Revolution x Carmi Make Magic Palette Review, Swatches, Duochrome Makeup Tutorial

Revolution x Carmi Make Magic Palette Review, Swatches, Duochrome Makeup Tutorial

Videos Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, June 04, 2019

Are you ready for this? Duochrome eyeshadows! Magical blending! Easy-to-do EOTDs with depth and dimension!
Meet the Revolution x Carmi Make Magic Eyeshadow Palette, launched by Revolution Beauty in collaboration with beauty YouTuber Carmi MUA. This is Makeup Revolution's second collab with Carmi.
The Carmi Make Magic Palette is very different from the Tammi Tropical Carnival Palette, that I reviewed here - that was a lot bolder, more summery - this one isn't seasonal, you can use it at any time. 
The palette costs just £10, and contains 20 eyeshadows, of which six are a bit larger, and include duochromes, foils, metallics, glitters, and shimmers. The rest are matte or pearly/shimmery, no glitters. The colour scheme includes something for everyone. There are perfectly work-friendly neutrals, including the ideal base shades for those who are tan/warm/medium/olive hued. There are pops of colour that will see you through Summer. There are rich, smoky shades. There are ice-queen pales. Best of all, there are warm and cool eyeshadows in here. In short, I think this is one of the most universal palettes I've seen in a long while.

Scroll down for my review and swatches of the Revolution x Carmi Make Magic Palette, and a duochrome eye makeup tutorial.

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GRWM: Summer Night Makeup Look With Givenchy

GRWM: Summer Night Makeup Look With Givenchy

Videos Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, June 13, 2018

It has been a while since I did a full-face makeup look or tutorial. A bad breakout - as usual - was the reason. Now that things are slowly clearing up, I've been playing with makeup again.
My YouTube and Instagram followers may have seen my first haul of the year, from Sephora, a couple of months ago. I bought quite a bit of Givenchy makeup, including my first cream eyeshadow - a gorgeous purpley black affair. These are the products I used for my makeup look.
This is a purpley-black smoky eye makeup look for Summer nights out.

Scroll down for a Summer night out makeup tutorial with Givenchy products.

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Revolution Pro Supreme Matte Lip Pigments Review, Swatches, Demo

Revolution Pro Supreme Matte Lip Pigments Review, Swatches, Demo

Videos Cosmetopia Digest   Friday, May 25, 2018

The Revolution Pro Supreme Matte Lip Pigments are long-wearing cruelty-free liquid lipsticks from the professional range of Revolution Beauty. They cost just £4 each, and are supposed to be dupes for the NARS Power Matte Lip Pigments.
They come in a whopping 30 shades. Very impressive - there are foundations out there that don't have half as many shades. The shades range from white to black, and include neutrals, pinks, berries, brights, reds, and corals.
These claim to be transfer-proof, fully-pigmented, and long-wearing. Let's see if all that is true.

Scroll down for review, swatches, and demos of the Revolution Pro Supreme Matte Lip Pigments.

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Makeup Revolution Fast Base Foundation Stick Review, Demo On Oily Skin

Makeup Revolution Fast Base Foundation Stick Review, Demo On Oily Skin

Videos Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, May 02, 2018

Makeup Revolution's Fast Base Foundation Stick costs just £5, and is a buildable medium-to-full coverage foundation that blends out like a dream.
Let me get this straight. I dislike stick foundations. I've noticed that they go on streaky, are hard to blend out, and don't stay on very well on my freakishly oily skin.
This one is the exception. And, I can't get over the cost! It is cheaper than The Ordinary's foundations. There are 18 shades, with more being added soon. You can take it along while travelling; nothing happens when you drop it - been there, done that - and, while I require some mattifying powder over lunch, it does perform quite well on my skin. As well as the average high-end foundation does.

Scroll down for my review and demo of the Makeup Revolution Fast Base Foundation Stick.

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Makeup Revolution Easter Surprise Eggs Swatches, Demo, Review

Makeup Revolution Easter Surprise Eggs Swatches, Demo, Review

Videos Cosmetopia Digest   Friday, April 06, 2018

I hope you enjoyed your Easter break. Remember I told you about the Makeup Revolution Easter Surprise Eggs a few days ago? I got mine finally, and, as promised, I have swatches, review, and a makeup look for you.
For those who came in late, the Easter Surprise Eggs are Makeup Revolution's Easter launch. They are metallic "Eggs" that contain five eyeshadows and two highlighters apiece. Each one costs just £5. There are six eggs in all. I accidentally ordered only five - don't ask me how; it was an oversight.
The eggs are colour-coordinated, and four of them are named of mythical creatures - Unicorn, Mermaid, Dragon, and Angel. The other two are Gold and Rose Gold, and you can guess the colour scheme inside.

Scroll down for the review, swatches, demo, and makeup look of the Makeup Revolution Easter Surprise Eggs. 

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Choosing the Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Foundation Shade For Olive/Warm/Tan Skintones

Choosing the Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Foundation Shade For Olive/Warm/Tan Skintones

Videos Cosmetopia Digest   Friday, March 02, 2018

Choosing the right foundation shade in-store can be a nightmare at the best of times. All that store lighting, sales assistants with their own ideas, the distractingly huge array of products....
When buying online, the nightmare is all the worse! Different monitors, lighting, confusing online swatches....

Over the last few years, I've bought eight foundations online without being shade-matched in-store for the brand prior to buying - Tarte Amazonian Clay, By Terry Densiliss, Kevyn Aucoin SSE (advised by MUA friend), TheBalm Even Steven, The Ordinary, Chantecaille Future Skin, IT Cosmetics CC Cream, and Huda Beauty #FauxFilter.
I was singularly lucky to have hit the jackpot when it came to shade matching - with the exception of the IT Cosmetics, where Medium is too pale and Tan is way too deep for me, but that is because they do not HAVE a shade for me, rather than because I picked the wrong one. The same is the case with The Ordinary - 2.1Y is too deep, the rest are too pale or too red. Again, not because of my choice, but because of the brand's shade limitations.
In all the other six cases, I picked the perfect shade match for me, thanks to intensive googling, comparison with other foundation matches, advice from a MUA friend in one case, and guesswork.

Today, I've got swatches and demos of the Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Foundation shades for the warm-yellow/medium-tan/olive part of the spectrum - specifically, shades that cater to South Asian/Indian/Middle Eastern, and Latino skintones. Sorry, everyone else - unfortunately, this blog doesn't get much by way of PR samples (I get, what, FOUR a year? And those are mostly skincare), and I don't buy up things I don't use. Ergo, the shades I chose are in my own range, apart from a few samples I received as GWPs.

So hopefully, this will help those who are warm-yellow, medium to tan, olive-hued, in choosing the right Huda Beauty Faux Filter Foundation for them. For reference, I've also included the full range of every foundation shade I wear, and a comparison with NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation.

Scroll down for swatches, demo, and review of the Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Foundation Shade For Olive/Warm/Tan Skintones.

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INC.redible Matte My Day Liquid Lip Paint Review, Demo, Comparisons

INC.redible Matte My Day Liquid Lip Paint Review, Demo, Comparisons

Videos Cosmetopia Digest   Sunday, February 11, 2018

Metal and glossy lips may be attempting a comeback, but the matte lip trend is as strong as ever. The latest liquid lipstick on the bandwagon is the INC.redible Matte My Day Liquid Lip Paint, from Nails INC - the nail polish brand, no less. Good to see polish brands such as Models Own, Butter London, and Nails INC venture into makeup territory.
The INC.redible Matte My Day Liquid Lip Paints come in a generous 14 shades, covering everything from neutrals to brights. These are just £8, for which you get 3.8ml of product, packaged in a sturdy tube, where you can see both colour and quantity of product left. There's a doefoot applicator which does the job, and the fragrance of the lipstick is very similar to that of Jouer Long Wear Lip Cremes, or the Huda Beauty Lip Mattes - tropical and sweet, but not irritatingly strong.

Scroll down for the review and demo of the INC.redible Matte My Day Liquid Lip Paints.

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Fresh-Faced Makeup Look: Fresh Start For 2018

Fresh-Faced Makeup Look: Fresh Start For 2018

YSL Cosmetopia Digest   Sunday, January 14, 2018

I had a very good first-half of 2017. Then, halfway through, Dad got bitten by a snake, and I was hospitalised with a severe case of anaphylaxis. Dad's doing better now, but then Gramps fell ill. I have allergy tests scheduled for next week.
So I hope 2018 is a lot better. To signify a fresh start for this year, I decided to do a fresh-faced makeup look. Dewy and soft, with very sheer foundation. Some mild peripheral warmth - no great contour. Soft neutral daytime-smoky eyes, and a gorgeously dusty-rose lipstick with coral undertones.

Scroll down for a wearable, fresh-faced makeup look tutorial, to make a fresh start for 2018! 

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LookFantastic Advent Calendar 2017 Unboxing, GOOF-UP, Comparisons + Review

LookFantastic Advent Calendar 2017 Unboxing, GOOF-UP, Comparisons + Review

Videos Cosmetopia Digest   Friday, November 10, 2017

The reason my unboxing of the LookFantastic Beauty in Wonderland Advent Calendar for Holiday 2017 is at least three weeks later than expected is that I was hospitalised with an acute anaphylactic reaction - to goodness knows what; we can only do an allergy test after all the medications stop. This was on top of a foot injury. Basically, I woke up one morning with severe urticaria and couldn't move half my joints including my neck, and I ended up being pumped with steroids, which in turn gave me bad acne. I missed my Mum's birthday on October 27, while in hospital. That's what I call bad luck.
But the contents of the LookFantastic Beauty Advent Calendar for 2017 - and the packaging - are absolute, 100% good luck. Apart from one freak goof-up, this calendar is the best I've seen so far this year, as you will see below. I also want to show you the amazing attention to detail they've paid to the packaging.

GET THE LOOKFANTASTIC BEAUTY ADVENT CALENDAR FOR 2018 HERE.

Other beauty advent calendars currently available worldwide:

LookFantastic

Beauty Expert

Feelunique

HARRODS

Selfridges Beauty Workshop
NYX

Charlotte Tilbury

Decleor

Cowshed

Molton Brown

Susanne Kaufmann
Ciate Beauty
Ciate Nails
BareMinerals

Scroll down for the unboxing and review of the LookFantastic Beauty in Wonderland Advent Calendar for 2017,  and comparison with 2016 and 2015.

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Beauty Products Used Up in October 2017

Beauty Products Used Up in October 2017

Videos Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, October 31, 2017

I've had a nightmarish last few days - while already nursing a foot injury, I woke one fine morning to an acute allergic reaction to the point of severe anaphylaxis. Apart from bad urticaria and joint inflammation, I couldn't move my neck/head at all, and landed in the ER. They pumped me with 'roids and antihistamines, and the former have broken me out, but as my doctors said, it was a question of priorities. I'll have to navigate my skin through bad acne all over again (long-term readers will remember I battled it for the major part of 2016, and am currently undergoing scar revision). Boo!
And, we don't even know exactly what caused the anaphylaxis - they'll do an allergy test after three weeks of no meds and no hives. They suspected a peanut allergy, but it turns out it wasn't one after all. Good. I adore chilli-and-lime peanuts.
Enough whining. Let me show you the beauty products I used up in October 2017, and what I thought about each one.

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How To Fill Your Brows With Sigma Brow Expert Kit Tutorial

How To Fill Your Brows With Sigma Brow Expert Kit Tutorial

Videos Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Discovering tweezer-magic in my late teens, I've ended up with overplucked eyebrows as an adult. Worse, they are asymmetric and flat, and try as I may, I cannot achieve an arched brow. Plus, I have sparse lashes. So I'm huge on filling my brows to frame my face - but without making them look weird and unnatural.
The Sigma Brow Expert Kit contains seven products to help achieve the perfect eyebrows. I have a demo for you further below.

Scroll down to know how to achieve the perfect eyebrows with the Sigma Brow Expert Kit.

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Morphe Liquid Lipsticks Review, Swatches, Demo

Morphe Liquid Lipsticks Review, Swatches, Demo

Videos Cosmetopia Digest   Thursday, October 05, 2017

Morphe Liquid Lipsticks are the second lot of products I've tried from the brand, the first being contouring brushes, which made my contouring game so much easier. The lipsticks promise a bulletproof kiss, and are just $12, or €13.95, or £9 each. They are made in the USA and come in 22 shades.

Scroll down for my review and swatches of the Morphe Liquid Lipsticks.

Please watch this video for the swatches and review of the Morphe Liquid Lipsticks - please also give me a thumbs-up, and do subscribe to my channel!

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Mid-2017 Makeup Haul, Including 10 Lipsticks!

Mid-2017 Makeup Haul, Including 10 Lipsticks!

YSL Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, August 15, 2017

I usually go on two makeup shopping-sprees in a year - the first one is around June-July, and the second one is around Christmas/Boxing Day, to take advantage of the sales.
This year, my haul was mostly from Harvey Nichols (I missed a gorgeous GWP by one day; can you believe it?), Selfridges, and Debenhams. The haul included 10 lipsticks, but just the two eye palettes. But why am I talking about it? You can see my haul for yourself further below.

Scroll down to see my mid-2017 makeup haul from Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, and Debenhams.

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No Make No Life Beauty Box July 2017 Review, Unboxing

No Make No Life Beauty Box July 2017 Review, Unboxing

Videos Cosmetopia Digest   Tuesday, July 25, 2017

The sixth edition of the No Make No Life Beauty Box from Japan is here; it contains five full-sized products, of which only one is a makeup item this month. No biggie; I prefer receiving skincare these days.
For those who came in late, NMNL is a monthly beauty subscription from Japan that costs just $29.99 a month, INCLUSIVE of international shipping charges! It costs even less when you go in for a longer subscription.

Scroll down for the review and unboxing of the No Make No Life Beauty Box for July 2017.

Six Ways To Incorporate Sunscreen In Your Makeup Routine

Six Ways To Incorporate Sunscreen In Your Makeup Routine

Videos Cosmetopia Digest   Thursday, July 20, 2017

Ever skipped sunscreen because it left a whitish cast, or there was no time, or it made your makeup look weird? Or, because it made you oily, or pilled up, or because it made you break out? Makeup wouldn't stay on top?
I've been guilty of eschewing the SPF - for all of the above reasons. Thankfully, now you have products which don't give you any of these problems. Best of all, there are multi-tasker sunscreens which fit seamlessly into your makeup routine. No, I'm not talking about foundations with SPF, or moisturisers with SPF. Au contraire, new generation sunblocks function as primers, setting sprays, essences, and more, as you will see below.

Here are six ways of incorporating sunscreen into your morning routine, without disturbing your makeup.

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Soft Neutral Makeup Look With Duochrome Eyeshadow

Soft Neutral Makeup Look With Duochrome Eyeshadow

Videos Cosmetopia Digest   Thursday, April 27, 2017

Some days ago, I had showed you a makeup look featuring the Makeup Geek Duochrome Eyeshadow in the shade Ritzy - see here. Here is another FOTD, with the shade Havoc. I cannot get enough of the Makeup Geek Duochrome Eyeshadows. I want them all! I have also discovered a fondness for Chantecaille - I picked up a couple of their lipsticks on last year's Boxing Day sales, and cannot get enough of them.
This look was done soon after I underwent my second round of subcision for scar-revision, so you can see a bunch of needle-entry points on my cheeks, especially the right cheek. Because of the procedure, I only used a CC cream and not a full-coverage foundation - also, the snail mucin in the CC cream helps my ravaged skin heal faster.

Scroll down for a soft-glowy makeup look I did using Makeup Geek Duochrome Eyeshadows, Chantecaille lipstick, By Terry Sun Designer Palette, and more. 

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LookFantastic Beauty Egg Collection Unboxing, Review

LookFantastic Beauty Egg Collection Unboxing, Review

Videos Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Last week, I told you about the LookFantastic Beauty Egg Collection for Easter, a special curation of seven beauty products worth more than £200, for just £60.
There is a nice mix of three makeup items, two skincare products, one hair care item, and one bath and body. Everything, except for the one 100ml bath and body product, is full-sized.

Click here to get the 2018 Beauty Egg Collection from LookFantastic. 

Scroll down for the unboxing and review of the LookFantastic Beauty Egg Collection for Easter 2017.

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Makeup Video With HQHair Lust List

Makeup Video With HQHair Lust List

Videos Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, March 01, 2017

I did a dusky-neutral eye makeup look with a mauvey-pink lip, using the products on my HQHair Lust List, which I showed you yesterday here. This time, I have actually shared the step-by-step look on video as well.

Scroll down for a full-face makeup look featuring theBalm Appetit Eyeshadow Palette and Laura Geller Spackle Primer.

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First blogoversary special: Vintage makeup advertisements from 1920s-1950s magazines

First blogoversary special: Vintage makeup advertisements from 1920s-1950s magazines

Videos Cosmetopia Digest   Thursday, January 16, 2014

My Beauty Junction is one year old today! I am so thrilled! I never dreamt that auditing my stash by writing about it would turn into a blog I am passionate about, and become a way of meeting some lovely people - thank you all for coming over and reading my blather!
Anyway, I'm sharing something very special and nostalgic to mark this anniversary - a collection of vintage makeup and skin care advertisements hoarded from my maternal great-grandmother's time. The daughter of a landlord (and later a school headmaster's wife), she bought early copies of Good Housekeeping, launched in 1922, and kept every single one. After her time, her magazines went to her youngest daughter - Gran - who was younger than great-gran's eldest grandchildren. Gran in turn hoarded the Girls' Own Paper and Heiress magazines into the 1950s during her teens and my Mum added a few Women's Own magazines to the pile in the 70s.
Being a nerd whose immediate family all collect antiques, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed doing this post.

Here are some lovely vintage advertisements of makeup and beauty products from the 1920s to the 1950s from various magazines.

Nail polish haul and swatches: O.P.I., Ciate, Models Own, Barry M. and Lancome

Nail polish haul and swatches: O.P.I., Ciate, Models Own, Barry M. and Lancome

Videos Cosmetopia Digest   Wednesday, January 08, 2014

I wanted this to be a nail polish and nail art blog. But somewhere along the line, my love of other products seeped in. If I had to choose between a polish and a palette, I'd go for the nails each time.
Twenty-six. That's the number of nail polishes I hauled on my December holiday. Across brands. And I'm not counting nail art pens, nail wheels, buffs and other tools. I picked some beauties from O.P.I., Ciate, Models Own, Barry M. and Lancôme. 

Here are the nail polishes and the swatches.