Makeup: pinks and purples

 I've been so uninspired by makeup lately.  it used to be I could create a look and happily wear it for a few weeks before I got bored but now I tweak and change everyday and I'm always bored.  But lets face it I haven't been myself at all lately.  I don't know.  Maybe it's my layout change?  i thought it would inspire me to take this blog further but it seems to have had the opposite effect.  If anything I'm closer than ever to abandoning the whole project. 

So here is some makeup I've been playing with using some fresh spring pinks and purples.  I used a pale lilac/grey cream as an all over lid base.  Then I used a icy pale lilac, almost pink, loose powder as an highlighter in the inner corners but also a wee dot in the center of each lid to draw in the light.  Then I used a thin line of eggplant purple cream liner.

I used my favorite blush ever, a natural pink flush on the cheeks and a rosy pink gloss on the lips.

Makeup used : Cream shadow in Gossip, loose shadow in Jelly Roll, and cream liner in Stiletto; all by Benefit.

Benefit powder in Thrrrob and Sally Hansen gloss in Bloom.

Smokey eyes- Grey edition

As you've probably noticed, I'm a wee bit MAC obsessed and I like to pounce on new limited editions when they come out.  I'm doing much better at using restraint and not buying a much of stuff I don't need or even really care for just because it's new and limited edition.  Having said that, I couldn't resist the Liberty of London collection that came out last month with its adorable packaging.  I did however manage to only buy the two things that most appealed to me.  The india ink blue nail polish and the grey shadow.  And once I had a new grey shadow in hand, I knew I'd have to do a smokey eye post.

I created this really easy look by first applying the pale dove grey shadow (satin finish) all over the lid.  I then used a matte black shadow in the outer third of my lid into the crease and up a wee bit.  Lastly I used a black cream liner (you could go thin or thick on this) and then a bit of mascara.

I finished the look with a pink blush, berry lipstain and berry gloss.  Foundation and powder and all that stuff too of course!

This is a paler, day version because I had to go to work after the pics were taken but of course you can dial up the intensity if you like.  I'm trying to practice restraint in creating day appropriate looks and realistic versions of runway makeup but fell free to go wild! 

Makeup details:

eyes:  Benefit creaseless cream liner in Towne Car; Sephora all over color in 91M; MAC's  shadow in Bough Grey; Clinique's High Lengths mascara in Black.

Cheeks and lips: Benefit's Thrrrob powder; Benefit Benetint lip stain; Lancome juicy tube in Berry Bold.

I like doing makeup posts, in part, because you can actually see my eye color. For some reason close-ups don't result in red eye but all of my other photos do resulting in red eye corrector resulting in black eyes.  But I like my real eyes much better.

Smokey eyes- Green edition

Maybe it was the upcoming St. Patrick's Day. Maybe it was all the buzz with teal eyeliner. I don't know. But somehow I decided to do attempt a smokey eye look using green and teal instead of the typical greys of the modern browns.

It turned out better than expected and certainly better than photographed. Taking pictures of my makeup is seriously hit or miss and unfortunately this was miss. I haven't discovered a consistent way to get makeup shots and its very frustrating. Alas, here it is....

It translates much more daytime than it did in reality. I paired the green/ teal eyes with rosy cheeks and mauve lips. Here is a close up of the eye makeup with my eyes closed.

It looks lighter here. Probably the flash but the pictures were all around too dark with out it. I actually used a dark matte green all over the lid and then used a shimmery teal as eyeliner on the lower lash line and into the crease and outer corner. Then just a little black liner on top and mascara.


Colors used:

eye makeup: MAC Starflash eyeshadow in Strike a Pose with the dark matte green shade in the L'oreal duo Forest. Benefit eyeliner in Onyx. Bare Escentuals mascara.

Cheeks and lips: Benefit cream blush in Shhh with Moon Beam as a highlighter. Clinique lipstick in Bamboo Pink.

I'm already planning my next makeup look. I picked up a couple things from MAC's Liberty of London collection to play with.

Runway Inspired Makeup-Derek Lam

I think I might actually prefer the makeup to the clothes when it comes to runways. It's not that I don't appreciate the beauty of designer pieces, I just think they are better represented in Look books. For some reason runway photos do nothing for me. Unless there's attention grabbing makeup!

Derek Lam's Spring runway makeup was very bird of Paradise: lots of turquoise, purple, and orange. And while it's not really appropriate for everyday, I thought I'd try my hand at two variations of the theme.

This is Derek Lam. I went just slightly more subtle....

This version is the more intense of the two. And here it is again....


And here is the more subtle, softer version...

And again...

Both looks used MAC eyeliner in Obviously Orange, and Haunting and Plum Dressing eye shadows. The more subtle version uses the more universally flattering plum while the more intense version relies more heavily on blue. Pardon my pictures, taken on different days in different light.

The softer version used the peachy Benefit cream blush in Hush, while the more intense version used Origins cheek stain in an orangey coral, Coralberry.

Both looks used Benefit full finish lipstick in Lady's choice with Benefit pearly pink gloss on top. With eyes and cheeks so colorful, I really just HAD to tone down the lips. This look was very noticeable and bright in both versions and I got a lot of odd looks when worn in public.

All in all I think this was a successful home version of the look. Though I don't know anywhere I'd wear it to.

New Year, New Neutrals

I think we've come to expect that MAC will always be on trend for makeup but they've really hit the nail on the head with all of their neutrals lately. Some people view neutral makeup as a no make up look but that's not true. And it isn't a bland or blah look either. Neutrals are perfect for winter. They are multi dimensional without calling too much attention to themselves.



The released Warm and Cosy the day after Christmas with rich warm neutral colors that made for a very romantic look ready for snuggling in front of the fire drinking hot coca. And then in January they released All Ages, All races, All Sexes, a collection of neutrals so full there are truly perfect colors for everyone. Finally a company that understands that "nude" doesn't mean beige, it's different for everyone!



Released the same day as Warm and Cosy, was winter's counterpart Love Lace. This collections had some lovely frosty pinks and blues. And one strange fellow- a sort of purple, grey, brown eyeshadow that was color and neutral all at once. Add to that the smokey eye pigments from x-mas and I knew I had to wear all these colors.






So my look has been to experiment with doing a smokey eye without relying on the cliche black and grey and silver. You can do an equally lovely, glam smokey eye with browns and a bit of the purple curiosity.


On the eyes: Frosted grey-purple all over lid to crease (Hypnotizing-MAC from Love Lace); chocolate copper-bronze in outer corner and above crease, also used as liner on loxer lashline (Chocolate Brown-MAC from Sexpot pigments); Brown Mascara (Benefit's Bad Gal); Benefit's browzing eyebrow kit in Light.

On the lips: nude lip pencil all over lips (Benefit's Posh); pink brown gloss (Liquer- MAC from All ages, etc).

On the Face: Mac's Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 foundation in NC15; MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish Natural powder in Light; Benefit's ten powder bronze and highlighter; Benefit's Erase Paste concealer in Light.

And finally, Blissed Out nail polish from the Warm and Cosy collection, a beautiful creamy light beige.

This was fun but I'm still looking forward to bright and brash spring color.

Punk X-Mas

I really like playing with makeup. Really, really. And because of this, I need to get experimental and surely not all of my experiments work out. I can only pair a smoky eye with a red lip, or copper eyes with peach gloss so many times. So out with the crazy color combinations. To be fair they make work on someone, just not necessarily me.

So in honor of Christmas, for those that celebrate, I came up with a red and green color palette for my face and did my best to make it work. I used a gold-green eyeshadow all over the lid and up to and extending the crease. Then I used a sparkly black shadow as a contour shade in the outer corners as well as a lower lash eyeliner and the upper inner corner. To tone it down a bit ya know. The shadow was black but I used sparingly to create more of a charcoal grey effect.



I used a red tinged stain and matching balm on the lips. Then I used a bronze/ highlighter on the cheeks to warm it up a bit and act as a neutral.

Makeup details:

Face: Mac Studio fix fluid spf 15 in NC 15; Mac mineralize skinfinish Natural in Light; Benefit Powderflage undereye concealer; Benefit 10 highlighter/bronzer

Eyes:Mac eyeshadow in Rated R; Mac Pigment in Dark Soul; Clinique High Impact Mascara in Black; Benefit Browzing eyebrow kit

Lips: Benefit Benetint lip/cheek stain and Benefit Benetint lip balm w/ spf

Since using pigments can be tricky (messy) and I'm using such a dark one, I recommend doing your eyemakeup before your foundation so clean-up is easier.

Mini Reviews:

Benefit's Benetint lip and cheek stain

This is Benefit's oldest product whose original incarnation in the seventies was as a nipple reddener for strippers. yeah. But despite its seedy origins it remains one of their top selling products. I know it can be scary to work with a stain if you haven't before but the payoff is worth it. When I use this on my cheeks I put a drop on my fingers and blend it in quickly. Time is off the essence here. But once it's on it's on and you don't have to worry about tough ups. Especially good on the lips. The color is buildable so even though I'm very fair, warmer and darker skin toned look even lovelier with this. But while it adds color, it doesn't add shine or moisture and so....

Benefit's Benetint Lip Balm spf 15

They've made multiple formulas with this, both with and without the spf. So if you've tried it before and didn't like it you may still like this. It has the same rose red hue of the stain but it's in balm form. It can be used alone or over the stain and it's very moisturizing. The only downside is that I hate having to stick my finger in the little pot to get it out. Dirty and messy.

Benefit's 10 Powder

This was my first and remains my favorite Benefit powder. It had two stripes in the box, one a bronzer, one a highlighter. You can apply it this way as a quick two-in-one but I like to swirl them together before brushing across my cheek. It's just a beautiful warm, neutral but better, with just a hint of shimmer, more like a glow actually. Plus it lasts forever because the box is nearly indestructible. I've dropped in a million times and it's still in one piece. The only downside is that is can appear kinda muddy on very fair, cool toned skin.




So what about you? Doing anything special with holiday makeup?

Daily wear: Neon 80s

One surefire way to cure the winter doldrums is by wearing bright colors. It also helped that I spent a lot of time in a bright room this weekend. My husband and I worked in this room and it's almost finished. Eh, I know. It will never be finished. I'll just keep thinking up new ideas and changing my mind and buying things before i even know if I have a place to put them. But at least we got up the curtain box and curtains. Now if only i could get up the energy to get prints of our vacation to put in my picture frames. Nothing worse than picture-less frames, except hanging ones. I've moved with that frame and it's always been empty. UNmotivated.

of course I didn't do my chores dressed like this but I decided we should reward ourselves for anything we do manage to complete and off we went to Embury again, that speak-easy style bar I mentioned before. LOVE that place. Gorgeous. And the cocktails are pure artistry.

I brightened up the increasing dark day by wearing my neon 80s inspired kensie outfit. The dress is plain black on top but has a beautiful flared out skirt with geometric patterns in grey and brights. Paired with a matching cropped cardigan. It looks very yellow here but it's more of an acid green, like Chartreuse. I cinched it in with a black belt with a heart shaped buckle, and accessorized with orange tights and black maryjane heels. I think there's just enough black to temper all the neon.

And then my makeup! I used an acid green eyeshadow on my lids to just over the crease and in the inner corners. Then I used a bright teal shadow as a liner on top and bottom lashes. Bright coral cheeks and nearly orange lips. But I swear, it wasn't that bad!


Again, the green looks yellow here but really it's more of a green-gold. The teal didn't show up well either, I'm afraid. But see what I mean, the lips and cheeks aren't scary at all.

Eyeshadows: Strike a Pose, and R rated, both by MAC
Cheeks: Benefit Coralista
Lips: Luscious Spark lip gloss over Outrageous Orange (eyeliner used as lip liner), both by MAC

Mini-review:

Coralista powder by Benefit

This is the newest powder/blush in Benefit's line up. It looks very intimidating in the box because it's so bright orange-pink. But it really does look pretty on. It's a bit more user friendly than typical corals in that it looks good on a larger variety of people (not just silly little redheads like me--though it does look kinda ashy on darker skin). The trick is to go light handed with it. The brush that comes with it is too dense and you'll end up with a neon streak. Use a larger rounder fluff brush and start small, adding more if you feel you need it. Don't be afraid of bright colors!

MAC Holiday Pigment sets

Well so yeah I'm obsessed with makeup, so what. It's fun! I like Mac's pigments because I feel like you get more for your money and it's easier to play with building intensity. I missed out last year on getting their pigment sets because I bought brushes, and some other non Mac stuff. but this year i was determined, only i couldn't decide between them. So I bought all three!


Here they are all lined up on my husband's old dresser (it had belonged to his mother). also a rare glimpse into my bedroom. It's usually way too cluttered for picture taking.

Haute Hi Jinks--The warm collection.
left to right: Copperized (olive green with gold pearl);Rushmetal (rich copper sparkle);Museum bronze (rich taupe with gold pearl); Jardin Ares (rich tan with gold pearl); reflects Gold (very fine particle white glitter that flashes gold).

Cool Capers--the cool collection
left to right: Deep Blue Green (rich deep bluish-green); Grape (deep purple with pink pearl); Fuchsia (bright fuchsia-pink);Kitchmas(shimmering pink/mauve pearl); reflects transparent teal (sparkling white with turquoise).


Sexpot smoky--the smoky eye collection
left to right: Dark Soul (charcoal black smoked with gold pearl); Chocolate brown (chocolate copper/bronze); Sunnydaze (taupe with silver pearl); Naked (fleshy beige with golden copper pearl); reflects antique gold (sparkling taupe).

I've already begun experimenting with the warm shades. i took some pictures but I'm not happy with them. For some reason my super sparkly gold New Years eve eye makeup looks nearly nude on film. I'll keep trying and post my results.

Makeup Look: Gilded Plum

I've decided to start doing more beauty posts, including some product reviews. I always get really excited when I find a good beauty blog, and while I know I can't compete with the best, i thought my readers might like to see more of that here. Plus, I haven't been very inspired with clothes lately like I have with makeup and I get bored just doing outfit posts. But if this is really boring for you let me know and I'll stop torturing you.




I'm beginning to see to see that not everyone is makeup obsessed or perhaps they just feel shy about trying new looks. Either way, i plan to continue a mix of natural everyday looks, wild evening looks, and everything in between.

I've made this disclaimer before, but I'll do it again in case you missed it. I used to work for Origins and Benefit cosmetics but I don't hold a bias for either one, excepting that I may just be most familiar with those lines and as I have many of their products, they show up a lot here. But i won't ever give something a favorable review just because of that. I use high end to drug store cosmetics and just because I wear something on this blog doesn't mean I endorse it. i like to experiement and will post my successes as well as my failures.

Today I'm experimenting with purples and golds. The look actually came off pretty subtle and not disco glitzy. i would recomend it for someone that wants to experiement a little with a day look without just reaching for the taupe. I got a lot of compliments from conservative older women at work so that's how I know it passes for day. haha

How to get the look:

First I applied foundation , under eye concealer, and filled in my brows--the basics for any of my makeup looks

Second, I used my finger to pat on a pale golden creme shadow, violet eyeliner, and black mascara.

Third, I stippled on a shimmery plum blush, subtle gold lip gloss, and finished with a setting powder.

Easy as that!


Products:

Foundation: Mac Studio fix spf15 in NC15
Cream concealer: Benefit Erase Paste
Powder concealer: Benefit Powderflage
Eyebrows: Benefit browzing kit

Creme Shadow: Estee Lauder Pure Pops in Golden Seduction
Eyeliner: NYC in Vampy Violet
Mascara: Clinique High Impact in Black

Blush: Mac Mineralize in Grand Duo
Lipgloss: Benefit 24k
Powder: Mac Skinfinish Natural in Light

The Mini-reviews:

Clinique High Impact mascara

I've never been a fan of Clinique's mascaras but I received a sample of this in one of their gift with purchases and was really impressed. It definitely makes a major difference in my lashes, making them fuller and longer. But I'm so fickle when it comes to mascara even though I know that statistically women tend to favor one mascara with a severe brand loyalty. Generally, I think any brand new mascara is pretty awesome. I would buy this no question but I doubt I can stop my product wanderlust.

Benefit Browzing Kit

This is a really good portable eyebrow kit. It has both a wax and a powder with little brushes. It has a mirror! It has mini tweezers! It's much easier to use than I thought it would be and it's great for filling in sparse brows. This is the only brow product I've tried that i really love. And best of all, it lasts an extremely long time. I use this everyday and hope they don't reformulate or stop making it.

Mac Mineralize Skin Finish natural in Light

I love a good pressed setting powder. My skin used to be really oily so I lived and died by my powder. I still like it to help set my makeup. I like this one's natural finish, not too matte. Applied with a brush, it's light and lovely. I wish it had a mirror so I could put it in my purse for touch ups but other than that it's fine. I tend to use a clinique powder in my purse. I like Mac's well enough to deal with the hassel of two powders.

Style icon: Urban cowgirl

Here is how all this started. I went to a yard sale some time over the summer and bought a western style shirt with opalescent snaps and blue flowers on a white background. I don't usually even like florals but I do like snap ups (on my husband....) but somehow I had to have this shirt. so I bought it and promptly forgot all about it.



Then i came across a Calvin Klein denim skirt. I have a long time hatred of denim skirts. they always seem to look cheap and trashy to me. even when they made some kind of a hipster comeback a few years ago I winced internally every time I saw them and declared i would never wear one. But this CK one sort of called out to me. it wasn't too short. It wasn't wide at the bottom. It looked sort of sleek and......fashiony. so I bought it and promptly forgot about it. Somehow both of these items ended up in the same bag together in my closet and I pulled them out while cleaning. Magic. I had to wear them together. I love them.


I paired them with dark brown tights that have pinstripes which are sheer brown and my beloved boots that I seen to wear with everything these days.

In a way, I'm channeling Uma Thurman in Even Cowgirls get the Blues and Ariel in Footloose and maybe even a little of Thelma and Louise. I'm looking forward to see what else I can do with this skirt. Any suggestions?


I wanted to go kinda natural on the makeup for this but still be feminine. Peach and reddish-brown on the eyes, a reddish bronzer blush and a sheer red lipstick. Part earthy, part sassy.

Makeup details: Shallow by Benefit on the browbone, Swiss Chocolate by MAC on the lid, Dallas by Benefit on the cheeks, and Tropical Kiss by origins on the lips.

How I styled it: Faeries!

When thinking about how I would make faerie style appropriate for real life, all I could think of was what i couldn't do. I couldn't be nude or wear clothing so sheer I might as well be nude. I couldn't be bare foot. I couldn't have wings, reality hey! I couldn't get too precious with sparkles and beads. I could do nothing that screamed Faerie. So how am I so supposed to adapt this influence. So what it came down to was being all about the makeup. So of course that means it's more of an evening look because for day, sigh, just too many stares.

A close-up on the eyes...



To get ethereal effect, i applied a bright yellow eyeshadow over the lid and up into the crease. They I used the blue in the outer half of the lid, creating the green hue. Then more blue under the eye as a sort of liner but really smudgey.

The full face...



Instead of blush I used a golden apricot highlighting cream all over my cheek bone and temple. The shimmer effect didn't exactly photograph so please doll, use your imagination. On the lips i used a plum lip stain with a berry gloss on top.

Makeup used:
Eyeshadows: Mac Style Warrior eyeshadow in Bright Future and Mac Rose Romance pigment in Mutiny.

Cheeks and lips: benefit's Moon Beam highlighter, Mac Rose Romance Lipstain in Tender Tryst, and Lancome Juicy Tubes jelly in Berry Bold

And then I did this:


Not part of the actual imitation, at all, but I cut about three inches off my hair somewhere in this process.

And...without further ado....

This is how i styled it:



I put a few little braids in what was left of my hair. And I have a really pretty satiny pink dress with asymmetrical ruffles. I couldn't get any good pictures. It was raining, I was my own photographer, and I was sick. So I'm standing in some very overgrown weeds, looking shy and slouchy. But somehow my feet made it all worthwhile...



I love the combination of mint green toes with pink sandals. This is the first time I've ever allowed my feet to be photographed. I guess I'm just exposing all my insecurities on here. I hope I don't get a rash from those weeds.

How I Became a Flapper in Much Fewer Steps

I've been having so much fun getting into flapper style and daydreaming over old photos on Flickr so I decided to try it out for myself. I wanted to do it in a way that didn't look like I was wearing a Halloween costume and I didn't want to veer into goth territory with too much kohl eyeliner.

So this is kind of a two-on-one post; part makeup, part imitating a style icon. First the makeup! I shot the makeup pics on multiple days to try subtle variations and kinda whittled down the photos to these three. There may be some slight difference, sorry!




I used a deep wine colored cream eyeshadow up a little past the crease and smudged a little along the lower lash line as well. Then I used a black cream eyeliner on the top and bottom lash lines to create a dramatic take on the traditional smokey eye. I also used a plum mascara and filled in my brows.

Here's a close-up...


Bonus tip: Plum eye makeup is universally flattering and intensifies every eye color. My eyes are very brown but my makeup brings out green tones.

I wasn't fully satisfied with this effect because it didn't photograph dark enough to get the look I wanted and I just wasn't thrilled with the eyeliner. so I tried it another way.





These photos don't do it justice, but my changes made a dramatic difference. I did my eye makeup the same as above but then went OVER it all with more the deep wine color. It made the black eyeliner more subtle and "smokier" and just intensified my eyes. I took these pics on different days and I guess various stages of lighting and flash, so I do apologize.

And here's how I styled it...




The eye makeup: Cream shadow/liner in Stiletto (wine color) and Towne Car (black); Bad gal Plum mascara, Just Browzing eyebrow kit...all by Benefit

Cheeks and lips: Thrrrob powder blush by benefit and Revlon colorstay in Lasting Peony (See! I told you I wasn't a makeup snob) I wanted to use pink to keep the look fresh and summery and to provide levity to all the intensity on the eyes.



I wasn't brave enough to bob my hair so i sort of tucked it up and under to create a similar but temporary effect. I donned a lovely pink drop waist dress, loads of white and "black" pearls and assumed a cheeky pose. Viola!

Summery 70s makeup

I adore makeup and want to include as many makeup posts as possible without becoming annoying. I hate Hate HATE having my picture taken but I'm usually the most readily available "model". My best friend is gorgeous and photogenic but makeup disappears on her ivory skin or becomes grey and who knows why.

I took these pictures last month in my bathroom while getting ready for work so pretend like my hair's not a mess and I'm not in my pajamas. This was the makeup look I was using during the comfy 70s nautical vibe I was whining about and had cute outfits I was too lazy to take pictures of. Just like all the cute outfits since then and including today that I never took pictures of. I'll do better on that account soon. Really, I will.




In case you're curious, I'll tell you what I used as I recall it. I tend to use mostly Benefit Cosmetics (because I used to work for them) and MAC (cause it's such a cheap indulgent impulse buy) but I don't really advocate one brand over another and I use lots of brands, including drug store, including--eegads! Wet n Wild!

On the eyes: I used a shimmery bronze loose eyeshadow by benefit called Big Daddy. I dampen a fluff brush first because it helps to control the powder but also because it intensifies the color and gives it more of a metallic sheen rather than a pale shimmer. The blue is a pigment by MAC called Mutiny from their A Rose Romance collection. I don't know if it was limited addition or not. I use more of a round tip brush for that, dry dipped. The bronze eyeliner was another benefit product: Creaseless cream shadow/liner in Busy Signal. I also used black Dazzlelash MAC mascara and Benefit Just Browzing eyebrow kit.

Lips and cheeks: Coral lip pencil that I filled my lips in with in Mercy topped with a coral lipgloss in Corsage with a Coralista powder blush on cheeks. All products by Benefit. See, I told you I use a lot of their stuff.



I would love to see some other examples of blue eyeshadow not looking clownish or ridiculous. I hope I have accomplished this. I'm working on adapting the dark eyed flapper look in a modern non gothish way. Wish me luck!