Chair dancing + Prince + purple glitter = my Friday morning/afternoon.
While, scientifically speaking, one is physically capable of wearing purple glitter on a Monday morning, it just makes better sense on Friday.
Am I right?
Maybe it’s because the end of the workweek feels like victory! — she said, raising her makeup brush like a mithril sword and willing the clouds to part.
The before
And after
I didn’t really have a lot going on today after work (other than the chair dancing), so I thought I’d get sparkled up for my trip to the salon to get my fringe choppity-chopped.
I’m trying to be better about getting my hair cut and bangs trimmed more regularly, instead of waiting until my roots take over and then freaking out when I realize — surprise! — that the next available appointment is in a month.
I’m done with that nonsense, so I made today’s appointment five weeks ago.
I like doing a little something extra with my makeup on salon days, because a lot of the girls who work there also do makeup, so I know that if I roll up wearing something glittery and smokey and purple, I’ll have an excuse to talk shop. 🙂
About this look here…there are a few things going on.
I knew that I wanted to wear something noticeably purple and glittery, but I didn’t want to look completely insane (I’m saving that for another day), so to reduce the wackadoo factor, I kept the placement of glitter on my lids and concentrated most of it in the center, to create a subtle highlighting effect.
I used a purple cream eyeshadow as a base, upon which I patted Urban Decay’s new Moondust Eyeshadow in Ether (from the new spring collection), a light purple with pinkish blue sparkle.
I also swept a couple of neutral brown mattes into the crease and patted a satiny beige highlight on the brown and inside the inner corners to add some other finishes to the mix.
Then I smudged purple liner along my lower lash line to wrap the purple color around the entire eye and make the whole purple thing the unmistakeable focal point.
A great trick, by the way, if you want to play up your brown, hazel or green eyes.
Just wrap that purple ’round and ’round, girl! 🙂
Some notes on working with glitter…
- Try applying your glitter with a wet concealer brush.
Yup, concealer brush. I wet mine with MAC Fix+ today.
I like using concealer brushes for glitters because I’m really able to press the glitter exactly where I want it with a flat, thin brush head.
Sure, you can totally use your fingers, too, but sometimes, like when I’ve had too much coffee (read: daily) and try to use my fingers to apply glitter…I end up looking like I had my makeup done by a preschooler with art supplies and poor muscle control.
- If you are going to use a wet brush to apply your glitter, designate an area of your eyeshadow pan for use with wet brushes.
I don’t like to swipe wet brush heads over the entire pan because when you get moisture in there, the top layer of shadow can turn hard and crusty when it dries.
- At some point, you just have to accept that glitter’s going to get all over the place, so let it…
As I type this, I have glitter on my cheeks, around my mouth, in my brows, but that’s the thing — glitter’s gonna do what glitter’s gonna do. It’s going to get all over, and you really can’t fight it.
But if you want to try to control the freewheeling force of nature that is glitter, then take a bit of surgical tape (I get mine in the Band-Aid aisle at the drugstore), and gently press and lift it on your skin wherever you see glitter.
Regular Scotch tape works too, as do pet hair rollers, in a pinch.
Yes, I know this from experience…
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I am sure you won’t be surprised that Ether has my name written all over it. Glitter and purple- yes, please! A lovely look and I love the idea of combining this shade with matte brown eyeshadows.
A funny thing about a hair appointment. Last time I got my hair colored I went to a different stylist at my salon because her every customer always looks amazing and I have heard great things about her. She did a beautiful job on my hair too. So I called on Monday to make an apt for the end of January and, of course, she is booked all the way through Feb 10th. Next time I get my hair colored and cut, I am booking my next appointment right there, before I leave!
Hi Agata,
I love purple on the lids with matte browns in the crease. You could even do something like a warm reddish brown too; that would be extra pretty.
So watcha going to do with your hair?
Hi Karen,
Once again, I feel like I haven’t talked to you in a while. I have been so sick I have been laying in bed most of the time. Back to work tomorrow though.
I like the idea of reddish brown combined with purple too!
Mostly I need a retouch of my hair color but I really really want a haircut too! I have no idea what to do though. I like longer hair but I feel like it’s really boring as it’s been the same for years. Any suggestions??
Did you do anything different with your hair or just a trim?
Oh no, I’m sorry that you’re not feeling well. I hope that you’re doing better.
So for hair… how about a lob? That way you can try a new style without having to commit to going totally short.
I ended up just getting a trim. It’s subtle but makes a difference. 🙂
Beautiful look! Sparkly purple: Yes, please!!
Great application tips. “Glue” type glitter primer for eyes helps, too. E.l.f. makes a pretty good one.
Hi Rachel,
I haven’t tried that one yet! I have Too Faced’s and Urban Decay’s and they’re both pretty good, but it’s always nice to have an awesome drugstore option too. Does it take a long time to dry?
Happy Friday, by the way!
No, you just wait till it’s tacky. About 15-20 seconds? It depends a bit on how hot and humid it is. Not too long.
I hear raves about Fyrrinae Pixie Epoxy, but haven’t tried it yet.
Good to know TF and UD’s work well. I haven’t tried them yet, either.
It looks fantastic!
Thanks, Erin. Happy Friday, and have a nice weekend!
Seriously pretty on the eyes xoxo!
Monica
Hi Monica,
Thank you! Enjoy the rest of your Friday and have a great weekend. 🙂
I am really really curious about these Moondust eyeshadows. To me they look like the formula could be similar to MAC’s pressed pigments. How would you say they compare? Is the texture similar?
In any case, they sure do pack a shimmer punch! And the colours look really pretty. Really looking forward to playing with these
Hi Tirurit,
They’re similar in terms of function/finish, although I do think the MAC ones are slightly more creamy.
Beautiful eye look. I want your scarf … Please tell me where I can get it!
Hi Jacqueline,
Thank you! 🙂 The scarf is from Nordstrom; it’s by the Plaid Infinity Scarf by David & Young. The color I have is red and unfortunately it doesn’t seem to be available online, but there’s also a green version and a black one too — both very pretty. It’s $20, so it’s pretty affordable. Warm and soft, too! Here’s a link:
David & Young Plaid Infinity Scarf
So, this is a liiiiittle bit off-topic, but you should start filming videos again and show us how you do your hair! You always do such an amazing job (here, for example!) and I am hair illiterate and could really benefit from something showing me start to finish, how people wrassle with separating out the right pieces on all the difficult angles of their head without tangling up more hair. You’re really thorough so I think you’d be a good person to tackle the hair tutorial challenge 🙂
Hi Adrienne,
Funny you should mention videos, because I have a couple on my to-do list for the month of January. I might have to pop in a hair video if my roots are in the mood to cooperate, LOL! I do have to say that with a style like this, the cut is every thing. It really helps to have layers that lay the way they are supposed to. But the short of it is this: I use a flat iron for those loose, choppy waves. It’s easier to do on hair that’s kinda dirty rather than a freshly washed ‘do. Also, dry shampoo at the roots helps for that nice lift! 🙂 Is your hair layered? If it is, you can probably do this!
I second Adrienne! More videos, please! And a hair tutorial would be great! I need to master that straightener wavy look!
Yes, more videos on youtube!!!! Please!!! Recently watched every one and am wanting more.
Ahh! Apparently I need to get on that ASAP!
I do have layers, but hair-speak gets so confusing to me, especially when I’m trying to describe layers. This most recent cut has left me in a bit of a predicament. When my hair is stick straight -which it naturally is – it can look really choppy, so I have to style it a little bit. I’ve always been so lazy with my hair before that I’m feeling pretty clumsy trying to do anything but I recently caved and bought the Infiniti Curl Secret (one of those AWESOME new-ish tools that sucks your hair up to curl in) and I gotta say I’m in love. Still need some help learning how to direct curls or which way to hold it in order to make sure the bend moves in the right direction for when it falls. If you can do a braid along your hairline, I’d love to see that! I have a hard time directing my hair into the right shape for that too 😛
I know what you mean about wearing cool makeup to the salon! I do that too and always get compliments!
LOVING it!
Love your hair! I feel you on the hair appointments. I am trying to be better about maintaining mine, rather than doing something drastic because I let it go for 6 months and it gets to the “overgrown and won’t do anything” stage. I really love that eyeshadow, too. I have one of UD’s shadows from that line in a shimmery, silvery pink. My latest shimmery shadow experiment has been with the Stila Foil shadows. I got one in Lilac. It’s interesting to apply to say the least, but it will stay on all day. It paired well with UD Fishnet. I could see you pairing Ether with MAC Club or Mulch – I think they would be browns that played well with it.
Looks absolutely stunning and that pink shade is prettttyyyy
YT-Videos, please!
I always wear Makeup for my trips to the hairdresser. If not, no matter how great the hair looks, all I see is a tired looking women.
And purple glitter is a great choice.
The before and after pictures shows the transition effectively.. <3.. You have amazing makeup skills dear.. 🙂
The purple glitters are perfect for fridays and those Urban Decay eye shadows are drool worthy!! I want these in my stash! 🙂
Man, what a transformation! Love the eye look, my oh my! I’ll have to check out these UD monos!
Gorge. Gorge. Gorge. Might have to try this since the Ravens are playing today! : )
I have, love, and frequently use Urban Decay’s 24/7 eye pencil in Ether, so I’m excited to see the eyeshadow! And, I just got a lit cosmetics ‘lit kit’ with glitter base in my Beautylish lucky bag, so I’ve got something to stick it down with (although it would be really cool if it would stick well to my Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Orchid). You make it look not only gorgeous, but totally wearable!
Karen, you look amazing! That look is gorgeous on you 🙂
Great tips! I love glitter, but it can be difficult to work with. I actually plan to pick up atleast one of these new UD Moondust shadows! The problem is picking out which!
I just love this look! Your skin looks so clear and radiant plus Ether is a gorgeous eyeshadow. The sparkles are so cute
Your eye makeup is stunning!! Gorgeous look, Karen!
really pretty but too glittery for me
This looks great on you! I’m sure you always knock ’em dead at the salon. 🙂