The three colorful looks in this post have a couple things in common.
- I wore them all to preschool drop-off in the last few days (the pink look at the top was from this morning!).
- I did all of them using the $29 LORAC Neon Lights palette.
In the Neon Lights palette, that yellow is more of a goldenrod, which I’m kind of disappointed by because I wish the palette had a lemon yellow… The goldenrood just isn’t yellow enough for me.
Wow, that’s something I never thought I’d ever say!
Say “what,” Karen? You’re not wearing a sh*t-ton of browns for once? LOL. Neutrals are normally my wheelhouse, it’s true. I usually default to them because they fit my my lowest energy state, ha ha ha! Plus, you can’t really muck up neutrals.
Still, I’ve been itching to wear more color. I’ve just been trying to think of ways to feel comfortable doing it, because as fun as bright, intense glittery looks are, I feel a little crazy wearing that kind of makeup when all I’m doing is bringing coywolf to school or toddler ballet class.
The colorful looks here are my speed because, even though there’s a bright focal point in every one, there are still subtle-ish elements, like the foundation.
Something Sam said in that ’90s makeup video I mentioned the other day resonated with me. To paraphrase, she said that it’s not the things you pile on that make a look look cool. It’s what you leave out, so I basically went super minimal on the base in all of these colorful looks.
I’ve also been VERY inspired by Katie Jane Hughes lately. She’s a makeup artist I follow on Instagram, and she is JUST SO DAMN GOOD. She’ll paint a delicate swish of sparkly green shadow or sketch a skinny slice of neon yellow liner, so you can tell she loves wearing color, but she also likes to go minimal with the base.
I’m a little obsessed with her at the moment!
LOOK 1: PINK SUMMER SUNSET
- Eyes: Bolt, Girls and Atomic eyeshadow from the LORAC Neon Brights Palette, Chanel Dimensions de Chanel Mascara, Maybelline Bold Brown Tattoo Studio Liner, IT Cosmetics Brow Power Micro in Universal Taupe, Urban Decay Yeyo liner (as a base)
- Base: MAC Next to Nothing Foundation in Medium Deep (all over, applied with fingers) and Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Honey Bronze (patted with fingers on cheeks, nose, around the lips, and under the eyes)
- Lips: MAC Stripdown Lip Pencil and MAC Open Presence Lipstick
LOOK 2: BLUE NOTE
- Eyes: Indie and Blue Note eyeshadow from the LORAC Neon Brights Palette, Chanel Dimensions de Chanel Mascara, Maybelline Tattoo Studio Liner (gray shade), IT Cosmetics Brow Power Micro in Universal Taupe, Urban Decay Yeyo liner (as a base for the blue eyeshadow)
- Base: Tom Ford Traceless Liquid Foundation (all over, applied with fingers), MAC Sun-Soaked Strip Bronzer and MAC Sunbasque Blush (cheeks)
- Lips: MAC Stripdown Lip Pencil and MAC Smoked Almond Lipstick
LOOK 3: LEMON SLICE
- Eyes: Bolt and Atomic eyeshadow from the LORAC Neon Brights Palette, Chanel Dimensions de Chanel Mascara, Maybelline Bold Brown Tattoo Studio Liner, IT Cosmetics Brow Power Micro in Universal Taupe, Urban Decay Yeyo liner (as a base for the yellow eyeshadow)
- Base: Wander Beauty Nude Illusion in Golden Tan, bareMinerals Warmth Bronzer and bareMinerals Free Highlighter
- Lips: Chanel 166 Rouge Coco gloss
Would you try any of these looks? Inquiring minds want to know. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Ah!! I love both pixiwoo and Katie Jane Hughes! These are very KJH to me. You’re right on about her base too, I find most of her base looks would only last on me for a half second before I’d be a greaseball but I love watching her do her thing. These looks are awesome and very wearable, love!!
Hi Jade,
I’m so thrilled to hear you say that because I drew some serious inspiration from her feed! AHHHHH!
Oooh those are some fun colors! I especially like the sunset themed one. And your lashes look super long in these pics!
Thanks, Rachel! I’ve been using the Rodan + Fields Last Boost every night for the last month and a half, and so they’re long once more!
I’ve been using Rapidlash and I think it’s helping. My biggest problem is remembering to use it!
Ah, I have that issue too. What helps me is keeping the tube right next to my toothpaste. That way I remember to always put it on right after I brush my teeth before going to bed!
Just found the Rodin Lash Boost. I have been appyling it on my sparse-ish brows though. Haven’t had the product long though. I don’t need help w my lashes…already very long:)
I love these looks on you! I agree with the comments above—your lashes! I can probably only pull off the blue eyeliner one, which I might do on our Fourth of July BBQ. Thanks for the inspiration. Slowly, but surely, I’m becoming more adventurous with makeup!
Hi Kate,
Thank you for noticing the lashes! I think that crazy length a combo between the Rodan + Fields Lash Boost and the Chanel mascara, which is super great at curl hold and lengthening.
Hope you give the blue liner a go. If you can’t get it bright enough, layer it on top of a light pencil liner (ideally a white one), and then dip your brush into the eyeshadow, tap off the excess, then wet what’s leftover on the brush with a setting spray. Apply, wait until it dries, and then apply any additional layers if needed.
That’s a great tip! I think my blue eyeshadow leans on the navy side so I’ll definitely need to lighten it up. My biggest problem with using eyeshadow as liner is the smudging, despite using eyelid primer and powdering under my eyes.
Katie Jane Hughes is so inspirational but she can only do the glass look bc 1. She has perfect, poreless acne red free skin. It DOES look greasy and for me, as an oily skin gal, I try everything to be less greasy so it is very odd that people would choose that look on purpose lol
PS. 2. She can get away w such a look bc of her profession/lifestyle. I’m in education and live in a small Midwestern town. I already look like an oddball bc I wear a full face of makeup daily. The glass skin look is just too much?
Love these looks. So fun. My “neon” palette this summer has been the HUDA Neon Orange Obsession palette. It is $28 so relative to the Lorac. It has a really cool bright shimmery orange shade that is to die!!
I’m sure you could write my comment. 🙂 I think all these work for you and I’m such a sucker for the sunset combo. I was actually really surprised by how wearable the last option is, in your last picture, which is how you would look most of the time. I’m assuming you don’t stop during conversation to tilt your head and look down to show off your shadow. Though, now I’m picturing it and think you should. HAHA! None would work for me since I don’t have the lids for shadow anymore. And I have an irrational aversion to color. 🙂
Fun looks! I’m always happy to see brights. Well done!
These are beautiful! The pink eye look would definitely make me look like a less-cute albino bunny. The blue liner is definitely wearable! And I love the lemon look.
OMG! I love the blue winged liner you did with Blue Note! I’m curious how Disco swatches. Usually blues can be patchy, but Blue Note looks pigmented and smooth.
I love the pink summer sunset look even though I could never wear it. I wouldn’t risk a reaction from the red pigments.
I love all of these but especially the Lemon Slice one! Great job!!
Blue note is my absolute favorite. I think that should be in your regular rotation for daytime. Love, love, love.
I think so too. The world needs more blue winged liner!