
Look: Orange & Browns
This was the first look I did to test drive MAC’s new long-wearing eyeshadows.
You will need the following…
For eyes, start by laying down your eyeshadow primer all over the lid and until the brow. Apply One to Watch eyeshadow on the lower two-thirds of the lid with the 239. In the crease, gently brush Hot Paprika eyeshadow with the 222. Above the crease, apply Lie Low eyeshadow and diffuse upwards.
For face, apply Matchmaster all over face with the 193. Lightly dust on illuminator with the 165 or 188 on cheek bones. Set with Les Violettes with the 134.
For lips, apply Driven by Love onto lips.

Yellow, Orange, Coral with MAC Big Bounce & Fashion Flower
This is a look I did last week to test out the MAC Big Bounce eyeshadow for twelve hours. For reference, you really don’t need Fresh Daisy in this look. I initially wanted to use it in the inner corner (and you can see a very little bit), but it was just too stark against my skin tone so I covered most of it with Bright Sunshine.
You will need the following…
- Eyes: MAC Reward Yourself Big Bounce Eyeshadow (olive green), MAC Fresh Daisy Eyeshadow (warm white), MAC Bright Sunshine Eyeshadow (bright yellow with shimmer), MAC Rule Eyeshadow (orange), MAC Free to Be Eyeshadow (coral), Burberry Trench Eyeshadow (highlighter), Urban Decay Bourbon 24/7 Liner (brown), Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash (black)
- Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Burberry Pressed Powder (03)
- Cheeks: MAC Springsheen Blush (pinky-peach)
- Lips: MAC Ever Hip Lipstick (coral-pink), Cle de Peau #2 Lipgloss (pink-peach)
- Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 222 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pencil brush), 188 (small, circular stippling brush)
- Substitutes: Fresh Daisy = Nylon; Ever Hip = Crosswires (not a great dupe!)
For eyes, start by applying Reward Yourself eyeshadow all over the lid and above the crease with the 242. Apply Fresh Daisy eyeshadow to the inner tearduct with the 239. Next, apply Bright Sunshine eyeshadow to the middle of the lid with the 239. Gently blend Rule eyeshadow to the outer third of the lid and into the crease with the 239. Darken the crease with Free to Be eyeshadow using the 222.
For cheeks, apply Springsheen blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep towards the temple with the 116.
For lips, apply Ever Hip lipstick and top with #2 lipgloss for a complementing lip.

Copper & Bronze Look
You could also add more color to this combo by adding a burgundy or berry eyeshadow (like MAC Cranberry) into the crease or on the outer third of the lid. I loved the lip combo the best from this look!
P.S. – Happy 500,000 comments!
You will need the following…
- Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (neutral eyeshadow base), MAC Paparazz-she Eyeshadow (copper), MAC Spectacle of Yourself Eyeshadow (bronze), MAC Tweet Me Eyeshadow (peachy-melon), Burberry Trench Eyeshadow, Urban Decay Lucky 24/7 Shadow Pencil (copper), Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara (black)
- Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Burberry Pressed Powder (03)
- Cheeks: Benefit Bella Bamba Blush (pink)
- Lips: Guerlain Garance Rouge G Lipstick (pink-nude), Dior Apricot Cloche Ultra Gloss (peach-pink)
- Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 222 (fluffy crease brush), 263 (angled eyeliner brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
- Substitutes: Paparazz-she = Copper Sparkle pigment; Spectacle of Yourself = Antiqued; Tweet Me = Melon
For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Paparazz-she eyeshadow on the lower lid. Lightly blend Spectacle of Yourself eyeshadow onto the outer corner and crease with the 222. Apply Tweet Me eyeshadow on the inner tear duct and crease with the 239. Blend Trench eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Lucky on the lower lash line and pat Tweet Me eyeshadow on lower lower lash line. Finish by sweeping lashes with Inimitable Intense mascara.
For cheeks, apply Bella Bamba blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.
For lips, apply Garance lipstick first, then layer Apricot Cloche lipgloss for a complementing lip.

Summer Makeup: Day at the Beach
There’s something about this look that reminds me of the beach, yet it’s not exactly beach colors. Oh, well! I wonder if it’s totally obvious that I love me some chartreuse green… Happy Monday!
You will need the following…
- Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (neutral eyeshadow base), MAC Sour Lemon Eyeshadow (chatreuse), MAC Samoa Silk Eyeshadow (peach), MAC Vibrant Grape Eyeshadow (red-toned purple), MAC Orb Eyeshadow (matte highlighter), MAC Femme-fi Eyeshadow (shimmery highlighter), Urban Decay Flipside 24/7 Liner (teal), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
- Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
- Cheeks: Benefit Sugarbomb Powder (pinky-peach)
- Lips: MAC Capricious Lipstick (muted purple-plum), MAC Springbean Lustreglass (sheer green-gold)
- Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
- Substitutes:
For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Sour Lemon eyeshadow on the lower lid. Lightly blend Samoa Silk eyeshadow from the lower crease to above the crease with the 239. Next, apply Vibrant Grape eyeshadow into the crease with the 226. Blend Orb eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone, then lightly tap Femme-fi eyeshadow right beneath the brow for shimmer. Bring everything together by applying Flipside liner on the lower lash line. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.
For cheeks, apply Sugarbomb blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.
For lips, apply Capricious lipstick first, and then layer Springbean lustreglass for a complementing lip.

Summer Fun Look: Green, Coral, & Purple
How’s your Sunday treating you? I did this look late last night, as I was determined to be somewhat productive. (Although, I did get my cheat sheet ready for my final on Monday!) Just a fun, summery look that came out better than I thought it would! I hope you’re enjoying your weekend
P.S. — For a more affordable lip look, try MAC Ravishing and Lychee Luxe.
You will need the following…
- Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (neutral eyeshadow base), MAC Sweet & Punchy Eyeshadow (yellowed chartreuse), MAC Firecracker Eyeshadow (coral-red), Urban Decay Psychedelic Sister Eyeshadow (red-toned purple), MAC Grain Eyeshadow (neutral highlighter), MAC Float On By Eye Kohl (teal-blue), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
- Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
- Cheeks: Le Metier de Beaute Traviata Duet (peachy-coral)
- Lips: Cle de Peau #101 Extra Silky Lipstick (coral), YSL #3 Pur Gloss (sheer coral-orange)
- Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
- Substitutes: Sweet & Punchy = Sour Lemon; Firecracker = Paradisco or Red Brick; Float on By = UD Deviant + Flipside
For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Sweet & Punchy eyeshadow on the inner two-thirds of the lid and pull upwards along the inner crease. Apply Firecracker eyeshadow on the outer third of the lid with the 239. Next, apply Psychedelic Sister eyeshadow into the crease with the 226, lightly blending onto the outer lid. Blend Grain eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Float On By eye kohl on the lower lash line, then lightly pat Sweet & Punchy eyeshadow to soften. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.
For cheeks, apply Traviata blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.
For lips, apply #101 lipstick first, and then layer #3 lipgloss for a complementing lip.

Summer Makeup: Molten Lava Goes To the Beach, v. 2
I had a few tutorial requests for a coppery look I did last week, so I decided to modify it a bit so it used only permanent products on the eyes rather than limited edition ones. This is the modified version, and the tutorial should be up on YouTube shortly
I layered Free to Be and Coppering to get pretty close to Firecracker–though you could certainly use one or the other and still get something quite pretty out of it! I was also all out of the NARS base I had used in the original look, so I used UDPP instead.
By the by, theBalm will be featured on MTV’s Hired tomorrow at 6:30pm! I’m kind of excited, because it would be fun to see the inner-workings of a beauty brand. theBalm will be looking at three final applicants to fill the role of their office assistant.
You will need the following…
- Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion (neutral eyeshadow base), Urban Decay Free Love Eyeshadow (melon-peach), MAC Free to Be Eyeshadow (coral), MAC Coppering Eyeshadow (reddish copper), MAC Amber Lights Eyeshadow (copper), MAC Bronze Eyeshadow (bronze), MAC Nylon Eyeshadow (white-gold), MAC Goldmine Eyeshadow (gold), MAC Rich Ground Fluidline (copper), Urban Decay Lucky 24/7 Liner (copper), MAC Black Black Chromagraphic Pencil (black), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
- Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
- Cheeks: MAC Get-Away Bronze Blush (reddish bronze)
- Lips: MAC Thrills Lipstick (rosy copper), MAC Flurry of Fun Lipglass (sheer tangerine with teal reflects)
- Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
- Substitutes: Firecracker = Paradisco; Get-Away Bronze = = Format; Thrills = La Prairie Rose Bronze; Easy Lounger = Prr
For eyes, start by applying Primer Potion as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Free Love eyeshadow on the inner half of the lid and blend upwards into the tearduct. Lightly blend Free to Be eyeshadow on the middle of the lid with the 239, then layer Coppering eyeshadow on top to darken. With the 239, apply Amber Lights eyeshadow into the lower crease and then blended towards the outer corner and lid.Next, apply Bronze eyeshadow into the crease with the 226, lightly blending outwards and upwards to fade to the brow bone. Blend Nylon eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Lucky eyeliner on the lower lash line and Black Black pencil on the lower waterline. Line the upper lash line with Rich Ground fluidline applied with the 208; then pat Goldmine eyeshadow on top to lighten. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.
For cheeks, apply Get-Away Bronze blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.
For lips, apply Thrills lipstick first, and then layer Flurry of Fun lipglass for a complementing lip.