Tag Archives: The Balm

Swatch Sunday: The Balm – Meet Matt(e) Nude

201507_thebalm_meetmattenude1

My first The Balm palette! This was a surprise gift this past Christmas from my aunt. I was so surprised that she picked out a brand I’d been wanting to try(without me even mentioning it! As the title would suggest, all the shades in this palette are matte.

The Balm - Meet Matt(e) Nude
The Balm – Meet Matt(e) Nude
The Balm - Matt Johnson
The Balm – Matt Johnson
The Balm - Matt Garcia
The Balm – Matt Garcia
The Balm - Matt Malloy
The Balm – Matt Malloy
The Balm - Matt Rosen
The Balm – Matt Rosen
The Balm - Matt Wood
The Balm – Matt Wood
The Balm - Matt Singh
The Balm – Matt Singh
The Balm - Matt Abdul
The Balm – Matt Abdul
The Balm - Matt Lombardi
The Balm – Matt Lombardi
The Balm - Matt Hung
The Balm – Matt Hung

What’s On My Face – Volume 34

Another makeup looks roundup!


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I was playing around with some matte shades… then decided I needed some glitter.

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Well WHOOPS. I totally messed up the colour map…

Eyes

  • The Balm Matt Abdul all over the lid.
  • The Balm Matt Johnson in the crease.
  • The Balm Matt Malloy on the brow bone.
  • Illamasqua Static pigment was applied all over the lid directly on top of the lid shade.

I used Kat Von D‘s Tattoo Liner in Trooper to create the wing, then applied Too FacedBetter Than Sex mascara to my lashes.

Rest of the Face

  • Bronzer: Joe Fresh Sand
  • Blush: Cargo Mendocino

womf_vol33_look5-1

This was a straight rip from a recent Jaclyn Hill YouTube tutorial that I just loved. I had almost all the same products (always a blessing when you watch a tutorial) and loved how it looked on her so I decided to replicate it as best I could. This ended up being near identical to the look I wore on Valentine’s Day.

womf_vol33_look5-2

Eyes

  1. Makeup Geek Peach Smoothie and Creme Brulee mixed together at the top of the crease.
  2. Makeup Geek Cocoa Bear heavily through the crease.
  3. Too Faced Dark Chocolate (from the A few of my Favorite Things palette) in the inner and outer third of the eye.
  4. Makeup Geek Houdini on the center of the lid.
  5. Makeup Geek Vanilla Bean on the brow bone.
  6. (not marked) MAC Nylon on the inner tearduct and lightly on the brow.

I used Make Up For Ever‘s Ink Liner to create the wing, then tightlined my upper and lower lash line with Urban Decay‘s Black Velvet liner. Blended along my lower lash line is Cocoa Bear and Dark Chocolate. On my lashes is Make Up For Ever Smoky Stretch mascara.

Rest of the Face

  • Foundation: Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in shades 51 Light Vanilla and 52 Vanilla mixed together
  • Bronzer & Highlighter: Make Up For Ever Pro Sculpting Duo #1
  • Blush: Hourglass Diffused Heat

womf_vol33_look4-1

I hadn’t touched my Naked Cosmetics pigments much since I picked them up in November, so I decided to just pick a colour at random (the pink) and work with it.

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Eyes

  1. Naked Cosmetics Tropical Indulgence pigment stack, peachy pink colour applied wet all over the lid.
  2. Sleek Ink on the outer corner and through the crease.

Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara is on my lashes.

Rest of the Face

  • Foundation: Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in shades 51 Light Vanilla and 52 Vanillamixed together
  • Bronzer: Joe Fresh Sand
  • Blush: Can’t remember! 🙁
  • Lips: Too Faced Coral Fire

 

womf_vol33_look3-1

This one disappointed me. I applied some black glitter to the lower lash line, but you can’t even really tell – it just looks like I HEAVILY outlined my lower lash line with black eyeliner. Boo.  🙁

womf_vol33_look3-2

Eyes

  1. Sleek Chill all over the lid.
  2. Sleek Bolt on the outer half of the lid and through the crease.
  3. Wet n Wild Brulee on the brow bone.

I used Tarte‘s black gel liner to create the wing. I then lined my lower lash line with MAC‘sPhone Number eye kohl, applied some Too Faced Glitter Glue on top and then patted onLit CosmeticsBack in Black glitter on top. I lined my lower rim with CoverGirl‘s Liquidline Blast in Black Fire and applied Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara to my lashes

Rest of the Face

  • Bronzer: Joe Fresh Sand
  • Blush: MAC Ripe Peach
  • Lips: Too Faced Melted Nude with NYX Butter Gloss in Peaches and Cream on top

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This look was created as a guest post on Jodi’s blog; Up The Rollercoaster. The theme was red, white and pink. So I opted for a more neon shade of pink to suit my fancy. Most of the colours used are from my Morphe palette, but since they have no true names, I just used colour names to describe them.

womf_vol33_look2-2

Eyes

First off, I applied an eyeshadow primer, then layered NYX‘s Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Milk all over the lid. Pat that in, then proceed:

  1. Makeup Geek Creme Brulee through the crease.
  2. White on the inner third of the eye, brought heavily around the inner tearduct.
  3. Neon Pink on the middle of the lid.
  4. Black on the outer half of the eye and lightly through the crease to tie it all together.
  5. Pale beige on the brow bone.

I used Kat Von D‘s Tattoo Liner in Trooper to create the wing on the upper lash line, then used MAC‘s Phone Number pencil lightly on the outer corner of the lower lash line. On my lashes is Too Faced‘s Better Than Sex mascara.

Rest of the Face

  • Foundation: Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum in shades 51 Light Vanilla and 52 Vanillamixed together
  • Bronzer: Joe Fresh Sand
  • Blush: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Diffused Heat
  • Highlighter: Hard Candy Tiki
  • Lips: Too Faced Melted Ruby (this was applied lightly, rubbed onto the lips with my finger and then blotted off with a tissue – I wanted it to be more of a stain than a flat out lipstick)

What I Bought This Month – January 2015 Haul

I’m one of the fortunate ones that has their birthday in mid-January. So just when I’m getting over (aka sad) the fact that I was showered in presents over Christmas, I get to do it allll over again for my birthday! Woohoo!


Sephora BI Birthday Gift (free)

Sephora BI Birthday Gift (free)

I also get to get my hands on the Sephora Beauty Insider gift early. This year they were handing out a duo of NARS in Cruella and Rikugien. I’ve never picked up any NARS lip products before so this was a nice surprise.


Some Makeup Geek shadows….

Some Makeup Geek shadows….

…and then some more Makeup Geek shadows. ($5.99 per pan, $9.99 per foiled)
…and then some more Makeup Geek shadows. ($5.99 per pan, $9.99 per foiled)

I also went haywire this month with Makeup Geek. An order I placed mid-December finally showed up (problems at the border due to a shipping method they tried out) annnnnd then I placed another order.  I won’t list them all, but I ordered 32 shadows, including the full line of foiled shadows which are just as incredible as everyone else has been saying. I think it’s now my life goal to own all her eyeshadows… (As a note, Marlena has said that she expects to be raising the price of the eyeshadows by a dollar in the coming year because she needs to be able to pay her staff before… hence why I’m going bonkers.)


Elizabeth & James Nirvana Black (gift)
Elizabeth & James Nirvana Black (gift)

My aunt had given me a Sephora gift card for Christmas and I knew exactly what I wanted to pick up with it. I had gotten a sample of the Elizabeth & James Nirvana Black perfume a few months back and while I hadn’t loved it right off the bat, I definitely fell head over heels for it over the coming months. This stuff is NOT cheap, so I was really happy to use  a gift card to pick it up. This is not my typical kind of scent either. This is definitely heavy and sexy, whereas my usual fragrances are all aquatic and watery. I really don’t know why I’m drawn to it so much either.


Smashbox – On The Rocks palette (gift)
Smashbox – On The Rocks palette (gift)

And then, a very good friend of mine (the one I went to Prague with this past year) gifted me a palette by a brand I’ve oddly never used before. (And holy crap the packaging… shiny rainbows?!?!?) Sara knows how much I love palettes and I’m impressed that she managed to grab me something that I didn’t already own!

Smashbox – On The Rocks
Smashbox – On The RocksSmashbox – On The Rocks

Having never used Smashbox before, I’m excited to use this palette especially given how many options there are in there! I believe the On The Rocks palette was limited to the holidays.

Raspberry Red Grapefruit Lip Balm (gift)
Raspberry Red Grapefruit Lip Balm (gift)
The next few gifts are from my friend Alison who is incredibly crafty. This woman can DIY the bejesus out of anything. So when she gives me beauty/bath products for my birthday, I get kiiiind of excited. First up are two pots of Raspberry Red Grapefruit lip balm, which are my absolute favourite flavours so I’m pretty over the moon. These taste DELICIOUS. Plus hello, look at that ombre.


Handmade soap (gift)
Handmade soap (gift)

Next up are three different scented soaps: Chocolate Orange, Rosemary Mint and Guinness Oat Sage. I’ve not opened these yet as I’ve got a lot of soap I’m trying to finish first, but these are sitting in the linen closet making everything smell amazing.


Golden Rose Lotion (gift)
Golden Rose Lotion (gift)

Last year Alison gave me some lotion for either my birthday or Christmas and I finished it up pretty quickly. I love this smell of this one and can’t wait to use it.


Coconut Lime Sugar Scrub (gift)
Coconut Lime Sugar Scrub (gift)

And then, to round it all out, she made THIS. THIS SUGAR SCRUB THING SMELLS FREAKING AMAZING. Lime in anything I’m all like hellz to the YES. But then add in coconut too? Jesus, just add some vodka and I’m good to go.


Omnia Botanica – Beurre de Karite (gift)
Omnia Botanica – Beurre de Karite (gift)

I’m not sure why these didn’t get included in my Christmas haul, but oh well. My brother picked up a few things from France and distributed them amongst my family members. I snatched up the body butter from Omnia Botanica because it’s winter and I need ALL THE MOISTURE… but this thing is hard as a rock. It’s been cold pressed, which I think is part of the issue. Once you get it on your skin it definitely melts, but man, digging it out of the container is a chore in and of itself.


Chemins de Provence – Sels de Bain en Lavende (gift)
Chemins de Provence – Sels de Bain en Lavende (gift)

Another one from France. Since I almost never have bath salts, I grabbed this one out of my brother’s pile and claimed it as my own. Mostly because I need something to soak my sore ass muscles!


The Body Shop – Fijian Water Lotus Shower Gel (gift)
The Body Shop – Fijian Water Lotus Shower Gel (gift)

My mom knows I like anything aquatic-scented, so she picked up two shower gels fromThe Body Shop in Fijian Water Lotus for my birthday. I didn’t even know this stuff existed, but damn does it ever smell good. She said she would’ve gotten me one in the larger size, but it seems they only make a 250ml version? It very faintly reminds me of the Oceanus scent they used to have wayyyyy back in the day. Man I loved that stuff. I had the oil, the perfume, the soap, the shower gel… I was Oceanus everything back in my teen years.


The Balm – Meet Matte(e) Nude (gift)
The Balm – Meet Matte(e) Nude (gift)

Another birthday gift! This one was a total shock to me. I’ve always been interested in trying The Balm, but just never really got around to it. It’s also not a brand I’ve ever brought up with anyone either. So imagine my surprise when my aunt had a package sent to me for my birthday and it was the Meet Matt(e) Nude palette! I’m so pleased with this! It’s a completely matte palette (duh), which I definitely need more of, and the colours are all ones I can incorporate into my brighter looks to help ground them.


Marcelle waterproof makeup remover (~$13 CAD)
Marcelle waterproof makeup remover (~$13 CAD)

And what’s a monthly haul without makeup remover? As I always say… I either buy this on sale, or when it’s in the larger packaging (for the regular price). Marcelle’s waterproof makeup remover is all I need and I have zero intentions of everything trying out another brand again for makeup remover.


You know, aside from dropping like $200 at Makeup Geek (lol) over the last two months, I’m actually surprised how little I spent on myself this month. The bulk of everything was gifts or gift cards that were given to me by very generous friends and family!