Beauty Blogger's First Cut Crease

I almost had the title say baby's first cut crease because there are moments when doing makeup where I feel like an infant. I definitely think I have improved in the year that I've gotten serious about learning how to do makeup, but a cut crease to me is advanced, so, so advanced. I am not the best with liner. I can line my eyes, and I have just recently learned how to wing my eyes without ending up looking like a panda, but that cut crease tho? Yep, needs work. When I think of cut creases, I think of Queen of Blending. It takes impeccable blending skills and artistry to firstly get the correct shape for your face, and secondly to blend the shadow correctly without it looking cray. I wanted to share this because I will use it as a template to gauge my improvement. I have to remember that the best artists have off days, therefore when you are seeing these gorgeous makeup looks its most often one picture out of 100 or more. I know when I do a look my iPhone is full of rejects, and I usually only find 2-3 that I feel pass. We are our own worst critics, but sometimes you have an off day, and that's OK. I am still in the beginning stages with makeup, and this is my first attempt at something I feel is incredibly difficult. I'm ballsy like that. This will not only serve as my oh my god I can't believe how awful I was moment in the future, but it may help someone. Technically, I did a cut crease, so it still has a tutorial factor, and it may benefit someone in some way, if only to get a laugh lol.

I primed my eyes with Too Faced Shadow Insurance, and took my handy Jessie's girl black liquid liner pen and made an outline of the shape that I was going for. I should've kept the tail shorter, or made no tail at all, but c'est la vie. When doing this, don't worry so much about the lines, just make sure its in a shape. It doesn't have to be perfect, as you can see I did screw up the line a bit lol. Next, I took Kat Von D's autograph pencil liner and traced over my line, making it thicker and more defined. Yes, there is still mistakes. Next, using Urban Decay Naked 3's e/s in Blackheart I traced the line, and then started to drag it upwards, and following along the line. After you have a good bit of color on your crease line, grab your favorite blending brush and blend side to side and upwards in a window wiper like motion. That is how I did it. I know it's not technically right, or perfect, but for my first time- not too shabby.

Now to finish off the look, I patted on e/s from my new Naked 3 palette, and those were Nooner on the lid first, and then Dust on top to set it and give it a little shimmer. In the tear duct as well as half of the lower lash line I used Trick. The other half of the lash line is the same black shimmer color we used in the crease called Black heart. Apply mascara, and you are done with the eyes, finally!

For the face I used Tarte's Amazonian Airbrush Foundation, and their blush in Honored for the cheeks. Concealer is the great cover up by em cosmetics, and the contour on the nose and face was done with em cosmetics chiaroscuro contour stick.The lips are J cat's red lip pencil with benefit life on the A-list gloss on top.

There you have it! I actually really like this look, although the cut crease needs some work. With practice, maybe, one day I can achieve the skills of the Queen :)

Hope you took something away from this, and thanks for reading!

XO

Tranquility

The holidays are over (for now), so I figured this would be the best time to focus on relaxation. I didn't relax much over my break (yeah, I know I am weird). Instead, I spent all my time entertaining children, and worrying about everything lol. I don't care who you are, Christmas is stressful. Then there's new years, and you have no idea where your going, what you're going to wear, or what your makeup is going to look like. My first makeup look of 2014 is all about tranquility, and what is more tranquil than a beach? Seriously, it's like 30 degrees here right now (which is warm for a lot of the world, I know, I shouldn't complain!), but I am friggin freezing.

To get the full details on how I created this look, keep reading!

FACE:
For the face I kept it easy peasy sense my skin is dry (stupid winter!), and I don't think being tranquil means piling on foundation. The foundation I used was Tarte's Airbrush Amazonian Clay Airbrush Foundation. I then used Tarte's blush in the shade honored to give my cheeks a little life.
EYES:
I primed my eyes with Too Faced Shadow Insurance and then applied Dark Heart Designs shadow Rag Doll to the lid, stopping halfway up. In the inner corner, blending out towards the Rag Doll shade, I applied  DHD e/s in Frost to highlight my eyes. In the crease I dabbed on DHD e/s in Ultraviolet, and blended it towards the center of the lid and upwards. I continued adding Ultraviolet and blending until I was happy with the gradation. After I had my shadow the way I like it, I took a smaller detail brush and applied Ultraviolet to the lower lash line. I then took a matte black shadow and carefully lined my upper lash line, staying as close to the lashes as possible. I then curled my lashes, and applied mascara liberally. I used Rimmell's glam eyes mascara in black for this look.

Are you relaxed yet?

I love doing makeup because it allows me to be creative, but also relaxes me. I put in my headphones, pick up a brush and begin to paint. I encourage you all to sort of de frag your brain in any way that you can. Take time for you!

Check out Dark Heart Designs!! Their products are insanely good!! http://darkheartdesigns.storenvy.com/

Thanks for sticking by me, I hope you like this look, and as always if there's anything you would like to see, I love a challenge, so let me know!

Purple Smokey Day To Night Look

I have been sick for what seems like a few weeks now so I decided I needed to put my face on and tell the flu to kiss my booty.

For the first look I wanted to keep it soft, sweet, and natural.

Face: I used Rimmel Stay Matte mousse for my foundation, and Dark Heart Designs Scarlet Starlet Blush.

Eyes:I first primed my eyes using too faced shadow insurance, and then began with the lids. I used Dark Heart Designs e/s in St. Valentine all over the lid, and then I softly blended Dark Heart Designs e/s in Heartkiller from the center of my crease outwards. My eyelashes are tinted, so I just curled my lashes and left them in their natural state.

Lips: I applied Urban Decay Lip Love gloss in Drizzle for just a touch of shine.

Now for the night makeup, I really wanted to accentuate my crease, smoke it out a bit, and make it sexy. You can't do sexy eyes without a wicked cat eye, so I added that a few other things to amp up the look.

When I was doing this I kept telling myself I just wanted my eyes to go POW!! So, I guess I did a pretty good job. I know there is a rule where it says if you do a lot to your eyes you should tone down the lips, but this is makeup honey, go on with your misbehaving!

Face: Since I already had my foundation on, I added a touch more blush, and a bunch more highlighter to my face. I used Dark Heart Designs Scarlet Starlet for the cheeks, and EM Michelle Phan's Chiaroscuro contour stick/highlighter for the highlight on the bridge of the nose, cupids bow, inner corner of eyes, and brow bone. 

Eyes: I used the Kat Von D Poetica Palette e/s in Wonderland in the crease to darken it up and stick with the purple and pink theme. I then used my Jessies Girl liquid liner and gave myself a wicked wing (which I screwed up, and ran with!). For the lower lash line, I lined my inner rim with kat von d puro amor (black) eyeliner, and tightlined my eyes as well. I then used EM Michelle Phan's waterliner in amethyst to line my lower lash line, and used the built in smudger to smudge it out a bit. I then applied Kat Von D's Para Amor mascara to my lashes.

Lips: I applied Kat Von D's Foiled love lipstick in FTW

It seems like a lot of work, but I was able to do the first look in about 5 minutes, and the second one took about 10 (because I suck at using liquid liner lol). From day to night in 15 minutes flat, is pretty much a beauty miracle. I would totally rock this look out to dinner, a concert, bar, party, wherever -I'm there.

Make sure y'all check out Dark Heart Designs! Their products are amazeballs, and right now you can get it for 50% off by entering coupon code blknovemeber at checkout. Products can be found by clicking here

Thats it for now! I sure did kick my sickness's ass, if I do say so myself. Who needs a red nose, save that ish for Rudolph. 

Until next time, stay beautiful!

XO

Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation First Impressions/Review

Hey dolls!

I did a review of this product over on my YouTube channel! Please subscribe, it means so much to me!!

Check it out below :)

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream Review & Swatches

I recently purchased four of NYX soft matte lip creams, and I've been wearing them non stop to get a good feel for them. I have recently become a lipstick whore, and It seems like everywhere I go I have to buy some sort of lip product lol I am obsessed with matte lipsticks so I figured I'd try NYX because they are so affordable. At 6$ each (right now they are BOGO 50% off at Ulta) it's an amazing opportunity and price point for everyone.

The colors I got are called Sydney, Addis Ababa, Amsterdam, and Monte Carlo

       

Sydney is a pale pinky-nude color, and I like it because it can be applied with a light hand and is a perfect pink nude, or if you layer it, it's a soft pastel pink. It's a pretty color, but I am not sure If I like it. It did crease a bit, but I am not sure if its the product or the fact that my lips are dry right now with the cold weather we are getting here in NC. Would I buy it again? Probably not.

"Sydney"

Addis Abba is a bright fuchsia tinted lipstick, and I absolutely love it. It's bright enough to satisfy my rainbow loving soul, but its also muted enough so that you can wear it everywhere; including work. It applies smooth, smells amazing, and isn't drying like most matte lipsticks. Definitely worth 6$!

"Addis Ababa"

Amsterdam is known to be a dupe for LimeCrimes famous red velvetine lipstick, and my opinion on it is that it comes close, but the coloring doesn't match. The smell, and feel of Amsterdam is really good, and for the price, you can buy almost 3 of these- compared to Red Velvet. I love the color, the feel, and the application of all of these products, but this one feels so velvety and smooth when you're done, it makes you feel like you aren't wearing any lipstick at all. It's not drying, stays put, and is a good (I say good because it's not my perfect shade) red. It's got more blue in it, than orange, so it flatters vampire toned skin like mine. I imagine it would look great on anyone though. Buy it again? Yes, I already have actually!

"Amsterdam"

Monte Carlo is my favorite out of all of the lippies because I love a good red. Blue toned reds look really nice with my skin tone (opposed to orange toned) and I love the richness of the color. It reminds me of cranberry sauce. Like all of these, the application is easy, smooth, and velvety, and it's very moisturizing (surprisingly). I would definitely buy this again!

"Monte Carlo"

All of these products can be purchased anywhere NYX is sold: Nyx.com , Ulta.com, Ulta stores, and even in Target!

I've made it my mission to stock up on my favorite colors, and to own the entire collection. They are great, and I hope you will check them out! On Nyx.com if you give them your email you will receive a 25% off coupon 'welcome25' which will save you some $ too. I also like that every order over 25$ ships free, which saves you even more ;)