Merry Chrismas!

I hope you all had the BEST Christmas holidays wherever you went, especially if you were with your family. I had SO MUCH FOOD on Christmas Eve, that I recall not wanting to eat ever again! 

I also wanted to wish you a happy New Year. Do you already know who you will kiss at midnight?

(This is the shortest post ever, I know, but I have just arrived from Madrid, where my family lives and I had literally no time to think about anything else!)

Maria.

xxx

P.S. This afternoon I will post my next MAC lipstick series post, I'm sorry for being absent!

MAC Lipstick Series: New York Apple

Hello ladies,
this is the opening post of the MAC Lipstick series. (I decided to do a series so I could show you better swatches, more in-depth opinions, etc. about each of them individually!) Like always, in my tags you can see what kind of color I am talking about (something that can be somewhat tricky in some occasions), and I will also tag what kind of finish every lipstick has (in case you were wondering).

Moving on!

MAC New York Apple 

Tis' the season to be jolly!

And this lipstick definitely shows that, with this beautiful red color, but especially ALL THAT FROST! 

I remember hating frost, and I still do. And this was one of my greatest disappointments.

I bought this lipstick when I was 15 years old. I remember wanting DESPERATELY to buy a MAC lipstick. I had just started with my whole makeup OCD, and I wanted a statement red that would suit me.

As many of you might've done at some point, I searched for a red lipstick on Temptalia, where Christine swatches and reviews many beautiful colors daily. I admit that if I ever have a doubt about how a color will suit me, or how does it really looks (NEVER rely on its own brand's description or swatch) I reach out for Christine's reviews and swatches of the product.

The problem is, I found this lipstick, which is quite beautiful on itself, and it looked amazing on Christine too, I must say! But it is just not right for me, and I bought it in the MAC hype you might've all experienced at least once, and I was young, etc. 

My problem with this lipstick, is not only frost (which I thought was barely noticeable because of Christine's swatch of it, but I must've applied it wrong, maybe she used a lip brush and that makes it less obvious!) but it's a red way too dark for my pale skin!

(Oh no, it creased. Not a REALLY good application,

I'm the one to blame actually!)

 (You can't see the shimmer too much in this picture, 

doesn't the color itself look beautiful?)

(FROST, FROST, FROST)

(I know these swatches aren't perfection, but the sun goes down really quick these days and I can't take a decent photograph, so this is all I can offer you at the moment!)

My conclusion? 

I don't like this color at all because it wears so much darker than it looks on the tube, much more brown and frosty than I would have expected. I am actually swatching this lip color because I think you need to know what my MAC collection contains, but I have never even put on this lipstick to go out (not even to the grocery shop). So really, I don't like it.

Not at all.

It's a no-no for me.

Did you get that? :) Haha, no, really. Maybe Christine from Temptalia does have the skin for this color, but I don't, or maybe I haven't applied it correctly. I will post if I try anything new with this lipstick, but for the time being, it's just the great forgotten item from my collection!

Cheers to you all, I hope you're having a nice time,

I still have two exams to go! 

Love, 

Maria.

L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black vs. L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Extra-Black (Double Review)

Hello ladies!

As promised, I am doing a MAC lipstick collection swatch and review post, but that will take me a little longer than I expected, and since I have been smothered in exams lately (I have one tomorrow, and one the day after that, JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS! What are they thinking, seriously?), I can only offer you a small but nonetheless practical review of a very talked-about mascara for the time being!

Let's talk about L'Oreal mascaras. I think the majority of us has tried one at least, and we can all agree they're not bad quality at all! I have actually only tried three... Telescopic mascara (it's quite raved about in the Internet, but I didn't like it too much), Voluminous Carbon Black mascara (one of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITES, will talk about it later on in this same post) and Volume Million Lashes (in Extra-Black, which I will review now).

Before reading more, take into account that I have just applied mascara on the upper lashes! 

Okay then, here we go!

This is my left eye with no mascara or makeup on, whatsoever. 

I have quite dark lashes, which are slightly lighter at the ends, and they're quite long by themselves. What I want is a mascara that will make them AMAZING, a little lengthier and more voluminous! 

VOLUMINOUS CARBON BLACK MASCARA 

This mascara was one of my first mascara discoveries, and it has remained this way since I was 15 years old. Actually, my original mascara tube was used up and I threw it away, and I started trying other mascaras with different results. My opinion? None could live up to Voluminous' high standards. Maybe DiorShow did some of it, and it is quite a good option, but.. hello? There's like a 20€ difference between both prices, since Voluminous retails for 10€ (approx., I think I found mine for 11€ or so), and DiorShow is nearly 30€ (approx. again, it's been to long since I bought it!).

Here are my lashes with ONE COAT of this mascara:

It looks absolutely amazing! Especially once you have an eyeliner on, because I admit there is a problem with this mascara, or with my application: I always always always mess up my top lid! Little streaks appear everywhere, but that's where liner works perfectly, or you can also use wipes to remove those. 

(Not really a pain in the ass, and once it's on, it stays put!)

Short little bristles, do your magic!

VOLUME MILLION LASHES (Extra-Black)

I have just bought this mascara (like a month ago or so), I admit, so I haven't been in the long-run with it really, since I am a fan of switching mascaras everyday and using what I have lying around as I am always in a rush!

But I wasn't quite impressed when I bought this mascara. I had heard so many great things about it! And so many are true, but people fail to talk about it's horrible smell, which you can still sniff for hours after application (and I am not a sensitive person in the whole smell department, I'll put up with whatever), and the AWFUL scratching the wand provokes! 

All in all, it's a great mascara, it does deliver a good volume and some decent lengthening, but those cons do make me think about using this some mornings, especially because when you have just woke up and are a half-zombie, you are not up to eye-scratching mascaras, if you know what I mean!

I think it gives lashes a spidery effect I am not quite liking, but I have to admit it does separate them beautifully, so you can see all your lashes! I guess it does do what its name promises: "a million lashes".

Scratchy little synthetic bristles, I hate you!

CONCLUSION

I think it's quite obvious, but I am a great fan of the Voluminous Carbon Black mascara to say otherwise,

but I do promise I tried both, and I have used them quite a lot! There's just things you love, and things you don't, but I do think Volume Million Lashes is a good mascara, but the smell is way too much for me! 

(P.S.: the Voluminous Carbon Black has a makeup-esque smell, for all of you who where wondering, and once it dries it doesn't smell at all!).

(P.P.S.: I will do a DiorShow mascara review shortly! Another thing in my "to do" list.)

Please comment below and tell me what you think about these two mascaras,

and do suggest new mascaras I should try!

Maria.

Next one up!

Hello ladies!
My next post will cover my MAC lipstick collection. Stay tuned for swatches and reviews!
Hope your christmas shopping went as well as mine did. :)

Maria.


P.S. You can follow my blog with Bloglovin !

My Christmas list

Dear Santa,
I have been a good girl this year, so I would like you to consider sending me some pretty pretty gifts this year. I have listed them here, so that you don't have to think too much about what I would like to receive this year. I also think my mother would be happy to share these gifts with me, so its a 2 in 1 wishlist!

Love, Maria.

NARS

Mekong eyeshadow (single)

Night flight eyeshadow (single)

Night rider eyeshadow (single)

Night clubbing (single)

Thunderball (single)

Cordura (duo)

Blade Runner (duo)

Underworld (duo)

Egea (duo)

Jungle Red lipstick

URBAN DECAY

Naked Palette

Naked 2 Palette

(The Naked 2 Palette has just been released, so I guess this won't be mine this year, but maybe for my birthday... Just wishing.)

My NARS collection

Hello ladies!

I have been loving NARS products since I discovered them some years ago. I own the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation (in Montblanc) which is my favorite foundation ever, a couple of Velvet Matte Lip pencils (you can see swatches in previous entries), a lipstick (in Funny Face), a lip lacquer (in Baby Doll), a blush (in Orgasm, of course, it's an essential!), a nail polish (in Purple Rain) and some eyeshadow duos.

EYESHADOW DUOS

NARS eyeshadows are quite varied and there is an amazing range of colors available. You can buy them in singles or in duos. Since the price of duos and singles isn't very different, I have bought some duos instead of singles (although I have some written on my Christmas list for Santa). 

I have only one cream eyeshadow duo, which is Burn It Blue, and I don't like cream eyeshadow very much because it tends to crease, but the colors are just AMAZING, and in my local store they had run out of the eyeshadow duo called Persepolis (which has similar intense turquoise and blue colors).

My favorite of all three would be Jolie Poupee, because it has a matte light lavender color and a shimmery beautiful purple, and both of them work really well and look beautiful. I think these pictures don't do justice to how pretty this duo is, but the close-up might give you a better idea.

My less favorite (although I don't dislike it) is Demon Lover, because it's a toned down color, which, if you look at the picture just below, looks like a muted version of Jolie Poupee. In this case, the purplish color is matte and the bluish gray is shimmery. This duo works very well for everyday looks and darker smokey eyes if combined with black eyeshadows or darker versions of blue and purple.

 (Burn It Blue, Jolie Poupee, Demon Lover)

(Burn It Blue; cream eyeshadow duo)

 (Jolie Poupee)

(Demon Lover)

BLUSH

I am afraid I'm not quite a person who loves having different blushes, because since I found my perfect color, Orgasm, I haven't needed any other color just yet. Orgasm is a beautiful pink coral with some fine shimmer which doesn't show up but looks amazing under every light.

(Orgasm)

You can see the goldish shimmer under the light, but it disappears once applied on the cheeks.

LIPSTICK

I love love love lipsticks, but I have quite a collection so I only buy a new one when I think its color is too attractive not to have. NARS lipsticks are quite expensive (the same as eyeshadows, etc.) so I only own one lipstick, but it has soon become one of my favorites, due to the fact that the color is so BEAUTIFUL. I can't wear it on a daily basis, but I do use it when I go out with my friends or when I want to look especially nice.

(Funny Face)

It's a bright fuchsia, but I think these pictures don't do justice to how beautiful it really looks.

LIP LACQUER

As you already know, I love lip products, but in this case, I raved about this product for some time. The problem is, it didn't look as good on me as I would've liked but the finish is beautiful and I think any other person might've loved it for more than I did. My problem is the color is too light for my pigmented lips.

 (Baby Doll)

Ok, looks at THIS! It looks so beautiful. I am definitely going to try it again, 

because I just feel bad not giving it another chance!

NAIL POLISH

I am a downright nail polish junkie. I know, my family knows, my friends know. And that's okay. But I am a cheap nail polish junkie. I mean, I don't like to spend too much on nail polish, even if my collection is outrageously large. I haven't got any China Glaze, or Essie, etc. products because they're not sold in Spain. But most of my collection is Kiko Milano, and I have them in every color, every finish, etc. (I LOVE THEM) and they are quite cheap.

So, when I bought my NARS nail polish, I just did it because it was the most amazing color I had ever seen and I HAD to have it. Since my favorite color is purple, and I had no purple nail polishes, I think it was just fair that it was way more expensive than the rest of my nail polishes. You do pay for quality at NARS, that's what I always tell my mother when she says I buy too many expensive NARS products.

(Purple Rain)

The flash picture didn't pick up the pinkish undertones and shimmer of the purple nail polish. 

Isn't it just BEAUTIFUL?

P.S. I'm wearing Kiko Milano's black nail polish on my nails.

(Last but not least)

FOUNDATION (SHEER GLOW)

(Montblanc)

I had never found my perfect match, because I have quite a pale skin but I have yellow undertones, and many brands haven't got a wide range of colors in the foundation department. When I tried out this foundation, I just jumped with excitement! It's my perfect color match and it looks amazing on my skin! 

The only problem I have with this foundation is that my skin is combination, so some hours after applying it, my T-zone starts getting greasy and the foundation starts moving around, with the result of having rubbed off after 4 or 5 hours after application.

CONCLUSION

I will not review the Nars V.M. Lip pencils because I have already done this in a previous post. About NARS, oh.. what to say? I am in love with all of their products. This Christmas, my wishlist will be full of single eyeshadows from this brand (for my Christmas list, check out my next post) and some duos I haven't been able to get before. 

NARS love to you all,

Maria.

Tribal nail trend.

I really tried the trend. I tried it today. And I'm definitely not a nail art person, DEFINITELY NOT.
I used this video as my inspiration:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzQ4o_5P0sU

But mine ended like this:

I actually think it looks quite terrible. Specially, compared to this awesome picture:

Oh God, it looks so damn terrible now.

Glad I showed you that I'm no good at nail artwork, because I tend to paint the skin surrounding

the nail. I AM THAT GOOD, hahaha.

Maria.

Products I love: NARS VELVET MATTE LIP PENCILS

You might have heard about them, or maybe even you already own some of them, but NARS Velvet matte lip pencils are life-changing for me. Why? For starters, I am a lip junkie, and I own dozens and dozens of lipsticks, and many of them have similar colors, although I do try to vary a little when buying new ones. 

I love reds, you must know, but I am not a red-wearing person. Maybe I don't have the perfect red for my skin (very pale with yellow undertones) or maybe I'm wearing them in a way I shouldn't. The thing is, I mastered eye makeup and I didn't bother too much with dark lipsticks (and I'm referring to any kind of tones different to nudes) which was a BIG MISTAKE.

That said, I love these lip products because they're so easy to apply and there are a wide range of colors to choose from. I am now going to show you the ones I own and some swatches.

These are all five of them:

(Left to right:) Damned, Cruella, Sex Machine, Dragon girl, Belle de jour.

(Left to right:) Damned, Cruella, Dragon girl, Sex machine, Belle de jour.

(I apologize for the bad conditions some of these are in, because some caps have been peeling some plastic off, and my bad, I haven't sharpened these for the pictures. PLEASE, do excuse me.)

Damned

My "Damned" lip swatch was really really bad, but I would describe it as a really toned down reddish fuchsia (sort of purplish), which isn't bright, but dark and dull. I actually, don't like it too much, I made a mistake when I picked it up at the NARS counter. I do believe people's recommendations are always nice to check out, but I shouldn't have NEVER bought this color.

It does look nice on darker skins, but not on my very pale one. Period.

Cruella

See? This is what I meant when I said "not in good conditions." It's the second color I picked up ever from Nars, just after Sex machine. It's a really nice brick red, which does work quite well although it somewhat clashes with my skin tone again, but it looks way nicer than Damned, that's for sure. It's a dark red, but not reddish brown sort of dark, and it can even look kind of bright in some flash pictures. (Really quick application in the next picture, I am aware it's a terrible mess, I'm sorry.)

Dragon girl

(a.k.a my love at first sight)

It looks like a bright fuchsia, right? But it isn't, I assure you, it's a pinkish bright red, that's perfect both for summer (sooooo many months to go) and for winter (it gives a punch of color to all those neutral and dark clothes, doesn't it?). I totally recommend ANYONE to try this color, because it looks amazing on all sorts of skin tones and types. It's my favorite red of the bunch (or even of my whole lipstick collection) because it's lively and BEAUTIFUL.

Sex machine

This was the first NARS velvet matte lip pencil I bought. I was 16 or so, and my mother and I were shopping and she thought this dusty pinkish color would suit me well. As you can see, it's quite nice with pale skin, I have never seen it on darker skin tones but I would highly recommend you to go to a NARS counter to try them out, whatever your skin tone. It does look good on the picture, but in my opinion, it's way too dusty and dry, and it goes on a little chalky, so I don't think it looks that flattering (on me, at least.)

(And last but not least)

Belle de jour

This lip pencil is a nice caramel-nude tone, which looks quite nude on the lips, as you can see, although I do have quite pigmented lips, so maybe a paler lip will see an orange-brown tinge in the pencil's undertones (you can clearly see it's a light caramel brown in the product itself.) It's a pretty color, although, I have noticed that all lighter colors look chalky on the lips (on mine, at least) and that's something I don't really like.

(Tips: for correct application, you should exfoliate your lips and put some chapstick (or vaseline) on before putting these lip pencils on, because they ARE MATTE, which tends to mean that they dry your lips after some time on. They don't bleed, though, so you need no lip liner underneath this product.)

That said, I hope you check the full collection out, because it is A-MOH-ZING. 

Good night ladies,

Maria.