Valentine’s Day Makeup: It’s the New Pink

Last night, I asked the late night Twitter crowd if I should do a colorful or natural look — I was originally thinking about doing something soft and natural, but colorful was the voice of the majority, so I ran with it. I thought about it, and I decided I should do some pinks, and then I started feeling like something Barbie might wear, you know, if she was obsessed with makeup and wore color up to her brows…

Since it’s always fun try out different lips, I went with two extremes: hot fuchsia pink and cool-toned pink-purple. I think what you pair it with, lips-wise, is really something that’s about what you feel comfortable in and if it’s appropriate for the occasion. I’d totally wear the hot pink lips out at night — don’t care if it doesn’t follow makeup rules! To tone it down, go for something in-between — light enough so it doesn’t compete with the eyes, but not so light that it washes you out. My go-to for a look like this is Sweetie lipstick topped with Luminary lustreglass, but I wasn’t trying to be subtle with this look, so there ya go. Best part about makeup? It’s fun! Second best part? It washes off

I’m pretty sure I totally rocked this kind of look one Valentine’s Day, so let’s go with that.  I’m almost positive I did the ultra bright, ultra fuchsia, and totally unforgiving hot pink lip on a Valentine’s Day, at least.  You could totally put some awesome false lashes on for even more dramatic eye, too!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot (neutral beige base), (opalescent white-pink), MAC Pink Opal PigmentMAC Seedy Pearl Eyeshadow (pinky-white), MAC Stars ‘n Rockets Eyeshadow (fuchsia-purple), MAC Fig. 1 Eyeshadow (eggplant), MAC Passionate Eyeshadow (medium-deep pink), MAC Penultimate Eyeliner (black), Urban Decay Lust 24/7 Liner (purple), Chanel Exceptionnel Mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Benefit Sugarbomb Powder (peachy-pink) / Illamasqua Kate Blush (cool-toned pink)
• Lips: MAC Show Orchid Lipstick (PRO) (fuchsia-purple), MAC Luminary Lustreglass (opalescent) / MAC Saint Germain Lipstick (cool-toned pink-purple), MAC Luminary Lustreglass (opalescent)
• 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: Saint Germain = Snob

For eyes, start by applying Soft Ochre paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the lid with the 249. Put one or two drops of water-based mixing medium (or water) on your 239, and then apply Pink Opal pigment on the lid, going just above the crease. Using the 239, apply Seedy Pearl eyeshadow on the lower lid. Next, apply Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow on the outer third of the eyelid and lightly blend with crease. Darken the outer third of the lid with Passionate 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 Seedy Pearl eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Seedy Pearl eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Lust Liner on the lower lash line and Penultimate eyeliner on the upper lash line, and then sweeping lashes with Exceptionnel mascara.

For cheeks, apply Benefit Sugarbomb to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116 for a warmer cheek; try Illamasqua Kate for a cooler pink cheek.

For lips, apply Show Orchid lipstick first, and then layer Luminary lustreglass for a bolder lip look. For a paler lip look, try Saint Germain lipstick as a base, and then top with Luminary lustreglass.

Check out more photos!

PINK LIPS MAKE YA FEEL SEXYYYYY!

Pucker Up: Shimmery Purple Lips

I wanted to use Night Violet mattene, which is an up and coming shade MAC Style Black, slated for release on September 24th. Night Violet has come out previously (which is why/how I have it). I then wanted to see if Violetta lipstick would give it a cool, brighter purple sheen (not really–the camera shows more of this effect than is visible in person, to be certain). Since Violetta didn’t quite kick it up a notch, I added Pink Opal pigment to the center of the lip (just patted on), which gave it a funky iridescence. I’m about a glossy lip, so I couldn’t resist adding Nice Kitty lipglass on top (which is mostly shimmer on me, not a lot of color).

In real life, the lips looked rather solid-colored, no real demarcation between colors, but there was just an extra sheen towards the center of the upper and lower lips and where they met. I liked it, but I’d probably recommend omitting Violetta or Night Violet — either will work great as a base; Violetta for a very bright look, Night Violet for a deeper, darker look (more like this one).

See the progression…

Night Violet Mattene

Violetta Lipstick layered on top

Pink Opal pigment layered on the center

Nice Kitty Lipglass layered all over

Night Violet mattene, Violetta lipstick, Pink Opal pigment, Nice Kitty lipglass

This isn’t a full look — just the eyes. I was testing out some settings and lenses with my camera, so I threw this on really quickly to get an idea of how colors and makeup were going to show up

What’s everyone got going on for the weekend? Me, I’m spending it working on our Top Secret Temptalia Project

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), Pink Opal pigment (white-pink), Lotusland eyeshadow (light purple), Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow (fuchsia-purple), Sketch eyeshadow (burgundy), Rite of Spring eyeshdaow (white-pink), Urban Decay Ransom 24/7 Liner (purple), Plushlash mascara (black)
• Brushes: 266 (firm, angled brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 214 (smudge brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush)
• Substitutes: Lotusland = Parfait Amour + Digit; Rite of Spring = Pink Opal

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. With the 239, apply Pink Opal pigment with water-based mixing medium on the lower lid. On the inner lid, pack Lotusland eyeshadow on using the 239. Apply Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow to the middle and outer portions of the lid. Darken crease with Stars ‘n Rockets eyeshadow using the 226, then deepen with Sketch eyeshadow with the 219. Sweep Rite of Spring eyeshadow underneath the brow bone to highlight. Finish with Urban Decay Ransom Liner on lower lash line, and Plushlash mascara on lashes.

Check out more photos!

8 Must-Have MAC (Consumer) Pigments

About the Temptalia Must-Haves Series
A series of posts showcasing must-have products from MAC Cosmetics’ permanent line of products. Selections are based on quality, universality, uniqueness amongst the line, and the like. Limited edition shades are deliberately excluded to make buying easier. Readers’ comments act as a supplement to these lists of their favorites and must-haves. You can find the entire series here.

Old Gold pigment is a stunning combination of yellowed green and green-gold mixed together. It’s an interesting mix of green and gold with a little bit of brown. This is a particularly good pigment for those with warmer tones in their skin.

Teal pigment is exactly as it is named — teal. It’s pigmented, smooth, and looks rich on eyes.

Golden Lemon pigment is a bright pop of yellow gold with lots of frost in its finish. It’s not necessarily a product for those who don’t love shimmer/frost in their eye products, but it is one of the best bases to use for gold, orange, and red eyeshadows.

Golden Olive pigment is a gorgeous soft, olive green. It’s smooth in texture, rich in color pay off, and feels soft. If you wear green eyeshdaow often, tihs is an absolute must.

See four more must-have pigments!

Melon pigment is a sunny, peachy-pink combination that can be worn alone, as a base, or to highlight.

Pink Opal pigment is perfect for highlighting and accenting the face, lips, or eyes. It’s one of the most versatile pigment shades, and definitely a favorite of mine.

Violet pigment is a beautiful shade of rich, medium-to-dark purple. It’s not too cool, not too warm–almost neutral–so it is great for all skin tones. Like the other pigments on this list, the product is pigmented and smooth to the touch.]

Vanilla or Naked pigments are superb highlighter/neutral shades to have in your pigment collection. Vanilla tends to work better on cooler skin tones, while Naked works on all skin tones, but it can lean just a touch warm.

Note: This list only considers consumer pigments, so it does not include PRO-only pigments. (There is a separate list for PRO-only pigments.)

What are your favorite pigments?

I used Pink Opal pigment on lid, Vex eyeshadow on inner lid, Nanogold eyeshadow on middle of lid, Neutral Pink eyeshadow on middle of lid, Parfait Amour eyeshadow on outer lid and crease, Nanogold eyeshadow above crease, Hush eyeshadow on brow, and Feline kohl power on lower lash line. I wore Petalpoint blush with Micro Pink beauty powder to highlight. I had Pomposity lipstick with Backlit 3D glass and Tres Cher! lipglass on my lips.

I used Blacktrack fluidline all over lid, Carbon eyeshadow all over lid, Vex eyeshadow above crease and on brow, Feline kohl power on lower lash line, and Pink Opal pigment on lower lash line. I wore Don’t Be Shy blush with Sculpt sculpting powder to contour and Micro Pink beauty powder to highlight. I had Strawberry Blonde lipstick with Lull lipglass.