LOTD: Smoky and sultry

Lately, I've been loving simplistic but sexy looks. And by "looks," I am really just referring to the one look I've been wearing non-stop recently.

I've never been a "black" makeup girl - I never really wore black mascara or black shadow. I felt like it looked too unnatural on my eyeballs. And then I discovered this combo...

I even cracked this baby out for my work Christmas party - and I have to say, I am in love with this combo.

Eyes:

I primed my lids with Urban Decay's Primer Potion. I break out my NYX single eyeshadow in White and use an all-over fluffy brush to apply a light dusting of the powder under my brow bone. Then I used NYX's single eyeshadow in Black with my Quo smudger brush to apply the black shadow along my lashline, and then I fade it out in an exaggerated wing. I really buff the lines out to create a gradual fade to the wing, it allows me to have a more exaggerated wing without looking gothic and overdramatic. A new edition to my makeup routine includes curling my lashes, after which I proceed to pile on the mascara - my newest obsession is the Prestige My Blackest Lashes mascara. I finish off with a shimmery white/gold shadow in the inner corner to brighten up and draw attention to my eyes.

Face:

For my work Christmas party, I primed my face with Urban Decay Primer Potion (yes, I know it's a eyeshadow primer, but I needed something to hold my foundation in place and I was out of options...) and used my Revlon Whipped Creme Foundation with the foundation brush from Real Techniques all over my face and blended it out. I used Maybelline's Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer in Radiant (310) under my eyes to cover up my dark circles, and I set everything with Rimmel's Stay Matte Pressed Powder. For bronzer and contour, I utilized what remains of my MAC Matte Bronze Bronzing Powder, and for blush I applied a light wash of MAC's powder blush in Mocha, then a little bit of Benefit's Coralista, and finally a few dabs of Essence's Renesmee Red powder blush.

Lips:

I kept the lips quick and simple with Strawberry Parfait gloss from Bonne Bell's lipLITES line.

I feel that this look draws a lot of attention to the eyes. The intense black mascara especially draws attention to my green eyes. The smudgy black shadow creates the illusion of thicker lashes, and the winged shape creates the appearance that my eyes are more almond-shaped and lifted up towards my eyebrows. By keeping the blush and the lipgloss simple and muted, it allows all the focus to be on my beauteous green eyeballs.

Don't you wish your eyeballs were as hot as mine? Tee hee.

LOTD: Studying got you down...?

So next week is Reading Week, which means 7 days of blissful nothingness before the craziness of the semester kicks in... this week, however, I have two exams to study for and a book report due... nothing major, but still... I have lots to do...


In the meantime, I'm trying out some new products that I recently picked up, and to cheer me up I decided that traditional winged liner and a pop of color on the lips would be exactly the kind of look to brighten my otherwise gloomy day...

With Flash.

Yep. We needed to throw in a pouty face-d picture.

Smiling just didn't work for me today...

Face

Garnier Nutritioniste Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller in Light

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in Cream

Lips

Annabelle Lipliner in Heatwave

Wet N Wild Mega Last Lip Color in Pinkerbell (968)

 

Eyes

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original

Urban Decay eyeshadow in Tease

Annabelle Mono Eyeshadow in Vanilla Chilla

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Brown

Annabelle Smoothliner in Brownie

Maybelline Volum'Express One by One Mascara in Very Black

And that is my look for today. My face is having some difficulties with breakouts lately, so I'm trying to minimize the amount of foundation, concealer, and powders that I put on my face. Slowly, but surely, they are healing. I'm loving this really natural makeup look though - you don't need to go for a crazy bold lip, just slap on some lip balm and you'll be set to get out the door!


And I thought I'd share with you guys some of my newest interests:
-My brother in-law taught me how to solve a Rubik's Cube this weekend, so I'm all over that.
-"Out of Goodbyes" by Maroon 5 and Lady Antebellum
-"Far from Home" by Five Finger Death Punch


What are you guys wearing today?! 


xoxo

LOTD: Lonely Shopping

So, el hubby had a man-day-for-one hiking in the mountains, and I decided that to ease my separation anxiety, I should go shopping. Doesn't it always cure a broken heart?!


While out, I took these pictures at the bus stop on my way home and I thought I'd share them...

Eyes:

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Original

Naked 2 palette - Verve, YDK, Snakebite and Foxy

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Zero

Maybelline Volum'Express One by One mascara in Very Black

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles in Light 120

Garnier Nutritioniste Anti-Dark Circle Eye Roller in Light

Annabelle Mono Eyeshadow in Vanilla Chilla

Face:

Rimmel Match Perfection Concealer in Ivory

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in Sand

Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush in Natural

Lips:

Wet N Wild Mega Last Lip Color in Pinkerbell (968)

Wet N Wild Mega Last Lip Color in 24 Carrot Gold (969)

My lips look line-y because I was puckering them in both pictures - otherwise they would've looked much nicer. Plus my lips are (still!!) dry from that freaking viral infection... Gar!!! No matter how much lip balm I slather on, the dry-ness isn't completely gone yet... argh!

Anyways, I hope you guys have funtabulous weekends! Let me know what you were wearing on your face this weekend! I'd love to hear about it!

xoxo