Welcome to summer! (It officially starts today for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, in case you didn’t notice.) Although I’m not a fan of sweltering hot days (especially since we don’t have an air conditioner in our place at the moment), one thing I’ve always loved about summer is when the sun sets and everything cools down juuuuuuust enough so you can walk around comfortably in the evening wearing shorts and a tank top or a dress.
This look was inspired by hot summer nights, and by one of my favorite crimson lipstick colors to wear when the weather heats up: matte coral red. This particular shade is MAC Relentlessly Red, which is available in the permanent line.
I usually apply matte coral reds like this one straight from the tube, but this time I decided to try something a little different by lining my lip line with a slightly darker red lip pencil and leaving the edges mostly unblended.
I’ve been into the unblended lip liner Kelly Clarkson usually wears on The Voice, so I wanted to dip a toe into the look! I haven’t worn unblended liner since 1998, so it was fun to try it again, even if the red-on-red combo is subtler than the stark dark plum liner-frosty pale beige lipstick combo I used to wear in college.
Oh, and did ya notice the cooler-toned olive taupe smudged on my lower lash line? I went for a foil to the warm shades on my eyes, cheeks and lips… I like those unexpected contrasts in makeup looks, don’t you?
- Eyes: Lots of Wander Beauty! Eye Primer, Liquid Eye Shadows (Brownstone and Amber Wave), Wandress Off Duty Palette, Mile High Club Mascara. Everything else: MAC Sun Soaked Strip Bronzer and Coppertone Blush (as transition colors in the crease), Nudestix Smoke, Hourglass Dark Brunette Arch Gel, Urban Decay Dark Drakes Brow Blade, NARS Numero 3 falsies (side note: These are lighter than air, but the ends poke my lash lines and itch.)
- Face: It Cosmetics Oil-Free Primer (not all that great), Wander Beauty Nude Illusion Foundation, MAC Strobe Cream in Pinklite, MAC Medium Golden Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder, Estee Lauder Instant Fix Concealer, MAC Global Glow MSF highlighter, MAC Sun Soaked Strip Bronzer, MAC Coppertone Blush, MAC Faux Sure Extra Dimension Blush
- Lips: MAC Relentlessly Red Lipstick, MAC Cherry Lipliner
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. TGIF! 🙂
*jaw drops* OMG, Karen, that color is absolutely STUNNING on you!!! Gorgeous makeup, too. I like the unblended lipliner. It works with the reds. El Hubs needs to take you out on the town looking like that!
Beautiful! Love the earrings too!
Damn girl – lookin’ HOT! Also, what IS the olive taupe?
Hi Georgia!
Thank you, lady! The olive taupe is Nudestix Smoke!
Gorgeously fierce and your grays are coming in beautifully! I just always can’t imagine ALL the comsetics you use for one look . . guess that’s what makes it special.
Luv,
L
❤️
TGIF is right! You look fabulous and very summer heatish! 🙂 The darker lip liner is definitely subtle – I probably wouldn’t have noticed. I WOULD have noticed the lashes, though. GAH. But, the poking and itching? Ugh. I hope you all have a delightful weekend!!!
Perfection!
Stunning . And very appropriate for the first day of summer .
And the lids and lashes are perfect .
Mac is the word .
Wow…what a glamorous look Karen!! You look beautiful!! I especially love that Relentlessly Red on you…it’s a great color.
This is such a beautiful summer look!
LOVE this look!
Smoking hot look! ?