The Makeup Box

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Top 5 (Beauty) Guilty Pleasures Post — Think of it as “Shameless, Blameless Fun”. There are always a few (or a lot of) things that we keep gravitating to, against better advise (or the wishes of those around us). Maybe it’s that ridiculous hair-tie or that blue lipstick with pink glittery bits. Here are mine, and let me know what yours are! — 1. Radioactive, fluorescent pink lipstick. Yeah, it works on a beauty blog, but when you walk around with it (especially in Asia), you tend to attract raised brows in a mile-long radius. My husband doesn’t quite understand my obsession with it, and I frankly think most people have no idea what to think.  But  I love wearing a plain black outfit, minimal makeup, and my hair pulled back so I look perfectly nondescript until someone suddenly catches sight of that slash of ELECTRIC pink on my lips. Absolutely startling. Options: Barry M Shocking Pink Barry M Vibrant Pink, MAC Candy Yum Yum, Lime Crime Countessa Fluorescent — 2. Smoky, smudgy eyes in the day. (Tutorial for above look is here.) I’m not a drama queen, and I don’t work in fashion or art, so smearing black kajal all over the lids (and underneath them) may sometimes look a bit “imbalanced”. There’s all the sultriness without any of the prettiness because I USUALLY like to wear that alone with just some lip balm. I just smear it all over the lid in a thick coat, blend out the edges with a finger, and then run that dirty finger along my lower lash line for a very messy, imprecise smokiness. Then I run the black along my waterline for a bit more intensity. Options: Make Up For Ever Black Aqua Creme, black kajal sticks (look for the pointy lipstick tube form) from brands like Sleek, Bourjois, Shahnaz Husain, Guerlain. — 3. Chanel beauty products Are they good? Yes. I especially love their exquisite fragrances, their blush, their cream bronzer, their cream/gel shadows, and lipsticks. Are they worth that price tag? Probably not. That’s why they’re a guilty pleasure. — 4. No blush. (See point 2.) I can be so lazy sometimes that I’ll just wear something on the eyes and lips and leave my cheeks completely alone. Well-applied blush always livens up the face, but I get annoyed when it isn’t perfectly, so sometimes when I’m in a rush I’ll just skip it altogether.  — 5. Britney Spears Fantasy perfumes. I own more than I care to admit. For some reason, while I usually steer away from sugary fruit-loaded scents, Britney’s Fantasy range (excepting Circus Fantasy) is nestled right beside the minimalist Serge Lutens and Chanels on my shelf. Nevermind that I personally think the bottles are completely tasteless. The scents are actually pretty darned well-composed, whether you like the sugary-sweet style or not. Fantasy (sugary vanilla frosting laced with sweet fruits) and Midnight Fantasy (heavy ripe berries with a musky-creamy drydown) in particular are the olfactory equivalents of digging into a pint of ice-cream by yourself; instantly gratifying but easily nausea-inducing in large doses. I reserve them for “alone-time” because there are plenty of people around me who cannot stand sweet scents. Hidden Fantasy is the more grown-up of the 3, with a refreshingly dry citrus-rind-and-spices top over a quiet vanillic base, and I tend to wear that out more than the other 2 mentioned.

Top 5 (Beauty) Guilty Pleasures Post
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Think of it as “Shameless, Blameless Fun”.
There are always a few (or a lot of) things that we keep gravitating to, against better advise (or the wishes of those around us). Maybe it’s that ridiculous hair-tie or that blue lipstick with pink glittery bits.
Here are mine, and let me know what yours are!
—
1. Radioactive, fluorescent pink lipstick.
makeupbox: Black Smoky Eyes and Neon-Pink Glossy Lip Tutorial - [Dramatic matte black eyes using Urban Decay Blackout, and hot pink pleather lips using Barry M 52 Lip Paint and clear gloss] For this look, you want to start with a clean, matte canvas first. Apply matte foundation, concealer and translucent powder to set. You will need: black kohl or kajal liner (or any good, creamy black base - dont use something dry or that sets too fast. Im using The Body Shops Limited Edition Eye Kajal) matte black shadow (I used Urban Decay Blackout but any black matte will do) A deep metallic gunmetal (I used Urban Decay Ace, also from the 15 Anniversary Palette) Black mascara (Smashbox Lash DNA - testing this out now that my Bourjois has dried up) Hot pink blush (NYX Pinky) Neon pink lipstick (Barry M # 52 Shocking Pink is my neon pink of choice) Clear gloss (Sephora clear gloss) - Step 1: Apply the black kohl or kajal heavily to the upper and lower lash line. Its going to be spread out all over the lid and eye area, but as you want the black to fade outwards from the lash line, always concentrate the black within the lid area and smoke outwards. - Step 2: Use a flat brush to spread and even out the kajal, and go back in with a second or even a third layer until you build up a really smoky black look on the upper and lower lids. - Step 3: You can leave it as is for a REALLY smudgy, distressed rock star finish but if you want more control, set everything with a black matte powder shadow, using the dry side of the flat brush. Dont forget to run over the lower lash line and water line to minimize fading. Dont sweep or buff. Just pat lightly to cover and set the kohl. -  Step 4: For a finishing touch, dip your finger into a deep dark gunmetal and smear it  down the center of your lid for a gleam that adds dimension to the lid, but does not look like obvious shine against the matte black. It should look like you have your personal lighting crew running around with you and the light is hitting your lids just so. Apply lots of mascara along top and bottom lashes to finish. (This is one time when you can really layer it and even clump it up if you want.) - Step 5: To finish, apply blush, then make sure your lips are prepped with primer or a very thin layer of concealer (if you use concealer, blot on a sheet of tissue so that no excess concealer is left to muddy up your lipstick).  Apply an opaque layer of neon pink lipstick to your lips - dont be shy with it now! - and then dab a generous layer of clear gloss over it. Make sure the gloss goes right up to the edge of the pink so that it looks like stick-on patent leather lips. This means you should not over-draw your lips as it will look very fake and obvious with the gloss on. There is absolutely no reason why you cant do a strong lip when youre wearing a dark matte black on the eyes, but this is definitely a look that will get attention, so be prepared! For stage or a party, its fabulously fun.
Yeah, it works on a beauty blog, but when you walk around with it (especially in Asia), you tend to attract raised brows in a mile-long radius. My husband doesn’t quite understand my obsession with it, and I frankly think most people have no idea what to think. 
But  I love wearing a plain black outfit, minimal makeup, and my hair pulled back so I look perfectly nondescript until someone suddenly catches sight of that slash of ELECTRIC pink on my lips.
Absolutely startling.
Options: Barry M Shocking Pink Barry M Vibrant Pink, MAC Candy Yum Yum, Lime Crime Countessa Fluorescent
—
2. Smoky, smudgy eyes in the day.
(Tutorial for above look is here.)
I’m not a drama queen, and I don’t work in fashion or art, so smearing black kajal all over the lids (and underneath them) may sometimes look a bit “imbalanced”. There’s all the sultriness without any of the prettiness because I USUALLY like to wear that alone with just some lip balm.
I just smear it all over the lid in a thick coat, blend out the edges with a finger, and then run that dirty finger along my lower lash line for a very messy, imprecise smokiness. Then I run the black along my waterline for a bit more intensity.
Options: Make Up For Ever Black Aqua Creme, black kajal sticks (look for the pointy lipstick tube form) from brands like Sleek, Bourjois, Shahnaz Husain, Guerlain.
—
3. Chanel beauty products
Are they good?
Yes. I especially love their exquisite fragrances, their blush, their cream bronzer, their cream/gel shadows, and lipsticks.
Are they worth that price tag?
Probably not.
That’s why they’re a guilty pleasure.
—
4. No blush.
(See point 2.) I can be so lazy sometimes that I’ll just wear something on the eyes and lips and leave my cheeks completely alone. Well-applied blush always livens up the face, but I get annoyed when it isn’t perfectly, so sometimes when I’m in a rush I’ll just skip it altogether. 
—
5. Britney Spears Fantasy perfumes.

I own more than I care to admit.
For some reason, while I usually steer away from sugary fruit-loaded scents, Britney’s Fantasy range (excepting Circus Fantasy) is nestled right beside the minimalist Serge Lutens and Chanels on my shelf.
Nevermind that I personally think the bottles are completely tasteless.
The scents are actually pretty darned well-composed, whether you like the sugary-sweet style or not. Fantasy (sugary vanilla frosting laced with sweet fruits) and Midnight Fantasy (heavy ripe berries with a musky-creamy drydown) in particular are the olfactory equivalents of digging into a pint of ice-cream by yourself; instantly gratifying but easily nausea-inducing in large doses. I reserve them for “alone-time” because there are plenty of people around me who cannot stand sweet scents.
Hidden Fantasy is the more grown-up of the 3, with a refreshingly dry citrus-rind-and-spices top over a quiet vanillic base, and I tend to wear that out more than the other 2 mentioned.

Posted November 13, 2012 at 10:00 am 93 notes

#makeup#beauty#guilty pleasures#tag#general#britney spears fantasy#midnight fantasy#chanel beauty products#smoky eyes#neon pink lipstick#bright pink lipstick

200,000 follower milestone: BIG THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT!! — I’ve just gotten back to “regular life” after my first extended vacation in - oh, 4 years? - and look, we’ve crossed the 200,000 mark! The number looks a little unreal, but I know it’s each and every one of you guys who have hung in there with me the past 1.5 years who have commented, reblogged, given me your feedback, and taken the time to tune in and share this “obsession” with me. Whether you’re a makeup artist, a beauty-addict, or just have general concerns, I love having you here and hope you’ll be here for a good long while yet! (Photo source: styleite.com) We all have that thing in our lives that brings out the child in us, who is relentlessly hungry to learn and try more, sometimes to the point of obsession. For some it’s cooking, fragrance, books, games, art, or movies. Makeup has been that for me since my first hand-me-down lip palette. This blog has been an outlet for ideas, a place to escape, and a place to feel connected to other people as well. It’s almost become a secondary job for me (except that I pay to do this job…); aside from my 2 week honeymoon, I haven’t missed a day of posting since I began! Sure - it’s not going to solve world hunger or correct all the wrongs in the world, but neither is it all about shallow self-absorption and vanity.  Nobody NEEDS makeup. I’ll be the first to say that. But we already deal with responsibilities, stresses, real problems and serious issues on a regular basis regardless. Makeup and any other hobby or interest isn’t a way to avoid all that. If you, like me, simply believe simple things like a lipstick or an invisible cloud of scent have the ability to make someone stand taller and smile bigger, reinforce their sense of self, challenge their own boundaries, and walk out to face the world, then you’ve come to the right place. (Marc jacobs. Photo source: fashionarchitect.net) Back to the other important thing - the prizes! I’ll be looking through the scores of comments to the contest application post and will update with the winners (and contact you via your Tumblr message box so make sure that is activated!) as soon as possible. Stay posted!

200,000 follower milestone: BIG THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT!!

—

I’ve just gotten back to “regular life” after my first extended vacation in - oh, 4 years? - and look, we’ve crossed the 200,000 mark!

The number looks a little unreal, but I know it’s each and every one of you guys who have hung in there with me the past 1.5 years who have commented, reblogged, given me your feedback, and taken the time to tune in and share this “obsession” with me.

Whether you’re a makeup artist, a beauty-addict, or just have general concerns, I love having you here and hope you’ll be here for a good long while yet!

(Photo source: styleite.com)

We all have that thing in our lives that brings out the child in us, who is relentlessly hungry to learn and try more, sometimes to the point of obsession. For some it’s cooking, fragrance, books, games, art, or movies. Makeup has been that for me since my first hand-me-down lip palette.

This blog has been an outlet for ideas, a place to escape, and a place to feel connected to other people as well. It’s almost become a secondary job for me (except that I pay to do this job…); aside from my 2 week honeymoon, I haven’t missed a day of posting since I began! Sure - it’s not going to solve world hunger or correct all the wrongs in the world, but neither is it all about shallow self-absorption and vanity. 

Nobody NEEDS makeup. I’ll be the first to say that. But we already deal with responsibilities, stresses, real problems and serious issues on a regular basis regardless. Makeup and any other hobby or interest isn’t a way to avoid all that.

If you, like me, simply believe simple things like a lipstick or an invisible cloud of scent have the ability to make someone stand taller and smile bigger, reinforce their sense of self, challenge their own boundaries, and walk out to face the world, then you’ve come to the right place.

(Marc jacobs. Photo source: fashionarchitect.net)

Back to the other important thing - the prizes!

I’ll be looking through the scores of comments to the contest application post and will update with the winners (and contact you via your Tumblr message box so make sure that is activated!) as soon as possible. Stay posted!

Posted October 30, 2012 at 9:15 pm 42 notes

#makeup#beauty#makeupbox#followers#general#contest

On my way to NYC and only have intermittent internet access, so apologies in advance if my posts suddenly stop for a couple of days in the coming 2 weeks! I have some tutorials queued already, but for those who just sent me Halloween look requests, SORRY I simply don’t have the time to prepare more of them in the coming weeks! P.S. If any of you NYC afficionados or residents have any suggestions of lesser-known things to see, do, eat, and buy in New York, drop them my way! (I think I’ve got most of the “Tourist-y” things covered in my checklist.) — What beauty products are in my bag? Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Capsules (for the face) Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream (for the body) MAC Face & Body Foundation (Decanted into a little bottle) MAC Studiofinish Concealer (I only apply light makeup 1 hour before touch-down) Mascara (haven’t decided which one I’ll bring!) Shu Uemura Hard Formula 9 Seal Brown Pencil  Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector (yummy-smelling balm I’ve used for years) Ojon Dry Shampoo (this powder freshens but also moisturizes so I’m hoping it will prevent scalp flaking from the dryness) Eye drops My Nook (filled with lots of entertaining trashy books - ooh yeah) Pen and notebook (in case I think of any ideas for makeup looks or need to add one more thing to my impossibly-long shopping list) Decant of Serge Lutens’ Jeux de Peau (creamy-woody skin scent that is comforting but wears close to the skin so I won’t offend anyone with it) Glasses Mini-bottle of micellar cleansing water (to use in place of face wash since it won’t strip the skin) [Photo source: http://www.drimmit.com]

On my way to NYC and only have intermittent internet access, so apologies in advance if my posts suddenly stop for a couple of days in the coming 2 weeks! I have some tutorials queued already, but for those who just sent me Halloween look requests, SORRY I simply don’t have the time to prepare more of them in the coming weeks!

P.S. If any of you NYC afficionados or residents have any suggestions of lesser-known things to see, do, eat, and buy in New York, drop them my way! (I think I’ve got most of the “Tourist-y” things covered in my checklist.)

—

What beauty products are in my bag?

  • Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Capsules (for the face)
  • Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream (for the body)
  • MAC Face & Body Foundation (Decanted into a little bottle)
  • MAC Studiofinish Concealer (I only apply light makeup 1 hour before touch-down)
  • Mascara (haven’t decided which one I’ll bring!)
  • Shu Uemura Hard Formula 9 Seal Brown Pencil 
  • Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector (yummy-smelling balm I’ve used for years)
  • Ojon Dry Shampoo (this powder freshens but also moisturizes so I’m hoping it will prevent scalp flaking from the dryness)
  • Eye drops
  • My Nook (filled with lots of entertaining trashy books - ooh yeah)
  • Pen and notebook (in case I think of any ideas for makeup looks or need to add one more thing to my impossibly-long shopping list)
  • Decant of Serge Lutens’ Jeux de Peau (creamy-woody skin scent that is comforting but wears close to the skin so I won’t offend anyone with it)
  • Glasses
  • Mini-bottle of micellar cleansing water (to use in place of face wash since it won’t strip the skin)

[Photo source: http://www.drimmit.com]

Posted October 13, 2012 at 10:00 am 294 notes

#new york city#new york#travel#makeup#beauty#shopping#makeupbox#general

TAG: What would you wear if you were…

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I was inspired by a funny tag in the perfume blogosphere and decided to adapt it a little and ask all of you for submissions for me to put up here.

Side note: It took me 2 days to really think it through and come up with my choices, and while the makeup I chose was VERY varied, 3 out of the 4 scents I picked came (completely unintentionally) from the Thierry Mugler line. 

Simply start with a short intro of yourself, then list the questions with your answers below!

What makeup (and/or perfume) would you wear if you were:

1. At your coronation as Queen of the World

C: Honestly, I would probably douse myself in graphic black and gold ALL OVER, a la Patricia Valesquez in The Mummy. Gold is primal, and alluring, but too much of it can kill you.

Of course, I might need to work out for months for that physique. (Then again, if I’m Queen of the World, the world will just need to bl$#@y put up with me as I am, won’t it?)

Scent: Thierry Mugler Alien. This is not my favorite perfume, but it’s certainly my most complimented one. It smells like a dark, rich hybrid-jasmine fused with some strange alien bloom from another planet. There’s a reason Christopher Sheldrake describes jasmine as a flower with “cleavage”. It’s enveloping, and trails behind you in a quiet but absolutely REGAL fashion. (Beware if you don’t like jasmine.)

Photo from: tutorialchip.com

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2. An evil mermaid or siren, pulling men to their deaths in the ocean’s depths

C: Super-simple barely-there makeup with dark brows, full dark lashes, and flushed lips (all the better to contrast oh-so-beautiful against that slight gleam of ivory fangs). I might coat my body with translucent micro-glitter as well; just for my own viewing pleasure more than for anything else.

Scent: Womanity by Thierry Mugler. This scent has been likened to many things (including feminine “secretions”), which probably adds to its alien-ness and seductive edge. What I love is that it mixes a semblance of sweet normality (juicy figs) with a ozonic, sea-salt accord which smells electric and vaguely dangerous.

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3. A revered witch or priestess

C: I would dearly love to surround myself with black feathers (barring any harm caused to poor Ravens of course) like the magnificent Charlize Theron in Snow White and the Huntsman. As an aside, I think she completely stole the show, and poor Kristen Stewart looked woefully inadequate beside her as a wan, frowny, gawky princess. (But that’s just my opinion.)

I would definitely go with dark, smoky eyes AND dark lips just for dramatic effect. Smoky eyes pull people in, but remind them that you’re still slightly dangerous. 

Scent: Something dark, slightly odd, and seductive as a vampire. Vintage Hypnotic Poison, with its buttery, woody, metallic tang.

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4. A post-apocalyptic heroine/survivor (You’ve lost family, friends, home, everything you love, and soon you might lose your life as well. What would you wear at this point as a reminder of all the best moments in your life?)

c: I would probably only wear lipstick. What better makeup item to epitomise feminine pride and defiance? Eye makeup is very much designed to draw people in and capture their gaze and attention. Strong lipstick on the other hand, is a dramatic prop that holds people at arms’ length and says “look, but don’t get close”.

I’m wavering between a classic true red and an electric hot pink. (Maybe I’ll wear one on each side of my mouth. Who’s there to laugh anyway?) 

Scent: Angel. One of the first scents I really splurged on as a poor student almost a decade ago. Plus, it’s the ONLY long-time favorite of mine that has not be reformulated in the last decade. I consider it a “beautiful monstrosity” that fills rooms, trails for miles, and strikes ALL the wrong nerves for tons of people.

But that’s why it appeals to my rebellious side. (Trust me, if you grew up in Asia, you’ll know “normal” people don’t wear Thierry Mugler’s Angel. They wear Bvlgari au The Blanc, Elizabeth Arden Green Tea, Clinique Happy, and all the watery, cottony “L’eau”s and “Eau”s from Issey Miyake.) 

If I need to go out with a bang (or gas a roomful of Alien invaders), what better with than Angel?

Photo from thierrymugler.com

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Let me know what your choices are; the shades, brands, colors, smells that you would choose. I’d love to know!

Posted September 14, 2012 at 9:57 am 143 notes

#tag#angel#thierry mugler#perfume#fragrance#makeup#beauty#general#funny#follower interview

Just for Kicks: Happy International Chocolate Day!

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This probably comes as a strange thing if you know me, but I’m not dreaming of eating dusty bitter-sweet truffles or bathing in Nutella today. I’m dreaming of the Nemo Chocolate Lamp. 

[Lamp image: trendir.com]

But since I have no room - or need - for something like this at this point (if I even knew where to locate one of these) I shall just content myself with a liberal dose of Angel perfume the moment I get home. 

Anyone doing anything “chocolate-y” today?

Posted September 13, 2012 at 3:35 pm 117 notes

#international chocolate day#general#chocolate#cocoa#cacao#thierry mugler angel#nemo chocolate lamp

Cher Lloyd Inspired Makeup Tutorial

xoxo
slashedbeauty.com 

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Coincidentally, I got a request for a Cher Lloyd tutorial AND a submission for a Cher Lloyd tutorial on the same day. Thanks to slashedbeauty, and this is for those of you who asked! 

Posted August 10, 2012 at 2:30 pm 25 notes

#guest#general#faq#submission

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