Tutorial: Subtle Grey and Red Look with Purple Liner

I was talking to some of my friends in one of my reddit groups recently and they mentioned that they would like to see more tutorials. So I’m planning on doing tutorials for my favorite looks from my reviews. No time like the present to start, so I picked my favorite look from my Brilliant Deductions review to get started!

Make Up:

• Grey Eyeshadow (Aromaleigh Frailty of Genius)
• Burgundy Eyeshadow (Aromaleigh Damaged & Delusional)
• Dark Plum Eyeshadow (Aromaleigh Glittering Career)
• Foiling Medium (Darling Girl Superstar Serum)
• Eyeshadow Primer (Urban Decay Primer Potion)
• Mascara (Make Up Forever Smoky Extravagant Mascara)
• Rosy Blush (Baroque Mucha Ado About Nothing)
• Burgundy Lipstick (Tilt/Shift Gravity)
• Foundation/Concealer/Powder or whatever your usual face routine is (MAC Face and Body in N1, Benefit Boi-ing in 1, Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in 1, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light)

Brushes and Tools:

• Eyeshadow shading brush (Sigma E55)
• Fluffy angled eyeshadow brush (Sigma E70)
• Fluffy blending brush (Sigma E40)
• Eyeliner brush (mini Sigma E05)
• 1 or 2 Blush brushes (Nars travel blush brush, Eco Tools blush brush)
• Lip brush (Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics)
• Whatever you usually use to apply your foundation, concealer and powder (Real Techniques Buffing Brush, Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush, MAC 159)
• A flat non-porous mixing surface (a piece of mirror)
• An eyelash curler if you use one (NYC eyelash curler)

For this look you’ll need a grey eyeshadow, a burgundy or dark red eyeshadow and a dark plum eyeshadow. I used Aromaleigh shadows for this, but you could definitely substitute, you just want them to be similarly warm or cool toned (so if you use a cool-toned grey, it would probably work best to use a cool red and purple to go with it). If you have Shiro’s Scarlet Witch COTM, I think it would be perfect for this look. I used Darling Girl’s Superstar Serum as a foiling medium to turn the purple eyeshadow into liner, but you could use contact lens solution, eye drops or just plain water if you don’t have something similar. You could even use purple pencil liner instead of making your own, if you have it! For the lip color, anything dark red should work. I think Kae Q’s Mulberry would be a great alternative. And choose a blush that works for your skintone. Blush is just a minor player in this look, so it shouldn’t be too noticeable.

I started with clean, moisturized skin. I put a tiny dot of eyeshadow primer on my finger and smoothed it over my eyelid, and repeated on the other side.

Next I patted my grey eyeshadow all over my mobile lid with a basic shading brush. It doesn’t matter if the top edge is messy, because we’ll blend that away later, but do try to get an even coat of color on the lid.

I picked up a tiny bit of red eyeshadow with a fluffy angled brush. To make sure I didn’t pick up too much I just touched my brush lightly to the powder that was stuck on the sides of my sample bag, avoiding the pile of shadow at the bottom entirely. I used a very light tapping motion to place the red shadow in the outer portion of my crease. I also angled my brush to connect the line of red with my outer corner.

Time to blend! I used my clean fluffy blending brush to make little circles at the outer corner of my eye without picking up my brush. Then I used my brush to diffuse the top edge of the shadow with a windshield wiper motion. I blended until the red was pretty subtle.

Next I mixed together my purple shadow with Superstar Serum to make liner. I tapped out a little bit of shadow onto a flat piece of mirror and dotted one drop of serum next to it. Then I dipped my liner brush into the serum and used it to push the eyeshadow together into a paste. I added a little bit more shadow to get the consistency you see in the last picture.

Next I applied the mixture as liner. I did my upper lashline first, and then used what was left on the brush to get a lighter line under my lower lashes. I curled my lashes and applied mascara to both my upper and lower lashes.

Now it’s time to do whatever your usual base makeup routine is. You can see my foundation routine here, if you’re interested. If the red eyeshadow is too far down at the outer corner of your eye, you can either remove it or cover it up with a pat of concealer like I did.

If you’re using loose blush in a sample bag, you can tap it out on to the clean side of your mirror or mixing surface. I’m pretty light so I only need the tiniest bit of blush.

Oftentimes when I’m using indie blush I wind up applying a little bit more than I need. When I do this I take a clean blush brush and use it to blend out the blush using a circular motion to make the color less intense. The difference is subtle on camera, but in person I can see it.

Last comes lipstick. Since I’m using a sample I need a lip brush to apply it. When I use a lip brush I outline my lips first, then put a little bit more lipstick on my brush to fill in the middle.

So that’s my look! I think it’s simple and I love how the grey balanced out the red and makes it more toned down and wearable. Combined with the the lip color, this look makes me feel really classy.

I’d love to hear how it works for you if you try it out. I like the idea of continuing to do tutorials for my favorite looks from my reviews, so keep an eye out for more in the future. If there’s a look I’ve done on the blog before that you’d like to see a tutorial for, you can request one in the comments too!

Aromaleigh Brilliant Deductions Collection: Looks

Damaged & Delusional, Lucky Cat Emporium, Psychosomatic Limp, Pupils Dilated, Sooo Changeable, Frailty of Genius, How Quaint / Experimental Drug, Password Protected, Bitterness is a Paralytic, Alone is What I Have, Fleeting Impression, Surveillance Status, Codes & Ciphers / Brainy is the New Sexy, Nicotine Patch, My Only Weakness, Spectacularly Ignorant, Recreational Scolding, Glittering Career, High-Functioning Sociopath

Yesterday I posted my swatches of Aromaleigh’s Brilliant Deductions collection. Today I’ve got the looks. Since the collection is so large ( a whopping 21 colors), I couldn’t fit them into just five looks, so this post is a little bit larger than usual, with eight different looks.

Look 1: Frailty of Genius, Damaged & Delusional and Glittering CareerI started by priming my lids, then patted Frailty of Genius onto my mobile lids. I used a tapered brush to apply Damaged & Delusional to the outer corner and blended the red into the grey with a clean blending brush. I mixed Glittering Career with Superstar Serum and applied it as liner on both my upper and lower lashlines. (Lips are Tilt/Shift Gravity.) I put together a tutorial for this look here, if you’re interested in seeing how I did it step by step.

Look 2: Password Protected and Psychosomatic Limp

This look is my basic Pixie Epoxy smoky eye, which I posted about here. I primed my lips then patted Pixie Epoxy on top with my pinkie. After it set, I applied Password Protected with a fluffy brush. I swiped the rest of what was left on my brush across my crease and under my lower lashes. I used Psychosomatic Limp on a blending brush to blend out the edges and deepen the color under my lower lashes. I lined my eyes with purple pencil liner and smudged it out with a brush. I applied mascara as well.

Look 3: High-Functioning Sociopath, Alone is What I Have and Experimental DrugI primed my lids and patted Experimental Drug on with a fluffy brush. I worked it up a little bit higher than my crease and blended out the edges with a clean blending brush. I used a pencil brush to apply a dot of Alone is What I Have in the inner corner. I mixed High-Functioning Sociopath with Superstar Serum and applied it as liner, along my upper lashes and in my lower waterline. I finished with a coat of mascara.

Look 4: Brainy is the New Sexy, Recreational Scolding and Bitterness is a ParalyticI primed my lids, then patted Brainy is the New Sexy over the primer. I applied Recreational Scolding in the outer corner and blended the two together. I tidied up the edges with makeup remover and a q-tip as well. I used a liner brush to apply Bitterness is a Paralytic to my lower lashline and finished the look with winged black liner and mascara. (Lips are Fyrinnae Sexy Nerd.) There’s a full post about this look here.

Look 5: Lucky Cat Emporium and Pupils DilatedFor this look I primed my lids and patted Lucky Cat Emporium up slightly past my crease. I diffused the edge with a clean blending brush. I mixed Pupils Dilated with Superstar Serum and lined my lower lashes with it. I curled my lashes and applied mascara, but skipped the liner.

Look 6: Surveillance Status, How Quaint, Fleeting Impression and Codes & Ciphers

As always, I primed my lids first. Then I patted Surveillance status all over my mobile lid, concentrating the color lower down near my lashes. I used a blending brush to apply How Quaint to my crease, and blended out any harsh edges with it. I used a fluffy brush to highlight my browbone and inner corner with Fleeting Impression. Last I mixed Glittering Career with Superstar Serum and applied it with a liner brush, both along my upper lashes and in my lower waterline. I finished the look with mascara.

Look 7: My Only Weakness and Nicotine PatchFor this look I primed my lids and applied Pixie Epoxy on top. I waited 15 seconds and then patted My Only Weakness all over my lids. I swiped some under my lower lashes as well. Then I put Nicotine Patch on a blending brush and used it to blend out the upper edge of the green along my crease, concentrating the color in the outer corner. I lined my lashes with a golden brown pencil liner and applied mascara to finish it off.

Look 8: Sooo Changeable and Spectacularly IgnorantI applied primer and then patted Sooo Changeable all over my lid. I used a fluffy brush to place Spectacularly Ignorant in the outer corner and blended it through the outer half of my crease as well. I used a clean blending brush to blend some more. I also applied some beneath my lower lashes. I lined my upper lashes with black liquid liner, winging it out at the end, and my lower waterline with black pencil liner. I curled my lashes and applied mascara to top it off.

So there you are! Eight looks using every single color in Aromaleigh’s enormous Brilliant Deductions collection. I’ve been plugging away at getting these done for quite some time (the oldest look here is from April!), but once Aromaleigh announced that the collection was being discontinued, I knew I had to hurry it up and finish. There’s a fair number of slightly colorful smoky looks in the mix, along with a few that have a fair bit of contrasting color. My favorite look is number 1. Something about the red together with the grey just seems elegant to me, and while the liner doesn’t show up great in pictures, in person it’s got a really pretty sheen to it. It’s the look I chose to make a tutorial for, so if you’re interested in seeing how I put it together step by step, you can check it out here. I was also really pleased with how well the colors in look 3 came together. The tiny dot of turquoise in the corner really ties things together in a fun way!

Which look was your favorite? Are you interested in the Brilliant Deductions collection? Remember, it’s being discontinued and is currently on sale, so if you’re interested in picking it up you should probably do so sooner rather than later.

Aromaleigh Brilliant Deductions Collection: Swatches

Today I’m reviewing the Brilliant Deductions collection from Aromaleigh Cosmetics, which consists of 21 colors based on the BBC show Sherlock. The collection is being discontinued, but is currently available for 25% off while she still has it. I think the collection is a bit too large to be manageable, but it has some really nice colors in it.

All colors are swatched over Urban Decay Primer Potion on the top/left and Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy on the bottom/right. The top picture in each collage is taken in indoor natural light and the bottom one in direct sun.

The Reds and Browns: Brainy is the New Sexy, Damaged & Delusional, Experimental Drug, Lucky Cat Emporium, Psychosomatic Limp, Sooo Changeable, Nicotine Patch

The Greens and Blues: My Only Weakness, Bitterness is a Paralytic, Spectacularly Ignorant, Alone is What I Have, Pupils Dilated, Codes & Ciphers, High-Functioning Sociopath

The Greys and Purples: Frailty of Genius,How Quaint, Fleeting Impression, Recreational Scolding, Password Protected, Surveillance Status, Glittering Career

Brainy is the New Sexy: “A very smooth English rose frost with golden highlights and tiny copper shimmers.” This is a cool toned pink with what looks to me like a hint of blue in the shimmer. On primer there’s a sheen rather than individual sparkles. Over Pixie Epoxy it becomes noticeably darker and the gold glitters come out more.

Damaged & Delusional: “A smooth plush burgundy wine frost with a striking gold highlight.” This is a gorgeous burgundy red with golden shimmer. It performs well over primer, but on a sticky base it becomes almost metallic in it’s finish.

Experimental Drug: “A rich warm reddish brown with cool silvery iridescence of green, blue and violet.” This is an orangey reddy browny color with a strong sheen. Over primer the shimmer looks silvery blue, but over Pixie Epoxy some green comes out. It’s a touch sheer over primer alone, and darker over a sticky base.

Lucky Cat Emporium: “A smooth cinnabar frost with bright shades of jade green.” This is a bright red-orange with lime green glitters. Over primer it looks almost like a matte base with chunks of sparkle, but over a sticky base it looks shimmery and metallic with even more glitter particles.

Psychosomatic Limp: “A smooth liquid metallic bronze with rose tones and bright sparks of green.” This is a very metallic light bronze. The sheen is very strong over just primer, and over Pixie Epoxy it really does look liquid. The sparks in this are very subtle. Most of the shimmer is metallic, not sparkly.

Sooo Changeable: “A smooth taupe frost with golden highlights and interference shimmer of green and blue.” This seems like a light blackened bronze with a green shimmer overlay, kind of like brass that’s aged. Over Pixie Epoxy the sheen is very strong, which makes the color look lighter.

Nicotine Patch: “A warm brown frost with iridescent gold and rose effects, and brilliant sparks of teal and blue.” This is a warm bronze with lots of blue and purple sparks. It was equally opaque over both bases.

My Only Weakness: “A strong weathered gold with olive and khaki tones and tiny borealis shimmer.” This color is totally and completely different depending on the base you use. Over primer it’s a mattte khaki brown with red and grey tones to it. When I initially applied it, there was a layer of green/gold shimmer over the top, but it did not stick at all and just turned into fallout. Over Pixie Epoxy it’s a solid wall of golden olive green shimmer, with just the barest hint of brown base poking through.

Bitterness is a Paralytic: “A plush warm green with fine lemon yellow shimmer and bright silvery sparks.” This is a yellow green with silver glitter. Over Pixie Epoxy it’s a bit metallic.

Spectacularly Ignorant: “A deep low-sheen evergreen with brilliant sparks of warm yellow gold and cool silver.” This is a blackened forrest green, with gold and red sparks. Over a sticky base there’s an even gold sheen.

Alone is What I Have: “A muted teal frost with soft grey undertones and bright sparks of chartreuse and silver.” This is a more blue than green medium teal with silver shimmer. It’s a little sheer over primer. Over Pixie Epoxy it is darker and very sparkly. I even some some gold sparks in it along with the silver shimmer.

Pupils Dilated: “A frosted periwinkle blue with an intense golden iridescence and bright lemon gold highlight shimmer.” This is another color that it totally different over Pixie Epoxy. Over primer it’s a medium cornflower blue with the barest hint of gold shimmer. It was similar to My Only Weakness in that the shimmer initially showed up but then just sort of blew away. Over a sticky base the gold is very solid and only a hint of the blue base shows through.

Fleeting Impression: “A soft, atmospheric twilight mauve with overall iridescence of gold, green and blue.” This is a light pinky purple with an iridescent shimmer that I can see the gold, green and blue in depending on the angle. Over Pixie Epoxy it’s more iridescent, with more of the green and blue apparent in the sheen.

Recreational Scolding: “A vibrant medium grape purple with subtle aqua iridescence.” This is definitely a grape purple, but to me the shimmer is more green than aqua. Over primer alone it was a touch patchy. Over Pixie Epoxy it’s darker with more prominent shimmer.

Password Protected: “A muted warm mauve with coppery iridescence and bright golden sparks.” This is a warm reddish purple with a very strong gold/over shimmer. The shimmer is very apparent over primer alone. Over a sticky base the sheen is so solid it almost obscures the base, which makes it look more like a golden brown with slight reddish tones than a purple.

Surveillance Status: “A smooth saturated dark purple with lush rose and violet iridescence, and smoke tones.” This is a warm plummy dark purple, with a bit of shimmer. Over Pixie Epoxy it looks a little metallic, almost.

Glittering Career: “A deep smokey grey with russet/violet tones and overall fine pink highlight shimmer.” I see this as a dark purple, not a grey. It’s a very dark purple, but the base is more of a warm brown than a black. The shimmer that comes out over Pixie Epoxy has a touch of red to it.

Codes & Ciphers: “A rich purplish grey with overall iridescent shimmers of peach and rose.” Over primer this is basically a charcoal black. On a sticky base it’s a purplish dark grey, with blue and pink shimmers.

High-Functioning Sociopath: “A lush smoked navy blue with bright and saturated sparks of sapphire blue.” I do not get any navy from this. To my eye it’s a very dark grey, almost black. Over Pixie Epoxy it becomes a metallic dark grey/black with tiny turquoise sparks.

Frailty of Genius: ” A smokey cocoa frost with shimmering highlights of fuchsia and violet.” The description does not match the color as I see it at all. I see it as a concrete grey with pinky purple shimmer. Over primer the shimmer is very slight, but it forms more of a sheen over Pixie Epoxy. In sunlight a little bit of cocoa-ness peeks through as an undertone.

How Quaint: “A soft dove grey with violet-blue tones, and tiny shimmers of cobalt blue and copper.” This is a light grey with a bit of a violet tone to it and blue shimmer. Over primer the shimmer isn’t very strong, which makes it appear warmer, almost like there’s a touch of pink in it. Over Pixie Epoxy it’s darker and the shimmer is more apparent, which makes the grey pull cooler.

Overall Thoughts: I liked the formula for most of the colors. The way the top layer of shimmer fell out from Pupils Dilated and My Only Weakness was something I hadn’t experienced before and definitely disappointing since some of Aromaleigh’s other duochromes (like Experimental Drug) are quite nice. Beyond that the collection is just too big for my liking and I don’t really see how the colors fit with the inspiration from the TV show. Some of the colors are pretty similar and I wish she’d edited it down some before releasing it. I would recommend picking and choosing the shades that appeal to you rather than getting the whole collection because it’s a bit unwieldy all together. Most of the colors are brights or darks and there isn’t much in the way of lighter highlighting shades, which can make coming up with combinations a little tricky. I particularly liked Damaged & Delusional, Experimental Drug, Fleeting Impression, Alone is What I Have and Frailty of Genius.

Given the size of the collection, I had to do more than my usual five looks to use all of the colors. A couple have been featured on my blog before (including yesterday’s look), but most of them are new. Come back tomorrow to see them!

The looks are up here! I also did a tutorial using Frailty of Genius, Damaged & Delusional and Glittering Career.

FOTD: Password Protected Smoky Eye

I was in the mood for a pixie epoxy smoky eye a while back, since it had been a while since I’d done one, and another user posted a really pretty look using Aromaleigh’s Password Protected over on r/indiemakeupandmore, so I decided to combine the two of them. I’ve had this post sitting in my drafts folder for a while, but I’m working on finally finishing up my enormous Brilliant Deductions review (21 shadows. Craziness.) so I figured I’d post this now as a sort of preview.

 For a look that is in theory purple, this wound up looking surprisingly neutral. I still like it though.

Eyes:

• Aromaleigh Password Protected
• Aromaleigh Psychosomatic Limp
• Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Tornado
• Urban Decay Primer Potion
• Make Up Forever Smoky Extravagant Mascara

Face:

• MAC Face and Body in N1
• Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in 1
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light
• Stila All Over Shimmer Liquid Luminizer in Rose Gold
• Baroque Sonrel Not Sonrel

Lips:

• Marc Jacobs Lip Lacquer in Kissability

I did my usual pixie epoxy smoky eye here. I applied primer then patted pixie epoxy onto my mobile lid using my pinky. After it set, I patted Password Protected, a purple with a strong gold sheen, on top. I swiped what was left on my blush through my crease and below my lower lashes. Then I picked up a little Psychosomatic Limp, a light golden brown, with a blending brush and used it to blend out my crease. I put a little of it below my lower lashes to deepen the color there as well. Then I applied a purple pencil liner and smudged it out with a smudge brush. I finished my eyes with a coat of mascara. I did my usual face stuff and highlight my cheeks with a rose gold liquid highlighter. I also applied a plummy blush and a plum lipgloss with a bit of gold sparkle.

I like this look quite a bit. It’s very wearable way to do purple, and I think the gold looks really nice with my eyes.

FOTD: Turquoise and Champagne Birthday Look!

It’s my birthday! So I did a look using all my favorite colors. Champagne and turquoise, together at last. While I love both of them, I think this is the first time I’ve used them together in the same look.

I like it a lot. It reminds me of the gold and turquoise mermaid inspired look I did in my Jupiter Rain post, just done with more skill.

 

Smiley glasses picture! I got cold and put on my jacket and realized I’d unwittingly sort of matched it, with the turquoise and toned down magenta.

 

Eyes:

• Aromaleigh #lovenotfear
• Shiro Maiden Queen
• Hello Waffle JK Meowling
• Shiro Cake!
• Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner in Intense Black
• Marc Jacobs Highliner in Blacquer
• Urban Decay Primer Potion
• Buxom Lash Mascara

Face:

• MAC Mineralize Moisture Foundation in NC20
• Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in 1
• Blackbird Magic Trick Super Powder in Translucent
• Tarte Flush Cheek Stain

Lips:

• Kae Q Sapodilla
• Fyrinnae Sexy Nerd

I started my priming my eyes. Then I applied #lovenotfear over the entire lid using a flat brush. I took a fluffy brush and worked Maiden Queen, a bright greenish turquoise, into the Champagne, starting at the outer corner and ending about 2/3 of the way across. I tried to blend them so there was an even gradient, from turquoise at the outer corner to champagne at the inner corner. Then I used a fluffy angled brush to put JK Meowling, another sparkly greeny turquoise, just a bit darker than Maiden Queen, in the out portion of my crease. I used a clean blending brush to even out the transitions. Then I used a teeny tiny brush to highlight my inner corner with Cake, a shimmery white with yellow and red to its sheen. I lined my upper lashline with liquid liner, winging it out at the end, and my lower lashline with pencil liner. I curled my lashes and put on my favorite mascara. I applied foundation, concealer and powder and dotted a berry cheek stain onto my cheeks and blended it in with my fingers. I highlighted the tops of my cheeks with a pinkish liquid highlighter. For my lips I started with a layer of Sapodilla, a nude that’s pretty close to my skintone. Then I dotted on Sexy Nerd, a magenta with a bit of gold shimmer, and blended them together with my finger.

So that’s it! I’m very happy with it, and I’ve been having a really good birthday so far too!

FOTD: Signature Look with Magenta Lips

As I mentioned in my signature look post the other day, I’m really into light shadows with winged liner and matching cheeks and lips. Usually I got for rosy or coral cheeks and lips, but during my blog hiatus I was in the mood for something cooler, so I used magenta instead. I really liked it, but didn’t have time to photograph it, so here’s my recreation of the look for blog-posterity.I used Fyrinnae’s Sexy Nerd on my lips, which coordinated really nicely with Shiro’s Potion blush.

Eyes:

• Aromaleigh #lovenotfear
• Hello Waffle 23
• Urban Decay Primer Potion
• Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner in Intense Black
• Buxom Lash Mascara

Face:

• MAC Face and Body in N1
• Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in 1
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light
• Shiro Potion

Lips:

• Fyrinnae Sexy Nerd

This look was pretty much as basic as can be. I primed my eyes and then applied #lovenotfear, a shimmery pinky champagne, to my lids. I put a little bit of 23, a rose gold, in the outer portion of my crease and blended the two together. I applied winged liner and mascara and did my usual foundation, concealer and powder routine. I finished with Potion, a berry blush, and Sexy Nerd, a magenta lip lustre with a bit of golden shimmer.

So that’s it! Basic and pretty and I got a ton of compliments on it last time I wore it out. The type of thing I would have no problem wearing all the time. Plus, Sexy Nerd is so much fun, and it fades really nicely too, so I feel fine wearing it even for long days when I won’t be able to touch up.

FOTD: Yellow Blush

In my order from Baroque, Andi included her yellow blush, Klimt Eastwood, as my free sample. Yellow blush is one of those things that I probably wouldn’t have bought on my own, but since I have it I wanted to try it out. And you know what? It’s not bad.

I think it winds up looking like more of an apricot than a yellow once it’s on my face, so I paired it with some similar apricot eyeshadows.

Eyes:

• Aromaleigh Amelie
• Hello Waffle Summertime
• Urban Decay Primer Potion
• Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner in Intense Black
• Buxom Lash Mascara

Face:

• MAC Face and Body in N1
• Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in 1
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light
• Baroque Klimt Eastwood

Lips:

• Life’s Entropy Recursion
• NYX Wonder Pencil in Light

I started by priming my lids and then applied Amelie, a light shimmery peach to the mobile lid. I used an angled brush to place Summertime, a darker yellowish peach, in the outer portion of the crease and blended in down and in. I applied winged black liner on my upper lashline and black pencil liner on my lower lashline. I put a little more Summertime below my lower lashes as well. Then I curled them and applied mascara to both my upper and lower lashes. I did my foundation, concealer and powder like usual. I tapped some Klimt Eastwood, a yellow blush, out onto a piece of mirror and used my contour brush to pick some up, since it’s smaller and more precise than my blush brush. I applied it to my cheeks and blended it out with a clean blush brush. Then I lined around the outside of my lips with a skintoned pencil and blended it out with my finger. I used a lip brush to apply Recursion, a bright orangey red lip theory, to finish the look.

I was pleasantly surprised at how peachy Klimt Eastwood turned when applied. Even though it’s definitely a goldenrod yellow powder, the natural color of my cheeks shows through a little and makes it look more like a light orange. I like it. I could see myself using it again. If I wanted to make this look monochromatic, I’d swap out the Lip Theory for Shiro’s apricot Come Out, Come Out balm, which I think would match the blush perfectly.

Have you ever tried any unusual blush colors?

FOTD: Aromaleigh’s Neurodiversity Shadows

After using both of Aromaleigh’s Neurodiversity eyeshadows separately last week, I wanted to do a look with both of them together. They’re both neutrals with a twist, so the look I came up with is easy going and neutral. I used #lovenotfear all over my lids and Neurodivergent as liner. Eyes:

• Aromaleigh #lovenotfear
• Aromaleigh Neurodivergent
• Darling Girl Superstar Serum
• Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Pistol
• Urban Decay Primer Potion
• Maybelline Great Lash

Face:

• Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream in Light
• Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in 1
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light
• Tarte Exposed
• Tarte Blissful

Lips:

• Benefit Rocketpop

I primed my lids and used a flat brush to apply #lovenotfear, a sparkly champagne, all over my lids and up to my crease. Then I mixed Neurodivergent, a brown and blue duochrome, with superstar serum and applied the mixture as line for my upper lids. I used a shimmer taupe pencil liner for my lower lashline and applied mascara to both my upper and lower lashes. I applied BB cream and concealer with my fingers and lightly set it with powder. I used a ruddy brown blush, but didn’t quite like it, so brushed a bright coral peach blush over the top to brighten it up. I finished with a cinnamon pink lipstick. I really like Neurodivergent as liner. It’s quite sparkly and pretty when the light catches it. I wasn’t up for complicated make up today, so this look was simple enough to do the trick.

FOTD: Lots of Magenta

Oftentimes when I’m considering buying something from a brand I already own, I find myself playing with the shadows already in my stash before I make up my mind. This is how I wound up with Aromaleigh’s whopping 21-color Sherlock-themed Brilliant Deductions collection laid out on my make up desk. I find this collection totally overwhelming. There are just so many colors. And so many of them are bright. Not a neutral pale shade in the bunch. Eventually I’ll get around to reviewing it, but it’ll take me some time to figure out what to do with all those colors. But today some of those brights drew me in and I decided to use them together.

Magenta pink, purple and a touch of lime green. Plus more magenta for the lips and cheeks.

Eyes:

• Aromaleigh Brainy is the New Sexy
• Aromaleigh Recreational Scolding
• Aromaleigh Bitterness is a Paralytic
• Urban Decay Primer Potion
• Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner in Intense Black
• Buxom Lash Mascara

Face:

• MAC Face and Body in N1
• Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in 1
• Benefit Boi-ing Concealer in 1
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light
• Shiro You’re Making Me [Blush]

Lips:

• Fyrinnae Sexy Nerd

I started by priming my lids and beneath my lower lashes. Then I patted Brainy is the New Sexy, a shimmer pink magenta, all over my lids. I applied Recreational Scolding, a bright medium purple, to the outer corner and blended the two together. I cleaned up the top edge with a bit of make up remover on a q-tip. I used a liner brush to apply Bitterness is a Paralytic, a lime green, to my lower lashline. Then I lined my upper lashline with winged black liquid liner, curled my lashes and applied mascara. I did my face with a double dose of concealer because I’ve been super tired lately and very lightly applied You’re Making Me, a magenta blush, using a highlighting brush. I finished by applying Sexy Nerd, a golden magenta lip lustre, with the doefoot.

It wasn’t until I typed out the product listed that I realized I used Brainy is the New Sexy and Sexy Nerd together in this look. That made me smile. I like how well the two colors coordinate.

FOTD: Neurodivergent Duochrome Smoky Eye

Two days in a row now I’ve used Aromaleigh’s Neurodiversity shadows, which benefit Autism Acceptance charities. Two days in a row I’ve put them on my eyelids and instantaneously wanted to own them in full sizes. It’s my first time using my Aromaleigh shadows, and I’ve got to say, Kristin is seriously doing something right. Both shades are gorgeous and easy to wear but with a bit of a kick to them. With #lovenotfear, that kick is sparkle. With Neurodivergent, it’s duochrome. (Duochromes are colors that have one color as the base and an overlay of sparkle or shimmer in a different color. Which color you see depends on the angle and the lighting.) Duochromes get a lot of love in the indie community, but this is the first shadow that made me get it. And get it I do! I kept turning my head different angles to look at the color shift from blue to brown. So fricking cool.I just love this. So easy. So pretty. So interesting. Different angles to show off dat duochrome. Eyes:

• Aromaleigh Neurodivergent
• Stila Rain (In the Know Palette)
• Stila Air (In the Know Palette)
• Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy
• Urban Decay Primer Potion
• Sephora Collection Black Lace Eyeliner
• Make Up Forever Smoky Extravagant Mascara

Face:

• MAC Face and Body in N1
• Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in 1
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light
• Tarte Exposed

Lips:

• MAC Patisserie (I think. It might be Viva Glam V. I forgot to write it down.)

This was super super easy. I primed my lids and patted Pixie Epoxy on top. I waited 20 seconds then patted Neurodivergent, a brown with a blue duochrome, all over my lids. I blended out the edges with a matte smoky brown and highlighted under my browbone with a matte burnt vanilla. I lined my lids with black pencil liner and applied mascara. I did my face like always, with my go to smoky eye blush and lipstick. I love love love this. It’s convinced me that I need to buy full sizes of all of Aromaleigh’s Neurodiversity colors, including the new shade, Enigma. If you missed my post yesterday, for the month of April (which is Autism Awareness month), Kristin will donate half of the sales of Enigma to the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. After April is finished, 25% of sales will be donated, like the two older colors. Neurodivergent also benefits ASAN, and #lovenotfear benefits the Golden Hat Foundation. Kristin (who is on the Autism spectrum herself) carefully considers the charities she donates to and has a very thorough explanation of her choices and reasoning on her page for the Enigma color, which I strongly encourage you to read if you’re interested in austism advocacy. In brief, she chooses charities that include support for autistic adults and that listen to autistic voices. I feel really good about supporting her charity work, and I love the colors to as well. I’m planning on picking up full sizes of all three this month, since I love the first two so much.