The Power of Makeup, my thoughts
When I started to be seriously interested in makeup and beauty products I never thought it would come with the whole package : new amazing friends, new creativity challenges and more fun, but sometimes telling your friends you are passionate about makeup can be seen as “inappropriate for your age“, “shallow“, or “pointless“, I had this kind of conversation more than once :
“What do you do on your free time?“
..this, that and I have a beauty/makeup blog“
“oh…. really ? you don’t look like that kind of woman…“
“hmmm and what would that particular kind be ?”
There is a sudden embarrassing silence, then I stop their agony and change subject before they have a stroke… Maybe I don’t match the “beauty model magazine” standards, or can you not enjoy makeup after you reached a certain age ?? Ok, I don’t wear a killer smokey eye on a daily basis but make up is not only intended for runways or movies and it’s not only meant to make you look fake and superficial, I just want to have fun and use it to make me look healthier, glamorous, yet natural.
I receive many emails from women in their 40+ who would like to start using make up but who just don’t know where to start. Unfortunately I am no professional, all I know I got it from talking to make up artists or to sales assistants at the beauty counters, getting advice from Youtube gurus and watching nice and useful videos so if I can manage a nice make up look, you definitely can.
My needs were different some years ago, now I focus more on anti-ageing tutorials and products more adapted to mature skin. It depends what you are expecting from makeup, just make you feel better ? more confident ? younger ? fresher ? desirable ? or just conceal a few flaws ? Lisa Eldridge gives great advice on her channel so just try Youtube and search for what you want to do and try it for yourself. Tammy is a sweetheart, I just recently discovered her channel, I can’t believe I didn’t see it before, a great resource for anti-ageing advice and she is so fun to watch. If you know of any other gurus that give anti-ageing tips, please share !
I will be 42 in 2 weeks therefore today I am simply trying to achieve an enhanced version of me, a fresher and healthier one, exactly like Wayne says here. I cannot pull off strong and heavy makeup looks at my age but I can still look sexy with a smokey eye, there is a beautiful and hot smokey eye for everyone, it’s just a matter of getting to know your features, choosing the appropriate products for you and using efficient make up tools also helps a lot, it takes time but it’s so worth it.
Chanel Printemps Précieux
I knew Printemps Précieux was going to be very tempting for me, when I saw the collection in person I wasn’t disappointed at all.
Here are the items I have selected, a lot, but surprisingly all were interesting – even the Raffinement quad in the EU version :
As you may know already, Chanel Poudre Signée is a masterpiece. The compact is slightly bigger than other compacts like the Lumière d’artifices or the Ombres Tissées, but the product weights 8g, vs 18g for the Lumière d’artifices.
Both the color and the texture are exquisite. That’s the glow I am looking for, natural glow with a very subtle iridescence.
Holiday post – Beauty items packed lightly…
I used to pack too much makeup in the past but I am getting better, this time I really have to pack even lighter, I don’t have the choice since we are leaving on our motorbikes. Not my favorite means of transport but next year I will do something more “me”, maybe New York or the Maldives ?
I started packing, even though I could absolutely leave home only with my moisturizer, my mascara and my lip balm, I decided to pack some more things, still too many but let’s see what I can do…, so far it sums up to :
Ultimate flattering matte and satin eyeshadows for everyone
Some years ago I felt it was time to upgrade my makeup products and adapt my makeup routine, I sat at the Trish McEvoy counter one day and they told me what I was doing wrong. They kept on saying “Now you have to… Now you cannot..” it was a bit upsetting because I had to face the fact that I wasn’t 20 anymore and I was also sad because I loved shimmery and metallic textures and daring looks. However, when I left their counter that day, I looked much younger and refreshed, they weren’t wrong at the end 
I am in my 40′s and it’s now a necessity for me to pay attention to what makeup I wear and how I wear it, these are my eyeshadow rules and recommendations :
- Find the right texture, not too powdery, not too shimmery, if you see that the texture accentuates the wrinkles and settles into the lines, upgrade your makeup to a more appropriate eyeshadow finish
- Place the dark colors at the right place, use smaller and more precise brushes
- Blend well and define without harsh lines
- Find the colors and the looks that are the best for you, “Less is more” is definitely the best way to go, but with the right products and right techniques there is no reason you could not afford a more dramatic look
- Always use a primer, it will help to prevent the eyeshadow from sliding into the fine lines and I choose a primer that is lighter than my foundation (Laura Mercier, Trish or UD Eden)
- After applying the eyeshadow, if I find that the result is too shimmery and not appropriate, I take a cotton a go softly over the eyeshadow application, it really does help to remove that over shimmery-looking effect when I don’t have time to start over.
- I sometimes use secret-weapon products like the Trish Line Refiner for around the eyes orthe Chantecaille Lip contour for around the lips…
- Last but it’s actually the most important advice I could give you : use good make up brushes !
The eyeshadows I will show you here are mattes, satin, some are even more shimmery but they all are extremely forgiving and flattering, I have tried to pick mostly mattes but I really love a more luminous and silky finish so there’s a bit of everything :
Most of them are extremely expensive brands, you can find less expensive brands that also work well but here I am talking about ultimate results and most of the time you will have to pay the price for that.
Some of these palettes might be discontinued and I am really sorry about that, but, it will show them to you anyway, this will give you an idea of what the brand has and if one day you come across some sale or outlet, then you may even find them at a good price. If I mention them here, it’s because I highly recommend them and I am hoping that if they are not available anymore, the Brand will re-promote them or add them into their permanent collection.
Le Metier de Beauté Crème Fresh Tint VS Chantecaille Cheek Crème
I had two reviews in the pipeline today, the Chantecaille Cheek Creme and Le Metier de Beauté Crème Fresh tint for lips and cheeks, I thought I could post a comparison of the two 
The main difference between them is that the LMdB are also meant to be used on the lips, but since anyway I don’t like the feeling on the lips at all, I will compare only the “cheek” usage of these.
For reference there is a pic at the end of the post with Coral Nymph on the lips but it’s like a frosty/icy finish, not very forgiving, sits on the lips and it does also settle into the lip lines, I did not find the application flattering at all. At this moment I have the worst lips ever and I know that doesn’t help but I had the same problem with very smooth lips. However I saw pictures of bloggers wearing it and it looked nice… on them ! It doesn’t really dry the lips out and I can keep it for a while but even if that’s not a bad multipurpose product, I will not use it on my lips.
The packaging is totally different, I like that Chantecaille has a cute packaging, small and easy to carry, BUT, LMdB contains 5g and costs Usd 28, Chantecaille costs Usd 34 and contains 3g, you get definitely much more product in the LMdB.
Chantecaille Contour Fill, I love this thing…
I have ordered this Chantecaille Lip Contour in July 2011. The day I received it, I was very surprised since I was expecting a chubby lip liner with a beigish or pinkish color but when swatched, you can only see some shine and no color at all.
One day I was in a very big rush, no time to put make up on, I just grabbed this pencil and applied it all over my lips while running away from home to whatever appointment I had….
Some time later, I felt something different going on on my lips… My lips felt so incredibly nice, plumped and so smooth but I didn’t know why, it was only when I got home and I saw this pencil sitting on my dresser that I realized… I tried it again… YEEES ! That was it !!! My Holy Grail lip product.
If I had to pick only one make up product, I would pick mascara. If I had to pick two, mascara and this Chantecaille for sure !
This is how much I love this thing.
Would you like some cream in your Highlighter ?
When I started to use make up, I did not even know what a highlighter was, I discovered highlighters only 2 years ago but since then, I use them on a daily basis, either in a subtle way for a day at work or more dramatic for other evening events or parties.
I love both powder and cream highlighters but due to my very dry skin I tend to use the cream ones more often. They also make it more easy to travel with since they are not powder, they will not shatter and you can just keep them in your checked luggage.
I find cream highlighters more long lasting and that is also why I would pick a cream over a powder one.
Whatever your reason is, everyone should give them a try as they really deliver !
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