Seeing the Soul

Maybelline “Dream Bouncy” Blush Review

Today I’m doing a review on my new Maybelline “Dream Bouncy” blush. Now, I’ve heard a lot of people say they’re hard to work with, they aren’t pigmented enough, and they can’t be used with a brush. That they’re easier to apply with your fingers. Well, those reviews are wrong. I recently bought this blush in shade #20 “Peach Satin”. I had originally been hunting for the “Dream Mousse” blushes, but my local Fred Meyer didn’t have them, and one of them has also been remodeling their interior. *le annoyed sigh*
    But, I was definitely glad I found these. I hadn’t heard of them, and I hadn’t watched or read any reviews online about them prior to purchase. Biiig no-no for me. I usually get a pretty good, in depth view on products from both sides of the arguments before considering purchase. When I saw the blushes I thought: “Hm…maybe they’re like the mousse ones. Like, the newest version of them.” I think they are, and in a nicer direction. Like the back of the packaging says, they are indeed super lightweight, and it melted into my skin and foundation today(Sunday, 1 April 2012) when I applied it for the first time. I bought mine last week. I didn’t have the opportunity to use it in that time because I don’t wear foundation every day.
    Now, I have rosacea and hardly, if ever, have a need for blush. I’m very blessed to have a mild case of it. It tends to color the tops of my cheekbones and curve around in a C shape around the socket of said bone. It can range from light, rosy pink, to an angry red depending on how dehydrated I am, or how much preservatives I’ve consumed. Or if I’ve eaten something spicy.
    Around October[I believe] I finally found a cheap, drugstore brand foundation that covers my rosacea without irritating it too much, so long as I drink water before, during, and after applying it. (it’s how I am with ALL foundations that cover my entire face.) It’s also the lightest shade I have found in ALL foundations I’ve tried that matches my skintone pretty well. It’s my NYC foundation(previous post). I tried applying the blush with my fingers, and I got annoyed. I decided to try my stippling brush. It worked really well. I don’t know if it’s because it had left over foundation, or just because of the way the bristles are, but the blush went on really well.
    All in all:
        The texture is like what people are saying. It doesn’t bounce back from you poking at it, it just leaves a small indent. It feels like play-dough. I haven’t tried any of the lighter shades yet, because I was looking for a pink/peach color so I can’t say if the lighter shades are as pigmented. I’ll try the lighter ones out when I get another job.[hangs head in sadness *temporarily unemployed*] But I would definitely recommend buying these. And to those of you who don’t like the ones you’ve already purchased, try a stippling brush!
    At my local Fred Meyer’s they retail for around $7.89 or something like that.
    Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, and I hope it helps you in your decision making process on these blushes. Feel free to comment, or ask me some questions, and check out my other postings. Also, you can follow me on Twitter @misspenginchan, or on Instagram (same user name). I also have a [still in the works] YouTube channel that I’m trying to cultivate. The Zombie webisodes might have to wait until after my move, sadly. I’m also going to be working on my Gothic/Arabian Sunset look. I didn’t like the way my last video turned out, and I need to figure out how to work my video editing programs again -.-
    Again, thank you and I hope you enjoyed this,
 Abigail

Springing into Spring 2012

So, today I bought a new nail varnish, and a new lipstick color. I am absolutely in luurve with the OPI colors. I could spend hours looking at them all, and hundreds of dollars on all of the shades I want.

But today I was after something for Spring. It’s almost March, and my Spring Break will be starting in about a week or so. There’s still a lot of snow on the ground here in Alaska, and will be, as it won’t melt entirely until about early May. Something bright; something fresh. I bought the shade “Cajun Shrimp” NLL64. It is definitely the shade of shrimp. It reminds me of Pepe from “The Muppets”! It’s a pinky, orange-y, creme shade. It’s great!

The lip color I bought was L’oreal Paris #814 Forever Frappe (Infallible Lipstick). I’ve been searching for a nude color so I could complete what I needed/wanted for my Arabic look I’m working on. I will be filming my tutorial tomorrow, February 29, 2012, and it will most likely be edited and uploaded by sometime Thursday or Friday morning. This particular shade is fairly close to my natural lip color. It’s fairly mauve-y with some brown undertones. So far, I like it a lot.

Arabic/Indian Time

A preview of what’s to come! I’m on this whole Indian/Arabic kick at the moment. I watched “The Other End of the Line” and “Bride and Prejudice” recently, and I’ve also been listening to Indian music. I’m also in love, and have been for a while, with the Arabic makeup look. I recently went to the website: http://www.devucosmetics.com and found the Sleek Sunset palette and ordered it. I am currently awaiting it’s arrival, and once I do I will make a video. I’m going to try putting a Gothic twist on the look, but it will mostly been in golds/copper tones with some dark brown and black mixed in. I also bought a new scarf yesterday, February 12, 2012. It’s GORGEOUS!!! I love it sooo sooo much! I also bought two new pairs of earrings. All on sale! I also saw something I’m going to try out with the look from “Once Upon A Time“s newest episode from last night. I love when the Evil Queen shows up. Her outfits! Her makeup! Her umbrella last night!! She’s like the perfect Gothic inspiration right now, for me. The actress plays evil well. I hope you all are eagerly awaiting the video as much as I am awaiting my makeup! Please, stay tuned and feel free to subscribe to my YouTube channel, or my twitter: @MissPenginchan

CyberTwig

If Twiggy were from the future!

List of Products Used-
Fresh Minerals waterproof, black khol eye pencil
NYX eyeshadow base, white
NYX Azure Sky eyeshadow – matte
Revlon, fine tip, eye pen: black
matte black from a pallet from PopTartWorld
Almay black liquid eyeliner
Rimmel London Full Body Sexy Curves mascara, black
Loreal Telescopic Explosion mascara, black
Wet ‘n’ Wild khol eyeliner, white
NYX White eyeshadow – matte

This look was inspired by a pair of boots from Payless.com, and Twiggy’s look from the 60s when she was starting to model. I love her look, the sleepy eyes and the “twig” lashes! I hope you all enjoy this look, and the link to the video from my channel is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BURkp5DpnA

Finally Managed to…

I finally managed to get this off my phone. I took a picture in my sister’s car on our way Trick-or-Treaing on Halloween, but never managed to get it off my phone. This is what I ended up doing for Halloween. It’s a lot more elaborate, and I used more glitter. I also “contoured” a little with the green eyeshadow and brought it down my cheeks in a wavy/teary looking pattern. It kinda ended up looking a bit like Night Elf shadowing from World of Warcraft!

HORDE FTW!!!

‘Til next time
Abigail

My News!

Well everybody, I think this fall I might start posting things more often! Why? I’m [hopefully] moving to Oregon and taking Cosmetology classes! My “twin” and I are moving there together, and I will be taking classes at one of the local schools. She has willingly volunteered to be my guinea pig! *insert “evil” grin here* I will be trying to be a bit more active before then, but once there I will definitely post anything I can.

I also might take some makeup artistry classes, and a pattern making class if I can find one. I was originally taking classes to complete my degree as a Computer Information Technology Specialist, but one morning I had finished making about three sketch-designs for outfits and said to my mom that I wanted to know how to make my own patterns. She suggested I go to fashion design school, and there went my ten year plan I had had for five years now. -.-

That afternoon I started looking into schools here in the U.S that I could maybe go to for that(since there aren’t any in Alaska). I also thought about maybe veering off towards Oregon because I remembered my friend/twin was thinking about going there. I had texted her that morning with my dilemma as well, and once she replied we had got to talking about where I could go, what I could do. Finally, after spending the rest of my afternoon with my sister and her kids, I went home and talked things out with my mom. I told her what I had found about fashion design schools in Oregon, and also my [upintheair]plan to go there with my friend.

The next day we talked some more, and the day after that as well. We talked to my “twin” and we looked online, and finally decided I needed to pick one career path to go with. I wasn’t really much for the “fashion design” school, I just mainly want to know how to make patterns so I can make my own clothes and be as Goth as I want without hunting, and hunting, and not prevailing over mainstream fashion and stores. We settled on beauty school with some makeup artistry classes!

So, if all goes well, I will be moving to Oregon this fall and working on becoming a Beautician! Then I can buy that shirt that says “I’m a Beautician, not a Magician”! I will also know more about makeup than I do now, and I will be able to style and cut hair, and do nails as well! I will also be traveling down there during Spring Break to check things out with my mother. Wish me luck!

A Retro-Mod Look

I absolutely love Twiggy’s look from the 60′s. It was amazing, and I love how she managed to get that tired doll look. I attempted it, but the lighting in my house[plus the use of my iTouch camera] sucked and it didn’t turn out. Here’s the next best thing! I will be posting a list of products used, and eventually I will make a video. That one is going to be a more futuristic spin on this look, however. Not much of a difference, but it’ll be really cool! I’m trying to get the right outfit together to go with a pair of boots I will be ordering that are just amazing! They’re called “Lunar Moon Boots” and they make me think of Zenon[I was a little kid when it came out on Disney]

A little snippet of news I saw tonight whilst googling around, was a few things that might[and might not] be true: some Spring 2012 makeup trends. One of them was that the whole 60′s/Twiggy thing was coming back. If so, I am extatic! I loooove retro things like this. I really love the 40′s cat eyeliner as well.

In my rendition in this picture, the line at the crease is a little lower than I would have liked, and it’s also a bit thicker and blended that in the pictures I found of Twiggy. I still like how it turned out though, and I think the line will end up a little like this when I do the futuristic version. I hope you all stay tuned and like my creation when it’s finished!

Abigail

Forest Nymph, Halloween 2011

Here’s the list of products used in my latest video. If you want to see it just check out my channel! I hope your Halloween this year is a memorable one! I’m extremely excited for it this year. More so than other years. I love Halloween, it’s my favorite holiday ever! I don’t know why sometimes…I just love it!

Products Used

Eyes:

• Avon “big color” eye pencil in Celadon
• Wet n Wild “I Dream of Greenie” eyeshadow tri (eyelid shade and brow bone shade used accordingly)
• Mabelline NY eyeshadow in “Antique Jade”
• Avon “precision glimmer” eyeshadow in Olive
• Loreal Paris HIP  matte eyeshadow duo, PERKY – the dark green
• Fresh Minerals waterproof eyeliner, Dark Brown
• Cover Girl eyeshadow “Brown Smolder”
• Avon “precision glimmer” liquid eyeliner in Olive
• Milani liquif’eye metallic eyeliner pencil, #03 Gold
• Mark eyeshadow “Golde Luxe”
• Almay liquid eyeliner, Black
• Rimmel London Sexy Curves Full Body mascara(red tube) Black
• Loreal Paris, Telescopic Explosion mascara, Black
• Graftobian Theatrical Glitter Gel, light green

Lips:

• Avon dual ended eyeliner black-silver, Black
• Revlon ColorStay lipliner, Plum
• Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick #657, Fuchsia Fusion

Gothic Beauty Issue#33 Recreation

Konichiwa! Here’s the list of products I used in my video: http://www.youtube.com/user/MissPenginChan?feature=mhee

Products Used:

• NYX white eyeshadow base
• Cover Girl “Blossom” eyeshadow quad
• Cover Girl “Brown Smolder” eyeshadow
• L.A. Splash “Fuchsia Fusion” eyedust pigment
• a very deep gray eyeshadow (I don’t remember the brand)
• black eyeshadow from a small pallet from poptartWorld
• white eyeshadow from a small pallet from poptartWorld
• Almay black liquid eyeliner
• Wet’n'Wild white kohl eyeliner
• Rimmel London sexy curves, full body mascara (red tube)

As an all over base I used Nyx white eyeshadow base. The first pinks I used(combined) was the Mabaline “Blossom” quad, the last shade(a more intense pink color), and the LA Splash pigment. On the lid was the pale pink color, and the highlight was the pale pink as well, with some white mixed in to make it lighter.
For the shading I used both “purple” colors from the “Blossom” quad, a very deep gray(the brand I don’t know) brown, and black. Make sure you work with the natural shape of your nose and eyebrow. This is shading and contouring in one. Since it was patch looking between my eyebrow and skin I used a pencil brush for the black. Also make sure you shade into your crease as well, but not so much as to make a “circle” out of it. Leave room for the highlight as well. And if need be, after the shading, add more light pink to your eyelid to keep it nice and pure. Use the lighter “purple” color to start shaping the rounded edge on top, and to fan out on the edges and the bottom, then go over it with the dark brown.
For the eyeliners, white on the waterline, black everywhere else. For cat eyeliner, like everyone else says, practice makes perfect. Really. The main thing is to go with the natural shape of your eye. And with this particular look, don’t connect the liner at the inner corner. Stop where your lashes do and trail out as thin as you can.
Then curl your lashes and apply your favorite mascara, red up your lips, and you’re done I hope you enjoyed this look, and that it was helpful as well. Thanks for reading this, and if you haven’t yet: go check out my video for this look on YouTube!

-Abigail

PS: “poptartWorld” is my name for Icing/Claires stores. Used to be called Afterthoughts. Might hear me refer to it by that name, but mostly it will be poptart world!!!

Upcoming Look!

I am absolutely in love with the look shown on the model on issue 33 of Gothic Beauty! I was finally able to find a copy of the zine at Barnes & Noble and boy am I glad I did! Her hair is very Emilie-esque, and I adore her makeup. I have everything needed to complete the eye look, and I will definitely post a picture, and maybe a tutorial once I figure out how to recreate it.