
Smoky Eyes: Tarnished Gold
A tarnished gold, smoky eye… for school? Sure, why not! Let’s go with that. Wanted to post this before I ran off to class in a few… that is, if I don’t fall asleep before it’s time to go! Must. Press. On!
By the way, anyone else going to the Spring Colour Forecast unveiling party at MAC @ Valley Fair (in California) on February 2nd? I’ll be there at 7pm, so if you see me, say hi
You will need the following…
- Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion (eyeshadow base), Urban Decay Wonderland (Maui Wowie) Eyeshadow (tarnished gold), Urban Decay Mushroom Eyeshadow (brown-gray), Urban Decay Mad Hatter (Twice Baked) Eyeshadow (dark brown), Urban Decay Jabberwocky (Oil Slick) Eyeshadow (sparkly black), MAC Femme-fi Eyeshadow (neutral highlighter), Urban Decay Stash 24/7 Liner (antique gold), Urban Decay Honey 24/7 Liner (gold), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
- Face: Kiehl’s Tinted Moisturizer (Medium)
- Cheeks: Chanel In Love Blush (soft warm pink), Guerlain Beige Lumineux Meteorite Powder (fleshy beige highlighter)
- Lips: Guerlain Beige Mousseline (#340) KissKiss Strass Lipstick (sparkling beige), Guerlain Champagne Pearl (#847) KissKiss Gloss (sheer beige)
- 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 Primer Potion as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Wonderland eyeshadow on the inner half of the eyelid. Next, apply Mushroom eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Mushroom eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Lightly blend Mad Hatter eyeshadow, with the 239, on the outer corner and lid. To deepen the crease, apply Jabberwocky eyeshadow with the 226 into the crease. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Femme-fi eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Stash eyeliner on the lower lash line and Honey liner on the lower water line. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.
For cheeks, apply In Love blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116. Highlight cheeks with a light dusting of Beige Lumineux Meteorite Powder with the 165.
For lips, apply Beige Mousseline lipstick first, and then layer Champagne Pearl lipgloss for a complementing lip.

Bright Makeup: Lotsa Teals
Here’s a quick look I did using two of the new Benefit eyeshadows, plus one of Urban Decay’s new Stardust eyeshadows (to be reviewed in full later). Really loving the way Dolce & Gabbana Nude Blush looks, though. Pain in the behind to photograph a swatch of it, but boy is it gorgeous on.
Is it really only Tuesday? I feel like it should be Friday. Not that I want time to go by that quickly, but it’s been a tiring week… and it’s only Tuesday!
You will need the following…
- Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot (neutral beige base), MAC Teal Pigment (teal), Benefit Shamrocker Eyeshadow (mint), Benefit Mermaid Eyeshadow (green-teal with gold), Urban Decay Atmosphere Eyeshadow (teal), MAC Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow (green-gold), MAC Femme-fi Eyeshadow (neutral highlighter), Urban Decay Binge 24/7 Liner (dark blue), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
- Face: Bobbi Brown Extra Tinted Moisturizing Balm (Light-to-Medium Tint)
- Cheeks: Dolce & Gabbana Nude Blush (soft beige-pink)
- Lips: Cle de Peau #26 Lipstick (coral), Benefit Zone Out Lip Gloss (sheer gold)
- 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. With the 239 and water-based mixing medium (or water), apply Teal pigment all over the lid area. Using the 239, apply Shamrocker eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply Mermaid eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Atmosphere eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Lightly blend Atmosphere eyeshadow, with the 239, on the outer corner and lid. 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. Bring everything together by applying Binge eyeliner on the lower lash line and Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow lightly patted below the lower lash line with the 219 brush. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.
For cheeks, apply Nude blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.
For lips, apply #26 lipstick first, and then layer Zone Out lipgloss for a complementing lip.

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…
- Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot (neutral beige base), (fuchsia-purple), MAC Stars ‘n Rockets EyeshadowMAC Lucky Green Eyeshadow (medium spring-y green), MAC Moon’s Reflection Eyeshadow (gray blue), MAC Electric Eel Eyeshadow (electric blue), MAC Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow (green-toned gold), MAC Beautiful Iris Eyeshadow (iridescent purple), MAC Femme-fi Eyeshadow (neutral highlighter), MAC Blue Herizon Liquidlast Liner (blue), Urban Decay Electric 24/7 Liner (blue-teal), Chanel Exceptionnel Mascara (black)
- Cheeks: Benefit Sugarbomb (peachy-pink)
- Lips: MAC Hue Lipstick (peachy nude), MAC Lychee Luxe Lipglass (coral)
- Brushes: 217 (blending brush), 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 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.

Colorful Makeup: Green, Teal, & Blue
I envisioned a green, teal, and blue combination, and I really went from there for this look. I’m also trying to work on using permanent or recently released products in my looks, so, even though it was unplanned and totally coincidental, this look is very much like the theme of Build-a-Quad: “The Tropics.”
Happy Monday! I usually love Mondays, but it’s my first day back at school since I’ve been on winter break for the past two weeks… sigh. It’s so hard to get back into the swing of things, you know? Boo school!
You will need the following…
- Eyes: MAC Teal Pigment (teal base), MAC Juxt Eyeshadow (soft spring-y green), MAC Shimmermoss Eyeshadow (teal), MAC Freshwater Eyeshadow (blue), MAC Deep Truth Eyeshadow (dark blue), MAC Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow (green-toned gold), MAC Femme-fi Eyeshadow (neutral highlighter), Urban Decay El Dorado 24/7 Liner (gold), Chanel Exceptionnel Mascara (black)
- Face: Kiehl’s Tinted Moisturizer (medium)
- Cheeks: Benefit Sugarbomb Powder (peachy-pink)
- Lips: MAC Freckletone Lipstick (peach-toned nude), NARS Orgasm Lipgloss (sheer peachy-pink shimmer)
- Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 217 (fluffy blending brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
- Substitutes: Femme-fi = Shroom
For eyes, start by putting a drop of water-based mixing medium (or water) on your brush, then apply Teal pigment as your eyeshadow base all over the lid with the 249. Using the 239, apply Juxt eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply Shimmermoss eyeeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Freshwater eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Next, define the crease by applying Deep Truth eyeshadow with the 226. Lightly tap and brush Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. With the 217, gently apply Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow above the innerlid and towards the brow bone. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Femme-fi eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying El Dorado Liner on the lower lash line and 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 Freckletone lipstick first, and then layer Orgasm lipgloss for a glossy lip look.

New Year’s Eve Makeup: Golden Berry
I wanted something simple but still festive for New Year’s Eve, so I went with a modified version of this look, just to make it a little softer. I thought I’d also try using Cuddle shadestick under a lot of frost-finish shadows while I was at it, too, so I managed to squeeze that into the look! I was already running late, and the boyfriend had that look on his face (you know, the one that says “If you spend more than fifteen minutes on your makeup, I’m leaving without you!“), so I didn’t want to experiment too much!
You will need the following…
- Eyes: MAC Cuddle Shadestick (soft gold base), MAC Goldmine Eyeshadow (gold), MAC Gleam Eyeshadow (golden peach), MAC Cranberry Eyeshadow (berry), MAC Fig. 1 Eyeshadow (eggplant), MAC Femme-fi Eyeshadow (neutral highlighter),
Urban Decay El Dorado 24/7 Liner (gold), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
- Cheeks: Benefit Sugarbomb Powder (peachy-pink)
- Lips: Guerlain Gems Rouge G Lipstick (shimmery coral), Chanel Maline Glossimer (golden bronze)
- 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: Cuddle = Baselight
For eyes, start by applying Cuddle shadestick as your eyeshadow base all over the lid with the 249, then even out with the 217. Using the 239, apply Goldmine eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply Gleam eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Cranberry eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Next, define the crease by applying Fig. 1 eyeshadow with the 226. Lightly tap and brush Gleam eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Femme-fi eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying El Dorado Liner on the lower lash line, and then sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.
For cheeks, apply Sugarbomb to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 129.
For lips, apply Gems lipstick first, and then layer Maline glossimer for a pretty pinky-coral lip look.

I mentioned last look that the next one would definitely have some color, and I’d say this one certainly does!
I thought I’d show a really cool, pale pink kind of lip with this look (I’m a bit warm-toned for it, IMO, but my boyfriend adores the color — go figure), but also how a brighter pink lip can also work (even though it is heavier). That’s what’s so fun about makeup: you can experiment and if you don’t like it, you can change it, remove it, or play around with it.
If I had planned to wear this look out, I likely would have gone for something in-between — maybe Sweetie lipstick and Crystal Rose lipglass. I just thought it’d be cool to show you how much lip color can play a role in the overall look–plus a fun cool-toned lip combo for my cool-toned ladies (and gents!).
You will need the following…
- Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), MAC Pink Pearl Pigment (fuchsia-pink duochrome), MAC Seedy Pearl Eyeshadow (soft pinky-purple), MAC Beautiful Iris Eyeshadow (cool-toned medium purple), MAC Stars ‘n Rockets Eyeshadow (fuchsia-pink duochrome), MAC Fig. 1 Eyeshadow (eggplant), MAC Passionate Eyeshadow (matte deep pink), MAC Femme-fi Eyeshadow (neutral highlighter), Urban Decay Ransom 24/7 Liner (purple), MAC Penultimate Eyeliner (black), MAC Studio Fix Mascara (black)
- Cheeks: MAC Petalpoint Blush (purple-pink), Dior Rose Diamond Skin Shimmer (pink)
- Lips: MAC Saint Germain Lipstick (pink-purple), MAC Icescape Lipglass (icy pink), MAC Style Minx Lipglass (deep hot 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: Femme-fi = Shroom; Petalpoint = Well-Dressed + Plum Foolery; Saint Germain = Snob; Icescape = Luminary
Directions: Start by applying Soft Ochre paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the lid and brow area with the 249. Put one drop of MAC Water-Based Mixing Medium onto a brush like the 239, and then apply Pink Pearl pigment on the lid itself as a colored base. Using the 239, apply Seedy Pearl eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply Beautiful Iris eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Stars n’ Rockets eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Next, define the crease by applying Fig. 1 eyeshadow with the 226. Add more depth to crease by gently tapping Passionate eyeshadow into the lower crease, just below Fig. 1. Lightly tap and brush Beautiful Iris eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Femme-fi eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Urban Decay Ransom Liner on the lower lash line, blended with Beautiful Iris eyeshadow applied with the 219. Apply Penultimate eyeliner on the upper lash line, and then sweeping lashes with Studio Fix mascara.
For cheeks, apply Petalpoint blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116 and highlight cheekbones with Rose Diamond Skin Shimmer with the 165.
For lips, apply Saint Germain lipstick first, then layer over Icescape lipglass for a pale lip. For more color, try Style Minx lipglass on top.
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