Topshop Hairchalk, or Kidsplay for sorta Adults

I've got these moments when I think I'm young & wild and a virgin

These moments don't happen in the morning when I've checked my mirror: wild, perhaps...but young? Not so much.

As for virgin? My hair used to be but after the restoration session it probably is a mixture of 4 types of dye and some bleach (still manages to look a natural beachlook instead of "hairdresser's head").

As a young mind, I thought turquoise dipdye would be a good idea, but maturity saved me from going in for that [yet], so chalk it is.

There are lots of places to get your chalk from these days, but I opted for the easy way when I ordered some clothes on Topshop.

 So "colour without commitment" for €5.

Let's see how it performed:

After my intensive complaining of my hair for *oh lets say* a whole year I am gonna show you some ends (so they are ends and not superhealthy, but they still have some natural shine)

"ready for a rendez-vouz, goldielocks"

 I am considered a [sorta] blonde in the Meditterean and a blonde in Asia, but in Holland they are that platinum that they consider me a brunette: "it's all about perception, right?"

Chalking up:

 

Andddd

Post-Chalking:

I liked the colour and it's quite colour accurate from the chalk-tube 

(and I am not even having white hair so I think it will work on darker brunettes too)

ONLY,

it looked so matte, so I thought I would give it some gloss with shine-spray:

tools of MATTE destruction: Bumble & Bumble Shine on...(and on...)

EHM?

 I'd probably should have misted it from a far distance instead. Now it's really pine-green.

I have never been that happy about my Bumble & Bumble Shine on but misting it afterwards is not the best idea. 

I think that "keeping it matte" is a good look when working with hairchalk. 

Eventually, it's for a party or other event alone and the matte gives it that "cool-girl-couldn't-care-less" vibe.

So, I am not a pro with hairchalk but for a non-pro it works quite ok, but keep the liquids before instead of after.

Ok, I forgot the ingredients:

bit blurry, sorry

CONCLUSION: Excellent festival spice for more standardy hair;  Fun stuff for commitment-phobes on hair; 40 (& 30)-somethings with pre-midlife crisis that still-have-to-go-to-the-office, or to see if you'd really gonna take the plunge on funky colours in your hair.

Availability: Topshop

"Black is the new black": eyepencils ft Pixi Endless EyePen

Black eyepencils have a simpler reputation than they actually deserve. They are the working-horses of eyepencil-dom: most people can get away with it, and 'people' implies the rocker dude as well.

But I will refer again to my Orwelian "all black eyepencils are created equal, but some are more equal than others". Also, some are better for tightligning, others between the upper lashes (need some waterproof-ness) and others are the perfect alternative to the liquid eyeliner.

I bought another not so standard black after Drivellerkates claim that they are the closest thing to perfection, only brand Three to be a tad better. Also, there was this amazing Pixi set on Asos.com for €13:

Normally, the Endless eyeliner pencil is €13 alone, so I got a bargain with the Pixi Nailpolish and Tinted brilliance pencil in Rosy Red. (not available anymore)

So Drivellerkate adores her Pixi Endless collection: how would I like mine compared to my black faves?

I talked about purpose of the eyepencil. I use my pure blacks predominantly for tightlining between the upper lashes. That means I need something close to waterproof to keep put.

Swatches: (I have to work on my *symmetry* when doing these)

1. Topshop Waterproof Liner in Ebony
A real kohl formula looking slightly like that charcoal matte formula. I love this for tightlining as it is truly waterproof. Compared to Pixi, next to it, it looks slightly brown.
2. Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in BlackNoir
True black colour that has incredible pigmentation over the skin. Velvety exterior. I consider it bleeding a bit when applying as a tightliner along upper eyelashes.
3. Majolica Majorca Sugary Trap (LE)- Cream Pencil Liner in BK999 Bitter Black
*mine dried up a little*. The most powdery formula: it stays put as a tightliner
4. Mac Kohl Power eye pencil in Feline
Wow, look how glossy it looks? I got this from my *unexplored stash* lately and it looks really glossy and black. As a tightliner it bleeds slightly as well, but it never claims it is waterproof in the first place.
5. Pupa True Eyes eyepencil in 01 Extrablack
Marketed as "extra soft for eyes". Similar texture and colour as Majolica Majorca, this slightly powdery. Does an excellent job in staying put as an eyeliner.

Distance swatch photo:

 

I think the difference in my stash is between colour (true blackness or slightly brownish) and finish (powdery or glazed/glossy). The 'wetter' formulas are often less waterproof and I skip them for tightlining: instead, they function as eyeliner/undereye colour. The dryer formulas feel better in the tightline.

Verdict:

I can really see why DrivellerKate likes these pencils. However, I think they are not superwaterproof as a tightliner. So, the finish is gorgeous and I imagine them even more stunning in the coloured versions as the visible part of eyepencil, eg the traced above the upper lashes or framing the bottom lashes (pure black is a tad too stark for my paler complexion/hair/etc for doing that).

Availability:

Pixibeauty.co.uk has all gorgeous shades, but shipping is a bit steep. Asos.com only has 3 colours, but with free shipping.

Upcoming posts

• Blush-palettes are the latest thing?

Nope, I've seen it before by Shiseido Maquillage. I was remembered by Frontrowbeauty's FOTD how fantastic these are, and will compare them with the Le Metier de Beaute's one.

•  More on the Palette Swatching project:

I finally will swatch The Shiseido Maquillage Alexander Wang palette. It has been a couple of years old when Alexander Wang was an upcoming designer.

• Black is the new black

This amazing post made me buy a Pixi Endless eyeliner pencil. I will compare them with my other 5 fave black eyeliner pencils to see how they can be different in their eyepencil blackness.

Using, Used, Gonna Use

Goodie, the 3rd week in 2013 started and I am curious how all the resolutions and good intentions are holding up.

I have been using up quite some products so that part of the beauty-resolution has been going strong.

• Using: Kerastase Lait Vital conditioner: 

 I got a good deal on it and they get a high rating in the reviews. I personally think the scent is quite strong but the smoothing effect are good, but in Cinderella terms that I blog about every now and then. Right now it's not my favourite but I will use it up as it works good enough.

• Used: Casanera Bodylotion in Clémentine:

One of the generous freebies I got into my Casanera nightcream Precioza order (here). Gosh, it's thin and fluidy ánd delivers the right kind of moisture that even satisfied my winter skin. It penetrates rapidly, so you don't have to run around au nude/bathrobed/etc for hours before you can dress yourself. I LOVE the tangerine-esque scent that is fresh but not too strong, so it wouldn't interfere with your perfume of choice.

*I'm absolutely reconsidering a full-size of this one*

• Gonna Use: Topshop leather quilted pouchbag

Sorry, it's not that cosmetics-related but it's so cute and I'm looking forward carrying it around.

 Extra Used up:

 

• Elemental Herbology Facial Glow Radiance Peel

A wonderful exfoliating peel that doesn't need scrubbing but only to leave it on for a couple of minutes. It's infused with  papaya, Manuka honey, orange peel and apple serum and my skin looks brighter and smoother afterwards.

*Repurchase? Maybe, I still have to use up the Ren Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel, which is effective too*

Tip Toed...

It's new shoes time...!

I jumped the bandwagon and got myself a pair of shiny noses that are actually really welcome...

These cap-toe shoes are such lovely pumps and I got this idea from the fashionblogs I've been following around. These are Topshop's and are a beautiful cream base with a gold-pink nose.

They are not that unique anymore, because Zara has them for a similar price and somewhat similar shade and another cute colour in turquoise. But I wanted a sweet nude for OL appropriateness.

Anything you bought lately that put (a) spring in your step?

Winnetou meets Goldfish...

I'm slighly smitten with my new coral-esque Topshop sweater:

It taps in into the Native American feather-'n-fringes trend and has a high dose of goldfish mixed into it....

Wonderfully bright...for the cooler summer days....

Topshop makeup Cheeks (stick) in Ray

It seems I have a find-a-dupe-a-ton as a theme for today.

In my search for cheaper alternatives I posted something about ArtDeco this morning, and now I will do a mini-review on the Topshop Cheeks(stick) in Ray.

Most people know Topshop for their clothing, and I think it is quite reasonable to say that their fanclub reaches beyond the country where it all started, the UK. I think it is right to say that H&M is a bigger name on the international field of affordable clothing, but Topshop is the trendier variety.

Are they able to make makeup? Honestly, as with a lot of companies that specialises in makeup, they have their top (no pun intended) products and their 'mehs'. But for a clothing company they are not too bad.

I do not have a lot of Topshop makeup, btw, but this is based on various reviews and some testing when I actually was in a real brick-and-mortar shop in the UK.

Oh, the Dutch people had their Topshop launch this week. Well, not completely, just a small section in a other shop, but still, it is good to see the stuff in real life.

I seem to disgress again...back to the review. I talked about finding a reasonable, and hopefully better dupe for the NARS multiple sticks. I have St. Barts in my collection as a sort-of-bronzing stick, but I believe I could do a find a more natural and convincing bronzer than St. Barts. I like NARS for some of their products, but they seem to love to add their multiples with lots of metallic sheen.

So, how does Topshop Ray look like:

Topshop Cheekstick in Ray

Mmm, I was not too enthousiastic when looking at the colour. It looks like a coppery metallic stick and it is not that perfectly natural brown I had in mind.

Swatched on my skin you can see it is true to its tube colour:

What is not really obvious in this picture it that there are some silvery specks scattered through the stick, and the swatch.

Honestly, it would be a fun shimmer-stick for the evening or clubbing, when you want to add some serious (and not too natural bronzing) to your face. But as a natural bronzer/blush it actually fails colourwise. At least, for my skintone: I think it could be a gorgeous highlighter tone on darker skintones, btw.

I am not too negative about this product, because when I sheer it out and add some powder on top of it, it can look a bit natural. But I find that a bit too much work for a type of product that aims to be effortless and quick. On the other hand, it looks quite stunning on the body for highlighting/bronzing so it will not be completely a waste of money.

I did not test its longevity that much, because I sheered it out a lot. I think it last for quite some time, depending on the manner of application.

You can purchase this in a topshop or online at topshop for £ 10.