FOTN: Fabulous Felines

A pair of twins showed up at my door Halloween night... wondering if I could make them look less human and more feline?
But of course...

Shayla wanted to look more like an actual lion.  She planned to make the hair wild... and put together her look with a little fur and a lot of flair.

Nina wanted to go a little more glam. So she just went halfway with the feline look, then topped it off with blood red lips.
Let's forget the egregious action of NOT blending Nina's foundation into her hairline (later corrected), and those couple spots of liptar (also later corrected). Otherwise, I thought they looked good. They both seemed very happy... so a couple of excited hugs and smooches later, they were off to party the night away!

ON BOTH FACES
Dior Forever Founation in 040
MAC Pigment in Gold
Stila Smudgepot in Black (brows and eyeliner)
NARS Multiple Bronzer in Rapa Nui

ON SHAYLA
Sugarpill Chromalust Loose Eyeshadow in Goldilux
Sugarpill Eyeshadow in Toko
Glamoureyez White False Lashes
Guerlain Liquid Eyeliner in #1 (whiskers)

ON NINA
MAC Eyeshadow in Mulch
MAC Eyeshadow in Saddle (to fill in leopard spots)
Sonia Kashuk False Lashes
OCC Liptar in Vintage

Contest: MAC Briar Rose ...

You guys ready for the next contest?

So since I got the ONE VOTE for Briar Rose, that's what I'm giving away. It was part of MAC's Venomous Villans collection (Malificent)... and sold out pretty quickly at major department store counters and pro stores.

Here's what I'd like to see:

I LOVE this look! I saw it and squealed like a little girl. It's part of a list of halloween ideas that sephora is currently pushing. I'd love to see someone do this on their own face. I don't care what products you use to get there, and you can have jewelry or not (up to you). I'm primarily concerned with the makeup. I think it's just stunning.

So that's what I'm asking for. The rules are the same. I need to see you (you cannot be a hidden subscriber) and all entries need to be in by November 15th.

Good Luck!

MAC Stereo Rose: WINNER!

Hey Guys!

I'm pleased to announce the winner of the 'nature inspired' contest. I asked you guys to create a makeup look based on nature. I needed to know what you used and why you used it. Well, Miss Amber did just that... and won the contest!

This is Amber:

Amber was inspired by fall leaves...
The eyes represent the leaves turning from green to gold, and the lips represent the change from Summer to Autumn.

"For this look I used MAC Blacktrack Fluidline to line my eyes, and used MAC Greasepaint Stick to create a cat eye wing at the outer edge. On my lips I used Stila Watermelon Lip Glaze, on my cheeks a light dusting of Milani Luminous Blush (a dupe of NARS Orgasm at a fraction of the cost). I topped the eyes off with MAC Plush Lash Mascara, and I created the shadow look of green/gold with the Milani Eyeshadow Quad in Autumn Earth."

Thank you Amber for your entry, and congratulations on the win! Your MAC Stereo Rose was mailed today (Saturday, October 30th). You should receive it next week! Congrats again!

Green on a Moonlight Night

MAC's A Tartan Tale collection boasts two noteworthy additions: pigments Moonlight Night (a dark shimmer green) and The Family Crest (a multishimmer taupe). Today, I dug into the green...

On the rest of the face:

FACE

By Terry Bronze Opulent

Shu Uemura Translucent Powder

Rock & Republic Blush in Call Me

EYES

Chanel Ombre D'Eau in Torrent

MAC Eyeliner Pencil in Smolder

Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara

LIPS

Chanel lipliner in Cognac

Shiseido Lipstick in BE333
Chanel Extrait De Gloss in Insouciance

*'bout time to tighten up those eyebrows again. I'm on it folks!*

EOTD: One color.. three brushes

I dug out my Chanel Enigma palette and just used one color in the quad. This particular quad is SO pigmented that any color will really show up. But for the first time in a long time, I wanted to put a shadow through the paces. That means no base and no sealant. Just shadow. I used the taupe color from the Enigma quad with three brushes: a small shader for the lid, a large shader to blend through the crease, and a fluffy shadow brush to soften the edges up to the brow.

The result:

 On the rest of the face...

FACE

Armani Designer Shaping Foundation

Koh Gen Do Translucent Powder

Chanel Blush in In Love

EYES

MAC eyeliner in Smolder

Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara

LIPS

MAC Cremesheen Lipgloss in OverIndulgence

*The Chanel shadow passed with flying colors. With no base and no fixative, the color did not crease or fade on my oily lids. I did that face at 9:00 in the  morning... the color was still fresh 12 hours later. Chanel is coming up in the way of longevity and performance. There was a time when I wouldn't give those eyeshadow quads a passing glance because the formulas tended to crease and fade on me. Plus, the color payoff wasn't much to rave about. But of late, this brand is really exceeding expectations.*

Full Coverage: Armani Designer Shaping Cream Foundation

It's taken me a while to get to this one. I have the Luminous Silk, which is excellent... but to date, the only real cream foundation I've used on a regular basis is Shu Uemura Face Architect. I tried RMK (hated it) and haven't really seen a payoff from some of more mainstream brands (Laura Mercier... NO). Shu Uemura has been my standard go-to foundation for normal to dry skin... until now.

This stuff is EXCELLENT. I've not heard the best about it; apparently some folks have had a time blending it and were concerned that it was too much coverage. But I have to tell you, as full coverage cream foundations go, Armani is leading the charge.
What I really like about it is that it sets on my very oily skin without much blending at all. I put it on with my fingers, and it merged right in. It kind of makes me wonder if people who've had problems have been using TOO MUCH of this foundation. A little goes a very long way. And it's buildable (as if it needs ANY building... the first layer is quite enough) just in case you think you need even more coverage (you won't).

I wore this foundation without any setting powder, which is huge for me. I'm much too oily to wear any real cream foundations without setting them. But I wanted to really test its wear. It did not crease at all, and it looked more like my 'skin' and less like I was wearing a ton of foundation. After a few hours, my oil production did kick up, and I had to blot. But had I set it, I likely wouldn't have had that problem. This foundation wears beautifully and stays put. I imagine, that at $65 it would need to do that.

I know that price is a little steep, but considering the 'amount' of product that you use, it's totally worth it. I covered my entire face using just a bit from the spill guard in the jar. 

Put me down as a fan. This is good stuff. This foundation is proof that the folks at Armani decided to do their homework, and come out at the head of the class.

FOTD: Lighten Up

Quick face today using just my fingers and some of the easiest products for brown skin girls. Having a hard time matching a tinted moisturizer? I've always found that bronzers make the best tints for people of color... does better with warmer skin tones by evening out the skin without obvious coverage, and giving us a bit of a 'glow' for daytime.

Here's what I used to get this face today:

FACE

By Terry Bronze Opulent

By Terry Rose de Rose (Coral Rose)

EYES

Ellis Fass Light in E301

YSL Faux Cils Mascara in #1

Guerlain Eyeliner Pencil in #1

LIPS

By Terry Rose de Rose (Coral Rose)

MAC Lip Gelee in Goldensoft

TOTAL FACE TIME: 10 MINUTES

FOTD: Brown Eyed Girl

I broke out an old favorite... and kind of wondered why I ever put it away in the first place. Dior's Beige Masai quint has just about everything you need for the neutral eye of your choosing:

Order of colors:

Matte Bone on inner corners of eye and under browbone

Medium Ash Brown on Lid

Dark Brown along lashline and under waterline

FACE

Chanel Mat Lumiere

MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer 

Koh Gen Do Translucent Face Powder

Rock & Republic Blush in Foreplay

EYES

MAC Greasepaint stick in Slick Black (waterline)

Too Faced Lash Injection Mascara

LIPS

Shiseido Rouge Parfait Lipstick in BE333

FOTN: Simply Sparkle

Date night made me want to do something simple and sparkly...

FACE

Chanel Pro Lumiere

Shu Uemura Translucent Powder

NARS Blush in Decouer

EYES

Milani 'Runway Eyes' shadow in Beach Sand

Guerlain Liquid Eyeliner in #1

Ardell False Lashes

LIPS

Make Up For Ever Lab Shine Gloss in D6

TOTAL FACE TIME: 20 MINUTES

**I really like that Milani Eyeshadow. It's inexpensive (five bucks at your local Walgreens/Rite Aid/CVS) and highly effective. Blends very well and lasts all night without a base. I think I'm going back for the rest of the colors...**

Second Pass at Kjaer Weis (and the fastest smoky eye ever)

I decided to do a second pass at Kjaer Weis. Perhaps I was a bit harsh the first time? I figured that if it at least performed well under pressure, I'd soften my criticisms just a bit. It did.

I tossed together a smoky eye in 5 minutes using Cloud Nine and Onyx Eyeshadows:

 

FACE

Make Up For Ever Foundation in #173

YSL Concealer in #4

Koh Gen Do Translucent Powder

EYES

Kjaer Weis Eyeshadow in Cloud Nine

Kjaer Weis Eyeshdow in Onyx

Stila Smudge Stick in Onyx

YSL Faux Cils in #1

LIPS

Ellis Faas Milky Lips in L204

TOTAL FACE TIME: 10 MINUTES

FOTD: You Melt My Heart to Stone

I wanted to do a 'stone colored' look on my traditionally warm skintone. The biggest challenge about doing this look was keeping all of the colors 'cool' -- but keeping them from going ashy. 

FACE

Chanel Pro Lumiere Foundation

Koh Gen Do Translucent Face Powder

MAC Sculpting Powder

MAC in Lilyland Pearlmatte Powder

EYES

MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre (under brows)

MAC Paint Pot in Underground

Wet n' Wild Iconic Palette in Vanity

(the ochre and brown matte colors, blended together and swept over Underground)

Jemma Kidd Makeup School Dual Illuminator (inside corner) in Champagne

Stila Smudgestick in Stone (waterline)

Armani Eyes To Kill Mascara

LIPS

Make Up For Ever Lip Pencil in 1C

Rock & Republic Lipgloss in Alpha Blonde

The Next Wave... Contest and Giveaway!

You guys...

I'd like to take a vote.

The next contest begins November 1st, and I'm at a loss about what to give away. I have in my possession:

1 Briar Rose Beauty Powder (from the MAC Venomous Villans Collection)

1 Dior Nail Polish in Timeless Gold (2010 Holiday Collection)

1 Later Pigment from the Alive & Olivia Collection (now being repromoted in the MAC A Tartan Tale Collection...due out October 28th)

What should I give away next?

Can you guys vote by using the comment box? Whatever item gets the most votes, goes up for the next giveaway!

Thanks!

DEADLINE TO VOTE: OCTOBER 31ST.

Dior: Pink Design

The first thing you should know about Dior Pink Design is that it's NOT pink. It's more of a grey based mauve. Colors aside, the quint is absolutely worth it in terms of color payoff and longevity. Once upon a time, a Dior shadow wouldn't dare stay put without some sort of base, and a good packing of shadow. No more. These new formulas blend beautifully, and last all day.

FACE

By Terry Foundation in #8

MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer

Guerlain Meteroites
Rock & Republic Blush in Tease

YSL Faux Cils Mascara in Radical Black

LIPS

Chanel Rouge Allure Laque in Stunt

FOTD: Brights!

Goodness, I have no idea what I'm going through with these colors! Maybe it's the weather (gloomy), but I just want to be BRIGHT!

Orange is, in my opinion, one of the most flattering colors on brown skin. It is double edged blade though... as one might challenge the notion that 'less' is more. Observe...

Tuesday at the 'office' looked like this:

FACE

Chanel Mat Lumiere

MAC Loose Powder in Medium/Dark

Rock & Republic Blush in Immoral

EYES

Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in #10

OCC Cosmetics Pigment in Bright Orange

MAC Eyeshadow in Saddle (crease to brow)

Illamasqua Eyeliner Cake in Mislead

Illamasqua Sealing Gel

Stila Eyeliner Pencil in Stone

MAC Opulash Mascara

LIPS

Dolce & Gabbana Lipstick in Shine (#130)

Make Up For Ever Lipstick in #17

*The OCC Pigment is going to the bottom of the makeup pile. It's coarsely milled, it has massive fallout (no matter how much you tap the brush) and it does not play well with other products. It's also a bother to blend. I've decided that I am  not a fan. Sugarpill's pressed shadow in Flamepoint is likely a much better choice for a matte orange.*

Too Much Color... Too Little Time

It seems like I always want to do the most complicated things when I have the least amount of time:

Why did I want to do purple and gold on my eyes? I don't know. It seemed like a good idea at the time. I didn't realize that  my choice of colors would have everyone mistake me for the ultimate Lakers fan today. Oh well. I only  had time for one photo... and there it is. So very quickly, here's what I used:

FACE

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

Guerlain Meterorites

Chanel Blush in Rose Tempation

EYES

Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in #19 (royal purple)

Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in Gold

Sugarpill Chromalust Loose Eyeshadow in Goldilux

Sugarpill Chromalust Loose Eyeshadow in Hysteric

Guerlain Eyeliner Pencil in #1

Rock & Republic Mascara

LIPS

Armani Lip Gloss in #48

It took me about 20 minutes to put it all together. The Chromalust Shadows require a steady hand. I just blended the two together until it looked like it ought to look. The Aqua Creams were for staying power (and don't you know, those two bright colors didn't move AT ALL all day). The look is... strong. Maybe not the best choice for a day at the office, but what are ya gonna do? 

Maybe that's why I chose the life of an artist...

Dior: Endless Shine

I'm on a little bit of a Dior kick. The Endless Shine palette is part of the new Holiday 2010 collection. 

FACE

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Cadiz

MAC Loose Powder in Medium/Dark

MAC Sculpting Powder

Illamasqua Powdered Metal in Ether

EYES

Dior Quint in Endless Shine

Guerlain Retractable Eyeliner Pencil in #1

LIPS

Make Up For Ever Rouge Intense lipstick in #17