Sweat-Proof Makeup

I typed that title and then I was like ugh.. eek...gross.. why throw in sweat in there? Here's the thing, I'm about to go to a little cousin's birthday party/pool party and it is currently:

Thank you, Wunderground.com. Yes, it's that hot here. We have no seasons in Maracaibo. It is simply, always ridiculous hot. Although I dislike the snow... so.

I'm not getting in the water by the way, I'm just attending. I would not wear any makeup if I was getting in the water. I don't understand why some people do that. 

Anyway! Onto what this post is really about. I want to show you which products I used to guarantee my makeup is not smudging/moving/caking.

I suggest you use as little makeup as possible. Just use it where you really need it. Luckily my skin is pretty clear right now, so I skipped foundation and just applied some concealer where I needed it (undereye, redness around my face).

1. Sunscreen: the most important product of all. I used a two-in-one for this. A moisturizer with SPF. My Vichy Aqualia Thermal Moisturizer which I've reviewed here.

2. Mac Studio Finish Concealer SPF35 in NC30: I picked this because it's not only great for covering my under-eye discoloration, but it's also water resistant and it has SPF.

3. Benefit Boiing Concealer: I dabbed this anywhere else on my face where I needed a bit of coverage. I like it because it's a cream-to-powder formula. 

4. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush shade blissful: it lasts a long time. Great for people with oily skin, or people that are going to be out in the sun. 

5. Make Up For Ever HD Powder: to set everything in place and get rid of shine.

6. Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream Powder shade 15 Taupe: a beautiful wash of color. I've swatched it here. 

I took a quick pic to show you how it looks on the lids:

7. Rimmel London Lash Lycra Extender Mascara: not a fan of it, meh. Just grabbed it because I didn't want anything too special.

8. Mac eyeshadow shade Blanc Type: I applied this below my brows.

9. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo Shade Brunette: doesn't smudge! And it's a powder.

10. Urban Decay De Slick Setting Spray: a setting spray for combination/oily skin that reduces shine and makes makeup last longer. 

11. Dior Creme De Rose Lip Balm: I forgot to include this in the picture, but I like it because it's very moisturizing and creamy and it has SPF10. 

Time to go! I hope this was helpful x

Mac Eyeshadow for Brown Eyes/Olive Skin Pt. 1

I was asked to write about the best Mac eyeshadows for olive skin, but I twisted it a little bit and incorporated two other requests: eyeshadow for brown eyes and a smokey eye look. Smokey eyes can be done in various ways, so for this post I'm focusing on smokey eyes using colors other than black. In this entire look, I'm using three eyeshadows only, followed by other products that can be used to enhance the eyes. 

If you're interested, keep reading!

Me pidieron que hablara sobre las mejores sombras de Mac para piel morena, pero le agregué unas cosas más: sombras que resaltan ojos marrones y un look smokey eye. Smokey eye significa maquillaje de ojos ahumados y se pueden hacer de diversas maneras. Hoy me estaré enfocando en un smokey eye utilizando tonos que no sean negros. Utilicé un total de tres sombras nada más, seguido por otros productos que podrías utilizar si quieres aun más énfasis en los ojos. 

Si estas interesado/a, continúa leyendo! 

Aqualia Thermal 24Hr Hydrating Fortifying Lotion SPF 25 Review

Hi everyone!

I had been in the hunt for a simple sunscreen that wouldn't leave me with a white cast. Finding no good options anywhere around me, I went for a two in one product. Vichy's Aqualia range is one that I had tried before - I love their eye gel - so I figured I would try their moisturizer with SPF 30.

What is it?

A moisturizer with SPF 25.

Why is a sunscreen necessary? 
For a long time I used to hate the thought of sunscreen. It would remind me of funky scents and a white, greasy face. Not flattering. But wearing sunscreen daily is, in my opinion, the most important beauty advice. Not only are you protecting your skin against harmful UV rays which can lead to skin cancer, but you're also shielding it against premature aging. Yes, sun damage causes early wrinkles and hyper-pigmentation.

Use sunscreen on sunny days AND cloudy days as well. Everyday, all-year round.

Packaging
You get a good 50ml in a small, portable light blue plastic bottle. It comes with a pump which makes this a very hygienic product.

What is the texture like?
Creamy, but easy to blend. It doesn't leave any white streaks behind. The product does have a light fragrance to it - to me it smells like regular sunscreen, but it is not overpowering.

It's good to know that...

- It's oil-free and paraben-free.

- It contains Vichy Thermal Water and hyaluronic acid.

- It's allergy tested, so it's good for people with sensitive skin.

- It's non-comedogenic. 

What type of skin is this recommended for?

For those that are new to the blog, I have combination skin. My T-zone tends to get oily while the rest of my face is normal. I would say this would be good for people with dry, normal and combination skin. 

My thoughts?

I think this is an extraordinary daily moisturizer. It's very moisturizing, yet not greasy. It leaves my skin soft and plump and my favorite part of all: it doesn't leave any white streaks on the face. It's easy to blend across the face and it works great under makeup. It does not make my face shiny nor oily. Love!

What I'm wearing today

Vichy Aqualia Thermal UV Lotion

Benefit Girl Meets Pearl 

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

Nars Laguna Bronzer

Bourjois Voluminizer Mascara Ultra Black

Dior Creme de Rose 

January Favorites

Hi everyone! I'm a little late on my January Favorites. But here I go! These were the products I reached out the most/I was most impressed with this month. Let's begin!

1. L'oreal Translucent Powder with Vitamin C: An excellent drugstore powder. It's very finely milled and I have been really impressed at how good it is at controlling oil. I tap this on my T-zone and I am shine free for more than six hours! It also makes my skin look healthy.

2. REN No.1 Purity Cleansing Balm: a lovely rose-scented balm infused with natural oils. It is a dream to work with if you are patient enough to massage your face for a few minutes. I don't want to write so much about it because I will review it soon. 

3. Diorskin Nude Tan Healthy Glow Enhancing Powder: I have the shade 002 Sunlight. It's a soft, sheer bronzer that is so easy to use, you will never look like you've overdone it. A combination of peach and warm tones instantly make me look healthy and awake. I like to use my Make Up For Ever Kabuki Brush to apply it - going stronger on my cheekbones and lighter on the rest of my face. 

4. Kerastase Elixir Ultime: It smells divine, leaves my hair soft and manageable and it is very versatile. You can use it as a pre-shampoo treatment, a leave-in treatment (which is the way I use it), a pre-blowout treatment or a post-blow out treatment to add shine and tame frizz. It can be applied on dry or wet hair. 

5. Vichy Aqualia Thermal Eye-Roll On: Tightening, cooling, moisturizing, firming, de-puffing, amazing. I'm on my second tube and I know I will be repurchasing it. I use it every single day when I wake up and before I apply make-up. 

6. Illamasqua Cream Blush: I have the shade Brazen. It is a bright red that looks scary on the pan, but it looks extremely natural on the cheeks. It reminds me of how my skin looks after being out in the snow for a long time. Tip: Be extremely light-handed with Illamasqua's cream blushes because they are EXTREMELY pigmented. 

7. Mac Studio Finish Concealer: I have the shade NC 30. I am very glad I got this. I was really hesitant and dubious about buying this because there were mixed reviews about it when using it on the under-eye area. Some people said it was horribly cakey, while others loved it. I love it. I really do. I think a little goes a long way, the coverage is pretty good, I love the fact that it's water resistant and that it has SPF. I find the texture really light. It does not feel heavy nor cakey. 

8. Mac Pro Sculpting Cream: I have the shade Richly Honed. I love, love, love this for contouring. It's a cream-to-powder formula, giving me the cheekbones I've always wanted to have. I love to apply this using my Real Techniques Contour Brush.

8. La Roche Posay Effaclar Mat: A mattifying moisturizer with a gel-like consistency. It hydrates and tightens the skin. People with combination to oily skin will love this. I do not recommend this to people with normal to dry skin. It does an excellent job at keeping the skin shine-free, and with prolonged use, it reduces the size of pores and decreases sebum production. Yes and yes. It does both. I'm on my second tube. PS: It makes an excellent primer. 

9. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder: I have the shade Dark Brown. I never really paid attention to my brows til last year. I thought they were too dark and thick as they were. Usually I would see that those who used brow products were women with very thin and light brows, but after using this powder, I learned that groomed eyebrows look best. Anastasia offers two shades - the dark shade is meant to cover any spots that need filling, while the lightest shade is meant to be applied all over the brow. Even though this is a powder formula, the color does not fade at all. 

10. Yves Rocher Aqua Tonic Masque: A yummy-scented moisturizing mask that works in just three minutes. Inexpensive, effective and plumping. 

11. The Body Shop Neroi Jasmin Body Lotion: Probably one of my favorite scents ever. You have to smell this. It is divine. Seriously. Go to a store and just smell it. You'll thank me later. PS: It's light but moisturizing enough, and the smell lingers. 

What were your January Favorites? 

Which products do you strongly recommend?

January Empties

Hi everyone!

I hope you've all had a great Monday and beginning of the week.

Today I have my "January Empties" for you - One hair product and five skincare products!

And while I am typing this.... I am ....

Yep, eating left-over Christmas M&M's. I told you I was addicted!

Now it's time to get serious! I will give you my in depth opinion about these products individually, and I'll tell you whether I would re-purchase these products or not. 

If you're interested, continue reading!

Face of the day (23.01.12) VIDEO!

Oh Lord. Did I just do that? Ok, so some lovely women encouraged me to start YouTubing. I was hesitant, but I gave it a shot.

I don't have a fancy camera, just a simple Sony Cybershot that records HD videos. 

I started filming. Yap, yap, yap, the lense shut. The camera died!

I had to record the video with my phone, so I apologize for the crappy quality even though I apologized like three times in the video. 

I wanted to make this more interactive for all of you. I hope you like it. Maybe I will make a nice YouTube one next time...

Here is a picture regardless, as well as the list of products.

 Face
1. Clarins Beauty Flash Balm
2. Dior Airflash Foundation in the shade 300
3. Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in the shade 3
4. Vichy Normaderm Concealer
5. Nars Laguna Bronzer
6. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in the shade Splendor
7. Benefit Girl Meets Pearl Highlighter
8. Dior Capture Totale Loose Powder in the shade 001 Bright Light

Eyes
1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder in the shade Dark Brown
2. Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in the shade 17
3. Mac Cranberry Eyeshadow
4. Lorac Pro Palette
5. Revlon eyelash curler
6. Bourjois Volumizer Ultra Black Mascara
7. Sephora Waterproof Jumbo Crayon in the shade Black

Lips
1. Lancome Lipliner in the shade Mauvelle
2. Lancome lipstick in the shade All Done Up

I hope you liked the post! Have a lovely day! xx

Face of the day (02.01.13)

Today's face of the day features orange as the main focus, as you might have seen on Instagram if you follow me (@makeupbypatricia).

I decided to make it more "fun" and "daytime" by adding some metallic gold eyeliner and smoking it up with a creamy, brown shadow. 

To see more pictures and a list of detailed products that I used, continue reading!