Smokey Eye: MAC Patina, Mystery, Brulé

Wearing: MAC Patina, Mystery, Brulé eyeshadows

This is a very quick smokey eye for all those gorgeous mamas out there or anyone who is very busy and has little time for make-up. To begin with I primed my eyelids with MAC Bare Study Paint Pot, it's a shimmery light base which helps to emphasise the sheen of MAC Patina eyeshadow. In the socket I have blended in MAC Mystery eyeshadow which is a satin finish and great to tone the sheen of the main eyeshadow slightly down as you don't want to go overboard with shimmers and sheens. A blend of both eyeshadows was also applied under the lower lash line as well as smoking out a black kohl eyeliner. I tend to wear matte or semi-matte highlighters on the eyebrow bone with shimmery eyeshadows and vice versa a shimmery highlighter with matte or satin eyeshadows, they lift/tone down each other in a complimenting way. MAC Brulé eyeshadow is my old time favourite satin highlight, it's almost matt but not in a flat way, it has a slight dimension to it which makes it a very credible and flattering brow bone highlighter.

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HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN PERFECT FOUNDATION

Dr.Jart+ Regenerating BB Beauty Balm SPF30 [one shade],  Clarins BB Skin Perfecting Cream SPF25 [02 medium], Rodial BB Venom Skin Tint SPF15 [Capri], Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF15 [Natural 4], MAC Matchmaster Foundation SPF15 [3.0], MAC Studio Face and Body [C3]

  Colour & Texture

Clockwise starting at 11: Dr.Jart+, Clarins, Rodial, Bobbi Brown, MAC, MAC Studio

[all shades info under the image above]

There is nothing wrong with mixing up a foundation to create your own perfect shade and/or finish. I have been mixing up my foundations for years, some of them are couple of shades too light, some have too much pink or yellow undertones and others are frankly way too dark. Even if you get consulted by a beauty counter "make-up artist", which by the way most of my foundation purchased that way were the wrong shade as I'd learn later after I get home and try it on. So you end up with a bunch of foundation bottles sitting there looking out of place. Be the creator of your own perfect custom made foundation, use one or two pumps of one foundation with less, more or equal amount of another and see what you can end up with.

Sometimes however you may find that the shade is more or less matching but the texture and finish is either too shiny, too matte, or has too much/too little coverage. This issue is also rectifiable. If mixing two foundations doesn't cut it, try mixing a foundation with a BB cream, it works wonders as I have recently discovered by trying to finish a too dark foundation that also is a touch too heavy on my skin. Classically BB creams are marketed as a stand-alone product or a primer for foundation, but truthfully speaking I love mixing a BB with a foundation and apply it that way, rather than layering it. 

My favourite mix up at the moment is Rodial BB Venom Skin Tint in Capri + MAC Matchmaster Foundation in 3.0 [only god knows why I was matched with this shade, which is at least 2-3 shades darker than needed to be]. Also keep in mind that some foundations work better when applied with a brush, whilst others need to be warmed up and therefore a finger-application is more suitable, so don't give up on a foundation just yet, you may discover that sometimes a foundation mixed yourself can be better than a ready bought from the shelf!

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V-Day Beauty Look: Brigitte Bardot

WAB Wild About Beauty Nutrilips Colour Lipstick in 08 Caroline 

For the application I used realTechniques Retractable Lip Brush, 

which I love throwing in my handbag and always have on hand for retouching.

Smashbox Jet Set Waterproof Eye Liner in Deep Black

I was thinking to myself should I pull out the red lipstick and go for the classic look this V-Day, but then I decided to bring out my alter ego Brigitte Bardot and keep it nice and nude. A smokey eye and a nude lip is always a winner in my beauty-book. On the eyes I used MAC Haux eyeshadow all over and then blended in a touch of MAC Folie into the socket. The legendary Brigitte Bardot feline flick + the black waterline frames the eye beautifully allowing the rest of the make-up to be pretty nude and natural. 

For the feline flick I used Smashbox Jet Set Waterproof Eye Liner in Deep Black [which I am currently obsessed with! - an intense black that dries matte] and for the waterline I had to go for my favourite kohl liner Charlotte Tilbury Rock 'N' Kohl Iconic Liquid Eye Pencil in Bedroom Black. And on the lips I used a lipstick which is pretty new to me, Wild About Beauty Nutrilips Colour in 08 Caroline. It's a gorgeous pinky nude and the texture is beautifully smooth and lightweight, leaving your lips look nourished and perfectly kissable.

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Spring Bronze Glow Smokey Eye with BareMinerals!

bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 4.0 palette in The Rare Find,

bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie lipstick in Be Free,

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Bronze

Hey Beauty Lovers! I decided to ditch my beloved black eyeliner and create this warm bronze glow smokey eye! To create this look I used MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study as a base, applying it all over the lid as the shade has such a pretty sheen that it highlights brow-bone beautifully. Then I applied Surreal from the bareMinerals Ready Eyeshadow 4.0 palette in The Rare Find, which is a pretty yellow gold, just in the inner half of the eyelid, followed by Frisson, which is a matte warm brown with red undertone, into the outer half of the lid as well as taking it into the socket and under the lower lash-line. 

Just for a touch of definition I applied Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Bronze over the top lashes blending it with the eyeshadow, repeating the same under the lower lashes, also applying it onto the waterline. This is a very quick smokey eye, and makes blue eyes pop, but would look equally beautiful on green and brown eyes! For the lip I applied bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie lipstick in Be Free, which is a super pretty nude with a beautifully creamy texture. It's a subtle look that is perfect for a sunny spring day!

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Super Chic Evening Smokey Eye with Chanel Mirifique!

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in 85 Mirifique

Estee Lauder Nail Lacquer in N4 Tumultuous Pink

Hey Beauty Lovers! This is the look I wore to the ELLE event earlier this week, it's a super chic smokey eye which is also very simple and quick to create. Chanel Illusion D'Ombre eyeshadows are fail-proof, and I always have them at hand when I want to look well put together and don't have time to experiment with make-up. Mirifique is a super chic black with sparkles, it creates that beautiful almost wet looking statement smokey eye without looking like you tried too hard. It's the ultimate Parisian smokey eye, effortless and sexy chic, like you just rolled out of bed and happened to look gorgeous...

Mirifique does crease on me [I have oily eyelids], so it depends what I'm in the mood for I either apply it straight to the eyelids for that slightly worn look [which I did here] or I apply it over a base to make it last longer. For extra depth I used MAC Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline blending it together with Mirifique, also applying it onto the waterline. For this look lips have to be nude, I used Revlon Matte Lipstick in Nude, which is one of my all time favourite nude lipsticks. It has a hardly noticeable iridescence that makes your lips look sensual and full, for that perfect Brigitte Bardot nude lip. 

And on the nails I wore Estee Lauder Tumultuous Pink, which I believe is one of the new colours. Tumultuous Pink looks a lot deeper on the nails than in the bottle, it's a raspberry deep pink with a cream finish. Et voilà!

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Phoebe Lettice Inspired Smokey Eye & Beach Waves Hair!

Kiko Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow in Pearly Onyx Black

Hey Beauty Lovers! The best thing about last series of Made In Chelsea was Phoebe Lettice's make-up, literally! Phoebe has an edgy sense of style and she has more fashion sense than any of the others put together. I also love Phoebe's attitude and her legendary eye-rolls are fabulous... Her hair and make-up reflect her character perfectly, a modern rock-chick meets 70s bombshell. Phoebe wore very little make-up but strategically placed, in most cases it was a nude lip paired up with her iconic black eyelids. She would hardly ever wear any eyeshadow in the crease line, and just go for the eyeliner, either winged or just smudged but keeping it pretty thick leaving the rest as bare as it comes.

So to create this look I decided to use Kiko Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow in Pearly Onyx Black, which I have from the Christmas gift set. It's a super chic shimmering black, perfect for this type of smokey eye. Although these eyeshadow sticks are meant to be long-lasting on me they start to smudge pretty much after five minutes, I do have oily eyelids so that might be the reason. I have also tried applying the Kiko Stick Eyeshadows over a primer but I find it makes the whole thing feel too heavy and sticky on the eyelids but it does pro-long the wear. But for this look I actually like this kind of lived-in texture so I don't mind a bit of creasage. So I go straight in and apply it onto bare eyelids, keeping the eyeshadow strictly on the moving part of the eyelid, that is the key to the Phoebe Lettice beauty look. 

This look is great for hooded eyes, as Phoebe has super hooded eyes, which means when looking straight ahead you can't see the moving part of the eyelid, so it appears as if you are not wearing much at all. But as soon as you look down you reveal a nice bit of edgy blackness, which I think looks super chic and effortless! I also wing the eyeshadow just slightly to elongate the eyeshape and make it look just a little more sassy. The next step is optional as Phoebe doesn't do it often but I like to take the eyeshadow also under the lower lashes and soften the look by smudging the hard edges with a pencil brush. For extra depth I apply MAC Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline over the top lashes also winging it out and on the waterline. Apart from mascara there is nothing else on the eyelids, no primers, no highlighters, absolutely nada!

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Hair-wise Phoebe often wears raised tops which involves back-combing, and also head scarves, all of which has that flamboyant 70s feel. But also quite often her hair is just loose and has a lot of movement, looking messy in a sexy way and super effortless. However, I decided to go for a beach waves hair look that I think it looks great with this edgy smokey eye. So first of all after washing hair, while it's still damp I applied a generous amount of Kerastase K Mousse Bouffante, which is a volumising and strong hold mousse. Then blow-drying the hair until it's 80% dry, following with the Kerastase K Spray a Porter, which is a texturising spray for that tousled effect with flexible hold. Both of the products have heat-styling protective agent!! And then I used my beloved BaByliss Soft Waves curling wand to achieve this look.

This is actually second day hair, because my hair never looks great straight after a wash or when it's freshly curled. Slept in hair looks much better on me, so you can see how well the hair kept the volume and the curls its shape. The hair actually looked great the day after too, it just needed bit of freshening-up with a touch of dry shampoo right at the roots. I absolutely enjoyed wearing this hair look together with what from now onwards I will refer to as the Phobe Lettice Smokey Eye, a new iconic signature look is added to my beauty terminology!

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On-Trend: Nude Lips & Neon Jewellery!

 Unfortunately Accessorize doesn't put the name of the jewellery pieces on the labels 

so I have no idea what these neon chandelier earrings are actually called, 

and they also don't seem to be available on the website...

 L to R: MAC Lipstick in Creme D' Nude [Cremesheen] + Hue [Glaze]

Nails: Nails Inc. Gel Effect Polish in Downtown

Hey Beauty Lovers! I've been looking for neon chandelier earrings for ages and finally found a pair that I really love, these are super pretty and also affordable [only 16 quid at Accessorize]! The good news is that we are almost done with winter and I'm ready to embrace spring with some colour. I find neon jewellery can look super chic when offset with neutral make-up and a nude lip. Currently I went back to my good old MAC nude lipsticks, and these two make a particularly flattering nude lip combo. First I apply the MAC Creme D' Nude, which is too pale on me and then I top it up with MAC Hue, which is a pretty nude pink. Them two together give you a super luscious nude lip!

 

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Sultry Smokey Eye with MAC Club Eyeshadow!

In my MAC neutral metallic palette L to R [top]: Sumptuous Olive + Satin Taupe

and L to R [bottom]: Woodwinked + Club

MAC Single Eyeshadow: Grain

MAC Lustre Lipstick: Politely Pink

MAC Lustre Lipstick in Politely Pink 

Hey Beauty Lovers! Today was one of those days when I felt like wearing all things MAC! I wasn't sure which eyeshadow I was in the mood for and then I saw MAC Club in one of my palettes, which I haven't worn in ages, so Club it was! MAC Club is a beautiful duo-chrome eyeshadow going from a taupe to a blue-ish green. To create this smokey eye, I first applied MAC Paints in Sublime Nature as a base, and then MAC Club eyeshadow all over. 

For extra depth I used MAC Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline, thoroughly smudging the hard edges and blending it with the eyeshadow and going over the black eyeliner with Club again, black base intensifies Club and makes it look rather sultry. Repeating the same step under the lower lashes. My favourite brow-bone highlighting eyeshadow for an intense smokey eye is MAC Grain, it has a beautiful satin finish. And for the lips I went for MAC Lustre Lipstick in Politely Pink, it's one of my very first MAC lipstick purchases - a super pretty and flattering nude pink with a shimmer.

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RealTechniques Miracle Complexion Sponge Review!

Hey Beauty Lovers! I have featured the RealTechniques Miracle Complexion Sponge in my Gift Guide last year. And now after having fallen in love with it I decided to write an actual review and share the love. This is my first experience when it comes to any make-up application sponges and beauty blenders. Previously I have only used either my fingers or brushes when applying liquid foundation. For some reason I always though a sponge would apply a liquid foundation quiet thickly, but it's exactly the opposite! I have now gone back to using MAC Matchmaster foundation, there is a big difference in application. Make-up brushes seemed to have made MAC Matchmaster look almost cakey on me.

I also love how the Miracle Complexion Sponge is shaped, the rounded sides are great for applying foundation all over the face and neck, btw I have never been able to achieve such a flawless application on my neck in seconds, even the kabuki brushes were not able to seamlessly blend even the lightest foundation on the neck. The flat side is great for under the eye area, and the pointed bit is perfect for around the nose or for pinpoint concealing. This sponge can also be used with concealers, cream blushes, and even powders! So yeh, I'm pretty hooked on this sponge right now, it creates a super flawless beautifully airbrushed finish! For more coverage use the sponge by tapping foundation onto the skin with the rounded side, and for a sheer coverage use the wiping strokes.

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MAC Brush Cleanser Review!

Hey Beauty Lovers! The way I take care of my make-up brushes is by giving them a wash in a shampoo every couple of week for a thorough cleanse. It takes a while until they are dry again, so I usually do it in the evening and let them air-dry by laying them flat on a towel, and in the morning they are ready to go again. I have never used a brush cleanser before, but after watching Sani's January Makeup Detox Part 2 vid on her YouTube channel missmai27 I realised how much easier life becomes when you have a brush cleanser on hand!

MAC Brush Cleanser helps to keep your brushes clean in between uses. Basically after applying an eyeshadow or blusher or anything really, you can do on spot cleansing simply by adding a bit of the brush cleansing liquid onto a tissue and wiping the brush back and forth until it swatches clear. This means that I can use my most favourite brushes on a daily basis with different products without inevitably mixing the shades and without having to properly washing them every time! I prefer decanting the MAC Brush Cleanser into a small travel-size spray bottle, this way I find I need less of the brush cleanser, so it will last longer. How I lived without a brush cleanser before I have no idea...

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New Years Eve Chic Sparkly Black Smokey Eye!

Clockwise: 

Charlotte Tilbury Bar of Gold Slik Gilding Highlighter, 

Chanel Powder Blush in 84 Accent,

Charlotte Tilbury Rock 'N' Kohl Iconic Liquid Eye Pencil in Bedroom Black,

MAC Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline,

Cosmetics a la Carte Plump & Prime lip base,

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in 8 Pink in Confidence, 

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in 85 Marifique.

Hey Beauty Lovers! New Years Eve is almost there, just one day left and this is the look I came up with that I will be wearing. It's important to start with the outfit, depending on what you will be wearing you can then create a fitting beauty look that will be in tune with the style. I have decided to keep it chic and wear a black dress, but because it's a rather special night I have also gone for a bit of sparkle. Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in 85 Mirifique is the perfect match, as it's a black cream/mousse textured eyeshadow with lots and lots of black and silver fine glitters! It is a stunning shade, I'd highly recommend it!

So to create this rather stunning smokey eye I have first applied a base, I find the Chanel Illusion D'Ombre eyeshadows sit much better when applied over a base. In this case I used the MAC Paints in Sublime Nature [a neutral shade], over the top I layered a generous amount of Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Marifique. If you prefer a sheer look one layer will be enough, but I repeating this step twice as I was going for a more pigmented look, and it also makes the eyeshadow last much longer. Then for extra definition I have lined the lid with MAC Kohl Power Eye Pencil in Feline, which is a very intense black, blending it with the eyeshadow. And on the waterline and under the lower lashes I applied the Charlotte Tilbury Rock 'N' Kohl  Iconic Liquid Eye Pencil in Bedroom Black, which is a soft black and it's absolutely smudge-proof, it will last a whole night without transferring under the eyes.

Because the eyes are so intense I chose Chanel Powder Blush  in 84 Accent [a must-have], it's the most gorgeous bronzy shimmery shade, very natural and warm. And of course I wanted my skin to look fresh and glowy, so I added a touch of Charlotte Tilbury Bar of Gold Skin Gilding Highlighter, it can be used on the face and body, so I applied it on the top of my cheek-bones and also highlighted my collarbone! And as for the lip I wanted to keep it nude-ish with a touch of pink and quite light. YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in 8 Pink in Confidence, is perfect for this type of look as it is super moisturising and really lightweight and sheer. To make it also last longer I applied it over the Cosmetics a la Carte Plump & Prime lip base, which makes any lipstick look even better!

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NYE Chic Violet and Sparkles Smokey Eye with Stila!

On the brows wearing Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Colour in Light

Blush: Stila Baked Cheek Duo in Pink Glow

Eyeshadows: All Stila in Kitten [shimmery pearl]; Rose Quartz [silvery taupy glitter]; Dahlia [matte violet]

Browliner: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Colour in Light

L to R: Stila Eyeshadow in Dahlia; Rose Quartz; Kitten

Stila Baked Cheek Duo in Pink Glow

L to R: Stila Baked Cheek Duo in Pink Glow the darker and the lighter shades.

Stila Eyeshadows in Dahlia, Rose Quartz, Kitten.

Hey Beauty Lovers! I think violet eyeshadows can look really chic when you use them as an accent rather than the main colour. To create this subtle violet smokey eye I applied the Stila Eyeshadow in Rose Quartz all over the lid [do use a primer!], it's a glittery sheer eyeshadow that creates that wet eyelids effect. Then taking the Dahlia, which is a matte deep violet shade, onto a flat eyeliner brush - I applied it right into the corner as if creating a light flick but then brushing the eyeshadow upwards a little so that it blends nicely into the sparkles. With the same brush I took Dahlia also into the socket, but keeping it quite light. For the smokey eye effect I also blended a touch of Dahlia under the lower lashes. 

Using a black eyeliner [MAC Kohl Power in Feline] I have then lined the eyes making sure to go over it with Dahlia to blend edges for a softer look. For the eyebrows I have used Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Color in Light, it's a perfect shade for blondes. I love it with my current hair colour! It has a fine brush, so you can literally draw in hairs for a natural brow look. 

And finally I have applied the darker shade of the Stila Baked Cheek Duo in Pink Glow where I usually apply blush, and then I followed up with the lighter shade applying it higher on the cheekbones and also right on the apples of the cheeks blending in the colours. The two shades blend in beautifully, giving you that super pretty glowy cheek! It seems to have a pearly shimmer, but not too excessive and rather flattering. And I love the metal rose-gold packaging!

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MAC Cremesheen Glass in Prepare For Pleasure!

Hey Beauty Lovers! MAC Cremesheen Glass in Prepare For  Pleasure is from the Divine Nights, Holiday 2013 Collection. If you haven't yet read my blogpost featuring this collection click here! On my eyes and face I'm wearing the same makeup as in that blogpost only changing the nude lip to this luscious red. What I don't like in lipglosses is when they are very sticky, it's just something that drives me up the wall. But MAC Cremesheen I find very pleasant to wear. In fact since I tried it on first time I couldn't resist wearing it for a few days on rotation, absolutely loving it! Such a gorgeous perfect red, very pigmented almost looks like a super shiny lipstick. I love the name, the colour, and the everything about it... Highly addictive!

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Top Five Eye Makeup Brushes: MAC, RealTechniques, Sonia Kashuk...

 Top to Bottom:

RealTechniques Detailer Brush

N7 Eye Colour Brush

MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush 

Sonia Kashuk Large Crease Brush 

Bare Escentuals Heavenly Eyeshadow Buffing Brush

Hey Beauts! Having recently written about top five face makeup brushes that I use in my daily makeup routine I decided to also share my top five essential eye makeup brushes! RealTechniques Detailer Brush I use as an under eye concealer brush with Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, this concealer is thick and has a waxy texture which I find is best picked up by and applied with this brush as the bristles aren't too soft and keep a good shape.  N7 Eye Colour Brush is great for eyeshadows that have cream or mousse textures, the bristles are synthetic and very hard so they are great for layering and building up the product.

MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush is a new addition to my makeup brush collection. I have no idea how I could've possible managed without it before. It lays eyeshadow onto the lid in such a beautiful way, also great for taking it underneath the lower lash line for a smudged look. My Sonia Kashuk Large Crease Brush is pretty old, the packaging has been updated since - the handle looks a little different now but the brush is still the same. It's a great brush for taking the eyeshadow into the socket, perfect density and rounded shape. Bare Escentuals Heavenly Eyeshadow Buffing Brush is amazing for blending the edges, it has a straight cut of the bristles which makes it act as an eraser in a way.

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MAC Nail Lacquer in Military from Divine Nights Collection!

 

Hey Beauts! MAC Nail Lacquer in Military is from the Divine Nights Holiday 2013 Collection! In this collection are two other shades Fierce Entrance [rich gold bronze - velvet] and Gadabout Girl [blackened plum - cream]. Military is a black matte with silver suede pearl, it's a frost finish. Wearing just one coat, super opaque!

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