Todays Face

Todays face was a request by a few fellow MUAers. The told me I would look lovely with a pinup styled makeup (red lips, cat liner), so last night before bed I gave it a try and I really liked it. This type of look for me definitely will take some confidence to actually wear it out in public because I feel like it's too harsh. Or maybe I could find a way of toning things down a bit. I always love doing request looks for some reason, so if anyone has any other ideas in mind let me know! Anyway, onto Todays Face!

Products Used:
(all other makeup other than the eyes and lips were from earlier in the day so it's all worn off and old. Therefore, I won't mention it, unless you guys ask then I'd be happy to)
- Wet'n'Wild MEGA LINER [Black]
- M.A.C. Lippie [Russian Red]
- Revlon Eye Palette [White]

I find it takes some time and practice to get a good cat eye down, I'm still in the process of learning this so forgive me if it's a little messy /: If you guys know of any tips or tricks for the liquid liner, I'd love to know!

I really like these lips, I was wondering what other eye looks might be good with them. Any ideas?

XOX,

- Mj

Todays Face

The Kardashian sisters were behind todays face I always (almost) adore their makeup, they wear everything so well from sexy smokey eyes to fresh pink lips. Here are some photos I used for inspiration, and how I created my own Kardashian look!

Products Used:

- MAC Select SPF 15 [NC37]

- Fit Me Foundation [220]

- MAC Cream Colour Base [Pearl]

- bareMinerals Contour [Fresh]

- MAC Sheertone Blush [Springsheen]

- bareMinerals [Mineral Veil]

- Sephora Palette (stars * are over the colors used, they have no names)

- NYX Black Kohl Liner

- L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black

- MAC Lipstick [Myth]

For this look, I concentrated mostly on perfecting my cheeks and skin, because that is what I always find myself envying when seeing the Kardashians. I wanted to go for a pinky peach cheek with lots of sheen to provide that glamour glow we all know I can't get enough of.

Step 1 FACE:  Always make sure to properly prep your face for makeup. For me, this includes, cleansing, and moisturizing and using Fix +. Give this about ten (10) minutes to set and dry properly. Now, I was looking for a smooth sheer coverage foundation so I went with M.A.C. Select SPF 15 in NC37, for definition, I applied a darker foundation (Fit Me in 220) to the frame of my face. This is a technique that allows light to reflect from the center of your face and it gives a really beautiful effect. Just make sure the darker color isn't too  dark and also be sure to blend, blend, blend! Next, I patted M.A.C. Cream Colour Base in Pearl onto the apples of my cheeks, cheekbones and bridge of my nose. I like to use my fingers for this because it gives a glow, but a real natural one. Finally, I used bareMinerals Fresh into the hollows of my cheeks and all around my face.

Step 2 CHEEKS: Again, this is where I wanted the most focus to be so I use a few different products to create a one-of-a-kind blush that's perfect for my skin tone. First I popped on a layer of M.A.C Sheertone Blush in Springsheen, after that I whipped out my new Sephora palette and used the creamy peach / orange to provide the real color. After this I used the lightest color in the palette for extra highlight. I ran it over the blush I already applied and right above my cheekbones. Don't forget when you're finished with your face makeup to set it with a powder, I used bareMinerals Mineral Veil.

Step 3 EYES: It's NECESSARY when applying eyeshadow to use a primer as your base. Find one that works for you and use the heck out of it! I use MICABELLA's eye primer and apply it with a concealer brush. Using a medium shadow brush I applied a light shimmery champagne color all over my lid up to the brow bone, just a thin wash of color, nothing dramatic. I also popped this into my inner corner to brighten and open my eye. I used a similar shade but it's a tad darker for an all over lid color. Then, I applied a matte brown to my outer corner and a little into my crease, using a M.A.C. 217 brush. To enhance this I blended a bronze brown into my crease and beneath my lower lid. I used an NYX kohl liner to line my upper lashline, as well as in both my top and bottom waterlines. I feel like the dark black against the whites of my eyes really makes them pop. And finally popped on a few coats of L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black mascara.

Step 4 LIPS: I mixed two lipglosses to create an earthy nude pink that I frequently see Kim Kardashian rockin'. Before I put the gloss on I ran M.A.C. lipstick in Myth over my lips to lighten them up a bit so the true color of the glosses would pop through better. I applied the gloss with a drugstore lip brush.

*NOTE: I put stars (*) over the products I used in the Sephora palette so you could color match if you don't have that exact one.

Final Look

Notice the glow radiating out from my cheeks, this isn't from the flash, it's a result of the Cream Colour Base layered beneath the blush, and then a powder highlighter over that. I really love using this technique.

When applying eyeshadow, another layering technique gives great results. If you use a white shadow pencil (like NYX Milk, or Urban Decay Yeyo) in the inner corners of your eyes and blend them with a liner brush. Apply your shadow as usual and then go over the areas where you put the pencil liner with a light shimmery shadow. This will guide lots of light to that area, brightening it up a thousand fold. It makes the eyes look very lovely.

These side shots showcase the face makeup at it's best. Notice the deeper, darker contour blending into the peach blush blending into the highlighter. 

If you guys have any other questions, just ask! 

XOX,

- Mj

Todays Face

Products used:
Maybelline Fit me! Foundation in 220
MAC Blush in Cheek
f21 Eye Palette
No Name Eye Palette
Wet'n'Wild Walking On Eggshells Eye Palette
NYX Matte Eye Shadow in Black
NYX Pencil Liner in Black
Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies in Blackest Black

Step 1 I applied my foundation with a MAC 187 Duo Fibre Brush using the stippling technique (a tutorial of this can be found here). I used an e.l.f. blush brush to apply a cheek highlight. The color I used is in the above photo, it is the largest pot in the peach colored palette. This is actually an eye shadow but when applied to the cheek bones it really reflects light well and gives an amazing glow.

Step 2 I started my eyes by applying Wet'n'Wild's Walking On Eggshells browbone color onto my entire lid, concentrating most of the pigment on the browbone. I then used a Sephora Crease Brush to blend in a bronzy / copper color with gold shimmers from the red palette (if looking at the product photo is it the second color down in the first row on the left most side).

Step 3 Next, I dipped an angled liner brush into NYX's matte black eye shadow and ran this across my upper lashline. I pulled it out with a light flick to give it a nice wing. I like using angled brushes for thicker liner because it makes it easier to create straight lines and good angles.

Step 4 After the upper lashline it's time to get into the waterline's. Waterlines are the area's in your eye where it isn't safe to put any powder or liquid, it is best to use a pencil. This technique is called tightlining (I will post an individual tutorial for this in the future). You are going to use a pencil liner and place it on your inner lashlines. For this specific look it will be necessary for you to tightline the top and bottom waterlines. *Don't fotget to apply in your upper and lower inner corners as well!

Step 5 For the lashes, apply however many coats of mascara you desire. I used Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies in Blackest Black. I gave it about three or four coats. *Tip: If you use this mascara then you know how easily it can clump, to cheat this, I apply the mascara using the given brush just to get the product onto my lashes then I go through with a vibrating brush than really evens everything out nicely. And leaves me with full, soft, dark lashes without clumps.

Step 6 Like the icing on the cake, the lipstick is the finishing touch to any look. I used an Arbonne lipstick, unfortunately the name is unknown but I really love the color it gives me. I popped on some of Clinique's Bampoo Pink Gloss over this and I was ready for the day!

XOX, 

- Mj