5 Rose Gold-Inspired Beauties

My favorite metal is rose gold.  There’s something about it that’s elegant, warm, and eye-catching to me.  It’s actually a color that doesn’t quite seem to be readily produced into makeup, actually–I think it’s the metallic finish.

• Deborah Lippmann Glamorous Life — inspired by rose gold Rolexes
• Cle de Peau #2 — a shimmering pink-peach gloss
• MAC Pink Frontier — pale pink with a yellow undertone
• Benefit Sugarbomb — yellow-toned pink with a golden sheen
• Guerlain Gillian — neutral pink with a glossy shine and pale gold shimmer

Do you have anything rose-gold in your makeup stash?

5 Holiday Highlighters

1. Benefit Watt’s Up — creamy, glowy highlighter
2. Guerlain Parure de Nuit — soft, subtle highlighter (still available at Neiman Marcus + Dillard’s)
3. theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer — shimmering gold
4. Benefit Sugarbomb — soft, glowy warmth
5. NARS Miss Liberty — wet-looking sparkle

What’s your favorite highlighter for the holidays?

Jealousy Wakes with Blue Look

My eyes have been really dry lately, so under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t create a look and post it (just because the surface of my lids makes working with powder products a big pain!), but how could I not do something to commemorate this day?

You will need the following…

• Eyes:  NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (primer), Urban Decay Verve Eyeshadow (soft pewter), MAC Jealousy Wakes Eyeshadow (emerald green), MAC Atlantic Blue Eyeshadow (dark blue), Burberry Trench Eyeshadow (highlighter), Urban Decay Deviant 24/7 Liner (blue), Benefit They’re Real Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Guerlain Les Violettes Mineral Powder (03)
• Cheeks: Benefit Sugarbomb (golden pink)
• Lips: Cle de Peau #2 Lipgloss (peach pink), Guerlain Mambo Terracotta Lipgloss (sheer tangerine)
• 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 249 to lay down your eyeshadow base.   Next, apply Verve eyeshadow on the lower third of the lid with the 239.  Then pat Jealousy Wakes eyeshadow onto the upper half of the lid and into the crease with the 239.  With the 226, apply Atlantic Blue eyeshadow above the crease.  Diffuse the crease edge with Trench eyeshadow using the 217.  Lightly highlight the edge of the brow bone with Verve eyeshadow with the 239.  Next, apply Deviant liner on the lower lash line, and then smudge with Jealousy Wakes. Coat lashes with They’re Real mascara to finish the look.

For cheeks, apply Sugarbomb on the apples of the cheeks and sweep towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply #2 lipgloss mixed with Mambo lipgloss for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

Quick Neutrals with Urban Decay’s Naked Palette

This is a really quick and dirty look I did a couple of weeks ago before an early 8 am class.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (neutral eyeshadow base), Urban Decay Sin Eyeshadow (pink champagne), Urban Decay Darkhorse Eyeshadow (gold-tinged brown), Urban Decay Virgin Eyeshadow (highlighter), Urban Decay Whiskey 24/7 Liner (red-toned brown), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
• Cheeks: Benefit Sugarbomb Blush (pinky peach)
• Lips: MAC Violetta Lipstick (fuchsia purple), MAC Revenge is Sweet Lipglass (sheer jelly pink)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Revenge is Sweet = Full For You

For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Sin eyeshadow on the lid. Next, apply Darkhorse eyeshadow into the crease with the 226, lightly blending onto the outer lid.  Blend Virgin eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Whiskey 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 Violetta lipstick first, and then layer Revenge is Sweet lipglass for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

Mix & Match with Urban Decay & MAC

Here’s a look I did test-driving NARS’ new eyeshadow base (got a sample of it with a recent Sephora order) and new Urban Decay eyeshadows.  Plus, even though I still don’t feel like Lazy Day is a must-have (and I really thought it was going to be higher on the sell out list than it appears to be), it looks super lovely with Splashing.

How’s your Wednesday going so far?  What are you having for lunch? (Or what did you have?)

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (eyeshadow base), Urban Decay Free Love Eyeshadow (peachy-melon), Urban Decay Woodstock Eyeshadow (brightened pink), Urban Decay Psychedelic Sister Eyeshadow (purple), MAC Nylon Eyeshadow (white-gold highlighter), Urban Decay Honey 24/7 Liner (gold), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
• Cheeks: Make Up For Ever #6 Aqua Cream (yellow pink with gold), Benefit Sugarbomb Powder (pink-peach)
• Lips: MAC Lazy Days Lipstick (pastel pink), MAC Splashing Lipglass (pink)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Lazy Days = Angel; Splashing = Flusterose

For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof base 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. Lightly blend Woodstock eyeshadow on the outer half of the lid with the 239. Next, apply Psychedelic Sister eyeshadow into the crease with the 226, lightly blending outwards and upwards to fade to the brow bone. With the 239, apply Woodstock eyeshadow into the lower crease and then blended towards the outer corner and lid. Blend Nylon eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Honey eyeliner on the lower lash line and Free Love eyeshadow lightly patted below the lower lash line with the 219 brush. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply #6 aqua cream on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116. Highlight softly with Sugarbomb with the 165 or 131.

For lips, apply Lazy Days lipstick first, and then layer Splashing lipglass for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

Guerlain Ombre Perlees — Matte Eyeshadow

I did this look over the weekend with Guerlain’s Ombre Perlees Palette. Even though the shades look like they have a hint of shimmer, they’re near-matte, particularly when used over a matte base. This is such a fall look, though, ha!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot (neutral beige base), Guerlain Ombre Perlees Eyeshadow Palette (pale white-pink, darkened coral-brown, dark taupe brown), Shiseido Brown (BR 602) Smoothing Eyeliner Pencil (brown), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Guerlain Parure Gold (Beige Naturel #03)
• Cheeks:  Benefit Sugarbomb (peachy pink), Guerlain Beige Tint Meteorites (highlighter)
• Lips: Chanel Imperial Rouge Allure Laque (darkened red), MAC Desire Lipglass (dark red-purple)
• Brushes: 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: N/A

For eyes, start by applying Soft Ochre paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply the light white-pink eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply the coral eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with the taupe brown eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Lightly blend the taupe brown eyeshadow, with the 239, on the outer corner and lid. Lightly tap and brush the coral eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep a mix of the light white-pink and coral as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Brown eyeliner on the lower lash line. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Sugarbomb blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116. Highlight cheekbones with Beige Tint Meteorites with the 165.

For lips, apply Imperial Rouge Allure Laque first, and then layer Desire lipglass for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!