tutorial – the freevolous

high coverage but make it natural

2023-02-192023-02-18 thefreevolousLeave a comment

for those days when I want to cover more stuff, there’s an old technique and type of product I resort to.
after my latest laser treatment for my melasma, I had a couple of days when I had some social engagements and work when I felt like covering the post-treatment marks. as someone who doesn’t have all the time in the world for pin-point covering each and every mark but also doesn’t feel like slapping on a full coverage and call it a day, revisiting this technique and achieving pretty dang good (long-lasting) results in such a short amount of time spent in front of a mirror, I thought it would be nice to share how I do it in case someone out there finds it useful.

products used:

(please remember the main thing is to find a good colour match for your skin tone and a more elastic-creamy foundation, no need to run and buy everything I used!)

Danessa Myricks Vision Cover Foundation in TYO2 (the yellow brightening shade) and N4.5
KVD Lock It Setting Powder (any loose powder that isn’t too caked will do)
Natasha Denona My Dream Trio Cheek Palette (absolutely optional, but these products don’t lift my foundation)

the make up I brought to Barcelona

2022-09-252022-09-24 thefreevolousLeave a comment

well, to the event I MC’d in a town close to Barcelona, but you get the gist.

a deep dive into the make up I packed to get quick, long-wearing and impactful looks, and a bonus tutorial of them I created during the dance festival.

click for the products list!

Pat McGrath x Bridgerton Diamond of the First Water

2022-02-272022-02-25 thefreevolousLeave a comment

Now on a less than perfect, over 40 skin, with no fancy filters…

This 6 pan MTHERSHP palette is currently selling for 71€ at the Pat McGrath web store. It seems to be a limited edition product, so I don’t know for how long it will be available.

I had fun, but also some challenges with it. The colour story is really pretty – albeit a bit limited, you can still get a few different looks from it.
The shades perform well, they blend easily and mix well with each other.
I didn’t find it worked superbly with the eye primer that I own – but then again, I hardly ever use a primer, so that’s a plus for me.
I think the astral shade does benefit from using a glitter glue and a dampened brush, since the glitter is pretty dry and loose – and maybe looks a bit more opaque than it seemed in the videos.
The rose/berry/pink shades work pretty well as blushes, which is a plus, and the satin finish is really flattering.
The light highlighter shade did not perform as well as expected, it was a bit powdery and lacklustre, and it made my skin look a bit more textured.

I used Urban Decay Anti-Aging Primer, NYX Glitter Primer, Urban Decay Alkaline Eyeliner and Hourglass Caution Mascara.

Please note: this video was recorded before the the invasion of Ukraine.
Even if just watching from afar, it is a very disturbing situation, and my heart is in a mush.
I almost didn’t publish this video because it all feels shallow and dumb right now. But, as someone who is clinically anxious, I know how much comfort and escapism a simple make up video can bring. I can value and appreciate how this can help when one’s completely overwhelmed.
And so here it is.
I just didn’t want people who don’t follow me on other platforms to stumble upon this without any context.

reapplying sunscreen

2021-08-012021-07-31 thefreevolousLeave a comment

tale as old as time: you’ve done your skincare routine, you’ve applied makeup, and now you’re stepping out into life. how do you reapply your sunscreen with minimum disruption of your work of art?

disclaimers:
1. I’m talking about short bursts of moderate sun exposure, like your daily commute, going to have a meal outside, running errands… NOT sitting out frying in the sun – there’s no safe way to do that without reapplying sunscreen like a mad person super regularly and staying in the shade during the harshest hours.
2. any kind of product applied on top of your makeup will likely slightly disrupt it, and the (hopefully) frequent reapplication can make it more pliable as the day goes by. it just comes with the territory and it’s nothing that having a few cotton buds, a powder/concealer and your lipstick at hand won’t solve.

read itl all!

a Velvet Decade look

2021-05-162021-05-16 thefreevolousLeave a comment

for one of my absolute favourites, being such a unique and chic colour, I went for a very easy and casual monochromatic look, ideal to whip up quickly in a busy morning.

products used

Lisa Eldridge Velvet Lipstick in Velvet Decade – she opens sales for her products a few times a year, best to subscribe to the newsletter so that you don’t miss out on it. the batches are small and tend to sell out quite quickly;
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid in Opal – sad to see this brand go, and let’s just take a moment to remember that when no one else was using highlighter in any form, Lisa was already starring this product, that she got from Australia… years later, cream and liquid highlighters are finally a thing;
Colour Pop Going Coconuts Palette;
Marc Jacobs Highliner in Blacquer;
Nars Climax Extreme Mascara;
Catrice Slim’matic Brow Pencil.

lilac and yellow eyes

2021-04-252021-04-25 thefreevolousLeave a comment

playing with fresh colours today, showing you how I did the eye look from last week.

this palette had been waiting for a while now for its time to shine.

products mentioned:

Danessa Myricks – does it crease, though?

2021-03-072021-03-07 thefreevolousLeave a comment

Independent, female-owned, black-owned brand. YES!
(also vegan and cruelty-free)

Danessa Myricks is a make up artist – have you SEEN her Instagram? — and her brand is proudly her, with full-on approachable editorial vibes and products that actually cater to her signature looks and creative needs (loads of cream products, face and eye glosses, multi-taskers and all the colours of the rainbow).

The brand screams inclusivity, innovation and creativity and sports a smile as a sign of strength – also because it hasn’t (until now) been tainted and shrivelled to an empty shell by the Super Greedy Evil Mega Corps™ of this world.

Sporting unapologetic pizazz and fierceness, all glossy lids and dishevelled hair, high heels and neon eyeliner, patent leather pants and juicy cheek bones… In my mind, I’m thinking…

– But does it crease, though?

read all about it

a Velvet Midnight look

2021-02-212021-02-20 thefreevolousLeave a comment

playing with make up, back to my Lisa Eldridge Lipstick Challenge with her darkest shade yet.

my vision was this bold wing liner in the same shade as the lipstick, but I had to tackle not having an eyeliner in that colour and hooded lids. but hey, it’s real life and I’m just a normal person!

products used

makeup routine with some of my favourite products

2020-03-012020-02-29 thefreevolousLeave a comment

I haven’t named most of these products as my favourites by accident… I actually love and use most of them on a daily basis, or at least keep them on rotation.
Here is one example of how I get them to work for me on an everyday basis.

Sephora 10 Hour Wear Perfecting Foundation;
Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer;
Too Faced Born This Way Multi-Use Sculpting Concealer;
Milk Matte Bronzer;
Illamasqua Gel Sculpt (mini);
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter;
Hourglass Veil Powder;
Physician’s Formula Butter Blush — Nude Silk;
Hourglass Luminous Bronze Light (mini);
Natasha Denona Mini Palettes in Nude and Star (also mentioned Glam) — sometimes available at Cult Beauty;
Hourglass Caution Mascara;
Physician’s Formula The Healthy Powder;
NYX Fill and Fluff Brow Pencil;
NYX Tinted Brow Mascara;
Lisa Eldridge Lipstick in Velvet Fawn;
NYX Suede Lip Liner in Los Angeles.