Category: Beauty talk

Holiday Makeup Inspirations

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The holidays are just around the corner!! I’m sure your starting to plan some outifts for a bunch of different parties coming up. Here are some ideas that can maybe inspire you or to glam up your look!!

The Classic Smokey Eye:
Doesn’t have to black, you can always do a nice dark green or purple smokey eye…

                  

Glitter Lids:
This look is so much fun for the holidays, you  can glam up ANY look just by adding glitter on your lids. This look can be messy but when applying glitter always put a tissue paper under your eyes for any excess fall-out to avoid the “Disco Ball” face (Haha!).

         

Even with the glitter you can play with different colors

 

 

 

If you don’t like Glittery Lids but want a touch of Glitz you can always just do a liner of glitter or line your liner like below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

And Last but not least the ultimate classic fire red lips or dark pink:

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you don’t have many different outfits sometimes using the same dress but tweeking up your look with different makeup and accessories, people might not even notice! Its all about putting the emphassis on something different (ex.: belt, stacked necklaces, eyes, lips, SHOES…)
I hope this gives you a few ideas for the holidays, have fun and enjoy every moment with family and friends. Eat lots and be safe.
Happy holidays!

Note: these pictures do not belong to me, these were just chosen randomly to give you ideas.

Fall Routine!

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I love Fall, I really think it’s my favorite season of all. Although it’s getting cold, EEK!

Anyway I’ve slightly changed my makeup routine since the fall, so here are some favorite products and what’s good for prepping for the cold weather.
For a flawless face I’ve been using Bentaberry /Super moisturizing face cream for girls mixed with a pea-size of my liquid foundation from Raffael cosmetics in C3, I apply it with a flat buffing brush in circular motions until well blended. I don’t always put powder because my skin gets overly flaky, so I sometimes prefer a dewy finish.
For eyes, I’ve been getting away with a simple primer base from Urban Decay – primer potion original and a thick black liner from Raffel cosmetic’s felt liner in Jet black. As for mascara, I’m loving the Benefit – They’re Real!.
For some color on my cheeks I’m using MAC’s mineralize skin finish in Medium Dark.
Finishing off the look with a nude/pink lipstick (my ULTIMATE favorite) Raffael in Dewy #475.

Now that it’s cold, my skin is getting dry and I’m sure yours is as well. I’m trying to do a self-facial at least once a month and use a heavier face moisturizer. It is also very important to exfoliate to remove all dead skin.

Enjoy! Get ready for the holidays, it’s so close!!  🙂

Happy Creepers!!

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Happy Halloween everyone! My favorite time of the year, the time where there are no limits to makeup and special effect are taken to extreme levels. I love it! Here’s a nice inspiration for you guys, this is my sister and her boyfriend as matchy skeletons so creepy 😛

Enjoy and don’t eat tooo much candy 😉

Makeup by Christina Paras

 

Products used: white and black halloween liquid makeup, raffael cosmetics transluscent powder, urban decay eye primer, old black liquid eye liner (to make the cracks), black gel liner, black mascara, raffael black carbon eye shadow and black eye liner in pencil in smolder.

A not so dramatic Smokey eye

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This is a basic smokey eye that is not too overdone. Black eye shadow was only used only in the outer lid rather than all over and I blended it with a nice light brown eye shadow in the crease. Instead of putting an intense black eye liner, I used a dark brown (almost black) for a less intense look and individuals lashes were used for this look.

All products used for this look were by Raffael cosmetics.

The “Can’t-Go-Wrong” Fall/Winter look

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As much as I’m extremely in denial, summer is over or almost over. I find the one simple classic look that will NEVER seize to amaze and have a great impact is the pin-up. A simple black liner with red or dark pink lipstick. This look is so easy to dress up and dress down (just like the little black dress).

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This look is so easy to play up or down. You can obviously leave plain liner and lipstick or you can add a nice light shimmer on your lids to slightly glamourize your look , you can excentuate your crease with a light brown and a matte nude eye shadow all over the lid. You can make your liner really thin or really thick depending on your mood. So fun to work with. With this look, you cannot go wrong and it’s the best “go-to” color option for fall and winter.
On this picture I’m wearing Sublime lip liner by Raffael, MAC Red by MAC, Black Gel liner by Raffael.

Enjoy this weather, Fall is the best season (for me 😛 ) xox

(Dedicated to my “3rd sister”, cousin and best friend who always supported me no matter what and always followed my blog. She was not only my first follower and number 1 fan in everything I did, but in my eyes she was and still is a true inspiration in my everyday life. I always wanted to be just like her. I love her so much and everyday she’s missed more than ever but i know she’s in a wonderful place right now ❤ )

Makeup’s been up to lately

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Yes yes, I didn’t forget to update 😛
Lately I felt like totally changing up my makeup routine. Since I was on holidays I wasn’t in the mood for any heavy look. Since then I feel like this “new” routine has stuck to me, but it’s more like I’m addicted to the overall finished look. It has that matte but glowy summer look with a light sunkiss tan, not too over-done but excentuates my features!
I normally NEVER skip out on the foundation. If anything I wear liquid foundation every time I wear makeup. During my holdiays, I was not in the mood for heavy makeup at all. Before starting I obviously moisturized and put a primer.
I used the dual powder by Raffael Cosmetics in C4 – C5 (I normally use C2-C3). I always contour my face with mineralized skin finish by MAC in medium-dark. For blush my new favorite color is by Raffael Cosmetics in Joy #220 it’s a peachy-pink that has a light gold-ish shine to it (as shown in the picture below). It’s perfect for highlighting the cheeks or even alone as a blush and I mix in a touch of pink blush to give it a boost of color like Raffael Cosmetics in Playful #309 it’s a bit of dark pink so I use just a little.


As for eyes I’ve been keeping it simple with liquid liner and the mascara Pro from Raffael Cosmetics.
Lip liner I use Sienna by Raffael and lipstick I’m using either MAC – Angel or Raffael – Chouchou wichever I grab first (they’re both almost identical).

I recently went shoe shopping mania (obviously!) 😛 so I’m gonna take some pictures and post them up very soon 😉 Don’t forget I love shoes just as much as makeup!!!

For details on Raffael cosmetics or where to purchase Raffael cosmetics please email me at christina.paras@yahoo.ca and don’t be shy 😉

(This is NOT sponsored by any company what so ever. These are my own opinions and all products were purchased on my own.)

I’m BAACKKK

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UPDATE:

I was away on vacation for almost 2 weeks! I’m now back! Have some great things to share with you I will probably be doing a video this weekend for a haul (makeup, shoes and clothes), I will be posting my most used products on my vacation and my favorite products for the month of July.
I got my Glossy box and my Glymm bag for July but I won’t be posting details on those two, cause I’m searching new ideas for the use of those samples or different ways of presenting the samples. If you have any ideas, or want me to continue posting the products and details or even a suggestion please comment below 🙂
I’m glad to be back and will be updating very very soon 😀

xox

Review on Raffael Cosmetics LIPSTICKS

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If you don’t know Raffael Cosmetics, it’s a canadian makeup line sold exclusively in studios, salons and schools. Raffael products are all hypo-allergenic, fragrance-free, non-comodeogenic (ideal for acne-prone skin), very pigmented and made in Canada. For more details on the company and its products just visit: http://www.raffaelcosmetics.com/

Today, I wanted to talk to you about the amazing lipsticks by Raffael Cosmetics. Honestly I was never a HUGE fan of lipsticks in the past. I find that most lipsticks, apart from being creamy, they wouldn’t last and weren’t very pigmented. 
When I tried Raffael’s lipstick for the first time, all it took was one application and I was HOOKED!! No joke!! Not only are the lipsticks super creamy, they are surprisingly very pigmented and longlasting. Oh! AND affordable!! You can take 20 sips from your latte and still have that “stain” on. Even my clients tell me all the time. 
I was hosting a makeup event and it was my first time wearing a Raffael lipstick (shade 540 Mirage: a beautiful dark pink). During that event, I must say for 3 hours straight I was blabbing away, wipping my mouth and constantly sipping on water (cause I was talking so much 😛 ). In my head I kept thinking “O.M.G. my lipstick must be allover my face I’m sure I look like a clown!!” I couldn’t really leave the event, I was the hostess. Eventually when the event started to calm down, I escaped to the wash room and to my surprise…. The lipstick looked intact and did not bleed or smear. I was SO impressed!

Raffael cosmetics has lots of colors to choose from. My favorite and most popular shades are:
Reds: Tapis Rouge and Brazened
Dark pink: Mirage
Pinks: Fantasme, Love Lust and Cherine
Coral/Peachy: Lola and Barbarella
Nudes: Chouchou, Sophia and Elegante

Don’t forget to always use a lipliner beneath your lipstick, not only to help keep the color but it also defines your lips and makes the color of your lipstick and lipgloss stand out more! 😉
Have fun with your shades. If you want to visit Raffael cosmetics go the side bar and click on the link.

I was not paid to write this review or sponsored. I purchased all products myself. All opinions are my own 100%.

My hair routine

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For people who don’t really know me and my hair type / history. I have naturally loose waves that become extremely frizzy and dry.
It’s been years (around 10 years, if not more) I’ve had all shades of red hair (strawberry blond, flashy bright red, purple red …) but always in the red tones. I used to NOT put so much care into my hair. I’d never do treatments, used any kind of drugstore shampoos and conditioners, I also used to think that if I didn’t cut it, it’ll grow more…
About a year and a half ago I had a good trim, my hair needed it so badly it had almost been 1 year and a half I hadn’t gone to a professional hairdresser. After cutting it, I realized that my roots showed up a lot faster, so I had to dye my hair more often (also used to do it myself). Then I read up on hair and why regular cuts should be done. So it became a habbit to get a trim every 2-3 months. With time I also experimented with shampoos and creams slightly higher quality than regular drugstore brands to see if there was an actual difference in my hair… And to my discovery, there was. I then realized I had neglected my hair too long. But those days are gone!!
Recently I felt like I needed a change so I’m slowly getting rid of my red hair going back to dark blond, light brown! 😉

Products I am currently using:
Tigi Bed Head Shampoo and Conditioner Urban Anti+Dotes Recovery: It makes my hair SUPER soft and I don’t fully wash out the condioner since I have dry, frizzy hair.
I always put a heat protector which for the moment it’s a product sold only to Hair Salons and I don’t remember the name (got this as a gift from a hairdresser) 😐 but any heat protector should do the work.
Moroccanoil Treatment oil: I put some on my ends before I blow dry straight or add some at my ends when curly. I don’t know why but by doing it so, I get different results.
L’Oreal Elnett Extra hold: I don’t always use hair spray it’s actually very rare.
Got2B Powderful: for when I need a boost of volume.
Wella Hair treatment: Leave this for a few hours then rinse off. Helps for the dry ends between dyes. 😉

I’ve seen a big difference on my hair, it might not work for everyone but it does for me. Regular trims do help keep the hair healthy and helps with normal hair growth.
Also if you’re curious to know about my hair color transition. I’m actually doing it professionally, I stripped my hair with an Ammonia and Bleach free product and I died with a natural dye in Shade 9. It’s still currently dark, but I should be going this week to do small streaks all over in shade 7 and I might be using bleach this time. During the 3 weeks, every week I did at least 1 treatment. I still got split ends, but my hair is not fried. Once I’m completely done, I will post a picture.

Also for those of you who don’t know what shade 9 is, it’s like a light brown almost blond-ish (which mine came out darker due to the red I had underneath) and shade 7 is 2 tones lighter wich hopefully will look dirty blond or dark blond.

Ps I’m almost done renovating, patience… I’ll get some videos up and going soon. Thanks

Favorite products for the month of June

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I obvioulsy couldn’t help myself… but I purchased a few new products last month and now I have to share it with you but only the favorites made it on this list and some products well I already had but “re-discovered” them 😀

The first product I’d love to tell you about is the highlighter Prep+prime in Radiant Rose By MAC:
I’ve actually replaced my concealer for this product. I dab some with my fingers under the eyes and it’s like I slept for hours and hours! I also use it to highlight some areas on my face. It’s amazing!

Next, I’m now in love with the mineralized blush Dainty by MAC:
Since I have dry skin, that small amount of shine in the blush leaves a great finish on my cheeks and obviously it’s pink 😛 (yes! I LOVE pink) 

My third fav product of the month would be the Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Medium/ Dark by MAC:
This does not leave behind a heavy powdery look. I use it as a bronzer and contouring powder and IF I ever tan maybe as a powder 😛 I love the finish, it has a hint of shine (not very visible) but again looks great and natural.

You’ll always catch me wearing lip gloss but what I have beneath is what makes my lips look full and defined! I’m obsessed with lip liner in Sienna by Raffael cosmetics. It’s the perfect shade and used this on clients where they said “Hey, how come my lip gloss looks better when YOU put in on?” … Because lip liners define lips and make the lip color pop! That’s my reply… People forget how much a little thing can do so much 😉

Last but not least, Mascara Xtension Plus by Marcelle. I find it perfectly seperates my lashes and doesn’t feel heavy. Since I already have long lashes, for everyday this mascara adds definition and not too much volume. I got this in my GlossyBox in may I think as a full size product and I would’ve never had considered this product if i hadn’t received it. So, Ya!

That’s it for Products of May-June (since I didn’t do one for a while)… I felt like I disappeared for a bit but I’ll try to post a bit more often once again. Please don’t forget to subscribe to my blog in order to get notified whenever I post, also keep checking on certain occassions my portfolio since I randomly add pictures whenever 😛