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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I really wanted to use Bobbi Brown’s Pewter Chrome Eyeshadow, and I figured I might as well incorporate her Earth Metal Palette, too… so, I did! Let me tell you one thing about pewter-colored eyeshadow: it can be difficult figuring out how to pair cheeks and lips with it!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), Bobbi Brown Pewter Chrome Eyeshadow (pewter shimmer), Bobbi Brown Autumn Eyeshadow (light greenish gold), Bobbi Brown Antique Gold Eyeshadow (coppery bronze), Bobbi Brown Earth Metal Eyeshadow (plummy brown), Bobbi Brown Sunset Gold Eyeshadow (melon-gold), L’Oreal HIP Silver Lightning Chrome Eyeliner (silver), L’Oreal HIP Black Shock Chrome Eyeliner (black), MAC Zoom Fast Black Lash Mascara (black)
• Face: Guerlain Parure Gold Foundation
• Cheeks: MAC Stark Naked blush (plum-berry)
• Lips: Chanel Santal Rouge Allure Laque (peachy), Guerlain Rubis Rose KissKiss Gloss (brownish plum)
• 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)

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 Bobbi Brown Pewter eyeshadow on the inner half of the lid. Apply Bobbi Brown Autumn eyeshadow to the middle portion of the lid. On the outer third of the lid, layer on Bobbi Brown Antique Gold eyeshadow with the 239. Darken crease with Bobbi Brown Earth Metal eyeshadow using the 226. Sweep Bobbi Brown Sunset Gold eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with L’Oreal HIP Silver Lightning and Black Shock Liner (layer on Silver Lightning first, then smudge Black Shock on top) on lower lash line.  Finally, smudge Bobbi Brown Pewter eyeshadow on the lower lash line with the 219.  Apply a few coats of MAC Zoom Fast Black Lash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with MAC Stark Naked blush using the 129, then buff out color with the 182. Apply Chanel Santal Rouge Allure Laque to lips, and then top with Guerlain Rubis Rose KissKiss Gloss for color and shine.

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Here’s a quick look for fall that I put together to go out to dinner with my parents and boyfriend (for my birthday). It’s pretty simple, and surprisingly, I used all permanent products (without trying–that’s an accomplishment!). :) Hope your Wednesday is off to a fantastic start! Halfway through the week — yay!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), Melon pigment (peachy-pink), Gleam eyeshadow (peachy-pink), Cranberry eyeshadow (berry-wine), Fig. 1 eyeshadow (eggplant), Graphology eyeshadow (deep purple-black), Ricepaper eyeshadow (highlighter), Smolder eye kohl (black), Urban Decay El Dorado 24/7 Liner (gold), Zoom Fast Lash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Plum Foolery blush (berry)
• Lips: Guerlain Gracia Lipstick (muted berry), Chanel Spark glossimer (coppery berry)
• 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: 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. With the 239, apply Melon pigment with water-based mixing medium on the lower lid. On the inner lid, pack Gleam eyeshadow on using the 239. Apply Cranberry eyeshadow to the outer portions of the lid. Darken crease with Fig. 1 eyeshadow using the 226, then deepen with Graphology eyeshadow with the 219. Sweep Ricepaper eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Urban Decay El Dorado Liner on lower lash line, and Smolder eye kohl on the lower waterline using the 209. Apply Zoom Fast Lash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Plum Foolery blush using the 129. Apply Guerlain Gracia lipstick to lips, and then top with Chanel Spark glossimer 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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Here’s an attempt at using MAC’s Photorealism eyeshadow quad :) The photos are a little wonky, because silly me forgot to change the white balance settings before taking these photos, SO I had to muck around with them (to get the right color) in Photoshop. I think they’re *fairly* accurate, but they just look so edited, so I do apologize! I do recommend substituting a different highlighter in this look, but my goal was to only use the quad’s eyeshadows. But definitely feel free to go with something more neutral and less shimmery for a better look :)

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), Silver Fog pigment (platinum silver), Image Maker eyeshadow (soft grey-green), Fresh Approach eyeshadow (pastel green), Grey Range eyeshadow (dark teal), Photorealism eyeshadow (soft gold), Make Up For Ever #20L Aqua Eyes (dark teal), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: The Perfect Cheek (pale pink), Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmer (bronzy highlighter)
• Lips: Front Lit lipstick (sheer white-gold), New Spirit lipglass (peachy-orange), Lychee Luxe lipglass (coral)
• 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: Photorealism = Nylon; Image Maker = Electra; Fresh Approach = Juxt; Grey Range = Deep Truth+Shimmermoss; The Perfect Cheek = Dame; Front Lit = Tanarama; New Spirit = Love Nectar

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 Silver Fog pigment with water-based mixing medium on the lower lid. On the inner lid, pack Fresh Approach eyeshadow on using the 239. Apply Image Maker eyeshadow to the middle and outer portions of the lid. Darken crease with Grey Range eyeshadow using the 226. Sweep Photorealism eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Make Up For Ever #20L Aqua Eyes on lower lash line9. Apply Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with The Perfect Cheek blush using the 129, then highlight with Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmer with the 188. Apply Front Lit lipstick to lips, and then top with New Spirit and Lychee Luxe lipglasses 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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This is the look I wore to the Benefit breakfast yesterday :) (This is, obviously, before Benefit made me over!) I didn’t think something this simple would turn out this lovely!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), Juxt eyeshadow (pastel green), Bottle Green eyeshadow (dark green), Prussian eyeshadow (dark blue), Soft Force eyeshadow (highlighter), Prescriptives Grotto Liner (green), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Margin blush (coral-pink)
• Lips: Brave New Bronze lipstick (pinky nude), Chanel Tangerine Dream (coral)
• 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: Brave New Bronze = Honeylove

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 lid, pack Juxt eyeshadow on using the 239. Darken crease with Bottle Green eyeshadow using the 226, then deepen with Prussian eyeshadow with the 219. Sweep Soft Force eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Prescriptives Grotto Liner on lower lash line. Apply Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Margin blush using the 129. Apply Brave New Bronze lipstick to lips, and then top with Chanel Tangerine Dream for color and shine.

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Quick and dirty smoky eye :) So, I finally get my foundation to match my skin in *natural* light… but then either the foundation or my setting powder reflects light and it doesn’t match in photos! Apparently, my bathroom light is terrible, because so many foundations looked like they were a match, only to look in my car mirror and see a totally different story. Sigh!

HAPPY FRIDAY ALL! Hope it speeds by (well, the work part of it!) so you can play. How’s everyone doing? Any exciting weekend plans? (I’m off to spend the majority of today studying with some fellow MBA students… so exciting. I know you’re jealous!)

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), Electra eyeshadow (bright silver), Smoke and Diamonds eyeshadow (dark silver-gray), Copperplate eyeshadow (matte gray-brown), Pincurl eyeshadow (duochrome gray-pink), Shroom eyeshadow (soft highlighter), Mystery kohl power (teal-black), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Guerlain Shell Illuminating Sun Powder (bronzer), Guerlain Nacre des Mers Pressed Meteorites (sheer shimmer)
• Lips: Tiger Tiger lipstick (orange-y nude), Style Minx lipglass (hot pink)
• 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: Smoke and Diamonds = Silver Ring; Pincurl = Vex; Mystery = Teal-o; Tiger Tiger = Peachstock; Style Minx = Pink Poodle

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. On the inner half of the lid, apply Electra eyeshadow using the 239. Apply Smoke & Diamonds eyeshadow to the outer half of the lid. Darken the outer lid using Copperplate eyeshadow using the 239. Darken crease with Copperplate eyeshadow using the 226. Accent inner tear duct with Pincurl eyeshadow using the 226. Sweep Shroom eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Mystery kohl power on lower lash line, and Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Guerlain Sun Powder using the 129, then highlight with Guerlain Nacre des Mers Meteorites with the 188. Apply Tiger Tiger lipstick to lips, and then top with Style Minx 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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Pretty simple look today! I had about five minutes to do eyeshadow, and this is what I came up with :) I really, really wanted to use Henna somehow! Still not liking 100 Strokes :(

And a quick, poor quality video of Mellan awaits you, too :P

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (nude base), Goldmine eyeshadow (gold), Henna eyeshadow (antique gold), 100 Strokes eyeshadow (burgundy), Cranberry eyeshadow (cranberry-burgundy), Femme-fi eyeshadow (neutral highlighter), Urban Decay Bourbon 24/7 Liner (brown), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Springsheen (soft peach), Redhead mineralize skinfinish (copper-peach)
• Lips: Blow Dry lipstick (sheer coral), Red Devil lipglass (red-coral)
• 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: Henna = Sumptuous Olive; 100 Strokes = Sketch; Redhead = Soft & Gentle

Directions: Define brows using a coordinating powder shadow applied with the 266 brush. Apply Soft Ochre all over the lid as the base with the 249. On the lower lid, apply Goldmine eyeshadow using the 239. Apply Henna eyeshadow to the crease, overlapping with the lid. Darken the area just above the crease using 100 Strokes eyeshadow using the 239. Overlay 100 Strokes with Cranberry eyeshadow to increase color depth using the 226. Sweep Femme-fi underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Urban Decay Honey Liner on lower lash line and Plushlash mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Springsheen blush using the 129, then highlight with Redhead MSF using the 165 brush. Apply Blow Dry lipstick to lips, and then top with Red Devil lipglass for color and shine.

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