Nerd Favourites #2 (and A Few Makeup Faves too!)

Hello everybody!

Before getting into the bulk of the post, I just wanted to put some love and prayers for the victims of the Nepal Earthquake, the citizens of Baltimore, and any other individual who is going through a hard time and just needs some love and positivity. <3 
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It's been a long week but today is the start of a brand new month, and a new month means new opportunities and experiences awaiting you! (^_^)
I figured I'd start off the month of May with my Nerd Favourites!! It's been too long since I did one of these and I've been over the moon about a few nerdy/geeky things this past month so let's jump right in! Oh and I'm going to throw in a couple of makeup things cuz why not?! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Venom (2011)
OMG! This comic is amazing! The art is beautiful and gory! I personally am a huge fan of grit and gore, so characters like Venom and The Punisher have always been some of my absolute favourites. These characters aren't portrayed well in films, so I tend to stick more to comics to get the true thrill and the true nature of the characters without the PG-13 label attached.
This version of Venom does not follow Eddie Brock as Venom but instead a guy named Eugene "Flash" Thompson, a war veteran, who lost his legs while serving, is a recovering alcoholic and works for the government secretly as Agent Venom...and that's as much of the story I'm willing to give away. It truly is an amazing comic, so much so I've been stretching out reading it because I'm almost ot the end and it makes me sad. Alas, all good things must come to an end.
 
Gotham (NO SPOILERS!)
This show just keeps getting better and better...there are no words to truly express how much I adore the writing and the characters of this show. Oswald Cobblepot is still my MVP, but Edward Nygma & Selina Kyle are gunning for that #1 spot! If you don't watch Gotham, I highly recommend that you check it out. It is truly great to have a show that doesn't solely evolve around Bruce Wayne, and you get to see the development of some truly amazing characters that we know and love from the Batman world.  

Judge Dredd Superfiend (Bootleg Universe)
If you like Judge Dredd and grew up in the 90's watching The Ren and Stimpy Show, you're probably going to enjoy watching this animated bootleg series brought to you from producer Adi Shankar. The animated series is available for viewing on YouTube and it is so damn good. It's gory and twisted and was bootlegged off of Dredd 3D which Shankar himself produced. What's better than someone bootlegging themselves? Nothing! Go check it out, you won't be sorry. His YouTube channel is filled with great bootlegs including a Punisher bootleg called Dirty Laundry...\(^o^)/....singing to the heavens because that bootleg is what I expect from anything involving The Punisher, gore, blood and a lot more gore.

Now for any of my lovelies who aren't as big of fans of gore as I am, I'm sorry but now you have arrived at the safe place, where makeup will be discussed.
I don't have very many favourites this month because I recently purchased some products that are new to me, and I've been putting them to the test for the past week. If you follow me on Instagram you would have seen me haul some stuff, one of those products will be getting a full review of its own on the blog, and another I have already posted an instareview on, so you can head to my Instagram (@ladyjpsych) to check that out.

Mt first makeup favourite, is something I've own since late last year, I believed I hauled it in the early days of my blog, but I never got around to doing a review and that product is Rimmel London Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer in 230 Deep Ocean. It's a rich, deep blue retractable pencil liner, that is super softy and creamy but it doesn't budge. Whether you use it on your top eyelid with or without primer or on your waterline, it remains where you put until you take it off. I am planning on buying a few more colours because I have the hardest time finding an eyeliner that won't wear off on my waterline, so this pencil is a great, inexpensive find!

Rimmel London Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer - 230 Deep Ocean

Swatch of 230 Deep Ocean

Milani Brow Shaping Clear Wax
It's a clear wax chubby pencil that you use to hold your brows in place. It's just that simple. I usually use this on days when I just feel too lazy to do my brows, to keep them in place, since my eyebrows like to do there own damn thing. It also works great if you fill your brows in with a powder product because it creates a tacky surface for the powder to adhere to. 

Milani Brow Shaping Clear Wax & My Pained Fingernails XD

I have a few reviews heading your way soon, but I'm still currently working full time (temporarily) so I'm not sure if I'll be doing a review each week for May...or maybe I should. Maybe I should make May, my month of reviews? Hmmmmmmmmm......decisions, decisions.
Well, I hope you all have a lovely first day of May and a lovely weekend, and if I don't get a chance to say it to you on the day, I'll say it to you now.....May The Fourth Be With You!....  ^_^)
Love you guys, stay happy, healthy and positive and I shall see you all next Friday!
Bye! (^o^)/

My Favourite Brushes/ Everyday Brushes

Why hello there darlings, welcome back! How was your week?
I got another temporary job, so I'm fighting my tiredness in order to get this post up to you.
Today, it's going to be all about my favourite brushes, and it just so happens that they are all inexpensive. All these brushes ranged from $20TT - $100TT, Yay! Who doesn't love saving some money, I know I do...and then I go spend it on more makeup or video games *facepalm*
Disclaimer:  All brushes mentioned where purchased by me, myself  and I.
Let's get onto the brushes!

My Fave Brushes!

First, I'm going to start off with some honourable mentions. The brushes I tend to rotate in and out of my routine, but I still reach for them ever so often.

Honourable Mentions:

Honourable Mentions

1. NYX B12 Crease Eye Shadow Brush- this brush is a bit scrathy, but it does a great job at depositing and blending out crease colours. Although it's not the greatest, I always keep it nearby on days I want more concentrated colour in my crease. 
2. CALA 317 Brow/Liner Brush - This brush makes winged liner a breeze, and I tend to reach for it when I want winged liner but I'm in a hurry. I think this brush would be great to use on the brows with some type of brow gel or pomade (I'm trying to get my hands on the NYX Brow Gel and Tame and Frame Brow Pomade). However, for an eyebrow pencil/powder girl I'm not the biggest fan of using this brush. 
3. Real Techniques Fine Liner Brush - This brush is awesome, but I love another liner brush a bit more. This is slightly thinner than the one I will mention later, so it's perfect for precise and thin liner. I love to mix up my liner looks (from thin to bold) but recently I've been loving a bolder liner look, so I haven't reached for this one as much as I used to. 
4. Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush - It's a super soft brush that blends out cream and liquid shadows with ease due to it being made of synthetic bristles, and I often times use it for blending up into my crease. However, this isn't one of my essential brushes, because I have a few brushes that can do the job just as well. 

Favourite Eye Brushes:

1.  NYX Angled Brush - This is the oldest makeup brush I have, it's not sold online or in stores, but this is my go to brow brush. It's thin and stiff bristles makes it easy to make hair like strokes, it works well to blend out brow colour. I just love it and I never want to let it go....cue melodrama - (T_T)!
2. e.l.f Professional Eyeshadow Brush - This is the best brush for packing on eyeshadow onto the lids, and it's frickin cheap. US$1 = $20TT, which is an amazing price for any eyeshadow brush. It's soft, and doesn't shed when you wash it. I will always have one of these in my collection, for the price and the quality of brush you are getting, it can't be beat!
3. Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush - Great for cream eyeshadows, great for blending out concealer or eyeshadow primer, this thing just rocks. I often use this to completely blend out my eyeshadows if I'm doing a bit more of a smokey eye look. Although it is larger than a traditional blending or crease brush, it does such a great job, and I enjoy using it. 

Even more Eye Brushes:

1.  CALA 313 Eyeshadow Brush - This brush has a similar function to the e.l.f Professional Eye Shadow Brush, however, since this brush is made with synthetic bristles, it can be used for both cream and powder products (like the Real Techniques brushes). It's very small which allows for precise placement of cream products, and since I have smaller eyes, I really enjoy getting my cream eyeshadows to go precisely where I want them to as opposed them going everywhere when I use my finger.
2. CALA 312 Shading Brush - This brush is larger, so it covers a greater surface area, which is great when you just want a single wash of colour all over the eye. I've also used this brush to apply and blend shadows into the crease and the outer corners of the eye and it does a good job at both. 
3. CALA 311 Blending Brush - Soft and fluffier than the NYX B12, this is my go to blending brush. It gives a soft and diffused look to any shadow. I absolutely love it!
4. CALA 508 Eyeliner Brush - Dramatic, bold liner with ease...yes please! I cannot sing the praises of this brush enough. It's thicker than the RT Fine Liner, it's very soft and picks up product easily and just allows it to glide onto the eye. I really should do a tutorial or something on my winged liner using this brush. 

Face Brushes: 

All these brushes are great multi-taskers and baby soft! 

1. Real Techniques Expert Face Brush - I use this mainly for foundation, but I have used it for blush and powder, but I do prefer how it works with liquid products. It blends foundation in seamlessly, leaving the skin looking flawless and airbrushed.
2. e.l.f Complexion Brush - Silky smooth and blends powder like a dream. Perfect for blending out blush (which I'm now starting to get into) and for setting your foundation. 
3. Ecotools Deluxe Fan Brush - I bought this to use with highlighter, but I find it's a bit too big for that purpose, so instead I use it to apply blush and to set my foundation. I won't lie to use sometimes I just pass it on my face because it's so damn soft!

Well that's it for this week's post. Just to mention quickly, I'm going to be attempting to post more frequently on my Instagram (@ladyjpsych). I recently posted a mini haul of some makeup and I'm also going to be posting more InstaReviews on there as well.
I hope you all have a lovely weekend, stay happy, healthy and positive and I shall see you all in my next post.
Bye-Bye (^w^)

What's Up #7 - Chit Chat & Thank You :D

Hello lovelies,
Today, I'm doing a short chatty blog post mostly due to the fact that I tweaked my right wrist, so I can't hold my camera and I can barely manage to hold any of my makeup brushes.
Also, let this be a reminder to be very careful when exercising, especially when integrating a new exercise move into your regime.

It's been a super quiet week for me, I've been feeling down in the dumps as of late, and I've had no interest in doing anything but exercising. To be honest, exercising is just a temporary fix for my mood lately but I know myself well enough to know I should be back to some degree of normalcy by next week. Then again, what is normal? Normalcy is relative...and why am I turning this into one of my old psychology classes, I don't know.

Football this week (for me at least) = (T_T) </3 *sighs* Bayern you broke my heart!....
Liverpool, actually getting back into the winning form (I hope), after getting slaughtered by Arsenal *shudders*...dark times for us. YNWA!

Blog Stuff
Ohhh, I've been testing out a new moisturiser lately, well new to me, not new to the market, and I am planning to do either a full post here or a quickie review on my Instagram. I've been changing up my skincare products lately, because I've been hormonal as heck and my hormones and my skin don't get along nicely at all...(damn you PCOS!) I'm currently dealing with random breakouts/scarring and dark spots (post-breakout) + my pores are opened and so visible it's driving me nuts. What made it better, was none of my old faithful products seem to be helping, so I'm back to using a full Bioré cleansing routine and switching between regular moisturiser and oil, to keep my skin moisturised.

Winged Liner Tutorial - I'm still on the fence on whether or not to make one. There are soo many pictorials and video tutorials out there, that I feel as though mine would get lost in the masses, also I'm not a makeup artist, I'm not qualified to teach these things. My internal debate is still ongoing, but I will let you know if one will be made or not.

I've recently decided, to move all hauls strictly to my Instagram (@ladyjpsych). It's easier and most effective for hauls to just do them via instagram and then do a review on the products on here on the main blog. (See, I can make decisions! I've no idea who I'm trying to fool here.)

Thank You <3
A massive thank you to everyone who reads my blog post/visits my blog, close to 500 views, which to me is pretty crazy. I started my blog as a place to just post my babble, and to know that there are people out there who read and I would like to hope enjoy my babbling, it really means a lot to me! \(^w^)/ *Internet hugs all round*

I think I've babbled and rambled on for quite a bit now, so I will end things here for this week. Stay tuned though, next week I'm planning to post all about my go-to brushes (they're all inexpensive and cruelty-free!). Until then, stay happy, healthy and positive (I know I'm trying to!) and I shall see you all soon.
Bye-Bye (^_^)/

Easy Work/Everyday Makeup Part 2.

Hello everyone,
I'm finishing off my work/everyday makeup ideas post today with part 2.
Note: Base Makeup is the same for all looks, with the exception of the Bronze Daytime Smokey Eye. For details on the base products used in all the other looks, see part 1 ( http://jsmindpalace.blogspot.com/2015/04/easy-everydaywork-makeup.html).
Now I love a good winged liner look, and for all of these looks, I had winged out eyeliner, ranging for subtle to bold, but I got away with it because I wear glasses, and my frames detract from the bold eyeliner (yay four-eyed perks!)

Work/Everyday Makeup pt.2

Look 1 - Copper Winged Liner 
I started off the week by doing subtle winged liner with an eyeliner pencil. I used the Avon Mega Impact eyeliner in Rich Copper.It gives definition to the eye without being as dramatic as a black eyeliner, and the copper colour brings out the warmth in my dark brown eyes. This liner does contain some gold glitter, which I played off of by adding Sacha Gold Rush Eyeshadow (I believe this is discontinued) in the inner corner. Some mascara and a soft neutral/nude lip (I'm rocking some lip balm here) and the look is complete.

Copper Liner with Lip Balm

Look 2 - Work and Event Look (Bronze Daytime Smokey Eye)

The next look I did was for both work and an event that I attended after. It's was bronze-y smokey eye, with winged liner and pinky lips.I used my Smashbox Full Exposure Palette for the eyeshadows, L'Oreal Lacquer Liner for my winged liner and my lip colour was Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Sultry.
My foundation was L'Oreal True Match W7 because it has a natural finish, is long-lasting and feels lightweight on the skin. I also used Milk of Magnesia as a mattifer because I knew it was going to be a long and hot day. 
Brushes used:

 *Smashbox Full Exposure Palette Double Ended Brush,
 *CALA Eyeshadow 313,  CALA Blending Brush 311 , Real Techniques Fine Liner Brush

Smashbox Full Exposure Palette

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm- Sultry

Look 3 - Golden Eyes

A simple, one eyeshadow look but unfortunately I cannot find this eyeshadow in stores. The eyeshadow in question is Nicka K HD Eyeshadow in 3009 (Love!). It is a beautiful golden brown shadow, that when blended out in the crease transforms into a gorgeous satin finish brown. I used the Eco-tools Full Eyeshadow Brush to apply the shadow and then I went ahead and lined my eyes with the Jordana 12HR Made To Last Eyeliner Pencil in 02 Espresso Last, and popped some of Sacha's Gold Rush Shadow into the inner corner.
Lips: Jordana Twist and Shiny - Honey Love

Sascha - Gold Rush (circular pan), Nicka K HD Eyeshadow - 3009 (rectangular pan)

Look 4 - Winged Liner on Fleek!
Ugh...I can't believe I used the term fleek but I think that maybe the only term to describe just how much I love this liner look and just how great it looks, especially if you wear large framed glasses.

Winged Liner Appreciation.

Without my glasses, it looks incredibly long and bold but with the frames on, it looks like your run of the mill, everyday wing.
I started off by priming my lid with my Smashbox Shadow Primer, then I used Milani Single Powder Eyeshadow in Caramel Brown from lash line to crease, again using my Eco-tools Full Eyeshadow Brush.

Now for the wing, I used the L'Oreal Infallible Lacquer Liner in Blackest Black and my CALA 508 Eyeliner Brush. The 508 is similar to the Real Techniques Fine Liner Brush, but the bristles are a tad shorter and less tapered, which makes doing the wing very easy. I just draw a line from the edge of my lower lash line, and go up towards the end of my eyebrow. I stopped where my orbital bone starts and then dragged the liner inwards towards my eye and lash line. I am considering doing a short video or pictorial on how I do my liner exactly, since it's hard to explain in just words.
Lips: NYX SN06 (I'm hooked on this stuff!)

I honestly wish I wasn't anxious about sitting in front of a camera and actually recording my eyeliner application, but I have a tendency to clam up in front of cameras (never going to be an actress ever!). I think I'm going to try and conquer that fear just to do a video on my winged liner application, although there are a lot of videos on YouTube about it.
Anywhosies, that is all for me today, and as usual I do hope you all have a fantastic weekend. Stay happy, healthy and positive and I will see you next Friday.
Bye (^_^)/

Easy Everyday/Work Makeup

Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. Hope you had a fantastic week. Mine was a bit stressful, but it's Friday so let the weekend begin.....with makeup ideas for the office! (Say what!) (-_-)

I know on a Friday the last thing you want to hear about is work or school but I'm hoping that this post would give you some ideas for some super easy, very neutral makeup looks for the upcoming week. 

Forewarning: my brows weren't filled in at all this week as I currently have one brow that is wider than the other (don't you just love getting your brows waxed) and also I ran out of brow powder and haven't been able to repurchase any. 

Monday: it's the simplest and quickest look of them all. 

Eyes: 

1. Prime the eye - I used Urban Decay Primer Potion
2. Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze all over the eye, from lash line into crease. I used the Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush to apply it.

3. L'Oreal Miss Manga Mascara

Face: (the same for each day) 

1. e.l.f Mineral Face Primer 

2. DIY mattifying primer (blog post available in archives)

3. L'Oreal Magic Nude Foundation  

Lips

1. Maybelline Color Sensational Matte Lipstick in Touch of Spice. 

Tuesday - Neutral Warm All Round

Eyes:

1. Prime eyelids - Smashbox 24 hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer

2. Smashbox Full Exposure Pallette - S3 (all over the lid), M3 (transition/purple dot), M2 (crease colour/bright red dot) 

3. L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga 

Lips: 

NYX Simply Nude Lip Cream (SN06) - Sable 

Wednesday = No makeup day

Thursday - Cool-toned Neutral Eyes w/ Glossy Lips 

Eyes: 

1. Prime eyelids - Smashbox 24 hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer 

2. Smashbox Full Exposure Palette - M5 (crease/purple dot), S5 (all over lid), M6 (outer corner/bright red dot) 

3. L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara 

Lips: 

1. Avon Ultra Glazewear Lipgloss - Palm Beach Pink

Friday: Matte Eyes & TGRL! (Thank God for Red Lips!)

Eyes:

1. Prime - Smashbox 24 hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer

2. Smashbox Full Exposure Palette - M3 (transition/purple dot), M2 (outer crease and crease/bright red dot), M4 (all over lid) 

3. L'Oreal Infallible 24HR Lacquer Liner w/ Real Techniques Fine Liner Brush - Blackest Black

4. L'Oreal Lash-Out Butterfly Mascara. 

Lips:

1. Lipliner : NYX LipLiner - 817 Hot Red

2. Avon Color Precise Lipstick - Just Right Red (discontinued) 

    Alternative - Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick - Certainly Red (crème), Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick 111 (matte)

Left- Avon Color Precise (discontinued), Center- Revlon Super Lustrous, Right- Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick.

Apply lipstick straight from the tube, then blot with tissue. Repeat process 3 times, for all day wear. 

Brushes: (considering doing a separate post about my everyday makeup brushes)
Eyes:
For each day, I used the same eye brushes in rotation, and they were all spot cleaned after each use.
1. CALA 313 Eyeshadow Brush
2. CALA 311 Blending Brush
3. Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush
4. Real Techniques Fine Liner Brush
Face:
1. Real Techniques Expert Face Brush
2. e.l.f Complexion Brush 

This post was originally meant to go live last Friday, but illness and exhaustion prevented me from completing it on time. However, I do have some more wearable, office appropriate looks that I may include in another post because why not?!
Until, next week, I hope you all have a fantastic Easter and if you don't observe Easter, have a fantastic weekend, and I will see you Friday.
Stay happy, stay healthy and stay positive!
Bye (^_^)/