Sweetheart Valentine's Day Look

In February, not much happens except for Valentines Day, and for many this means one of three things; you care, you don't, or you despise it. For singles Valentines Day is usually celebrated in a group setting by setting your ex boyfriends stuff on fire, getting drunk, and confessing your love of your single lifestyle. Or downing a container of chunky monkey alone while you cry and watch The Notebook. If you are with someone, your boyfriend/girlfriend are usually under so much pressure to get you the right gift, or cook you the right dinner, or make the right reservation that they don't even remember what they are supposed to be celebrating. Then there are those that absolutely despise the holiday and go all out to tell anyone who has ears how much they hate it. No matter what your situation, Valentines Day is a day to celebrate love, regardless of where it comes from. It could be your cat or dog who waits for you to come home everyday, or your family, or even your friends. It's not a holiday strictly for lovers, or those in love, it's for anyone who loves someone.

I wanted to do three different looks: a sweetheart, a sex vixen, and an anti V-day. I think it's important to represent those who want to look sweet, those that want to feel and look sexy, and those that are opposed all together. No matter where you fit in, I've got a look for you!

First up, the sweetheart!

When I think of sweetness makeup wise, I think natural, neutral tones, simple lips and pink cheeks. Let's get started :)

EYES

1. Start by applying your favorite eye shadow primer to both lids
2. Using a nude shadow sweep this all over the lid, apply this color heavier on the inner corner of the eye.
3. Using a champagne colored shadow, apply this from the outer portion of your eye to two thirds inward. Blend #2 shadow and #3 shadow together lightly, making sure to keep a good pop on the inner corner.
4. Apply a light bronze shadow to the outer half of your eye, working in a V shape.
5. To strengthen the crease, apply a gold shadow to the V shape and blend the colors together. Apply the same gold shadow to the lower lash line.

FACE

1. Using Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade in Blonde, fill in your brows.

2. Apply Mascara (I used Bad Gal Lash by Benefit)

3. Apply foundation (I used Tarte Amazonian Clay Airbrush Foundation)

4. In the hollows of your cheek apply bronzer (NARS Laguna)

5. Above your bronzer, apply pink blush working towards the apples of your cheeks (NARS Angelika)

6. Under your eyes, bridge of your nose, middle of your forehead and cupids bow apply your favorite highlighter (Anna Sui Mystic Rose)

LIPS

1. Apply your favorite neutral pink gloss (NARS Super Orgasm)

Twirl your hair + Bat your lashes + Smize = Sugary sweet

*If you're not the "sweet" type or plan on sexing it up for Valentine's Day, stay tuned, I got you!*

XOXO

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!