LOVE IS IN THE AIR :)

Hello ladies! Hope you all had a fabulous Valentines Day. I know I did. I woke up in the morning with a big smile on my face as I found this next to me....

AWWW!!

(BY THE WAY, AS I COULDN'T BE BOTHERED WITH MY CAMERA, I JUST USED THE iPHONE AND TOOK PHOTOS WITH INSTAGRAM. APOLOGIES FOR THE PICTURE QUALITY!) 

Dante also made me a lovely breakfast in bed - crispy thin bacon and poached eggs on toast served with my favourite glass of OJ. I was so excited that I gobbled it all down like a hungry hyaena, well before I could even take a snapshot of it LOL. Couldn't help myself, it was irresistibly delicious. He is such a sweetheart, I knew I'm marrying him for a reason :) Totally made my day and I knew nothing is going to ruin it even if I was going to spend the entire day cooped up in the office. 

But if that wasn't enough, he also surprised me with these...

BABYLISS Pro 38mm (1 1/2 inch) Curling Iron, JIMMY CHOO perfume and a gold heart necklace from DIVA.

I squealed with excitement as these were some of the items on my current wishlist that I was already planning to get the next time I could afford it. I COULDN'T believe he actually got me these! He doesn't normally make a fuss with Valentines presents and I was honestly not expecting to get much this time around, the rose and breakfast alone was more than enough to make me a very happy woman. But for him to secretly take notes, pay attention and REMEMBER as I looked and put them back in the shelves last time we were out shopping together? A BIG TICK AND EXTRA BROWNIE POINTS for him! ;) lol.

But I too, have a knack of spoiling him. 

I got him a new pair of jeans and shirt from YD and a Vday card :) 

LOL!

I also had it all planned out to get the kids looked after by grandma that night, so we could have some time alone at home, have a romantic candle light dinner and perhaps have a nice relaxing bubble bath after. But Dante's beaten me to it and already made dinner reservations and booked our movie tickets. Okay no problemo my love, will just save the romance for later on the night ;) HAHA

After dinner and movies, we ventured off to Max Brenner for a late night dessert and coffee. Unfortunately when we got there, we were greeted by this at the door...

BOO.. SO BUMMED OUT!! :(

Realising my disappointment over not getting my Max Brenner fix, Dante surprised me with a box of Krispy Kremes that he bought while we stopped at the petrol station on the way home. Isn't he so thoughtful? And I gotta say, the doughnuts definitely satisfied my sweet cravings! YUM!! 

What did you girls do on Valentines Day? Share your posts and leave your links down the comment section below, I would love to read them :)

The Versatile Blogger Award

Finally getting around to posting one of the awards I received recently. I've only been blogging for just over a month and I'm so appreciative of all the wonderful comments and responses I've been getting from you ladies. Everyone is so lovely and helpful and I'm glad to have jumped on the beauty blogging bandwagon. (Special mention to my cousin Joanne who inspired me to join in, thanks cuz!). I love reading everyone's blogs and I try my best to update mine's as regularly as possible and respond to everyone's comments.. but with work, a fiance and two kids and other commitments, I haven't been able to do it as often as I'd like. Anyways, big thanks to the lovelies Mary from Mary Beauty Bits and Amy from Pretty Powerful for giving me this award, I feel really flattered! If you guys have time, go check out their blogs, it is awesome, I love it! xx

Rules of the honour:

 1) Thank the person that nominated you with a link back

2) Tell 7 things about you

3)Pass this on to 10 newly discovered blogs and let them know they received the award.

So here are the 7 things about me:

1) I have three dimples on my cheeks; 1 on the left and 2 on the right
2) My kids names are Denzel and Mya

3) I'm a folder, not a scruncher :P LOL

4) I hate passionfruit with a passion 

5) My first name is Maria and I don't like it. Most people call me by my second name, Carina or Rina for short. Only my fiance calls me Maria (when he's being cheeky).. or the annoying telemarketers 

6) Winter is my favourite season

7) I have only been to three countries - Philippines, New Zealand and of course Australia where I now live as a citizen :) Would love to extend that list one day to hopefully U.S, Canada, Hawaii, Italy, UK.. just to name a few :)

Now for my nominees!

1) Joanne
2) Connie
3) Bebem
4) Jill
5) Angielyn
6) Marta

7) Tina
8) Charlotte
9) Sophy
10) Tiff

Congrats you guys. I'm a fan of your blogs and I think you are all worthy of the award :)


Rina

xoxo.

Natural Glam to Soft Smokey Eyes for Valentines Day

Hey there beauties :) I'm back with another makeup tutorial and this time I put together the final two looks of my 'Valentines Day makeup look series'. 

First off is a sweet, "all naturale" look to suit those who are going for a really simple yet glamorous look. But if 'simple' is not your cup of tea and you're looking for something a little bit more sexy, I transformed the first look and jazzed it up with a soft smokey eye and nude lip. These are so simple and super easy, it literally took no more than ten minutes to do each look. 


So without further ado, let's get down to business and on with the tutorial.. 

Natural Glam Look

EYES

1. Mac Painterly Paint pot - apply all over the lid using ring finger and blend out. This will act as a base for the eyeshadow.

2. Mac Naked Pigment - using Mac 239 brush or any eye shader brush, dip it in the pigment and tap off any excess before applying all over the lid and up to the crease and in the tear duct. Grab a blending brush (I used Mac 217), and use it to soften the edges.

3. Wet N Wild Brulee - using Sigma E60 large shader brush, highlight the brow bone.

4. Mac Smolder Eye Pencil - line upper and lower lid and smudge it out a bit using a short shader brush (Sigma E20).

5. Curl lashes. I'm wearing natural false lashes (but this is optional) then I applied two coats of Dior Diorshow Mascara in Black out.

6. Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Peach - use ring finger and dab it under the eye to cover dark circles 

For the face: as I was aiming to make it as 'natural looking' as possible, I wanted to wear a light weight foundation, something that doesn't cover all the imperfections but enough to cover redness on my face and give it a nice healthy glow. I used Covergirl's Natureluxe Silk Foundation in Sandstone, but depending on how much you apply, you may choose to build it up to a medium coverage as well. I then used Mac's MSF Natural in Medium Dark to set the foundation and I applied Nyx Cream blush in Natural to the apples of my cheeks. Then I finished off the look with Urban Decay's lip junkie lip gloss in Naked (travel size that came with the Naked2 palette).

Soft Smokey Look

EYES

So basically, I just sexified the first look by smoking out the eyes with a darker eyeshadow to my outer lid and blending it really well, up to the crease. But I didn't want it to be too dark, with like a black eyeshadow, so I chose to use Mac's 'Contrast', it's like a dark blue greyish colour, it's really gorgeous, and for me, it's perfect for a softer smokey eye. I then applied more eyeliner to my upper and lower lash line using Stila's kajal eyeliner in Onyx, and using an eyeliner brush (Sigme E05), I smudged out the liner and set it with a dark brown eyeshadow (from my Clinique palette.. sorry don't know the name of it). But of course you guys don't have to use the same products, use whatever shades u have or like, depending on how intense and dramatic you want your eyes to look :)

For the face, I contoured my cheeks using my Sleek contour kit and then I applied Milani's baked blush in Dolce Pink on top of the cream blush I put on earlier. Highlighted the centre of my cheeks, forehead, chin and nose of my bridge with Mac's MSF in Redhead. Put concealer on my lips and applied Nyx lip gloss in Real Nude to finish off the look. 

Have a good weekend everyone and Happy Valentine's Day to all of you who celebrate it! And to those who don't, well hope you guys have a great day anyway (",)

Much love

Rina xoxo

AFFORDABLE PURPLE SMOKEY EYES VDAY LOOK #4

*WARNING: CAMWHORING GALORE AHEAD!! Sorry girls lol*


Hi lovely ladies. If you have been following my posts, you'd already know that I'm doing a 'Valentines Day' makeup look series until Feb 14. Well today, I'd like to share with you another look - it's a sexy purple smokey eye, and since I've been using mostly higher end brands in my recent posts, I decided to only use inexpensive, very affordable but high quality drugstore products in this look.  I gotta say, this is my favourite Vday look so far.. hence why the abundance of pics hehe... YEP, VAIN!! lol.. I adore purple eyeshadows as it suits my dark brown eyes the best, and makes my eyes pop (: 

(lol excuse my improperly glued falsies on my lashes ahahaha)

PRODUCTS USED

(Above pic: Sleek i-Divine palette in Storm. Sorry if it's dirty.. it's old! This palette is the best, great pigmentation and it's my go-to numero uno low end brand palette)

*EYES*

1. Elf eyelid primer - prime the eyes to make eyeshadows last longer and avoid creasing.

2. Nyx Jumbo pencil in Milk (oops, I forgot to put it in the photo.. oh well, it's looking old and run down anyways haha) - apply minimal amount on the lid and use fingers to blend out. This serves as a base to help keep the eyeshadows more vibrant on the lids.

3. Sleek i-Divine Storm Palette, matte nude shade (top row third from left) - using a fluffy brush, apply above the crease with a 'back and forth windshield wiper motion'. 

4. L'oreal Infallible eyeshadows in Purple Obsession - dab it all over the lid using fingers. Grab the same fluffy brush used in Step 3 and blend out harsh lines and edges. Get a short shader brush and use it to line the lower lashline as well. Smudge it out to create that smokey look under the eye.

5. L'oreal Infallible eyeshadows in Burning Black - using a pencil brush, draw a line on the outer v and gently blend out the edges.

6. Sleek i-Divine Storm Palette, blue shimmery shade (bottom row, third on the right) - using a blending brush, lightly dip it on to the eyeshadow and apply to the outer corners extending the colour up to the crease and blend. Make sure to use a light hand and only add a little amount of eyeshadow at a time. Take time in blending!

7. Sleek i-Divine Storm Palette, matte black shade (bottom row, first one on the right) - using a clean pencil brush, apply to the outer half of the lid. Blend, blend and blend..!!

8. Wet n Wild icon single eyeshadow in Brulee - using a large flat shader brush, highlight brow bone and also working it down on to the crease to soften and eliminate any harsh edges.

9. Sleek i-Divine Storm Palette, shimmery champagne shade (top row, second on the left) - using the same flat shader brush, dip the tips of the brush on the eyeshadow and apply to the inner corners of the eye.

10. Revlon ColorStay under eye concealer in Medium - dab under the eyes and blend out to cover dark circles

11. Milani Liquif'eye eyeliner in Black - tightline, upper lids and waterline

12. Maybelline Line Stiletto liquid liner in Blackest black - upper lash line 

13. Maybelline Falsies Mascara in Blackest black - applied two coats to top and bottom lashes

14. Ardell false lashes (not in photo)

*Brows*

Revlon Colorstay Brow Enhancer in Taupe

*FACE*

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB cream in Medium

Revlon Colorstay Foundation in True Beige

Revlon Colorstay Blemish Corrector in Medium

Maybelline Mineral Power Powder in Sandy Beige

Nyx Bronzer

Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso

*LIPS*

L'oreal Color Riche in Nude

Nyx Lip gloss in Whipped

(again, please ignore the lashes lol)

Really hope you girls like this and you can use it as an inspiration for your next look. 

Much love, 

Rina xoxo

QUICK FOTD: Metallic taupe eyes

Pinch and a punch for the first day of the month! Hope everyone is having a great year so far. Wow, we are already in to the second month of 2012 and summer is nearly over yaay!.. YAY for me cause I absolutely love the cold weather and rugging up in my scarves, tights and boots :) CAN'T WAIT!


Anyhoo, I was at work and the day was just going so slow so I decided to update my blog and do a quick FOTD...whilst I was on my break of course!! ;) lol. However, I couldn't get this post to publish from my phone this morning (FAIL!), so I had to wait till I could use the laptop when I get home. 


I wore my L’oreal HIP shadow duo in ‘Electrified’ on my eyes - with the metallic silvery taupe colour on my lid and the shimmery purple on the outer corners. Since I was in a rush this morning, I only took photos from my Iphone and you guys can't see, but I actually lined my lower lid with a purple eye liner from The Body Shop to add a pop of colour to my eyes. I applied Nyx blush in Mocha on my cheeks and a tinted lip conditioner in Petting Pink from Mac on my lips, finishing off the look with my HG lip gloss ever - Smashbox Wicked Lovely Lip gloss in Coy. This look is super easy, super simple and nothing too special but it’s one of my most favourite everyday looks especially when I'm going to work. Hope you guys like it! 


Till my next post.. Much love xxo