The other day, when I was wearing this makeup, I ran into my neighbor, and she asked if I was going anywhere special, to which I replied, perhaps a little too enthusiastically, “I’M GOING TO SPORTS BASEMENT!”
You know the bar for your entertainment is set reeeeeeeally low when you dress up like you’re going to fancy brunch on vacation, but in reality you’re going to a sporting goods store to look for weights…
Oh, the pandemic stories we’ll have to tell! ?
This summery look has a few of my favorite warm-weather shades — coral and bronze! — and looks fancy, but it’s very easy to do. It also feels light and weightless, which are must-haves when the temperature’s rising.
This look has three distinguishing features — long, lifted, lush lashes; warm, peachy bronze lids; and luminous skin.
1. Primer on the outer lashes
To make your lashes look longer and more dramatique, coat your outer lashes with a lengthening lash primer before loading them up with mascara. This creates a lush lash effect without the time and effort of falsies.
2. Bronzer is your buddy for glam-on-the-go eyes
Bronzed eyes are a summer staple, and while you could always search your makeup collection for that perfect shade, why not save yourself a little time and swish your favorite bronzer on your lids instead?
Here, I layered a warm golden tan bronzer atop a satiny peach cream shadow…
3. Define your lash line with brown and black eyeliner
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: gradients are your friend.
This brown-into-black eyeliner gradient on the upper lash line is subtle, but I think that’s the beauty of it.
Start by lining your upper and lower waterlines with a matte brown pencil. Then, draw a thin line on your upper lash line, and smudge the outer edge of that ever so slightly.
Add depth to the gradient by etching a very thin line of black liquid liner along the top lash line.
Added bonus: the black liner also creates the illusion of a thicker lash base!
Flexible face oil
You probably already know I’m a fan of customizing foundation — mixing in a few drops of concealer for added coverage, or adding a few drops of liquid highlighter for a luminous effect. Well, here’s another one to try: blend a drop or two of face oil into your foundation to dial down the opacity of your base. This trick is handy for applying base to sections of the face where you want more of your natural skin to peek through, and it’s what I did here for my forehead and the outer edges.
Fastest updo
If your hair is crazy from quarantine, and you’re tired of rockin’ your fun bun, gather it into a high pony, and secure it into small sections with tiny hair ties (I like these. Three bucks at Ulta!). You can keep the hair ties bare, like I did here (I think the shiny effect looks like jewelry), but if you want to boost the sophistication factor, cover up the ties by wrapping a small piece of hair around each one and securing it with a bobby pin.
Makeup worn in this look
I listed everything on my visage below, so please feel free to ask about any of these products in the comments. ?
EYES:
- Honest Beauty Eyebrow Pencil in Brown (brows) — ashy gray undertones (NICE) and lighter than I expected
- Honest Beauty Cat Eye Kit Extreme Length Mascara + Lash Primer (lashes) and Liquid Eyeliner (upper lash line) — mascara is better for length (volume, not so much); liquid liner is excellent
- MAC Coffee (liner) — an old-school LOVE
- Wander Beauty Rose Garden — from Wander’s cream shadow line, which is basically like Tom Ford but less $
CHEEKS:
LIPS:
- Honest Beauty Liquid Lipstick in Happiness — NO CAT BUTT LIPS
BASE:
- Estee Lauder Hydra Prep Instant Fix Concealer 24HR in Medium Deep — moisturizing, fab for fine lines
- Neutrogena Hydro Boost in Honey — one of my fave drugstore foundations
- Kevyn Aucoin Supernatural in Medium EC06 — mixes well into foundation
- Honest Beauty Organic Facial Oil — also mixes well into foundation
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Gorgeous, Karen! Coral really suits you and your skin tone! I will have to try that lipstick! I like coral in the summer when I have a bit of a tan. And an excuse to go to Target!
Ooh! I love a gradient lash line! Recently I’ve totally switched up how I apply my eye makeup. Once I get my cream based on and my lid and crease powder eyeshadow, I’ve been putting MAC mulch on my upper lash line (sloppy, even) and I darken the outer portion with MAC espresso. Then I line my lash line as tight as I can get with MAC low lights gel liner. It’s very flattering. Not as harsh as just black, flatters my eye color more and looks more fresh. I love this look on you! Especially the cheeks!
I love that dress. I assume it’s a dress. It’s bright and summery and casual and comfy but still chic and a bit fancy.
Did you find any weights? I’ve been looking for kettlebells since this whole fiasco started. I found some lighter ones for myself but I’m still looking for an in between weight and a 16kg/35lb one for Dear Daughter.
Yes, LOVE the lippie! Imma have to check it out, too, though I’ve never seen Honest Beauty at Target. Maybe because lately I feel like going in there is running a football play, have your list and “GO! GO! GO!’ no dillydallying!!!
The oil in foundation totally works. MAC’s Waterweight foundation is already very light but it can still tend to gather in the pores and just “lay” on top of my skin. One drop of rosehip seed oil with one drop of the Waterweight and everything just melts in, with still decent coverage (the kind I like — super sheer).
Hope you enjoyed the turned heads at Sports Basement! 😉
I am always so envious of the face oil and the dewey look. I have acne prone/super oily skin so I run the other way when I see dewey lol! I have heard though a face oil can be good for my skin concerns? Is this true? Anyway this look you created is beautiful! I love corals and pinks!
Yes, I love this look! Coral is just so nice and summery, especially with the bronzy skin and eyes.
Great look for you. I’m cool toned, so don’t think I could pull this off, but I wish I could.
You mentioned mixing oil in with your foundation, so I thought I’d share something that I’ve been doing. After I put my foundation or cc cream and blush on, I take three or so drops of Argan oil and rub them on my palms. Then I pat it on my face. Seems to set the foundation and gives a nice glow while taking away any dryness.
Love the coral lips and cheeks!! It is is so flattering for the Summer!! I have a soft spot for coral lippies. I’ve been wearing one by MAC a lot lately. It’s called Style Surge. It’s a Mineralized lipstick. They discontinued those though. By the way, that dress is the bomb!! It kind of looks red, but it kind of looks coral too!! Did you by chance get it at Nordstrom? I keep thinking I’ve seen it somewhere before.
You look VERY sassy for your trip to the sporting goods store, which was always one of my favorite places to browse, pandemic or not! HAHA! I’m not sure what a fun bun is but I think my hair is currently the low end version of that. Whatever making a high ponytail and then wrapping the last twist of the hair tie 3/4 down to make a bunnish thing is. We were also just discussing how I only do eye makeup and un-tinted sunscreen these days. Things are getting pretty grim from a beauty standpoint. 😉
Hi Karen! Love your coral dress and the color of your lipstick! They both look very flattering on you! I was able to find 15 lb and 12 lb Dumbbells at Target during a 6 week period. I would make Target runs once or twice a week to locate them. They were usually in stock on Thursday mornings. Hope you are having a great weekend!