Look: LORAC Private Affair

I just finished up testing LORAC’s Private Affair palette (review coming soon), and this is a finished look I did using the palette. The burgundy shade is so disappointing, because it looks so lush and pigmented when swatched and when initially patted on, but it fades away so quickly to this dirty mauve pink. More on all that soon, I promise!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (neutral eyeshadow base), LORAC Private Affair Palette (first shade — champagne, fourth shade — metallic taupe; fifth shade — burgundy; sixth shade — blackened purple), Make Up For Ever #4L Aqua Eyes (plum), Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara (Rouge Noir)
• Face: NARS Sheer Glow Foundation (Punjab), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
• Cheeks: Rock & Republic Lust Blush (dirty red-pink)
• Lips: Vincent Longo Aurelia Lipgloss (plum)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush)

For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply the taupe eyeshadow on the inner half of the lid and pull upwards along the inner crease. Lightly blend the burgundy eyeshadow on outer half of the lid with the 239. Next, apply the blackened purple eyeshadow into the crease with the 226, lightly blending onto the outer lid. Blend the champagne eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying #4L aqua eyes on the lower lash line. Finish by sweeping lashes with Inimitable Intense mascara.

For cheeks, apply Lust blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Aurelia lipgloss for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

NARS Look: Mangrove & Daphne

I liked this in close-ups, but I don’t like it so much with my skin tone overall.  I think someone paler than me could really rock this, though!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (neutral eyeshadow base), NARS Mangrove Eyeshadow (mustard yellow), NARS Rajasthan Eyeshadow (golden taupe/dark green-blue), NARS Daphne Eyeshadow (deep purple), Burberry Trench Eyeshadow (highlighter), Make Up For Ever #11L Aqua Eyes (violet), Lancome Precious Cells Mascara (black)
• Face: NARS Sheer Matte Foundation (Punjab), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
• Cheeks: NARS Douceur Blush (rosy brown)
• Lips: MAC Liquid Lurex Dazzle Lipstick (sheer green-gold), MAC Hi-Falutin’ Dazzleglass (pink melon)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Liquid Lurex = Tanarama (not a great dupe), Hi-Falutin’ = Enchantress

For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Mangrove eyeshadow on the inner third of the lid and pull upwards along the inner crease. Lightly blend Rajasthan (taupe) eyeshadow on the middle of the lid blended to the outer lid with the 239. Next, apply Daphne  eyeshadow into the crease with the 226, lightly blending onto the outer lid. Blend Trench eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying #11L eyeliner on the lower lash line. Finish by sweeping lashes with Precious Cells mascara.

For cheeks, apply Douceur blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Liquid Lurex lipstick first, and then layer Hi-falutin’ dazzleglass for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

WHY do you look unblended? HM? Is it to spite me??? How rude!

NARS Look:  Rajasthan Eyeshadow Duo

I actually really LOVED how everything came together.  I loved how the eyeshadows looked layered over the bright teal base.  I also loved the way the glitter flecks in Palladium came through in a very subtle way.  Everything was fabulous until about fifteen minutes later when I noticed that the base was not holding up.  There was noticeable smearing/melting.  I’ll have to try Palladium again over an eyeshadow base, but in the past, the Soft Touch pencils haven’t creased on me so long as they’ve been set with powder… not the case here, though.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Palladium Soft Touch Pencil (teal), NARS Mangrove Eyeshadow (mustard-chartreuse), NARS Rajasthan Eyeshadow (golden taupe/dark green-blue), Burberry Trench Eyeshadow (highlighter), CoverGirl Green Glow LiquilineBlast (bright chartreuse green), Lancome Precious Cells Mascara (black)
• Face: NARS Sheer Matte Foundation (Punjab), Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder (translucent)
• Cheeks: Korres #15 Natural Blush (soft brown)
• Lips: MAC Smash Hit Dazzle Lipstick (sheer glittery white-gold), Burberry Cameo Lip Gloss (muted melon-pink)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: Smash Hit = Tanarama

For eyes, start by applying Palladium as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Mangrove eyeshadow on the inner third of the lid and pull upwards along the inner crease. Lightly blend Rajasthan (taupe) eyeshadow on the middle of the lid blended to the outer lid with the 239. Next, apply Rajasthan (dark blue) eyeshadow into the crease with the 226, lightly blending onto the outer lid. Blend Trench eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Green Glow eyeliner on the lower lash line. Finish by sweeping lashes with Precious Cells mascara.

For cheeks, apply #15 blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Smash Hit lipstick first, and then layer Cameo lip gloss for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!