I’m feeling the sass today because I get tomorrow off from work, so today is my “Friday,” and also because of my wacky hair:
El Hub’s been reading a lot of manga books (Japanese comics), and I swiped a few the other day. They inspired me to rock my hair like this.
Hair of this sassified caliber deserves superhero makeup, too, so today I gave the MAC Full on Lust face chart a go.
This is a brighter daytime look than I’m used to wearing, but I like it because it makes me feel really cute and spunky. If the blue is too cartoony for your liking you can always use a lighter touch to lessen the color intensity.
Here’s what I used to get the look:
Eyes
Brows – MAC Concrete eyeshadow
Browbone – MAC Frisco eyeshadow
Lid – MAC Jadeye Fluidline
Center and outer lid – MAC Parrot eyeshadow
Crease – MAC Charred eyeshadow and MAC Carbon Eyeshadow
Upper lashline – MAC Blacktrack Fluidline
Lower lashline – MAC Carbon eyeshadow
Lashes (lower and upper) – Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! mascara
Cheeks
Cheeks – MAC Blushbaby blush
Lips
Lipliner – MAC Subculture
Lipstick – MAC Twig-Twig
Lipgloss – MAC Full on Lust
A few eye tips
When using dark colors in the crease, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Build color slowly. First, if you’re clumsy like I am, I find that it helps to take the time to build a color slowly, layer upon layer. First, I dipped my crease brush in the eyeshadow pot, swiped it gently on some tissue to remove the excess shadow, and then applied Charred (a shade of grey) in a light layer using a sweeping motion in my crease. I applied about five light layers before I got the color where I wanted it to be. Yes, it’s time consuming, but it’s easier for me to slowly build up layers instead of overloading my brush. Remember, it’s easier to add color than to take it away.
Don’t over blend. Have you ever tried a smokey eye, used several colors, but ended up with absolutely no definition between the colors you applied to your lid, your crease or your outer V? Here’s the deal: when you’re doing a smokey-inspired eye, you can’t go crazy with the blending; otherwise, you end up with a solid layer of dark shadow (aka ONE HOT MESS) on your eyelid. Trust me, I’ve effed up my share of smokey eyes by overblending to oblivion.
Now when I’m doing a smokey eye I use a MAC 224 brush to lightly diffuse any harsh lines and take special care not to go crazy with the blending. I use the very tip of the brush and lightly tap the edges of the shadow to blend the color. Or, I’ll use the tip, and with a light hand sweep it back and forth to diffuse the color.
Carbon 101. If I’m using a dark color like Carbon in the crease, it’s all about the brush. To get that dark black pop in the outer crease I’ll use a MAC 219 brush, which has a pointed head shaped like a pencil tip. Using the very tip of the brush, I’ll lightly swipe Carbon back and forth in the crease with extra emphasis on the outer half. To keep the Carbon from blending into the Charred, I’ll use the 224 brush to tap out any overly harsh lines.
Twig-Twig Lipstick and Full on Lust Lipglass: You want this combo!
Often I attempt a lighter lip with smokey eyes and end up looking like a corpse with pale beige lips, but the Twig-Twig lipstick/Full on Lust lipglass combo has just enough warmth to not look undead. It’s light, natural-looking and keeps the emphasis on the eyes, hawt!
This look isn’t one that I’d do everyday because I don’t always have the time to devote to layering color ever-so-carefully, but I’ll definitely do the eye makeup again when I’m feeling the spunky sass spirit.
MAC’s Are You an Original? Contest
MAC asks, “Are you an original?” Your answer better be Hell-to-the-Yeah!
If you exude OG spirit, then be sure to enter this spiffy contest ’cause there’s some serious MAC prize loot.
Enter by visiting MAC Cosmetics online and uploading a picture and a 200-word testament on how you are a MAC Original. Online voters will then determine the winner, who’ll snag a $1,000 gift card (holla!) from MAC and the entire Originals collection.
or…
If you live in the New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Las Vegas, San Francisco or Houston areas, you can visit your designated MAC location to get your makeup done for free and have your photograph taken by a professional. Each city will have one winner who’ll receive a $250 MAC gift card, the entire Originals collection and be featured in local publications. The winners will also be entered into the online contest mentioned above.
Technical difficulties
If you were visiting the site in the wee hours last night you may have noticed that it was out of commission. Go Daddy, my web host, was having server issues, but all is well now. 🙂
Anyway, my sassy self has to run a few errands before it starts raining. Happy Thursday, ya’ll!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
This look is SOOOO cute. I thought I could pass on Parrot but now I am not so sure. I love it! And the hair. My little cuz looks like a Japanese manga character – I forget the name though but I have a video of her on my blog. She’s always in pigtails!
Oh I bought Chanel Garden Party. LOVE it! 🙂
Cute! Nice to see you in darker colors 🙂 Was it as muted in person as it was in pics? Seems like it should be brighter!
Adorable….LOL too bad I don’t have the patience to rock long hair anymore. My curls are too tight and it’s too much of a hassle…because that’s really cute. I love the FOTD too… 🙂
Hey Karen! I love you in parrot and full on lust. Looks great. and I love the spunky hair too. 🙂
I know this isn’t the place, but I’m just getting caught up on the blog due to holidays….I’ve been searching for the perfect medium purple eyeshadow, and I think I may try violet pigment. But I need help-what brush do you recommend for applying pigments? Violet will be my first. (I tried one of the sampler sets way back and had to return it, due to the fact that I could never get the color packed on my lids like I wanted, plus had pigment fallout all around my eyes). Thanks in advance.
Rowena!
I knew you’d fall in love with Garden Party. SOOOO super hot. Have you tried the dark green shade wet yet? WOOWEEE WOW WOW!
Hi Christine,
Yeah, it actually wasn’t that bright. I didn’t use a base underneath, which seemed to really effect the color payoff. I’m guessing if I used Bare Canvas Paint it would’ve been a LOT more blue.
Happy New Year 🙂
Hi Karen!
LOVE the look. You are definately looking sassy in those pics. I posted my look for today on my new blog using Parrot and Full on Lust…..but I’m just hangin’ out, so I am not looking as happening as you are:)
Thanks Megan!
I wanna chop my hair off but I’m sooo lazy. (It’s so easy to put it up in a ponytail or pigtails!)
I gotta give you props for working the Betty Boop hair. I wish I had the stamina (and guts) to do that.
Soooo cute! I knew you’d rock this out and you definitely did. I really want to give this face chart a try too. I did a FOTD using Frisco as a lid color and another FOTD using it as a highlight and I’m so glad I got it. It’s my favorite light pink! I also agree with your tips on building color slowly and once you get it where you want it to be, don’t overblend it. I thought I was using a light hand before but now I know it has to be even lighter to not smear the colors together.
Hey Amanda!
Happy New Year!
A MAC makeup artist told me that when using pigments you wanna use a firm brush, like the MAC 252 or 242. I like the 239 because the brush head is smaller and I like to go slowly when applying the pigments otherwise I end up waaaaay to disco glittery.
I don’t dip my brush into the jar. Instead, I grab the color from the top of the lid from that plastic stopper thingy that comes with the jar, and then dilute the color by either tapping the brush on the side of the sink or swiping it against a tissue.
Try combo-ing the pigment with MAC paints or Paint Pots, if you have any. The result is very pretty and striking! Feel free to ask more questions and I’ll do my best!
Thanks, Melissa.
Every girl needs a Parrot, yes? 😉
Happy New Year!
Mrs. Lynne,
OMG – FRISCO EFFING RULES!
I love it too. 🙂
Yeah, I learned the hard way about light application. Now if only I didn’t document it on this blog for all the world to see, oy!
go karen, go karen…. live color! =) blending v. definition is always an issue with me for trying to make a look bold or just noticeable…. everytime i think i’m doing definition.. i hear blend blend blend.. get rid of the harsh lines! >:(((
You are too cute! 🙂
Hi Kia!
Awww, thanks girl! You know, that seems to be an eternal problem, sigh. I always want to get rid of harsh lines too, and have turned many a smokey eye attempt into a soup of grey/black shadow.
I am getting so psyched about blues and greens now! I dunno if I’m ever going to move into orange/yellow/red territory, but it’s fun to dress up and pretend you are someone else (like a sassy super heroine) every once in a while).
Thanks Vanessa!
Happy Thursday 🙂
Yes, I heart Frisco!! And same here. I’ve got my lead hand results all over my blog too. Consider it a documentation of progression 🙂
What a coincidence! I’m actually sporting a work-friendly version of Full On Lust right now too!!! LOL
Mine’s not quite as good as yours but I’m still practicing! 🙂
Hope you stay dry and warm this weekend, the storm is brewing and it feels like it might be a nasty couple of days 🙁
Lol i’m loving the sassy “spunky brewster” spirit 😀 and that hair is so incredibly cute!
i wish i could wear the aqua-y eyeshadow but i don’t have the courage nor the buck for it 🙁 *giggles* but i’ll live
have a sunny day, Karen! stay warm!
you did a really awesome job! I totally should go for that look. I just bought a new MAC blush, format, and I’m really excited 😀
Hehe, you look so cute, lol!
I love that face chart and it turned out nicely on you.
Thanks for the tips 🙂 Will definitely keep those in mind!
Ooh, this looks great on you! I’m going to have to try it. Thanks for the blending tips– I think I mentioned this before, but I’m having trouble blending Parrot with other colors. This helps a lot. Also, I have a question: I don’t have anything with a green/blue hue to use as a base underneath Parrot, so I’m going to try using it with a wet brush. This may be an idiotic question, but I’ve never used eye shadows wet before so I’m going to ask anyway. 🙂 Can I just dip a wet brush into the pot, or will the moisture cause the shadow to cake up and become unusable (like when people stick their fingers into blushes at makeup counters and it becomes hard as a rock from the oils absorbing into the powder)?
Karen, you’re so cute! ^^ I love your look. The colour is awesome. I wish I know how to do it. I’m so scared to blend eyeshadows >.
Hi Mrs. Lynne,
Ha, I hear that. Why is it so easy to go crazy with the color? I dunno.
At first I wasn’t feeling the Frisco, to be honest. But when I saw how it looked in the pics I fell in love. It’s a great browbone color when I’m not feeling the Shroom or the Ricepaper.
Hi Lilan/Nilla,
Yeah, you do the same. I just heard that it’s supposed to bring in 6 foot waves and 60 mph winds. Crazy!
Hey Ash,
I’ve dipped wet brushes into shadows and have never had a problem.
If you are worried about texture issues you can also section off your shadow by just taking care to dip the wet brush onto one half and not the other.
Also, it helps to squeeze some of the water out, or run the brush against the back of your hand or a paper towel to get out the excess water. That way your brush isn’t dripping all over the place. Hit me up if you’ve got any other questions 🙂
Aww, thanks Abi. Seriously, girl, if I could pull this off, so could you. I am very new to color so the fact that this didn’t go completely wrong sort of stunned me, LOL.
Take care and get ready for Friday, WOO HOO!
Hi Vonnie!
I haven’t heard of Format but I’ll check it out. I’ve decided my blush collection is in dire need of a makeover, sigh.
Have a good one, and Happy New Year!
Heya Julie,
You are welcome. 🙂 I hope they help. Let me know if ya ever have any questions – if I don’t know the answer it just gives me an excuse to learn something new about makeup!
Take care!
Hi Sandy,
Girl, you could totally work it. For me figuring out blending took a LOT of bad makeup experiments. Some of them are up on this blog; most of them I couldn’t even bear to take pictures of, LOL! But at least it a hot mess of makeup always washes off…
One thing that helps is having a good blending brush. Do you have any faves in your brush kit?
Hi Karen!
Love this FOTD; makes me want to resurrect my bright eyeshadow collection from back in the day! Your tips will help me avoid the “Mimi from the Drew Carey show” look.
Anywho, just wanted to say that your blog has become the first beauty blog I check everyday, it’s awesome! Informative and funny. And the Chanel Glossimer addiction doesn’t hurt, either hehe.
Me too! It’s also great as a lid color too. Not as flashy as white, but enough to create a soft milky appearance.
Hmm.. I got this fav brush of mine for eyes from the body shop. I got them MAC brush sets from the novel twist collection but i don’t quite like it. Some of their brushes were so bad that it left a cut on my face. I’m thinking to get more eyeshadows but I don’t know which one, hope you could recommend some? Also when I go out, I just use 1 eyeshadow, I like to keep it natural but nowadays, I want to broaden my look but I’m so not confident about it 🙁
Jacks! Hey girl!
You know, you totally just made my night. I am so glad to hear that the tips help you! One of the blog’s main reason for being is because I really want to help people – it always makes me happy to hear that I can do that.
LOL, I loves me some Glossimers. Do you have a favorite color?
Yah, Mrs. Lynne, I agree. I love that it’s just enough to show that it’s there but it’s no overwhelming, either. I think next I will try it with different Paints to see what happens to the color. First up: Bare Canvas!
Hi Sandy,
Did you get the SE brushes, with the short handles? The regular brushes are a bit more expensive, but they totally perform differently than the ones you buy in the brush sets. Save your $ and invest in some really great brushes. I can recommend a few from MAC that I like; also, I’ve been using some from makeup artist Billy B. (I am gonna post the review up this weekend) and they are also pretty great.
On most days I am a one-to-two shadow girl as well. I have a lot of rotating MAC colors that I use, like Woodwinked, Soba, Ricepaper, Shroom and Sable.
Another line that makes phenomenal shadows is Shu Uemura. When the rain lets up I am going to go to the store and check out more colors – right now I have three and I can’t wait to get more!
And seriously, I hear ya about not feeling confident about using lots of colors/layering. In the last year I’ve learned so much about makeup, and to tell you the truth in the beginning it was NOT pretty when I started really trying to do complicated eyes that went beyond 1-2 shadows. Get some good brushes and practice, practice, practice! Even now I still practice cause I know there’s a ton of stuff I could do better and there’s always more to learn. 😀
Thanks, Karen! And Friday’s coming, which calls for one loud “yahootie!!” lol 😀 😛
WOO HOO! That’s the truth, Abi. Are you doing anything fun this weekend? I am probably not going to do anything too exciting … all I really want to do is chill and veg because it’s going to be raining like crazy here!
Yup I tried it wet….Garden Party that is. Its amazing how it turns into the perfect liner. Such an elegant eye. I have no hesitation buying the Celestes now, once it comes to the UK! Yeah! But I dunno about the quads tho – I am going to buy one to test the quality, for research purposes..
I mean the older quads since Garden Party is quite a new ‘un. Might try Vanities, a purple quad!
I used mine over Fresco Paint Pot and it turned out real nice. I’m having a pink fix now, lol.
Karen,
I love the lips!!! LOVE THEM!
The eyes are great on you and it’s fab that you can wear that intensity. I’m not sure I would or could dare…but it’s great to live via your makeup gusto!
Gisele
Hi Rowena,
I am all about research in the name of makeup.I want to research some Chanel foundations and powder next. Then some LORAC palettes! And then some NARS blushes! And then …
I do what I gotta do in the name of science.
That purple quad sounds quite pretty, btw.
Hi Mrs. Lynne,
I don’t have Fresco. Gotta add that one to Le List.
I like light pinks too. I find myself drawn to hot pinks but on the eyes, hmmm, I dunno!
Heya Gisele,
Yeah, that lip combo is so boss. If you like neturals/naturals then get the pair, asap!
Have a great Friday and if I don’t talk to you enjoy your weekend. 🙂
Your makeup looks so good Karen! Wow. Especially your lashes. They look fake. I will pick me up some tarte mascara next time I’m at Sephora!!
Thanks Alicia!
So I gotta come clean, I wasn’t feeling the tarte mascara a few months ago, but now I *love* it. I can really pack on the layers, it has excellent curl hold AND my lashes stay soft (no crunchiness, hurrah).
I’ve even got several of my friends to convert. 🙂 Let me know if you try it. I hope you like it!
Hi Karen!
You look fantastic! I love that anime/manga look! I may have to try rocking the double ponies now! 🙂 I hope you’re entering the MAC contest because you are fo’ sho’ an original!!
Yesterday was spa day with my girl, had a facial, massage and double chocolate pedi. The pedi was great, but sadly I must report that the cocoa served alongside was of the weak Swiss Miss variety… they just did that whole brownie thing, they have GOT to upgrade the cocoa! All that aside, I sure feel great! All happy and relaxed! I also snagged me the Twig-Twig at Nordstrom (I got one of the last three there)! Looking forward to test-driving it!
Great post as always, have a happy Friday off!
Thanks Glosslizard! I’m so glad that you had fun girl time. Did they use that killer foot shaver/cheese grater on you? That thing is not joke.
Too bad about the hot chocolate! You’d think that they’d hook that up seeing how they went to great lengths to procure the best brownies in the Bay Area with that contest they held erlier in the year.
I’m sooo glad you snagged Twig-Twig. I liked it when I swatched it but LOVED it when I put it on. Do you think you might brave this crazy weather to get Full on Lust Lipglass?
Oh, you can totally rock the Parrot. Keep preening those feathers.
Yeah, they used the killer cheese grater! Oh how we suffer for beauty! Hah! No, really it wasn’t that bad… tickled like crazy when she attacked my sole! 🙂
I’m really loving Twig-Twig! I paired it today with the Contessa lipglass from the Plum Lips collection. Beautiful! I’ll check out Full on Lust next time I’m MAC-convenient!
I’m really loving Tarte’s mascara right now too! I originally tried it in the waterproof and loved how my lashes looked, but it got kinda smudgy somehow (I know… waterproof? Right?). So I left it alone for a couple of months until I got a sample of the regular and decided to give it a go! Lo and behold, the regular formula smudges less than the waterproof formula on me! Go figure! So now I get the fab lashes without the raccoon eyes! Yay!
Thanks Tekoa! Have a happy Friday and a faboo weekend. Stay warm … 😉
Glosslizard, it’s the shizz, RIGHT? I’ve had this tube in my kit for months and I can’t believe I haven’t reached for it more. The best thing about it is that I can really lay it on – three or four layers ever – and have it still look non-clumpy.
The *only* thing is I wish it was a little bit more lengthening, but hey, for all the wonderful things it does it is well worth it!
Do your lashes stay soft when you use it? Mine totally do and I love that they are non-crispy!
FOTD: I likey, I really really likey!!!!
Thanks my dear Apple Diva 🙂 Have a good weekend!
Oh yeah! Long, soft, thick and defined! Pretty much all I could ask for, and I’ve been sampling a lot of mascaras lately! I must admit that I don’t worry too much about lengthening, so all the rest is just what I need!
IYO, how do you think it stacks up against the Elizabeth Arden ceramide mascara (which I haven’t tried yet)?
I also LOVE that it’s only $18! Hah! Two years ago I would’ve thought I was nutso for paying that much! But now that I’ve sampled $27 mascaras and even the drugstore brands are up to $8-10 (when they’re not on sale), it seems pretty reasonable for the results!
I think so far that they are both neck and neck. I gotta spend more time with the tarte in the weeks before I can truly commit.
I’m so fickle with my mascaras! It’s like Project Runway for the poor tubes: One week you’re in, the next week you’re out.
S’true, such is the life of a mascara! 🙂
I sadly have more to try too! I got a sample from Givenchy from Sephora a few weeks ago, along with a few Shu ones to try.
And dangit, I still gotta get my hands on some Lash Blast!
VA_VA-VOOM!!! This is my favorite look on you, definitely! The colors just made your eyes POP out. And I totally agree that the accompanying ‘do rocked the total look. And you are right about Frisco as the brow bone color — totally tamer/more muted than Shroom (or even crystal avalanche that was recommended to me by a Mac artist)…
I ADORE THIS LOOK on you, Karen!!!
Happy New Year, girl. Glad that you made it through this harsh storm. My hubby and I were shaken out of our sleep several times last night…bad bad bad howling winds!
Hi Candy!
Thank you for your lovely complements 🙂 I was pleasantly surprised by the look. I can’t wait to wear it again.
BTW, I’ve never heard of Crystal Avalanche. I’ll give it a look next time I hit the MAC counter.
Stay dry and safe – I hear that another bad storm is going to blow through this weekend that’s going to be even worse.
Have a good weekend! 🙂
Karen…lol how have you not found lash blast yet…I just saw it at Target the other day…as well as CVS and everywhere else over here… I find myself going back to it when I want a simpler, less dramatic look…but I feel you… I’m schizophrenic when it comes to mascara…that’s what I actually find myelf purchasing most frequently… kinda like your foundation quest…LOL
Hey Megan,
Are you psyched for the ILNY2 reunion on tonight?
Stupid Lash Blast! I swear the mascara gods are out to spite me. It feels like I’m never ever going to try it.
Seriously, if you want a good mascara then try tarte’s (it’s in a purple faux snakeskin tube). It’s frickin’ awesome!
I’ll have to pick that one up…although the Elizabeth Arden was next on my list…Hmmm…:-) Seriously…you are looking for lash blast and still can’t find it? That’s craziness…don’t they have CVS by you? It seems to be everywhere here.
I am planning to check out the ILNY2 reunion…seriously though I keep seeing previews for the next flavor of love and rock of love…and I am getting way psyched.
Wait, there’s another Flavor of Love?!?!? With Flav or NY?
With Flav – It’s starting in February…I saw the preview.
OMG! I gotta hand it to Flav. Out of all the ridiculous reality/dating shows his is the best because he’s just so weird and gross yet I can’t look away.
Fabulous! Love that blue colour!
Thank you Sminkan. Try it sometime – Parrot is the shizz! 🙂
Its lovely, I like it.
Great weekend make up 🙂