Emily's Anthology - a Malaysian beauty blog: NYX

Product Review: NYX Revenge is Infinite

Guys, I have exciting news to share! I will be giving away 2 awesome NYX Revenge is Infinite palette, to 2 lucky readers! If you might be interested in getting your hands on one, read on to find out more about the palette, and the giveaway :)

If you're not sure what this is about, Revenge is a hit TV show about a woman who has sworn revenge against the people who wronged her father and caused his death. Set against the upscale backdrop of the Hamptons, Emily Thorne plots and schemes to bring down a powerful family responsible for framing her father and causing his death. I love this TV show, and if you haven't seen it, you need to get on it right now!

Season 4 returns today at 10.35pm on Star World (yes, Malaysia will be receiving the show on the exact same day as the US!) and I cannot wait to tune in.

Now on to the fun stuff - here are pictures and swatches of the palette!

The box comes with eyeshadows, lipsticks and blushes, plus a mirror and two little booklets showing you how to achieve Emily Thorne and Victoria Grayson's signature looks. The instructions are pretty simple (I would have loved more illustrations and wish they would have named the colours to be used instead of just saying 'a light pink eyeshadow', especially since the eyeshadows in the palette are named) and they tell you how to achieve a very basic look.

A quick look at the eyeshadows in the palette shows you Revenge-inspired names (I love when brands do this!), and you can see two distinct 'colour temperatures' in the 10 eyeshadow pans - warm tones (Emily Thorne's colours of preference) and cool tones (Victoria always uses silver and black eyeshadows on the show).

Also in the palette are 6 lip colours and 3 blushes.

Shown below are the swatches of the eyeshadows. I found that the best way to get the most colour-payoff from these eyeshadows was to apply multiple layers of these eyeshadows on a densely-packed eyeshadow base brush, and on top of a primer.

My favourites in this palette are Destiny (a warm, coppery brown), Duplicity (a warm, plummy purple) and Infinity (an almost multi-dimensional taupe-y silver). Revelations is a beautiful crease colour for anyone with warm toned skin. Illusion (the middle blush colour) is particularly flattering and is very similar in colour to NARS' famous Orgasm blush.

Overall, most of the eyeshadows were smooth and soft, but a few of the colours (Intrigue, Infinity, and Vendetta) were a little bit chalky. Make sure you apply evenly

I love this palette because it puts together a beautiful mix of colours that you can wear both at night and in the day, and though some colours are not as pigmented as I would like, that is easily fixed with some primer and a bit of elbow grease.

If you're keen on this palette, make sure you get your box soon, because only 500 boxes are going on sale in Sephora stores in Malaysia (at RM104 per box), and stocks are expected to last only till the middle of next month.

Alternatively, you can join my giveaway and win yourself a free box plus a beauty makeover at your local Sephora store! Here's how:

1. Simply leave a comment in the comment box below telling me who your favourite character is on Revenge.

2. I will pick a winner by Friday, 3rd October at 12pm and announce it on my Facebook page. Check this page for the update so you don't miss out on your prize!

3. Collect your prize, and schedule a time to experience your makeover (participating outlets are Sephora KLCC, Sephora Gurney Paragon Mall, Sephora Komtar JBCC and Sephora The Spring Mall).

Good luck, everyone!

20Comments

, by Emily Quak

In Covo Cosmetics, elf

What is HD Finishing Powder?

By now, everyone knows of the existence of HD powders, but not a lot know why they're called HD powders, and how they're different from other finishing powders out there. I'm here to shed a tiny bit of light on this, as well as to share and compare the performance of some of the HD powders I've tried before.

What is HD powder?

High Definition powders are one of the most recent releases in makeup land, and was formulated as the solution to HD television technology, hence its name. It is mostly made of silica powder. The powder is very, very finely milled, so a little bit goes a long way when it comes to HD powder. Generally, most HD powders are colourless, but some companies have produced coloured versions of these powders, which you will see later on in this post.

What does HD powder do?

The new, high definition TVs bring stark attention to flaws in the skin, so makeup had to provide a solution to counter that effect. Enter HD makeup.

In general, finishing powders set your makeup. They keep your makeup in place, and absorb some of the excess oil in the skin. HD powders, along with all HD formulated makeup, contain light diffusing particles, which soften the focus of the cameras on the skin and create a 'soft light' effect, hiding to some extent the flaws in the skin, and giving the skin a more glowy effect. If you'd like to see HD makeup in action, here's a YouTube video where I show you how to use HD makeup.
A word of warning: a tiny bit of powder really does go a long way, and this powder is completely invisible to the naked eye. You won't know if you've used too much, unless you take a photo of yourself with flash. Make sure you apply with either a fan brush or a kabuki brush, because these products disperse the powders loosely enough so that they won't flash back on camera.

Why do I need HD powder?
If you're going to be photographed, you'll want to use HD powder to give your skin a glowy effect, as if it was lit by soft light (like candlelight). If you don't like the way makeup sits on your skin, HD makeup is very pigmented and is applied in a very thin layer on the skin, so it won't feel like you're wearing makeup. And if you like to take selfies, HD makeup is definitely for you :)

Which HD powder should I use?
Check out my reviews of the following HD powders to figure out what best fits your budget and needs :)

Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder
This is one of the most popular HD powders out there, and the pioneer brand for HD makeup. The powder comes in two forms (as of March 2014) - a loose powder version that comes in a jar with a sifter, and a compact powder version. The Make Up For Ever HD powder is 100% silica powder, and is extremely fine. Only the tiniest bit of powder is needed to set your makeup and create that 'soft focus' effect. It gives your skin the most beautiful glow in photograph and is definitely a powder that lives up to its name and fame.
One thing I don't like about the powder though, is how little you need to use in order not to get that white-powder-flashback effect. In warm climates, makeup tends to move around, and I need more powder to set certain areas in my skin, particularly my undereye area. Unfortunately, using too little doesn't set my undereye concealer, and using too much creates that flashback effect.

Covo Cosmetics HD Picturesque Loose Powder SPF10
Covo is a Malaysian brand that is gaining quite a large and loyal following, and I love that I can recommend a brand for tourists to buy when they come visiting :)
Their HD powder is one of those powders that contain colour pigment, and is less finely milled than the MUFE HD powder. It comes in a compact that contains a grinder, and grinds out loose powder as you turn the grinder. If you're someone who thinks that they need a little more coverage after foundation and concealer, then this is the powder for you. It has a medium coverage, and comes with a convenient little brush (that is actually quite usable!) that you can use on the go. This one is not 100% silica, so it's not as difficult to use as the other HD powders and you're in no danger of over-applying.

NYX HD Studio Finishing Powder
NYX is an affordable but effective brand, and I have loved almost every product that I've tried from this brand. Their HD powder is no exception. It is 100% silica and finely milled (though admittedly, it doesn't have the smooth, silky feel of the MUFE powder). This is slightly more difficult to use than the MUFE HD powder because if you over-apply, the effect is much more obvious - probably because the powder is slightly less fine compared to the MUFE powder. It still does give your skin that lovely glow if applied properly, plus it is so affordable (I got mine on eBay for $13).

elf High Definition Powder
This is another one of those affordable powders (I got mine from iherb.com), and is lovely to use. It is more or less identical to the NYX powder, except for the sifter that dispenses the powder. I absolutely love the one in the elf packaging because the holes are smaller, so that the powder doesn't all spill out at one shake. The elf powders also come in a few formulations - one shimmer, one translucent, and one yellow colour-correcting, so they're a little different from the Covo powder.

Are you a fan of HD powder? Which one do you use? :)

1Comments

, by Emily Quak

In ck one, Crayon

Eyeshadow Sticks or Crayons: What Are They and Why Use Them?

3Comments

, by Emily Quak

In Beaute Cosmetics, Bobbi Brown

Makeup Tutorial: Valentine's Sweet Geisha/Pink Makeup

6Comments

, by Emily Quak

In Anastasia Beverly Hills, Bobbi Brown

Makeup Tutorial: Christmas/Party Makeup Look

5Comments

, by Emily Quak

In Black Swan, Chanel

Halloween Makeup Tutorial: The White Swan

4Comments

, by Emily Quak

In Ameli, Chanel

Fabulous Shades for Spring 2012

4Comments

, by Emily Quak

In Anastasia Beverly Hills, Arbonne

Makeup Tutorial: Get the Victoria's Secret Runway Look

2Comments

, by Emily Quak

In Australis, Beauty Secrets

Makeup Basics: How to Apply Long-Lasting Red Lipstick

Hello everyone! This post is a little late, because I've had quite a few things to deal with, but it is finally up and I hope you guys enjoy it!

So as promised, here's my step-by-step guide to a long-wearing, shaped red lipstick.

Before you start, apply a lip balm and leave it in for 2-3 minutes. I love the Simplicité Angelica Lip Care Balm. It is gorgeous and very moisturising. Then, grab a cotton bud and rub it along your lips to remove any dry, loose skin.

Now you're ready to apply your lipstick.

First, apply your favourite red lipstick. Stay within your lip lines.

Next, use a lip liner to line your lips. At this point, you can shape your lips and draw them as you like. You can draw the line slightly outside your natural lip line to make your lips appear fuller.

Then, using a lip brush, apply another coat of lipstick to your lips. A lip brush will help you control the application of the lipstick and help you create smooth, perfect lines.

Blot the lipstick once you've applied it. This filters it down to a thin layer that you can then build up on. Building up thin layer upon thin layer helps the lipstick last longer than applying one thick coat of lipstick.

Reapply a coat of lipstick, then blot again, then apply again.

Next, using a small concealer brush, apply concealer to the outside of your lip, especially around the outer corners. This will perfect and also lighten the line around your lips, which will make them look more perfect and full. Try to use a moisturising concealer, because the area around your lips is most likely dry and may have some fine lines. A moisturising concealer will help disguise any of these imperfections.

Finally, apply some lipgloss to the centre of your lips. This creates the illusion of fuller lips.

And that's it! Here are a couple of products that I used to create this tutorial.

Some great lipstick shades that match a myriad of skin tones are, as shown from left to right:

Tom Ford Private Blend Lip Color in True Coral - this is a lipstick with an orange undertone which matches both very fair skins as well as warmer skin tones.

ck one color Pure Color Lipstick in Loudmouth - this is a dark red with a plummy undertone. Plummy undertones suit both warm and cool undertones in the skin.

Lancome Rouge in Love in 163M - this is a red with a bluish base which suits more neutral skins as well as cool skin tones

NYX Round Lipstick in Snow White - this is the most blood-red lipstick I have ever seen! This kind of blood-red colour suits every skin tone and is very flattering on the skin. It really stands out on the skin though, so if you're a first time wearer, be warned!

Australis Show Stopper Gloss Stick in Fireworks - this is for people less experienced with red lipsticks. It is more sheer, and also very easy to apply because of its stick form.

I have posted swatches of these lipsticks below:

L-R: Australis 'Fireworks', ck one 'Loudmouth', Lancome 163M, NYX 'Snow White', Tom Ford 'True Coral'

As I mentioned earlier, the concealers used around the lip need to be moisturising. My favourites are the MAC Select Moisturecover and the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer.

I hope this post helped you! x