New Makeup Brushes - Sigma Beauty Premium Kit

I am super psyched to announce that I finally received my Sigma Beauty Premium Kit yesterday!

Of course, after buying that - as well as a Beauty Blender, three Napoleon Perdis Foundation Sticks, two L'Oreal Lumi Magique foundations, three new eyebrow styling kits, a Lime Crime Carousel lip gloss (Cherry on Top), five sets of false lashes, a bottle of Clinique Toner and...you get the picture - last week, my funds are running pretty low and I am now left bumming food from the boyfriend and pleading with my landlord to let me off rent for a few more days, but hey.... my makeup looks damn good.

Anyways, the brushes have literally revolutionized everything I thought I knew about painting my face on...

Seven odd years ago, I graduated from using my fingers to (really cheap) brushes, and once I got used to using tools like a semi-civilized human, I realized it was damn hard to go back to my primal ways.

THAT was like going from walking to riding a bicycle. THIS, on the other hand, is kind of what I imagine driving a Maserati feels like: indulgent, luxurious, exhilarating.

(Okay, I would rather have a Maserati, but I only had a couple of hundred dollars and they laughed me out of the store. Bite me.)

There is very little doubt in my mind that eventually my perpetual dissatisfaction will cause me to upgrade to a  still better set of brushes but for now...?

I am in makeup brush heaven.

When I first received my package, after the obligatory round of squealing, air guitar and jumping up and down, I tried to share my excitement with the boyfriend.

He was not impressed.

In fact, he suggested that I go to the hardware store for some paintbrushes which "feel the same, do basically the same thing, and are wayyyyy cheaper". 

Right. 

Sometimes, the boyfriend just does not get it. 

So anyway...

I tried to hold out long enough to film myself unwrapping them for you guys, but it was too late last night and I just could not wait to try them out. I did take some photos though, and I will definitely put up a review on my YouTube Channel as soon as possible.

This is the F80 Kabuki brush which I got separately

The brushes shed A LOT when you first get them. The best way to deal with that is to wash them fairly vigorously with your favorite brush cleanser or baby shampoo before the first use so that most of the loose hairs can come out...

Just so you know, as I live in Australia and postage from the USA was ridiculously expensive despite the fact that I had a coupon code, I bought the brushes from myqty.com. They arrived within 3-5 business days, in excellent condition, which means that I am quite likely to purchase more stuff from there in the future unless I learn to teleport international shipping gets more affordable.

The Sigma Beauty Premium Kit comes with 15 brushes for the face eyes and lips. (Although I could not afford the whole Kabuki Kit, I also got the F80 Flat Kabuki brush which is awesome and super super soft).

Here is a list of the brushes that come in the kit, which I ripped straight off the Sigma website.

E10 - Small Eye Liner: Precise application of liner. Use with gel or liquid liners. 

E15 - Flat Definer: Sharp and precise application. Press product along upper and lower lash lines to create an easy, thin liner. Works with gel, liquid or powder products. 

E20 - Short Shader: Concentrated color application. Apply color onto small areas of the eye such as the outer eyelid. Also use to smudge the lower lash line. 

E25 - Blending: Controlled blending. Blend colors together onto the lid with added control. Buff out harsh lines for a well blended effect. 

E35 - Tapered Blending: Controlled application of crease color. Using just the tip of the brush to pick up color, apply directly onto the crease and sweep through. Effect is blended, but defined. 

E45 - Small Tapered Blending: Precise color application onto the crease. Picking up color with just the tip of the brush, apply intense colors to the crease to add depth and dimension to the eye. 

E50 - Large Fluff: Controlled highlighting. Apply highlighting shades onto the brow bone or upper cheekbone. Gives a soft and blended finish. 

F10 - Powder/Blush: Precise placement of blush. Use for powder application. 

F15 - Duo Fibre Powder/Blush: Soft blush application. Generates a diffused blush application. Works especially well with mineral product for a natural and delicate effect. 

F20 - Large Powder: Controlled bronzer application. Bronzing of the cheekbones and temple area. Using the flat side gives definition and control. 

F25 - Tapered Face: Exact product placement onto cheeks. Apply powder, blush or contour shades onto the cheeks and temples. Tapered shape gives exact placement of product. 

F35 - Tapered Highlighter: Subtle highlighting. Apply highlighting shades onto the upper contours of the face. Diffused finish gives skin a natural glow. 

F65 - Large Concealer: Conceal larger areas of the face or body. Works well with liquid or cream products. 

F75 - Concealer: Precise product placement. Use around the lip area to conceal when wearing bold lip colors. 

L05 - Lip: Precise application of color onto the lips. Use the firm edge to define and contour the lips. 

I am dying to tell you what I think of each brush individually... But, as I have already written a small novel, I will save that for another post :)

Thank you for reading, you guys rock my world!

Love always, 

 Tatiana
PS: Please share my blog so I can eventually become a full time blogger and never have to wear pants to work again! 

Fifty Shades of Red

Having had my psyche severely damaged earlier today (hearing the words, "she is quite a big, solid girl" from people who have literally just met you can do that to a person); I am going to keep today's post strictly about makeup and won't be sharing the details of my interesting yet soul-destroying day just yet.

After posting this awesome post about purple lipstick, I started to feel a little bit guilty about my blatant colorism - yes that is a word now - and disregard for other lipsticks' feelings and decided to stop ignoring all my gorgeous red shades. 

In case you don't believe red is awesome, try to picture a purple Ferrari... 

Yep, didn't think so. Sometimes, red just works.  

So here are the different lip colors I tried: 

Pout Paste Love Bites - $12.95 (Australis)

Having owned the 'Berry Nice Kiss' (for the rest of us, 'purple') Pout Paste for a few weeks now, and having loved it since the first day I got it, I decided to buy the red one as well. I did try Pash Me Pink in store, but the Barbie doll color did absolutely nothing for me, and, while I am quite happy to wear a discrete pastel pink lipstick, I could not bring myself to buy this one. 

Love Bites however, I LOVE. Just like the Berry Nice Kiss, it is a beautiful, intense color, which is a little bit thick and goopy when first applied but quickly settles into feeling like a regular gloss. 

I had to apply a little bit more than with the purple shade however, as I struggled to get it quite right without lip liner, and in the end, I did decide to line my lips as I think that perfect edges are key to pulling off bright lip colors. 

This is what it looks like:

My favorite thing about red lipstick is that getting the right shade for your skintone and teeth color will usually brighten your complexion and make your teeth appear whiter, which this shade definitely does for me.

Small drawback - this color did not last quite as long as the purple one for some reason, and I felt like I had to reapply more often. Not ideal considering you need a mirror to ensure precision, as opposed to when using a true gloss which can sometimes be done more stealthily. 

Still definitely worth the $9.99 I paid for it on sale. 

Velourlips Matte Cream NY-CEE - $9.95 (Australis)

Priceline describe it as:

"Highly pigmented lips are the look of the moment, and this lip cream takes it to the next level with its beautiful matte finish! The creamy long-wear formula glides on easily with its doe foot applicator, finishing to a velvety matte look with intense, full coverage colour payoff. Perfect for when you want lasting, matte colour that moves with your lips without flaking."

While this definitely has a matte finish and an intense, full coverage, I am really not sure about its ability to deliver on the "without flaking" part. Here is a photo of my lips after the lip cream has dried, as well as a few minutes later, after I pressed my hand to my lips rather forcefully to see if it would transfer.

It transferred a lot less if I pressed my lips to something gently, but any accidental rubbing motion definitely made the cream flake and worse, the color rubbed around my lips when I tried to clean it up.

This was quite hard to remove and I have to use several cotton pads soaked in makeup remover, but it still stained my lips. 

I was also not a fan of the smell. 

So I pretty much decided that when I want bright red matte lips, I will stick with the (way) more expensive but tried and tested Mac lipstick. 

MAC Lipstick - Ruby Woo $36 

If I had to commit to a single red lipstick for the rest of my life, I would unhesitatingly tie the knot with this one. MAC is quality makeup, and this lipstick delivers on all its promises: a rich, vibrant red, a matte finish, does not stain your teeth and lasts quite long, as long as you wear lip liner and don't expect your lipstick to last through a bucket of greasy KFC chicken wings. 

I always get compliments when I wear this out, and it is the kind of color that you can easily justify wearing during the day as well as to a night out. 

It also doesn't stain your lips and is easy to remove, which I cannot be thankful enough for after my Velourlips removal battle. 

Anyway, that's it from me today. Thank you all for reading. 

Love always,

Tatiana

Makeup your mind

This weekend, as I was helping the boyfriend review one of his assignments, he pointed out that I am ridiculously good at words.

Having learned to speak when I was a child, and not paid too much attention to the skill since then, I did point out that I would have preferred a compliment on my hair, or, if that was too far fetched, maybe a nice comment on my teeth or ears.

The boyfriend quickly pointed out that he was, in fact, in awe of my ability to write, that he thought I was an absolute genius (some creative license taken with his words here) and that I should consider writing a book.

Ten minutes later, inspiration struck me: “Boyfriend”, I whispered gleefully, “I just had the best idea! I think I should write a book!”

Being the kind of person he is, the boyfriend did not complain about my blatant theft of his initial suggestion. He smiled back and replied that I really was a genius and that I had the best ideas ever.

When I excitedly asked him if he would be willing to put up with me being unemployed while writing this book, despite the fact that I have so far given up on almost every project I have ever undertaken, the boyfriend smiled and said he believed in me.

At the risk of sounding like a smug brat, I have to say it:

My boyfriend is the best, ever.

The whole encounter basically shamed me into writing this post, as I have completely neglected my blog over the last few weeks, mostly because I was so worried that people would not like it that I stopped writing altogether, ‘just in case’.

Which brings me to this whole book writing thing...

On the one hand, I am painfully aware that I have many projects happening at the moment which I should probably be focusing on; but on the other hand, I really really really want to write a book!

And the boyfriend said I could!

So there!

In completely unrelated news, I finally signed up to NIDA acting classes last week, and I didn't even ask the boyfriend whether or not he thought it was a good idea before hitting the ‘confirm payment’ button. 

That’s right: I am an adult! 

I made a decision! 

After I finished congratulating myself, I did remember that I was writing a makeup blog and should therefore probably share my latest and greatest find with you all. 

So without further ado, here it is, the Sigma Defining Eyes Palette by TiffanyD (US $55).

I ordered this online a couple of weeks ago from the US, mostly because it was on sale at the time, and because, having never before tried Sigma makeup, I was intrigued. 

So far, I have been pleasantly surprised by the great value that I got with this palette. 

Not only are the eye shadow colors absolutely beautiful, the palette comes with a dual ended eyeliner pencil (blue and white), a dual ended sigma brush, as well as two pots of gel eyeliner (brown and black). 

Essentially everything you need to create a number of diverse day and night looks in one box.

  

Top row: (from left to right) 'In the dark', 'Midnight', 'Fog', 'Halo'

Bottom row: 'Brunette', 'Chestnut', 'Smoke',' Beam'.

The box also includes a small booklet with five fairly simple looks and instructions on how to replicate them. I have tried a number of these at home and unfortunately, they have not turned out quite as perfect, but I cannot tell if it is skill that I am lacking, or if maybe the instructions are not 100% complete. 

Mostly, I don't believe the brushes included with the palette are enough to create these looks with the same precision, and the colors have definitely been enhanced a little bit too much for my taste in the photos.

They do not 'pop' quite as much in real life. 

Overall though, I really love this palette, as mentioned above the colors are beautiful (my favorite is the midnight blue, which looks absolutely stunning when smudged thinly along the lower lash line and paired with a black winged eyeliner on the upper lid), and the gel liners are easy to apply and do not smudge over the course of the day. 

I like that the palette includes a mix of shimmery and matte eye shadows, and particularly like the fact that the two matte colors are the dark brown and black ones, as I find it easier to wear darker colors to my corporate job if they are matte. 

The shimmery ones, unless they are fairly subtle, I like to save for outside work. 

'Beam' is the perfect color to highlight the inner corner of your eyes, while I prefer to use 'Halo' as a base color to blend some of the darker ones into. 

I absolutely love 'Chestnut' and 'Smoke' for their metallic shimmer, and while 'Fog' is not my favorite (that particular shade of grey doesn't do wonders for my skin tone), I must say that these are all great colors which are easy to apply and blend even if you don't know too much about makeup. 

Really happy with this one. 

I will definitely be buying more Sigma makeup in the future.

The next item on my shopping list right now though is this Sigma Brush Collection Premium Kit.

Please comment down below if you have tried Sigma makeup and want to let me know what you think of it, or if you have written a book, or even if you just generally want to say hello. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this, as always, I love knowing that you guys care to read about what's happening in my world.  

Love always, 

Tatiana