Pictorial: For The Eyeshadow Challenged - Fresh Look For Summer

There is something about summer days that always has me longing for a fresh-faced glow. I usually turn towards peachy colors, and earthy pinks; nude lips are also a staple. I like my summer day-time makeup to be clean, and uber feminine.

I would definitely consider myself to be challenged in the makeup department, as I have far more tools than I know what to do with, as well as colors I am afraid to experiment with. Over the years, I have acquired little tips and tricks that takes the fuss out of "making face" and offers consistent results all the time.

Because I am not the best at blending, I find it easiest for me to work with no more than 2 colors. I always use a lighter color in the inner lid, and a darker complimenting color on the outer lid to add a bit more depth to my eyes. During the day, I usually like to skip the black eyeliner [as it has a tendency to look harsh sometimes] and instead opt for more of a dark shimmery brown liner.

Some of you may experience more of an "ashy look" when you apply your eyeshadow, and to remedy that, I would recommend using a NYX Eyeshadow pencil like the ones illustrated in the tutorial as they tend to really make eyeshadow colors pop against darker skin tones. Just apply the Eyeshadow pencil over your base, then pack on your eyeshadow of choice - If you are going to use a NYX Eyeshadow pencil, try to pick a color that is in the same family as your eyeshadow. These pencils are under FIVE DOLLARS so go ahead and splurge a little, take a few different colors home with you, and start to experiment.

Here are the tools you will need to create this look:

Nars Blade Runner Quad [We are going to use the deep rusty red color]
Nars Cairo Quad 
NYX Rust Eyeshadow Pencil
NYX Yogurt Eyeshadow Pencil

I only used two out of three of these brushes; The 217 & the 242. I use the 242 for packing on the color, and the 217 for blending out the color. These are pretty much the only two brushes I ever use. I only use the 219 pencil brush when I want to make a "cat eye", and for sweeping color under the waterline. Using some sort of eyeshadow base is key if you want a seamless crease free lid, and color that lasts almost all day. Urban Decay Primer Potion just happens to be my favorite.

1. First start off by applying your eyeshadow base of choice all over your lids, and allow to sit for a few minutes until dry.

2. Next take the Yogurt NYX pencil, and apply it from the inner corner, stopping just short of the middle of your eyelid

3. Take the rust pencil, and start from the middle of the eyelid, sweeping the color back to the end of your lid

4. Now take your 242 and begin to pack Cairo on top of the Yogurt color

5. With the same brush, pack on the dark rosey color from the Nars Blade Runner quad on top of the Rust color

6. Now it's time to BLEND

Starting in the center of your lid, take your 217 brush [note: my 217 brush had dark eyeshadow on it so I used another brush similar to the 217] and begin to blend in an outward motion [away from the inner eye].

Make sure to blend the crease area by making "windshield wiper" like motions to blend any harsh line where your lid and crease meet. I do not add any makeup to my blending brush, I am just using the brush to blend out the lines. I never allow the blending brush to touch the center of my eyelid, as I don't want any of the darker color there. I don't mind blending the darker color ABOVE the center of the lid along the crease line, but not on the actual lid. I find the colors get muddy if I blend them all together.

Make sure you blend out [towards the outer edge of the eye] -

7. Now you can add some eyeliner, mascara and lip color if you like; since this is a daytime look, I used a softer eyeliner pencil, a pink nude gloss, and more of a natural mascara.

Sephora Eyeliner Pencil in Glitter Brown
Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara
Nars Giza Lip Gloss

Quick Pictorial- The Red Lippie

I receive quite a few emails and comments about my red lipstick, so I thought I would dedicate this post to my favorite red lipstick of all time; Ruby Woo by MAC. Here's a quick little pictorial to show you how I apply my lip-color.

[1] Line lip with lip-liner that is brighter than the lipstick you are using. This will make the lipstick P O P more. I am using REDD by MAC.

[2] Fill in your lips w/your lipstick of choice; mine is Ruby Woo [of course] - Don't worry about getting it perfect; you can fill in any areas w/your pencil/lip-color later.

[3] I apply my concealer w/a stiff, flat brush. I use NW45 concealer, and I pat it around the lip area; very close to the lip line.

Be sure and get as close to the lip-line as possible! This will make the color pop even more! Applying it with a brush is much better than applying the concealer w/your fingertips [as far as accuracy is concerned].

That's really all there is to it folks! The addition of the brighter lip liner, and concealer really makes those lips pop; even in darker skin tones like mine! 

Glowy Bronzy Goodness | The Spring Makeup Tutorial

I will be the first to admit that I am not the best when it comes to doing makeup. I will also admit that I tend to shy away from color and play it safe. It seems as though I have this crazy misconception that I can't wear bright colored makeup because I am a brown-skinned girl [even though I buy all colors], but last night I decided to experiment with that a little.

It came out pretty nice, which means all those colors that were banished to the makeup junkyard can all come out and play with the others. I used to be a die-hard MAC eyeshadow fanatic, but honestly, some of the colors look very ashy against my skin. Most of the eyeshadow colors I do own are by NARS, and I must say they are highly pigmented and work great against darker tones like myself!

So here is this little Spring makeup tut - I hope you like!

I used:
Makeup Forever Face & Body Makeup in 44
MAC Prep & Prime
MAC Fibre Rich Lash Mascara
MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre
MAC Plushglass in Widly Lush
MAC Eyeshadow in Woodwinked
Nars Balthazar Quad
Nars Taj Mahal Blush
Sephora Glitter Brown Eye Liner
Makeup Forever Black Eyeliner

(1) Start off by priming your lid with Soft Ochre Paint Pot by MAC (2) Apply the first color to the lid of your eye only, I am using the light color in the Balthazar quad by Nars. - (3) Apply the darker colored eyeshadow from that same quad to the upper portion of the eye stopping short of the brow area.

 

(1) Take your "crease brush" and start to blend in the two colors at the crease line. Make strokes like a windsheild wiper. (2) It should be nicely blended before moving on to the next step. (3) I like to put my liner on after, apply a pretty thick line. I am using a shimmery brown {Sephora Glitter Brown}. (4) Not pictured; Apply black liner to the inside of the bottom lid.

(1) Apply woodwinked underneath the brow area, making sure to blend in the harsh lines separating color. (2) I used an angled eyebrow brush to apply the light eyeshadow {from the Balthazar quad} underneath my eyes. (3) Apply two coats of MAC Fibre Rich Lash Mascara to top and bottom lashes.

Here's the complete look after applying foundation, defining my eyebrows, and adding blush {Nars Taj Mahal}. I used the same application techniques from the previous makeup tut. Click here to check it out.

5 Minute Face - The Pictorial

I Used:

MAC Primer

Makeup Forever Face & Body Makeup in color 44

MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Spiked

Benefit Brow Zing [Powder] in Medium

Benefit Bad Gal Mascara

MAC Loverush Blush

Nars Giza Lipgloss

Apply primer to face, I use a foundation brush to ensure even coverage

Apply liquid foundation - I use the Beauty Blender, it gives a dewy, airbrushed look!

Just stipple the foundation on using the larger portion of the beauty blender.

With light strokes, draw a line underneath your brow following your natural arch. I normally go a bit darker at night.

Fill in brows with eyebrow powder

Now add two coats of mascara to top and bottom lashes

I add blush to the middle part of my cheeks first

I also add blush to the "apples" of my cheeks

Add gloss, and you are good to go!