Sunday, October 28, 2012

Beauty Squared Round-Up - October 28, 2012


Beauty Squared has been really quiet this month and for that we'd like to apologize! We'll be posting lots more soon. In the meantime, here are some more of the week's best beauty links. 



A Great Gatsby makeup tutorial (links as well for Katniss Everdeen and Catwoman makeup tutorials, click through!


Take inspiration from arguably the most iconic video of 2012, Gotye and Kimbra's 'Somebody That I Used To Know' and do a colour-blocked body makeup for Halloween!


Flawless Halloween make-up tips from MAC's Keri Blair.


From Pixiwoo - DIY creepy eyelashes.


Banana Republic has announced a new Mad Men-inspired collection, this time focusing on the newest Mrs. Draper, Megan.


Check out this amazing 60s cat eye look created by makeup artist Kabuki for MAC at The Blond's Fall/Winter 2012 runway show. He's tailored it for both darker and lighter complexions, so this is a look for everyone! Watching him work is fascinating.



Makeup tips for your eye shape!


Do you have a shattered eyeshadow or blush? Don't toss it, fix it. Here's how.


Feeling stuck in your makeup routine? Have products that you never use? Take this idea and spark creativity/challenge yourself. The Pixiwoo sisters create looks using just a handful of random products selected by a friend. 


How to look young, fresh and zingy when you feel old, haggard and cranky.

Monday, October 22, 2012

FOTD: Angelina Jolie (making round eyes look narrower)



Angelina Jolie is one of the most beautiful women in the world, known for her full lips, cheekbones and seductive, feline eyes. 

If you look closer, however, you might notice that her eyes are actually quite round. She uses a simple makeup trick to give herself that seductive, narrow eye shape.


Sam from Pixiwoo did this video demonstrating the technique that Angelina Jolie uses to make her round eyes more narrow. 


I was intrigued and decided to try it out. It's become one of my favourite tricks! I love how simple and sophisticated it is and it does indeed make my round eyes look narrower.





You can watch the Pixiwoo tutorial for the full instructions but here's a breakdown of how I got the look:

Base: Garnier Skin Renew BB Cream in Light/Medium all over my face, applied with a foundation brush. MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW20 mixed with Vasanti Oil-Free Liquid Foundation and Concealer in V1 under my eyes, applied with my foundation brush and fingers. Concealer was also applied to any red areas that needed it with the foundation brush. I applied powder lightly to set it with a powder brush.

I filled in my eyebrows lightly with MAC Sketch eyeshadow and an angle brush, brushing through with an eyebrow comb. Note: I am trying to let my brows grow out a little, so they look a little shaggy.




For the eyes, I applied MAC Vanilla eyeshadow all over my lids, a bit heavier on the lid than at the brow. I used a fluffy eyeshadow brush. For a touch of definition at the crease, I applied MAC Wedge eyeshadow with a crease brush and buffed it out almost completely with a fluffy eyeshadow brush. The eyes should look natural and soft, barely touched with eyeshadow. With a thin eyeliner brush (BDellium 708) I applied MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack to the outer corners of my upper eyelids, starting about a third of the way in on the eyelid and extending it slightly beyond the outer corner. 

I curled my lashes with my Shu Uemera eyelash curler and applied Diorshow mascara in Black, focusing on the outer corners. Then I added corner false eyelashes (MAC) using Duo lash glue and let them dry in place. 




I applied MUFE Aqua Eyes liner in 10L (an antique gold shade) to my waterline, smudging it slightly into the lashline. This helps to give definition to the eye but unlike using a black or dark colour, the soft gold emphasizes but doesn't close the eye in. As Sam explains in the video above, this look works because it doesn't completely circle the eyes. If the liquid eyeliner was extended all the way across the top lashline, it would emphasize the roundness/make the eye look rounder. With the liner just on the outer corners, the eyes are narrowed on the outside, creating an almond, or narrower shape. 


To complete the look, I applied MAC blush in Stunner on the apples of my cheeks, blending it up towards my temples. On my lips I'm wearing Becca lipstick in Estella. It softens the natural pink of my lips and adds sheen without giving me a completely nude lip. This way it's my eyes that stand out.



For comparison, here's another photo of me to show my naturally round eyes. No attempts here to de-emphasize the roundness!




Sunday, October 21, 2012

Beauty Squared Round-Up - October 21

It's almost November! But no matter, here's your weekly link love from Beauty Squared.

How to dress like a pin-up girl and style tips from Dita von Teese. 



Scarlet Ibis from MAC Marilyn Monroe collection matches Tracy from Beauty Reflections hair!  

Illamasqua mystery box! This needs to be mine....


MAC's Pro line is now available online to everyone!


In a bizarre beauty trend, women in the Ukraine are turning themselves into living dolls. Yes, that photo is of a human girl. This might give you nightmares.


A review and swatches of the MAC Marilyn Monroe collection and an account of a Hollywood tour of Marilyn haunts given by MAC's Director of Artistry, Gregory Arlt. 


Victoria's Secret photos before and after retouching. 


A (Elizabeth Taylor) Cleopatra Halloween tutorial.


The Disney characters have evidently been dieting intensively and had body modifiying surgery to fit into designer clothes. This is a Barneys/Disney collaboration that has a number of people angered. If you're annoyed at the sickly thin versions of Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck and Goofy (Goofy???) there's an online petition here.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Beauty Squared Round-Up - October 14, 2012

Time for some link love!


Buzzfeed has gathered 25 salon tips for doing a manicure at home.


Red lips are in for fall. Some tips from Plaid Magazine!




Check out the OPI Skyfall (James Bond) collection.


Bond girls throughout the years.


A collection of some of Paris Fashion Week's best beauty looks.



Women in Hong Kong are dying after receiving an extreme beauty treatment that is typically used on cancer patients. 


Do you recognize the celebrity in the photo above? He takes on a bunch of different personas in a photoshoot for Interview magazine.


A really pretty purple and copper EOTD.


What does your appearance say about you when you're at a job interview? The Daily Mail claims to know, but take EVERYTHING in this article with a grain of salt. Make-up is a personal choice. Yes, you should look put-together for a job interview and pay attention to your appearance, but don't be nit-picky like this article suggests you should be. 

Friday, October 5, 2012

MAC & Marilyn Monroe Lipsticks: Review and Swatches



The hype surrounding MAC's latest limited edition collection "MAC & Marilyn Monroe", is centered largely around the three red lipsticks: Deeply Adored, Love Goddess and Charmed I'm Sure ($20.00 CA/$16.50 US). The lipsticks come in glossy black cases with a photograph of Marilyn screened on the bottom, and her autograph in red on the lid. Swatches are two passes on NC 42 skin, taken in natural light.




MAC & Marilyn Monroe: Deeply Adored, Love Goddess and Charmed I'm Sure


Deeply Adored - a matte, deep brick red, that leans on the brown side. The formula is smooth, opaque,    non drying and has the slightest natural sheen. Definitely the vampiest of three, and personally my favourite of the three. A very film noir kind of red.

Love Goddess - a satin finish pink red. Smooth but only semi opaque - you need twice as many passes as the matte lipsticks to achieve full opacity. A nice transition colour between the brights of summer and the dark vampy shades of fall.

Charmed I'm Sure - a matte, neutral red. The formula is smooth, opaque, non drying and has the slightest natural sheen. Out of the three this would be the easiest to wear, and would suit any skin tone.

General Comments

A good selection of reds which encompasses warm, cool and neutral tones. The shades very much represent  the theme of the collection and the cases and packaging are attractive and well produced  According to the  detailed and well researched tutorial on Monroe's makeup by make up artist Lisa Eldridge, Marilyn used three different shades of red to create her iconic red lip, and you could certainly do that with these three shades.

While the shades themselves are fairly dupeable, the combination of the high quality product and packaging makes these worth picking up. Get them while (if) you can!

Grade: A