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A place for me to share all my make-up ramblings...enjoy!

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My name is Sophia!

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FAQ & DISCLAIMER

About Me

My name is Sophia, and I am in my early 30s. I am from Singapore and I am the sole writer of this blog.

About this Blog

I started this blog in 2006, I like to use a wide range of brands though I seem to have a growing preference for higher-end brands in recent years. I also like to share interesting things I have come across about makeup and beauty.

Currently The Makeup Blogette receives 39,000 unique views monthly or 2,238,932 views and counting.

My Makeup Style

I like classic looks (neutral tones on eyes, anything goes for lips & cheeks), though occasionally I try out dramatic/ statement looks.  I believe that a flawless base is the key to achieving great makeup looks.  I also believe that if you don't have great skin to start with, fake it with a good foundation routine, and even greater skincare.  I am currently loving Clarins & Lancome skincare products, and Vichy NormaDerm for tackling with breakouts.

What Cameras do I use?

Most of the pictures you see in post 2010 entries are taken with my Canon G-11.  Previously I was using Canon Ixus 80.  I do post some pictures which are taken with my iphone4 which I will state in that particular entry.  I have stopped watermarking my pictures as of 2011, because I think watermarks are ugly in general, and does not prevent people from stealing my pictures if they wish to.  I just take it as a compliment that my pictures are even worth stealing in the first place. I might look into getting a Canon EOS next year, not just for blogging purposes, but I also like photography in general.

My Favourite Makeup Brand(s)

It is hard to name just one, but I like NARS, Chanel, Illamasqua and the ocasional Guerlain, Dior & Urban Decay item.  I own quite a stash of MAC items, but recently I have stopped catching up with their collections, and I much prefer to splurge on a few really outstanding items.

Where to find me

Twitter (link button above!)  Email (stated above!)  Instagram (makeup_blogette)

I have no official Facebook fan page, and currently have no intention to start one at all.  The Makeup Blogette remains my personal hobby and property, so as such, I don't believe in having a Facebook fanpage for it.

Final Disclaimer

I bought/ paid for all of the products mentioned in this blog. I am not affliated to any company. If certain products are sent to me for review purposes, I will say so and express my honest opinions about them. In any case, I will only review and showcase the products which I have personally tried and tested, and enjoy using. I do not get paid to review anything.

No ads, no paid links etc please.  I am in charge of all content and pictures here.

I am not a makeup artist, nor do I have any professional training in makeup.

 

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    February 23, 2012

    Shiseido SS2012 Shimmering Rouge: My TOP Picks [Photos & Swatches]

    Hi everyone!

    The weekend is almost here... and I am bursting with lots of entries to upload and lots of products just waiting to be photographed, swatched and played with.  I have at least 3 new foundations to try out, lots of skincare and also new brands that I have yet to try out myself. Unfortunately my skin (in particular, my forehead) is suffering from lots bumps recently, I don't feel like doing any proper LOTD entries.  But with some department stores running their storewide promos and special events lately, I think I shall feature some upcoming new products, so you might want to check them out when you go shopping this weekend!

    One of the most anticipated products for me personally, are the new Shiseido Shimmering Rouge for their new SS2012 collection.  There is a total of seven new shades, and they are even creamier and longer lasting than those released just last year.  I love their Shimmering Rouge, the formula and color range is just fantastic, and there are always colors that will suit your preference and mood.

    I picked 3 out of the 7 shades to showcase here.  Basically, I selected the signature shade - RS619 - a dark plummy shade which the model is wearing in the campaign images, a classic nude-ish shade in RD718, and finally a super trendy shade that got many of you very excited from my instagram photo-stream --- that's OR316.  If you need to grab any of these, I highly recommend these three shades.

    The packaging of the Shimmering Rouge is very chic and slim, in a metal case, and it is super creamy, you can feel them melting and settling into your lips once applied, and they look glossy, and gives intense payoff.  What you see in the tube is the color that you will get on your lips.  I don't find them drying at all, and they just glide very smoothly onto your lips.  I usually just slap them on straight from the tube, since they are the slimmer lipsticks, they can be applied more precisely.

     

    Photos & swatches below:

     

     

    What of these have caught your eyes?

     

    I hope this has been helpful, and thank you for looking!

     

     

     

     

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    November 04, 2010

    LOTD: 3-in-1 from Dark Sultry to Classic Smokey Feat. CLARINS Barocco Collection

    Hi hi,

    Just decided to do a quick entry featuring the makeup items from Clarins' latest Barocco Festive makeup collection.

    Click HERE to see the whole collection, and lots of swatches.

    I tried to recreate the look from the promo pic, but of course, I look nothing like the model in the pic (see below), but I took elements of that look and gave it  my own take.  Basically, we want a very flawless light complexion, very natural cheeks, dramatic eyes and lips. It can be hard to pull off both dramatic eyes and lips, but I think if you keep the face very clean, and cheeks natural, this can be done.

    And here is my own take -- in my pictures the lip color is looking redder than it really is IRL - the lipstick is more of a berry tone, kind of a very cool-tone maroon.  I am really liking this color, and that's quite surprising for me, it isn't a color I am immediately drawn to.

    As for the eyeshadows, I used the palest gold shade in the inner corner of my eyes, the darkest charcoal shade on the crease while the mid-tone shade goes on my lids.  I left the brow bone bare and fairly matte because of the gold shimmers going on everywhere else. The liner and lashes are also kept fairly natural. The model also has rather full brows which are just neatly groomed but not overly filled in nor drawn.

    For cheeks, I contoured slightly with Illamasqua's Rumour, and then on the cheeks, I dusted the Face Palette, and I noticed how pretty the fine gold bits look in the pan.

    And if you find the lips too strong, here's how to tone it down... just use a piece of tissue, and blot away til you reach your desired intensity.  I like this look too, because it gives that hint of 'just been kissed' flushed effect.  And notice, especially if you compare these looks to the  nude lips one below, that I think my complexion actually look brighter with the more dramatic lips.

    And the third and final look, is a classic smokey eyes with nude lips, the same eyeshadows, but I used a peachy nude lipstick (NARS Belle Du Jour).

    Very safe, and very wearable!

    Overall, the eyeshadow trio palette is really versatile, perhaps tomorrow I can do a natural 'day look' using the same eyeshadows, and do another LOTD.

    That's all, and hope this is helpful!

    Thanks for looking.

     

    p/s Products from the Clarins Barocco festive makeup were given to me for considertation.  All opinions here are my own honest ones.

     

     

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    July 07, 2010

    LOTD: Simple Smokey Eyes & Glowing Skin with NARS Albatross

    I tweeted this LOTD picture in the morning, just before I left the house.  Hence the rather rough quality of the picture.

    Products used:

    Face - SANA Pore Putty Base, NARS Sheer Glow (Deauville), MUFE Super Matte Loose Powder (Light Pink)

    Cheeks - Illamasqua Tremble, NARS Albatross to highlight

    Lips - Thin Layer of Revlon Nude Attitude (hence can still see  through my own lip color)

    Eyes - NARS Smudgeproof eyeshadow primer, NARS Cleo, NARS Abyssinia to highlight

    * I used the Maybelline gel liner as a base, it is old and a little dried up but good enough for a dark base, I won't use it as a liner anymore.  So that's one way not to waste your dried cream liners.

    Lashes, Liner and Lenses - Cosmos No42, Loreal Superliner, Geo Lenses Nudey Grey

    I sometimes like to do these subtle smokey eyes to make my eyes look bigger, and a little different from my usual neutral browns and taupes.

     

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    June 18, 2010

    LOTD: Simple Eyes with OCC's Anime Lip Tar

    Hi hi, this is a look loosely re-created from Sam (Pixiwoo)'s latest tutorial. Click HERE to watch it.  In the video, she created a winged liner look and used OCC Anime lip tar.  Since I have this lip tar, and have not used it, I thought today would be great to try it out....The color is scarily BRIGHT.. even by my standards... it puts colors like Super, Genial all to shame in its intensity, and thickness.  There is no way you can 'thin' out the color... or adjust the opacity like in Photoshop.  LOL.  Definitely not a color I want to rock on a bright Saturday morning.  I took a few pictures, and then cleaned it off.... and went for a boring..... nudey color instead.

    On my eyes, I have MAC Gazette Grey eyeshadow.  I used Illamasqua Tremble blush.

    On a more technical note, I don't know if any of you noticed, I have been switching cameras in the last few entries.. (the nail swatch fest, the US haul entry, and tutorial), because my Canon G-11 is with the youngest sister for her photography class, and I was switching between my Canon IXUS85IS and Canon IXUS95IS..... I quite like the real-ness of the IXUS95... and my trusty 85IS never fails me to take quick and fuss free shots.. but I still like my G-11 for the flip-out screen.. it leaves your hands free when you want to take self-portrait..:p

    Revlon's Nude Attitude over Anime stained lips.  Haha!

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    December 30, 2009

    Quick Experiment: Creating nude lips using concealer & gloss

    Hi!

    One reader was asking me if nude lips can be created using a foundation/concealer followed by a lipgloss... and I thought that would make a rather fun and useful blog post.  I tried on two conealer shades in this experiment, and I will explain everything along the way!

    Step One:  This is my natural lip color without any products.

    First I used NYX Concealer in a Jar (Porcelene) which is frankly too pale for me as a concealer.  As you can see, this color erases my lip color completely, too pale and ghastly for my liking.  It also looks drying, especially on the lower lip.

    Then, I applied MAC's Underage lipglass over, for some definition and texture.

    Still very pale, but I will show you the whole face to put things into perspective.

    Then I tried another concealer, which is the peachy shades in the Ben Nye concealer wheel.  These are darker in tone. Again, very drying on the lips.  I don't think the difference is very obvious in  the pictures.

     

     

     

    The verdict??  I think if you like really nude lips, you can certainly try this out!  Kind of drying on the lips though, and also, I guess you can do this as a last resort, if you want to explore the whole pale/ nude lips thingy, but not sure if you want to pay for a nude lipstick at MAC or something, because we know it is hard to find a nice nude lipstick at drugstore price range - though I highly recommmend NYX round lipsticks for cheap alternatives.

    That's all, and happy holidays!

     

    I am thinking my first entry for 2010 will be a product rave....and I guess you have a pretty good idea what that will be.  :) 

     

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    December 23, 2009

    An Obsession I didn't know I have: All about NUDE Lipsticks!

    Warning!  Pictures Heavy!

    I will be giving an overview of my nude and pink lipsticks in this entry.  In doing so, I realised just how much lipsticks I have accumulated over time, and this is coming from someone who doesn't like to use lip products at all!  Personally, I prefer using just a lipstick, and I don't really use lipglosses at all -- I only have about 5 or 6 in my whole collection.

    Since my secondary school days (and that was a long time ago!) I am always drawn to 'natural' color lips.  I remember buying this Body Shop multiple purpose lipstick/ cheek thingy, and I love the color so much!  Comparing that color to now, nude/ beige colors have gone a long way.  And if you go to MAC, there is a whole array of nude/ beige/ pale color lipsticks and glosses.

    For me, nude colors means 'My Lips but Better' color.  I don't like washed out lips.. not so much because of the corpse like effect, but I think pale washed out lip color will make my face look FAT.  It's true! Even when I do dark dramatic eye makeup, my 'nude' colors always have a beigy or pinky tinge that is more vibrant than my own lip color.  Besides, you can just slap these pale colors on your lips without having to look into a mirror.  That's what I do anyway.

    Anyway, in this entry, I am comparing selected beigy nude and pinky nude lipsticks.

    I recently purchased some NYX lipsticks from Mascara Page (sorry, no haul entry, only 3 lipsticks, nothing to rave about haha).

    I bought Circe, which I think many of you here are familiar with, and might have raved about.  I also got Strawberry Milk because I think I always sucked into the perfect pale pink look for my lips.

    Let's get on to the pictures -- Sorry, no lip/ skin swatches because my lips are a little chapped right now and we know pale lippies don't look good on chapped lips.  And I don't want to swatch on my hands etc cos almost every color will just blend right into my skin tone.

    NYX Circe: I think this is a very beigy nude.  I was expecting this to be paler, but it is actually very 'obvious' on my lips.. looking slightly tan.  But it is very wearable, and goes on very smooth.  I can see why this color is so highly raved.   Definitely one of those colors you can wear anytime and not worry about matching eye colors and stuff.

    MAC Fleshpot: This is a little too pale for me, and somehow I find the texture a little hard to work with.  I think to make it work better, it's good to use a gloss over to bring out the color of this very nude lipstick.

    MAC 2N: I wish MAC would bring back these N series products.  I think in the upcoming collections, there are a couple of 4N or 5N glosses.  But 2N is a very skintone nude, and because it is a Lustre finish, you don't have to worry about it washing your lips out, as the color is slightly sheer.

    GOSH Darling: A more pink tone nude than Circe.  It is also slightly glossier.  And again, I can see why everyone raves about GOSH Darling.  But I think this may not be suitable for some skintones, because of the pink going on.

    BARRY M 101 Lip paint: I think this is as nude as you can get.  It is also very thick and creamy, and some reviews have mentioned how this is very drying, and way too pale, even for pale skins.  I have never really used this on its own, and always go over with a more pigmented gloss.

    My Top Picks for Beigy Nudes?

    NYX Circe & GOSH Darling.   Not pictured: MAC Blanketty, YSL Rouge Pur 132 Beige Nude, Shu Uemura Beige 940 M

    Next, we have the Pinky Nudes, which are more my cup of tea.  Note I am not featuring the shocking pinks, like Barry M's 146, YSL RV No 19, or MAC's Saint Germaine etc etc.  But if you want my informal reviews and thoughts, do let me know!

     

    MAC Creme Cup: This is a very safe nude color which I think should suit all skin tones.  It has pink undertones, and not too pale.  Very Natural color, I should say.

    NYX Strawberry Milk: I actually am liking this color.  Very pale pastel pink.  Slight blue undertones... and not too thick in texture, so that makes it wearable.  I think with pink lipsticks, the blue toned pinks are harder to wear, while the yellow toned ones are easier to wear.  That's why Saint Germaine is very tricky to work with.

    Revlon Pink Pout: Another pale pink fave.  The color is cool, but light enough for me.  I think heavily lined lids are the perfect match for pink lips.

    YSL RV No1: Why I put this Nude Beige in this category is because it really looks more pinky than beigy.   This is something which you can use all the time... good overall neutral shade.

    YSL RV No 7:  Very bright pink, even though it is pale.  This is definitely not for everyone.  But I like this color!

    My Top Picks for Pinky Nudes?

    MAC Creme Cup, and YSL RV No1

     

    Why is this my little obsession -- whenever I try out new brands or new lipsticks, I always get a pair in a beigy nude, and pink nude.

    Strawberry Milk on my lips.

    Circe on my lips.

     

    My fave look with a pink lipstick:

    And previous entries with nude lipsticks overview:

    Product Rave about YSL RV and comparison of similar shades

    Nude Lips: An Overview

     

     

    That's all, and I hope this has been remotely helpful to you... Let me know if you want me to review or talk about other lipsticks not mentioned here.

    Thanks for reading!

     

     

     

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    November 30, 2009

    LOTD - Wearable Smokey Green

    A quick LOTD featuring the Sleek Original Palette and GOSH 'Darling' lipstick.

    Cheeks: MAC Intenso Mineralised Duo Blush (which I thought would go really with the green going on)

    Lips: Gosh 'Darling' lipstick

    Eyes: UDPP (Sin) for a sticky base.  Sleek Original Palette (I used the dirty green color, and a pale gold color on the inner lids, and the blackish grey on the outer corner), MAC Vanilla e/s to highlight, Stila Golden Noir Smudgepo, False Lashes (Cherry Red #218), and Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara on lower lashes.

     

    And I want to show this ultra super cute CUPCAKE necklace which my other sister got for me, it's a complete surprise when she came home last night with this little thingy! I literally squeal with gleefulness!  Honestly, all I can say is, Christmas has OFFICIALLY BEGUN!!

    Cupcake necklace from Accessorize $16.90

    Printed top and singlet from Zara.

    Heading out now, and my next entry would be November favourites!

    Thanks for reading!

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    April 10, 2009

    LOTD- Smokey PURPLE

    Hi!


    I am going out shopping.  After staying in the whole day clearing lots of work, I feel like I deserved it.

    Going to pick up my sugarsweet stuff, and then maybe a few more.

    I did a smokey purple look, which I re-create from this look by TiffanyD, click here to see more.

    Stuff I used for the eyes:

    MAC Poison Pen e/s, MAC White Frost, MAC Lark About Pigment (which I think might be a good dupe for Vellum e/s which she used in the video).. and I think just a little MAC Carbon on the outer corner.  I didn't have the 'creme de violet' e/s she used, so I used my Cuberry purple pigment.  Love this!!

    I used Constructivist paintpot as a base.

    On the lips: I used 2N lipstick and then Ever So Rich as a gloss.

    Pictures time!

     

     

     

    Without Flash.

     

    That's all, and have a fab weekend!!