NARS YACHIYO: I confess, I´m obsessed with NARS

Hello everone!!

That happens when you talk more than you should. I don´t want to become a high end blog like many...I just want to be a girl obsesses with makeup and that talks about good products with good prices. Well, I can´t do that in this case, because my new brush is simply fantastic but expensive, very expensive.

Have you heard about the Kabuki brush n°27 from NARS or the Yachiyo? Well, it is a famous brush in youtube and I heard about it firstly from Wayne gossmakeupartist in his video about his 10 favourites brushes. Then I investigated a little bit and I realized that this brush is amazing to contour and applying blush. My favourite part of make up routine but so difficult to achieve flawlessly. I don´t know if it was because of this but then I started to notice that my blush didn´t last all day on my face...and I started to feel "the need" of buying a good blush...so I discovered Exhibit A...the perfect excuse to buy the Yachiyo as well...this blush is so pigmented that the Yachiyo is special to apply it.

Ok, I saved money to do my investment. I went to Mecca cosmetica in Melbourne central last week and they didn´t have the brush but They called to other stores and reserve it for me at Chadstone. Yesterday I went to Chadstone, there was crowded and also at the Mecca store was the famous makeup artist from Nars...(but that´s another story)

What did I buy? I finally bought my Yachiyo which I love. I bought the Exhibit A blush, Dolce vita for mom and the Casino Bronzer. Before this I had bought the Multiple Copacabana highlighter.

So let´s do a first impression review:

Yachiyo Kabuki brush: what can I say that somebody haven´t told before? One thing, some said that the brush is not the softest. For me, it is (I don´t own high end brushes, so my opinion is not the one from an expert, the only high end brush that I own is the MAC 217 and if you read my comparison with the Sigma one, I don´t notice too much difference, to be honest).

The Yachiyo is soft, very well tapered, light as a feather and what really matter, it does its work. It applies the blush so carefully and so well blended that it is a dream. I used it with the Exhibit A and although my lack of skills I could do it without problems. Also I contoured my face using the Casino bronzer and also I tried it with the Hoola from Benefit, and I´m not exaggerating, it is like it does the work alone by itself. Seriously A DREAM!! It is very expensive in Australia ($80aud) and in America ($50) but with the shipping cost and the time of wait it was the same for me. And we don´t have NARS in Chile yet, but some people sell it on facebook (around $30.000 or $35000 chilean pesos, $60-70 aud, and you still have to wait around 4 weeks.) Anyway, I think that this brush is really wortwhile. It is versatile so you can use it for many things. OVERALL IF YOU ARE THINKING TO GET THIS ONE, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!! IT IS MAGIC!!

!Exhibit A blush: I don´t think you can appreciate the real color of this product. Live, it is much brighter than in pictures. it is scary. But for medium or dark skin is so beautiful, it makes my face looks so healthy that I couldn´t resist to buy it. I wanted something different and to use it everyday. I´m pretty happy with my choice. Moreover, I only need to use a tiny bit with my Yachiyo and done!! Ready to go. What I have to confess is that I was expecting a bigger size, the blushes from Nars are not as bigger as other blushes I own, like Benefit ones (8.0g) or Inglot (5,5g) and the latter are much more inexpensive. That´s one cons, however you can´t find that kind of colors in other brands and you only need a small amount of this product to get the look you want. OVERALL, AN EXCELLENT PRODUCT, VERY PIGMENTED, NICE COLOR, NICE FINISH, NOT A MUST, AND EXPENSIVE. IF YOU ARE THINKING TO GET IT, YOU HAVE TO BE VERY SURE, BUT I´M SURE YOU DON´T REGRET IT!!

Casino bronzing powder: I love it, nice color, very easy to work with, it is perfect to contour, specially if you have the yachiyo, but if you don´t it is still easy to use with whatever you have. Laguna is the most famous, but for my complexion works better this shade. Good amount of product (same quantity that Hoola has, 8g) and I need to use less quantity compared to the Hoola one. OVERALL THIS IS A MUST, IF YOU LIKE TO USE BRONZER, TRY THIS, IT IS AMAZING!!

The Multiple, Copacabana: because I have very oily skin and I don´t really like matte finish foundation but I need it, I decided to try this to create that "dewy" effect without looking shiny at midday. It really works!! Now I´m using it every single day and I´m happy. What thing I really like is the fact that it lasts all day. OVERALL, IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A HIGHLIGHTER THIS IS THE ONE FOR YOU!!

For my purchase I received a sample of Orgasm blush and Aigle Noir soft touch shadow pencil. When I was at the store, I couldn´t decide between buying Exhibit A or Orgasm (I thought that Orgasm wasn´t for my skin color but actually it looks beautiful) but when the makeup artist told me about the gift I inmediately decided for Exhibit A, why would I want to have two of the same? I agree with all the people that say that Orgasm is a must and it doesn´t look so shiny on your face. I haven´t tried the shadow yet.

That´s me, when I bought my cosmetics as well as some
 gifts for my family in Chile, Í´m going home
for holidays!! and I had Exhibit A and Casino on my
 face applied by the makeup artist from Mecca

So that is my recent purchase, I´m so excited!!

Since now I´ve promised not buying anything else because I have to enjoy all the new things that I own.

If you want to buy makeup, Mecca stores are a very good option for you (Mecca cosmetica)

I hope this post had been useful.

Kisses

Javi

Copper smokey eyes

Hi!!...this is a look very easy to achieve and I think, very chic. The only skill you need is to blend, and for that I use my MAC 217. For me, working with cream eyeshadows is easier and faster, so I think this is a look for when you don´t have so much time.

I used my old Revlon colorstay for foundation (just for the blog, because after 2-3 hours it turns orangish as I told you in other post. However I love the finish of this foundation. Also I used Porefessional Primer from Benefit.

In the eyes I used first a black pencil eyeliner in the upper and bottom lashes, then with the 217 I applied  Benefit cream eyeshadow in busy signal and I blended to the crease. Then Maybelline mascara and blush in my cheeks, another Benefit, Sugarbomb. Finally in my lips I use a lipliner from Nyx and a lipstick from Benefit.

Do you like the outcome?

If you are interested in buying some of the product I used from Benefit this is the perfect moment. The are selling kits with Sugarbomb, Badgal Mascara, Porefessional and Benetint...it is a very good deal. Check it out!!

I hope you like it

Javi

My first MAC haul and new brushes from SIGMA (comparison)

It was me the one who said that I was never going to buy "expensive make up" because it wasn´t necessary at all. Ok, I admitted.

As you know, I had a very important wedding and I did a navy smokey eye look copied from Lisa Eldridge, my guru makeup artist. And she was using the famous Sigma E25. I knew that it was a dupe for the MAC 217 so I thought if Lisa is using it, it should be good...and Sigma is not  as expensive as MAC.

So I decided to buy my first "renowned" brush: I bought two Sigma brushes online, the E25 and the F35 (which is a dupe of the MAC 138). I just spend around $30 aud shipping included..Wonderful!!

But, not all that glitters is gold. After I cleaned the brushes before using them, the E25 totally lost its shade, it was fatter and not good for my crease anymore!!

I was so angry that I went to MAC in Myer store to get the real one, I mean I thought this happens to me for buying cheap things...

I bought the MAC 217 and the cleanser as well. Because if I was going to spend $37aud in a simply brush, I have to take care of it, right??

Anyway, after 6 weeks of use, I think I can compare:

SIGMA F35 is now my favourite brush, my holy grail, seriously. The MAC one cost $105 aud in Australia whereas my Sigma F35 only cost me $16usd, incomparable. The brush is soft, tapered, it doesn´t shed. I´m pretty happy with it. It is the best to apply highlighter and it works well to apply blush and to contour as well.

MAC 217, after what happened to me with my new E25, I thought that my MAC one was awesome. But after I received a new E25 from Sigma (THEY HAVE THE BEST CUSTOMER SUPPORT) I´m not so sure. I´m not an expert, but, for example, after the third clean I did, the shade of my brush wasn´t the same. I have to use sticky tape to keep the bristles ok (after clean it for a couple of minute). I really like it, it is very easy to get the smokey effect with this brush, the blending is precise. It is good, very good. I think it is the one brush from MAC that you have to own.

SIGMA E25, the one that the store sent me to repair the other one, it is good, it didn´t lose the shade after clean it, it is soft, it does its work. I like it as well.

If I compare the MAC one versus SIGMA, the former is softer and its bristles are slightly shorter than the Sigma´s but I can´t say that the difference worth the almost $25aud more that I paid for it.

What I feel is that wherever you buy a brush, you can have some problems, as long as they have good customer support, you can avoid having a bad quality brush.

I bought the MAC one because I thought it would be perfect, but now I feel that is nothing out of the earth...

So, in my opinion if you have money for 1 MAC, you can buy 2 from Sigma, and pray to get the ones of good quality, but nothing that a complain cannot solve. If you want to own something from MAC I definitely recommend you to get the cleanser (it costs $20aud) and to think in the 217 because it works wonderful.

A blending brush is a MUST, from Sigma or MAC who cares? As long as the result likes you, it is up to you.

If you´re thinking in getting the MAC138, definitely try the Sigma F35 first.

from left to right: MAC217, Sigma E25 (the good one),
Sigma E25 failled and Sigma F35

comparison of brushes. in the middle it is the failled one,
it is very fat without its normal shade. Whereas in my opinion
the others look very similar between them

Overall, I don´t regret my purchases. It is good to have more than one blending brush. I use them every single day and even the failled one works well to blend concealler or my cream eye shadows. But I do think that before buying something so expensive as MAC brushes you need to be very sure about that.

That´s what I´m doing now that I´m obessed with the Yachiyo from Nars.

I hope this will be useful for you guys

Kisses

Javi

Cat eyes!!

Hello everone!! I´m overpassed with so much study, but nothing that a nice makup can´t fix. So I motivated myself recreating an old tutorial done by Lisa Eldridge with her signature kitten flick eyeliner. For my surprise it was really easy to do, so I highly recommend it!!

Also, as you know, men don´t note the difference in our face, the can´t difference between colors and texture, but in this case, my husband noted inmediately that my eyes looked cool!!

So for now on, this makeup is going to be one of my everyday makeup.

Lisa is gorgeous and an amazing makepu artist!

Face: Chanel Mat Lumiere
Benefit the Porefessional
Cheeks: Stila convertible color
Lips: Revlon colorburst lip balm
Lashes: Benefit Badgal lash mascara
Eyes:Maybelline eyestudio gel eyeliner in brown

If you don´t follow Lisa, you have to, so click in her name above to go to her channel on youtube.

I hope you like it!

Javi

Finally I´ve found my foundation

It´s been a long month, very hard for me, between exams and my problems with my makeup ufff!!
I tested so many foundation so I want to sum up my thoughts about some of them.
1) Lancome new teint Idole Ultra: It´s perfect if you are not going to take pictures of you...the flashback is horrible and it looks as a white mask in any picture. So for me, not the adequate.
2) Hourglass Immaculate: Because set as a powder I didn´t like the finish..my face didn´t look natural. But it controls well the shine.
3) Chanel Pro lumiere: too much matte effect. Even more than the mate lumiere.
5) Chanel Matte Lumiere:I love it!! you have to wait a couple of minute to get the perfect finish, in terms of finishing I prefer the Lancome, but Chanel has no flashbach effect so photographs excellent. One cons, the high price.
6) I tried again with a MAC one, but again, it is too heavy for my skin.

So after I realised that my favourite was the Chanel matte lumiere, but I wasn´t sure to spend $84aud I went to priceline to buy the cheap dupe of Chanel from Bourjois, Healthy Mix serum (in number 55) because I read it was very good and Lisa Elridge use it in her videos every time. AND I LOVE IT!! it blends better than the Chanel one, good finish, not flashback, good coverage and good shine control. The only problem it didn´t last too much (around 4 hours) but I solved that problem buying a good primer for oily skin from Laura Mercier. I love the dewy effect of this foundation. So this is it!! problem solved. I have decided to use Bourjois Healthy Mix serum foundation for my everyday routine and I´m going to save money to buy the Chanel Matte lumiere foundation for special occasion.

I had a wedding last weekend and I used the Chanel sample that I kept for this. To get a dewy look with the Chanel foundation I also bought a NARS the multiple (in Copacabana) because I realised that for an oily skin it is really difficult to get the perfect matte natural finish, but with a good highlighter this is not impossible.

So my conclusion is that not all high brands cosmetics are good for you. Sometimes cheap is good quality as well!!

Matte lumiere Chanel Foundation

Healthy Mix serum Bourjois Foundation

my look at the wedding

I hope this will be useful for you!!
Javi