FOTD: Very natural

Just a quick post for the weekend. It's been a very sunny day today in Helsinki so I decided to do a very natural look before heading out to have breakfast in the nearby park.

Very Natural

Meow Pampered Puss foundation in Inquisitive Himalayan (two layers)
Meow LF blush in Heliconia
Meow Top Cat Finishing Powder
Meow Crystalline Cat Glow Powder in Quartz (on temples and cheekbones)
Aromaleigh Eye Lustre eyeshadow in Amelie (all over lid)
Aromaleigh Pure Hues eyeshadow in Delicate Bronze (on outer vee and crease)
Aromaleigh Elemental Lustre eyeshadow in Blaze (to darken crease and outer vee)
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
Max Factor False Lash Effect Waterproof mascara in Black
Aromaleigh Gothic Lolita Nourishing Color Creme lipstick in Cakewalk


I didn't get a decent picture with my eyes closed (boo). I really like Blaze, it's an amazing coppery brown that has this metallic sheen to it. Amelie is a very soft peachy sort of colour with a hint of stiny shimmer. Delicate Bronze is sort of a lighter and non-metallic version of Blaze. It's the sort of colour that it's very easy to use. I'm not a big fan but it worked well with this look. I don't hate it either, it's just so ordinary that I neither love it or hate it. A very neutral colour in every sense. The pigmentation is gorgeous though, as with almost everything that Aromaleigh comes up with (I've only been disappointed with a handful of Aromaleigh stuff and with my makeup collection, that's nothing).

And this is how I look when I do my makeup after shower and decide not to do anything with my hair :D Also the sun was shining directly at my eyes.. Yes, very lovely :P

When doing makeup with brown or bronze shades, it's usually best to have something pink in it, too. I mean, if you decide to use browns for your face and you want to use a bronzer instead of a blush, you should use pink lipstick or gloss for your lips. I decided to use a bronzey lipstick from Aromaleigh so I opted for a pink/coral blush. I think it balances out the bronziness and gives a nice pop of colour.

I've come to love Aromaleigh's Nourishing Color Creme. They are very easy to use because of the twist-up lipbalm container. The formula is very moisturizing and the colour stays on for quite long, too. Also the price $6.65 makes it very affordable. I already have Sweet Tart (mauveish) and Cakewalk from the 4 new colours but I think I might be getting Shortcake (pink) at some point.

Hope you have a nice and sunny weekend, too!

FOTD: Bromeliad + Torch + Toucan + Mantis

I'm on a roll! This is the third post in three days and this time I'm finally showing you the look I've done a couple of times now with Meow's Lost Rainforest Collection's Bromeliad, Torch, Toucan and Mantis. I added Toucan to darken the crease, before this I've done without it.

Bromeliad is a coral shade with golden glimmer.
Torch is a peach sort of colour with golden glimmer.
Toucan is very vibrant and fun pink.
Mantis is a glimmering aqua.



Bromeliad + Torch + Toucan + Mantis

Meow Cosmetics Pampered Puss foundation in Inquisitive Himalayan (one layer, applied with a damp flat top brush)
Meow Lost Rainforest Iridescent Glow Powder in Morpho (as a highlighter on cheekbones and below brow)
Meow Lost Rainforest blush in Heliconia (on cheeks)
Too Faced Shadow Insurance (as a primer on lids)
Meow Lost Rainforest eyeshadow in Torch (on whole lid, except for outer vee)
Meow Lost Rainforest eyeshadow in Bromeliad (crease and 1/3 of outer corner)
Meow Lost Rainforest eyeshadow in Toucan (to darken the crease and outer vee)
Meow Lost Rainforest eyeshadow in Mantis (lower lashline)
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack (as a liner)
Max Factor False Lash Effect Waterproof mascara
MAC Hello Kitty lip conditioner in Popster
MAC Dazzleglass in Goldirocks

I love the brightness of these colours! That's why I decided to do a thicker line with Blacktrack because the black seems to emphasize the vibrancy of the colours. Torch is really flattering. Most peaches are either too dull or too orange but this has a great golden shimmer to it. Bromeliad pairs with it perfectly as it has the same golden gleam.

I've done this look without Mantis and it looks perfectly fine but I think Mantis is so fresh that I couldn't just leave it out this time. Aqua is a very difficult colour for me because it makes me look even paler than usual but as the other colours are so warm, I think it makes a nice contrast.

I tried to blend the colours together (again, by sweeping with a eyeshadow brush from side to side). It wasn't too hard because the colours match beautifully.

I really love this look and I feel completely comfortable with it (that's probably why I've done it several times already). I've usually used Canna for my cheeks but this time I reached for Heliconia. If Meow decides to keep this collection around longer, I'm going to get a full sized tub of it. I know, I know, I said that the colour doesn't look flattering on me but I have to admit that I might have been wrong. It happens, you know.

I decided to continue playing with the golden glimmer by applying Goldirocks over Popster.

I hope you like this look! And have a happy weekend everyone!

FOTD: Endangered Siren look with Meow Lost Rainforest

Today I wanted to try out some purplish colours from Meow's Lost Rainforest. Siren and Endangered caught my eye because I love how Sires is almost-purple, almost-rose with golden gleam and how Endangered just begs to be paired with it.


Endangered Siren

Meow Pampered Puss foundation in Inquisitive Himalayan (two layers + wet as a concealer on blemishes)
Meow Crystalline Cat Glow powder in Quartz (as a highlighter on cheeks and below brows)
Glamour Doll Eyes blush in Doll Face (on cheeks)
Meow Primp and Preen Equilibrium powder (as a finishing powder)
Too Faced Shadow Insurance (as a primer on lids)
Meow Cosmetics Lost Rainforest eyeshadow in Siren (2/3 of lid)
Meow Cosmetics Lost Rainforest eyeshadow in Endangered (outer vee and crease)
Meow Cosmetics Lost Rainforest eyeshadow in Toucan (middle of the lid, blending into Siren and Endangered)
Meow Cosmetics Lost Rainforest eyeshadow in Waterfall (outer vee)
Fyrinnae eyeshadow in Meerkat (inner corner over Siren)
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack (as a liner on upper lashline)
Max Factor False Lash Effect Waterproof mascara in Black (upper lashes)
Lancôme Color Fever lip gloss in Funky Pink


When I started doing this look, I was supposed to do it only with Siren, Endangered and Waterfall. However, it looked too dark on me so I had to use Toucan and Meerkat to lighten it up.

I drew the line on my lash line a bit thicker on the outer corners. Then I went over with Waterfall and blended it upwards into Endangered. I finished by blending all the colours together by sweeping a brush over them gently from side to side.





This is the best shot of what I did with the liner and Waterfall. I really like the results and I usually don't wear blue eyeshadows. What's cool with Waterfall is that it has the same golden gleam as Siren.

I love how this look worked out, although at first I was sure it was going to be a disaster :D I took all of these photos before I went to work, which was something like 6.30am... I really TRIED to look like I'm awake. Ooh, my hair looks gorgeous. I have a secret weapon: brand spanking new ghd straighteners! Expensive. Yes. Worth every penny? Definitely.

Glamour Doll Eyes came up with blushes a while back and I went in blind and bought a full size of Doll Face blush. It's a fuchsia shade with a hint of blueish undertones. Looks absolutely scary in the jar but when applied softly, looks very stunning. I have to be careful, though, because it's quite pigmented. I once had too much on my brush and the results were.. well, alarming. I went over with my foundation brush, this time, to blend it in more.

Tomorrow I'm going to try to take pics of my much hyped Bromeliad+Torch+Mantis look, so stay tuned!

FOTD: Lush greens with Meow Lost Rainforest

As you know, imitation is the highest form of flattery. Yesterday I went through Decorative Diva's blog and stumbled upon a gorgeous green look she had done with Meow's Lost Rainforest stuff (http://decoratived.blogspot.com/2009/07/green-look-with-meows-lost-rainforest.html). As there is no one whose makeup skills and imagination I admire more than Decorative Diva's, I decided to copy her look, although I used some different products and eyeshadows for my green look.

So here you go, the first FOTD in August!

Lush Greens FOTD

Meow Pampered Puss Foundation in Inquisitive Himalayan (two layers + used wet as a concealer)
Meow Pampered Puss Foundation in Inquisitive Sphynx (under cheekbones to contour face)
Meow Lost Rainforest Glow Powder in Queen Alexandria (as a highlighter on cheeks and below browbone)
Meow Lost Rainforest Blush in Canna (on cheeks)
Too Faced Shadow Insurance (as a primer on lids)
Meow Lost Rainforest eyeshadow in Macaw (1/3 of inner lid)
Meow Lost Rainforest eyeshadow in Canopy (middle of the lid)
Meow Lost Rainforest eyeshadow in Amazon (outer vee and crease)
Meow Lost Rainforest eyeshadow in Boa (to darken crease)
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack (as a liner on upper lashline)
Max Factor False Lash Effect Waterproof mascara in Black
Aromaleigh Nourishing Color Creme in Sweet Tart


So Macaw is the bright yellow you see on my inner corners. I decided to pair it with Canopy as Canopy has this really lovely golden shimmer in it. I applied both colours so they overlap a bit and as Canopy has that golden glimmer, the colours glide into one another really seamlessly. When I did my crease with Amazon (a really lush green), I blended it a bit upwards towards the brow. After that I darkened the crease with Boa which should be "charcoal with golden irisdescence" is to my eye a dark, golden green. Whatever the colour is, I applied it directly on my crease on the socket (just as Decorative Diva did). I also blended the colours in with a wide brush, using light strokes side to side. I left my lower lid bare because I was going to work and I was a bit afraid that it would look too dark.

I really like the results. Actually, as I was on my way to work, a co-worker came to sit beside me on the bus and commented that my makeup looked beautiful. I wear makeup to work everyday but usually no one says anything (I don't know if that's good or bad...) so this really made my day.

As you can see, I'm a bit sleepy in this photo as I took it in the morning :) I think Canna looks so fresh, I'm a bit tempted to do a nude look but using Canna on my cheeks as the focal point.

Aromaleigh has come up with four new Nourishing Color Creme shades to brighten up their Gothic Lolita collection. I really like this product because it's very moisturising, the packaging is simple and the colour lasts surprisingly long. Sweet Tart is a shimmering mauveish colour, I'm really fond of it.

I'm hoping to get more looks for you this month as I feel a bit guilty for abandoning my blog and its readers. I hope you enjoyed this one, though!

As requested: Meow Lost Rainforest blush swatches

One of my readers, Nea/Fashioned in Finland, asked me to swatch Meow's Lost Rainforest blushes. I hadn't been checking out my blog for a long time so I noticed her request two days ago.

So this Nea is for you! You others may find this interesting, too :)


Heliconia (left) and Canna(right)

It was a slightly overcast day today so the picture isn't as good as I hoped it to be. But you can see that Heliconia is much warmer than Canna. I love the irisdecence in both blushes, I think these blushes rival Meow's gorgeous Lush Blushes! Lost Rainforest blushes aren't overly sparkly despite the irisdecence, so don't worry. They are shimmery and beautiful.

I had to get a full sized Canna blush because it's almost a dupe for Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires is a bit warmer but Canna has that je ne sais quoi that makes my face glow. Canna is very fresh and despite that it looks a bit scary in the jar, it's very wearable.

Here's a rather poor pic of me with my new hair (don't worry guys, I'm actually wearing a very low cut corset top so this is perfectly safe for work..). The reason I'm posting this pic is that I'm wearing Canna on my cheeks. As you can see, it's very pink but not too over the top.

I think that Heliconia is for those of you who aren't comfortable wearing very pink blushes. For me Heliconia is a bit too warm for me, I think it would look better on a person that isn't as pale as I am.

Meow's Lost Rainforest Collection retires on September 1st so get your paws on the stuff you find interesting before it's too late! I can heartily recommend the eyeshadows, too. They really are very vibrant and interesting.

Finally: Obsessed Minerals swatches and review

I've been meaning to do this for a long time but since I seem to be a wee bit accident prone, I've been mostly concentrating on my physio and just trying to stay positive through it all.

My friend Decorative Diva had posted about Obsessed Minerals so I decided to try them out, too.

First of all, the customer service is beyond amazing. Dr Michael Huwe is a really kind and helpful lady. She answered any questions I had about her creations. It's always inspiring to be in contact with a woman who has created and is running her own business. So if you're about to order, and are not sure about some colours, just ask Michael. I'm sure she'll be more than happy to help.

Michael also told me that her loose minerals hadn't been reviewed when I ordered. These days I prefer loose minerals because the application is easier to control. So I ordered four loose mineral eyeshadows (Mai Tai, Boogie, Shag Me and No Shame) and also received one pressed shadow (Peasant).



Top row (from left to right): Mai Tai, Boogie, Shag Me
Bottom row (from left to right): No Shame, Peasant

The colours apply easily. However, the loose minerals aren't as pigmented as the pressed one is which came as a surprise.

Mai Tai is a creamy, shimmering off-white. It's one of my favourites, on it's own or as a highlighter.

Boogie is, according to website description, "great colours of reds and violets sparkling together". To me, it's more like a mauve with a hint of purple sparkle.

Shag Me is, according to website description, "two toned mauve and blue". Again, I have to disagree. To me, it looks greyish purple with purple sparkle.

No Shame is a light turquoise with a golden shimmer. I have to say that this colour is just super. It's perfect for summer and very flattering.

Peasant is a golden copper. It's vibrant and edgy. I'm very happy that Michael sent me this as a freebie because it makes green eyes pop!

Another pic, colours as above.

Now for the not so good. Out of the three duotoned shadows (Boogie, Shag Me and No Shame), only No Shame looks like a real duotone. In my opinion, Boogie and Shag Me are not "real" duotones, just colours with different coloured sparkle. I was quite disappointed with Boogie and Shag Me because they look better on the website than irl.

Also, the shadows have a tendency to crease a bit. They are a bit gritty, especially Peasant, although the grittiness in Peasant makes it easy to reapply when it creases.

Also another problem, at least for international customers, is the price. Eyeshadows cost $9-$10 and currently there are no samples available. Because there are so many colours and not all of them have written descriptions, shopping with Obsessed Minerals can be intimidating. This is why I would advice to contact Michael before making your purchase. I'm sure she can offer some help if you're torn between two similar looking colours.

Next time I'm making an order with Obsessed Minerals, I'll probably go for the pressed eyeshadows rather than loose ones.

Go check out Obsessed Minerals: http://www.mineralobsessed.com/index.htm

Meow July sale codes and a few words on Lost Rainforest Collection

Hi there!

I know, I know, I said my next post would be about Obsessed Minerals but I still haven't had the time to take swatch photos so this is just a quick post about Meow.

I love Meow but for sometime now I've been a bit dissappointed with their eyeshadow collections. There have been promises like "these colours are so vibrant that they are impossible to photograph" but when I've gotten my paws (teehee) on my goodies, I've let out a sigh. Yes, Meow has quality stuff, don't get me wrong there, but the eyeshadows from Meow that I love have mostly been neutrals. Because the more vibrant colours haven't been as striking as I'd imagined.

Yesterday I got my sample batch of the Lost Rainforest Collection. I opened the letter very slowly and almost closed my eyes when I pulled out the sample baggies. I was blown away. Finally Meow has come up with vibrant, fresh and multifaceted BRIGHT eyeshadows! My favourites are Bromeliad (sparkling coral), Torch (peach with golden fire) and Mantis (sort of a blueish golden aqua) (these colours look gorgeous together when you put Torch on whole upper lid, Bromeliad on the crease and Mantis on the lower lid) and I'm sure I'll be using Toucan (ruby pink) and Macaw (lively yellow with golden sheen), too.

Meow has always had the most amazing blushes and the Lost Rainforest blushes do not dissappoint. I just have to have a full size of Canna (ripe fresh cherry pink). What separates Lost Rainforest blushes from Meow's other blush range is that they are irisdecent. I love the shimmer, it's not over the top at all.

I just read my e-mails and The Lost Rainforest Collection is retiring September 1st (as does Caribbean Escape Collection). So there's still time to sample and even get full sizes, too!

Also, when you use these codes, you get a nifty discount AND a little surprise. Meow is coming up with new stuff later and when you use either of these codes, you get a couple of samples of the upcoming goodies! How cool is that!

You get 15% discount when you use the code CatsLoveJuly.

If you're getting more than $120 worth of stuff, use the code JulyPurr and you'll receive a 20% discount.

I wish I had some pics of my Bromeliad+Torch+Mantis look for you but I can't find my USB cable :(