Lise Watier Bora Bora Duo Shadow and Glitter for Summer 2011: The Next Best Thing to Going on a Real Beach Vacation.

June 8, 2011 | 20 Responses

I’ve never been to Bora Bora, but I have an idea of what it might look like. Like this, right?

Let’s pretend this is Bora Bora.

This was taken in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica actually. But you know, all white sand beaches with sparkling aqua waters look alike.

Lise Watier’s summer collection, called Bora Bora, brings us a few vibrant Duo Eyeshadow & Glitters ($25 each) that take me back to my tropical vacation two years ago.

Lise Watier Duo Shadow & Glitter

From top to bottom: Lise Watier Duo Shadow & Glitter in Golden Wasabi, Blue Ray, Wild Orchid

The flip top cap reveals a mirror and a cream eyeshadow in a pot. The complementing coloured glitter screws out of the bottom with a sifter.

Golden Wasabi is a lime green cream eyeshadow with lime green and gold glitters.
Blue Ray is a turquoise cream eyeshadow with turquoise glitter.
Wild Orchid is a bright violet with a mix of pink, violet and turquoise glitters.

Lise Watier Duo Shadow & Glitter in Wild Orchid, Blue Ray, Golden Wasabi Swatches

I really like the idea of having a cream eyeshadow and loose glitter packaged together. As any Glitter Geek would know, loose glitter can get everywhere without a proper base, and these cream eyeshadows actually make a great sticky base for these glitters. The cream eyeshadows can be applied sheer with one swipe, or built up to be more opaque without any issues. They dry just slightly tacky to get the glitters to stay in place.

Lise Watier Duo Shadow & Glitter in Wild Orchid, Blue Ray, Golden Wasabi

You might be asking, what do you use to pat glitter on your lids? You could use your fingers, or if you want a more precise application, the Glitter Eyeshadow Brush ($15). It puts down glitter evenly and cleans up easily with a few swipes on a tissue.

Lise Watier Glitter Eyeshadow Brush

Stay tuned for a very glittery look I’m planning for the weekend. It’s been too long since this Glitter Geek has played with some sparkles, and I’m hoping it’ll be every bit as epic as I imagine it in my head, LOL!

Do You Have Any Tropical Vacation Plans This Year?

It’s hot, and I have the beach on my mind! Where are you going, or where have you gone, this year? I’m not going anywhere far this summer, but we are planning for Mexico later in the year. It should be fun!

Disclosure: Product was provided by the manufacturer for editorial consideration only.

Skeptic No More: Sigma Makeup’s Sigmax High Definition Brushes are (Surprise!) Really, Really Good.

January 4, 2011 | 27 Responses

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Sigma Makeup Sigmax High Definition Synthetic Brush Kit

Sigma Makeup‘s brushes have received a great deal of rave reviews from YouTube gurus and beauty bloggers in the past couple of years. I admit that even though I was a little curious, I was more skeptical of all the hype they’ve been getting. Is it brand bias? To be perfectly honest? Maybe. It just all sounded too good to be true.

If you’re not familiar with the brand, Sigma makes a full line of high quality, handmade makeup brushes. Its claim to fame: MAC brush dupes for a fraction of the price.

I have been test driving the new line of Sigmax High Definition Brushes ($42) containing three face brushes: F80 Flat Kabuki, F82 Round Top Kabuki, F84 Angled Top Kabuki. The Sigmax HD Brushes are designed to work well with both cream/liquid and powder products. The brushes are also available for purchase individually.

The brush handles are a thicker than my other brushes, and so the brushes are heavier than what I’m accustomed to. The brush ferrules are very sturdy and do not move around when I pull on the brushes during a wash.

These brushes are made with synthetic fibres. I am really impressed that they held their shape and were free of any funky smells after washing and drying. All of the brushes are very densely packed, which make them excellent for buffing in creams and liquids. A nice side effect: they are very easy to clean because very little product gets absorbed and lost in between the brush fibres.

F80 Flat Top Kabuki

Usage: To apply and buff in liquid foundation all over the face; to buff in powder (or powder foundation) for a heavier coverage.

It does a fairly quick job to cover the whole face. I don’t actually reach for this brush that often for liquid foundation, and I think that’s just my personal preference. It is excellent for buffing in the foundation into the skin to achieve a perfect complexion easily. I quite like this type of brush for buffing in powder like my MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural to get more coverage out of it.

Recommendation: You might like this if you want that perfect skin look quickly, and if you don’t mind using a separate brush for general concealing.

F80 Flat Top Kabuki

F80 Flat Top Kabuki (density / brush head size)

F82 Round Top Kabuki

Usage: To apply and buff in foundation all over the face; to blend concealer under the eyes and around the nose.

The F82 brush head is smaller than the F80′s, so it is easier to manoeuvre around tricky areas of the face. I prefer it over the F80 for foundation, too, as I like that I can “roll” the brush around because of the rounded top. Its smaller size compared to the F80 means that I have to work longer, but I eventually get the same gorgeous finish.

Recommendation: As my favourite of the three, I like the F82′s versatility as a foundation and concealer brush. I love this brush and think it is an absolute must-have.

F82 Round Top Kabuki

F82 Round Top Kabuki (density / brush head size)

F84 Angled Top Kabuki

Usage: To apply and blend cream blush on the cheeks; to apply powder blush heavily.

This is the perfect brush for cream blushes. I always found MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Blushes to be tricky to blend with my fingers or with any other ol’ skunk brush, but this brush takes care of the job in two seconds. If you have a not-so-pigmented blush like NARS Douceur, this could save you time by picking up a heavier amount of powder on the bristles.

Of the three, this was the only one that shed 3-4 hairs during a wash.

Recommendation: This is a must-have for those who prefer working with cream blush over powder. Also, if you have a softly pigmented powder blush that you love but need to layer, this brush is a definite time saver.

F84 Angled Top Kabuki

F84 Angled Top Kabuki (density / brush head size)

Sigma Brushes: Yea or Nay?

Have you given in to the hype? If these three were any indication of the quality of the rest of the line, I’d say they are definitely worth the hype. I might try the eye brushes sometime.

Disclosure: Products were sent by the manufacturer for consideration only.

IMATS Toronto 2010: The Beauty Spree.

November 7, 2010 | 12 Responses

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I have so many photos from IMATS that I have to break them up into three posts. This first installation is my collective haul over the two days.

From FACE atelier:
Ultra Foundation in #6 Honey (my shade), $36
Ultra Foundation in #8 Caramel (smaller “Pro” size, for my sister Liza), $26
Lip Glaze in Prim Rose, $19

From Alcone:
Beauty Blender Sponge, $15

From Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics:
Lip Tar in Memento, $10
Lip Tar in Demure, $10

From Crown Brush:
2 x pink Lip Brushes — one for each OCC Lip Tar , $2.50 each
Italian Badger Angle Blush Brush IB106, $8.50
Large Pointed Powder Brush, $19

From Royal & Langnickel:
Silk Pro Complexion C185 Brush, $10

From Nigel Beauty Emporium:
Z-Palette, $20
(Contents not included! )

From Embryolisse:
Lait-Creme Concentre 30 ml, $10
Lotion Micellaire (Rinse-free Makeup Remover), $25

This year I went for quality — not quantity like last year’s haul — and I am very excited to play with my new goodies. When I get my vanity reorganized, I will have some lip swatches for you, and of course reviews! Anything in particular here you would like me to review? Oh, and did you attend IMATS Toronto? Share your haul in the comments!

Stay Tuned for More!

Can’t get enough of IMATS? Stay tuned for more photos, my experience this year, as well as tips and tricks from Kevin James Bennett’s workshop on complexion!