I was watching Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance Music Video yesterday, and I felt a little inspired by the bold makeup she’s wearing around the four minute mark. At first, I thought she was wearing this look while dancing a bit, but I think the looks are different–the one she wears while dancing (also around the four minute mark) seems cleaner, not quite as dark, though the lips seem really similar.

Anyway, this is inspired by and not so much as an exact replica. If you wanted to be more on target, I’d say to go for a slightly messier smoky eye, add a little bit of gloss to make it look wet and have a sheen, and then go for a very dramatic cheek contour. The shape of the black portion on the eye also goes up quite close to the inner brow bone and then comes down.  The lashes should also be bigger and flair out more on the outer lash line.

Also, this look is actually REALLY easy. No, seriously! It’s pretty much any cream black base all over the lid. I used the same technique I did back in 2007 to create this black smoky eye tutorial. The lashes took me infinitely longer and still didn’t adhere correctly–but it was good enough to fake it in photos (and my eyes were burning from upper lash line irritation, so it was a hurry-up-and-finish situation).

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Blacktrack fluidline (black), Carbon eyeshadow (matte black), Vex eyeshadow (duochrome white-purple), Bisque eyeshadow (matte highlighter), Feline kohl power (black), false eyelashes (anything big and dramatic), Zoom Fast Black Mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Sculpt sculpting powder (dark shadow), Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmer (bronzy highlighter)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (#140)
• Lips: Red No. 5 lipstick (deep red), Violetta lipstick (bright purple), Vino lip pencil (dark red)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Red No. 5 = New York Apple

Directions: Apply Blacktrack fluidline all over the lid as the base with the 249. With the 239, pack Carbon eyeshadow on all over the lid. Using the 226 brush, lightly blend the crease with Vex eyeshadow. Sweep Bisque eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Feline Kohl Power on lower lash line, and apply false lashes to upper lash line, then lightly apply Zoom Fast Black mascara on lashes. Sweep hollows of cheeks with Sculpt sculpting powder using the 168, then highlight with Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmer with the 165. Apply Red No. 5 lipstick to lips, and then top with Violetta for color and shine.

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MAC Style Black Look: Dark Smoky Eyes

Just a quick Style Black I through together this morning before I took a shower. I’m not sold on mineralize eyeshadows whatsoever! I applied these mineralize eyeshadows wet using water-based mixing medium (for better adhesion and to minimize fall out). Admittedly, it’s all over a significantly dark base, so maybe that’s why they just don’t pop much. I did two different lips — the first is the lip I’d actually pair with it (based on my style and preferences); the second is with black lips as requested.

Two notes:  I’m wearing Korres’ Wild Rouse Foundation in this look.  (I think the shade may be a lil’ orange on me–not sure if going a shade lighter will help or not yet.)  One eye has a stronger distinction between crease and highlight (which, to be honest, looked fine in real life) that I would recommend blending out more in practice.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), Dark Soul pigment (dark black-gray), Gilt By Association mineralize eyeshadow (black-bronze), Young Punk mineralize eyeshadow (black-purple), Blue Flame eyeshadow (dark blue), Femme-fi eyeshadow (neutral highlighter), Black Greasepaint Stick (black with purple shimmer), Stila Purple Pumps Smudge Pot (purple shimmer), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Plum Foolery blush (pinky-purple)
• Lips: Brave New Bronze lipstick (pinky nude), Bling Black glimmerglass (dirty antique gold)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Gilt By Association = Tempting; Young Punk = Contrast; Blue Flame = Deep Truth; Femme-fi = Shroom; Black Greasepaint = Smolder; Brave New Bronze = Velvet Teddy; Bling Black = Reflects Antique Gold + Black Lip Mix + Clear gloss

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Soft Ochre paint pot all over the lid as the base with the 249. With the 239, apply Dark Soul pigment with water-based mixing medium on the lower lid. On the inner lid, pack Gilt by Association eyeshadow on using the 239. Apply Young Punk eyeshadow to the middle and outer portions of the lid. Darken crease with Blue Flame eyeshadow using the 226. Sweep Femme-fi eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Black Greasepaint stick on lower lash line, and Stila Purple Pumps smudge pot on lower lash line with 209. Apply Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Plum Foolery blush using the 129. Apply Brave New Bronze lipstick to lips, and then top with Bling Black glimmerglass for color and shine.

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Easy-peasy smoky eye :) I consider this the “traditional” smoky eye, since I’ve always thought of a smoky eye as silver/gray. Video tutorial for this coming soon, too!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), Electra eyeshadow (bright silver), Silver Ring eyeshadow (dark silver), Typographic eyeshadow (matte dark gray), Carbon eyeshadow (matte black), Blanc Type eyeshadow (soft white-beige), Blacktrack fluidline (black), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Enough Said blush (bronze), Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmer (bronzy highlighter)
• Lips: Honeyflower lipstick (pinky-nude), Nymphette lipglass (pinky-beige)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Femme-fi = Shroom; Brave New Bronze = Velvet Teddy

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Soft Ochre paint pot all over the lid as the base with the 249. On the inner lid, pack Electra eyeshadow on using the 239. Apply Silver Ring eyeshadow to the middle and outer portions of the lid. Darken crease and outer lid with Typographic eyeshadow using the 226, then deepen with Carbon eyeshadow with the 219. Sweep Blanc Type eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Blacktrack fluidline on lower lash line and upper lash line using the 208. Apply Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Enough Said blush using the 129, then highlight with Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmer with the 188. Apply Honeyflower lipstick to lips, and then top with Nymphette lipglass for color and shine.

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It’s been SO long since I’ve done the “traditional” smokey eye, so I had the urge to try it out again :) I’m spending my weekend cramming/studying for my Stats and Managerial Accounting finals on Monday (yay, back-to-back finals, so awesome!). I’m meeting up with some study buddies for Stats in an hour — I’m hoping it will really help bring things together for me.

What are you doing this weekend? Let me live vicariously through you so my weekend isn’t a total bummer!! :)

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral base), Electra eyeshadow (bright silver), Silver Ring (dark silver), Carbon eyeshadow (matte black), Shroom eyeshadow (highlighter), Graphblack technakohl (black), Blacktrack fluidline (black), Zoomlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Well Dressed blush (soft cool pink), Dior Rose Diamond Skin Shimmer (pink highlighter)
• Lips: Sandy B lipstick (pinky nude), C-Thru lipglass (nude)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: N/A

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Soft Ochre paint pot all over the lid as the base with the 249. On the inner lid, apply Electra eyeshadow using the 239. Apply Silver Ring eyeshadow to the middle of the lid, extending to the outer lid. Darken the outer lid Carbon Flip eyeshadow using the 239. Darken crease with Carbon eyeshadow using the 226. Sweep Shroom eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Smudge Silver Ring eyeshadow on the lower lash line using the 219 brush. Finish with Graphblack technakohl on lower lash line, Blacktrack fluidline on upper lash line, and Zoomlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Well Dressed blush using the 129, then highlight with Dior Rose Diamond Skin Shimmer with the 188. Apply Sandy B lipstick to lips, and then top with C-Thru lipglass for color and shine.

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Here’s my New Year’s Eve look! :) There are two different lip looks I used with this look — the one I’ll actually be sporting is the lighter, less bold lip, but I figured it was worth a shot to see how a redder lip might look with it, too. You know, for those who want to be more dramatic ;)

The boy and I will be driving up to his family’s house in a little bit, and we’ll spend our NYE hanging out with them. My plans are pretty tame, but I like them that way. Since I don’t drink, partying tends to be less fun for me (seriously, being sober while everyone else is drunk/buzzed and giggling at inane things… not so fun), so staying in for NYE is exactly my speed.

I hope whatever NYE plans you have for the evening are fabulously fun! Stay safe and enjoy ringing in the new year! :)

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Blonde’s Gold pigment (golden tan), Goldmine eyeshadow (true gold), Amber Lights eyeshadow (copper), Antiqued eyeshadow (dark coppery brown), Mont Black eyeshadow (black with gold flecks), Rose Blanc eyeshadow (pale white gold), Urban Decay Honey 24/7 Liner (gold), Penultimate Eye Liner (black), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Chanel Corail Tweed Blush (coral), Redhead MSF (bronzy-red)
• Lips: Benefit Sexy Gold Lipstick (golden shimmer), Prestigious lipgloss (sheer berry-red)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Blonde’s Gold = Tan; Mont Black = Carbon; Rose Blanc = Nylon; Redhead = Springsheen; Prestigious = Star Nova

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Blonde’s Gold pigment all over the lid as the base with the 249. On the inner lid, apply Goldmine eyeshadow using the 239. Apply Amber Lights eyeshadow to the middle of the lid. Darken the outer lid using Antiqued eyeshadow using the 239. Darken crease with Mont Black eyeshadow using the 239. Sweep Rose Blanc eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Urban Decay Honey 24/7 Liner on lower lash line, Penultimate Eye Liner on upper lash line, and Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Chanel Corail blush using the 129, then highlight with Redhead MSF. Apply Benefit Sexy Gold lipstick to lips, and then top with Prestigious lipglass for color and shine.

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Here’s one last Chill look before we all forget about Chill and move onto Dame Edna next week! ;) I thought I’d do something really simple — it’s basically three eyeshadows and that’s it, which is a huge deal for me, as I’m sure many of you know. :P I wanted to try out some new YSL lip products I got, but unfortunately the combo was just a lil’ too bright for this look, so it was Naked Frost to the rescue to help tone it down (which worked beautifully!).

Happy holidays to those who have had or will have them to celebrate this season! :) I hope everyone has gotten a chance to spend some quality time with their loved ones and friends. My boyfriend, Mellan, and I head up to see my parents and sister in an hour or two (basically… as soon as start and finish getting ready, LOL) for the day. We’ll be back there for Christmas, as well.

Today is Magellan’s 1st birthday — he is exactly one year old today. He doesn’t seem like he’s an “adult”, but most lab owners say lab puppyhood lasts at least two years, sometimes all their lives ;) My mom has lots of treats and goodies baked for him, I’m sure, plus he has several gifts under the tree with his paw on it, so I think he’ll have a good birthday and make out like a bandit! My mom completely adores and utterly *spoils* him everytime he visits! I thought I’d share a little timeline of Magellan over the past year along with the look — I can’t be the only one who loves cute puppies, LOL!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Your Ladyship pigment (neutral base), Wintersky eyeshadow (medium, subdued pink), Mont Black eyeshadow (black), Shroom eyeshadow (highlighter), Graphblack technakohl (black), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Dior Rose Diamond Skin Shimmer (soft pink)
• Lips: YSL Romantic Pink Lipstick (medium pink), YSL #4 Gloss Pur (bright pink), Naked Frost lipglass (taupe)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Your Ladyship = Vanilla; Wintersky = Pink Venus; Naked Frost = Chai

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Your Ladyship pigment all over the lid as the base with the 249. Apply Wintersky eyeshadow all over the lid with the 239 brush. Darken the outer crease with Mont Black eyeshadow with the 239, gently tugging and blending so it also darkens the outermost portion of the lid to a gray-black. Finish with Graphblack technakohl on lower lash line, and Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Rose Diamond shimmer using the 129. Apply YSL Romantic Pink lipstick to lips, and then top with YSL #4 Gloss Pur for color and shine, then tone it down with Naked Frost lipglass.

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Happy Tuesday everyone! :) Hopefully those of you who celebrate the holidays have finished your shopping, but if you haven’t–much luck and patience wished your way for all your last minute shopping. I’m totally going to Safeway to pick up gift cards for the several people who failed to give me wish lists!

I did this look two days ago, and I really liked how it came out! But it’s hard for me to resist blues and making them smoky and dark. ;)

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Bell Bottom Blue pigment (navy blue base), Vellum eyeshadow (duochrome white), Arctic Grey eyeshadow (light silver), Mont Black eyeshadow (black), Penultimate Liner (black), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Enough Said blush (soft peach)
• Lips: Up Note lipstick (beige nude), Naked Frost lipglass (taupe)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Bell Bottom Blue = Navy Blue; Arctic Grey = Electra; Mont Black = Black Tied; Enough Said = Bronzer; Up Note = Cherish; Naked Frost = Mad Cap

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Bell Bottom Blue pigment all over the lid as the base with the 249. On the inner lid, apply Vellum eyeshadow using the 239. Apply Arctic Grey eyeshadow to the middle of the lid. Darken the outer lid using Mont Black packed on and drag into crease using the 239. Darken crease with Mont Black eyeshadow using the 239. Sweep Vellum underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Penultimate Liner on upper lash line, Vellum eyeshadow on lower lash line (use the 219), and Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Enough Said blush using the 129. Apply Up Note lipstick to lips, and then top with Naked Frost lipglass for color and shine.

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Just something I messed around with for FUN. Emphasis on fun and experimentation aka not necessarily a look I’d be running around town with on an everyday basis ;)

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Uppity fluidline (antique gold base), Rich Ground fluidline (warm brown base), Going Bananas eyeshadow (bright yellow), Goldmine eyeshadow (gold), Golden Lemon pigment (yellow gold), Beautyburst eyeshadow (warm brown), Carbon eyeshadow (black), Ricepaper eyeshadow (highlight), Feline kohl power (black), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Taupe blush (taupe)
• Lips: Port Red lipstick (cherry red), Cult of Cherry lipglass (bright red), Jampacked lipglass (dark berry)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 129 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Uppity = Indianwood; Goin’ Bananas = Sour Lemon; Beautyburst = Texture; Feline = Graphblack; Port Red = Russian Red; Cult of Cherry = Russian Red; Jampacked = Desire

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Uppity fluidline on eyelid as base using the 249 brush. Apply Rich Ground fluidline above that, above the crease with the 249 brush. Apply Going Bananas eyeshadow with the 239 over Uppity fluidline. Repeat, but with Goldmine eyeshadow. With the 249, apply Golden Lemon pigment lightly over Goldmine. Darken outer lid and crease with Beautyburst eyeshadow using the 239 brush. Above crease, apply Carbon eyeshadow lightly to darken and dramatify the look. Sweep Ricepaper eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Also sweep Goldmine eyeshadow along brow bone. Finish with Feline kohl power on lower lash line, and Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Taupe blush using the 129. Apply Port Red lipstick to lips, and then top with Cult of Cherry and Jampacked lipglass for color and shine.

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I did this two days ago, because I really just wanted to see how black I could get Hot Contrast to be. I wasn’t disappointed per se, but it definitely didn’t get as black as I envisioned (even when used wet). I tried my super black smoky eye I do from time to time, so the look follows that (so it’s nothing new!). I figured that would be the best way to test! I think I may end up exchanging Hot Contrast for another duo, only because Carbon works well enough for me as a black, IMO. Anyone want to try to talk me out of it?

Is everybody gearing up for Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale? I haven’t decided if I’m going to brave the 7AM crowd tomorrow – it’s a bit more of a hike (9 miles) from my new apartment, compared to last year when it was a skip away (1 mile). It was a MADHOUSE! last year, though, even at 7AM. Anyone excited over Colour Forms? That comes out tomorrow, too. I have to pick up my preorder (only two items), and then see if I can resist the pigments (not likely). What about you? What’d you pre-order?

Let’s talk Nordstrom lemmings and Colour Form hauls (or potential hauls) to keep Thursday from dragging its feet.

P.S. – Since several of you asked about a tutorial for this look, have you seen my black smokey eye tutorial?

I used Blacktrack fluidline on lid, Hot Contrast mineralize eyeshadow (solid side) (LE) all over lid, Hot Contrast mineralize eyeshadow (marble side) (LE) in crease, Vex eyeshadow above crease and on brow, Phloof! eyeshadow on brow to highlight, Graphblack technakohl on lower lash line, Pearl cream colour base on lower lash line, and Plushlash mascara on lashes. I wore Pleasantry mineralize blush (LE) on cheeks. I had Sweetie lipstick with Crystal Rose lipglass (LE) on my lips.

** These are recommendations for dupes based on permanent colors available — may not necessarily be identical; they are the closest I can think of!

Hot Contrast (solid side) = Carbon; Hot Contrast (marble side) = Shale; Pleasantry = Pink Swoon; Crystal Rose = Pink Pearl Gloss

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I had all these expectations for this look, but it didn’t quite turn out how I expected it to! I actually wasn’t feeling it, so I ended up removing the eye makeup and doing something else, lol. Have you ever done that? I always think, “What a waste [of makeup]!”

I used Black Ore solar bits (LE) on lid, Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow on inner lid, Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow on middle of lid, Shimmermoss eyeshadow on outer lid, Freshwater eyeshadow on outer lid, Electric Eel eyeshadow on outer lid, Deep Truth eyeshadow on outer crease, Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow on inner crease, Femme-fi eyeshadow (LE) on brow and above crease, Graphblack technakohl on lower lash line, and Plushlash mascara on lashes. I had Lilicent blushcreme with Sunbasque blush on cheeks. I wore Tiger Tiger lipstick (LE) with Supreme lipglass (LE) on my lips.

** These are recommendations for dupes based on permanent colors available — may not necessarily be identical; they are the closest I can think of!

Black Ore = Dark Soul + Golden Lemon; Femme-fi = Shroom; Tiger Tiger = Brew; Supreme = Chai

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