FOTD: MAC Sculpting Cream, Chanel Inimitable, The Balm Balmbini

This is not the first time I blog about this Balmbini palette.  In fact, I have a FOTD with it already.  So, one day I suddenly want to use this palette to create a look, and play with two new (new-to-me anyway) items, so this make up was done.  I didn't like these lashes, so I tossed them after taking the pictures.  Also had a little experiment with the brow shapes, so please bear with me... Everything else look a little out of place, I hope you wouldn't mind, too much.  ;)

(Lengthy) Step by Step 

For the base, I did one pump of L'Oreal Lucent Magique Light-Infusing Foundation.  My colour is N2, the second lightest of the Nude family.  I dotted it all around my face with fingers, blended in a bit and finished off by patting my whole face with a sponge.  I sincerely adore this foundation, and made my cousin go buy one for herself already.  I shall do a full review on this later, I hope I remember.  Brows were re-created with Make Up Forever Aqua Brow #25 with a Kate brow brush.  I attempted a new shape, a straighter, less arched frame, but I guess I shouldn't use this colour.  #25 is quite naturally dark and the line texture the Aqua Brow gives is quite 'stiff'.  Next time I shall try a lighter colour shadow, something softer in tone and texture.

For the eyes, I used Gosh Velvet Touch Eyeliner in Truly Brown all over my eye lids and tight line.  Blended out the edges with a few brushes - I was experimenting - I then move on the shadow.  But before that, let me confess that Gosh Velvet Touch isn't the best eye liner for this purpose.  It is quite water-proof and smudge-proof, unlike khols or other creamy smudge-able pencils.  My bad choice, lesson learnt.  Okay, let's move on.  From the The Balm Balmbini palette, I took the shadyLady eye shadow in Jealous Jordana on a no-brand flat shadow brush and patted it over the brown base.  I then took the Sigma E25 Blending Brush to blend the shadow out and into my crease.  The size of this brush is quite big compared to my lids, but it does the blending job pretty nicely.

Before applying these no-brand crazy lashes I got from taobao, I experimented with a new tube of mini mascara.  I got a sample of the Chanel Inimitable in Noir.  It was the first time of me using it and it was still quite wet.  Most of my eye lash curler work was undone by the mascara.  Oops.  I will try it again in a week's time to see if it will be better.  So I move on to my Koji/Dolly Wink lash glue and stuck the lashes on.  They are the 3rd pair from right in the image below.  After the glue dried a bit, I took a random detail brush, got some Elizabeth Proofit Gel Liner (Black) on, and hide the band of the falsies.

After the eyes were done I went back to concealing, contouring and setting.  Clinique Derma White Spot Concentrate Concealer SPF 21/PA++ in 02 Medium was applied where needed, e.g. around the nose, chin, under the eyes, top of my cheeks, etc.  After gently patting the concealer in with a Real Techniques Contour Brush, I had the brilliant idea of highlighting the under eye area with The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer.  With Real Techniques Setting Brush, I dusted that under my eyes, and on brow bone, top of cheek bone, bridge of nose, places where you would normally highlight.  Under my cheeks I took a Real Techniques Stippling Brush and, for the first time, dipped it into MAC Sculpting Cream in Coffee Walnut.  I only placed the brown cream under my cheek bones.  First impression?  It is pretty easy to blend and looks natural.  The colour works for my skin tone and so far, I have nothing bad to say about it.  If you have any tips on how to use cream contour, please share with me below!

Finally on my lips and cheeks.  I put on different blushers on either side of my cheeks.  On my right, The Balm DownBoy was dusted on.  It is a light cool pink, matte finish.  On my left, I placed The Balm Hot Mama, a medium coral pink with high golden shimmer content.  I think for a look with these eyes and lips, Hot Mama looks better.  On my lips I applied the The Balm Read MyLips lipstick in Wanted, also from the Balmbini palette, with a lip brush.  It is a very sharp pink red, feels amazingly comfortable on.  In another take, I rubbed most of the lipstick off with a tissue, re-applying the Tinted Gloss in Special Edition; to be honest, this pulls the whole look together much better, but well, I love my red lips better, still!

The second look, with light gloss instead of red rouge on lips