Makeup

How I Rock Pink Eyeshadow (A Collaboration With Jen and Adia)

May 6th, 2016 by Anna Oh 17 Comments

fotd-pink-makeup2 — Wearing Ardency Inn Rose Gold Eyeshadow, Becca Rose Gold Pressed Eyeshadow, and MAC Finally Free Lipstick

A friend and I recently had a photography date in a charming neighborhood, snacking on amazing salted caramel “cake” donuts (they are as good as they sound). It was a picture perfect weekend, so I decided to take advantage of the amazing weather to wear pink.

This week Jen, Adia and I are showcasing our favorite way to rock pink eyeshadow, and I call this look “Rose Gold Eyeshadow for a Day of Donuts and Photoshoots.”

Here are a few of my favorite pink-toned pieces…

fotd — FOTD Makeup Menu: Nars Concealer, MAC Mascara, Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, MAC Finally Free Lipstick, and Becca Rose Gold

ardency inn rose gold — Ardency Inn “Rose Gold” — the singles pop out from the magnet!

naked 3 palette — Urban Decay Naked 3. I used this palette to blend

What I used:

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer ($29): I have the shade called Honey, and I’m joining the bandwagon… It’s an awesome concealer. I use it to target my problem areas, and I can skip the foundation step on good days.
MAC Charged Black Mineralize Multi-Effect Lash ($22): From the MAC Future Collection, this mascara is lightweight and lengthening. No crazy volume here. but I have been using this for weeks.
Kat Von D Tattoo Liner ($19): There are 2 types of people in this world — those who love the Tattoo Liner, and those who prefer the Ink Liner. I always come back to the Tattoo because I love the flexible soft brush pen.
MAC x Caitlyn Jenner Finally Free Lipstick ($17): This is with me in my minimal makeup bag, and I can’t recommend this color enough. SO pretty and perfect. I didn’t re-apply after the donuts, though, so it’s not present in the outdoor images.
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed ($38): As the only Shimmering Skin Perfector I own, this deserves a special place on my vanity. Rose Gold is a highlighting blush or a blush-topper for the lighter skinned girls.
Ardency Inn Modster Manuka Honey Enriched Pigments ($21): The star of my look, Rose Gold is the creamiest, most nuanced rose-taupe eyeshadow I’ve seen. A perfect pick for anyone interested in getting into pinks.
Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette ($54): I use the darker shades in this palette constantly for many of my looks. They blend perfectly, and I love the matte colors in particular. I used some of the darker shades to quickly shade in my eyebrows too.

[Continue reading…]

Does Too Faced Shadow Insurance Really Work?

May 6th, 2016 by Jen Clark 18 Comments

I have been cursed with an annoying curse — oily eyelids. This basically makes it impossible for my eye shadows to look the same at the end of the day as they look when I put them on, and who wants to spend precious time blending away till your arm falls off when you know it’s just going to look like you sprayed Pam all over your eyelids a couple of hours later!

Eye shadow primers to the rescue! Too Faced Shadow Insurance is what’s on trial today.

I am so happy with this primer! It pretty much does just what it’s supposed to do, and I want to show you up close and personal.

For this test, I only applied the primer to one eye, and then I left my makeup on as long as I could stand it, which ended up being about 8 hours.

I don’t really notice a difference in how my eye shadows apply with this primer. They go on exactly the same as they do when I’m not using primer at all. Sometimes, with some primers, your shadows can go on a little smoother, or even sometimes a little chunkier, but that’s not the case with Shadow Insurance for me.

Right eye right after application WITH Too Faced Shadow Insurance primer — Right eye WITH Too Faced Shadow Insurance primer

Left eye right after application WITHOUT Too Faced Shadow Insurance primer — Left eye right after application WITHOUT Shadow Insurance primer

[Continue reading…]

How I Rock Pink Eyeshadow (A Collaboration With Adia and Anna)

May 5th, 2016 by Jen Clark 34 Comments

Pink eyeshadow?! This was a first for me, and I have to say, I. AM. OBSESSED! I’ve used lots of rose tones on my eyes before, but never anything bright pink. I decided I was going to use a bright pink just as a transition shade, but then I got carried away experimenting, as I always do. Sometimes it’s so fun to just take your time, and do something fun with your makeup that you wouldn’t normally do, and I’m so happy with how it came out.

I got together with Anna and Adia for this look and we decided on pink. I was like, “Wait…I don’t own a pink eye shadow…but I own lots of blushes!” I use bronzer as eye shadow all the time, so why wouldn’t blush work the same way?

I grabbed my favorite, the Elf Blush Palette in Light and used it for the majority of this look, and I’ve gotta tell you, if you don’t have this palette already, get your booty to Target and buy it. It’s only $6 and has 4 incredibly soft, pigmented, blend-able blushes. The colors are just perfect as blushes, and now, as eye shadows too! It even made a special appearance in my Top 10 Under $10 post over on Jen Leigh Beauty!

Pink eye shadow look — A pink eye shadow look using the e.l.f Blush Palette in Light

I do have one important tip when using bright pink eye shadow that might help before you give it a try, because with pink shadow, if it’s used incorrectly, you can end up looking a little diseased and zombie-like.

When the pink is right up next to the whites of your eyes, your eyes will look sore, so the solution to this is to put something between your eyeballs and the pink. In this case, I put a brown eyeliner on my water line and plenty of mascara. Problem solved!

See how the brown on the water line breaks up the pink?

Here’s what’s on the rest of my face!

[Continue reading…]

How I Rock Pink Eyeshadow (A Collaboration With Jen and Anna)

May 5th, 2016 by Adia Goss 26 Comments

I may have mentioned this once or twice before (or three times or four), but I absolutely love pink makeup. I think pink is a great way to wear subtle color, and since I’ve never met a pink eyeshadow I don’t like, I thought it would be fun to collaborate with Jen and Anna, who’ll be sharing their looks soon, and share with you one way that each of us likes to wear pink eyeshadow.

The look I’m wearing at the top is how I like to rock pink eyeshadow, and I have to thank some awesome readers for the inspiration! One reader mentioned that the Maybelline Color Tattoo 24HR Concentrated Crayons would be great as eyeshadow bases, and another raved about the Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette.

I took the comments to heart and used them both for this springy pink look. Thanks so much, ladies! I love hearing your comments, questions and tips, so keep them coming! Seriously, the comments make my day 🙂

To achieve this look, I used Maybelline Color Tattoo 25HR Concentrated Crayon in Pink Parfait as a base all over my eyelids, then applied Zone from the Urban Decay x Gwen Stefani palette in my crease using a Morphe E22 brush.

With the Zoeva Luxe Smoky Shader brush (first mentioned in this post on Zoeva), I packed Harajuku onto my lids, and Harajuku, by the way, is a pink lover’s dream! It’s hot pink and sparkly, but when used with Zone it’s not too bright.

And then on my brows I used ColourPop Cosmetics Brow Pencil in Black N’ Brown and Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara on my lashes.

pink eyeshadow — I love how this look turned out and am currently obsessed with this Anastasia Beverly Hills lipgloss!

For my base, I used Becca Aqua Luminous Foundation in Warm Honey, and this was my first time using this foundation. For the record, it’s amazing! I’ve tried other glowy foundations (I’ve reviewed Giorgio Armani Maestro Glow and L’oreal Lumi Cushion), but this is probably my favorite so far because of the buildable coverage and longevity.

[Continue reading…]

Try Clinique’s Chubby In The Nude Foundation Sticks for Blendable, Bountiful, Beautiful Coverage

May 5th, 2016 by Marcella Yakalis 7 Comments

Wearing Clinique Chubby In The Nude in Voluptuous Vanilla ($24) — Wearing Clinique Chubby In The Nude in Voluptuous Vanilla ($24 each, available in 10 shades)

Hey everyone!

So, if there’s one thing I’ve mentioned before, it’s how much I like convenient products. If there’s anything complicated involved, I won’t be interested in using or doing it for long.

This has probably been a driving force behind why I keep my makeup routine so simple.

“Simple” and “convenient” are two perfect words to describe Clinique’s Chubby In The Nude Foundation Sticks ($24 each, available in 10 shades), with their cream-to-powder finish and buildable sheer-to-medium coverage (they’re part of the amazing Chubby stick line).

They’re even easier to blend when you use a sponge or a damp brush, which I realized this past weekend while visiting my boyfriend’s parents. I didn’t bring the right brush with me, so I had to use my fingers.

The Clinique website recommends applying them like this:

Draw several strokes of foundation across the forehead, cheeks, chin and down the bridge of nose.

For sheerer coverage, fingertip-blend to a seamless finish.

For moderate coverage, use Clinique’s Buff Brush to buff foundation into skin using light, circular motions.

Applying with my fingers was a little frustrating, mostly because of how sensitive my skin is. I mean, the Chubby stick slogan is the #ChubbyDoodle, which stands for all the different ways you can draw your foundation on for different coverage, and I like the concept, but rubbing the foundation into my skin with my fingers was…less fun.

clinique-chubby-in-the-nude-foundation-stick-side — Forgive my red nose; I’m sick yet again.

Here I’m wearing Voluptuous Vanilla, which falls into the “moderately fair” category. Incidentally, I also like the suggestive names (like Curviest Clove and Abundant Alabaster) and the particular way Clinique grouped these from very fair to deep.

clinique foundation stick, chubby in the nude, — Clinique Chubby In The Nude Foundation Stick in Voluptuous Vanilla and Bountiful Beige

[Continue reading…]

Why the Newest Tarteist Blush Palette Is a Work of Art

May 4th, 2016 by Anna Oh 18 Comments

If you’re not interested in saving money, Tarte’s newest blush palette won’t be for you.

But for the rest of us, it’s an amazing product worthy of our makeup-loving interest. The limited edition Tarteist Blush Palette ($38) has four pretty, feminine blushes in small, smart packaging, and with the words, “The Blush Authority,” confidently emblazoned across the mirror, Tarte already knows it’s everything you’ve (probably) been wishing for.

[Continue reading…]

Graduation Day Done Right: Hair, Makeup and Nail Tips for a Long-Lasting, Camera Ready Look to Take You From the Ceremony, to Your Post-Grad Family Fetes, to the Big Festivities at Night #sponsored

May 4th, 2016 by Karen 22 Comments

This post was sponsored by imPRESS Gel Manicures. Designed for every mood, every moment. Check out imPRESSmanicure.com for more colors and designs!

Aren’t graduations the best? They’re one of my favorite milestone events, because not only do they commemorate a major life success, but they also herald the start of a new adventure.

I dunno… I just love that feeling of endless possibilities. It’s like, “the future’s so bright, you gotta wear shades.” (Extra big ups if you actually get that reference.)

If you’re graduating this year, first, congrats, babe! Second, when you get to the end of the ceremony and everybody is throwing their caps up into the air, please throw yours as high as you can! — because I never got to do it at my graduation ceremonies (don’t know why, but it wasn’t allowed). And this way I can live vicariously through you.

Third, we gotta talk pre-grad hair, makeup and nails (of course), because graduation days, in my experience, tend to be looong.

There are the pre-parties (more on these in a sec), then the actual ceremony, then the post-ceremony celebrations, and then, if you’re a champ, the post-post-celebration parties at night.

That all adds up to a long day and a long night, and seeing as how everyone’s a photographer these days (hello, camera phones!), it doesn’t hurt to be camera ready for all of it.

First, let’s start with your makeup. 🙂

Makeup

One word: primer. Before you paint that face, prime that skin.

Makeup primers work a little like paint primer…except they’re for your skin and not the walls. They fill in uneven areas so that any products you apply on top of them — like your concealer, your foundation, etc. — look smoother and last longer.

I’ve taken roughly 10 gajillion pictures for le blog (give or take), and I think primer makes a HUGE difference, especially when it comes to face products like foundation and concealer.

Primers also help your makeup apply more evenly, so you don’t get any of those funky patches where your blush or your eyeshadow look darker in some spots than others.

But the main reason I suggest wearing primer on graduation day is longevity. That’s primer’s superhero power — the ability to grab makeup and not let go — so if you’re having a long day, which then goes into a long night, your makeup stays intact longer and doesn’t fade as quickly.

I’d do a face primer, and then also an additional eye primer for your lids. For face primers, I love the Make Up For Ever Step 1 Primers ($37), because a little goes a long way, so I don’t have to use very much (which means that it doesn’t feel like you’re wearing an extra layer of spackle), and they help my makeup last a good 12-14 hours.

I use the Smoothing Primer For Large Pores & Fine Lines on my combination skin, but if you have oily skin, try their Mattifying Primer.

For eye primer, NARS Pro-Prime Smudge-Proof ($26) is the best one out there in my opinion. It will hold onto your eye makeup like Tabs clutches his Chanel purse filled with cat treats! — and it won’t let go until you wash it off.

Here are a few more grad day makeup tips…

[Continue reading…]

Ready for This Jelly? A Quickie Tutorial With the Too Faced Peanut Butter Palette

May 3rd, 2016 by Anna Oh 13 Comments

too faced peanut butter on eyes — Peanut Butter Jelly Time!

The first time I heard about the Too Faced Peanut Butter and Jelly eye shadow palette ($36), I thought it was a joke. Like, a really good “Man, that would be so amazing!”-type joke.

But then I found out that it’s real!

I’ve been testing it out this past week, and there is nothing funny about how good this palette is. For lovers of warm sienna eyeshadows, it’s irresistable.

I kind of love that little peanut butter face with purple lips on the cover… She’s my muse!

At first I thought some of the colors might be too warm (like Nuts About You), but I decided to just go for it. I think the results are flattering and a little more interesting than a run-of-the-mill neutral eye look.

I call this look “Just Like Honey,” and it uses the warmest colors in the palette with lots of blending. Since it’s a monotone look, there’s room to play with the lip colors, but I highly recommend a purple or a bright pink matte lipstick. I’m wearing Too Faced La Matte Color Drenched Matte Lipstick in Pitch Perfect ($22).

Here’s a quick picture tutorial…

too faced peanut butter palette on eyes — Peanut Butter Palette on the lids and Too Faced La Matte Color Drenched Matte Lipstick in Pitch Perfect

And swatches…

too faced peanut butter swatches — Too Faced Peanut Butter and Jelly Eye Shadow Collection swatches

There really are no true duds in this palette. Jammin’ and Spread the Love aren’t quite as strong as the others and feel harder in their pans, but they’re still completely workable and show up nicely on the lids. The rest of the shades all feel buttery and smooth and make this palette an overall winner.

Ingredients:
Does not contain peanuts. Extra Creamy INGREDIENTS : Talc, Mica, Zinc Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sodium Saccharin Water/Aqua/Eau, Benzyl Alcohol, Fragrance/Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, PTFE, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Theobroma Cacao Fruit Powder, Vanillin. May Contain/Peut Contenir (+/-): Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Manganese Violet (CI77742), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891). Jammin’ INGREDIENTS : Mica, Theobroma Cacao Fruit Powder, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Zinc Stearate, Sodium Saccharin, Water/Aqua/Eau, Benzyl Alcohol, Fragrance/Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, PTFE, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Vanillin. May Contain/Peut Contenir (+/-): Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77499), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891). Jelly INGREDIENTS: Mica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Talc, Zinc Stearate, Sodium Saccharin, Water/Aqua/Eau, Benzyl Alcohol, Fragrance/Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, PTFE, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Tin Oxide, Carmine (CI 75470). May Contain/Peut Contenir (+/-): Ultramarines (CI 77007), Ferric Ferrocyanide (CI 77510), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891). Nuts About U, Spread the Love INGREDIENTS: Mica, Talc, Zinc Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Sodium Saccharin, Water/Aqua/Eau, Benzyl Alcohol, Fragrance/Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, PTFE, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Theobroma Cacao Fruit Powder, Vanillin, Carmine (CI 75470). May Contain/Peut Contenir (+/-): Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Ultramarines (CI 77007), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Manganges Violet (CI 77742), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891). Peanut Brittle INGREDIENTS: Mica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Talc, Zinc Stearate, Sodium Saccharin, Water/Aqua/Eau, Benzyl Alcohol, Fragrance/Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, PTFE, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Theobroma Cacao Fruit Powder, Vanillin. May Contain/Peut Contenir (+/-): Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891). Peanut Butter INGREDIENTS: Talc, Mica, Zinc Stearate, Sodium Saccharin, Water/Aqua/Eau, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Fragrance/Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, PTFE, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Theobroma Cacao Fruit Powder, Vanillin. May Contain/Peut Contenir (+/-): Yellow 5 Lake (CI 19140), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI77499), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891). Peanut Butter Cup INGREDIENTS: Mica, Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Theobroma Cacao Fruit Powder, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, PTFE, Zinc Stearate, Sodium Saccharin, Water/Aqua/Eau, Benzyl Alcohol, Fragrance/Parfum, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Sorbic Acid, Tin Oxide, Vanillin. May Contain/Peut Contenir (+/-): Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Manganese Violet (CI 77742), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).

Hope you enjoyed this look and quickie tutorial! Let me know if you have this palette and have a look to recommend. Unfortunately, as of right now, it looks it’s already sold out on Too Faced, Sephora, and Ulta. But don’t let that stop you from using a comparable palette, like the permanent collection Semi-Sweet.

See you in the next,

Anna

Anna Oh

Anna is an illustrator and designer from Atlanta, GA. Her work focuses on fashion, beauty, and awesome women. A former tomboy, Anna now happily embraces all things pink, glittery, and floral scented. You can see her illustration work at www.helloannaoh.com and on Instagram.