A gold and bronze FOTD

Here we go again: I took pics with flash, and it bleached out my face because my foundation as an SPF :(
The flash also made my lipgloss appear spotty and not good looking at all, but I swear it is a lovely lipgloss!

This look is perfect for those of you who have blue eyes, or eyes that have a blue component in them. It makes the blue more visible!

This is the look I was wearing on my first video!


Products used:

FACE:

KIKO Hyaluronic bronzer in Beige (used as a foundation!)*
Madina Milano Exact Color Bronzer on my cheekbone and a little bit on the temples (lovely bronzer btw)
KIKO Sun Bronzing Trio in Highlighting Coral (on the apples of the cheeks)*

EYES:

KIKO Stick Eyeshadow in Gold as a base*
Pupa golden eyeshadow over the base
Pupa cranberry eyeshadow on the crease
Cargo Bronze shadow from the Color Palette (in Baja) blended on the crease and on the lower lashline*
UD Sellout as a highlighter on the brow bone
UD Bourbon liner
Pupa eyebrow pencil
NYX "Nirvana" false lashes

LIPS:

Essence Sun Club lipgloss in Summer Cherry

Hope you like this, and if you have blue eyes, give it a go!

PS: you can go darker with the bronze color if you want, but I wore this during the day so I wanted to keep it soft


Disclaimer: products marked with an * were sent to me by PR's for reviewing consideration. I have not been paid.

You can find information on KIKO on their official site: www.kikocosmetics.it - Online shopping is available (Italy only)

My Debut on Youtube

Please subscribe, rate, leave comments.
This video is in Italian, but I will film some videos in English, don't worry :)

Thank you <3

The Horror, The Horror! - my view on the MAC-Rodarte case

Unless you have been living under a rock, like I did until a week ago, you know about the MAC-Rodarte case.
A lot has been said about it, and I won't bore you with details you know already, so I will link you to one of the best posts I have read about it, written by the clever Mizz Worthy: click here

Now, I just want to give my contribution and tell you what I think about the most controvertial collaboration in the beauty industry.
Despite the fact that both MAC and Rodarte apologized, and that MAC is even going to donate part of the profits to some organization in Juarez, I still am skeptical about this all.

I simply don't buy it: so what if they will change the names of the products and will donate PART of their profits? The collection wasn't designed to focus attention on the issue of femicides in Juarez in the first place. If no one had complaint, they would have glamourized a real situation and got away with it.
What is really up with folks at MAC? Do they think we're blind, thinking that they have been inspired by the landscapes, while their ads show ghostly faces? Ghost= death, and death, connected to Juarez equals femicides. So, really: do you think we're that stupid?

Personally (and I mean personally), I would skip the entire collection because it is simply not fair to apologize and donate after the buzz. If they really wanted to make things change in Juarez, if they were really interested in what goes on there, I think that, with all the money, power, and credibility they have in the makeup industry, they should have tried to buy a maquilladora factory and hire people with decent shifts and salaries!
Their donation to an organization won't make things change AT ALL. Simply because the Mexican government won't care enough to allow the organization to spend that money correctly, and because that money won't change the damage that has been done and will be done.

What do you think? Let me know...

Graduation presents

I love, love, love this bag! You can remove the strap and just carry it around your arm. It's big, but not huge, and it's flowery, so I love it!

The black heart necklace, bracelet and the chandelier earrings have been given to me from my uncle and cousins, and they're so elegant when you wear them! Plus you can change the charms in the necklace and bracelet, so it's fun.
The other "ethnic style" bracelet is a gift from my friend and univ mate Rita :) I love ethnic jewelry.
And the lovely watch is a gift from my cousin and his family!

The earrings with the pink beads are handmade and are a gift from my friend Andrea (which is a male name here in Italy!), the circles earrings are from Rossella, friend and univ mate, and the black earrings and Sardinian style (click to enlarge to see the silver decoration, it's so unique) necklace is from my friend Sara.
Finally the pearl bracelet, which I am in love with, is from some family friends.

Silvia, Francesca and Michela (the girls you see with me in the pictures on the sidebar) got me this mosaic mirror, which I love! It's big and heavy, but it is so beautiful and useful, as I can do my makeup in my room now. I hate doing it in the bathroom where every one rushes you cos they need to get in eheh..


So that's it for now, my boyfriend's present was a trip to Dublin, and we'll leave on Sept 1st. I am so excited, and this is the best gift ever!
Every present I have received was wonderful, what do you think?


Also, I am so happy as the Lost package saga is almost over. Remember the swap I did with Michelle from Lipstickrules.com ONE YEAR AGO? Well, we diverted it to the UK (to Louise from Loulouland.co.uk) after the Italian customs held it for 2 months. The package got lost, but after 4 months it showed up at Louise's door, and I am so happy about it! I will soon get it. I'll count it as another graduation gift!

And finally, I have made an order from Madina Milano (www.madina.it - check it out) as they have sales right now, so I should receive it very soon, and you will be seeing it on my blog.


That's it for now,
I remind you to check out my contest, there is a link to the post about it under the header. I will record a video tomorrow morning if I can. There are only a few days left.

xoxo,
Lyd

Soap and Glory's Sit Tight - my thoughts

(I apologize for the pic I used - found through google - but I am still unpacking and trying to sort out things in my tiny old room, so bear with me)

Oh yes, this post was long overdue, and now I finally have little time to write it.

I received this something like 2 months ago maybe, to try and review. Sit Tight is the ultimate product for all 9 to 5 workers who just sit on a chair for 8 hrs, and for the "beautifully lazy" women who want to look good with barely any effort. The claim is, in fact:

The exclusive sit-released firming system is loaded with caffeine (at a level between 27-33%) which is known for its extended lipolytic, firming and draining actions.

The friction/heat generated by the user during the act of sitting acts as a release mechanism to trigger increased movement of the product to the lower body areas most affected by fatty tissue buildup.

With the addition of DETOXYBOOST, an active shown to help healthy circulation, a daily massaged-on application of Sit Tight helps to stimulate more efficient movement of fluid.

We would recommend rubbing Sit Tight onto your thighs vigorously each morning, as massage is well known to help move excess fluid build-up.

Now, as I had to spend lots of hours sitting on my desk, doing my research for my thesis, I could really use extra help beside going to the gym 3x week.
However, due to the fact that I am firm enough already, I couldn't see much of a change. I mean, yes, I could feel quite firm after using it, but I think this will work more evidently on people whose body is not so firm.
In addition to that, after some time the weather started to get seriously hot here in Sardinia and I couln't stand the MASSIVE heating sensation you feel after application.

I still have half the tube there, so what I will do is pass it on to my fellow blogger Olivia (over Confessions of a Makeupholic, check her out) and she will try it and write a post as a guest blogger here. Our bodies are completely different, and she is not a gym goer so I do think there is a chance she might beneficiate from this product more than I did.

Oh and I want to make something clear, cos I read too many posts that were a bit misleading about Sit Tight: SIT TIGHT IS NOT AN ANTI-CELLULITE PRODUCT. IT IS ONLY SUPPOSED TO MAKE YOUR SKIN FIRM, THEREFORE DO NOT EXPECT CELLULITE REDUCTION.

It is just for firming, ok?

Have you tried this product?, what do you think about it?

Graduation

Hi everyone,
I know I have been a little absent on the blog lately, but it will be over soon (...I guess...)

Since yesterday, I am officially a M.A. graduate in Euroamerican Languages and Literatures, with my thesis on the topic "Adapting Translation for Dubbing and Subtitling".
I got a Summa cum Laude for it, and I am really happy about it, as it was such a hard work, and I devoted myself to it completely!
Now it's time for me to find myself a good job, and hopefully find someone who will publish my research.

I was so tense and nervous that I have completely forgot to bring my own camera to the event, but I will have pictures soon, so you can see how graduations are like in Italy and of course, my make-up ;)

This feels so weird, I don't even realize university is over, but I'm moving back to my hometown for now, and then I will leave for Ireland with my boyfriend for the summer. We have no idea how long we are going to stay there for now, but I will keep you updated.

*UPDATE* Plane tickets to Ireland (or anywhere really) are unbelievably expensive right now, so we don't know what to do. We'll keep searching, or if anything we'll change our destination, but we will go on a trip! It's his gift for my grad. and it's our first summer as "Doctors" (yes, you are a doctor here in Italy eventhough you are not a PhD - which we aim to become one day anyway) so we will really try hard to find a solution.

Thanks everyone for being so patient with me, and not unsubscribing. I will take pics of the wonderful presents I've received as soon as I can.

Oh, don't you forget to enter my contest, there's a link with the rules and regulations under my header. I guess I will have to take pictures of the prizes too now :)

marine drama

I was inspired by one of the early TiffanyD's tutorials, when she was still interesting and possibly real. (don't mean to offend anyone, but I lost interest in her. She became boring, unfortunately)

I can't go to the beach, so I wanted to reproduce something with the colors of the wonderful Sardinian beaches. I love my homeland!

Products used:

FACE:
Clinique superbalanced makeup
Pupa Smart skin foundation mixed together
KIKO sun bronzing trio in 01

EYES
UDPP
From the Sleek Makeup Chaos palette: vibrant green, baby blue, and ocean blue
From the Sleek Bohemian Palette: matte blue
From the Sleek Acid palette: acid green (shimmery) in the innermost corner
Collection 2000 fast stroke liquid liner
CARGO Lash Activator mascara
Red Cherry 218 falsies

LIPS
CARGO Reverse Lipliner
KIKO Sunproof Stylo Lipstick in 01


I remind my Italian followers that KIKO is currently having an online sale, so go over www.kikocosmetics.com to check out their great products.

Let me know what you think of this look ;)

Collective haul

Not really make-up related, but I bought something today.
Graduation shoes, which I very much like...if you zoom in they appear cuter and more appropriate for my grad;
Bought a skirt at the early Oviesse sales. It's actually from the Fiorucci teenager line, ahah...I got a size that is bigger than mine to my fit it!
And I finally bought a nail stamping set. Anyone has advice on how to use it? My first attempt was utter crap! LOL

hope you like what I got. I love the skirt, it's so flowery....so me! ahah

win, win, win: 1 year blog anniversary CONTEST with CARGO prizes - CLOSED!!!

Hey ladies, sorry I have been MIA on the blog lately. Graduation is in two weeks, and everything is hectic.
So hectic that I forgot yesterday was my 1 YEAR BLOG ANNIVERSARY!
If you read my blog the last few weeks, you know that I am going to hold a contest to celebrate it.

The contest prizes are sponsored by CARGO Cosmetics, so I have to thank Megan and CARGO for being so kind and generous!

There will be two winners for this contest, and it is going to be really creative.
So get your makeup, your brushes and tools, and get creative!!!


REQUIREMENTS AND RULES * REQUISITI E REGOLAMENTO

1) As I have learnt lots of techniques, and learnt to experiment and dare more over this first year in the blogging community, I have thought of something creative.
You know that, to me, make-up is an art, therefore the topic of this contest will be WOMEN IN PAINTINGS.
This means that you can either reproduce a woman's portrait painted by a male artist, or any kind of painting made by a female painter. It can also be abstract.
Let yourself be inspired by the magic of Leonardo, Botticelli, Van Gogh, Vermeer, Klimt, but you can also experiment with "aging" techniques to reproduce Kathe Kollwitz.
You have infinite possibilities, really. Here's a video that can inspire you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUDIoN-_Hxs&feature=player_embedded

1) Dato che ho imparato molte tecniche e a sperimentare ed osare in questo mio primo anno nel mondo dei blog, ho pensato a qualcosa di creativo.
Sapete che per me il trucco è un'arte, perciò il soggetto di questo concorso sarà LE DONNE NEI DIPINTI.
Questo vuol dire che potete sia riprodurre un ritratto di donna dipinto da un artista uomo, oppure ogni tipo di dipinto di un'artista donna. Può essere anche un astratto.
Lasciatevi ispirare dalla magia di Leonardo, Botticelli, Van Gogh, Vermeer, Klimt, ma potete anche sperimentare con tecniche di "invecchiamento" per riprodurre un'opera di Kathe Kollwitz.
Avete davvero infinite possibilità. Ecco un video che vi può dare ispirazione:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUDIoN-_Hxs&feature=player_embedded

2) The contest is open to participant from any European Union country, USA and Canada. I am sorry for the other international followers, but I don't really have the time to deal with customs and laws.
You must be at least 18 to enter this contest, as you cannot provide certified parental approval in case you're a minor.
You must send a photo of your work (can be a full face, or just the eyes, if they are the main feature), along with your full name, email address, date of birth, a picture or a link of the painting that inspired you, and a breif explanation of your work, and of course facebook name or blog url.
You must be a follower of this blog, or my facebook fan page.
You must send your photo, along with the information required to the address: krucialsteez@hotmail.com with the object "contest entry". Please scan your files for viruses, and do not send huge huge photos. Resize them.

2) Il concorso è aperto ai partecipanti degli stati membri dell'Unione Europea, Stati Uniti, e Canada.
Dovete avere almeno 18 anni per partecipare a questo concorso, visto che non mi potete dare un permesso dei vostri genitori in caso siate minorenni.
Dovete spedire una foto del vostro lavoro (che può essere sia tutta la faccia, sia solo gli occhi, nel caso siano il punto focale del trucco), insieme al vostro nome e cognome, indirizzo email, data di nascita, una foto o un link del quadro che vi ha ispirate, insieme ad una breve descrizione del vostro lavoro, e ovviamente il vostro nome su facebook o l'url del blog.
Dovete essere iscritte a questo blog, o alla mia pagina facebook.
Dovete spedire la vostra foto, insieme alle informazioni obbligatorie all'indirizzo krucialsteez@hotmail.com con l'oggetto "contest entry". Per favore, fate una scansione con l'antivirus prima di spedire il file e non spedite file troppo pesanti.


YOU HAVE TIME UNTIL JULY 31, 2010 - MIDNIGHT, GMT+1
AVETE TEMPO FINO ALLA MEZZANOTTE DEL 31 LUGLIO 2010.


THE PRIZES * I PREMI

1st prize will be * Primo premio:

CARGO COSMETICS COLOR PALETTE IN BAJA
CARGO COSMETICS ONE BASE
CARGO COSMETICS LASH ACTIVATOR MASCARA

2nd prize will be * Secondo premio

CARGO COSMETICS BLUSH IN ROME
CARGO COSMETICS THE REVERSE LIPLINER IN LIGHT
CARGO COSMETICS HIGH INTENSITY LIPGLOSS IN INDONESIA

I will personally chose the winners with the help of a panel composed of some bloggers (I will give you the names of the bloggers who voted when the time comes). Our judgement will be not questionable.

Sceglierò personalmente le vincitrici con l'aiuto di una giuria composta da bloggers (vi darò i loro nomi quando verrà il momento delle votazioni). Il nostro giudizio non è opinabile.

GOOD LUCK GIRLIES, AND ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU MEGAN AND CARGO COSMETICS FOR SPONSORING THIS CONTEST!