"Eye Must Have!"

The eye is the jewel of the body.

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American naturalist, poet and philosopher.

If you know me, you know I have entirely too many eye shadows. More than any one... (or 50) woman could ever need, but I can't help it, eyes are my specialty.  You look into people's eyes every day; your family, friends, co-workers.  We are taught that this is respectful and courteous.  So knowing that everyone you come in contact with each and every day will look into your eyes, why not enhance them a little with my "EYE MUST HAVES" for an every day eye.

1. Eye Primer

When you use a primer before you apply your shadows it is going to help your shadow stay on all day.  You also won't have to apply as much of your shadows because the primer will pick up more of that pigment and so the colors will be brighter and show up better.  I like to use MAC's Paint Pot in "Bare Study"    

2. Neutral Shadow

This is going to be your base color that you cover your entire eye with, from lash to eyebrow.  You want it to be very neautral, and with a little shimmer.  I like Lancome's Color Design Shadow's in "108 Must-Have - Soft gold." This line is available in a variety shades and finishes—from shimmer to sheen and metallic to matte. These shadows go on so smoothly and blend beautiful. They are long-lasting, pigment-packed and the color stays all day.


3. Medium Neutral Shadow

Use a medium shadow for the crease of your eyelid.  This is going to still give you a neutral looking eye, but it will give you just enough dimension to really make your eyes pop.  I typically use a matte shadow for this as it gives more of a natural look.

4. Highlight - In my opinion, this is the most essential step (and my favorite) in the process and will really give your eyes that little something extra.  Apply a white shimmer shadow to the inner corner of your eye (at the tear duct) as well as right under the arch of the brow. This will really open and brighten your eyes up.


5. Eye Liner

If you've read any of my other posts, you should know my all time favorite eye liner is the Mac Fluidline. Ultra-smooth, long-wearing, smudge-proof, and just plain wonderful.
This liner look can be a little dramatic if you aren't use to it, so a pencil liner can be great too for a day look.


6. Mascara

Finish with mascara and you will look fresh and polished.  A classic look for every day.


**To transform this look from day to night, just add a touch of your favorite dark eye shadow to the outer corner of your eye to give it a little more of a dramatic look.**

BabyDoll Makeup Look

The BabyDoll!
This year I wanted to do something really different and unique for my Halloween look.  I contemplated so many ideas, from a comic book character to a vampire, but as Halloween got closer I finally decided.  I had seen so many tutorials, pictures and variations of this look that inspired me, so I just had to try a babydoll look for myself.  I didn't have a whole lot of time to create this look (I am talking less than an hour) so looking back there are a couple things I would have done differently, but for the most part I was really happy with how it came out and I really loved all the reactions I got.  Here are a few fun pictures and a few tips to go along.

I started with concealing all shadows on my face (around the noise, under the eyes) as well as my lips.  I then used a foundation a few shades lighter than my usual.  

I took a white eye liner pencil and colored in below my eye and tried to conceal my real bottom eye lashes by coloring my tear line white as well.  I then outlined what I colored with black liquid eye liner.  I did my top eye liner normal and added huge false eyelashes to the top and bottom where I had my black outline to give the illusion of a huge baby doll eye.

For my eye shadow I covered the whole eye with a shimmery neutral then I did a very defined shadow line a little above the actual crease and blended out.  I used a deep pink lip liner to redefine a puckered lip and filled in with a plum lip stain to ensure it wasn't coming off.  

I finished with a pronounced round rosy cheek and heavy highlighting under the eye, down the noise, basically everywhere to give my face a porcelain look. If I would have had more time, I think I would have hiden my eyebrows and drawn them in higher to make the eye look even bigger.  I would have also contoured the face a bit more to give a more dramatic look and played around with the eyes a bit more too.  Anyway, all in all I really enjoyed creating the look and I really liked how it came out.  <3

Happy Halloween! Some of my Fav Halloween Looks!

Happy Halloween Everyone!  I love Halloween, it is a great time to play around with makeup ideas and experiment different looks.  If you know me at all, you know I always say that I wish I went through a punk stage growing up, but alas, I never did.  So I love halloween just for the simple fact you get to dress up and be something you aren't for one night.  I have below some of my favorite Halloween looks with tips and tutorials!

1. The Angel

Fun Tip: Use eyelash glue to gently glue down feathers to the outside of the outer edges of your eyes!

Watch an Angel Halloween Makeup Tutorial Here:

 2. The Cat

Tip: Bring your eyeliner to a point at your tear duct (Similar to a small wing you might do at the outer edge of your eye).  This will give an illusion of a more cat-like shaped eye.

Watch a Sexy Cat Halloween Makeup Tutorial Here:

3. The Babydoll

Tip: Glue false eye lases below your actual bottom eye lashes to give the illusion of big babydoll eye. There so many options for doll makeup, this is a very good one to start with, because you can go pretty simple with heavy blush, etc, or get complex like the video below.

Watch a Ventriloquist Doll Halloween Makeup Tutorial Here:

 

4. Bat Girl

Tip: Outline mask first, then fill.

OTHER LOOKS I LOVE:

Kat Von D

TIP: Bring out your inner punk with fake tattoos!  You can even use a permanent marker, comes right off with eye makeup remover.  BELIEVE ME.

Comic Book Face

(I am trying this one this year, will upload photos and let you know how it goes!)

EVIL DIVA

PEACOCK

TIP: Experiment with colors and glitter!  This one can be so fun!  There are also tons of different types of false eyelashes around Halloween time, feathery ones, glittery ones, etc.  

Hope you enjoy and have a Happy Halloween!

Happy 25 To Me!

For my 25th Birthday, I thought I would share with you my "25 Makeup Favorites."  I could go on and on about products I love, but here are 25 that I am pretty sure I couldn't live without.

 

1. Mary Kay TimeWise 3-In-1 Cleanser (normal to dry)

• This creamy cleanser leaves normal to dry skin feeling clean, fresh and radiant with enhanced hydration. As itcleanses, exfoliates and freshens in one step, it begins the process to reveal younger-looking skin. Plus, with each use, your skin feels refreshed.
2. Mary Kay TimeWise Age-Fighting Moisturizer

• Reduce the appearance of fine lines for younger-looking skin with this oil-free lotion. It's formulated with antioxidants that help guard against free radicals which cause the skin to age. The patented* complex helps accelerate skin's renewal process – hydrates, smooths, firms and softens.
3. MAC Prep + Prime 

• A skin-protecting cream with SPF 50. Applies under makeup to prime the skin for the sun. Featherweight, fast-absorbing, oil-free, invisible. Will not affect the look, texture or long-wear integrity of your makeup. Specially formulated with oil-absorbing powder, helps prevent oil breakthrough. Provides high-level broad spectrum sun protection. Worn daily helps guard the skin against discolouration, premature aging, dryness and other effects of sun exposure. Suitable for all skins.
4. The Beauty Blender 

• The ultimate make up sponge applicator. Invented by top Hollywood make up artist Rea Ann Silva, Beautyblender has been created to leave you with a professional finish and a flawless complexion. Silva knows that the key to a perfect face is simple: a perfect blend. So forget your fingers or sharp-edged triangular sponges, these application methods waste make up and can leave visible streaks.
5. Mary Kay Concealers 

• Blemishes, little imperfections – nothing that a bit of concealer can’t fix
6. Revlon PhotoReady Foundation 

• For poreless, airbrushed skin in any light. Photochromatic pigments bend and reflect light to erase every flaw. Complete, yet undetectable coverage. Soft, luminous finish.
• - Oil free
• - Fragrance free
• - SPF 20
7. Mary Kay Mineral Powder Foundation 

• A weightless, skin-perfecting powder, Mary Kay® Mineral Powder Foundation provides buildable coverage and is transfer-resistant so it won't fade away midday. It's a skin perfecter that makes lines, wrinkles and other imperfections seem to disappear. And it's suitable for sensitive skin. It blends effortlessly with the sweep of a brush for a flawless look.
8. Sephora Collection Classic Bronzer Brush #44 

• What it is: This brush blends bronzer—or any other powder makeup—flawlessly into the skin for an even, airbrushed complexion.
• What it does: The rounded, tapered shape of the head fits perfectly into the cheekbone, which results in a sexy, sculpted look. This Best of Sephora 2007 winner boasts super-soft goat hair that blends beautifully and feels amazing on your features.
9. Hourglass Foundation/Blush Brush 

• What it is: A medium-size foundation/blush brush.
• What it does: This multipurpose makeup brush ensures the flawless application of liquid foundation and even primer. It can also be used for contouring and highlighting the face with blush or bronzer. Expect polished, professional results every time.
• What else you need to know: Hourglass designed their makeup brush collection to be supremely soft, decidedly luxurious, and PETA-friendly. Takelon bristles are made from high-grade synthetic fibers to maximize product application, avoid potential allergic reactions to animal fur, and promote the use of non-animal products.
10. MAC Bronzing Powder 

• A lightly frosted, tinted powder that gives skin sheer, natural colour effects and highlights. Ideal for enhancing a skin tone or to accent or strengthen a tan. Skin-conditioning - and formulated to provide a smooth, even application on all skin types.
11. NARS Blush-Bronzer Duo 

• Their most dynamic duo of signature cheek shades for achieving the ultimate in sun-kissed radiance. The Blush/Bronzer Duos deliver a healthy bronzed glow and a randiant flush of blush.
• Iconic shades ideal for all skin tones
• Natural looking, imperceptible finish
• Made with transparent pigments to avoid heaviness on the skin
12. MAC Mineralizer Blush 

• Baked minerals refined into a powder formula to provide exceptionally sheer and lightweight application. Colour builds lightly, layer after layer, without heavy coverage. Veils and enhances the cheekbones with a luminous, pearlized shimmer.
13. MAC In The Abstract Highlighter 

• Inspired by Abstract Expressionism, a highlighting powder with a soft pink base, yellow gold lines and mid-tone lavender & pink dots.
14. MAC Paint Pot (Bare Study) 

• A highly pigmented eye colour that goes on creamy but dries to an intense, vibrant finish. Long-wearing, colourfast. Creates seamless coverage without weight or caking. Blends smoothly over the lids. Cream-based, can be mixed with M·A·C shadows and liners.
15. Sephora Collection Classic All Over Shadow Brush 

• What it is: This versatile brush serves all your shadow needs.
• What it does: The smaller size and rounded tip makes it multi-purpose. Use it to cover your lower lid, shade your creases, highlight your brow bone, or line around the edges. Since it can handle nearly every eyeshadow need, it's great for touchups and travel needs.
16. MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush 

• For controlled eye shadow application. This brush has soft fibers which taper to form a medium size dome shape. M·A·C professional brushes are hand-sculpted and assembled using the finest quality materials. They feature wood handles and nickel-plated brass ferrules.
17. MAC 275 Medium Angled Shading Brush 

• For applying and blending eye shadow. This brush has soft, smooth fibers and a full, angled design. M·A·C professional brushes are hand-sculpted and assembled using the finest quality materials. They feature wood handles and nickel-plated brass ferrules.
18. MAC Eye Shadows 

• Highly-pigmented powder. Applies evenly, blends well. (I will go into key color palettes another time)
19. MAC 208 Angled Brow Brush 

• Applies colour to the brow. Use to define or add "fill". Its precise angled tip provides pro-style application. Synthetic / natural blend fibre. Use to apply powder, liquid or cream products.
20. MAC Fluid Line 

• Ultra-smooth, Fluidline’s gel formula provides the precision of a liquid liner with a silkier, softer finish. Goes on “foolproof” with a brush in an easy dip-and-stroke action. Long-wearing. Smudge-proof. Lines up in a rich array of colours and finishes. Brush sold separately.
21. Loreal Voluminous Original Mascara 

• Dramatic volume effect. Separates & builds every lash. Patented volume maximizing brush. It is uniquely formulated to resist clumping, soften lashes, and build lashes to 5x their natural thickness! Unique maximizing formula quickly thickens and builds lashes in a single application for a full and aromatic lash look. 
22. MAC Brow Set 

• A brush-on gel that strokes brows into shape. Adds shine and style. No flaking or stiffening. Tinted or clear. Also grooms lashes, sideburns and facial hair.
23. CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipliner 

• Transform your lip look with moisture-rich definition. Created to work perfectly with COVERGIRL LipPerfection™ Lipcolor, our lipliner formula contains over 60% skin conditioners, so you can line and define with moisturizing rich color.
24. CoverGirl Outlast All-Day Lip Color 

• The #1 original long-wear lip color! Our advanced formula with resilient, brilliant coverage, color, and shine gives you up to 16 hours of color that stays true, in just 2 easy, breezy steps. Outlast has a moisturizing topcoat that helps lock in shine — no feathering, no bleeding.
25. A Beautiful White Smile

Thank you and PLEASE let me know what your Makeup Favorites are!   

ARK Wedding Day

We started getting ready around 10 a.m. Saturday morning.  All together I did 12.5 faces:

• 1 Bride
• 8 Bridesmaids
• 2 Mothers (Bride's and Groom's)
• 1 Speaker
• Touch ups on Other Important People

The day before the wedding my Mom gave me my birthday present early, a DinAir Airbrush Makeup set!  I was so excited to try it out on Amanda's big day.  Since I hadn't gotten to practice with it much, I didn't airbrush Amanda, but I did airbrush a couple of the bridesmaids as well as myself.  It works wonderfully and I can not wait for my next chance to use it, which will be November 5th, for Janna Huneycutt's (soon to be Walker) big day.

Here is just a quick highlight of the makeup involvement of the wedding;

She was the most beautiful bride!  I loved being a part of her day, both being in her wedding and doing the faces of the women she loves most!

So my tips for today:

How to Choose Makeup Colors for your Wedding Day:

1. Keep your makeup in tune with the theme of your wedding. If your wedding is outdoors, keep makeup natural. If your wedding is very formal and traditional, wear classic makeup like black eyeliner and red lipstick. 
2. Think about the season of your wedding. Wear golds and bronzes in the summer, rust and natural tones for autumn, deep tones for winter and pastels for spring.
3. Reflect your personality. You should look special on your wedding day, but not different. If you are romantic at heart, wear purple or plum shades. If you are light-hearted and fun natured, wear pinks and peaches.