Face of the Day (FOTD)

A Homecoming Dance Makeup Tutorial Featuring Urban Decay Cosmetics

October 9th, 2009 by Karen 41 Comments

homecoming-makeup-tutorial

If you’re feeling blue about Homecoming, you’re not the only one. The color’s been a popular choice this season for formals and dances.

MBB reader Cheyda is looking for makeup ideas to go with her blue dress.

Hi Karen!

I am going to my first formal dance (homecoming) in about a week.

I’m wearing a navy strapless dress with my hair down, and I have NO idea what makeup to wear.

I want it to be kind of dramatic, but not too out there. Plus, it needs to stay put.

Any suggestions as far as colors and brands?

Thanks a bunch!

Cheyda

Hi Cheyda,

How exciting! Dances are so much fun. Not only do you get to play dress up, but they’re also great opportunities to try new makeup looks.

It sounds like you want to be noticed without looking overly done. I got you. 🙂

Before we get into details, here are some things to consider:

Photography. Chances are you’ll be in some pictures, so you’ll want makeup that looks good in photos. When I do makeup for pictures, I wear a little more than I normally would. Natural, everyday-type looks, those done with a very light hand, can look washed out under flash photography.

Leading up to Homecoming, take a few practice swings at your look. Go from start to finish and ask friends or family (or use your camera’s shutter timer) to snap some test pictures with the flash. It’ll give you time to adjust your technique before the dance.

Long-wear products. If you plan to dance the night away, you’ll want your makeup to last, so primers, waterproof formulas and long-wear products (like lipsticks vs. gloss) are musts. Layering also helps increase wear time.

To go with your navy dress. I’m thinking a shimmery purplish blue smokey eye with pinkish nude lips and a sheer, matte pink cheek. What do ya think? 🙂 I can see it now… The colors should pop without looking to matchy-matchy or melodramatic.

What you’ll need

A shimmery peachy eye primer like Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Sin ($17)
A shimmery golden beige shadow with glitter like Urban Decay Eyeshadow Midnight Cowboy Rides Again ($16)
A long-wear, shimmery blue eye pencil like Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Binge ($36, part of the Super Stash set)
A shimmery purplish blue eyeshadow like Urban Decay Deluxe Eyeshadow in Frigid ($18)
A black eye pencil like Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero ($17)
A waterproof mascara like Stila Lash Visor in Black ($12.50)
A sheer matte pink blush like Chanel Joues Contrastes in Rose Dust ($40)
A nude lip liner like MAC Cremestick Pearl Liner in Gingerroot ($14.50)
A nude lipstick like Benefit Full-Finish Lipstick in Lady’s Choice ($18)

homecoming-makeup-tutorial-swatches

You can find drugstore alternatives (Sonia Kashuk makes some great ones) to most, if not all, of these products. If you’re interested, shoot me a line and I’ll send some suggestions. 🙂
[Continue reading…]

MAC Style Black FOTD: Greasepaint Stick in Black with Young Punk Eyeshadow

September 25th, 2009 by Karen 61 Comments

mac style black fotd

Rise and shine, ladies. 🙂 TGIF!

This shimmery purple eye comes courtesy of two products from the new MAC Style Black collection, the Greasepaint Stick in Black and Mineralize Eyeshadow in Young Punk. That’s Young Punk layered on top of the stick on my lids.

Also in the mix: the Eye Kohl in Smolder along the waterlines (upper and lower), Young Punk along the lower lash line and two coats of the new Zoom Fast Black Lash Mascara on my lashes.

I was shooting for something wearable enough for a business meeting…

mac-style-black-fotd-eyes

Oh — remember the Origins GinZing Eye Cream-concealer trick for dark circles we talked about the other day? I used it for this look, mixing GinZing with Laura Mercier Secret Concealer and applying under my eyes.
[Continue reading…]

Makeup Tutorial: Red Hot Lips and Shimmery Teal Eyes

September 22nd, 2009 by Karen 38 Comments

Red lips and teal eyes makeup tutorial

Do you remember the look I tried last week that featured red lips and teal/brown eyes?

I felt like doing it again today, but this time I snapped a few extra pictures for a quickie tutorial.

mac cosmetics tutorial fashion week look eye 1

After the post last week, reader Jenna left a great tip in the comments that I also wanted to try… She suggested adding some black eyeliner to ramp up the drama, and here’s how it turned out:

mac cosmetics tutorial fashion week look eye 2

Better, right? Thanks for the tip, Jenna! 🙂

If you’d like to give the look a try…

What you’ll need

An eyeshadow primer like Too Faced Shadow Insurance ($17)
A creamy pearl eyeshadow like MAC Cream Colour Base in Pearl ($17)
A dark brown pencil eyeliner like MAC Eye Pencil in Coffee ($13)
A dark brown eyeshadow like MAC Brun ($15)
A warm matte brown eyeshadow like MAC Eyeshadow in Brown Script ($15) or Soft Brown ($15)
A matte peach eyeshadow like MAC Eyeshadow in Arena ($15) or Bamboo ($15)
A shimmery teal eyeshadow like MAC Eyeshadow in Aquadisiac ($15) or Steamy ($15)
A matte black liquid eyeliner like LORAC Front of the Line Pro ($22)
A shimmery golden brown eyeshadow like MAC Soba ($15)
A black mascara like MAC Mascara X in Black ($13)
A matte red lipstick like MAC Lipstick in Chili ($14) or Russian Red ($14)

NOTE: I ended up using MAC Eyeshadow in Waternymph instead of the teal eyeshadows and MAC Mattene in Classic Dame instead of matte red lipsticks listed above. Both are limited edition and tricky to track down, but they’re similar to the colors mentioned.

mac cosmetics tutorial fashion week look swatches 1
Swatches from left to right: Too Faced Shadow Insurance, MAC Cream Colour Base in Pearl, MAC Eye Pencil in Coffee, MAC Eyeshadow in Brun, MAC Eyeshadow in Brownscript

mac cosmetics tutorial fashion week look swatches 2
From left to right: MAC Eyeshadow in Arena, MAC Eyeshadow in Waternymph, LORAC Front of the Line Pro Liner, MAC Eyeshadow in Soba
[Continue reading…]

From Runway to Realway: Red Hot Lips and Shimmery Teal Eyes

September 17th, 2009 by Karen 54 Comments

agent-provocateur-show

New York Fashion Week is just about over, but I’m not ready to let go quite yet.

Today I had some time during my lunch break to play, so I tried to re-create the makeup from last week’s Agent Provocateur runway show.

Inspired by a 70s fetish club, this sultry look features red lips and teal eyes. MEOW!

fashion-week-fotd-final

I’d never think to pair these colors together, but this look turned out surprisingly wearable. I might actually rock this someplace other than my living room, ha!

If ya want a tutorial, gimme a holler in the comments. 🙂

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Itching to try a few New York Fashion Week makeup looks on yourself? Check out Daily Makeover’s Fashion Week Looks Facebook contest, and enter to win a Zeno Mini (an $89 value).

A Summery Face of the Day with Too Faced Natural Eye Palette

August 28th, 2009 by Karen 58 Comments

too-faced-natural-eye-fotd-karen4
Can I have a fan blowing my hair back like this 24/7? Please?

Even though summer’s quickly slipping away, I’m not ready to let it go. It’s hella hot again today in Nor Cal, so I couldn’t resist busting out this summery look with shimmery golden brown eyes.

Remember the Too Faced Natural Eye Palette from a few days back? I followed the Fashion eye look instructions, adding Cargo’s awesome Plant Love Eyeliner in Black to the waterline for a little extra oomph.

too-faced-natural-eye-fashion-look

too-faced-natural-eye-face-of-the-day-eye1

The other stars in this summery show are NARS Blush in Torrid and our girl MAC Nymphette.

too-faced-natural-eye-face-of-the-day-karen2

Excuse the fan action, LOL! It’s sooo cheesy but I *love* it. 🙂

How’s it going out in your neck of the woods? Got any exciting Friday night plans? I’m not sure what I’m doing yet, but whateva it is I hope it involves air conditioning!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

MAC Make-Up Art Cosmetics Face of the Day with the Notoriety Quad

August 21st, 2009 by Karen 45 Comments

mac-makeup-art-cosmetics-notoriety-quad-fotd

Hola, my Salt n’ Pepas. Before you read any further, I swear to you this MAC Make-Up Art Cosmetics face of the day started off totally normal (see above).

With the Notoriety quad in hand, I followed the MAC online face chart for the Cocomotion eye look, tweaking it just a little by swapping Arena eyeshadow for Shroom and Cork for Brownscript.

I was pretty happy with how the golden reddish brown eye turned out, so I proceeded to snap some pictures like I normally do…

mac-makeup-art-cosmetics-notoriety-quad-fotd-eye

But things took an odd turn when I uploaded them into this post.
[Continue reading…]

Urban Decay Fall 2009 Purple Cat Eye Face of the Day

August 12th, 2009 by Karen 108 Comments

urban-decay-fall-2009-fotd-karen2a

Earlier today I needed a little help getting over the hump day blues, so I pointed my browser in the direction of Urban Decay’s big friends and family sale.

From now through August 20, get 30% off online orders with coupon code FNFF1 at checkout.

I was looking at the online fall catalog when I felt a sudden urge to play.

This was my inspiration for the eyes…

urban-decay-cosmetics-fall-2009-fotd2-081209-1

…and then I tried a version of these nude lips here:

urban-decay-fall-2009-fotd-081209-1

urban-decay-fall-2009-fotd-karen1a

LOL, pardon the fan action. 🙂 I couldn’t resist.

I was actually sweating bullets in these pics because it was like hot soup in my apartment today.
[Continue reading…]

Bobbi Brown Ivy League FOTD Eye Map

August 6th, 2009 by Karen 21 Comments

bobbi-brown-ivy-league-redux
G’morning, ladies!

A few of you asked to see details of the Bobbi Brown Ivy League look I tried on Monday.

Nicole and Nancy wanted a breakdown of the eyes. They took about eight steps. If you were comfortable trying any of my 4-step eye makeup looks, I think you could easily do this look as well.

Bobbi Brown Ivy League face of the day

My Bobbi Brown Ivy League eyes

bobbi brown ivy league eye

Oh, if you’d like to tone down the look, swap the black pencil liner for a brown one or omit the lining along the lower lash line entirely.

bobbi-brown-ivy-league-eyemap

I start by applying Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Forest Shimmer Ink (a dark green with golden flecks) on my lid and just up into the crease with a Sonia Kashuk Synthetic Concealer Brush, smoothing away any harsh lines with a fingertip.
Then, using a MAC 217 Blending Brush, I pat Bobbi Brown Metallic Eyeshadow in Bash (a shimmery forest green) over the lid and just barely into the crease.
Next, with a MAC 226 Small Tapered Blending Brush, I sweep MAC Mineralize Eye Shadow Quad in Assemblage (a shimmery gold) into the crease.
Applying a light color under the brow bone can add definition to eye makeup, so I pat on some MAC Eyeshadow in Arena (a shimmery golden peach) with a MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush.
For a slightly smokey eye, I line my upper lash line with Bobbi Brown Creamy Eye Pencil in Jet (a matte black) and diffuse/fade the edges by running the pencil’s attached sponge along them. Then, still with the same pencil, I line my upper and lower waterlines.
To emphasize my lower lash line while still keeping it soft, I draw a line along it (ideally, getting between the roots of each lash) with Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Forest Shimmer Ink.
Then, I soften the lined lower lash by gently swiping Bobbi Brown Metallic Eyeshadow in Bash along the outer half (toward the ear) with a MAC 226 Small Tapered Blending Brush.
Finally, still with the MAC 226, I swipe MAC Arena along the inner half of the line (toward the nose).

All done. 🙂

Possible alternatives for Bobbi Brown Metallic Eyeshadow in Bash

bobbi-brown-bash-mac-humid-swatch
Swatches from left to right: Bash, MAC Humid, the light and dark green shades from the Chanel Murano quad

Thanks for suggesting so many alternatives to Bash in an earlier post. I think MAC Humid comes pretty close, and the two darker green shades in the new Chanel Murano quad should also work.
[Continue reading…]