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Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Day To Night: 2-in-1 Eye Tutorial


The Looks...



Neutral Eye


Dramatic Eye


Check out my full face and dramatic eye look in my Makeup Daily 4/11/2013 post

OK, one more time...Laura Mercier Baked Eye Colour in Black Karat! This baked shadow has been in several of my posts recently because of its versatility. Its a beautiful shade marbled with green, black, and gold. When applied dry, this shadow provides a sheer wash of subtle shimmer to the eye that is gorgeous for everyday wear. When applied wet, this shadow gives a striking metallic finish to the eye that I love for a night out.

For this tutorial I'm going to outline the steps I take and the products I use to transition my makeup from a natural, everyday eye look to a sparkly, dramatic night out look.
 
Though I am featuring the Laura Mercier Baked Eye Colour in this tutorial, these techniques can be used with any baked eye products to achieve these same effects!

The Products...



Clockwise From Left:

Laura Mercier Baked Eye Colour Wet/Dry in Black Karat
Milani Powder Eyeshadow in #01 White Lie
Maybelline The Rocket Volum' Express Mascara in Blackest Black
Maybelline Color Tattoo Metal Eyeshadow in #70 Barely Branded
NYX Super Skinny Eye Marker in #SSEM01 Carbon Black
NYX Eyeshadow in #ES04 Taupe


The Tools...

small fluffy brush, blending brush, flat synthetic brush, ELF Eyelash Curler


From Left:

ELF Professional Defining Eye Brush- any small fluffy brush will work for this look.
Up & Up Crease Brush- any blending brush will work. This is one of my favorite blending brushes, and its only about $2 at Target stores.
Essence Of Beauty Conceal Brush- any flat synthetic brush will work. I prefer using a synthetic brush for this look (or any time I'm working with baked eye products) because it will give me a more opaque and even finish than a natural hair brush. If you do not have a synthetic brush, any flat eye shadow brush will work fine, you may just have to work a little harder to build up the color.  

 The Neutral Eye Tutorial...

I have already applied my foundation, concealer, and primer to my eye. Using my finger, I smudged a shimmery champagne cream eye shadow from my lash line up to my brow bone. This will act as my base to help the eye shadow stick to my eye. This is especially important when working with dry baked shadows because they tend to have a lot of fall out.
(Ideally I would recommend applying your foundation and concealer after applying your eye makeup. I applied mine first just for this tutorial)
 
Using a synthetic flat eye shadow brush, I pressed the dry Black Karat shadow onto my eyelids. Use a pressing motion rather than a sweeping motion to prevent fall out.
 
I started with a thin layer of shadow and slowly added shadow until I reached my desired intensity. This shadow applies a sheer wash of shimmer to the eye but can be built up to an opaque color.

I used a small blending brush to sweep a medium matte brown shadow along the edge of Black Karat and into my crease. This will blend out any harsh edges and make a more seamless and natural transition from my eyelid  color to my brow bone.
 
I applied a matte white eye shadow to my inner corner and under my brow bone. Using a matte shadow gives me a subtle highlighted look.

Using the same small blending brush, I lightly blended out any harsh lines.

I applied black eye liner to my upper lash line.  I used a fine felt tip eye liner pen to achieve a thin, precise line.
Check out my full eye liner tutorial here
 
I curled my lashes and applied two coats of mascara to my upper and lower lashes.


Finished Neutral Eye Look


Add These Products For A Dramatic Eye...



Clockwise From Left:

Laura Mercier Baked Eye Colour Wet/Dry in Black Karat
Sephora Waterproof Jumbo Liner in #22 Dark Taupe Shimmer
Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Perversion
Revlon Precision Lash Adhesive
Ardell Professional Natural Lashes in 106 Black
NYX Eye Shadow in #ES71 Aloha
Essence Sparkling Effect Eye Shadow in #04 Black Goddess

The Tools...



flat eye shadow brush, fine crease brush, small angle brush


From Left:
Up & Up Small Shade Brush (from Target)-small, dense, flat eye shadow brush
ELF Contour Brush-small, precise, crease brush. A pencil brush will work as well.
Sigma Small Angle E65- any small angle or smudge brush will work.



1. I applied a few drops of water to the back of my hand and using the same synthetic flat eye shadow brush from the first part of the tutorial, I lightly dabbed the brush in the water until it was damp. I then lightly dabbed the damp brush into Black Karat and began to tap it onto my eye lid. I used tapping motion rather than a smearing motion to achieve opaque coverage on my eye. (not photographed)
2. Using a dry flat eye shadow brush, I tapped a small amount of dry eye shadow on top of the wet shadow. This will set the wet shadow and give me an opaque, sparkly eye look that will last all night. (photographed above)


Again, I add the eye shadow in thin layers, building up to my desired intensity. This gives off a very sparkly, metallic effect on the eye...very pretty.


Blend out any harsh lines.

I applied a super shimmery champagne shade to my inner corner and under my brow bone.





I applied a dark shimmery charcoal shade to my outer corner and into my crease to deepen the look.

Lightly blend.

I applied a little more of the Black Karat shadow to the inner one third of my eyelid to ensure an intense, metallic finish.


I intensified my eye liner by creating a thick line and wing using a liquid liner. I like to use a liquid liner for a more dramatic winged liner look.

I smudged a long-wearing taupe eye liner on my lower lash line. I like to use a brown or taupe eye liner on my lower lash line for a softer look.
I smudged out my liner using the deep charcoal shade and a small angle brush.


Finished Dramatic Eye Look
(minus the false lashes)


Check out the full makeup look, complete with false lashes, and the products I used on the rest of my face in my recent Makeup Daily 4/11/2013

Thank you for taking time out of your day to have a peek at my blog!
Feel free to leave a comment below and talk makeup with me!

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Lip Butter Looks: Fig Jam

Lip Butter Look Challenge:

create a look inspired by my many (and mostly unused) Revlon Lip Butters
Fig Jam
 
Warm Eyes, Highlighted Cheeks & Fig Jam Lips

 
For my eyes I tapped a bright copper shade all over my lid, blended it out with a warm matte brown shade, then deepen my outer corner with a dark matte brown shade. I added thick black liner to my upper and lower lash line and a nude kohl eye pencil to my waterline, to prevent my eyes from appearing red and irritated from the red undertones in my eye shadows. I finished with two coats of mascara on my upper and lower lashes.
 
reddish brown lips
 

 

The Look...

Fig Jam is probably one of my least used lip butters but I think this may be my favorite Lip Butter Look I have done yet. I love how this reddish brown lip color compliments the warm shadows on my eyes. I used a fair dusting of a golden highlighter to the apples of my cheeks and the center of my forehead and I feel like it really pulled the whole look together. This is a pretty neutral makeup look but the warmth of the red undertones give this look a little something unexpected.

Check out my other Lip Butter Looks:
 
Look out for more Lip Butter Looks inspired by my Revlon Lip Butter Collection!
 
Thanks for taking time out of your day to have a look at my blog...feel free to comment below and talk makeup with me!

 

Monday, April 22, 2013

Makeup Daily 4/22/2013

Simple Everyday Makeup
 
various products used
 
Neutral Eye Shadow & Black Winged Liner
 
 
 

Eyes...

  • NYX Love In Florence Palette in #05 Sunsets With Sophia (review coming soon)
  • Milani Eye Tech Bold Liquid Eye Liner in #01 Black-this felt tip marker was watery and not very opaque...very disappointing
  • NYX Super Skinny Eye Marker in #01 Carbon Black-I had to trace over the Milani liner with this NYX one to get a rich, opaque black line, much better felt tip liner pen!
  • Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Liner Pencil in # 011 Sable
  • Milani Brow Tint Pen Felt-Tip Brow Color in #02 Dark Brown
  • Maybelline The Rocket Volum' Express Mascara in Very Black 
 
 
Dewy Skin and Pink Cheeks

 Face...

  • Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup in #10 Classic Ivory-a recently rediscovered old favorite!
  • The Balm Time Balm Concealer in Lighter Than Light
  • Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder in #010 Fair
  • Tarte Amazonian Clay Bronzer in Park Ave Princess
  • ELF Cream Blush in #83241 Heartbreaker-applied as a blush base to the apples of my cheeks
  • Purminerals Hot Rocks blush-I like to layer a cream and a powder blush for an extra long-wearing blush look

Simple Glossy Lips

 Lips...

Maybelline Color Sensational lip gloss in #220 Striking Peach-very natural lip color, very comfortable on the lips

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

The Body Shop Satsuma Body Butter

The Body Shop Satsuma Body Butter
Travel Size (1.5 oz)
tub is a little smaller than the palm of my hand
$5 at Ulta 
 
rich, thick, white cream body butter
 
Satsuma- seedless and easy to peel citrus fruit (kind of like a small orange or tangerine)
I include this definition because I didn't know it myself, thanks Wikipedia!
 

The Review...

Let me just start off by saying that I have never tried The Body Shop body butters. Frankly, the term "body butter" makes me nervous. It instantly makes me think "heavy and greasy"...two words I don't like associated with my body lotion. Like most people, I enjoy moisturizing my skin after my shower, especially after shaving my legs but if there's one thing I can't stand, its that greasy feeling left on my skin afterwards.
 I can safely say that this did not leave me with that feeling at all. This body butter is thick and rich but doesn't leave that greasy residue on my skin. It absorbs into my skin quickly, leaving it soft and moisturized.
This cream has a light, refreshing citrus scent....kind of like a mix of orange and grapefruit. I've enjoyed throwing this little guy in my purse and applying it to my hands throughout the day. (The true "greasy" test is if a product leaves a slippery residue on my steering wheel...which it did not) I can see the buzz with this stuff, it really is a nice product. I'm looking forward to trying more scents from this brand.
 
Would I repurchase...
Yes

Monday, April 15, 2013

Sonia Kashuk Moisture Luxe Tinted Lip Balm: A Review

Sonia Kashuk Moisture Luxe Tinted Lip Balm
#44 Hint Of Berry
$10 at Target stores 

deep wine shade
I love that this is a more plummy berry shade rather than a pinky berry shade


heavy, sleek, matte black tube
feels very "expensive" in your hand

My Review...

I know, its spring time already but I just can't seem to pull myself away from the deep berry lip colors of winter! I love how berry shades brighten my face and add interest to any neutral eye look...and this tinted lip from Sonia Kashuk is no exception. I'm loving the deep wine/plum tones of this shade.

The texture of this tinted balm is very moisturizing and smooth on the lips. I'd describe the texture as being lighter than a Revlon Lip Butter but thicker than a Maybelline Color Whisper. (It definitely has less of that thick, heavy feel on the lips but more than that thin, slippery feel on the lips...its right in between) This formula is light and comfortable enough for all day wear but even if the balm wears off of your lips, it leaves behind a beautiful stained look, which I love.

If I'm being completely honest, the packaging was a big reason I purchased this product. This balm comes in a sleek, matte black tube and its surprisingly very heavy! I love the feel of it in my hand, the weight makes it feel very "expensive". I know, isn't that kind of stuff silly, but it definitely influenced this purchase!

Would I Repurchase...
No. Though I love the shade and texture of this balm, $10 is a little steep for a drugstore lip product.

Are there any fall/winter makeup trends you just cannot let go of? Let me know in the comments down below!