Friday, April 30, 2010

Chic Orchid FOTD

Hi everybody,

I'm so sorry for the delay, it's raining cats and dogs today! For today's post, I am going to put some of Formula D's eye shadows to work. With mineral makeup, seeing the swatch is one thing and getting them to work is another. I wore these eye shadows for more than 10 hours with rubbing my eyes and crying in between. At the end of the night (around midnight), they still looked vibrant.

The look.

I tried to look fierce but obviously it didn't work :)

What I used


    • Eye shadows: Pink Bunny, Isis, Belle, Bella, and Ink.
    • Blush: Lotus
    • Powder: The Ultimate Powder
    • Foundation (coming soon to your favorite Etsy shop!): Dao's shade
    • Eyeshadow Primer: Art Deco eyeshadow primer
    • Eyeliner: MAC Blacktrack (upper lash line), Wet n Wild Idol Eyes liner in Pixie
    • Lipstick: MAC Viva Glam VI SE (the one with Fergie)
    • Various face and eye brushes

    Eyes

    • Apply Belle from the inner corner of your eyes to 2/3 of your eyes using ELF eyeshadow brush.
    • Using the same brush, apply Isis to the outer 1/3 of your eyes and blend with Belle to blur the edge
    • Emphasize the outer-v with Ink using EcoTools crease brush, blend lightly
    • With the same brush already wiped clean, pick up Pink Bunny and apply to the crease for an extra sheen.
    • Using EcoTools highlight brush, apply Pink Bunny to the inner 1/4 of your eyes on top of Belle for a extra glow
    • With the same brush, apply Bella to the area underneath the brow bone to highlight.
    • With an eyeliner brush, apply Blacktrack to your upper eyelash, as close to the lash line as possible, and wing out at the end.
    • Optional: use Pixie to line your lower lashline to make your eyes look more awake.
    • Curl your eyelashes and apply mascara
    Semi-close eye
    Face
    • With ELF Studio Powder brush, apply The Ultimate Powder to your face
    • Apply your mineral foundation to your face, using the same brush
    • To blur pores and minimize shine, apply The Ultimate Powder on top of your foundation to set it

    Cheeks
    • With Sonia Kashuk flat top blush brush, apply Lotus to your cheeks
    • Use StudioTools dual fiber brush to apply Bella as a highlighter to an area higher than your cheekbone for an extra glow.
    Lips
    • Apply MAC Viva Glam VI SE to your lips and if you want a shiner pout, add lip gloss on top

    And that's how we do it!
    I wore a pair of earrings my friend Sooji gave me. It fits this look very well. If you noticed carefully, I experimented something different with my eyes: I drew a tiny triangle at the inner corner of my eyes to make them look more pointed. It looks strange in real life but in film, it does not look so bad. I don't know if I like it. The triangles just look different, I guess.

    I hope you'll have a wonderful weekend. If you haven't visited my shop yet, please take a look. I hope seeing how these colors work will motivate you to support my shop :) I really really hope so!

    Legal stuff:  This post contains links of products at my Etsy shop, Formula D Minerals. I either own or paid money for all products used in this post. For more information about My Makeup Blog's disclosure policy, click here.

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    Wednesday, April 28, 2010

    Formula D Minerals Swatches

    Hola!

    El Gato Supremo was supposed to blog today but this morning, I found him outside sun bathing. I think he is aiming to play the Chesire Cat in "Alice in Wonderland 2" or something. He's been working out and getting tanner to look good. With this rate, he will be called Mr. Six Pack Abs instead of Mr. Belly :)

    Do not disturb! I'm enjoying nature, yo!
     With Mr. Belly Gato Supremo out of commission, I guess I'd better share the swatches of the eye shadows and blushes available at my shop, Formula D Minerals.

    Blue quad: Baby Blue, Something Blue, Midnight, and Cookie Monster
     My favorite of this quad is Cookie Monster. It is bright and cheerful, like our beloved Sesame Street monster who's not Elmo. Baby Blue is very cute and Something Blue is simply gorgeous. You can use Midnight as a liner color, too!

    Pink quad: It Girl, Quirky, Pink Bunny, and Kaleidoscope
    I love It Girl a lot, it's my favorite pink eye shadow. It's very wearable and does not give you that haughty, tired red eye look.

    Purple trio: Isis, Belle, and Serenity
    Isis was named after my friend's nickname. Both Isis and Belle and wearable purple. Serenity is frosty and very pretty. I guess it is more of a cool winter color but when combined with Isis and Belle, they make a very pretty look.

    Neutral quad: Granite, Golden Bear, Smoke, and Sandy
    My neutrals are not the boring types. They are shimmering, sparkling, and a bit brighter than your regular neutrals. Sandy is an interesting color and I wish you could see it on my skin. Smoke is very soft with a hint of green. Golden Bear is a pretty golden brown color and Granite is a dark semi-matte color.

    Highlight quad: Peach &Cream, Daisy, Bella, and Summer Sun
     This is an interesting highlight quad for those who want yellow, pink, and peach highlight colors. Peach and Cream is a light peach color, Daisy can be used as a highlighter or a regular color, Bella is a pretty gold-silver duochrome color, and Summer Sun is a light pinkish gold shade.

    Green quad: Sparkling Green, Ms. Olive, Golden Olive, and Greenbacks
    This is a gold tone green quad. My camera does not capture the colors well but Sparkling Green is just drop dead gorgeous and shimmery. Ms. Olive is a dark olive gold color. Golden Olive is lighter than Ms. Olive and it is a duochrome color. Greenbacks is an apple green eye shadow that screams "spring is in the air!" :)

    Dark quad: Blue Steel, Ink, Gilded Glam, and Molten Lava
     If you are into smokey eyes and dark mineral eyeliner, please get these colors. Also, "Blue Steel" is a fun smokey colors. You don't need to be Derek Zoolander to do Blue Steel :)
    Blushes: Radiance, Dandelion, Flushed, and Lotus
    The blushes are soft and creamy. Lotus has a lilac undertone that's suitable for cool tone ladies. Flushed is my favorite color: it actually looks like I'm blushing whenever I wear it. Dandelion is a soft pink color. Radiance is warmer and more of a peach shade. I love these blushes a whole lot: they are soft, silky, and long lasting.

    That's all for today. If I write any longer, I will get into a blatantly self-promotion mode and I don't want that. For those who want to be patron saints of my shop, you need to set up an Etsy account to purchase. It is quick and easy (easier than setting up an email account, in fact!) After that, you can shop at Formula D as well as other wonderful Etsy shops. I hope you will support handmade products. We do spend a lot of time perfecting our crafts to give you the best.

    By the way, my big "Thank You" of the day goes to the first customer who made a purchase yesterday. You know who you are and nobody can take away your "First Customer" spot in my heart.

    Formula D Minerals


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    Tuesday, April 27, 2010

    Multi-tasking to the Next Level!

    Hi everybody!

    Thank you for your kind words on the opening of my Etsy shop. I really appreciate it! Today, I've been busy with all things Formula D related: taking, cropping, and editing photos, writing item descriptions, sorting things out, and posting each and every single item on my store. On top of that, I am juggling between Blogger, Etsy, and Twitter.

     And guess what? I am not doing so well with multi-tasking! *bite nails...hard*

    To the reader who suggested me to do swatches: it is in my agenda. Tomorrow, I am going to take a bunch of swatches on my body, probably from head to toes, label them, and upload to Etsy. I understand how difficult it is to get an accurate picture of the colors. My camera can go so far when it comes to capture colors and I find the best way is to film in direct sunlight.

    About samples: I will definitely have samples for blushes, powder, and foundation. I thought about doing eyeshadow samples but Etsy has this listing charge of 20 cents per item plus 3.5% commission price. In order to see the sunlight and make some profits, I have to price a sample more than a dollar each. When you compare to the full price ($3.99), I guess you realize it's better to purchase the whole jar.

     Yes, that's the downside of dealing mineral makeup on Etsy. As much as I want to offer you 50 cent samples, I can't :( And I'm very sad! I may do a sample bundle though. We will see!

    If you haven't seen my shop yet, it is right here :) If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me here, my email, twitter, or at Etsy.
    This is the Nine, my favorite colors (click for a bigger picture!)
    That's all for today, folks! Thanks for staying with me! Now, go watch Glee or something :)

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    Monday, April 26, 2010

    Introducing Formula D Minerals

    Hi everybody,

    I am so excited! Finally, after months of preparation, my Etsy shop finally opens! Ladies and gents, may I introduce Formula D Minerals!

    The screen shot :)

    If you read my cryptic post on Friday, you already had a peak at the eyeshadow collection. I posted the first 15 eye shadows today. For the first run, there will be 27 eye shadows, 4 blushes, and 1 powder. As time progresses, I will add more products to this line. And of course, I will add the rest of the products to my site tomorrow.

    Shipping is relatively inexpensive: $2.00 if you purchase one item, and 25 cent each per additional item when shipped to U.S addresses. For international customers, it's $3.00 for the first item and 30 cent per additional item.

    The eye shadows are priced at $3.99/item (that's a dollar cheaper than my planned price), the blushes are $6.99/item, and the powder is $8.99. (The powder is huge!) I am trying to make things in a reasonable price range so you guys can afford it while I don't go to the poor house :)



    Please take a look at my shop and help me out by shopping with me. After graduation, I am still unable to find a job. This economy is tough and being an environmental science grad, getting a job is even tougher. So instead of waiting for someone to call me for employment, I decided to make an employment for myself. Let's hope this opportunity will bring many interesting things beside monetary gain to my life.

    Also, please spread the words. As an Etsy shop owner, I do not have any advertising budget (unlike big companies out there!) I know you love me and my blog, so please give my store a try and if you like the products, please let everyone know about Formula D. Just a link on your blog and Twitter will help my shop tremendously!

    Formula D Minerals


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    Friday, April 23, 2010

    A Sneak Peak

    Hi everybody,

    I hope your Earth Week has gone well so far. I can't wait for the weekend! Today, I am going to do something I've never done before: I'm going to give you a peak of what I've been working for the past month.

    Look at all those eye shadows! I won a giveaway!
    Haha, just kidding! I didn't win any giveaways. But they do look lovely, right?

    These are some bright colors



    The highlight quad
    Some green colors for green eyes babes :)
    I stacked them up and play with them
    And lay them down to take pictures of them :p
    Interested? Intrigued? Please come back on Monday to know more about these goodies! You'll be surprised where they came from. For those who already knew, please keep quiet. These are top-secret items that haven't been released before. Just a few got to use it and so far, I think they like it.

    So please, please, please come to my blog on Monday for the big announcement. It's my graduation from being a makeup addict to the extreme :)

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    Thursday, April 22, 2010

    Earth Day FOTD

    Hi everyone,

    It's Earth Day today! I hope with reading this blog throughout the week, you've gathered some tips to make your life greener. It does not take a lot of efforts at all. A little change from everybody can accumulate to make a big difference in the environment.

    For today's FOTD, I did a blue-green eye makeup look that reminds me of the river, forest, and ocean. I use the Sephora Pure palette as it has both blush and eye shadow. The colors are basically pressed pigments in an eco-friendly bamboo case. On top of that, it only costs $15 for 7 colors! I bought it last year when Sephora had a 20% sale and I didn't regret making the purchase at all. The colors are very soft and pigmented.

    Earth Day FOTD
    Stuff I used: Sephora Pure palette, Bare Canvas paint pot, foundation and finishing powder, L'Oreal HiP cream liner in Eggplant, L'Oreal Voluminous carbon black mascara, various brushes, Yes to Carrots lip tint in Coral shimmer and lip gloss in Playful Nude



    Close up of the palette (the colors I used are written in black)



    Eyes

    First, apply MAC Bare Canvas to your eyes as a primer. Then, apply Cayman to the inner 1/3 of your eye, using ELF blending brush. Using the same brush, apply Amazon to the middle 1/3 of your eye and blend it with Cayman to blur the edge. With the same brush, pick up Baltic and apply it to the outer 1/3 of the eye, emphasize on the outer-v.

    With EcoTools crease brush, pick up Baltic and apply it to the crease area to contour. Make sure to blend well. Using EcoTools highlight brush, apply Sahara to the areas underneath the brow bone as well as the inner corner of the eyes.

    Line your eyes with L'Oreal HiP cream liner in Eggplant and an eyeliner brush, then apply 2 coats of mascara.

    Should look like this at the end
    Cheeks
    Using the Sonia Kashuk flat top blusher brush, apply Mojave to your cheeks and blend it up slightly to your temple.

    Lips
    Layer Playful Nude on top of Coral Shimmer for a warm yet natural-looking pout. Et voila, you're done!

    I love this palette because it has both blush and eye shadows. For eye shadows, it has both bright and neutral colors. Also, this palette is quite ergonomical and sturdy for traveling. You can grab it and the EcoTools eye brush set and head straight to the airport without feeling like filling your bag with makeup.

    I hope you enjoy this look. How do you celebrate Earth Day? Please let me know in the comment section, Ok?

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    Wednesday, April 21, 2010

    EcoTools Eye Brush Set: Eco-Chic and Fabulous!

    Hi everybody,

    When it comes to environmentally friendly and reliable brushes, EcoTools get the gold star. Since I bought the EcoTools 6-piece eye brush set, I haven't touched my other eye brushes. I know, somewhere in my makeup drawer, a MAC brush is crying.


    EcoTools 6-piece bamboo eye brush set

    The set costs $7.99 USD but the day I purchased, I also got a $3 store coupon so it cost me less than a dollar a brush. I know, it is difficult to find a reliable brush that's made of recycled aluminum, synthetic taklon, and bamboo handle for $5, let alone the whole set for the same price. I guess I am just lucky.



    It has a mini brush roll made of hemp and a mirror
    When folded, the set is a bit bigger than a deck of card. You can toss it into your purse and still have plenty of room.
    Top-bottom: EcoTools blend brush, MAC 239SE, EcoTools eyeshadow brush
    From the above picture, the brushes in this set are short. In fact, they are even shorter than MAC special edition brushes. I don't find it difficult to use them at all. However, for those with big hands, they may be a bit small for you.

    EcoTools blend brush
    This is the chubbiest brush I've ever owned. Because of the size, it makes applying eyeshadow faster since it can grab more material. Also, the pointed tip makes the outer-v a lot sharper than usual. Since I have small eyes, blending is a bit more difficult so I don't use it to blend. It is strictly for applying makeup.

    EcoTools crease brush
    Remember I told you earlier about a MAC brush crying? Well, that one is my beloved MAC 217. While I love the 217 very much, I find it difficult to dissipate colors sometimes. Also, my outer-v area can be blurry when I want a sharp and define v. This crease brush is the solution. With its tapered edge, it looks like a mini version of your slanted blush brush. In fact it functions the same way as MAC 275 angled shading brush but it is bigger. I really love this brush and please don't let the chunky size fool you. It actually works very well.

    EcoTools highlight brush
    Looks like a blending brush but doesn't work as a blending brush, this brush has some sort of identity crisis going on. At first, I thought I could use it to blend the way MAC 217 does. However, this brush is neither thick nor strong enough for blending. The shape, on the other hand, fits perfectly for the areas underneath the brow bone and the inner corner of the eyes. It just takes time to get used to the functionality but to me, this is a good brush.

    EcoTools shade brush
    Although it is designed to add emphasis on the outer corner of your eyes, I find it too small and soft to do that. I use it for detailed work and this brush doesn't get a lot of air time. It is just one cute little brush that I am trying to find more ways to use.

    EcoTools smudge brush
    Like the shade brush, this smudge brush is too soft to work like MAC 219 pencil brush. I find it difficult to smudge out pencils. However, it applies dark eye shadows close to the lash line like a charm!

    I highly recommend this eye brush set for anyone who's looking for a cute, portable brush set for travel. I use it on a daily basis now and it is very soft to my skin. Also, it doesn't take a lot of space at all. With that price, you can buy 2 sets and still have some change left for candies. I love EcoTools brushes very much and this set does not disappoint.

    Legal stuff: I bought this brush set with my own money. For more information regarding My Makeup Blog's disclosure policy, click here.

    A word from Mr. Belly: he's very upset that he didn't have any comments on his most recent post. If you can, please make him happy by giving him some nice comments. Otherwise, he will seek revenge by rubbing his fur all over me!

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