INDULGE: EYE & CHEEK

With the change of seasons quickly approaching, it's no surprise that MAC Cosmetics has two new fall collections to INDULGE in.  This post is all about the INDULGE: Eye & Cheek collection...and this is how MAC describes it:

Fall Colour is a surreal feast for the senses, where no taste is too extravagant and no behaviour beyond limits. On the menu: Cremeblend Blush flushes skin with buildable glow as Eye Shadow defines eyes for the ultimate in temptation, intensified by Fluidline. Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash darkens and lengthens lashes. 

Here's a look at the items in this collection:

8 highly-pigmented shadows ($15 each)

Guilty Morsel

Sex & The Oyster

Three Ring Yellow

Divine Decadence

Beluga

Eat...Love

Deep Cravings

Palace Pedigreed

3 ultra smooth fluidline liners:

Guilt Gourmet

Deliciously Rich

Blacktrack

Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash Mascara ($21).  A two-in-one mascara which allows you to customize your style...naturally defined or powerfully dramatic.

2 cremeblend blushes ($21 each)

Tease Your Tastes

Glamour Feast

2 Makeup Brushes

266 Small Angle Brush $20   

213 Fluff Brush $24

All About Eyes Makeup Class

If you missed part 1 of this amazing class, About Faces...shame on you! Lol...but you can read all about it in my previous blog post About Faces Makeup Class. 

This past Sunday I had the pleasure of taking yet another class taught by the extremely talented Brittany Rogers. I really enjoy her classes because she is very personable and makes learning fun in an informal setting.  And she always gives us little goodie boxes which is super sweet. This class was sponsored by Shades by Shay and we got two really pretty shadows that I can't wait to play in. So let's jump right into what we learned.

The first thing we went over was brow shaping.  How to clean them up....meaning where the brow should begin...arch...then end, filling them in (using pencil and powder products), and then highlighting the brow-bone area.  One awesome tip that she let us in on was using Ben Nye's banana powder after using concealer under the brows.  This not only acts as a very nice and natural highlight but will keep your eyebrows...well the products...from running down your face on those hot summer days.  (I'll be trying this out for sure.)  She told us some of her favorite brow products and brushes to experiment with and find out what works best for us.

We then talked about eye shadow application brushes.  Now, you use what works for you...but these are just the basics.  You've got your regular eye shadow brush.  They come in a variety of sizes for whatever amount of area you intend to cover.  Usually the denser brushes pick up the most product to achieve a more vibrant color payoff.  You then have your blending brushes or fluffy dome brush.  These are intended to blend out the harsh lines after packing on your color with the eye shadow brush.  Then there's the crease brush.  This brush allows you to define your crease and/or concentrate the color in one specific area.

Now...let's talk about what I consider my everyday/wear to work eye and how to achieve it.  I know it's easier to explain via video but as most of you know I am still on a YouTube hiatus (we will talk about that in a separate blog post) so you will have to use your imagination...or simply how you would apply eye shadow lol.
1. Prime eyes -  this can be done with an eye shadow primer or whatever concealer or foundation you use.  It's just something to help keep your shadow from creasing.  My current favorite is the ELF Eye Lid Primer.
2. Base eyes - this is a product that is used to help make your shadows stick to your lids.  Your choice of color depends on the color shadow you are using.  My current favorite is the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil.
3. Pack on the shadow - pick up some shadow from the pan using your eye shadow brush and tap off the excess to prevent fall-out.  Put the shadow all over your lid but try not to put this shadow above your crease.
4. Blend! - the edges of the lid color need to look like it's fading into your skin.  Here you can use a transition color that is similar to your skin tone to blend out your lid color.
5. Define your crease - here is where you want to use your crease brush to make your eyes stand out.  On the outer portion of your eye, use a darker shadow to deepen where your eye meets your brow-bone.
6. Line your eyes - with a liquid, gel, or pencil...line your top lash line and lower water line.  For some added sultry-ness, smudge the liner on the lower lash line just a bit.
7. Mascara and/or lashes - no explanation needed lol

Smoky eyes anyone?  This is one of my favorite looks.  You don't have to just do a black smoky eye...smoke out a color for fun.  Here's how Brittany taught us to do it.  Follow steps 1-4 above.  For step 4 if you're doing say a black smoky eye...use a mid-tone brown to blend out the edges of the black.  Again, line your eyes...especially the bottom and here you definitely want to smudge shadow or liner on the lower lash line.  Add your mascara and lashes and your red carpet ready! lol.

I'll keep all of you posted on the next class that Brittany has...you surely won't want to miss it!  I hope you enjoyed my recap and now I'm off to try a colorful smoky eye...wish me luck!!!

LORAC Fall 2013 Collection - Pro To Go

Lorac Cosmetics has come out with a nice fall 2013 pro collection.  Check out what they have offered in this Pro To Go collection...

Click here to watch the behind-the-scenes video

Pro To Go Palette

Easily contour, shade, line, and define like a pro. The velvety-smooth eye shadows and blushes are ultrapigmented and packed with long-lasting power. The palette includes three shimmer and three matte eye shadows (pearl, shell, chai, mink, cafe, and black), two eye shadow brushes, two blushes (coral and pink), and a bronzer (bronze). 

Cococin Cream Compacts

This lightweight formula is infused with Cococin®, an ingredient derived from young green coconut and loaded with vitamins and minerals to help keep skin healthy, hydrated, and silky smooth. Antiaging antioxidants of vitamins A, C, and E, phospholipids, aloe, red seaweed, white peony flower, echinacea, chamomile, and calendula help to calm, soothe, and revitalize. It's the perfect balance of skincare and makeup in one sleek, chic compact, that's great for on the go.  (colors: CR1-Fair, CR2-Light, CR3-Light Beige, CR4-Golden Light, CR5-Medium Beige, CR6-Golden Tan, CR7-Tan, and CR8-Deep)

Cobra Mascara

This mascara features a custom cobra head wand for creating dramatic, buildable volume and length for the longest, thickest, blackest lashes ever. Infused with keratin, panthenol, and vitamin E, its formula resists flaking and smudging.

Lip Lustre Gloss

Inspired by LORAC's top-selling 3D Liquid Lustre Eye Shimmer, this glam gloss instantly amps up your look with 3D sparkle. The paraben-free formula is infused with antioxidants of açaí berry, pomegranate, grape seed, and vitamins A, C, and E to help nourish and protect the lips. (colors: Ruby Lustre, Fuchsia Lustre, 3D Lustre, Rose Lustre, and Peach Lustre)

Sunrise Remix Makeup Look

Ok...so I totally forgot to post how I got this look. Please forgive me lol. Just a little background on how/why I chose this look. While hanging out with one of my partners in crime we were sipping on some Tequila Sunrise. I thought the color combination was perfect for a makeup look...but I wanted to mix it up a little bit. I got home and attempted to make a Tequila Sunrise for the hubby but realized that we only had a darker orange colored juice to add to it. Perfect! I'll do a sunset (or as I call it...Sunrise Remix) look! So I searched for a sunset look to inspire me and I stumbled upon a beautiful orange and pink smoky eye (see @c_flower's look here) and I decided to recreate it. And this is what I came up with. Also, check out my girl @itsjustmenai Tokyo Tea inspired eyeshadow look here. I hope you enjoy! 

On the eyes:

Kevyn Aucoin brow pencil in Brunette

Kevyn Aucoin sensual skin enhancer for the brow highlight

Wet N Wild Spoiled Brat trio for the pink and Flora trio for the orange

NYX single shadow in Kiss in Casablanca on the lower lash line

LA Girl eyeliner in Aqua in the waterline

Wet N Wild gel liner in black

Rimmel London day to night mascara (lengthening side)

Almay 1-coat dial up mascara

On the face:

Kevyn Aucoin sensual skin enhancer for concealer

MAC Studio Fix powder foundation in NC43

Wet N Wild blush in Berry Shimmer

Ruby Kisses mineral powder in Cognac for the contour

On the lips:

NYX lip liner in Currant
Revlon lipstick in Pink Pout

Marilyn Monroe Collection by MAC Cosmetics (via Macy's)

Images via InStyle.com

Marilyn Monroe is back at MAC via Macy's! This collection is available on-line now (I will update when it's available in stores).  And being as though I missed the last release of this collection, I'm somewhat excited to see what it has to offer.  Here's what MAC has to say about the collection. 

"Pure platinum Hollywood glamour. Channel the legend's luster & sex appeal in a colour collection distinctively Marilyn. It's everything you need to capture the MM look. Specially designed packaging features imagery from The Black Sitting. Limited Edition."

So, without further ado...here are a few pictures that I was able to find.

Images via InStyle.com

Lipstick
In Deeply Adored, Charmed I'm Sure, Scarlet Ibis,
Love Goddess, and Pure Zen
  

Lip Pencil
In Beet, Redd, and Cherry
 
 

 
Nail Lacuqer
In Orange Kid, Vintage Vamp, Stage Vamp,
Flaming Rose, and Rich, Rich, Rich

 

 
 
Large Eye Shadow
In How to Marry, Preferred Blonde, Showgirl, and Silver Screen

 

 

False Lashes Extreme Black Mascara, Eye Khol in Smolder and Fascinating, #35 False Lash Strips in Forever Marilyn, and Penultimate Eye Liner in Rapid Black

 

 

Penultimate Brow Marker and Brow Finisher in Clear

Powder Blush

In Legendary and The Perfect Cheek

Beauty Powder

In Forever Marilyn

 
Dazzleglass
In Phiff! and Little Rock

Rainy Day Blues

April showers bring May flowers...I hope lol.  It's rainy here in the DC Area and I decided to do a Rainy Day Blue look.  I used the NYX box of eye shadows that I got from my sister for Christmas this year which had this very pretty blue (used on the lid).  Below are all the products I used to achieve this look.  Enjoy!

On the face:
Kevyn Aucoin brow pencil in brunette
Kevyn Aucoin sensual skin enhancer for concealer
Kiss colors liquid foundation in honey glow
MAC studio fix powder foundation in NC 43
Ben Nye powder rouge in cool pink
Ruby Kisses mineral powder in cognac as a contour

On the eyes:
NYX box of eye shadows (light and dark blue)
LA Colors smudge proof liquid eyeliner
Rimmel London day to night mascara

On the lips:
Wet n Wild megalast lipstick in Don't blink pink
Wet n Wild megaslicks lipgloss in sweet glaze

Smoked Peach

Today I was feeling some type of way and decided to play in makeup as a little therapy lol. What I did was this smoky peach look using yet another unopened Wet n' Wild palette. I wanted to focus on the eyes because I used a different pencil to fill in my brows today (click here for that blog post) so I opted for a very nude lip to accompany the smoky eye. Below is everything I used to achieve this look. Hope you enjoy and Happy Saturday!

On the face:
Kevyn Aucoin Skin Enhancer as a concealer
MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC 43
Ruby Kisses Mineral Powder in Cognac as a contour
Milani blush in luminous

On the eyes:
Wet n Wild Greed palette
NYX light brown and taupe pencils to fill in brows
Rimmel London Day to Night mascara (lengthening side)
Maybelline great lash mascara
Wet n Wild gel eyeliner

On the lips:
Wet n Wild just peachy lipstick
NYX currant lipliner
NK taupe lipgloss

Prom look #3: Purple Smoke

So here is the last look of my prom makeup series. I decided to do a slightly bolder eye look with a glossy lip. I chose purple because I had this blackened violet pigment sample from The Body Needs and have been dying to use it. I didn't want the lip to overpower the eye so I kept it simple with my favorite lipliner (MAC Chestnut) with a peachy gloss. I hope you have enjoyed this series and let me know if you tried any of these looks for prom or any special occasion.

On the eyes:

Wet N' Wild Idol Eyes creme shadow pencil in Techno used as a base

ELF Mineral Shadow in Girly on the lid

The Body Needs pigment in Blackened Violet

Almay 1 Coat Dial-up mascara

Maybelline Big Lash Mascara

Milani liquifeye eyeliner in black

On the face:

Cover Girl True BlendFoundation in #460

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer as a concealer

MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC43 all over

Ruby Kisses mineral powder in Cognac for the contour

Ben Nye powder rouge in cool pink

ELF Healthy Glow bronzer in Sun Kissed as the highlight

On the lips:

MAC Chestnut lipliner

Victoria's Secret lipgloss in lotta colada

Target Haul

Hey guys...check out my youtube video with my little lady as we show of what we...I mean what I got from Target :)  Enjoy!!