Etos Eye Looks: Turqoise, Dusty Rose And Brown



Here's a quick post showing two eye looks. All except one of the items used are from Etos, a Dutch drugstore brand.

I used:


L-R:
Etos Eyeshadow Underbase (a primer)
Etos Pure Pigments - No. 103 (turqoise green)
Etos Pure Pigments - No. 101 (dark pink/dusty rose)
Etos Smokey Eyes Eyeshadow - only the darkest brown
GOSH Velvet Touch Eye Liner - Truly Brown
Etos Max Volume Mascara


The first look has the three colours sweeping horizontally across the eyes.


The second look has one colour stacked on top of another, with the third colour (brown) on the outer corners. I did a mirrored wing eyelining for this look.



Two looks, done with the same set of products. Let's keep it simple.


Win these Etos Pure Pigments in my ongoing giveaway. Ends this Saturday, 1st October.

Adorned Nails: Catrice Iron Mermaiden



You won't be mistaken if you think you've seen this one here before. Remember Essence Where Is The Party?? As far as I can tell, Iron Mermaiden is a twin but with a much funkier name. Where Is The Party? sounds so teenybopper. Iron Mermaiden, definitely hardcore.

I will describe Iron Mermaiden much like how I had described Where Is The Party?. It's a metallic duochrome (or trichrome?) of dark green and purple/silvery lilac on the nails. In the bottle, you can catch flashes of aqua.



There is however a difference in application. The formula for Where Is The Party? is thicker and it works as a one-coater. Iron Mermaiden, on the other hand, has a thinner consistency and needs at least three coats for opacity. For both polishes, you will get the same results in the end. I'll let you do the math.

Where Is The Party? - €1.29 for 5ml

Iron Mermaiden - €2.49 for 10ml


I doubt you would have noticed but you're looking at one coat of Where Is The Party? on the little finger. All the other fingers have three coats of Iron Mermaiden on. It's hard to tell the difference.

Let's see how Iron Mermaiden looks with some stamping. I've used the gaudy purple of Catrice Forget-Me-Not and one of the Essence Nail Art Stamping Design Plates with the so-called full nail designs.


I have two things to say about the plate:

1. It's pointless telling you the name of the plate because Essence has a ridiculous way of naming them. Essence has issued about five or six rectangular plates to-date but each of them has either the name 01 have fun! or 02 style it up!. It appears to be a case of packaging material overstock, I think.

2. They are supposed to be full-nail designs but they can't fill a whole nail. Ironic. It doesn't work for the thumb and it won't work if you have long-ish nails. The designs are really made for little girls, not for senior citizens like moi.

I've chosen the circle design with retro vibes. Due to the small size of the design, I had to stamp twice on the thumbs. It wasn't easy connecting the two stamps. Then, I added a thick French tip with the same polish.





It's hardcore gone retro.


My previous features on:
Where Is The Party?
Catrice Forget-Me-Not

Jane Iredale: PureGloss For Lips Review


Our tingly mint and ginger flavor plumps without chemicals. In a base of organic vegetable oils, we've added botanicals including extracts of green tea, grape seed and pomegranate, all powerful antioxidants. No petroleum-based ingredients to dry out your lips.

• Only the highest quality natural ingredients used to provide staying power, moisture and nourishment to the lips


~ According to Jane Iredale (excerpts)



I would rank this Jane Iredale PureGloss quite high on the sticky scale. It's a hair magnet.

Wait! I'm not saying I hate this lipgloss.

First of all, here's the list of ingredients:

Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Grape Seed Extract, Jojoba Esters, Green Tea Leaf Extract, Ginger Root Oil, Pomegranate Extract, Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Soybean Oil, Flavor, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Bisabolol.

May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Carmine, Red 30 Lake, Red 7 Lake.

The very first ingredient, that unpronounceable, intimidating-sounding name, is really just a skin-conditioning agent. The rest on the list look pretty good, no? The Skin Deep Cosmetics Database has given the Jane Iredale PureGloss a low score of 2 (for those unfamiliar with this - the lower the score, the better/safer). Sure, there are others with even lower scores of 0 and 1, but 2 isn't that bad - there are lipglosses from other brands with scores of 8 and 9.

Secondly, like most lipglosses, this one keeps lips from drying out. More than that, it's a moisturising lipgloss and it stays on the lips for many hours (I repeat, it's sticky). Of course, there is some transfer with eating and drinking but in my experience, with a good application, it is possible to go almost the whole day without re-applying.

Thirdly, I like the practical packaging - I don't foresee a problem getting the last bits of the lipgloss out later on. Just squeeze, minimal wastage.


I am ambivalent about the following four aspects though:

• Scent
The lips do feel tingly and minty cool for the first 15 minutes after application. It smells of mint gone dull, if that makes sense. It's like chewing gum-minty minus the sugary sweetness. I feel like it's missing something. Perhaps it's the influence of the ginger root oil in the mix.

• Texture
The lipgloss is very thick and (have I mentioned it already?) it's sticky. Not much is needed to get that juicy gloss effect, so it's possible to avoid the heavy feel.

• Plumping
Thin lips? Try PureGloss. I know my lips aren't exactly screaming for a lip plumper but this PureGloss does plump the lips up a bit.

• Pricey
Price: USD20. Net wt. 5ml / 0.17 fl oz. It's quite pricey for a lipgloss but I try to see the good side - quality and organic ingredients (I'd like to think that I can trust Jane Iredale on this), does not contain petrolatum (some cheap lipglosses do), paraben-free and it's moisturising and longlasting.



These lipglosses are available in around 20 shades. Mine is in the shade Hazelnut, a sheer caramel-coloured gloss densely packed with specks of golden shimmers. It's good for a juicy nude-look, if you're into that. I prefer using it on top of a matte lipstick shade. I'm wearing it here with NARS Morocco.

NARS Morocco


The shimmers of Jane Iredale PureGloss upclose


NARS Morocco + Jane Iredale PureGloss Hazelnut


I don't think Hazelnut is the most attractive colour in the PureGloss range. I'll have to get a better shade next time. You might want to check out the other prettier shades.


More information:
My posts on Brand: Jane Iredale
Jane Iredale website

Adorned Nails: KOH Down Under


So, you've seen KOH Bronzation, Blue Universe and Green Stardust. Here's another flaky polish: KOH Down Under.


Down Under is a burgundy-brown jelly with the very slightest hint of purple. I would actually consider this an office-safe polish. In real life, all one would see is the dull burgundy-brown shade. The flakies are noticeable only on closer inspection.


As you can see, the iridescent flakies are randomly shaped. They are green when viewed upfront and turqoise/blue/violet when viewed at an angle. There are also bits of orange-coloured glitters in the mix.

Down Under applied pretty much like how the others applied. You could do two thick coats but I find it more manageable with three-four thin coats.

I'll shut up and let you enjoy the polish.






The other flakies:
KOH Bronzation
KOH Blue Universe
KOH Green Stardust

My updated post on getting your own KOH nail polishes:
Guidelines On Where To Buy KOH Nail Polish

ELLIS FAAS: Autumn Set 2011 - A Closer Look


For autumn this year, ELLIS FAAS has put together a set of three of its products - two eye products plus one lip colour - and is offering it at a special price. The ELLIS FAAS Autumn Set 2011 consists of:

• Milky Eyes E204
• Mascara E401
• Creamy Lips E102


Before we take a closer look at these items, I think you might want to watch this cool ELLIS FAAS video first, if you haven't already. We all know that the FAAS family members are a talented and creative lot but this video is truly a testament to that fact. It's weird, edgy, poignant, artsy and beautiful all in one. Blotches of colours that seem to make no sense, do make sense if you take a step back. Some of the 'paints' used were colours from the brand's cosmetics range.

The video was launched a week ago and it now presides on the homepage of the ELLIS FAAS website. This is what Ellis says (from the newsletter):

As a late teenager, I visited the Tate Gallery in London and was blown away by a Francis Bacon triptych. It made a great impression on me because of the use of colour - it was unnerving and stunningly beautiful at the same time. Bacon inspired many experiments I did over the years. I now think it has become something of my own and hasn't much to do with Bacon any more.

The video was shot in Ellis' home, with Ellis the one responsible for the 'artwork' and photography. The person that you see in the video is Thijs, Ellis' brother (and right-hand man) and the music was composed and recorded by none other than Ellis' daughter, Flavia. The video is aptly called A Family Affair.


Poster Image

The Autumn 2011 Set


I received this set from the folks at ELLIS FAAS last week and have been playing around with the three pens. This isn't a review per se as I have already written extensive articles on these items (albeit featuring different shades) in the past year and a half but I will offer some input where needed.

Milky Eyes E204


What used to be a doe-foot-like applicator for Milky Eyes is now a brush applicator, ie it looks just like the Creamy Eyes applicator now. Milky Eyes liquid eyeshadows are not as heavy and opaque as Creamy Eyes but that means it's easier to sheer Milky Eyes eyeshadows out compared to Creamy Eyes. These liquid eyeshadows don't need an eyeshadow base.

E204 is a petrol green.


Mascara E401
It's a black mascara with an unusually long wand, which takes some getting used to. It's not a waterproof mascara.


Creamy Lips L102
The Creamy Lips range are full-on, highly pigmented liquid lipcolours. L102 is a dark beetroot shade (ELLIS FAAS calls it deep cherry). It's one that definitely packs a punch. You can apply it thickly for the most impact: It looks vampy and goth-like against lighter skin tones and it would complement brown skin beautifully. Or, you can dab the colour lightly on your lips for fruit-stained lips.


I never need to use any lipbalm as a base whenever I use Creamy Lips. Creamy Lips has a very moisturising formula and it can last for about 6 hours with one good application. The colour does fade over the hours and with eating and drinking. The fading of this dark shade is very telling with food and drinks. I end up with a dark outline of the lips, so that needs touching up afterwards.



L: Milky Eyes E204; R: Creamy Lips L102

The Autumn Set 2011 costs €60.00 / USD80.00 / £50.00. That works out to be a savings of €14.00 compared to what you would pay if you purchased the items separately.


Further reading:
My ELLIS FAAS reviews
- Milky Eyes
- Mascara
- Creamy Lips

The Autumn Set on the ELLIS FAAS website

Giveaway: Etos Pure Pigments



The giveaway is closed. Thank you.


This was the reason why I wrote that out-of-nowhere post on the Etos Pure Pigments the other day. You see, I bought an extra set of the Pure Pigments and it will be going to one of you. As I said the other day, I know you can get pigments easily from many brands these days but I thought it would be fun to give one of you a chance to try something from Etos (it's a Dutch drugstore chain).

Front row: My set; Back row: Winner's set

The winner will walk away with this set of five Etos Pure Pigments:


L-R:
No. 102 (bronzy gold)
No. 103 (turqoise green)
No. 101 (red/dusty rose)
No. 005 (violet)
No. 004 (cobalt blue)

The giveaway info in quick bites:

1. Open worldwide.

2. Open to all who follow Witoxicity's writings.
Followers on Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin' receive one extra point.

- Google Friend Connect (one extra point)
- Bloglovin' (one extra point)
- RSS feeds
- Regular visitors

3. Fill in the form below (now removed).

4. Answer one question:

What was the first pigment powder eye product from a Dutch brand that I ever featured on Witoxicity.com? Please give both the brand name and the product name.
The shade name is not required. Hint: It was featured sometime in the last 3 months.

5. Optional: Feature this giveaway on your blog (feel free to use the third image above) - one extra point.

6. Optional: Tweet about this giveaway - one extra point.
For your convenience, you might want to copy this:
Win a set of five Etos Pure Pigments @Witoxicity http://goo.gl/1mNAI

7. Optional: Follow me on my style site, Witoxichic, through either Google Friend Connect or Bloglovin' - one extra point.
Note: Please don't follow blindly. Do follow only if you like what you see.

8. Submit your entry by latest 11.59pm (Central European Time) on Saturday, 1st October 2011.

9. The winner will be picked randomly from the list of participants (and their corresponding extra entries) who answer the question correctly.

Full giveaway details here.

Good luck, ladies!


There are more images of these pigments and the swatches in the Etos: Pure Pigments post.

Etos: Pure Pigments



This is a quick feature on the Etos Pure Pigments that I was talking about the other day in the Eye Look With Gold and Aubergine post.

I have these five shades. I gave the sixth one, a white, a miss. These Pure Pigments are housed in cute little 4cm-tall bottles. They cost €3.99 each but I got them when they were on special offer a couple of weeks ago. I believe these Pure Pigments have been around for quite a while but I was never interested in them until I finally tried one that I got as a gift.



Never mind the irritating fallout, I think the colours are simply gorgeous.

L-R:
Bronzy gold - No. 102
Turqoise green (almost mint green applied) - No. 103
Red/Dusty rose - No. 101




L-R:
Violet - No. 005
Cobalt blue - No. 004





Just in case it crossed your mind, no, I haven't gone bonkers and I'm not about to christen this one "Eye Look With Rainbow Colours". I just wanted to show how all the five shades look side-by-side on the eyes, for fun. Please don't wear this look to the office.

An eyeshadow primer was used for the swatches and the eye look. I used Etos Eyeshadow Underbase.