laura mercier loose setting powder

Sultry Sunset: All About Funbathing!

Saturday, May 29th, 2010

Sultry Sunset: All About Funbathing!

I was completely determined to use Funbathing lipstick, since it’s the only To the Beach lipstick I hadn’t yet used in an actual look. I already had a good idea of what I wanted to do — kind of a smoky berry/burgundy eye — and this is kind of ended up. I didn’t intend for the inner corner to be quite as orange-yellow, but I suppose it works!

May your Saturday be filled with enjoyment! :)

You will need the following…

For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Goldmine eyeshadow on the inner third of the lid and pull upwards along the inner crease. Lightly blend Free Love eyeshadow on the middle of the lid with the 239. Next, apply Star Violet eyeshadow into the crease with the 226, lightly blending onto the outer lid. Define the crease with Vibrant Grape eyeshadow and the 226. Blend Nylon eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying #11 Aqua Cream on the lower lash line. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Hipness blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116, then lightly pat Get-Away Bronze blush on the cheekbones.

For lips, apply Funbathing lipstick first, and then layer Easy Lounger lipglass for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos! Continue reading →

Summer Makeup: Go Blue or Go Home!

Friday, May 28th, 2010

Summer Makeup: Go Blue or Go Home!

Thank goodness it’s Friday! :)   I am a big fan of blue eyeshadow, and I really do think everyone should try a totally, full-on blue (I totally wanted to say Bang On Blue!) look at least once in their lifetime, even if they never wear it outside of the house.

I will say a couple things about this look:  Atlantic Blue makes this look.  Haight gets lost in it.  I listed it, because I did use it, but I don’t think you need it to recreate this look at all.  You could also go with a cooler, pinker blush — sometimes all the coolness on my naturally warmer skin tone can be odd, so I wanted to try it with a bronzey cheek instead.  I also went very heavy on mascara, since I wasn’t going to apply false lashes, to make my lashes visible against the blue.

You will need the following…

For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Aquarius eyeshadow on the inner half of the lid and pull upwards along the inner crease. Lightly blend Dashiki eyeshadow on the outer half of the lid with the 239. Next, apply Haight eyeshadow into the crease with the 226, lightly blending outwards and upwards to fade to the brow bone. Define the crease with Atlantic Blue eyeshadow and the 226.  Blend Femme-fi eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying #7L eyeliner on the lower lash line and blending Aquarius eyeshadow underneath. Line the upper lash line with Blue Herizon liquidlast liner applied with the 208; then pat Electric Eel eyeshadow on top to lighten. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Get-Away Bronze blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

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

Check out more photos! Continue reading →

Summer Makeup: Molten Lava Goes To the Beach

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

Summer Makeup: Molten Lava Goes To the Beach

Happy Thursday, everyone! :) I hope everyone’s been having a fantastic week — almost to the weekend (a long one, if you’re in the U.S., too!).  I totally went to my comfort zone with this look — metallic, bronzy, coppery shades.  I can’t remember if I’ve done a look like this recently, but I don’t think I’ve done it usually mostly permanent eyeshadows!  I snuck some To the Beach products in there, in honor of the official launch.

You will need the following…

For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof 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, then lightly layer with Goldmine eyeshadow and blend upwards into the tearduct. Lightly blend Firecracker eyeshadow on the outer half of the lid with the 239. Next, apply Bronze eyeshadow into the crease with the 226, lightly blending outwards and upwards to fade to the brow bone. With the 239, apply Amber Lights 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 Lucky eyeliner on the lower lash line and Black Black pencil on the lower waterline.  Line the upper lash line with Rich Ground fluidline applied with the 208; then pat Goldmine eyeshadow on top to lighten.  Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Get-Away Bronze blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Thrills lipstick first, and then layer Easy Lounger lipglass for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos! Continue reading →

Five Minute Looks: Green & Greener

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

Five Minute Looks: Green & Greener

I was in a rush yesterday, but I wanted to play with some new makeup–I was desperate to do a look with YSL’s Slate Green. The nearest to it was MAC’s Sweet & Punchy and my new Make Up Forever Aqua Creams… and thus, this look was created! Lashes are a lil’ funky, because I applied Barelash mascara on ‘em about an hour prior.

You will need the following…

For eyes, start by applying #13 aqua cream as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Sweet & Punchy eyeshadow on the lower lid. Next, apply #5 Slate Green eyeshadow into the crease with the 226, lightly blending outwards and onto the outer lid. Blend Grain eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Black Black pencil on the lower lash line. Finish by sweeping lashes with Opulash mascara.

For cheeks, apply #5 aqua cream to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 130.

For lips, apply #5 aqua cream first, and then layer Satin Peach ultra gloss for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos! Continue reading →

Korres Look: Greens & Coral

Monday, May 24th, 2010

Korres Look: Green & Coral for Spring

I did this look using some of Korres’ highlighted products for summer — #42 Eyeshadow (a beautiful summery green) and #45 Coral Lipstick (a moisturizing orange-coral with a glossy sheen). I also used several other Korres products to bring it all together, but this was the first time I’ve really done a full look using just Korres products. I loved the blendability of the eyeshadows–smooth, pigmented, and easy to use–and the coverage of the Wild Rose foundation was a nice and buildable.

As you can tell, I was test-driving quite a few products in this look — the eyeshadows, eyeliner, mascara, blush, and foundation!

You will need the following…

For eyes, start by applying Stay Don’t Stray as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply #44 eyeshadow on the lower lid. Apply #42 Eyeshadow on the middle of the lid with the 239 brush. Next, apply #84 eyeshadow into the crease with the 226, lightly blending outwards and onto the outer lid. Blend Vanilla eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying #12 eyeliner on the lower lash line. Finish by sweeping lashes with Abysinnia mascara.

For cheeks, apply #44 Coral blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply #45 Coral lipstick first, and then layer #33 Nude lipgloss for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos! Continue reading →

MAC To the Beach Look: Gold & Green

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

MAC To the Beach Look: Gold & Green

I had ten minutes to do my makeup from start to finish, and this is what I ended up with! I’m pretty satisfied with the results — I went with a combo that I’m sure I’ve done before, but I used some of the newer MAC To the Beach shades.  As suspected, though, Get-Away Bronze looks better in person than in photographs!  Also, a note to those who own Going Bananas eyeshadow–use that instead of the Nylon/Bright Sunshine combo I did–’cause that’s really all I was trying to dupe!

The whole look felt so summery, despite the weather being all gloom and doom this afternoon, but I always seem to enjoy more summer-inspired looks myself.  Maybe ’cause they’re warmer!  (By the way, what’s up Bay Area weather?  It was beautiful this morning… rainy this afternoon!)

P.S. — Thanks for all the Mellan love! He’s been strutting around the house all day saying what a stud he is.  Anyway, it’s nice to know that I can share some of the bajillion photos I take of him with all of you from time to time :)

You will need the following…

For eyes, start by applying Eden primer potion as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Nylon eyeshadow on the inner third of the lid, and then overlay with Bright Sunshine eyeshadow to give a pale yellow effect. Next, apply Sweet & Punchy eyeshadow with the 239 to the outer two-thirds of the lid. With the 226, apply Humid eyeshadow into the crease with the 226, lightly blending outwards and upwards to fade to the brow bone. Blend Nylon eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Rosemary & Thyme eye kohl on the lower lash line. Finish by sweeping lashes with Supernova mascara.

For cheeks, apply Get-Away Bronze blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Thrills lipstick first, and then layer Flurry of Fun lipglass for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos! Continue reading →