1 look- 3 lipsticks

I've been on quite a lipstick kick. Maybe its summer and all the bright colors it has to bring, but I've been loving experimenting with new colors and different finishes. Its easy (for me at least) to feel like I have to keep the rest of my makeup simple if I'm wearing dramatic lipstick, but I wanted to play around with a full face of makeup and see how adventurous I could get with my lips too.

The other day I did a pretty classic smokey eye with a nude lip like usual. But then I started thinking about switching things up, and went from a nude lip, to a bright red, then to a black lip all within a few minutes. Its surprising how completely different a look can be when you just change your lip color!

 

First with a nude lip:

Then a red:

Lastly a black (with a touch for gold- because why not?):

Its crazy how lipstick completely transforms a look: from classic, to glamorous  to punk. Which is your favorite?

Products used:

Face-
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Fair
Essence All About Matte powder
Wet'n'Wild Color Icon blush in Pearlescent Pink
Elf Bronzer in St Lucia

Eyebrows-
Avon Glimmerstick in Blonde

Eyes-
Avon Eyeshadow Primer
Wet'n'wild Vanity palette
Wet'n'Wild Greed palette
Urban Decay Naked 3 palette
Elf Long-Wearing Lustrous cream shadow in Toast
Avon Liquid liner pen in Black
Jordana Best Lash Extreme in Black

Lips-
(Nude) Elf matte lipstick in Nearly Nude and NYX Butter gloss in Eclair
(Red) NYC lipstck in Retro Red
(Black) Avon Supershock liner in Black, NYX Macaron lipstick in Chambord and Elf Long-Wearing Lustrous cream shadow in Toast. 

Did you know I have an instragram account? Follow me at psalm397_makeup!

Color for the Every Day

We've all done it: Bought a fun, bright and colorful eyeshadow palette, bought it home, held it like our "precious" and then wondered what in the world we're going to do with it. Wearing a bright purple smokey eye is great for a special occasion, but its not practical or even appropriate for most days. So, how can you use the bright colors you love so much in everyday life? Take a look at these ideas for inspiration!

1. Add a pop of color to your inner tear duct-

This is a perfect time to pull out your lighter, brighter colors like yellow or light blue. A dot of color in the inner corner adds a lot of interest without looking to over the top. Just be sure it avoid colors that have red undertones- colors like pink or red in the inner corner can give a 'sickly' effect.

2. Smokey color under the lid-

Wear this with a simple eyeshadow on top, and this is where you can pick a color and let it shine! Purple, green, blue, turquoise, any color that once again wont make you look sickly. You can really blend the color down as low as you feel comfortable- just make sure you avoid harsh lines. Keeping it soft allows you to use that bright color without it overwhelming your whole face.

3. Soft wash of color around a smokey eye-

Often we think of smokey eyes as all neutrals, but adding a little bit of color can add an extra special spark. Here I used a soft pink shadow to blend out a pretty traditional bronze smokey eye. The key to this is using a matte color if possible- because shimmery colors blended to far up on the lid can be a little dated.

4. Colored liner-

There's no need to spend a ton purchasing a bunch of different colored liners. Just make your own! Any color, and almost any eyeshadow will work. I used a drop of Elf's Lock and Seal to my liner brush, and dipped it into a loose eyeshadow pigment to create this green liner. You can do the same thing with eye drops as well. If you're using a pressed eyeshadow, be careful to either dip your brush on a corner of the shadow (as water can damage the shadows finish), or pack the shadow onto the brush and then wet it.

5. Color in the crease-

This is probably the easiest way to wear color every day. However you wear your normal eye makeup, you can just layer a little bit of color in the crease for added depth and interest. Any color will work, especially if you keep your other shadows neutral! Here I used a burnt orange- but you can just as easily use purple, red, green, blue... the list goes on and on!

So what are you waiting for? Pull out those bright shadows and start incorporating them into your daily makeup routine! Who knows, maybe it will spark some creativity and you'll combine a few of these ideas together for a totally unique and bold look!

1 Lipstick 3 Ways

Bright lipstick is always in for summer. So you go out, buy the brightest color that strikes your fancy, bring it home, and wear it once. Maybe twice. Then it sits on your counter staring you in the face until winter when bright lips seem out of place.

 So how can you get some more use out of that summery color? Here are some ideas!

1. Wear it as blush.

Lipstick (especially creamy formulas without sparkle) are ideal cream blushes. You can apply it two ways: rub some from the bullet onto the back of your hand and then swirl a synthetic brush in the lipstick and apply lightly to your cheeks. You can also apply to lipstick to your fingers and then rub it into your cheeks. The key is to make it a light wash of color.

2. Use it as a cream shadow.

It might be a bit out there for some, but using lipstick as a cream shadow is a great way to bring a bold statement to your eye look. Of course, you can also try lighter lipsticks if you want a sheer wash of peach or creamy pink. The key to using lipstick on your eyes is using a eyeshadow primer underneath and to set the lipstick with a shear wash of eyeshadow to ensure it doesnt crease.
DISCLAIMER: Most lipsticks are not approved to use around the eyes, so use it at your own risk. When using lipstick on my own eyes, I just keep it away from my waterline and tear duct area.

3. Wear it as lipstick (Duh!)

OK, I'm not trying to be smart here. All of us have bought a lipstick because we love the color but have felt strange wearing it in public because it screams "LOOK AT MY LIPS!". Summer is the perfect time to get over that fear and just go for it. Orange, purple, pink, fuchsia, blue, green- whatever! Wear it to the pool, to the store, on a date or to church. Why not? Whats stopping you?


Products used:

Face-
Loreal Magic Nude Liquid Powder foundation in Light Ivory
Maybelline True Fit Concealer in Fair
Milani Statement Lipstick in Flamingo Pose

Eyebrows-
Avons Glimmerstick in Blonde

Eyes-
Wet'n'Wild Vanity palette
Physicians Formula Black Gel liner
Jordana's Best Lash Extreme Mascara

Lips-
Milani's Statement Lipstick in Flamingo Pose

Products used:

Eyebrows-
Avon Glimmerstick in Blonde

Eyes-
Two Faced Shadow Insurance
Milani Statement Lipstick in Flamingo Pose
Wet'n'Wild I Dream of Greenie palette
NYX single shadow in Chic
NYX single shadow in Red Head
NYX single shadow in Kiwi
NYX single shadow in Exotic Green
Physicians Formula Black Gel liner Jordana Best Lash Extreme Mascara

EOTD: Lilac Breasted Roller

My sister lived in South Africa for a few months several years ago, and sent me this beautiful postcard.

On it she told me I had to create a makeup look based off the colors of this gorgeous bird. Its taken me years to do it, but here is my take!

I couldn't decide whether to go soft or dramatic with this, so, I did both. Boom. I used the exact same products for both looks, just different application techniques. In order to make the eyeshadows more dramatic, I foiled them- which is a technique where you use the shadow wet.  Foiling your eyeshadow really does make a huge difference with the opacity and brightness. Foiling loose shadow works best, as moisture can damage pressed shadows. You can use a liquid specifically designed for foiling, a face setting spray, or even just eye drops. Place a little of the liquid on your brush, and pick up the shadow. Apply and BE AMAZED!

On to the looks!


The soft version:

The dramatic version (with shadows foiled):

Products used (in both looks):

Face-
Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in "Fair"

Eyebrows-
Avon Glimmerstick Brow Definer in "Blonde"
NYX Wonder Pencil in "Light"

Eyes-
NYX Jumbo Pencil in "Milk"
NYX Chrome Loose Eyeshadow in "Fuschia"
Wet'n'Wild "Desert Festival", "I Heart Matte", "Vanity", "Blue Had Me at Hello" and "I Dream of Greenie" palettes
SugarPill 'Sweet Heart" palette
L.A. Colors "Grassy Knoll" palette
NYX single shadows in "Irises", "Wild Fire", "Kiwi", "Chick" and "Exotic Green"
Hard Candy Eyeliner in "Bamboo"
Avon SuperShock gel liner in "Black"
Jordana Best Lash Extreme

The beauty of makeup is that it can be used in a number of ways to play up your features, create illusions and add extra oomph where needed.  In the pictures above, I've done a few key things that make my eye appear either smaller or larger- simply with the placement, color and location of  my makeup. All eye shapes are beautiful and whether small or larger, your eyes are the windows to your soul. If you want to play up your eyes and make them bigger and brighter, take a look at these do's and donts!

Do:

• Use light colors all over the lid. 
• Create a soft crease with diffused colors.
• Line your water line with a flesh toned or white pencil.
• Highlight your brow bone and tear duct area.
• Curl your eyelashes.
• Line your upper lashes 2/3's of the way in.
• Softly define the lower lash line.
• Fill in your eyebrows as arched (but natural) as possible.

Don't:

• Pack on dark shadows
• Keep the color all on your lid.
• Use a dark pencil in your water line.
• Line your upper lashline all the way to your tear duct. 
• Use harsh and dark shadow or pencil on the lower lash line.
• Fill in your eyebrows straight across.
  .

Just remember that the darker the eye makeup, the more likely it is to shrink your eyes. If your goal is to have the doe eye'd look, keep things light and lifted!

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Heres a step by step of what I did to create the bigger, brighter eye look!


 1. Prime your eye with your primer of choice.

2. Highlight your brow bone and tear duct with a shadow 2-3 shades lighter then your skin tone.

 3. Apply a shimmery, light shadow all over the lid.

 4. Define the crease by applying medium toned shadow, and blend thoroughly.

5. Use a dark shadow to create a soft, winged eyeliner. Only apply the liner to the outer 2/3's of your eye.

 6.  Use a skin toned eyeliner pencil in your waterline. Apply the same mid toned shadow that was used in the crease on the lower lash line.

7.  Curl your lashes and apply plenty of mascara!

To add extra drama to this look, you can apply the dark shadow used for eyeliner in your crease. Smoke it out by blending it in the outer 'V' of your eye.

 

Products used:

Eyes-
Maybelline 24hr Tattoo cream eyeshadow in "Nude Pink"
Urban Decay Naked 3 palette
NYX Wonder Pencil in "Light"
Jordana Best Lash Extreme Mascara in Black

Brows-
Avon Glimmerstick Brow definer in "Blonde"
NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder in "Blonde"

Face- 

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-1 Foundation in "Ivory"

Revlon Photoready Concealer in "Light"

Maybelline Mineral Power Concealer in "Fair"

Elf High Definition Powder

NYX Blush in " Taupe"

NYX Cream Rouge in "Natural"

Revlon Matte Blush in "Perfectly Peach"

Physicians Formula Pearl Highlighter

Lips-

NYX Round lipstick in B56

Makeup pictorial- Rusty Gold

So, I thought I'd try something new and do a makeup pictorial for you guys! Its my first time doing anything like this, so bare with me if its a little cray cray (that's crazy for those who dont speak ghetto).

This look is a little dramatic, but in my opinion extremely wearable. The biggest thing to remember is it will look a little off until its complete. The finishing touches (liner and mascara) make a huge difference.

Anyways, lets get this show on the road!

First and foremost, apply primer to your eye lid up to the brow bone.

Apply a rusty, red color all over the lid with a paddle brush. Blend it out softly into the crease.

Use a deep purple in the crease, and blend out into a wing shape with a small paddle brush. Its important to blend this carefully and keep working with it until your happy. You also might want to use a makeup wipe to clean up the lower edge for a crisp line.

Use a small paddle brush to apply a shimmery rose gold color above the purple up to the brow bone. Blend down and around the inner corner of the eye (in a "C" shape) as well.

Apply a shimmery champagne highlight color with a medium paddle brush on the inner corner (near the tear duct) and just at the highest point of the brow arch. (Sorry this picture is so fuzzy!)

Use a gel or powder liner to create a long wing. I used a black eyeshadow on an angled liner brush.

Use a black eye liner in the lower water line, and smudge down onto the lower lashes. Apply the deep purple on top of the black liner and blend.

Curl your lashes and apply several coats of mascara.

Finished!

I completed the look by applying bronzer as a contour under my cheek bones, along my temples and just under my lower lip.

I used a soft rose blush on my cheek bones and blended it softly into the hair line. I then applied a powder highlighter onto the tops of the cheek bones, my cupids bow and down the bridge of the nose.

On my lips, I kept it soft and neutral with a nude gloss.

List of products used:

Two Faced Shadow Insurance

Pur Beauty by Numbers palette # 9, 10 and 16 (gold, rust and purple)

Wet N Wild Vanity palette (champagne highlight)

Color Theory baked shadow in Black

Generic black eyeliner

Avon Super Shock Max mascara in Black

Rimmel Natural Bronzer in Sun Bronze

Wet N Wild Color Icon blush in Mellow Wine

Physicians Formula Pearl Highlighter

NYX Lipgloss in Sugar Pie