Empties #1 (Video)

Hi everyone!

I decided to make my empties into a video this time. Enjoy!

There's Something About Kevyn Aucoin

I have never felt so strong about a foundation before. Actually, I have never felt so strong about a makeup product in general. Most things come and go. I fall in love with a blusher, and then the feeling subsides as my attention shifts towards another makeup product.

Summer, Boho-Chic Inspired Makeup Look

Hi everyone! I feel like I've been so neutralish lately makeup-wise, that I wanted to go for something different. Something colorful, happy and... summer-ish. If you're interested in seeing how I created this look, keep reading! 

Face of the Day (22.05.13): Easy, Natural Makeup

Hi dolls!

"Natural Makeup" to me equals a better you. Something that looks fresh and doable. This type of makeup is excellent for students because the makeup is not over the top-- meaning no crazy bright shadows, nothing too exaggerated. 

If you're interested, continue reading. 

Face of the Day (16.05.13): Teal and Gold

Hey gorgeous! 

I've been waking up pretty early these days, so I have been experimenting with makeup before going to school. Today I created a look inspired by lots of pictures I have seen on Instagram lately. Basically, you pick two colors-- one added on the inner and outer corner, and the second color should pop on the center. I chose to work with teal and gold. If you're interested in finding out how I achieved this look and which products I used, please continue reading.

Illamasqua Excite Powder Blush Review + FOTD

For those looking for a beautiful matte, peach blush, this post is for you. Illamasqua's blushes are well known for their sleek, modern packaging and incredibly pigmented formulas. This blush is no exception. If you're interested in pictures and a quick review, continue reading.

Face of the Day (03.05.13)

Hola muñecas! (That means "hi dolls" in Spanish).

So my instagram seems to have a bug because whenever I try to upload a picture, it comes out as a gray 

box. I've read online several users experiencing the same thing-- so I'm guessing it is a bug. 

Anyway, just a quick post today to show you my "face of the Early Morning". I got up at six am and quickly got ready for some errands I had to do this morning.

I kept my look soft, subtle and simple. It was raining really hard when I woke up (which is the worst weather to get up in-- I find the rain so relaxing). The skies were gray, there was a lot of thunder and the day was...blah. So I went with a quickie.

On my eyes I used Chanel Illusion D'ombre in the shade Emerville because it is so fast to put on... you just literally dab some with your fingers. After curling my lashes, I applied two coats of Benefit They're Real Mascara. I used Rimmel London Scandal Eyes in the shade Nude to get rid of any redness on my waterline. I groomed my brows with Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo in the shade Brunette. 

Anytime I'm looking for great coverage and a luminous finish in little time, I pick my trusty Dior Hydralife BB Cream. The formula melts into my skin and matches me perfectly. Another plus is the high (30) SPF. I buffed that in with a Real Techniques Buffing Brush (my favorite brush to apply foundation with) and then I applied some under-eye concealer-- Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in the shade 3. I set everything in place with some loose powder-- L'oreal Translucide Luminous Loose Powder in the shade Translucent. For dewy cheeks, I went with Stila Convertible Color in the shade Lillium, followed by Benefit Girl Meets Peal lightly patted on the top of my cheekbones, bridge of the nose and cupid's bow. 

To finish of the look, I went for a shimmery rosy lip color-- Bourjois Lipstick in Rose Pare. 

Face of the Day (26.04.13)

I am still in awe over the quality of the Wet N Wild eyeshadows. For $4, you get eight, yes, eight ultra pigmented eyeshadows. Today I used the left column in palette called "Comfort Zone" .

EYES

1. Urban Decay Primer Potion

2. Wet N Wild "Comfort Zone" Palette

3. Smashbox Jet Set Waterproof Eyeliner shade "Deep Black"

4. L'oreal Voluminous Original Mascara shade "Black"

5. Clinique Super Fine Liner for Brows shade "Soft Brown"

6. Rimmel London Scandal Eyes Kohl Pencil shade "Nude"

FACE

1. Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

2. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Compact Foundation shade 30 Beige

3. Estee Lauder Stay In Place Concealer shade Warm Light Medium

4. Benefit Hoola Bronzer

5. Nars Orgasm Blush

6. Nars Orgasm Illuminator

7. Make Up For Ever HD Powder

LIPS

1. Nars "New Lover" Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil

Face of the Day (10.04.13): Pin-Up

Hi dolls!

So today I went for the classic pin-up which is my absolute favorite look (on myself).

Product List

1. Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil (to prep the skin)

2. Smashbox BB Cream shade Light-Medium

3. Mac Studio Finish Concealer NC 30

4. Stila Convertible Color shade Lillium

5. Stila All Day Liquid Lipstick shade Beso

6. Hourglass Ambient Powder shade Ethereal Light

7. Mac Fluidline Eye Gel Liner shade Blacktrack

8. L'oreal Voluminous Mascara Original shade Black

9. Rimmel London Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner shade Nude
10. Clinique Ultra Fine Liner for Brows shade Soft Brown

Tips When Wearing Red Lipstick

• Make sure you conceal any blemishes and redness on your face. You want your lips to be the center of attention. 
• If you're using a lip stain (which I did), the application can be tricky, especially when the formula is liquid. Start little by little. If you make any mistakes, grab a thin brush and use concealer to perfect the edges.
• If you're going with a bold lip color, make sure your eyes are completely neutral. In contrast, if your main focus are the eyes, neutralize your lips. 

Chit-Chat

I went to Whole Foods today and had lunch with my mom and my sister. Then we all wandered around in different directions. I went to the essential oils section which is my favorite. If you're new to my blog,  you now know I love aromatherapy and essential oils. 

I left with three products: A large Herbal Mint Shower Gel from the line Whole Foods itself which was on sale for $4.99. 32FL OZ for $4.99!!! It's not too concentrated though, which is a con for me. But hey, for the price, why not?

I also got Deep Steep Rosemary-Mint Dry Oil. My mom had gotten a lavender one days ago and she found it really moisturizing and the smell was amazing. Since I'm a mint freak, I got this one for me.

Ingredients: Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, punica granatum (pomegranate) seed oil, prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil, squalane (olive) oil, infusion of organic herbs; rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, geranium maculatum (geranium) flower extract, mentha piperita (peppermint) leaf extract, aroma (organic and wildcrafted aroma blend).

I also got a versatile product - one you can use at home to spritz anywhere, in your car or on your body - Aura Cacia Peppermint Harvest Aromatherapy Mist.

Ingredients: AQUA (WATER), MENTHA X PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) OIL, CITRUS SINENSIS (SWEET ORANGE) OIL, MENTHA SPICATA (SPEARMINT) OIL, CANANGA ODORATA (YLANG YLANG) OIL.

MAC Ablaze Matte Lipstick Limited Edition Review + FOTD

Hola!

Not much to say of this lipstick other than...GO GET IT! It is beautiful!

I have a picture of a swatch compared to other lipsticks and I wore it on my lips today to show it to you.

It has a matte finish, yet it feels creamy. Much creamier than both the Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick and the Stila All Day Liquid Lipstick.

Interested? Keep reading!

2AM Face of the Day

Hi beauties!

I'm currently stuck at the airport in Maracaibo because our flight to Miami is delayed. I had to get up at 2am this morning. I have been suffering from insomnia on and off my whole life, and it's currently back, so I was able to sleep thanks to some meds until my sleep cycle normalizes. 

Anyway! Thank God I brought my laptop with me. I did bring my little Sony camera with me to take shots and share them with you. Nothing too exciting to see here at this airport. It's tiny...and boring. 

But I want to share with you the makeup I chose this morning to look less...zombie-ish. 

The Product List 

1. Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer shade Sand: I wanted something lightweight, yet glowy, and I find that this tinted moisturizer has a dewy finish despite being oil-free. 

2. Dior Diorskin Nude Concealer shade 2 Beige: it doesn't have the best coverage for dark circles, but it  goes on very natural.

3. Clinique Airbrush Illuminating Concealer shade Fair: I dabbed some of this over the Dior concealer for extra highlighting. 

4. Physician's Formula Happy Booster Blush shade Natural: I wanted a little glow to my cheeks. 

5. High Beam by Benefit (Not included in the picture): Instant dewiness to the skin!

6. L'oreal Carbon Black Telescopic Liquid Eyeliner: A true black. I believe this is blacker than Mac's Fluidline in Blacktrack or my favorite Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place Gel-Liner. It also stays on for a long, long time (+10 hours) without smudging. Travel-friendly!

7. Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream shade 16 Plum: Cream shadows are excellent to wear when you're in a rush, and since this product is 100% waterproof, it won't budge, smudge or fade. I love this.

PS: I wear contact lenses, so I have to put on eyedrops everytime I travel because my lenses get very dry. My eyeshadow ain't going nowhere with this Aqua Cream!

8. Estee Lauder Sumptuous Mascara in Black: My mom gave me this as a gift a couple of months ago and I love it. You can build up volume and length without spider-looking lashes.

9. Buxom Big and Healthy Lip Tarnish shade Busted: a moisturizing, cherry red lip stain that has a glossy finish. It feels minty when you first put it on... and it does plum quite a bit. Remember, a pop of color on the lips instantly gives light to the skin!

I actually tried taking a picture to show you my look, but I am surrounded by strangers and it just got a little awkward. I hope you all have a lovely day! xoxo

Get Ready With Me!: Bronzy Eyes + Announcements

Hi my loves!

I worked hard for today's post because I wanted to deliver something helpful since I will be away for a few weeks. I'm going to the US for vacation before I start school in May. Oh, and my youngest brother is getting married in Puerto Rico! I'm so excited! I will take lots of pictures, so you are all coming with me! 

I also might... Well, I'm bad at surprises! I will have a giveaway when I'm in the US. Everything in Venezuela is ridiculously expensive because we have really high inflation, which is why I hardly buy anything here and I would not be able to afford a giveaway. But let's not get political here, because I hate politics and this is a beauty blog. In conclusion, I will work on getting goodies for a good giveaway to thank all of you for supporting me though I'm a "newbie". I have a lot of things I would like to get off my chest by writing a post about it but I worry I might get corny and you might get bored... but I really am thankful to all of you. 

If you want to see my Pictorial, keep reading!

Makeup Products for Busy Moms

There are plenty of women out there I admire, and a lot of them are busy moms. Wonder-women who suddenly develop an amazing way of multi-tasking and keeping home in order. 

I wanted to help those busy moms out there by suggesting specific makeup products to look feel more confident and look presentable in little time. NO brushes are needed to apply these products.

Interested? Keep reading!

All Matte using the Lorac Pro Palette

Gotta love the Lorac Pro Palette. Pigmented, buttery, easy to blend, and the versatility of having two different types of textures: matte and shimmer. The possibilities of creating looks with this palette are endless. 

I've created a look that looks natural when the eyes are open, yet sexy when the lids are down using only matte shades. I hope you enjoy it!

Eyes/Eyeshadows from the Lorac Pro Palette

Shades used: White, Taupe, LT. Pink, Mauve, Sable, Espresso, Black (all matte)

1. Prime the eyes using Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer. 

2. Apply Taupe on the crease, blending upwards.

3. Apply Sable on the crease and blending towards the tear duct. This will create depth. 

4. To intensify the depth even further, apply Espresso on the crease blending downwards. 

We want to create depth right on the crease and make the colors "fade" as they move up, which is why the lighter shades of brown are used first. 

Tips

- Apply minimal product, then build. These shades are very pigmented. Remember: it's easy to add then to remove. Especially when it comes to eye products.

2. Always blend with a clean brush. Never blend with the same brush you apply product with. The result can be a muddy look. 

4. Apply Black on the outer corners of the eyes, drawing an outer V. Blend. Re-apply and continue to blend until you're satisfied with the strength of the crease.

5. Apply White on the first part of the lid. Blend.

6. Apply LT. Pink on the center of the lid. Blend.

7. Apply Mauve on the outer last 1/3 part of the lid. Blend.

Yes, I did mention the word blend a lot. But that is the key to this look: a very blended, soft and elegant smokey eye. 

8. Apply White below the brows. 

Eyes: The Rest 

1. Apply gel liner on the top lashline. I used Mac Fluidline in the shade Blacktrack.

2. Curl the lashes and apply mascara. I used L'oreal Voluminous Original Mascara in Black.

3. Groom eyebrows. I used Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo in the shade Brunette to fill in any gaps. 

Face

1. Prime. I used Smashbox Photo Finish Light. 

2. Apply foundation. I chose Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Compact Foundation in the shade 30 Beige.

3. I used the Mac Studio Finish Concealer in the shade NC30 to conceal my dark circles. I then concealed my blemishes using the Benefit Boiing Concealer in the shade 02. 

3. I contoured my face using the Mac Pro Sculpting Cream in the shade Richly Honed. 

4. Apply blush. I used Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in the shade Blissful. 

5. I highlighted the top of my cheekbones using the Dior Amber Diamond Powder. 

6. I set my T-zone using Make Up For Ever HD Powder. 

Lips

Dior Addict shade 578

The Result

Thanks for reading! Goodnight everyone xx

Face of the Day (15.02.13)

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a beautiful weekend and a happy Monday.

Today's Face of the Day features a mostly-matte-brown-smoky eye very wearable for the day. I used my "signature" black, thick liner just because I love a cat eye, but left it simple at the bottom by not applying any shadows or eyeliner.

I hope you like it!

Eyes

I primed my eyes using the Lorac Behind The Scenes Eye Primer. 

I worked with six shades from the Lorac Pro Palette.

Taupe all over the lid

Sable on the crease blending upwards

Espresso on the outer crease and lashline (blended, added more, blended...)

LT. Bronze on the lid

White below the brows

Nude on the tearduct

I drew a thick line on my upper lashline with a flick at the end using Mac Fluidline in the shade Blacktrack.

I curled my lashes and used Estee Lauder Sumptuous Mascara in the shade Black.

I filled in my brows using Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder in the shade Dark Brown.

Face

I used Clarins Beauty Flash Balm as a primer, then Dior Forever foundation in the shade 030.

I love this foundation by the way, it gives a good medium coverage. 

To conceal those naughty, dark circles, I used the Estee Lauder Double-Wear Stay In Place Concealer in the shade 08 Warm Light Medium

I set my tzone with the L'oreal Translucide Naturally Luminous Powder in the shade Translucent. I do this step before adding blusher & highlighter because I like to keep my cheeks dewy-looking for a more natural appearance.

To bronze my face, I used Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder which by the way does smell like chocolate and I want to eat it. No, I won't eat it. But it does smell yummy!

Scary on the pan, but beautiful on the cheeks, I added a pop of color with Illamasqua Cream Blush in the shade Brazen. 

I highlighted the top of the cheekbones using the Lorac Perfectly Lit Oil-Free Luminizer in the shade Spotlight.

Lips

I wanted to keep my lips fairly nude, that is, adding a hint of color that looks very similar to my lip's natural shade, which is a rose pink. So I used Bourjois Lipstick in 08 Rose Delicat. 

The Result

Thanks for reading! Have a lovely day xx

Face of the Day (14.01.13)

Hi!

Today's face of the day features an easy brown smokey eye for the day. I hope you like it!

Product List

Eyes

1. Urban Decay Primer

2. Bourjois Smoky Eyes Eyeshadow Trio in 03 mordore chic

3. Mac Fluidline in Blacktrack

4. L'oreal Extra-Intense Liquid Pencil Eyeliner in Brown

5. Bourjois Voluminizer Ultra Black Mascara

6. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder in Dark Brown

Face

1. Dior Hydralife BB Cream

2. Laura Mercier Secret Concealer shade 3

3. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Splendor

4. Benefit Girl Meets Pearl

Lips

Dior Addict Lipstick shade 578

The Results

Have a great lazy Sunday! Thanks for reading. xoxo

PS: Two of my IG/blogger friends are having international giveaways. You should check out their blogs regardless - they're excellent.

Gorkem: http://gorkemkarman.blogspot.com/2013/01/nars-laguna-giveaway-nars-laguna.html

and

http://gorkemkarman.blogspot.com/2013/02/real-techniques-cekilisi-giveaway.html

Anne: http://mesbistouilles.blogspot.com/2013/02/valentines-day-giveaway-open.html

Face of the Day (01.02.13)

Happy February everyone!

Today's Face of the Day is very simple. I have noticed I've been going for very neutral/minimal makeup. I am currently very happy with my skincare regime and I'm embracing my clear skin days. 

1. Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream in Light/Medium
2. Mac Studio Finish Concealer in NC 30
3. Illamasqua Cream Blushes in Brazen
4. L'oreal Translucent Loose Powder
5. Make Up For Ever Lipstick in N45
6. Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Emerville

Face of the Day (30.01.13): All Drugstore

Hello beauties!

As I was getting ready for the day this morning, I thought to myself, "Hmm...I haven't done a full drugstore face."

So today's Face of the Day is all drugstore products. 

There are things that I love and things I find a little disappointing. 

Keep reading to find out what I used!

Quick and Simple Day Look: Tutorial

Due to the positive feedback I received on Instagram after posting a picture for Face of the Day, I decided to share it with you guys on a video!

@makeupbypatricia

I only got about four hours of sleep, so I looked ridiculously tired when I woke up. I also had very little time to get ready.

This is a great look for when you're in a hurry and you want to look bright. Something as simple as a BB cream can immediately make you look a whole lot better by evening the skin tone and giving it a nice-dewy look.

I also recommend using a good eye serum/cream first thing after you wash your face and before you do your makeup. It really makes a difference. I have an excellent one I'm going to review soon. 

I recorded the video when I got back after six hours, and my makeup still looked pretty good considering the fact that I have combination skin and the city where I live in is very hot and humid. 

I "touched-up" half of my face to show you exactly what I did.

PS: And I terribly messed up my pretty liner.

I know I have to work on better timing, and cropping down the videos. Remember, I'm new! 

Quick Face of the Day + YouTube Video

Welcome back my lovely followers/readers!

I am very excited because I have finally lost my YouTube fear/shyness and not only do I have a video for you right now, but there is another one loading on the way :) be patient with the crappy internet service we have in Venezuela...

Please feel free to subscribe on YouTube. I have no experience/knowledge in video editing whatsoever, so please bear that in mind when you watch my first videos (I hope to get better with time). 

I barely had time to get ready, so this video down below is super quick, just mentioning the products that I used. 

Thank you so much for watching. It means a lot to me.