FOTD: African Pygmy Kingfisher

The next predatory animal my husband choose for my animal series is the African Pygmy Kingfisher. It’s so tiny and cute and adorable it’s hard to believe it’s a predator. It’s also super colorful, so this look was a lot of fun.

I was definitely surprised at how wearable this wound up, given the colors of the bird.

 I probably wouldn’t have chosen orange, purple and blue together without the inspiration, but I like it! I definitely see myself doing more bird-inspired looks in the future.

Eyes:

• Shiro Team Rocket
• Hello Waffle Mad
• Hello Waffle Golden Stairs
• Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Ultraviolet
• NYX Milk
• Benefit They’re Real Mascara

Face:

• MAC Face and Body in N1
• Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in 1
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light
• Shiro 1-Up (I think. I forgot to write it down.)

Lips:

• Shiro Come Out, Come Out

I started by covering my entire eye area with NYX Milk pencil and blending it out with my finger. Then I applied Mad, a light yellowy orange, to my mobile lid. I used a tiny brush to carefully apply a thin layer of Team Rocket, a bright pink-toned purple, to the outer part of my crease. I blended carefully. Then I highlighted my inner corner with Golden Stairs, a peachy gold shade. I lined my upper lashes heavily with Ultraviolet pencil liner, a super bright shimmery blue. I lined my lower waterline as well, stopping before my tear duct. I curled my lashes and applied mascara. I did my face like usual, with a peachy blush and a light orange tinted balm.

I was honestly surprised at how well this turned out. The lid colors were lighter than I expect them to be, but that actually helped balance out the super bright liner. Plus now I know a type of super cute bird I’d never heard of before! Have you ever done bird-inspired make up? What’s your favorite bird?

FOTD: Tiger Stripes!

A while back I asked my husband what kind of eyeshadow I should wear. His answer? Tiger stripes! So… I put tiger stripes on my eyelids. Then, whenever I would ask him what I should do with my make up, he would give me an animal. So I told him he could choose five animals and I would do a little series of them. He decided to stick to predators. So this is the first in my series of predatory animal themed make up looks.

I wanted the white/orange transition that’s so pretty on tigers, so I used a white gold closest to my lashline, and then orange all over the rest of the eye space.

Triple wing! I figured this was the most wearable way to do stripes.

Eyes:

• Hello Waffle Pachelbel
• Notoriously Morbid Comic Relief
• Shiro Steve O’Lantern
• NYX Milk
• Kat Von D Tattoo Liner
• Maybelline Great Lash Mascara

Face:

• MAC Face and Body Foundation in N1
• Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in 1
• MAC Skinfinish Natural in Light
• Shiro Revive Blush
• Hello Waffle Fauxlivia mixed into the blush

Lips:

• Shiro Come Out, Come Out Tinted Balm

I started by applying NYX milk on my lid and then smoothing it up to my brows with a finger. I applied a tiny line of Hello Waffle’s Pachelbel, a shimmery white gold, right next to my lashes. Then I applied a thin layer of Notoriously Morbid’s Comic Relief, a matte orange, all the way up to my eyebrows. After that, I blended Shiro’s Steve O’Lantern, a sparkly darker orange, across my crease and down to the edge of the white. After this, the white wasn’t showing up as much as I’d like, so I dabbed some more NYX milk right next to the lashline in the middle of each lid and patted some more Pachelbel on top. Then I lined my upper lashline with black liquid liner, being careful not cover up the white too much and winging it out in the corners. Then I very carefully drew two more lines parallel to the first wing. After I was done with the eyeliner, I didn’t look feline enough for my liking, so I applied a thicker than usual line of Pachelbel along my lower water line and inner corner, and I blended it up from my inner corner to the start of my eyebrow along the inside of my nose. My face stuff went on as usual: foundation, concealer and powder, but I didn’t have a blush that was orange enough for the tiger vibe I was going for, so I mixed a little bit of Hello Waffle’s Fauxlivia eyeshadow into Shiro’s Revive blush, to get a sparkly orange blush. Then I finished everything off with mascara and a sheer orange tinted balm.

I was so happy that I actually successfully pulled this off. I had tiger stripes on my face, but in a way that was surprisingly wearable. A bit out there, but not too much. If I ever have a need to dress up as a tiger, I would totally do this again. Also, it was what kicked off the whole set of animal themed looks, which I’ve been having a ton of fun with. Plus it’s fun letting my husband choose the animals for me!