first time :D

Oh well on with the makeup!

So, I was aiming for a minimalistic look. I had disabled flash I sorry about the lighting.

Base

Chanel Matt Lumiere foundation
The Body Shop Pencil Concealer
Chanel Irreelle Blush in Glamour


Eyes

Mac paint in Chiaroscuro-all over lid
Pure Luxe eyeshadow in Cashmere-just for the crease & outer V
Rimmel Kohl in Jet Black
Diorshow mascara





Lips

Vaseline to prime lips
Versace Sensual Feeling lippie in V2052
Chanel Glossimer in Volage






I had posted this already on makeup alley, but well, this is the stash I got as a valentine's gift ^_^ yay!

Chanel glossimer in volage
versace sensual feeling in v2052
Mac Lipglass in clear
Diorkiss in Snowcherry
Stila twinset in pink

And he got even got me the DKNY's Be Delicious. Still waiting for it to arrive though YaY!

Change in skin care regime

So, I've been using Nivea & Simple skin care for the past year, however, as with Nivea's products they do nothing for my skin, so I ended up focusing on Simple.
For reference, I'm a combination skin type, with a dry t-zone and normal cheeks

I mainly started off by using the facial wash, then the soothing toner and another brand moisturizer. The toner was already one thing..I learnt I have to use a balancing toner rather than a soothing one but I just couldn't find that in here. Well, overall it did no wonders to my skin, I followed the routine twice daily and my skin wasn't as it should have after all the work.

So in order for my skin to completly clear up I've changed the routine.

And so I switched to Clinique.
I hadn't read the reviews on makeup alley before and well, after the purchase I did and overall, clinique has really negative ratings. I trusted clinique though, as all the clinique reps have fine skin , silly I know.. and I did hear good stuff about their prods.
Well, is been two days since I've used the prods twice daily and my skin has already got so smooth!

I got the liquid facial soap and the clarifying lotion in 2, and I received a GWP of the Dramatically different moisturizer and a 'continuous rescue antioxidant moisturizer'
The clarifying lotion was such a pain the first time I tried that, it felt like my face was actually burning and then the sensation was replaced by the freshness of menthol. On the second time however the stinging dramatically decreased and the menthol freshness remained.. and its incredible how much dirt it can remove lol! Well, so far so good, I'll keep you updated!

Heya!! Welcome!

Hey all!! I'm steffi from tiny tiny Malta in Europe, and finally decided to put something in this blog!

As my interests rely mainly in the art of makeup, fashion and photography, needless to say I'll devote this blog for such. Feel free to email me any suggestions and posts you want to see on glamourette@live.com.

I'll update as often as I can, but I've already got in my to create the following posts:
my makeup collection
my skin care routines
any product spotlight
designer spotlight
reviews on clothing brands
reviews on makeup products

well hope I get some feedback!
Cheers!

steffi xoxo