FOTD: Fourth of July Red, White and Blue Cut Crease

Happy Fourth of July everyone! In America, I was never super into Independence Day, but living abroad makes being super American for a day more fun. So I put together an All-American red, white and blue look.

I feel like it’s pretty intense, but also fun and good for a holiday. Plus, I finally got around to doing another cut crease! I liked it in this case because it kept the red and the white separate, instead of them melding into pink.

Eyes:

• Corvus Euterpe
• Shiro What’s This Lever Do?
• Shiro Attercop, Attercop
• Darling Girl Superstar Serum
• Urban Decay Primer Potion
• Buxom Lash Mascara

Face:

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

Lips:

• Fyrinnae 1952

After I primed my lids, I patted Euterpe, a matte creamy white, all over my lids. I then applied What’s This Lever Do?, a shimmery red, above my crease. I very lightly blended them together, and then I went back over my lid with a bit more white to keep the colors distinct. I mixed Attercop, Attercop, a sparkly navy, with Superstar Serum to make a paste and applied it as liner for my upper and lower lashes, making sure not to make the line too thick along my upper lashes so that the white was still visible with my eyes open. I curled my lashes and applied mascara. I did my usual base make up, and lightly applied a bright red blush, which I blended out with a clean blush brush. I finished the look with 1952, a warm red lip lustre, which I applied with a doefoot.

I actually really love this look. I wish I had a barbeque with lots of other Americans to wear it to! Happy Fourth everyone!

FOTD: Darling Girl Summer Look

As I’ve mentioned before, each month Darling Girl has a contest on their facebook page. To enter, you post a look based on that month’s theme using Darling Girl products. This month’s theme was summer, and this is the look I came up with.

I was going for a sand and water look with my eyeshadow, but I don’t have a true turquoise from Darling Girl, and Lucky pulled greener than I remembered it. Oh well. I also added a bit of pink, because summer should be colorful.

Eyes:

• Darling Girl Bubbles
• Darling Girl That’s a Big Twinkie
• Darling Girl Lucky
• Darling Girl Tit Punch
• Darling Girl Superstar Serum
• Urban Decay Primer Potion
• Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner in Intense Black
• Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Perversion
• Make Up Forever Smoky Extravagant Mascara

Face:

• MAC Face and Body in N1
• Benefit Boi-ing Concealer in 1
• Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in 1
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light
• Benefit Cha Cha Tint

Lips:

• Fyrinnae Meloncholy
• Firebird Strawberry Tangerine lip balm

I started by priming my lids. Then I applied Bubbles, a light cream/tan with a blue green sheen, all over my lid. I used That’s a Big Twinkie, a matte tan, in my crease. I lined my upper lashline with black liquid liner and winged it out. I patted Lucky, a white with green shimmer that’s designed to pop over a black base, on top of the liner. However, it didn’t show up as much as I wanted it to, so I went over the line (but not the wing) with pencil liner and patted more Lucky on top. Then I mixed Tit Punch, a bright pink, with Superstar Serum and applied it to my lower lashline with an angled liner brush. I applied mascara and did my usual foundation routine, with a double dose of undereye concealer. I used a coral liquid cheek stain, which I blended in with my fingers. I applied a thin layer of Meloncholy, a bright coral lip lustre, over the top of a balm and blended it with my finger to sheer it out a bit.

I love contests and coming up with looks to fit themes, so I had fun with this. If I had to do it again (and I might), I think I’d do a look with more tropical bright eyeshadow, rather than a look that’s heavy on the eyeliner for color.

FOTD: Glamorous Red and Sparkly Taupe

Over on r/makeuprehab, they’re doing a lip dare, which means using a different lip product every day for the rest of the month. It sounded like a fun challenge, so I decided to join in. While I use a pretty good rotation of lip colors, it seemed like a good way to encourage myself to give some love to my lesser used lip colors. So in that spirit, today I’m wearing a blue-based red, which I think is pretty, but don’t wear often.

I paired it with a simple sparkly taupe eye, to keep the focus solidly on the lips.

Eyes:

• Darling Girl Jeweled Taupe
• Blackbird Atlas
• Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Crave
• Benefit Stay Don’t Stray in Light/Medium
• Make Up Forever Smoky Extravagant Mascara

Face:

• MAC Face and Body in N1
• Benefit Boi-ing Concealer in 1
• Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in 1
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light
• Baroque Mucha Ado About Nothing

Lips:

• Fyrinnae Glamorous Rebel

I started by priming my lids (but with a different primer than usual). I then applied a wash of Jeweled Taupe, a sparkly light taupey tan, all over my lids. I applied Atlas, a matte brown, in the crease and below my lower lashes and blended it in a lot to soften the lines. I lined my eyes with a brown-black pencil liner and applied mascara. I did my usual face stuff, with a warm rosy blush. I finished with Glamorous Rebel, a blue toned red lip lustre, which I applied with the doefoot.

I think it’s worth noting that I don’t always put my looks up on the blog the same day I do them, so my blog posts might not reflect the lip dare perfectly. (For example, I technically started the dare yesterday with a post that’s going up later this week, since yesterday was the Planetary Challenge.) But I’m keeping track of what I use, and at the end of the Lip Dare challenge I’ll post a round up of all fifteen lip colors.

FOTD: Gold Eyes and Pinky Purple Lips

This is actually another face of the day from yesterday. I wanted to be extra pretty the entire day for my birthday, so this is the make up I did in the morning, and the look I posted yesterday was what I did in the evening, post-shower. I think I saw a look somewhere recently that inspired me to do this, but I don’t remember where. I just knew I wanted gold eyeshadow and pinky purple lips.

I’m almost out of my usual setting powder (MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural), so I did a little experiment to decide if I wanted to replace it or switch to an indie alternative. I did the left half of my face (the right side in the pictures) with Blackbird’s Magic Trick Super Powder, and the right side with MAC (on the left in the pictures). Then I compared the two. I had my husband inspect the two sides up close and he couldn’t tell the difference at all. I thought both sides looked equally nice, but the Blackbird feels a touch nicer on the skin and is an entire 20 dollars cheaper, so Blackbird wins. I’m gonna get a full size of it instead of another pan of the MAC powder.

Obligatory glasses pictures. I think the lip color is really fun with this pair.

Eyes:

• Shiro Perfect World
• Shiro Cake
• Marc Jacobs Highliner in Blacquer
• Urban Decay Primer Potion
• Buxom Lash Mascara

Face:

• MAC Face and Body in N1
• Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in 1
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light (right half)
• Blackbird Magic Trick Super Powder in Translucent (left half)
• Shiro You’re Making Me [blush]

Lips:

• Kae Q Passionflower
• Fyrinnae Visual Kei

This look was pretty simple to pull off. I primed my lids and then patted Perfect World, a light gold, all over. I dotted a tiny bit of Cake, a white with a bit of reddish yellow shimmer, in the inner corner. I lined my eyes with black gel pencil liner, and smudged only the outer corners. Then I curled my lashes and applied mascara. I did my foundation and concealer, but then used two different powders to set it so I could compare them. I used a tiny bit of You’re Making Me, a magenta blush, on my cheeks, which I applied with my contour brush. I didn’t own the right pinky purple shade I wanted for my lips, so I started by applying Passionflower, a lavender, with a doefoot applicator, and then dotted Visual Kei, a bright pink, on top. I used my finger to blend them together until the color was even.

I’m super happy with this look. It was cheery and fun and pretty much exactly what I was going for.

Do you ever do your make up more than once in a day? I definitely do sometimes. Make up’s a hobby for me, so if I have an idea in the afternoon, I have no problem washing my face and doing my make up again.

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: The Paper Magician Inspired Look

 I just finished reading The Glass Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg. I really enjoyed it, so I used it as my inspiration for this look. In the book, Magicians bond to one material, and that’s what they use to cast all of their spells. The main character, Ceony, is training to become a paper magician (a folder) so her spells are folded out of paper, like enchanted origami.

 

 I used a creamy matte white on my lids to represent paper, and a sparkly dark red for blood, which also figures prominently in the book.

Eyes:

• Blackbird Half Full
• Blackbird Modesty
• Hello Waffle Kai
• Darling Girl Superstar Serum
• Urban Decay Primer Potion
• Buxom Lash Mascara

Face:

• MAC Mineralize Moisture Foundation in NC20
• Laura Mercier Secret Concealer
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light
• Baroque Mucha Ado About Nothing

Lips:

• Kae Q Sapodilla
• Fyrinnae Glamorous Rebel

I started by priming my lids, then I blended Half Full, a matte cream, all over my lid. I worked Modesty, a matte light beige, into the crease. Then I mixed Kai, a sparkly copper red, with superstar serum to make a paste, which I applied with a liner brush. I winged it out at the end and applied a little along my lower lashline as well. I also put on mascara. I applied a different foundation than usual (MAC Mineralize Moisture, which I have a sample of but don’t love) with my usual brush, concealer and powder. I did my cheeks with Mucha Ado About Nothing, a slightly shimmery reddish rose. For my lips I mixed together two different colors. I started by applying a layer of Sapodilla, a nude balm, with a doefoot applicator. Then I put a tiny dot of Glamorous Rebel, a cool toned red, in the middle of each lip and blended it in with my finger, mixing the two colors together.

I really like this look, but I wish I’d used a thinner brush to apply the liner, since the red covers up most of the white, which I’d intended to be the centerpiece of the look. I really like the mix of Sapodilla and Glamorous Rebel, though. I suppose there are easier ways of getting pink lips, but I like this specific color.

Have you read The Paper Magician? Do you ever feel inspired to match your make up to books you like?

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: Blackbird’s Feminine Pinks

 I was in the mood for a simple kind of looks today, so I figured I’d try some of my new Blackbird shadows. I was also feeling a little bit girly, so I went for the pink ones.

 To keep it soft I used grey eyeliner. I love grey eyeliner. I should wear it more often.

Eyes:

• Blackbird Immortals
• Blackbird Imogen
• Blackbird Vintage
• Stila Smudgestick in Halfmoon
• 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 Ocelot

Since mattes can be tricky over primer, I tested Imogen out on my arm over primer and over bare skin before I started. I liked it better on bare skin, so I skipped the primer for this look. I started by applying Immortals, a matte light pink, to the inner half of my lids. I applied Imogen, a matte medium pink, to the outer half and blended the two together. Then I placed Vintage, a darker matte pink with a touch of purple, in the outer V and crease using a thin angled brush. I put some under my lower lashes as well. I used a clean blending brush to blend everything together. I lined my eyes with grey pencil liner, curled my lashes and put on mascara. I did my usual face stuff, and finished with look with Potion, a plummy pink blush, and Ocelot, a light pink lip lustre, which I applied with the doe foot.

I really liked how soft and pretty this look came out. The soft pinks remind me of some of the looks I used to do with my Naked 3 palette, but Blackbird’s are a little bit cooler and matte instead of shimmery. I’m looking to trying out more all matte neutral looks with the rest of my blackbird colors. Usually I use mattes as support shades for my shimmery shadows, so it was a nice change to let them stand on their own.

Do you do all matte looks? What matte formula is your favorite?

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: Bawdy Bleu Librarian Challenge

After a bit of a hiatus, I finally got around to another of my IMAM sample challenge looks. This one was from /u/eraser_dust, aka Working with Monolids, the creator of the sample challenge herself. She said I should use My Pretty Zombie’s Bleu and Fyrinnae’s Bawdy Librarian, so that I could call it my Bawdy Bleu Librarian look.

 I cannot imagine a librarian wearing this look, though. At least not to work. :)

Eyes:

• Fyrinnae Bawdy Librarian
• My Pretty Zombie Bleu
• Urban Decay Primer Potion
• Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner in Intense Black
• Marc Jacobs Highliner in Brown(out)
• 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:

• Benefit Hoola Gloss

I started by priming my eyes, including under the lower lashline. I applied Bawdy Librarian, a sparkly bronze brown, to the inner 3/4 of my eyelids. Then I used a pencil brush to apply Bleu, a dark navy, in a cat eye shape at the outer corner. I blended the two together and faintly applied some Bleu along my crease at the upper edge of the bronze shadow. I brought the navy around the outer corner and along the lower lashline. I lined my lower lashes with bronzey brown pencil liner and my upper lashes with black liquid liner. I curled my lashes and applied mascara to both sets of lashes. I did my face make up, finishing with a pale bronze/gold gloss.

I had a lot of fun with this! It’s not a shape I use very often, but I think it’s cool, in an intense way. Also, both of the shadows had excellent pigmentation and were easy to use together.