Katy Perry- Dark Horse Makeup

Hello loves--


Happy Hump Day!!

Okay... So this video came out maybe a week ago. If you haven't seen it, it is set in an ancient Egyptian theme and it is so fun! Click HERE to watch. I always get excited when there's a music video out I actually enjoy watching. Anyway, her makeup in the video is absolutely stunning! I couldn't wait to get home and recreate it. This obviously is not an everyday look like I usually do so I thought I'd change it up!


P.S.-- this is very a very very brief run through! I'll eventually post a video once I get the software figured out!



Prime eye lid as always. Taking a blueish grey shade (mine is from this ancient Bonnebell palette), brush under brow bone stopping at crease. Using Mary Kay "Peacock Blue" + Inika "eternal marine" (torquoise pigment) apply onto lid with MAC Fix+. Once pigment has dried add a matte black to the crease (I used Blackout from Naked2) and blend.

 Then, with a detailer brush, apply a gold glitter pigment to the corners of the eye, blending into the lid. For this I took a mix of Loreal Hip High Intensity Pigment in "Visionary" and "Utopia" from Makeup Geek. Wait for that to dry and apply a shimmery white (Milani "Lily White") around the outside of the gold pigment to highlight.

I then mixed "Lily White" with "Eye Dust" from Jessie's Girl (grey/silver pigment), applying with Fix+ underneath the eye. With Visionary, apply DRY to the outer corner of the eye (not the crease.. literally the corner). Just blend so there aren't any harsh lines.

Add an intense wing liner, tight line the eyes, and add liner to bottom lash line as well. Also, draw a line coming out from the tear duct, as well as the outer corner of the eye (make sure that line runs parallel with your wing).

I took "Midnight Cowboy," a glitter liner from Urban Decay and traced this along the lower lash line, and both the inner and outer corner where the gold pigment is.

Apply all other face makeup (foundation, brows, concealer, etc..) Katy has a very "bronzy" sunkissed glow in the video so after I contoured, I dusted a slightly shimmery bronzer all over the face ("Desert Sun" by Mary Kay).

I finally applied design to the lower lash line using Maybelline Line Stiletto liquid liner. Add mascara &  a rosey lipgloss (Mary Kay "Coral Rose"+ "Beach Bronze"). And Voila!, you now look like an Egyptian!

P.S.-- This is ended up being SOOO SOO much more shimmery, glittery, and beautiful in person! I wish you could see it :(

 

the end!

I love y'all !!!

Makeup Tutorial | Soft Cut Crease-ish Neutral Eye

Hey guys!

Sorry I have been M.I.A. for a while, these past few days have been suuuuper busy for me! I actually attempted to film this, but figuring out the video editing software was nearly as difficult as carrying a porcupine purse in a balloon store! So if you know of a good, easy software, pleaaassee comment below! Anyway, as you can tell from the title, this is a very neutral/universal look. I mostly veer towards neutral hues because they are wearable for any occasion.. perfect for day, and with added intensity can be worn at night too!

Basics: After priming, take MAC Painterly Paint Pot and apply on the lid. Then, from UD Naked3 take "Strange" and apply to the brow bone.

1. From UD Naked3, apply "Limit" to the crease using a crease brush.

2. All other shades will be from Lorac Pro Palette. With Sigma's E25, apply"Sable" to the crease with the tip of the brush. The 'fluffier' end of the brush that comes with the Naked3 palette is very comparable to this brush.

3. Go back in with same brush and darken with "Espresso" blending upward with smudge brush.

4. Previously I applied Painterly with a cream eyeshadow brush from Mary Kay. A concealer brush (with flat end, not pointy) will work for this too. Go back in with Painterly and draw & precise line over the crease with the end of the brush. This is your cut crease.

5. Apply "Champagne" to the lid, trying to keep it below the line. Put a swipe of "Nude" in the center of the lid for a highlight. I used MAC 242 brush for this. (If you don't have a neutral cream shadow, for more pigmentation apply these shimmery shades with MAC Fix+ .. OR eyedrops-- the saline provides the same affect). Then, go back in with "Sable" & "Espresso" with Sigma E25 applying in the outer V in a flick like motion working outside in. Add liquid eyeliner.

6. Take "Black" and lightly dab in the outer corner, blending wherever necessary. I always like using Sigma E40 for this.



** I went back in with a pencil brush & "Sable" and cleaned up the crease line. Add this to the lower lash line as well, and MAC "Nylon" in tear duct. I didn't want a very defined crease so I blended quite a bit. If you want more of a "cut crease" look, be extra careful when applying the shimmer shades and go back in with an eyeliner brush for even more precision.

Other Products used:

-Dr. Brandt "Pores No More" Pore Refiner
-Makeup Forever HD-128
-Anastasia Beverly Hills BrowWiz + Brow Duo
-MAC Prep+Prime- Light Boost
-Benefit Hoola Bronzer
-NARS Laguna Bronzer
-Tarte Off The Cuff Blush Palette- Coral shade
-Maybelline "Make Me Pink" + NARS "Turkish Delight" on the lips

-Bellami's 20" Chocolate Brown

the end!

Makeup for Your Eye Color

Have you ever seen the most beautiful eye makeup on Pinterest, go to recreate it on yourself and all you can say to yourself is "WTF!".. yea that's happened to all of us. Sometimes certain shades can wash out our eyes and make us look older. Knowing which shades complement your eye color will help you in your makeup application, as well as choosing the right shades/palette.

We all remember this from elementary school right? Well it just so happens choosing the best eye shadows for your eye color can be selected from this basic chart. Art 101 will teach you about complementary colors -- ones that are across from one another on the color wheel. Hense, whatever color your eyes are, the shades that will complement them best are on the opposite side of the wheel. On the contrary, monochromatic (same or similar) shades will emphasize your eye color as well.

Let's start with Green Eyes.
Complementary Shades: Purple, Rose/Pink, Mauves, Reds
Monochromatic Shades: Earthy hues (dark greens, brown, gold, khaki)

Purple/Pink shades don't have to be a nightmare. See how beautifully they complement RiRi's green eyes, and how those neutral hues bring out those eyes even more!

Complementary------------------------------------------Monochromatic

Recommended Palettes: Sephora IT Palette- Nude $32.00        Urban Decay Naked 3 $52.00



Blue Eyes:
Complementary Shades: Brown, Copper, Gold, Peach/Orange, Bronze
Monochromatic Shades: Navy, Grey, Silver (though I don't recommend grey by itself)

If you don't like Jenn Lawrence, you can leave my blog NOW. Just kidding. ((but you should heavily reevaluate yourself)). This little blonde hair, blue eyed gem has recently strayed from her dark eyeliner/smokey eye look, and going for more subtle, sophisticated shades. Notice the soft brown smoked out look on left and very light blue/grey accents on right. 

Complementary---------------------------------------Monochromatic

Recommended Palette: Urban Decay Naked $52.00            Too Faced Smokey Eye $36.00

Brown Eyes are the winner of the pot because anything complements brown eyes. The possibilities are endless for you brown eyed babies.

Complementary Shades: Any colorful shade (pink, champagne, purple, peach, blue, green, etc..)
Monochromatic Shades: Black, Brown, Gold, Taupe, Bronze

Minka Kelly is one celeb that can get away with any eyeshadow combo. Although Kim K has brown eyes as well, she often doesn't stray from neutral tones. All 3 looks complement Minka's eyes-- as you can see, purple-esque hues on left, neutral light golds (monochromatic) in center, and a greyish blue smokey eye on right.

Complementary-------------------------------Monochromatic---------------------------------Complementary

Recommended Palette: NARS- The NARSissist $79.00     Too Faced Chocolate Bar $49.00

Hazel Eyes are basically a mix of brown & green; and therefore share a wide selection of shades.
Complementary: Purple, Pink, Mauves, Peach
Monochromatic Shades: Brown, gold, dark green, khaki, teal

Mila Kunis is known for her smokey eye (seen on right), but notice how much her eyes pop with the pinky hues in the left photo.

Complementary------------------------------------Monochromatic

Recommended Palettes: Lorac Pro Palette $42.00      Anastasia Catwalk $29.00


If you're still uncertain, here are a few palettes I feel have a perfect balance of all shades for all eye colors. If all else fails, take notice there are few shades that universally compliment all eyes-- browns, golds, nudes.

** Recommended Palettes FOR ALL EYES:
Lorac Pro Palette $42.00
Urban Decay Naked 2  $52.00
Smashbox Full Exposure $49.00  
NYX Wicked Dreams  $14.99

** Keep in mind your complexion as well. Fair skinned gals should stray from hues that are too dark or shimmery as it can make you look like an Avril Lavigne disaster.

All About Brushes Part 2 | Must Have Brushes

Choosing which brushes you should use can be overwhelming, but just in case you don't understand the importance of brushes in a makeup application, just comprehend they're as crucial as using a fork to eat a bowl of spaghetti... it's possible to do without it, but the result is a big ol mess! And having quality ones are just as relevant. Quality brushes can come with a hefty price tag once you start adding them up, but you will use them EVERY day so it is definitely worth the investment.

The more you experiment with brushes, the more understanding you will get with their functions and uses. Keep in mind, just because a brush has a 'labeled' function does not mean it has to be used solely for that purpose. For example, I use a "base shadow" brush with powder to set my foundation. Experiment with your brushes & see what works for you. 

Here are some staples in my collection:

1. Sigma F80- Flat kabuki $21//here
Use: Foundation Application
-- Dense synthetic bristles; guarantees a flawless finish
-- Ideal for medium to full coverage foundations
-- As mentioned before, the synthetic bristles in this brush release the product directly on your skin. Pressing the brush into the skin and moving this brush in circular motions will provide a perfect flawless application. Pointed foundation brushes can cause streaks & uneven application. 

All About My Hair

Well the weather outside is frightful, but my HAIR is M'mmm delightful :) haha My work closed for the day, so I thought it would be the perfect time to do some bloggin'. As you can already tell, today's post is going to be all about my hair!!

Before you know anything, know my hair is dead and frizzy and curls ridiculously when it's wet. It's awful. I use 6732 hair products just to tame this mane! ((Redken, I love you))

Anyway,

I cut and dye myself using John Frieda Precision Foam Colour-- Don't remember the color (oops)

and wear BELLAMI's 20inch extensions in Chocolate Brown (my saving grace!). 

If it wasn't for these extensions, my hair would be blahhhhhh

P.S.-- I hardly EVER wash my extensions.... maybe once a month. Maybe.

Why I am in LOVE with Bellami's: 

Not only are they super soft & 100% Remy Human Hair, but they are double drawn, which means extra volume and thick hair top to bottom!! In the past I always opted for Sally's extensions, and I cannot believe I waited so long to get Bellami's! Here's a little broken down comparison: 

Bellami 18": $99.00, 120g       V     Sally's 18": $139.99, 80g
Total Pieces: 7                                  Total Pieces: 8

Bellami 20": $159.99, 160g
Total Pieces: 10

Bellami 22": $209.99, 220g

Total Pieces: 10

But as you can see, it's literally a no-brainer! Sally's are so overpriced for their lack in quality. Sally's have always been long lasting & soft for me, but Bellami's 18" have so much more weight and are $40 cheaper ((I just used the 18" for fair comparison))!! When you compare Sally's 18" to Bellami's 20", not only are you getting 2 extra inches in length, but DOUBLE the weight. DOUBLE. Price: Bellami's are only $20 more. See, I told you-- no brainer. But what really sold me on Bellami though was the customer service!! We all know colors on a digital screen can be altered from what the true color is. You can send a photo of yourself to them & a personal representative will recommend a color set for you!! How awesome! AND they separately attach a "tester" piece so you can match it up to your hair before you open it. If it doesn't match, you can send it back. 

I did some extensive research before choosing Bellami. The most common complaints about their hair was that they 'tangle' and 'shed.' Well, please know that is going to happen regardless of brand, weight, quality, etc. Hair extensions are DEAD hair. It's not attached to a follicle or root anymore. Your own hair sheds and tangles, naturally, so you have to expect that to happen.. it is going to happen. So when researching, pay NO attention to these comments. I chose Bellami for the length, volume, and price. It was the best bang for your buck in my opinion.

Buy Bellami's HERE (also in my links tab)

Makeup Today: 
-Painterly Paint Pot on lid + NAKED2 (Foxy, Bootycall, Tease, Snakebite, Busted, Blackout, & Chopper)
-Anastasia Brunette + Dark Brown Brow Powder
-KatVonD Eye Liner
-Benefit They're Real!, Sephora Outrageous Volume, Rimmel Lash Accelerator, Maybelline Mega Plush
-Makeup Forever HD Foundation-128
-Maybelline Dark Circle Eraser
-Maybelline FITME Foundation Stick in 340 + NARS Laguna to contour
-Mary Kay Mineral Cheek Color- Cinnamon Stick
-UD Naked Lipgloss- Besso

Comment below & tell me your favorite hair extension brand!

The end!

P.S.-- Happy Valentine's Day lovies :)

Review | Tarte LipSurgence Hydrating Lip Creme

First of all, I am such a LIP junkie!! I will spend my entire paycheck on buying lip products.. and the bad part is, more often than not whatever is applied on my lips is gone by 10:30am. I drink tons of water at work so it's merely impossible for me to keep the crap on. I think this makes it "okay" in my head to keep buying new products in search of that one lip product that truly is long lasting. Are the Tarte LipSurgence Hydrating Lip Cremes the answer to all my prayers?? Let's see....


Skinvigorating Ingredients:
Vitamin E
Vitamin C
Peppermint Oil
Beeswax
Soybean Oil

When I saw her on QVC take a bite into her apple and her lip color was still perfectly in tact, I pulled out my credit card immediately. I knew I had to have these lip cremes.. and the set for $30 was such a steal! These were MEANT for me.

 It's an understatement to say I was excited to get these in the mail, so of course had to try them right away! My first impression was very optimistic as I glided the first one on my lips. It was sheer and lightweight, yet very pigmented. It left my lips feeling very moisturized and had a minty tingle.

It's hard to find a lip color that feels great on your lips AND is long lasted. Either it's matte, long lasting, and dry.. or creamy, and goes away in the blink of an eye. The next morning I decided to try these out for an all day experience at work. By noon the moisture was starting to fade, but the color kind of "stained" my lips.. not dramatically, but more of a tint. I reapplied after lunch and was almost gone by the time I got home. Not exactly what I was hoping for, but staying on half a day does pretty well in my book.. especially because I snack allll day! I will say though, compared to other creamy lip products, these blow the others out of the water for prolong wear.

Anyway, I still think these are wonderful products and love how they are sheer, pigmented and moisturizing. In the picture you can just tell by looking at them how moisturizing they are (how many times can I say moisturizing in this post ughhh). I also think the colors are beautiful and very buildable. The set I purchased came with "Carefree" (rosey pink), "Admired" (merlot), and "Loved" (rich red).

So, should you buy it.. YES!

Limited Special Offer: BUY HERE
Singles: BUY HERE

the end!

Get NAKED on Valentine's Day

When trying to think of the perfect makeup for Valentine's Day, the only thing that came to mind was UD's NAKED3 palette. Nothing is more romantic than these soft rose hues. I am confident no matter how you combine these shades you can do no wrong!!

1. Prime your eyes (as always)
2. Brush "Strange" over the brow bone & apply a nude cream shadow to the lid (Mary Kay Pale Blush)
3. Taking brush side 'a' sweep "Nooner" over the crease on the tip of the brush, blending out with the flat end
4. With brush side 'b', pick up a blend of "Dust" & "Buzz." Spray MAC Fix+ on a small dish or in the palm of your hand & dip the brush into the Fix+ getting the brush wet. Dab/press over the lid (don't wipe it)
5. Using brush side 'a', mix "Factory" & "Mugshot" to blend the lid with the crease, working upward. Apply this on the lower lash line as well, blending out to your fancy.
6. Taking a small contour or crease brush, use "Blackheart" in the outer V. Blend.
7. Optional: Add "Burnout" where "Factory" & "Mugshot" meet "Strange"... I add this in a very thin layer, just subtly to blend out
8. MAC Nylon in tearduct 
9. Add a winged liner (I used Kat Von D Tattoo Liner.... obsessed) & some mascara!











Other Products Used:

Benefit POREfessional
Makeup Forever HD- 128
NARS Creamy Concealer- Custard
Hoola Bronzer
Milani Baked Blush- Rose D'Oro
Makeup Forever HD Powder
Lips: LimeCrime Babette + NARS Angelika

the end! 

p.s.-- don't forget to love yourself this Valentine's Day! xoxo

How To: Stay Flawless ALL Day

Ya know that phrase "Look like a girl, Act like a lady, Think like a man, Work like a boss?" Well unfortunately for us working ladies, we have a hard time maintaining that "look like a girl" thing. We can all agree that we sometimes look like monsters by 5pm when our makeup has run off our face from "working like a boss" all day. Here's a list of must-haves so you can walk out that office after 8 hours and still look like princess!


With Your Initial Makeup Routine, Add:


Mattifying Gel (for us Oily Skin kids)

Eve Pearl Anti Shine Mattifying Gel $24.00

Eve Pearl's Anti Shine Mattifying Gel creates a barrier over your skin making it harder for oil to pass through. For a long night out, or days when I wait tables, I do need that extra mattifying touch for oil control and will pick this up to use. I truly do love love love this product and significantly notice a difference when I use it. You could walk straight out of a sweaty club after 5 hours and STILL look flawless with this product. And that, is a statement I swear by!


Buy HERE (or Amazon)

** Always remember to use a primer!! Eye primers especially prevent your shadows from creasing, ensuring they last all day!


Waterproof Top Coat Mascara

Anastasia Lash Genius $21.00

Certain mascaras have a tendency to flake off after a few hours, some more than others. But that doesn't mean you should have to sacrifice your favorite lash products because they end up on your cheeks half through the day. I, especially have problems with this because my bottom lashes are longer than normal. Anastasia's Lash Genius is a clear waterproof top coat to apply on top of your mascara. In fact, almost any waterproof mascara can serve the same purpose. I am so drawn to this one though because I love the fact I can use my favorite mascaras, and then add the top coat without any clumping. Waterproof mascaras have a bad rap in that they are extremely difficult to remove. It's only difficult to remove if you're only using soap. Makeup remover takes it off with ease so don't be intimidated. 

Buy HERE

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After Your Makeup, Add:

A Setting Spray

We've all heard "Grandma's Trick" aka using hairspray on your face to set your makeup. While this is rumored to work for some people, I personally do not like walking out of my house as if I just got a bad, stiff botox injection. So as of lately, I've been loving Ben Nye's Final Seal Spray ($7.00)

I kid you not, when I first heard of Ben Nye (from Kim K's banana powder frenzy) I seriously thought this was a makeup line from the Science Guy... So finally I googled it one day only to realize that was Bill Nye, not Ben. Don't judge!! I'm sure you thought that too, it just rolls off the tongue.

Well anyway, I was in search of a good setting spray because I just ran out of my Urban Decay All Nighter Spray, so I was opting to use MAC's Fix+. Don't get me wrong, I love my Fix+ for more than just a setting spray, but I was curious to see what else was out there when I stumbled upon Ben Nye's Final Seal. This setting spray is apparently used by Disney Princesses, but that just may be a gimmick. After reading tons of reviews I decided it give it a go and though it slightly has a mouth washy odor to it, I believe this spray is every lady's saving grace. It truly keeps my makeup in place & really helps my T-Zone area from becoming oily.

** I bought mine off Amazon, but just be careful. Know the 2oz bottle retails for around $7, so don't get cheated out by paying much more than that!! Most the websites that sell this add outrageous shipping so I looked around until I found a reasonable price.

MAC Fix+ HERE

Urban Decay + Other Setting Spray options at Sephora HERE

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60 Second Touch Essentials to carry in your Makeup Bag:

Shine Control/Translucent PRESSED Powder- Powders can set your foundation creating that flawless "look", but it can fade over time as your skin produces oil. If buying from the drugstore, like Neutrogena's Shine Control Powder, it will come with a powder cloth for an easy touch up, otherwise, throw in a mini kabuki brush or similar applicator. 

Mascara- obviously a necessity! Anytime I get mascara samples I throw them in my makeup bag.

Cream blush- As I'm not a fan of cream blush for initial application, you can apply with your finger, as opposed to carrying an unnecessary brush with you. Just a light dab of blush can freshen up the face.

Waterproof Eyeliner- A good eyeliner will stay on all day, but anything on the waterline will inevitably disappear because of how much moisture is produced in our eyes. A quick swipe on the waterline will make your lashes look more full, and make your eyes look more 'finished.'

Brow pencil- I hardly feel the need to touch up my brows since I've been using Anastasia Brow Wiz, but it's there just in case I decide to take a nap on my hands and wake up with wack brows. Ain't no one wanna see that.

Lip Color- Whatever shade I chose to wear for the day I throw in my bag, but sometimes as I'm rushing out the door I forget. Keep a tinted lip balm (like BabyLips) in your bag so you always have a little something! For some reason I always tend to forget about lipstick crayons when choosing a color for the day so  I also like to throw these in the bag (ex Revlon Colorburst, or Tarte Lipsurgence). 

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>>> Keep Note:::: Better quality products will of course stay on longer than most drug-store products (especially on the face!)

But above all else, DON'T touch your face!!!! Not only are your hands contaminated 

with 7836742 germs & bacteria, which causes acne, but you're also wiping away your 

beautiful makeup.. so stop!

Love you guys! Stay flawless my friends!!

UD Naked 2 | Makeup Tutorial

Urban Decay's Naked palettes are staples in any beauty guru's collection. The taupe inspired shades are just so beautiful and perfect for everyday, neutral looks. This look is one of my favorites!

Start by priming face & eyes.

Then, apply a neutral cream shadow to the lid. I used Mary Kay's Cream Eyeshadow in Pale Blush (light pink) using a concealer brush. I will be adding a shimmery shade on top of this and think adding a cream shadow underneath really brings out the pigment of the shadow that goes on top. (Think of how much putting a white polish underneath neon colors makes the color really stand out). 

Using MAC's "Cork" (light brown/beige) add to the crease. I applied with Real Technique's Crease brush. 

Apply "Bootycall" to the lid. I used MAC's 242 brush, but the flat end of the brush that comes with the palette works just fine (mine had glitter all over it!)

Take "Busted" and blend from the outter lid to about 1/4 way in the lid making "flick" like strokes working outside in. Blend into crease.

With the same brush used for "Bootycall" apply "Foxy" overtop lid & sweep lightly over the outter part of the lid where it meets "Busted." This creates a softer look. 

Using a crease or small contour brush, lightly add "Blackout" in the outer V. With a blending brush, such as Sigma E35, blend out any harsh lines and touch up anywhere necessary. At this point I usually reapply "Foxy" again on the lid, as well as the brow bone. 

Mixing "Foxy" & "Bootycall" apply to tear duct & about 1/4 way into lower lash line. Use a smudger brush to add "Snakebite" on the lower lash line, smoking out. 

Add a winged liner & use "Blackout" with an eyeliner brush to put overtop liner. 

Other Products Used:

Benefit POREfessional
Mary Kay Eye Primer
L'Oreal True Match in Natural Beige
Maybelline Dark Circle Eraser + NARS Creamy Concealer
Anastasia Brow Wiz + Anastasia Brow Duo
Tarte Off the Cuff Palette- Bronze + Mauvey Pink
Mary Kay Mineral Powder- Ivory 0.5 

Lips: Urban Decay Native + NARS Chelsea Girls






The End.