Barry M is a popular, relatively inexpensive cosmetics line in the UK. Since Mika and I are studying here at the moment, we figured it would be worth checking out! One of Barry M’s best-known products is Dazzle Dust. Used mainly as eyeshadows, these loose pigments come in a wide array of gorgeous colors and cost about 4.50 pounds. Much cheaper than MAC pigments (though the container is way smaller) and the colors are comparable (if not better!). Most of the dazzle dusts I’ve encountered are shimmery, so if you shy away from sparkle, these may not be for you.

The colors I bought were #10 (grey) #78 (gorgeous atlantic blue) and #34 (deep purple). The grey makes a great all over lid color when you want to do a smokey eye, while the atlantic blue is nice for adding a pop of color under the eye or on the middle of your eyelid. In the photos below, I used the purple in my crease to add some smokey drama to the grey.

Overall, I am very satisfied with this product. The consistency of the powder is fine, making them easy to apply and blend. Its colors are rich and vibrant - perfect for applying all over the lid or in the crease. If you aren’t careful, however, they can spill and get messy - a downside to purchasing any sort of loose powder product. Using a stiff-bristled brush works best for these types of pigments. That way, you can control the amount of product used and concentrate it on any particular area. The containers are pretty, too! I’d definitely like to purchase more colors and try out some of Barry M’s other products.

Swatches:

Look using #10 and #34 (grey used all over the lid, purple used in the crease)

<3 Luckie

I’ve been practicing new looks and trying various brands since the age of 11. Needless to say, nine years have flown by incredibly quickly! I’ve always wanted to master a simple but pretty & interesting look that can be worn on a daily basis without looking too harsh. I think I’ve finally found it.

I love this look for any casual event. I tend stick to black liner because I haven’t found a brown that is pigmented enough for my skintone.

Products used:

Highlight: NYX Jumbo Eyepencil in Milk

Base: L’Oreal HIP Paint in Secretive (not my favorite, but does the trick. Just be sure to use a primer if you want it to last)

Crease: Lakme shimmer powder (note: Lakme is an Indian company so most of you probably won’t have access to their products. Any shimmery brown loose pigment should do the trick. The best thing about loose pigment is that you can use as little or as much as you want to control the depth.)

Liner: Prestige liquid, as usual!

Lips: NYX Lipstick in Thalia (one of my favorite lipcolors, goes great with dramatic eyes)

eyes closeup-

without flash-

more to come soon!

<3, Luckie

Sometimes I get tired of the typical black, harsh smokey look that we are so accustomed to seeing everywhere from the red carpet to your local clubs. Don’t get me wrong - I love me some smokey eye - but here is subtle, modified version I’ve experimented with for a couple of years now. The general guideline is to apply a relatively light base, add some smokey shadow in the crease, and then a lighter smokey shade around the outer-v of the eye. I like this style with the basic greys and blacks, but it also looks cute with a shimmery brown or taupe in the crease.

Products used
Highlight: NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
Base: L’Oreal HIP Paint in Secretive
Outer V: Smashbox Eyeshadow in Lagoon, blended upwards
Crease: NYX shadow in Lake Moss (darkest shade in trio)
Eyeliner: Prestige Liquid in Black and Milani Color Brilliance in Black
Mascara: CG Lashblast

Overall finished look:

<3 Luckie

Well, not really. But I have experimented with some ways to wear blue shadow without looking like Mimi from the Drew Carey Show (remember her?) This is a fairly simple but dramatic look that can be worn any time.

Products used:

Urban Decay Primer Potion
NYX Jumbo Eyepencil in Milk
NYX Eyeshadow Trio in Sweet Lagoon/Aqua/Ocean
Prestige Liquid Liner in black
Milani Color Brilliance Eye Pencil in black
Milani double-ended pencil in sterling magic
CG Lashblast

After applying the primer and jumbo pencil for highlight, I applied the lightest shade of the trio (Sweet Lagoon) over my entire lid. I added Aqua into the crease and then Ocean around the outer corners, blending upward. I finished with liquid liner (top eyelid) and Milani black pencil (waterline). Finally, I threw in some sparkle by lining the lower lid with Milani’s Sterling Magic. Add some mascara to finish and, voila! You’ve achieved an updated way to wear blue!

I think this is a really practical way to wear shades of blue without looking like a bad 80s popstar. Hope you enjoyed it!

<3 Luckie

Mika has already shared some of her favorites with you, so I’ll do the same! Trying my best not to repeat hers, because we share some of the same faves :)

Eyeliner: I’ve been using MAC kohl in Smolder for the past couple of years, and it’s been pretty successful. I like this liner because it’s dense, very dark, and fairly easy to smudge. It lasts very long, so it’s worth the price. The only problem I have with it is that it melts off the waterline fairly easily. I’ve had this problem with many liners, including both HE and drugstore products. Perhaps my eyes are particularly watery. I have yet to find a non-waterproof liner that won’t budge.

Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Lust (a gorgeous, funky purple) is also fabulous if you’d like a pop of color around your eyes. It’s lasting power isn’t as great as they advertise, but  I still enjoy wearing it. You may need to apply it twice if you have darker skin, just FYI.

Lipgloss: Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in “Sheer” is fabuolous. MUCH less sticky than MAC Lipglass and it glides on beautifully. Usually, I’ve noticed that you don’t need to spend a lot on lipgloss. The other drugstore brands, particularly L’Oreal & Maybelline, have excellent consistencies and are great for those of you on a budget. Buying glosses at the drugstore instead of department stores is a great way to save money on makeup!

Foundation: I am EXTREMELY picky about foundation, partly because I don’t wear it very often and partly because I hate the way some of the heavier formulas feel :X My recent pick is Mary Kay medium coverage foundation in Beige 400. It’s light, covers minor flaws, and has good staying power. I’d recommend it for people with generally good skin, but who need to cover up minor flaws and even out skin tone.

Nail Polish: I have tons of Wet & Wild polishes that cost a mere dollar or two and are a fabulous deal for the price. The color selection is somewhat limited, but they have some cool, funky shades that last very long, especially if you add a top coat. For a pretty nude look, also great for a french manicure, I use Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in Bamboo Shoot. It’s a pinkish nude that glides on easily and has little to no streakiness. I particularly like it on my feet. 3 coats + top coat does the trick and makes your feet look like you spent lots of moolah on a pedicure. I’m wearing it right now :)

That’s it for now! I’ll post again later when my order from Cherry Culture comes in.

<3, Luckie

cherryculture.com’s recent free shipping/NYX sale had Carly & me wondering if we could possibly write a semi-successful makeup/style blog… so here we are! as of the moment, we’re still waiting on a few things: paychecks, a new camera, for our new NYX cosmetics to ship out, and proper brushes.

while we’re waiting, however, I thought maybe that I could list my favorite drugstore/non-HE brands! I don’t like using the word ‘cheap’ for these brands, just because while they are cheaper money-wise, their quality can sometimes be just as good or better than some HE brands I’ve tried!

- Milani - powder eyeshadow - I have this in Sun Goddess! This is my FAVORITE gold shade of all time. on my medium-dark skin, the effect is subtle but still pigmented enough to show! it’s a little more of a burnt, topaz-y kind of gold, so it isn’t overly bright on darker skin tones. the other shadows are also good, but I have the most experience with Sun Goddess - for any brown girls looking for a good shade of gold that won’t wash you out but won’t overwhelm, this one is it!
- NYX - palettes - my favorite palette from NYX, thus far, is the matte trio of black/gray/white! the black is SO pigmented and long lasting that I sometimes use it as eyeliner! this is great for smoky eyes, though the matte can be a little harsh at times. I have a few other palettes from NYX that don’t work as well on my skin tone, but am totally willing to try more - NYX has done me no real wrong so far. (I can’t wait to try out their single shadows! I hear great things about them too :)
- L’oreal HiP - creme liners - their creme liners are great! the brushes included aren’t very good, but I can make do, since I’m on a budget ;) the liners are bright and super pigmented, and they show up great on my skin tone. I once wore the teal liner to the beach and it lasted throughout the day - even after I got pummeled by waves! favorite shade: teal, but the dark blue is great as well. downsides: for those looking for a blendable creme liner, this isn’t the one! once it hardens, it’s there to stay!
- Sonia Kashuk - Her bent eyeliner brush and it makes applying creme liners / wet shadows so much easier! I definitely recommend any of Sonia Kashuk’s brushes, but my favorite definitely has to be the bent eyeliner.
- Revlon - lip gloss - super lustrous nude lustre is probably my favorite lip gloss of all time! as someone who dislikes sickly sweet scents and the stickiness of most lip glosses, this is a pretty big deal :) as a rule, I generally stick with ChapStick because of dry lips & heavy eye makeup, but this perfect nude shade goes great with more dramatic eye looks! I definitely recommend it to anyone of any skin color.

I hope this list helps for anyone looking for affordable but highly-pigmented, long-lasting, and generally good quality makeup! Good luck :)

- Mika