chanel exceptionnel mascara

Bright Makeup: So Blue, So, So, Blue!

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Bright Makeup: So Blue, So, So, Blue!

I thought about doing a mix of blue and some other color (was leaning towards purple), but then I thought, “It’s been awhile since I’ve done *all* blue, hasn’t it?” and then this was created. The blues I used almost look like they’re glowing in the close-up photos, which is kind of cool! :)

Don’t be afraid of color — try it at home! If you don’t love it, you can always wash it off. Also a must? Make funny faces in the mirror if you’re not comfortable with wearing those bright colors. It should be fun, so have fun! :)

You will need the following…

For eyes, start by applying Soft Ochre paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. With the 239 and water-based mixing medium (or water), apply Clear Sky Blue pigment all over the lid area. Using the 239, apply Sky Blue eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply Winkle eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Electric Eel eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. With the 219, apply Atlantic Blue eyeshadow into the crease, and then use the 226 to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Femme-fi eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Deviant eyeliner on the outer lower lash line with Silver eyeliner on the inner lash line, then Atlantic Blue eyeshadow lightly patted below the lower lash line with the 219 brush. On the upper lash line, apply Blue Herizon liquidlast liner and smudge with Atlantic Blue eyeshadow and the 219 brush. Finish by sweeping lashes with Exceptionnel mascara.

For cheeks, apply Prim & Proper blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Peachstock lipstick first, and then layer Frankly Fresh lipglass for a complementing lip.

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Valentine’s Day Makeup: Neutral Eyes & Red Lips

Friday, January 29th, 2010

Valentine’s Day Makeup: Neutral Eyes & Red Lips

The boy and I went out last night for our Valentine’s Day dinner (early, I know–that’s how we do it!), so I had to pull out Chanel Dragon for a little night out on the town! :)   Every time I wear it, I feel like I’m totally made out of awesome, LOL.  I still love it to bits.

You will need the following…

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 Ricepaper eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply Wedge eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Cork eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Lightly blend Mystery eyeshadow, with the 226, into the outer crease. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Ricepaper eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Bourbon eyeliner on the lower lash line and sweeping lashes with Exceptionnel mascara.

For cheeks, apply Sugarbomb blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Dragon rouge allure laque with a lip brush for the perfect red lip.

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Glitter Makeup: Stila Jewel Eye Palette Look

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

Glitter Makeup: Stila Jewel Eye Palette Look

Just decided to have a little fun with Stila’s new glitter-tastic palette last night :) Didn’t have too much fall out — definitely apply less than you think you need, and then build up if you need to. (I tried two techniques – one on each eye; nearly no fall out on the latter technique!)  It definitely has a bit of a wet look to it – very shimmering – but not so easy to capture in a still photo.

You will need the following…

For eyes, start by applying Soft Ochre paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the lid with the 249. With the 249, apply Blacktrack fluidline all over the lid portion. Using the 239, apply Black Diamond eyeshadow on the eyelid. Next, apply Rose Quartz eyeshadow in the crease and slightly above with the 239. With the 239, lightly apply Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow into the crease to add a pop of color. Lightly tap and brush Beautiful Iris eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Hush eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Lust eyeliner on the lower lash line, and Beautiful Iris eyeshadow lightly patted below the lower lash line with the 219 brush. Finish by sweeping lashes with Exceptionnel mascara.

For cheeks, apply Unrequited blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply BE 109 lipstick first, and then layer Dubai Gloss for a complementing lip.

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Sunset Eyes with Maybelline Eye Studio

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

Sunset Eyes with Maybelline Eye Studio

As promised, here’s a look using Maybelline Eye Studio Give Me Gold Eyeshadow Palette. I think these are definitely some of the better drugstore eyeshadows I’ve tried in recent history, particularly from such a mass marketed brand as Maybelline. I don’t think they are better than MAC or other high-end shades, but for $6-10 for four shades compared to $10-15 for a single shade, they’re a worthwhile option for those on a budget or who just want to try out a certain color and don’t want to shell out $16 for one shade that they’re not even sure they’re going to use.

I found these eyeshadows very easy to blend, but do remember to use a light hand, because it can be easy to over blend soft shadows such as these (I often have the same issue with soft eyeshadows from Urban Decay and Stila). I’m expecting to try out a few of the more colorful palettes in the next few weeks, because I am definitely curious to see just how well they do true color (because this palette is still neutral, which I do feel is an area drugstore brands are stronger at as compared to bright, bold color, for instance). I’ll keep you updated, but what better way to show you how these perform than with a look, right?

I also gave Bobbi Brown’s Extra Tinted Moisturizing Balm a try in this look, but it seems to run a little yellow-ish on me, so I think Medium Tint might be too dark or something (maybe I’m Light to Medium). I did love the scent, though — a very lemon-y citrus kind of smell.

You will need the following…

  • Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot (neutral beige base), Maybelline Eye Studio Give Me Gold Palette (champagne white-gold, gold, copper-bronze, bronze), Maybelline Eye Studio Sinful Sinnamon Marbleized Eyeshadow (burnt red / pink), Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Blackest Black (black), Chanel Exceptionnel Mascara (black)
  • Face: Bobbi Brown Extra Tinted Moisturizer (Medium Tint)
  • Cheeks: Lancome Shimmer Mandarin Sky Blush (peach-coral)
  • Lips: Benefit Jing-a-Ling Lipstick (soft rosy pink), MAC Nymphette Lipglass (sheer golden pink)
  • Brushes: 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
  • Substitutes: For MAC substitutes, try Nylon, Goldmine, Amber Lights, and Bronze

For eyes, start by applying Soft Ochre paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the lid with the 249. Using the 239, apply the gold eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply the copper eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with dark bronze eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Lightly blend the dark bronze eyeshadow, with the 239, on the outer corner and lid. Next, define the crease by applying Sinful Sinnamon eyeshadow (the burnt red side) with the 226. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep the white-gold eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Blackest Black gel eyeliner on the lower and upper lash lines with the 208. Finish by sweeping lashes with  Exceptionnel mascara.

For cheeks, apply Shimmer Mandarin Sky blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Jing-a-Ling lipstick first, and then layer Nymphette lipglass for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos! Continue reading →

Summer Makeup: The Bright Sunset – Yellow, Orange, & Red

Friday, January 15th, 2010

Summer Makeup: The Bright Sunset – Yellow, Orange, & Red

I just can’t help it!   The latest shades to join the permanent range at MAC are all bright, they’re so *summer* and it’s not even technically spring yet! Oh, well… call it fashionably early? Hm. Whatever. This was just me having a little fun late at night :) If you want to wear it yourself and make it a little more tame or “everyday” (but I mean, it is bright!), use a more neutral highlighter (maybe Nylon) rather than going with color up to the brow bone.  I’d rock it either way! :)

You will need the following…

For eyes, start by applying Soft Ochre paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the lid with the 249. With the 239 and water-based mixing medium (or water), apply Golden Lemon pigment all over the lid portion. Using the 239, apply Going Bananas eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply Goldenrod eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Free to Be eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Next, define the crease by applying Red Brick eyeshadow with the 226. Lightly tap and brush Going Bananas eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Nylon eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Bourbon eyeliner on the lower lash line, and Going Bananas eyeshadow lightly patted below the lower lash line with the 219 brush. Finish by sweeping lashes with Exceptionnel mascara.

For cheeks, apply Vintage Pink blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Bronze Shimmer lipstick first, and then layer Lychee Luxe lipglass for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos! Continue reading →

Spring Makeup: The Fresh Bloom of Spring with Purple, Green, & Blue

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

Spring Makeup: The Fresh Bloom of Spring with Purple, Green, & Blue

One of the most important things to do when doing a look with distinct colors is to be careful not to over-blend, which is really easy, because most of us put our noses to the mirror when we’re checking to make sure we did a good job on our makeup. It’s important to take a step (or three) back, look at our work, and judge it how others are going to see us. For instance, purple and green do not make a very pretty color when blended together, so it’s important to use a light hand when layering and just barely blend so there’s no line of demarcation.

You will need the following…

For eyes, start by applying Soft Ochre paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the lid with the 249. Using the 239, apply Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply Lucky Green eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Moon’s Reflection eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Next, define the crease by applying Electric Eel eyeshadow with the 226. Lightly tap and brush Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Femme-fi eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Sweep Beautiful Iris eyeshadow along the inner tearduct and above the inner crease with the 217. Bring everything together by applying Electric eyeliner on the lower lash line and Blue Herizon liquidlast liner on upper lash line and then sweeping lashes with  Exceptionnel mascara.

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

For lips, apply Hue lipstick first, and then layer Lychee Luxe lipglass for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos! Continue reading →