I've got the Blue(s)

For the eyes:

MAC 266 eyeliner brush

MAC Fluidline in "Blacktrack"

MAC eyeshadow in "Prussian"

Too Faced baked eyeshadow in "Deep Space"

For the Face:

Lancôme foundation "Colour Ideal"

MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 concealer

Chanel Joues Contraste in "Orchid Rose"

Nails: Chanel nail polish in "Blue Satin"

(if you want to see the drawing without the collage, it's here!)

As I maybe told you once already, one of my first "girly" loves is make-up (in some moments of my life even more than fashion).

Ever since the first time I wore a drop of foundation and some mascara, at about 14, I've never stopped to use make-up and I've always had a special eye for new products, formulas, colours and combinations.  

When we had to go to a party with friends I remember I was always the one doing the make-up of all of us in the bathroom of my parent's home... and it was the most amusing part of the night for me!

I don't know if it is also for my love for painting and drawing that I have this eye for colours and an ability with brushes, but that's it, I love it and I'll always have a passion for it.

Lately I really like blue, especially for spring, so today I started to draw a girl with blue make-up and in the end I had an idea: since I really had a lot of fun in the past, why not talking about make-up here too?

Yes I know I already talked a lot about make-up, but I mean hard-core talks (ahaha) with looks descriptions, tutorials and the like.

I really didn't have time to make sort of a photo tutorial for the look I painted, but it's a very easy one, so I'll just describe it... agreed? :-)

So here we go!! 

(If you're not interested just step to the end of the post: there is a Cacharel collection that I'd like to show you!)

1) The most important thing when you use green and blue make up is a bomb-proof base: these colours tend to make you look tired so they have to be spotless in order to avoid this effect.

Hydrate the skin and apply a foundation with good coverage but also bright and natural. Be sure to cover dark areas (under-eye, near the nose, chin...) with a concealer half tone lighter than the foundation. 

Fix the base with a powder (I use MAC mineralize powder half a tone lighter than the foundation).

2) Apply a soft and neutral pink blush to the apple of your cheeks.

3) Prep the eye-lids with an eye primer: I love Too Faced Shadow Insurance. In this way the eyeshadow's gonna stick to your skin all day long, without fading, melting or creasing.

4) Apply a matte blue eyeshadow all over the upper lid and all along the upper and lower lash lines. Brush any hard line with a fluffy but firm brush on the upper lid (the best is MAC 217) and with an eyeliner brush on the lower lid.

5) Apply a fine but visible line of eye-liner on the upper lash line, tight to the lashes

6) Blend the eyeliner with a darker, less matte (but not glittery or too frosty) eyeshadow (I use the one in the photo from Too Faced) and line also the lower lash line, using an eyeliner brush.

7) With the fluffy brush add some more dark blue eyeshadow in the outer corner of your lids to add depth. Brush away very well any hard line.

8) Add a lot of black mascara (my favourites are Zoom Lash mascara from MAC and Diorshow from Dior) and a nude lipgloss and you're done!

So now the big question: do you like if I do these kind of posts with beauty advices/tutorials? And in the case you like them, would you prefer to see example pics of how I do it on my eyes or is it OK like this?

I ask you because I wouldn't really like to write something that is boring for you!

Ah and speaking of blue, I really love it paired with yellow, mustard and beige/camel colours.

I recently saw the Cacharel Resort 2011 collection and I find it very nice:

Images from Cacharel website

What do you think? I really really like it, especially the last two pieces of this photo sequence.

Ok, I am going to bed now, a big kiss and good night!

Al

All I want for spring is You

With this baby:

It's the Blush Gelée from Givenchy. And I want it. So badly.

It's a limited edition so tomorrow (a.k.a. the 27th of the month a.k.a. salary day a.k.a. yuppi-doo!!) I'm running to Paris XL (hoping that they won't be totally not up-to-date as always) and I'll try to get one of these jewels before they run out of stock. In case they won't have it, I'll run home to desperately search it online.

Anyway, don't worry for my mental health, it's completely normal that I'm going crazy like this just for a blush.

Blushes are my little, compulsive fixation. 

Someone washes their hand 100 times a day, someone has to keep all their shoes aligned by color and oriented in the same direction in the wardrobe, someone compulsively collect feathers from all over the world (I read it a couple of days ago in Glamour UK... Of course I'm talking about that super glamorous crazy horse of Anna Dello Russo). 

I have kind of a sick thing (call it love, passion, fixation) for blushes.

I have them in all the textures, all the possible shades that could fit my skin tone, every format and every brand.

I have a soft spot for intelligent blushes that have an innovative texture and make your cheek look super rosy and healthy like you just had a run in the cold (in fact, one of my all time favorites and make-up essentials is the Benetint stain from Benefit).

How can I possibly not own a gel blush of that colour??

I repeat. GEL. BLUSH. FUCHSIA.

This means that your cheeks will look like a fresh rose in May (no worries for the fuchsia, it will never look like the girl that I painted, it's a gel!)

Oh yes, gotta love this one.


I'll let you know how it is as soon as it will be mine (and I'll become an happy girl again)


Ah, since we're talking about very pink and feminine things, I was listening to "Florence and the Machine" while drawing. It's among the most feminine and sexy music I've ever heard, together with Tori Amos maybe (maybe the fact that they're both red-haired has something to do with it??)


Here it is, I strongly suggest you to listen to it while you're doing your make-up for a date ahahah!




        (How cool is this video???)

Florence and The Machine -Drumming Song


I kiss you all, very impatient for tomorrow... eh eh eh....




Al

The Cool-wannabe

I am. Oh yes, I am one of those who WOULD so like to be cool. Like, you know, if I was living in Paris or London or New York I would go out all nights in Zac Posen (his Pre-Fall 2011 collection inspired my drawing, I like it a lot... have a look!), sky-high heels drinking champagne and Martini. 

During the day I would wake up at 10, have a cappuccino in my bed caressing my grey cat and checking my e-mails and then out for inspiration (because I would be an artist of course), shopping for expensive groceries and elegant dresses.

It would be oh so Gossip Girl of me.

Instead here I am (and here the sound of the public: "Oooooohhhh..." you know, like the sit-coms, when She says He a bad thing for Valentine's day and He makes a sad face?)

But since I am a girl full of hope I am sure that in 3 years, when I'll leave Belgium, and I'll still be a young girl of almost thirty years old (!), I will be able to live all this glamour in Paris, London or New York. 

Yes, sure! 

In the meanwhile I made a list of things I can do to feel a bit more cool. No Zac Posen or Moët & Chandon involved, but you always start from the very small things, no?

You can take it as a resolution for the New Year if you want, but I know it's not: I never make resolutions, I am totally not strict and I will change my mind hundreds of times before December... Ha! I can make resolution for the new month though! It's a good idea, I should start....

Anyway, here I go. Your role here is to keep me on the good path until they don't become habits, agreed?

1. Try to get a manicure at least once a month (twice is better), and always keep my nails (and toes, from spring) perfectly polished.

Oh yes, that's hard. But I'll do my best, I promise. I think that when your nails are good they can change all your appearance. I like to keep them quite short and wear dark nail polish: Marron Glacé from Mavala (it is actually a dupe of Chanel "Particulière" so uncool, so uncool...), a dark blue-almost-black and deep burgundy were my colors for the winter. Got to find the spring shades ASAP.

2. Try to use my body cream every day.

WTF you don't use body cream every day??? 

No, I know, I apologize.  But I am too lazy!! I got out of the shower and bam, narcolepsy on! 

But I'll try to do my best. Also because lately I noticed that that Kaloderma Q10 cream I bought for 3 euros (thanks to my friend Veronica, the bargain hunter) is making kind of wonders and when I use it my skin is smooth as a peach. I don't want to know what kind of silicons it contains, I'll keep away from the ingredient label as much as I can.

Oh, and did I tell you that Kiehl's just opened in Gent? I've got to have a ride there, have I not?!

3. Try to go to the gym MORE than twice a week.

Which is also: run longer. And don't listen to your spleen.

And got to go back to Pilates. You really feel you have a super-sexy-firm body when you get out of the lesson. 

4. Always perfectly waxed, even if it's -15° C outside and you wouldn't show a centimeter of skin, not even for a 50.000 euros coupon to spend at Miu Miu.   

(I think this is kinda obvious and doesn't need explanation)

5. Buy some really good sexy-but-not-too-much lingerie.

Have you always thought that those who say that good underwear makes you feel more confident are just working for La Perla writing shady columns for Elle?

Nothing more wrong: it's actually true. You really feel good if you wear killer underwear.

I think that Stella McCartney deserves a part of my salary.

6. Wear my red lipstick more often.

And this doesn't need further explanation too, does it?

And now I am lighting some scented Dyptique Baies candles, having a bath with Santa Maria Novella soaps and going to bed, in my white silk sheets.

........ Joking, it's actually Ikea. Both. Candle and sheets. 

What? You didn't have doubts?

Ehhhhh..... You'll see! In three years!

Gotta go! Kiss!

Al 

The Good, the Beautiful and... the Bad

The Good

And with this I mean something that is not only nice but also useful and smart.

The Heel condoms are, in my opinion, a stroke of genius. 

They're not really my style, I usually wear more simple things and I almost never wear high heels but I think that for girls who love high heels and like to change shoe style often but don't have billions to spend these are a must have.

theheelcondoms.com

They cost from 20 to 30 dollars and you can buy them here.

And with this price don't tell me they're not the perfect Christmas gift for your fashion-addicted friends!

The Beautiful

When I saw this Nars limited edition I had a face like a kid in front of a toy megastore in the Christmas period.

It's actually no surprise: how couldn't a Japan-freak-beauty-addict-new-follower-of-the-red-lips-religion go crazy for something like this??

Basically, they are two lipsticks, highly pigmented, held in a "bentou box" (the japanese lunch boxes). 

I haven't tried them (if you look at the price you'll guess why...) so I don't know if they are that super quality they claim to be (and that Nars products usually are) but I find that the concept behind the design of these lipsticks is just great.

They found a way to melt together many aspects of the traditional Japanese aesthetic, which has always been one of the symbols of simple, perfect elegance.

First of all the colors. They are exactly the vivid shades that you can find on ancient Japanese fabrics and accessories. Moreover, the red is the same in which the Shinto temples are painted, the color of geisha's lips and the shade of the traditional wedding kimono.

Plus, they added a very typical element: the wooden black box which, as the name of the collection suggests, reminds the lunch "bentou" boxes that are essential for every Japanese.

In the end is what I think is the most ingenious detail of the ensemble: the brush, which reminds the traditional calligraphy tool, art in which Japanese are masters.

So what is more beautiful and chic than painting your lips like a geisha, taking the pure pigments from an elegant black bentou box by using a calligraphy-inspired tool as a brush?

For me, this is the best of the chic (and the luxe, given the price and the ultra-limited edition) that I saw this winter up until now.

The Bad

Because I can't always only speak about the things that I like, can I?

I will try to be brief. And clear. 

Then I'll go straight to the point.

The december issue of Paris Vogue is a total "what the f**k???" for me. Almost disgusting.

And it's not a problem of morals. I think I am the less moralistic person in the world (sometimes even too much) but here is really my sense of aesthetics that's being touched. And my taste. And common sense, if you really want to add it.

I had the first feeling of disturbance (is this word OK? No because I think you noticed that my english is not exactly spotless...) almost immediately, with the "cadeaux" reportage.

For pages and pages there are these eleven/twelve year old girls, heavy make-up on, dressed with haute couture clothes, shoes and jewels that play at the "sophisticated lady" game. That can sound original and slightly provocative. But no. There is no trace of amusement in their eyes, they don't look like they're playing, there's no fun, no beauty in these pictures. The shots are dark, the girls look like they've been forced to play this game. 

Shots like these in the hurricane-era of pedophilia? For a Christmas gift guide? I guess they wanted to be provocative. Well, they just managed to show bad taste. 

Second, there are these Tom Ford's photo shoots. 

I state a budget of around 25 euros maximum a month (except special occasions, like when I find japanese magazines somewhere) for fashion magazines and I usually choose the ones that looks better every month between UK Elle, Vogue USA, Elle USA, Paris Vogue, Nylon, Glamour UK, Vogue Italia (and I buy Elle Italia always, every month. I think it's the best Elle out there and not because it's my mother tongue). I bought this Paris Vogue MAINLY because Tom Ford's pictures were featured.

And... what a disappointment. 

Even in a provocative shoot, with a controversial message to read in between the lines, from Mr. Ford you would expect at least some elegance.

In these you see old people having sex. But really, sex. They're 70 year old. And they look bad. And it's not for the wrinkles.

I mean, you can do it, it can be even a good idea to start from. But I don't know why, his shoots look only ugly and nasty. No provocation. No message. Nothing.

Ah, and did I tell you about the shoot after the "geriatric porn"(smart two-word description courtesy of styleite.com)? It's a woman that just had plastic surgery, still with her bendages on and guess what?? Having sex (with a younger guy who looks a bit lobotomized). 

And apparently I am not the only one that is a bit perplexed about these shoots. Here they call  the geriatric porn "gratuitous" and here is a nice article about the plastic surgery one.

In the end, I still think that there's nothing less provocative than wanting to be provocative at all costs. 

And you? Did you read the issue and what do you think? I am really curious!

Al

Make up favorites!

Some times ago I wrote that it’s difficult for me to define my make-up holy grails. In part, it is true.

I am a huge make-up fan: I love to experiment new formulas, textures, colors, tools, brands, looks.

So I try a lot of things but just some of those truly impress me and really a few in the end become one of those things without which my life would be (a little bit) worse.

These few have to have some fundamental qualities: be very useful, quick and easy to use, perfect formula for my skin, extremely good quality, long lasting.

And looking back, they are products that I’d never stop to re-buy and that are staples in my make-up bag since years.

Yesterday night I was thinking how much I would suggest them to every girl in the planet if I could… Then writing a post is the least I could do!

(I searched some cute pictures to pair with my mini-reviews but I didn’t find anything so I decided to make some drawings… They’re not that good but at least they are some color in a boring black and white post.)

BENETINT from Benefit

This is something magic. In fact, it’s quite famous and surely I’m not the first one that’s talking about it.

In a few words, it is the one and only thing that is able to give a nice, subtle and natural flush to your cheeks, from morning till the moment you de-make up, whatever you do during the day.

Still I am surprised sometimes when I come home, I look in the mirror and it’s still there, after 8 or 9 hours of work in the lab and the “trip” back home in the terrible Belgian weather.

If I don’t wear it my skin is grey, it looks thin and tired and I feel at least 5 years older. With the Benetint instead I still look fresh and put together, even at 7 pm after a terrible day.

The secret is in its formula: it is a very light, liquid stain. It is dark red in the bottle but when applied it melts with your skin and it makes it fresh and rosey.

I usually apply it under my foundation (it takes one second, it looks even more natural and lasts forever), but you can apply it over the make-up (I tend to do this not too often: it mixes with the foundation and you have to brush it in more to make it perfect) or on bare skin.

You can buy it in Sephoras worldwide. Online I suggest HQhair.com

I would be lost without it, really!

MAC Russian Red (Mat lipstick)

I already told you that I’m recently converted to the red lipstick religion, and this one is really really a good one.

My concern when I bought it was, among the others, that it would fade soon and look ugly and trashy. Instead, I can tell you what I did with this one the first time I put it on: wore it three hours, smoke a couple of cigarettes, drank a coke from the can, ate a snack (not really a lipstick-respectful girl). Still perfect. It’s true that I was careful, but still.

I recommend a lipliner though, to make it last even longer (I use “brick” lip liner from MAC)

It is also a very beautiful shade of red: pure, deep but not too dark and a little blue-undertoned (= whiter teeth and brighter complexion). The texture is also very nice and easy to apply.

(Ah! It’s also the one that Gwen Stefani is using since ages, I discovered it when I was searching for a pic on the internet!)

This lipstick is a new love, but a big one!

DIORSHOW mascara by Dior

What can I say?

In my opinion, it’s just the perfect mascara. Really. Volumize, strengthens, elongate. My lashes are something like doubled but they still look very good and soft (no, for sure it doesn’t leave that concrete-like effect that make look you lashes like one unique block of stone). Plus, it’s super shiny black. And a black mascara have to be REALLY black to be the best.

The only downside is that it’s a bit pricey, but my super good alternative (14 euros!) is the MAC zoom lash mascara:

This one also elongates and enhances your lashes like crazy, plus it lasts really all day long and it doesn’t melt with summer sweat and rain (and tears!) even if it’s not waterproof. I love it and I always buy it when I feel too broke for the Diorshow  (ahah poor me!)

And you? Did you ever tried these products? Do you like them as much as I do?

Al

PS: The Drawings. One of the reasons why I opened this blog was to have a motivation to start to draw again and share it in order to improve. It was 10 years that I wasn’t drawing almost anything… And what drawing is for me has something to do with the story of a girl that at 3 was using one printer-paper pack every two or three days, that at 8 bought her first Vogue Italia and draw her first imaginary clothing collection inspired to Missoni’s stripes (the model was exclusively Claudia Schiffer) and that as a teen stopped to draw and paint because she thought she lost her talent and inspiration… Maybe I’ll tell you this story one day, but I have to find the way to make it a bit more interesting first!

Anyway, it was just to warn you not to be scared if you see a drawing suddenly pop out in the middle of some of my posts from now on ;-)

The power of red lipstick

Yes! I did it!

After a lifetime of thinking "I'll never look good", "It will act as a spotlight and everybody will look at my ugly face", "Will I be able to wear it or will I just look ridiculous?" I did it.

I bought my first red lipstick.

MAC "Russian Red"

I was out in the city, all focused not to slip on the snow covered pavements, overwhelmed by the cold wind and the grey sky and suddenly I realized that I needed something to cheer me up. Seriously.

After thirty seconds of mind calculations I noticed that I am almost broke (in the beginning of the month!!) so no shopping... How could I possibly find something able to put my mood completely upside down with less than 20 euros???

What is so powerful to enlighten your style, your looks and your mood in less than 20 euros?

After 5 seconds I was already headed to MAC.

And after about 15 minutes I was out, feeling fabulous, walking happy without minding the snow, smiling. With my new super-red lipstick on.

It's true, now I have the proof: everybody can wear red lipstick. Even me.

Did you think that it would highlight your not-so-perfect lips? Totally wrong: for the first time in my life, when I looked in the mirror, I noticed that after all my lips are not so bad. 

Did you think that it would act as a fluorescent arrow pointing at the defects of your face? Totally wrong n° 2: it actually lightens up your complexion and it gives that polished look that rarely you can reach with so few effort.

And I felt that what I was wearing looked immediately updated too (crazy!)

And should I mention that it has a photoshop-like action for your not-so-white teeth?

And all this for 17 euros.

Al is a happy girl today.

Beauty routine essentials

... I can't believe that I found some!

I've always been such a beauty- and make up-addicted girl but it has always been difficult for me to find the Holy Grail(s). 

I buy a lot of beauty products (I always had... my mother used to hate me for this, our bathroom was overfilled with my stuff), experiment even more and fall in love with many of them but it's always for a limited period of time. Especially for skin-care stuff, I never found the PERFECT products. 

Lately, my beauty routine is giving me much more satisfaction than my weekly pizza (and believe me, this is big!) and since this has been going on for a while now, I think I have to share. 

And since the only friend that would understand my beauty raves is 1300 km away from my house, I can only write it here.

So, here we go! 

Autumn beauty routine 

(hope it will stay the same also for winter though, ahah!)

1. Clean the face!

Here's the baby, all consumed 

And this soap is amazing. 

It's organic and hand-made in Belgium, you can buy it online on the Bubbles at Home website. Shipping is quite expensive outside Belgium, though (but I think it's worth it)

It's an argan oil-based soap and it's incredibly mild and hydrating. I have a mixed skin but I'm not a teenager anymore, so I have that bastard skin that needs something very particular: hydrating but not too much, soothing, totally non comedogenic and deep cleansing. And with a boost of vitamin E, why not. 

This soap has all the quality in one. Magic!

2. Refine the washing!

Avène Eau Thermale. 

It's just super, no other words for it. 

I spray it all over face and neck after cleaning skin and eyes and dry it with a clean make-up remover cotton disk. Since when I started to use it I don't have irritations and itches anymore.

3. Moisturize!

Lancaster Skin Therapy

- Anti-ageing oxygen moisturizer - 

I never felt something so similar to love for a cream. 

I tried the sample of this cream by chance, and I had to have it immediately!

It's actually an anti-ageing cream, but since it's not so hard-core anti wrinkles and they say you should start at 25 to use this kind of stuff (I am already one year late!) I thought I       should give it a shot.... and I will never regret!

It's oxygen-based, so when you apply it you don't just feel that your skin is softer and brighter, it really looks like it's enlightened from the inside and that it has a boost of energy. I apply it every morning, every time I do my make-up and every night after the argan soap and Avène water.

It really works well, it's already two weeks I'm using it and I couldn't love it more. 

This is the gel-cream texture, which is perfect for my skin, but they also make a rich cream (for dry skins) and a fluid (for oily skins).

Try this, you won't regret!

My skin thanks!