Makeup Mondays With Mario: Defined Eye Crease

Celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic is answering your burning beauty questions!!! Every Monday, he will answer a beauty/skin care question as part of a weekly column on Spoiled Pretty, Makeup Mondays with Mario.

Hi Mario,

You are a huge inspiration to me you truly inspire me to try new and different unique things as a make up artist. There is just one thing I find tricky to achieve when I do make up. What's a easy way for a really defined eye crease? I find it very challenging to create this look and I always end up with two different shapes on each eye! What's the trick?

Thank you so much!

xoxo,
Janet

Hi Janet,

Thank you and Happy Halloween! :-). When going for a defined crease, using a typical dome shaped blending brush will not do the trick. Instead, try using a pencil along the crease. Use a small eye shadow brush or Q-tip to softly blend the line from side to side. If you want to define it more, try drawing a very thin line along the crease using a liquid liner. A thin eyeliner brush and eyeshadow also works well.

Thanks for visiting Makeup Mondays with Mario!

xo,

Mario

Got a question for Mario? Email your makeup and skin care queries to spoiledprettyquestions@gmail.com, and check back next Monday to read Mario's expert advice!

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Polished: A Note On Nail Art

Hello, spoiled pretty readers!

I adore good nail art. The Internet is full of great examples - chevron stripes, zombie faces, manicures in Tiffany blue with white detail to look like gift boxes - the examples are endless.

Personally, I always wanted to achieve half-moon nails at home. A beauty idol of mine, Dita Von Teese, often rocks a perfect half-moon manicure with ruby red and bare nail.

For my first attempt, I painted the bottom half of my nails silver, and went for purple on the top portion of the nail. It was so ugly, I destroyed the photographic evidence.

For my second and final attempt, I went for bare nails on the bottom portion, and red on the rest of the nail. I applied stickers meant for french manicures on the bottom of my nail, and painted over them. You are supposed to wait until the polish is completely dry to remove the stickers. I didn't exactly trust that, so I removed the stickers when the polish was still slightly tacky.

Some stickers left a well-defined line behind, some were crooked, and more still looked like I hadn't even used stickers at all. Ugh.

I came to the conclusion that I am far too much of a perfectionist to ever be happy with do-it-yourself nail art on my own nails. I applaud those of you who have the patience and artistic ability to do it, I am just not one of those people. So, I am going to stick to what I am good at - basic manicures!
 
-Alyssa

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Happy Halloween!

The holiday during which it is completely natural to go as crazy with your makeup as you want. Gotta love it!

(pic from Makeup For Life)

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How I got my hair wavy without using heat

Hi All!!

I wanted to show you the easiest way for me to get wavy hair without using heating products such as straightners etc and this is by using twist rollers or flexi-rods whichever term you prefer. You can buy these from almost any store such as Boots or a hair shop but I actually bought mine from the £1 shop! I got a pack of 6 rollers but I am planning on purchasing some more as that really isn't enough.

Right so if you have never used these rollers before all you need to do is twist your hair into the rollers, once all hair is twisted use some hair spray to set it and leave you hair protected for a while for it to work.....

I left mine in for about 2 hours, so not very long to make my hair curly but enough to gain some beach waves. If you want more wavy/curly hair then it is probably best to put these rollers in before you go to bed and sleep in them. But this time I just waited a couple of hours for it to take effect before the start of my day.....

Here is a closer look at the rollers.....

Once I took them out this is how my hair looked.....

Considering my hair was bone straight when I put the rollers in there is a difference and I will re-edit this post with a before photo so you can see the difference....

This is one of my first attempts at using the rollers and I will be buying some more and also leaving the hair in for much longer so look out for a post of that! I think it's also really great that there are ways of getting some hairstyles without using heat all the time. Gives my hair a nice break from the damage straigtners can do sometimes.

Do you use twist rollers? What are your thoughts?

Doma-Nikki....x

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Eye Make-up

What is the first thing you notice when looking at someone? Almost everyone, says a person’s eyes, and this is so, for me as well. That’s the first thing I notice about someone. Eyes, have been referred to as the windows of the soul. Therefore, it is necessary, for a woman to make hers look their best. It really doesn’t matter what your eye color is, you can give them that look of elegance, by simply applying eye make-up correctly.

A woman’s eyes possess a special power, we have the power of seduction, or perhaps an enchanting gaze that can catch a guy attention from across any room.

Back in the day, we had to sit and sift through the dozens of colors only available in a powdered form. However, them days are over, and we can now accessorize our eyes with a beautiful array of powders, creams, and glittery dustings.

Powdered eye shadow is very simple to apply, and there are several ways to do so. One can use a small applicator brush, or a foam pad to apply eye shadow. Whenever one is desiring the dimensional look, you should blend two colors of powder eye shadow, or one color of powder eye shadow on top of a cream base shadow.

When using cream base shadows, one should remember that less, is actually more. The cream shadows, normally come in small squeezable tubes, that enhance the look of the eyes, and apply a light amount to the eye lid, reaching the brow. If you are unsure of which colors to use, perhaps, you should start out with neutral colors, keeping it simple, until you get the hang of it. An attractive look is applying a splash of bronze, or tan, or any shimmery transparent color, will give off a hint of color, and a big impression on the men.

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Black XS - Be A Rockstar!

Hi All!!

Have you heard the news? Black XS have teamed up with Universal Music to create an amazing music platform, Be A Rockstar! It has great exclusive musical content as well as one of the largest catalogues of artists in the world. Have you ever wanted to be a Rockstar? Yes?! Well in case you didn't click on, Paco Rabanne have been offering musical content to the world via fragrance campaigns since 2005 - this new project helps people experience what it would be like to live the life of a Rockstar. With Universal Music you are able to access a series created for this new partnership, Black XS fragrances are letting you 'go backstage' to discover the more intimate live moments with energetic groups, such as Cold War Kids, Two Door Cinema Club, and Kaiser Chiefs. These are the Black XS OFF Shows; consisting of nine episodes, the series will be shown by the end of the year on www.be-a-rockstar.com, as well as on the Black XS YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/BlackXSfragrances).

Why don't you head over to the site and create your very own Rock Star Experience with your webcam and have a play around. The immersive video application allows you to live your rock 'n roll dream so visit http://www.ebuzzing.co.uk/rd/29916_3610_506986_15943_12509_51374/www.be-a-rockstar.com/uk/experience. If you ever wanted to live the life of these guys I suggest you take a look at the Off Shows section too. There are chances to win prizes too! Hurry over there to watch videos from these guys....

If I could be a rockstar who would I be? My list is quite long but I would love a lil bit of a few stars out there such as Madonna Michael Jackson, Aerosmith, Kings of Leon, Beyonce hmmm does B count as a rockstar? I think she has a rockstar essence hehe! I would love to create really out there shows and just really go for it on stage and in music videos.

For more info on the brand and the partnership, visit http://www.ebuzzing.co.uk/rd/29916_3610_506986_15943_12509_51374/www.pacorabanne.com or the Black XS Facebook page here.

Doma-Nikki...x

Sponsored Post

Viral video by ebuzzing

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Great buy from Paul & Joe

Paul & Joe is not exactly a brand known for their cheap prices, but sometimes they surprise you with great deals for some things.
Like this skin care set with a cute cosmetic bag I ran into earlier on ASOS:

It only costs 11 GBP, and you get a lip treatment, moisturizer, cleansing milk and toner with your purchase. I think it is quite a good deal, even though it is a travel set (so the bottles are small), but since I have a bit trip planned, I actually need a travel set anyway.

I will probably be getting this set, I just need to look through the rest of the ASOS beauty section in order to see if I want to get anything else while I am at it first.

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SALE: Motel Rocks

Hi All!!

I thought I would do a post to let you all know that Motel Rocks currently have a 70% sale going on with selected items! So if you are a big fan of the brand like me, I suggest you take a peak over there now and snap up some items.

Check out my favs in the sale...

I might purchase one of these myself, for no particular event but come on lets be real do I ever really need an event for a reason to buy something new? Haha no! I have also noticed the new season styles on the site and I adore a couple of dresses in that section too! I love dresses a bit too much I think!!

Doma-Nikki....x

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Fancy attending a Birmingham Bloggers meet up??

Hi All!!

So this post is long overdue but i'm finally getting around to doing it. Now I have noticed so many bloggers meet ups across the country but not see any for the West Midlands.

Myself along with Sadie over at Butterfly Wings and Cara over at Cara - Nail Technician have come together to bring you a date to all meet up and go for tea, coffee or whatever we feel like and have a good old blog gossip! Also means we can have a little shopping spree, might be good to help each other out with Christmas shopping too.

So if you are interesting in meeting up then leave a comment or send me a quick email. The details are as follows...

Venue: Birmingham City Centre

Date: Sunday 13th November

Time: 1pm

I think it'll be fun to do this, so please let me know!

Doma-Nikki...x

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Outfit Inspiration

Hi All!!

One of this seasons trend is Polka dots and I wanted to create an outfit with this in mind for you all. All of the items used are from River Island and I think it's a lovely outfit for anything such as a fashionable day at the office or something for formal such as a Christening.

Take a peak.....

What are your thoughts?

Doma-Nikki...x

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Makeup Mondays With Mario: Don't Make Me Matte

Celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic is answering your burning beauty questions!!! Every Monday, he will answer a beauty/skin care question as part of a weekly column on Spoiled Pretty, Makeup Mondays with Mario.

Hi Mario,

I have really dry skin so I am not really a fan of matte foundations. I always use foundations that give me a radiant, dewy glow - however every time I set my foundation with my compact powder, I lose my glow and my skin gets matte and dull. It looks dry all over again which makes me not want to set my foundation. Is there a way I can set everything without losing the glow?

Ashley

Ashley,

The reason you're looking matte and probably muddy is because you're using a compact powder to set your foundation! You should always set your base using loose powder.

Pressed powders usually have too much coverage to use over a foundation, not to mention all the additional ingredients that are used to make the powder into a pressed compact. They're great for touchups throughout the day or for areas that need more coverage.

Try setting your makeup with a loose powder. They come in translucent and even light reflecting formulas so your skin will maintain the glow. I prefer using a velour puff to apply the powder evenly and set your foundation.

Thanks for visiting Makeup Mondays with Mario!

xo,

Mario

Got a question for Mario? Email your makeup and skin care queries to spoiledprettyquestions@gmail.com, and check back next Monday to read Mario's expert advice!

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Chanel Coco Blue and OPI Crown Me Already!

After weeks of sporting a chipped-up, raggedy-ass-looking mani because I was too busy to get my nails did, I finally found some time to do them myself. Peep my new polish...

I started with a coat of Zoya Get Even (to create a smooth surface) and a coat of Zoya Anchor base coat. Then I applied two coats of Coco Blue, from the Les Jeans De CHANEL collection. Once Coco Blue dried, I layered OPI's Crown Me Already! (from the Miss Universe collection) - a mix of sparkly microglitter and larger glitter pieces. Finally, I sealed the deal with Zoya Armor topcoat.

Glitterrific, no?

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Audrey Brooke Leopard Satchel from DSW

I am so excited about my new handbag, Audrey Brooke's Leopard Satchel, that I couldn't keep this fabulous find to myself. The photo doesn't do this bag justice, so I shot a video to highlight its prettiness.


Besides being extremely cute (doesn't it look designer?), well made and roomy, it was also crazy affordable. I would value this bag at about $200-250, but I snagged it for less than $100. It's on sale at DSW for $129.95, but if you buy it online, you can use coupon codes to get a great deal. The awesome thing about DSW.com is that you can combine codes. By combining some random codes I researched online and cashing in some coupons I received as a DSW Rewards member (sign up...it's free!), I saved $30 and got free shipping. Here are some codes to get you started:

SHOPTIME: Spend $74 get $15 off, spend $149 get $30 off,spend $199 get $50 off [Expires 10/17]

SHIPR: Free standard shipping on purchases of $35+ [Exp.06/20/12 - Valid only for logged-in DSW Rewards members]

The Leopard Satchel is also available with camel leather. If this bag is a bit big for you, Audrey Brooke has a similar, smaller Leopard Cross Body Bag. And with all the cash you're saving, you might want to snatch up a matching wallet.

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Help: Choosing a Mask??

Hi All!!

I have been invited to a friends 21st Birthday Party next month which I am really excited for as it will be a Masquerade theme. I actually had the same theme from my own 21st birthday so it will bring back memories for me!

However I have a problem, I don't know which mask to order?!! Firstly this is what I will be wearing, the sparkly heels my colleague's gave me a voucher for.....

New Aqua dress I purchased in the 80% off sale....



So I kinda what a silver mask to match the heels and I really don't mind if it's on a stick or has to be tied around my head. These are my options...

Which mask do you prefer?

Doma-Nikki...x

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Outfit of the Night: Sparkles and Bows

Hi All!!

I went to a murder mystery night last night at Becketts farm in Birmingham I have to say it was so much fun. I would definitely recommend going there because the food was amazing - a carvery - and the entertainment of the murder mystery night was brilliant.

Here is what I wore...

Blouse: River Island

Jeggings: Topshop

Heels: Schuh

Sorry it's just a camera photo but I forgot to take my camera!

Doma-Nikki....x

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Outfit of the Night: Animal Print

Hi All!!

I went out last night to a night called Spin in Sutton Coldfield and really enjoyed myself. Although not a late night; because I can't seem to do these much often anymore! I did feel as though I was in an episode of The Only Way is Essex haha, the venue was really nice and everyone was so well dressed sort of similar to the show? Also there was a bit of drama which lets face it if your a fan of the show you know shiz is about to go down nearly every episode!!

Anyways here is what I wore......

Dress: Topshop
Heels: Republic

Here are a few photos of the night...

I hope you liked!

Doma-Nikki...x

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Cancer Research UK: Help sponsor Richard!

Hi All!!

Just a serious post guys, my boyfriend Richard, is doing a sponsored run for Cancer Research this month at the Major Series. I would really really really appreciate it if you could find it in your heart to sponsor him from as little as £2?! Richard's father, John has recently been diagnosed with Lung cancer so this is a cause close to our hearts!

I won't blab on about it as to be honest I am never quite sure what to say of these topics. All I can say is he is being treated, the cancer seems to be shrinking due to treatment he is receiving which is the best news we have received. So if you wish to sponsor my boyfriend who I am so proud of then just click here!!

So far he has raised £270!!!!

Thank you in advance if you do

Doma-Nikki...x

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Yves Saint Laurent Volupte Sheer Candy

(sorry about the hideous photo, I am working on getting a better camera. This is a photo taken with my smart phone)

I recently posted that I had bought the YSL Volupte Sheer Candy lipstick in Juicy Grapefruit). This glossy lipstick/balm arrived now, and I have to say I am totally in love with it! It smells great (like grapefruit! Gotta love that!), looks amazing, yet very natural on and last for a pretty long time. Not to mention the packaging is very Yves Saint Laurent and pretty in general.

So I highly recommend this lipstick for everyone who likes more natural looking lipsticks like me!

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Forever Lazy

Yesterday, I saw an informercial for Forever Lazy - and had it not been the middle of the day, I would have sworn it was a spoof on Saturday Night Live. Forever Lazy is so ugly and ridiculous that it makes the Snuggie look like haute couture.

I think that if you call and place an order for Forever Lazy, Clinton and Stacy from What Not To Wear should show up at your house for an intervention.
 


 

Would you wear Forever Lazy?

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Outfit of the Night: Leather and Bow's

Hi All!!

Last night I went out to my friends farewell drinks as she is off travelling the world... again!! So for this occasion I thought I would finally get my new dress out that I purchased over in Spain in August....

Dress: Spanish Boutique
Shoeboots: Miss Diva
Gloves: Topshop

This is the detail on the dress...


Here is a closer look at how I did my make up...

Headscarf: Peacocks

I hope you liked!

Doma-Nikki...x

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