In love with Illamasqua!

“Inspired by the cult Asian market Beauty Balm creams, Skin Base Foundation is a brand new, refined formula unlike anything on the UK market. Easily blendable, it effortlessly creates a perfect complexion, and like the entire Illamasqua foundation range, is undetectable in a professional HD environment. Suitable for all skin types, it smoothes, softens and conditions your skin whilst providing natural, buildable coverage”.

Illamasqua launched the New Skin Base Foundation last July this year and I am so ashamed that I didn't even noticed it. Now, it's been raved about and I just got to try it! 


Basically, it was inspired by the Korean BB Creams that became popular throughout Asia for the pimple-healing and whitening properties. In my opinion, I'm not really digging BB Creams. I've tried it thrice and I kinda liked it for the dewiness but I disgust the ghostly white effect it gives me. It's known to lessen acne while giving you medium coverage. 

Not just nice but very good coverage!

The Good :

1. Loaded with Vitamins C & E. This foundation can help you soak moisture into the skin and lessen the appearance of dull skin.
2. Wider range of shades.  Unlike the BB Cream,which can only suit fair to light medium skin tones,Illamasqua Skin Base has 18 shades from the fairest to the tannest. you can use the light shades as highlighter and the darks shades for contouring.
3. Great insane coverage! I know. I had to put an exclamation point! The coverage is so great because it melts through your skin. Even if you have dry patches, your skin will soak it up in a short time and it won't be noticeable. It banishes the red areas on the face and it can pretty much be used as concealer. 
4. It's without the SPF and whitening ingredient unlike the Asian version. How genius! Not all people like SPF and looking like a porcelain doll. And if you do like SPF, you can always apply separately. Duh.
5. It feels light on the skin. Although it has great insane coverage, you won't feel like putting on a ton. It's like putting moisturizer. And I can put it easily with my hands,a sponge or any applicator.

The Bad :

1. It's £25. Which means it's expensive.
2. It can be a little dewy. So if you're skin is oily, you might need to blot first and remember to set it with powder.

So, would I buy this foundation? Definitely. The finish looks natural,it has vitamins, and I think that's what every skin needs. Plus, it's cruelty-free. 

-VV

Get Eye to Eye with a MUFE Pro Artist at JCPenney! Makeup School on The Road.

Work one-on-one with a pro artist — FREE. Plus, enjoy exclusive offers on MAKE UP FOR EVER eye and HD complexion product bundles that are only available during this special event. 

Sephora in jcpenney at Visalia, CA 
August 12, 3 - 8 pm
August 13, 11 am - 5 pm
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August 19, 3 - 8 pm
August 20, 11 am - 5 pm
August 21, Noon - 5 pm

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August 26, 3 - 8 pm
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Space is limited. Please call the store to book your appointment today. Walk-ins welcome!

Visalia Mall in jcpenney Visalia, CA / (559) 732-4171 
Valley Crossing in jcpenney Eugene, OR / (541) 342-6211 
Northwood SC in jcpenney Peoria, IL/ (309) 685-6111 

Dare To Play at Sephora!

Jemma Kidd Masterclass @ Home is now @ 50%off!

NYX Black Label Lipstick---are they any better? I Have 5 Reasons!

"A creamy, dreamy lipstick with a velvety smooth finish and hyper-glamorous shades for every look and every inclination. NYX's Black Label Lipstick has rich emollient properties that ensures the color glides on and hydrates your pout at the same time. From Extreme Red to Earthy to Frosted Pink, Black Label Lipstick is available in 96 lipsmacking hues. " as said in the NYX website.

The NYX Round lipsticks has always been in my heart for as long as I can remember. But one thing though is they do tend to melt off,like any other lipstick,when exposed in a hot environment. And besides,there are shades that are exactly like the lippies at MAC which is way more expensive and something I cannot afford to buy every now and then with my unstable makeup job. So how come these Black Label Lipsticks are ringing a loud bell? I'll give you five.

1. Moisturizing. Mainly one of the reasons why these are well-loved. The NYX Round lipsticks as well as the MAC ones tend to dry after quite sometime. And that isnt' good my dear! When your lips are dry,it can flake.
2. Cheap. This smooching tool is definitely one of the best lipsticks in the universe and it is also universally friends with our wallets!
3. Excellent Coverage. One to two swipes would be enough to cover your lips. That means,you only need a little. And when you only put a little,you save more. 
4. Longer-lasting. Literally. Because it has excellent coverage,highly pigmented,and you only need about a few swipes,it can last you a few months.
5. Unlimited shades. From the most nude to the most plum,black label carries a lot of shades so whether you are a makeup artist or you are just a plain jane,there's a shade that suits you! 

Free Bronzer---literally!

Does bronzer always make you look orange? Then try the natural way of getting tan by going out in the sun! Just dont forget to wear sunscreen and let it dry for approximately 15 minutes before stepping out. 


Step 1. Wear sunscreen.
Step 2. Step out into the sun. 
Step 3. Take a walk,bike around or just lay there for ten minutes.


Now you can skip bronzer and just use blush during your daily makeup routine!


Note : Exposure to UV rays from the sun may cause skin cancer. 

Want to Win NYX? Recreate Emma Watson's Stunning Look!

Things you Can't Do to your Face when you Have Botox by Megan Fox

To dispel the rumors about Megan Fox getting botox on her face,she recently posted last Thursday July 7,an album titled in caps "THINGS YOU CAN'T DO WHEN YOU HAVE BOTOX"

Last year,she already said in an interview with Allure Magazine "My lips are my lips, I would encourage anyone to first speak with a therapist, to try and figure out where this want comes from, because a lot of times it's not related to your teeth or your nose or your chin -- the surgery is not going to alleviate that insecurity for you." Yep. That could be true.

It was a very brave move for Megan Fox,considering that whether she aims to escape from these old-age rumors that she had something done,the haters just won't buy it. And despite over seventy-thousand people who liked the album,men doesn't obviously seem to care regarding that issue. Comments were ranging from "Megan you're so sexy and hot" to insecurity-bashing "Still looks botoxed." and even "What about the collagen-filled lips?".

In my opinion,I am a big fan of Megan but to think that people actually invented Photoshop,I doubt if the picture is legit. At some angles,she may actually really look botoxed due to her flawless face,but then again,to think that people actually invented make-up,her oh-so perfect skin without any eyebags must be a result of a really great anti-fine-lines-and-wrinkles concealer and foundation.

What are your thoughts? 

Runway LOTW inspired by Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue Perfume

 

This runway look of the week was inspired by Dolce and Gabbana's Light Blue Perfume! How come I was inspired by a perfume? I don't even know! 

I love the over-all effect of this look. The lips were almost like M.A.C. Viva Glam Gaga 2. The brows were kept brown and of course I had to focus on the eyes. It's light blue eyeliner on the lower lid,and an opaque white on the waterline. The lashes were separated & combed by a very black volumizing mascara. Enjoy! ;)

My HG Powder Foundation Brush --- Estee Lauder Powder Foundation Brush

I was fortunate enough to be given an invite and attend a recent Estee Lauder event here where I live. I was there before the organizers. Shamefully too early but still looking calm and excited before the event,I went to their counter to be the first to try on their newly launched Pure Color Lipstick. And so so,but that is really not the main topic here,ladies!

So,while I was there I sat at their vanity and tried on their blush in Nude Nuance with the blush brush,AND THEN,I picked up this dome-shaped-kabuki-looking brush to blend the blush on my cheeks. AND OH MY GOD! I have met the softest,densest,big enough powder foundation brush more than any other powder foundation brush I've met in my life --- whether it's quite expensive or cheap! Seriously. So I quickly asked the price to the lady who's attending to my needs. It's sold for 42 american dollars . To my dismay,it's really expensive for a powder foundation brush. I was expecting the price would be really high though,since it's Estee Lauder,a high-end and great-quality brand. But Vain Victoria is not giving up! I might have to skip lunch in two months straight to get it. 

No way. Just kidding. ;)

The Thing I Hate the Most When Watching Tutorials on Youtube!

 Britney Spears - I Wanna Go Makeup 

 

I personally love watching beauty tutorials on Youtube. To count,I have watched over a thousand videos about makeup,hair tutorials and even beauty product hauls and reviews! Its great that almost every guru I watch speaks the universal language or at least puts subtitles,making it easy for me to understand. But if all of the makeup tutorials in Youtube are like the one embedded here,it would be really hard for all of us and the guru herself. Not that the video's quality or the speaker isn't great. It's the damn language that needs to be translated pronto! It's equals buying a designer bag on ebay,but the descriptions are in French and you cant speak French. Much more like eating at a Chinese restaurant,and you cant read that noodle soup's name on the menu.

Im pretty sure what she's saying could be valuable. She might be sharing her tips and techniques during the video. If that's true,I want a translator or at least an automatic subtitle on Youtube! How smart can Youtube get in the next three years? Hmm-hmm. 

Here's another video I liked. But I sill need a translator. Sobs*

Speaking of the video,if you ladies don't know who she is,her name is Camila. She's a beauty guru and goes under the name MakeUpByCamila on Youtube. From hearing her accent,I think she's espanol or maybe brazilian? Im not sure. The only thing I dont doubt is that MakeUpByCamila is one pretty great hot Youtube makeup artist. I think that's the second thing I hate about watching Makeup Tutorials---she's pretty! Haha we're girl-crushing! ;)

Beauty Blender --- what's your take?

Everybody has their own beauty problems,right? Whether its getting streaks from your foundation brush or not being able to put concealer unto small areas on your face. Here's the part where Beauty Blender,well, "blends" in. It's basically a fat round sponge almost like a ball but with a pointed tip. It was created without edges to help eliminate fine lines and wrinkles,claims Rea Ann Silva & Veronica Lorenz ( known for getting Hollywood's Alicia Silverstone and Sarah Michelle Gellar's makeup done).



It made me curious cause I have seen this cute little sponge over the internet a lot of times---on You Tube,on the kits of makeup artists I've worked with and some random places. The effect I've seen after one artist was done using it was great. The model's skin looked unbelievably natural like her own skin but better,gorgeous and it looked airbrushed. It's a perfect alternative with the stippling brush and the kabuki brush. Way of application is the same,but the results aren't.

One sponge costs $19.95---ouch on our wallets! But if you buy two for $25.95 or one-two sponges plus a cleanser for $34-39.95,it will actually save you more bucks. But I don't really need a sponge cleanser. I have my eye on the Double the Sponge set for $25.95 at Cherry Culture. It's like getting the second sponge for only $4 compared with buying two single ones for almost twenty American dollars each! Plus,you get a free Cherry Culture Bubble Gum Lip Treatment on every order. Sounds fun.isn't it?

Runway LOTW inspired by Christina Aguilera

This is my first entry for the Look of the Week series that I will be posting on this blog. I drew this thing about a few weeks ago but since Im super busy with school and moving to a new place,now is the only time that I can actually spend a lot of hours on my computer. Apologies to those who have been waiting. 

This look was actually inspired by Christina Aguilera---can you believe that? If you can google,there is this certain photo of her with this look in black and white. I tried to experiment with the colors and so I thought of lime green,yellow and a pair of blue and violet to have some contrast. Don't you guys love it? 

I kept the eyeliner asymmetrical and made it imperfect. And then I drew black eyeshadow in the crease area and extended it upwards,and black on the eyebrows again to make it look strong. 

Random fact : Did you know that our saliva has salt? So dont wet your lips to keep it moist,it will only worsen it and will crack even more.

Here are some lip balms to use instead...

Blush for your Tone

Still wondering what blush to match your shade? Are you one of those girls who cant seem to know what blush shade would flatter their skin tone? Grab a lil' of my few tips and tricks to know how to help you get not the wrong shade on your next blush purchase.

Tip #1

Facing a mirror and without any makeup on,pinch your cheeks gently until it turns pink. What blush color do you see? 

Tip #2

The tip above has the best efficiency when done early in the morning after you woke up. 

Tip #3

Ladies,you know this! After working out,check in the mirror to see if you blushed. Normally,when you perspire,your body heats up and your cheeks turn pink.  The color you see on your cheeks is your most natural shade of blush. 

Tip #4

Tip #3 is also the same when you eat a super spicy meal. And also when you see your crush! :)

Now that you saw your true blush color,wait,do you know what your skintone is? Here,Ive done a few illustrations on what blush shade accentuates common skintones.

Mostly Russian or people from the UK sports this color as their weather is usually cold. Light pink or pink apricot with a bluish undertone would suit them best. 

American or Canadian ladies naturally has either fair,porcelain or deep skintone. Usually,if you're an American with a fair tone,stick to rosy pinks with a blue undertone but if you're fair and you're Asian,stick to orangey pinks.

If you have skin in a medium color,still,its all about if youve got a warm or cool undertone like the ones above. But then,brownish pinks would suit this color best. Dont every try too bright pink if you want to look natural!

Need I repeat this again and again? Again,if you have a tan skintone but you're caucasian and youre usually red without makeup,stick to brownish rose with a blue undertone. And if you're tan and asian and you look dull and yellow without makeup on,get a brownish rose with an orange/peach undertone.

Now if you're African or a black American and you really have a deep color,putting on a red blush would be great. 

"The key idea here is,if you have a light skintone,choose a blush that's light and will blend in with your skintone. If you have a dark skintone,choose a blush that is slightly dark and would stick with your natural shade. Again,Im VainVictoria and thank you for reading overthecontour.blgspot!"

-VV

Flawless Foundation for Mature Skin

Who says mature skin can never look young? Well now it can,with makeup, and only if you use the right foundation. You'll need : 

• moisturizer
• whipped foundation
• concealer
• loose powder (optional).

Step 1
With a clean and toned face,apply an ample amount of moisturizer. This will help your foundation to go on smoothly. 


Step 2
With your palms or fingers,apply whipped foundation. Whipped foundation will fill in fine lines and wrinkles and will give you a slight glow. Mature skin tends to be dry so a foundation in a whipped formula would be best because it's somewhat not too dry but not too liquidy.


You can apply with a foundation brush if you dont want your hands dirty,but I just like using the warmth of my hands to push in the product more into my face. I find that it helps in absorbing the foundation and making it look more like my skinYou can also use a sponge. 


Step 3
Conceal problem areas like undereye circles and blemishes. Mature skin may also tend to be a bit more gray than when you were younger. It's wise to get a corrector that's in a pink or salmon shade to counteract the dullness. Then apply a yellow-based concealer with a patting motion.


Step 4
Mature skin will get dried up sooner after you had your makeup on so putting on powder is optional. If you're on the oilier side though and you look like a frying pan!,definitely dust loose powder. I recommend using a loose powder rather than the pressed powder cause the formula is more sheer and its lighter than the pressed ones which tends to feel heavy.

-VV

Attention MUAs! Illamasqua is Hiring!

Illamasqua, the creative UK brand is now recruiting freelance and part-time makeup artists along with other positions. To view more info,click here to get that job now!

Eyeshadow For Unproportioned Eyes.

Determining where you should put eyeshadow can be tricky. In order to know whether you have wide-set or close-set eyes is by measuring the length of your whole eye area and the area between your eyes. If the area between your eyes are too big than the eye itself,you have wide-set eyes and vice versa. But if you do get an equal measurement,you have a proportioned set of eyes. 

Rather than imagining what I mean,I have created an illustration to help you understand better. Sweet!

• Wide Set---you might need to contour under your inner brow to make it seem a bit narrow. The best area to place your eyeshadow is on your whole eyelid,creaseline and down to the inner corners.. You might not need to extend your eyeshadow outwards as well. Line the inner corners of your eyes if you need to. 

• Proportioned---lucky you! You can experiment with anything. Really. You can do rounded eyes,sharp lines. Whatever.

• Close Set---you have an excuse to extend your eyeshadow outwards to make it seem a bit wider. You can use a highlighter on the inner corners(one with a light-diffusing property would be great). I think eye lining would be unnecessary cause if you do line your inner corners,it will only draw attention to them,making it look more close-set. 

Hope I've helped! 

-VV

NARS : Makeup Your Mind : Express Yourself Book + Contest

Inside the book,you will find real people from different ethnicities on how they are being transformed and be given a fresh look that they've never worn before. The book is mainly about Francois' deep love for makeup and photography. 

Down from the first page to the last one,you'll definitely pick up useful tips that will totally change your perception on how to apply makeup. This makeup manual has changed my foundation routine! I normally would put on foundation and then concealer and powder and Im done but this thing really got me thinking that in order to get a clean seam-less canvass,I should probably follow the directions found on this book. 

Makeup Your Mind : Express Yourself book retails for around $45.00

Now,the fun part! Francois Nars created an extension of the book and is now challenging us to take part of a game to win exclusive prizes! All you have to do is get your brushes out,get your camera ready and get inspired by the looks posted on the makeupyourmind website. Before I give you all of the directions,let us discuss what the prizes are! Are you excited? 

THE PRIZES : 

1. All-expense-paid trip just for you + a friend to NY City for Fashion Week  in February 2012
2. Round-trip coach airfare included,2 night 3 days stay at a top NYC Hotel
3. Backstage passes to NY Fashion Week
4. Dinner at chic NYC Restaurants
5. Makeup Consultation at the NARS flagship store on Bleecker Street

SPECIAL PRIZES : 

12 exclusive gift set in celebration of the book launch.

MECHANICS : 

1. Pick a selected look from the book Makeup Your Mind : Express Yourself. You can choose to recreate all looks. 

2. Follow the steps given and create your own expression of the look. 

3. Take a picture and upload it on the site. Then,invite friends to give you some ♥. 

Tip : The more you upload your photos of the look you recreated,the more ♥ you earn.The more ♥,the more chances of winning.Good luck!

To view other mechanics and conditions,click here!

(All photos belong to NARS.)

Prescription --- Lip Balm. To Keep Chapped Lips at Bay.

It's past 6 o clock and I havent ate something after brunch. Now I know why I got chapped lips earlier,I havent eaten nor drank anything else. As I remember touching my "mwah-fiers",I managed to pull my lip balm off my bag immediately and swiped my lips like there's no way Im doing it any later. If you have just seen me swished through the room to get my balm as fast as I can,Im telling you I looked like superwoman who's about to save the day! 


I have constructed a list of the best lip balms so you can smooth out those kissers too! Now,I dont have a specific balm that I'm going gaga over for the only reason that all lip balms,in my opinon,works well and Im okay with anything as long as it moisturizes,protects and stays on for long. And I really don't mind the colors. 




1. Blistex Medicated Berry Balm, $1.80.

Best when applied before going to bed and sun exposure.

Some ingredients are beeswax,methylparaben & seed butter.

What I like about this lip balm is the smell and the longevity of the result. I even hear some people complimenting how great these lip balm tastes! I do love mints in my balm and this one has a non-irritating amount of mint in it. I have tried other balms but one thing I was very annoyed about was that the mint was overpowering the balm itself. There was one time I felt my lips were burning,but with this medicated balm,I can relaxingly reapply without having to worry about getting "mint burns".

2. Nivea Soft Rose, $1.50

Best when applied whenever you need to have moisturized lips pronto! 

Some ingredients are jojoba oil

I swear I said I dont mind the color but when I tried this one day,I took the color into consideration when it comes to picking up my holy grail lip balm. I mean colorless is fine but this would be better too and it works as well as my other lip balms. It left me with a subtle pink dewy tint on my lips. It is more on the side of having natural ingredients. And the smell? Smells like a soft delicate rose.

 Hint : Im using it right now. :)

3. Burt'sBee's Beeswax Lip Balm, $3

Try the red-capped one. It gives lips a nice sheer berry color,almost looks like you're wearing nothing.

No wonder this is LIndsay Lohan's and Scarlet Johansson's favorite lip balm to sport when they're just going out on a casual day. The ones Ive tried has mint in it and I dont know if my lips are just sensitive or what but I kinda felt tingly. Good thing it goes off after several minutes. 

4. Carmex 

Makes your lips revived.

I was in an air-conditioned room when I first tried this one. After several minutes,I noticed a slight minty feeling on my lips. I looked at the mirror and I saw my lips like I put lipgloss on. The thin skin on my lips were refreshed and renewed (kind of?). 

5. EOS 

Is it all just a hype?

Now this one,I haven't tried but from all the reviews Im hearing,most of the ladies loved it. But then I also heard that it wasn't really that great. Was it just really hyped it up? From the looks of it,I think it probably has some beeswax? Im not sure but what I like about it is the cute and unique packaging. Im gonna try this soon! 

-VV

Avoiding the Top 4 Everyday Makeup Mistakes

I see girls everywhere,with their best clothes on,designer handbags and skyrocketing shoes. And I see their faces as well,piled on makeup,piled on makeup and one more thing,piled on makeup. Probably the worst thing to do to your skin everyday is not letting it breathe. Here are some tips to correct some of your usual beauty mistakes.

1) Eyebrows. 
The mistake : Thick and over-lined,horribly drawn-in,cartoon-looking brows. 
The answer : When doing your eyebrows,always start at the arch. It doesn't matter whether you're doing it with a pencil,wax or powder. Focus on the arches and blend across the inner part so you wont have that noticeable line. For the finishing touches,you can choose to leave it alone or set it with a brow gel. 


*Don't have a brow gel? Spray some hairspray unto a spooly.

2) Eyes. 
The mistake : One thing I always notice with the girls with their eyeliners is that they're dramatically trying to change their eye shape. Sweety,don't do that! 
The answer : The only thing to remember is to blend the edges well and stick to your natural lash line,especially if you're going for the natural look. I find that,in my case,I looked better with brown liner. 


*Got a shaky hand? Try to find one place that you can rest your elbows and grab the eyeliner as close to the tip. This will help you give more stability and more control. 

3) Contour. 
The mistake : Using contour powder that is too dark and unblended. 
The answer : Contouring has been controversial because it should only be done when you're in a photo shoot. It only looks good in camera and when you wear contour outside,it would definitely look very much fake. The only thing you can do is apply contour powder that is matte and just a tad bit darker than your skintone. 


*Apply generously and blend well. I have seen one person trying to create a jawline by sweeping a very dark sharp foundation/contour powder through her chubby cheeks. I was so shocked I wanted to scream!

4) Blush.
The mistake : Too pink. Not properly placed on the right area. Unblended.
The answer : Take a good look at your face in front of a mirror. Is it too wide? Too narrow or too short? If you have an oval face shape,apply it to the cheeks. Narrow,from the ears to the cheekboness. Wide,cheeks to the cheekbones. Blend well and choose a shade that is right for you. You can always start with a little amount and apply more as you go if you wish. 


*Using a foundation brush that you have just used,sweep it over the edges of the blush to blend the edges. It works like magic! You can also blend the blush with your face powder by swirling it over.


Done! If you're just going to work or just out with your girlfriends,dont bother putting makeup onto the parts that dont need it especially if you're not too sure you're doing it the right way. I'll tell you nine words and do remember it the next time you're infront of your vanity. Either focus on your flaws or accentuate your assets. IT will be much easier than trying to look like somebody else. 

-VV