Look: Pop of Color for Spring

This was a recent look I used to test out the wear of several products–the newer MAC eyeshadow quad (because it had a very stubborn shade in it), MAC’s Pearlglide Intense Eyeliner (because it was worth re-testing), and Becca Damselfly (had not tested the wear before).  I haven’t worn either the lipstick or gloss on its own, so I haven’t finished testing either of those, but I thought they might work well with this look so at least I could get a lip swatch out of it!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (eyeshadow primer), MAC Colour Eyeshadow Quad (yellow, dark blue, gray, beige), MAC Undercurrent Pearlglide Intense Eyeliner (teal), Hourglass Film Noir Mascara (black)
• Face: Chanel Vitalumiere (B30), Guerlain Les Voilettes Mineral Powder (03), Becca Damselfly Mineral Blush (orange-coral)
• Lips: Make Up For Ever Folk Rouge Artist Natural (coral), Le Metier de Beaute Orange Juiced Sheer Brilliance Lipgloss (sheer tangerine)

For eyes, I applied a light layer of NARS Smudgeproof on the lid as an eyeshadow primer from lash line to brow bone with a firm, flat brush.  First, I applied Self-Serve to the crease with a pencil brush and used a blending brush to attempt to diffuse the color. Next, I applied Colour Added all over the lid with a fluffy eyeshadow brush.   I used another pencil brush to apply Pre-packaged to the outer corner and into the deep crease.   To highlight the brow bone, I used Laudry Daze applied and blended with a fluffy blending brush.  On the lower lash line, I applied MAC Undercurrent and then patted Colour Added on the inner half of the lash line and Pre-packaged on the outer half of the lash line.  Finally, I applied a coat of Hourglass Film Noir to lengthen and thicken lashes.

For face, I applied Chanel Vitalumiere with a circular foundation brush.  I blended Becca Damselfly onto cheeks with a dense blush brush and set with Guerlain Les Voilettes.  For lips, I applied Make Up For Ever Folk and layered Le Metier de Beaute Orange Juiced on top.

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Look: Chanel Spring 2012

Had a lot of you asking about what was on my eyes/cheeks/lips throughout recent Chanel posts, so I figured maybe I should post the look in full so it’s easy to find  It’s super easy and takes about five minutes or less!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (eyeshadow primer), Chanel Eclosion Eyeshadow Quad (beige, dark beige, burgundy), Chanel Grenat Stylo Yeux (burgundy), Hourglass Film Noir Mascara (black)
• Face: Chanel Perfection Lumiere (30), Guerlain Les Voilettes Mineral Powder (03), Chanel Blush Horizon de Chanel (pale pink)
• Lips: Chanel Flirt Rouge Coco Shine (pink-coral)

For eyes, I applied a light layer of NARS Smudgeproof on the lid as an eyeshadow primer from lash line to brow bone with a firm, flat brush.  First, I applied the lightest beige shade from the quad all over the lid with a fluffy eyeshadow brush.  I used a slightly stiffer brush to apply the darker beige shade to the outer third of the lid (which really doesn’t add a lot; you could skip it).  With a fluffy crease brush, I applied the burgundy shade and diffused it upwards.  To highlight the brow bone, I used the lightest beige shade against with a fluffy blending brush.  On the lower lash line, I applied Chanel Grenat.  Finally, I applied a coat of Hourglass Film Noir to lengthen and thicken lashes.

For face, I applied Chanel Perfection Lumiere with a circular foundation brush.  I blended Chanel Blush Horizon de Chanel onto cheeks with a dense blush brush and set with Guerlain Les Voilettes.  For lips, I applied Chanel Flirt.

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Look: My Christmas Makeup

I like themed makeup myself, so I felt it was only right to incorporate red and green into a look in the spirit of Christmas. One of the easiest ways to tie green and red together is by using gold, and if you want to try out a cooler-toned version of it, you could try silver. Gold is easier, just because greens tend to have subtle yellow undertones and reds easily blend to a burnished copper when they mesh with golds.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (eyeshadow primer), Inglot #418 Eyeshadow (medium-dark forest green with gold sheen), Inglot #430 Eyeshadow (deep, rich honey gold), Inglot #450 Eyeshadow (cranberry), Burberry Trench Eyeshadow (beige), Bobbi Brown Bronze/Chocolate Dual-Ended Eyeliner (bronze), Hourglass Film Noir Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (130), Illamasqua Seduce Cream Blush (plum), Guerlain Les Voilettes Mineral Powder (03)
• Lips: Giorgio Armani #602 Gloss d’Armani (semi-sheer plum), Hourglass Imagine Extreme Sheen Lipgloss (gold sheen)

For eyes, I applied a light layer of NARS Smudgeproof on the lid as an eyeshadow primer from lash line to brow bone with a firm, flat brush.  The first eyeshadow I applied was Inglot #430, which I applied to the upper two-thirds of the lid and just barely into crease with a small eyeshadow brush.  With the edge of an eyeshadow brush, I applied Inglot #418 on the lower third of the lid, and then I went back with the previous brush to soften the edge (I always prefer to blend light into dark).  With a fluffy crease brush, I applied Inglot #450 above the crease and towards the inner tear duct, following the natural shape of the crease.  Next, I softened the edge with Inglot #430 lightly blended outwards.  To highlight the brow, I applied Burberry Trench with a fluffy blending brush.   On the lower lash line, I first applied Bobbi Brown Bronze and smudged Inglot #430 below.  Finally, I applied a coat of Hourglass Film Noir to lengthen and thicken lashes.

For face, I applied Make Up For Ever HD with a circular foundation brush.  I blended Illamasqua Seduce onto cheeks with fingertips and set with Guerlain Les Voilettes.  For lips, I applied Giorgio Armani #602 mixed with Hourglass Imagine.

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Challenge: Wear Colors You’re Afraid Of

I’m actually not technically, technically afraid of any color, but I don’t usually reach for red eyeshadows because I don’t think they work well with me and take more effort than I usually can handle to work.  I’ve had the best success combining it with golds and oranges for a sunset-like eye.  I remember the first time I ever wore a pinky-red eyeshadow; my mom saw me not a minute after I had finished the look and asked if something was wrong and if I had been crying.

Is there a color you’re “afraid” of?  Maybe you can’t find a way to make it work or you really don’t think you can pull it off…

While I don’t think I look like I spent the past hour crying my eyes out, I didn’t love how it came out–the purple I picked for the lid color was too dark, and I think I’d opt for something with some shimmer to open up the eyes more (which is why I ended up adding a shimmery mauve to the inner tear duct area–there was just too much darkness on my eyes).  So, I’m still working on finding a way to wear red eyeshadow that’s not just gold/orange/red (because that combo I can do!).  I almost, almost tried green with Christmas just around the corner but held myself back!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (eyeshadow primer), Inglot #325 Eyeshadow (eggplant purple), Inglot #382 Eyeshadow (red), Inglot #450 Eyeshadow (cranberry), Inglot #420 Eyeshadow (mauve), Inglot #353 Eyeshadow (beige), Make Up For Ever #7 Aqua Liner (purple), Tarina Tarantino Glitter Mist Eyelicity Glitter Eyeliner (iridescent glitter), Hourglass Film Noir Mascara (black), Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash Mascara (black)
• Face: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (130), Le Metier de Beaute Coral Nymph Cream Blush (peach-coral), Guerlain Les Voilettes Mineral Powder (03)
• Lips: Giorgio Armani #602 Gloss d’Armani (semi-sheer plum)

For eyes, I applied a light layer of NARS Smudgeproof on the lid as an eyeshadow primer from lash line to brow bone with a firm, flat brush.  The first eyeshadow I applied was Inglot #450, and I used a fluffy crease brush to lay down the crease color to help provide a good blended background for the intense red I planned to use.  Next, I applied Inglot #325 onto the lid with a small eyeshadow brush.  With a firm, domed crease brush, I applied Inglot #382 into the crease and blended just slightly outwards so the red would also peek through with my eyes open.  Using a large eyeshadow brush, I softened the crease color with Inglot #353 and applied it to the brow bone.  To lighten the look, I applied Inglot #420 on the inner tear duct with a fluffy angled brush.  On the lower lash line, I first applied Make Up For Ever #7 and layered Tarina Tarantino Glitter Mist on top.  Finally, I applied a coat of Bare Escentuals Buxom to lengthen lashes and then thickened with Hourglass Film Noir.

For face, I applied Make Up For Ever HD with a circular foundation brush.  I blended Le Metier de Beaute Coral Nymph onto cheeks with fingertips and set with Guerlain Les Voilettes.  For lips, I applied Giorgio Armani #602.

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Look: Dreamy Warm Golds & Bronzes

This is the look I came up with using Tarina Tarantino’s Dreamy Eyeshadow Palette, which is really warm-toned. The quality is excellent, and even though the shades are standard fare, they’re still well-done.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Tarina Tarantino Dreamy Jewel Eyeshadow Palette (white gold, peach-beige, copper, bronzy brown, deep brown), Bobbi Brown Chocolate/Bronze Dual-Ended Eyeliner (bronze), Hourglass Film Noir Mascara
• Face:  Chanel Pro Lumiere Foundation (Cendre), La Prairie Cellular Treatment Loose Powder (Translucent 1), Tarte Exposed Amazonian Clay Blush (neutral plum)
• Lips:  Chanel La Somptueuse Rouge Allure Velvet (red)

For eyes, I skipped eyeshadow primer (for testing purposes), but if you prefer or need primer, lay it down prior to the eyeshadow. I applied peach-beige (center) eyeshadow on the entire lower lid with the 239, and then I gently patted the copper (top) eyeshadow on the outer third of the lid with another 239. I swept the bronzy brown (right) eyeshadow into and above the crease with the 222 and deepened the crease with the deep brown (bottom) eyeshadow in the crease with the 231. I highlighted the brow bone with the white gold (left) eyeshadow with the 217. On the lower lash line, I used Bronze eyeliner. I used one coat of Film Noir mascara on top and bottom lashes.

For face, apply Pro Lumiere all over face with the 109.  Add color to the cheeks by gently dusting Exposed near apples and blended out towards temples with the 116.  Set with Translucent 1 using the 134. For lips, apply La Somptueuse onto lips.

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Look:  Subtle Green Eyes

This was my attempt to use the new Giorgio Armani palette along with Illamasqua’s Beguile pigment (it really started because of Beguile, though).

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Primer (primer), Illamasqua Beguile Pure Pigment (iridescent glitter), Giorgio Armani #1 Jacquard Eyeshadow Palette (light green, dark green, beige), Illamasqua Havoc Precision Ink Liner (burgundy), shu uemura Glitter Mascara (glitter), Hourglass Film Noir Mascara
• Face:  Make Up For Ever Lift Foundation, Guerlain Les Violettes Mineral Powder (03), shu uemura Rouge Luster Lustrous Glow Powder (shimmering pink)
• Lips:  shu uemura Rouge Luster Rouge Unlimited (shimmery beige-rose)

For eyes, start by laying down your eyeshadow primer all over the lid and until the brow.  Apply Beguile eyeshadow on the lid with the 239 (dampened with mixing medium).  In the crease, gently brush the lighter green eyeshadow with the 222 and diffuse above the crease.  Apply the darker green eyeshadow in the inner crease with the 239.  Use Havoc eyeliner on the lower lash line and layer Beguile on top.  Finish lashes with Film Noir mascara and one coat of Glitter mascara.

For face, apply Lift all over face with the 193.  Add color to the cheeks by gently dusting Rouge Luster  near apples and blended out towards temples with the 116.  Set with Les Violettes with the 134.

For lips, apply Rouge Luster onto lips.

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