How-to: Merry Makeup

This is my look for Christmas Eve  It is definitely similar to what I normally opt for over Christmas!  This year, I decided to use green eyeliner rather than green eyeshadow.  You could add glitter over the lid for added sparkle, too.

Eyes: Begin by using a fluffy crease brush (I used MUFE #17S) and apply a red-burgundy eyeshadow (I used Inglot #450 Eyeshadow) into the crease and blending towards the outer corner as well. Next, apply a honey gold eyeshadow (I used Inglot #430 Eyeshadow) with a firm eyeshadow brush (I used MAC 239) on the outer two-thirds of the lid. Apply a soft, warm orange eyeshadow (I used Inglot #403 Eyeshadow) on the inner third of the lid. To highlight the brow bone, apply a shimmery beige/white eyeshadow (I used Inglot #395 Eyeshadow) just underneath the brow bone, then pat a matte beige eyeshadow (I used Burberry Trench) between the crease color and the brow highlight to soften the shimmer finish. Finally, line the lower lash line with a deep green/teal (I used MAC Junkie), and then apply a liquid gold eyeliner (I used Urban Decay Eldorado) to brighten and add sparkle.

Face: Prep face by moisturizing, then applying any face primers (I used Eve Pearl’s Moisturizing Primer). I applied a few drops and dabs of liquid foundation (I used Giorgio Armani Maestro) and blend out using a dense foundation brush (I used Hourglass’ Foundation Brush). Next, apply a natural blusher, which will depend on your complexion, with either brown or plum tones (I used Kevyn Aucoin Natura) with a soft blush brush (I used Bobbi Brown’s Blush Brush). Finish the look by setting with pressed or loose powder (I used Guerlain Wulong) with a large, bluffy brush (I used MAC 138).

Lips: Prep lips by keeping them hydrated prior to applying lip color–I usually have lip balm on whenever I’m not wearing a lip color, but if you don’t usually do this, try applying a lip balm 20 minutes prior (or more), then lightly blot off right before you apply your lip color. Apply a berry-red lipstick (I used Guerlain Gigolo) onto lips, and then lightly pat a shimmering gold gloss (I used Bobbi Brown Canary) on top for sparkle and shine.

One more photo of the whole kit ‘n’ caboodle look… 

My Wedding Makeup

I actually didn’t know what I was going to do quite yet for my makeup until I tested out Guerlain Turandot Eyeshadow Palette (which I reviewed last month).  I loved the way it looked on me, and the colors were perfect for autumn.  I knew at once that it was a happy medium that used color and not just neutrals, but it wasn’t too bold or smoky, as our ceremony was being held in the late morning.  I went with a gold eyeliner on the bottom lash line, because it brightened up my eyes, so naturally, Honey was my go-to, as it was one of my all-time favorites.   With the warm-toned eyes, I knew I’d be going with corals, which I tend to like on myself.   I wore the same eyes and cheeks all day long, but for our evening reception, I changed the lips to Chanel Dragon and Bobbi Brown Naked Plum.

I won’t have my photos back for approximately a month, but when I have some to share, I will be sure to share a few.  These are the only photos I managed to take in the last few minutes before we had to leave to go to the ceremony location.  I spent a half hour on makeup, even if I used a truck-load of products!

Eyes:

• NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base
• Guerlain Turandot Eyeshadow Palette
• Burberry Trench Eyeshadow
• Urban Decay Honey 24/7 Eyeliner
• Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Waterproof Mascara
• MAC Espresso Eyeshadow
• MAC Clear Brow Set

I applied a layer of primer on from lash line to brow bone.  Then, I applied the lighter plum eyeshadow on the inner third of the lid, followed by the darker brown eyeshadow on the outer third of the lid.  I patted the gold eyeshadow directly on the center of the lid and pulled it outwards and inwards to blend with the other two colors.  I used separate MAC 239 eyeshadow brushes for those three colors.  I swept on the darker plum shade into the crease and diffused it upwards using Make Up For Ever’s #17S crease brush.  Next, I took the MAC 239 again with the gold eyeshadow and patted it on the inner tear duct and then pulled it upwards over the inner crease.  I lined the lower lashes with Honey eyeliner.  I filled in brows using Espresso eyeshadow and MAC’s 266 brush, then combed through them with a clean mascara spoolie and set with brow gel.  To finish the look, I heavily applied Eyes to Kill mascara (waterproof, of course) to upper and lower lashes.

Face:

• Eve Pearl Moisturizing Primer
• Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer
• Guerlain Parure Gold (02 & 03)
• OCC Concealer (Y2)
• Cle de Peau Concealer (Beige Ochre)
• Guerlain Terracotta Light Touch Highlighter (02)
• Tom Ford Love Lust Blush
• MAC Sculpt Sculpting Powder
• Guerlain Parure de Nuit Pressed Powder & Blush
• Guerlain Teint Rose Pressed Meteorites

I applied the moisturizing primer first, just prior to applying my eye makeup, so it would have a chance to sink in.  After fifteen minutes or so, I applied the Mineral Veil primer, and I let that sink in for five to ten minutes.  I used one pump of #02 and half a pump of #03, then mixed them between my fingers, and dotted it all over the face.  I used Hourglass #2 Foundation Brush to blend and diffuse the foundation on the face and down the neck.  I applied two pats of Cle de Peau’s Concealer on my under eye area and blended just over the bridge of my nose.  I then patted OCC’s Concealer over that.  I finished the under eye area by lightly tapping Terracotta Light Touch to brighten.  To add color to cheeks, I tapped Love Lust blush on apples and blended towards temples with MAC’s 116 brush.  I lightly contoured the hollows of my cheeks with MAC Sculpt and MAC’s 168 brush.  I lightly swept on Parure de Nuit as a highlighter on cheek bones with MAC’s 165 brush.  To set everything into place, I used MAC’s 184 brush and Pressed Meteorites.

Lips:

• Guerlain Gems Rouge G Lipstick
• Cle de Peau #2 Lipgloss
• Bobbi Brown Citrus High Shimmer Lipgloss

I applied Gems lipstick onto lips with a lip brush.  I lightly patted Cle de Peau #2 on the center of the lower lips, then pressed lips together.  I finished by applying a full coat of Citrus and lightly pressing my lips together.

See more photos & swatches!

Look: My Christmas Makeup

I like themed makeup myself, so I felt it was only right to incorporate red and green into a look in the spirit of Christmas. One of the easiest ways to tie green and red together is by using gold, and if you want to try out a cooler-toned version of it, you could try silver. Gold is easier, just because greens tend to have subtle yellow undertones and reds easily blend to a burnished copper when they mesh with golds.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (eyeshadow primer), Inglot #418 Eyeshadow (medium-dark forest green with gold sheen), Inglot #430 Eyeshadow (deep, rich honey gold), Inglot #450 Eyeshadow (cranberry), Burberry Trench Eyeshadow (beige), Bobbi Brown Bronze/Chocolate Dual-Ended Eyeliner (bronze), Hourglass Film Noir Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (130), Illamasqua Seduce Cream Blush (plum), Guerlain Les Voilettes Mineral Powder (03)
• Lips: Giorgio Armani #602 Gloss d’Armani (semi-sheer plum), Hourglass Imagine Extreme Sheen Lipgloss (gold sheen)

For eyes, I applied a light layer of NARS Smudgeproof on the lid as an eyeshadow primer from lash line to brow bone with a firm, flat brush.  The first eyeshadow I applied was Inglot #430, which I applied to the upper two-thirds of the lid and just barely into crease with a small eyeshadow brush.  With the edge of an eyeshadow brush, I applied Inglot #418 on the lower third of the lid, and then I went back with the previous brush to soften the edge (I always prefer to blend light into dark).  With a fluffy crease brush, I applied Inglot #450 above the crease and towards the inner tear duct, following the natural shape of the crease.  Next, I softened the edge with Inglot #430 lightly blended outwards.  To highlight the brow, I applied Burberry Trench with a fluffy blending brush.   On the lower lash line, I first applied Bobbi Brown Bronze and smudged Inglot #430 below.  Finally, I applied a coat of Hourglass Film Noir to lengthen and thicken lashes.

For face, I applied Make Up For Ever HD with a circular foundation brush.  I blended Illamasqua Seduce onto cheeks with fingertips and set with Guerlain Les Voilettes.  For lips, I applied Giorgio Armani #602 mixed with Hourglass Imagine.

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Look: Dreamy Warm Golds & Bronzes

This is the look I came up with using Tarina Tarantino’s Dreamy Eyeshadow Palette, which is really warm-toned. The quality is excellent, and even though the shades are standard fare, they’re still well-done.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Tarina Tarantino Dreamy Jewel Eyeshadow Palette (white gold, peach-beige, copper, bronzy brown, deep brown), Bobbi Brown Chocolate/Bronze Dual-Ended Eyeliner (bronze), Hourglass Film Noir Mascara
• Face:  Chanel Pro Lumiere Foundation (Cendre), La Prairie Cellular Treatment Loose Powder (Translucent 1), Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Blush (neutral plum)
• Lips:  Chanel La Somptueuse Rouge Allure Velvet (red)

For eyes, I skipped eyeshadow primer (for testing purposes), but if you prefer or need primer, lay it down prior to the eyeshadow. I applied peach-beige (center) eyeshadow on the entire lower lid with the 239, and then I gently patted the copper (top) eyeshadow on the outer third of the lid with another 239. I swept the bronzy brown (right) eyeshadow into and above the crease with the 222 and deepened the crease with the deep brown (bottom) eyeshadow in the crease with the 231. I highlighted the brow bone with the white gold (left) eyeshadow with the 217. On the lower lash line, I used Bronze eyeliner. I used one coat of Film Noir mascara on top and bottom lashes.

For face, apply Pro Lumiere all over face with the 109.  Add color to the cheeks by gently dusting Exposed near apples and blended out towards temples with the 116.  Set with Translucent 1 using the 134. For lips, apply La Somptueuse onto lips.

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Look:  Neutral Eyes + Vampy Lip

And the third look I did to test out MAC’s new Pro Longwear eyeshadows!  I don’t know what’s going on this week, but I’m already exhausted!  Can you believe it’s already Wednesday?

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Primer (primer),  MAC Carefree Eyeshadow (white gold), MAC Legendary Black Eyeshadow (black brown), MAC Make Your Mark Eyeshadow (medium-dark brown), Burberry Trench Eyeshadow (highlighter), MAC Black Black Chromagraphic Pencil (black), Hourglass Film Noir Mascara
• Face:  MAC Matchmaster Foundation (03), Korres #15 Natural Blush (nude brown), Guerlain Les Violettes Mineral Powder (03), Guerlain Parure de Nuit Pressed Powder & Blush (illuminator)
• Lips:  MAC Soulfully Rich Pro Longwear Lipcreme (deep wine berry)

For eyes, start by laying down your eyeshadow primer all over the lid and until the brow.  Apply Carefree eyeshadow on the lower two-thirds of the lid with the 239.  In the crease, gently brush Legendary Black eyeshadow with the 222 and diffuse above the crease.  Apply Make Your Mark eyeshadow in the outer corner and lid to add warmth with the 239.  Use Black Black eyeliner on the lower lash lin, then soften with Carefree eyeshadow.  Finish lashes with Film Noir mascara.

For face, apply Matchmaster all over face with the 193.  Add color to the cheeks by gently dusting Natural blush near apples and blended out towards temples with the 116.  Lightly dust on illuminator with the 165 or 188 on cheek bones.  Set with Les Violettes with the 134.

For lips, apply Soulfully Rich onto lips.

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Neutrals with Smoldering Greens Look

If you’re wary to wear color, one of my favorite places to wear it is in the crease.  You can go as heavy or as light as you want, but it often looks subtler because most of the time your eyes are open–so it just peeks out.  I’m so anxious for final samples of Jealousy Wakes, because I want to swatch it against Black Emerald (which is definitely darker), but I think they could make a nice gradient of color.

You will need the following…

• Eyes:  NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (primer), Le Metier de Beaute Blonde Amber Eyeshadow (wheat gold), Le Metier de Beaute Bronze Topaz Eyeshadow (bronze), Le Metier de Beaute Black Emerald Eyeshadow (blackened emerald green), Make Up For Ever #20L Aqua Eyes Liner (forest green), Hourglass Film Noir Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Guerlain Les Violettes Mineral Powder (03)
• Cheeks: theBalm Betty Lou-Manizer (golden bronze)
• Lips: Bobbi Brown Pink Tulle High Shimmer Lipgloss (multi-color shimmered coral)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 222 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pencil brush), 188 (small, circular stippling brush)

For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof all over the lid and above the crease with the 242 to lay down your eyeshadow base.  Layer Blonde Amber eyeshadow all over the lower lid with the 239.  Then, apply Black Emerald eyeshadow into the outer crease, bringing it just over halfway into the crease with the 222.  Next, apply Bronze Topaz eyeshadow lightly on the outer third of the lid with the 239.  Apply Blonde Amber eyeshadow very lightly on the brow bone to highlight with the 239.   Next, apply #20 liner on the lower lash line, and then smudge with Blonde Amber eyeshadow.  Coat lashes with Film Noir mascara to finish the look.

For cheeks, apply Betty Lou-Manizer on the apples of the cheeks and sweep towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Pink Tulle lipgloss for a complementing lip.

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