St. Patricks Day Makeup: Green-a-palooza!

Happy St. Patricks Day! Here’s a wicked-to-the-bone green look for ya! What’s everyone doing to celebrate?  Oh, by the way?  Glitter doesn’t show up nearly as fun in the photos as it was in person.  I put the glitter on my lashes, lower lash line, and upper lash line and it reflected so prettily… I was like, “OOH!!” but then I was cropping the photos to post and was less ooh-ahh about it.

Mellan also wanted to wish you good day…

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion (eyeshadow base), MAC True Chartreuse Pigment (matte chartreuse), MAC Sunny Spot Eyeshadow (satin chartreuse), Urban Decay Graffiti Eyeshadow (bright grass green), Urban Decay Chronic EyeshadowMAC Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow (matte light green), (green-gold), Urban Decay Acid Rain Liquid Liner (chatreuse), Urban Decay Mullet Glitter Eye Liner (green), Urban Decay Graffiti 24/7 Liner (green), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (140), Laura Mercier Setting Powder
• Cheeks: MAC Refined Golden Bronzer (bronzer), Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmer (bronze highlighter)
• Lips: MAC Crosswires Lipstick (coral), MAC Instant Gold Lustreglass (gold shimmer)
• Brushes: 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 116 (dense blush brush), 165 (tapered blush brush)
• Substitutes: N/A

For eyes, start by applying Primer Potion as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. With the 239 and water-based mixing medium (or water), apply True Chartreuse pigment all over the lid area. Using the 239, apply Sunny Spot eyeshadow on the middle of the eyelid. Next, apply Chronic eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the middle. Darken the outer third of the lid with Graffiti eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Lightly blend Graffiti eyeshadow, with the 239, into the crease. Lightly tap and brush Sunny Spot eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. On the upper lash line, apply Acid Rain liquid liner and then overlay with Mullet glitter eyeliner for sparkle. Bring everything together by applying Graffiti eyeliner on the lower lash line and Sunny Spot eyeshadow lightly patted below the lower lash line with the 219 brush then overlay with Mullet glitter eyeliner. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Refined Golden bronzer to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116. Highlight cheekbones with Amber Diamond skin shimmer with the 165.

For lips, apply Crosswires lipstick first, and then layer Instant Gold lustreglass for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

The Perfect Holiday Red Lips

‘Tis the season to wear beautiful mixes of burgundy, crimson, and scarlet. We’ve been enjoying The Scarlet Season for the past few months by featuring shades of scarlet, but here are all of my favorite tips to achieving the most defined and long-lasting red lip.

The Prep

It’s important to regularly exfoliate and moisturize your lips, even when you’re not trying to wear a bolder lip color, because it gives you a better foundation to apply lip color onto. I suggest Sara Happ’s The Lip Scrub for a yummy and effective for-purchase scrub. For a DIY version, I suggest a little jojoba oil and sugar. Scrub and then rinse off, blot dry, and apply a layer of a moisturizing balm. My favorite balm right now is Philosophy’s Kiss Me Tonight Intensive Lip Therapy. Super, super moisturizing and feels great on lips.

Now, let’s talk about the BASE, the DEFINITION, the COLOR, and the TOUCH-UP stages…

The Base

Lip color needs something to hang onto, and one method I’ve found to really help color stay on longer and look better several hours later is laying down a base–just as I would for eyeshadow. I’ve used products like concealer and foundation to MAC’s Lip Erase; they all work about the same.

Before you apply your base, ensure your lips are smooth, soft, and have nothing else on them — you don’t want them dry and flakey (if this is you, try moisturizing lips twenty minutes before you go to apply lip color; blot the remainder off by kissing the back of your hand).

Now, when you apply your base, you can do so with a lip brush, a concealer brush, or your fingers. It really doesn’t matter, but the idea is to fully cover your lips in a very beige-y, neutral base. If you have darker skin, I’d suggest using a light to medium concealer shade instead. The lip base works in two ways: it neutralizes your natural lip color (therefore, colors look truer-to-the-tube on you) and gives color something to grab.

The Definition

Defining lips is easier said than done! You need a steady hand and a good eye for your natural lip shape. Start by lining your lips with a matching lip liner–stay in the lines; it’s better to stay within your natural lip line (overall, at least) than to stray too far to make a faux shape. I also like to fill-in lips with lip liner, just because liner is excellent for adding another layer of staying power, so I recommend doing that during this time, too.

The second step to defining lips comes later, after you’ve finished applying your lipstick/gloss. Taking a concealer brush and your concealer match, apply concealer outside of your lips – this will help give you that crisp, well-defined lip you want. You can use a fluffy brush like MAC’s 217 to help blend the concealer to make it look soft and natural.

The final step to defining your lips is adding just a touch of highlighter at the cupid’s bow (that’s the area just above the middle of upper lip). You want to use a small, fluffy brush and just lightly sweep a highlighter shade (something very soft, nothing glittery!) over the area to add more light.

The Color

One of the best methods to apply rich color and get excellent results is by using a lip brush. A lip brush will allow you to be more precise and apply even layers. You can easily add additional layers, but you know you’ll be applying a solid, even layer from the get-go. If you want to cheat a little during this step, apply the lip color directly from the tube to the middle of your lips and use a lip brush to stretch and bring color to the outer areas of the lips.

If you want to apply a gloss on top, I recommend using a separate lip wand (like a disposable one) to grab the color, then apply it with your lip brush. This will let you add the glossy finish you’d like without reddening up the gloss itself–plus, you’ll get more precision with the lip brush, too.

The Touch-Up

You may find a touch-up is required, depending on the occasion, the length of it, and what you’re doing. Lip color always has a much tougher job if it has to endure eating and drinking; or if you want it to last more than four hours. Of course, picking the right product can help on both accounts, but you never know when you need a touch-up.

I always find that keeping a gloss around for touch-ups is easier than a lipstick, just because lipsticks often need to be fully removed and reapplied rather than just layered on top. For this purpose, I tend to recommend finding a gloss in a similar shade as the lipstick you’re using. Otherwise, invest in makeup remover pads or swabs for on-the-go so you can truly reapply with perfection!

Tips & Tricks

• For another layer of long-lasting powder, try dusting lips with blotting or setting powder after you’ve applied the first layer of lip color. Apply a second layer of lip color, and then continue on.
• Makeup remover is also another way to make sure you’ve defined your lips and kept the lip color where you want it. I like to use an oil-based makeup remover (like Lancome Bi-Facil) and a cotton swab or lip brush to make sure everything is on the up and up.
• Two years ago, just in time for the holidays, I put together a how-to apply red lips tutorial — which is an oldie, but a goodie — so I encourage you check that out as well!

This is almost like a two-for-one kind of look, because I took photos of two [drastically] different lip combinations — the first is a deeper plummy red and the second more of a bronzy nude. I wanted to try out some of the products I’ve reviewed lately, so that’s where I tried to draw inspiration from.

If there’s a review or a product photo of one of the products I used, just click the product name and link. Let me know if you like me linking to the products this way or not — if it’s not helpful, please let me know!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot (neutral beige base), Dolce & Gabbana Gold Eyeshadow Duo (true gold / copper-bronze), MAC Cranberry eyeshadow (cranberry), MAC Fig. 1 Eyeshadow (matte eggplant), MAC Rose Blanc Eyeshadow (sheer gold highlighter), L’Oreal HIP Gold Chrome Eyeliner(gold), Urban Decay Zero 24/7 Liner (black), Chanel Exceptionnel Mascara (black)
• Face:  Kiehl’s Tinted Moisturizer (medium)
• Cheeks: Benefit Sugarbomb Powder (peachy-pink)
• Lips: Dolce & Gabbana Ruby Lipstick (pinky-red), Lancome Mercury Rising Lipgloss (shimmery red) / Dolce & Gabbana Gold Lipstick (copper-gold), Givenchy Tender Pearl Lipgloss (milky pink)
• 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: Rose Blanc = Nylon

For eyes, start by applying MAC Soft Ochre paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the lid with the 249. Using the 239, apply Dolce & Gabbana Gold Eyeshadow Duo (gold) on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply Dolce & Gabbana Gold Eyeshadow Duo (copper) on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with MAC Cranberry eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Next, define the crease by applying MAC Fig. 1 eyeshadow with the 226. Lightly tap and brush Dolce & Gabbana Gold Eyeshadow Duo (gold) directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep MAC Rose Blanc eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Urban Decay Zero Liner on the lower waterline and L’Oreal HIP Gold Chrome Eyeliner on the lower lash line, and then sweeping lashes with Chanel Exceptionnel mascara.

For cheeks, apply Benefit Sugarbomb to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 129.

For lips, apply Dolce & Gabbana Ruby Lipstick first, and then layer Lancome Mercury Rising Lipgloss for a bolder lip look. For a softer lip color, try Dolce & Gabbana Gold Lipstick as a base and then top with Givenchy Tender Pearl Lipgloss.

Check out more photos!

Dolce & Gabbana Gold Eyeshadow Duo (Gold/Copper); MAC Cranberry eyeshadow, MAC Fig. 1 eyeshadow, MAC Rose Blanc eyeshadow

Holiday Makeup Ideas, Part IV

Gilded gold and forest green is always a good pairing, but it’s also completely festive! The rich evergreen in the pine trees… totally something key to winter/holidays.

Emerald green and gold is a bolder, brighter take on the green and gold pairing for the winter and holiday seasons. This is probably one of my all-time favorite looks that I’ve done!

Classic smoky eyes are never a bad way to go when you have a party or special occasion to attend!  You can always add your own twist by making it bluer, grayer, smokier… whatever!  I like to pair it with a golden-glossed nude lip.

Holiday Makeup Ideas, Part III

Smoky golden browns can also be the focal point of your holiday look, rather than the lips. Black eyeliner paired with a pop of gilded gold liner really brought this look together for me.

Less can definitely be more when you want to wear your favorite bright holiday red lipstick/gloss! One of my favorite ways to wear bold lips is by simply wearing a little colored liner (gold is always a go-to for me) on the lower lash line, lots of mascara, and that’s about it!

Ultra black smoky eye with an icy twist is a great way to go wintry without being subtle. The usage of both Vex and Pink Opal pigment really give it that ice princess feel and make it not just straight black.

Hey, Ma! I did a look! So it’s been a couple of weeks since the Lady Gaga inspired look which totally wreaked havoc on my eyes, but my eyes seem to be recovered now. (They were swollen for a few days, and then they proceeded to just be itchy/red and consequently dry and flaky afterward. You know, generally unpleasant.) I thought I’d try to do something holiday-esque, but maybe not the most typical holiday look (err… at least, my typical holiday look) of golds, cranberries, and red lips.

P.S. – Lashes are looking a little beat-up, because I was testing out a new mascara, wasn’t loving it, tried to layer another mascara over… and yeah, not the best idea. Lesson learned = don’t test new mascara when you’re doing an actual look!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), Goldmine eyeshadow (true gold), Bio-Green eyeshadow (medium green), Humid eyeshadow (dark green), Bottle Green eyeshadow (dark green-blue), Femme-fi eyeshadow (neutral highlighter), Smashbox Wish Pencil Eyeliner (dark green-blue), Urban Decay Honey 24/7 Liner (gold), too many mascaras (so ignore the lashes, they’re terrible)
• Face: Kiehl’s Tinted Moisturizer in Medium
• Cheeks: Dior Coral Riviera blush (coral-pink), Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmer (bronzy highlighter)
• Lips: Guerlain Gems lipstick (coral), Guerlain Perle de Lune lipgloss (pearly 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

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 Goldmine eyeshadow on using the 239. Apply Bio-Green eyeshadow to the middle and outer portions of the lid. Darken crease with Bottle Green eyeshadow using the 226, then deepen the outer lid with Humid eyeshadow. Sweep Femme-fi eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Urban Decay Honey Liner on lower waterline and Smashbox Wish Pencil Liner on the lower lash line. Apply mascara on lashes. Sweep apples of cheeks with Dior Corial Riviera blush using the 129, then highlight with Dior Amber Diamond Skin Shimmer with the 188. Apply Guerlain Gems lipstick to lips, and then top with Guerlain Perle de Lune lipgloss for color and shine.

Check out more photos!

This is my… “OMG I DID A LOOK FINALLY FACE!”