Valentine’s Day Makeup: Soft Peach & Plum

I thought I’d do a look using NARS Kuala Lumpur, a new eyeshadow duo for spring–review coming soon–which went okay. I had to use this duo wet in order to get the intensity I wanted. The cheeks and lips are still goin’ strong with MAC Spring Colour Forecast, so never fear!

Oh, man, I really wanted to add more to the crease.  I wanted some more depth, more darkness… just MORE!  But I held myself back.  I told myself, “Go softer, let’s try it!”

You will need the following…

• Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot (neutral beige base), NARS Kuala Lumpur Eyeshadow Duo (soft melon/plum burgundy), NARS Mediteranee Eyeshadow Duo (soft gold), Urban Decay 1999 24/7 Liner (burgundy), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Kiehl’s Tinted Moisturizer (Medium)
• Cheeks: MAC Vintage Grape Blush Ombre (dirty plum)
• Lips: MAC Radicchio Lipstick (pinky plum), MAC Almondine Lipglass (frosty white-gold) (sheer gold)
• Brushes: 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes:  Try MAC Motif, MAC Cranberry, MAC Ricepaper

For eyes, start by applying Soft Ochre paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using a dampened 239, apply Kuala Lumpur eyeshadow (the peach side) all over the lid. Next, apply Kuala Lumpur eyeshadow (the plum side) on the outer third of the eyelid and lightly blend into the outer crease. Lightly tap and brush Kuala Lumpur eyeshadow (the peach side) directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Meditaranee eyeshadow (the golden side) as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying 1999 eyeliner on the lower lash line and sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Vintage Grape blush ombre to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Radicchio lipstick first, and then layer Almondine lipglass for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

Burnished Neutrals: Coppers and Browns

I gotta tell you, this look was a pain in the behind to photograph. You just can’t see as much color variation in the close-up photos as you typically can. I took photos in a different spot in my house than I normally do (on the floor, ha), so I won’t be doing that again in case that alone was it! (I, as silly as I can be, removed my makeup prior to uploading photos to ensure everything was photographed right and tight!) At least, though, the full face photos turned out and show the look the way it should  

Happy Friday! What are your Friday plans?  The boyfriend and I are celebrating Valentine’s Day early (we always do it early!) at my very favorite steakhouse.  I’m already salivating over what’s to come, LOL!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion (eyeshadow base), Urban Decay Drink Me, Eat Me (Sin) Eyeshadow (champagne pink), Urban Decay Muchness (X) Eyeshadow (melon), Urban Decay Queen (Last Call) Eyeshadow (burgundy), Urban Decay Mushroom Eyeshadow (taupe brown), MAC Shroom Eyeshadow (neutral highlighter), Urban Decay 1999 24/7 Liner (dark red-purple), Urban Decay Honey 24/7 Liner (gold), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face: Korres Tinted Moisturizer (Honey)
• Cheeks: Dolce & Gabbana Peach Blush (soft beige-pink)
• Lips: Guerlain Orange Sequin (#342) KissKiss Strass Lipstick (coral-brown), Le Metier de Beaute Papaya Creme Lipgloss (sheer gold)
• Brushes: 226 (fluffy 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 Drink Me, Eat Me eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply Muchness eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Queen eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Add more depth to the crease by applying Mushroom eyeshadow with the 226. Lightly blend Mushroom eyeshadow, with the 239, on the outer corner and lid. Lightly tap and brush Muchness eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Shroom eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying 1999 eyeliner on the lower lash line and Honey liner on the lower water line. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

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

For lips, apply Orange Sequin lipstick first, and then layer Papaya Creme lipgloss for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

Winter-into-Spring Blossoms with Guerlain Jeu d’Ombrelles

Happy Friday, everyone! This is a look using the two new, limited edition products from Guerlain’s Cherry Blossom Collection: Jeu d’Ombrelles Eyeshadow Quad and Cherry Blossom Blush.

Surprisingly, the eyeshadow quad and blush don’t go together quite as much as I thought they would–the blush is warmer than the quad, which is why they require more work to wear simultaneously.  I think I managed to get them to work together for the most part, but they didn’t go together as easily as I anticipated.

You will need the following…

• Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre paint pot (neutral beige base), Guerlain Jeu d’Ombrelles Eyeshadow Quad (white, pink, medium purple, dark purple), Urban Decay 1999 24/7 Liner (burgundy), Lancome Plum Tease Artliner (plum), Chanel Exceptionnel Mascara (black)
• Cheeks: Guerlain Cherry Blossom Blush (peachy-pink)
• Lips: MAC Prive Lipstick (soft pink), MAC Preciousness Lipgloss (icy 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: MAC dupes for Guerlain Jeu d’Ombrelles Eyeshadow Quad:  Vanilla, Sweet Lust, Fig. 1, Shadowy Lady; Prive = Angel; Preciousness = Luminary

Directions

For eyes, start by applying MAC Soft Ochre paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the lid with the 249. Using the 239, apply Guerlain Jeu d’Ombrelles Eyeshadow Quad (pink) on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply Guerlain Jeu d’Ombrelles Eyeshadow Quad (medium purple) on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Guerlain Jeu d’Ombrelles Eyeshadow Quad (dark purple) with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Next, define the crease by applying Guerlain Jeu d’Ombrelles Eyeshadow Quad (dark purple) with the 226. Lightly tap and brush Guerlain Jeu d’Ombrelles Eyeshadow Quad (pink) directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Guerlain Jeu d’Ombrelles Eyeshadow Quad (white) as a highlighter on the brow bone.  Bring everything together by applying Urban Decay 1999 Liner on the lower lash line, and gently tap Guerlain Jeu d’Ombrelles Eyeshadow Quad (pink) on the lower lash line with the 219.   Finish by applying Lancome Plum Tease Artliner on upper lash line with the 208, and then sweeping lashes with Chanel Exceptionnel mascara (black).

For cheeks, apply Guerlain Cherry Blossom Blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 129.

For lips, apply MAC Prive Lipstick first, and then layer MAC Preciousness Lipgloss for a glossy sheen.

Check out more photos!

Guerlain Jeu d’Ombrelles Eyeshadow Quad: white, dark purple, pink, medium purple