Beauty Squared Round-Up for March 30, 2014

Good morning lovelies and a happy Sunday to you! We hope it is sunny wherever you are.

• Tracey from Beauty Reflections reviews the new Gosh Cosmetics Forever Eyes Shadow Sticks - creamy, shimmery eyeshadow in stick form!
  
• Do you have green eyes? Here's an Emma Stone makeup tip that will help enhance them - aubergine eyeliner.
  
• Rae from The Notice has a review of the iconic Revlon Icy Violet lipstick - originally launched in 1946.
  
• Blush! There's no better way to bring light, colour and a youthful glow to your skin. Here are some picks for the best shades for your skin tone.
  
• A great round-up of foundations for fair skin - as in, for skin fairer than "Siberia".
  
• Fashion Magazine's Beauty Panel steps up to the $25 makeup challenge - create a look using products that in total are less than $25. Not as easy as it might sound!
  
• Video tutorials!
• MUA Charlotte Tilbury shows how to get bigger, brighter eyes. (Note: you don't need to use the specific products she uses.)
• Pixi Beauty founder Petra Strand shows us how to do makeup for over-40 faces. (Note: there are no rules, and this isn't how you necessarily should do your makeup if you're over-40. This isn't necessarily how you shouldn't do your makeup if you're 30 or 60 either.)
• Nic of Pixiwoo does a Victoria Beckham smoky eye tutorial.
  
• Pompadour hair inspiration!
  
• How to achieve a deep side-part, GIF-style.
  
• Check out these amazing pin-up girl style photos featuring very sexy septuagenarians! These ladies are gorgeous and inspiring! (NSFW)

Ice Storm FOTD

Toronto is cleaning up from an ice storm and it's still a bit dangerous to be outside due to slippery roads and sidewalks and ice-encrusted branches falling, so despite it being December 22 and having things to do to prepare for Christmas, I'm staying in. I was out earlier this morning to take photos - you can see them here - and while a bit scary and dangerous, ice storms are incredibly pretty. Everything is encased in ice. 

Because I'm stuck inside, I decided to do a beauty look I've been thinking about, using purple and silver. I'm calling this the Ice Storm FOTD. It's a pretty basic smoky eye, using purples and I paired it with a bright but subdued lip and neutral, sculpted cheeks. 

Here are some close-ups of my eyes. 

Here's what I did:

On the outer corner of my eyelid I pressed MAC Altered State (deep purple with soft brown-burgundy undertones) in a V shape, and smudging it across the outer half of my lid. I layered it until I got the pigmentation I wanted, buffing as I went to keep it soft. On the inner corner of my eye, I softly brushed Dior Argentic (dark grey/silver), buffing and buffing for softness. On top of the Altered State, I applied L'Oreal Colour Infalliable in Purple Obsession (deep purple with pink and royal purple microshimmer), pressing it on to get the pigmentation I wanted. With a fluffy crease brush, I blended it through my crease to soften some more. The Altered State provides the darkness and depth, while the Purple Obsession gives it lots of shimmer and colour. On top of the Argentic on my inner lid, I applied MAC Silverwear (metallic lilac) to lighten it up. 

Along the outer corner of my lower lashline, I swept a combination of Argentic and Purple Obsession and along the inner corner I applied Silverwear.

To clean up the edges further, I used a clean brush and two of the matte fleshtone shades (Nougat and Honeycomb) from the Sleek Au Naturel palette to buff all along the eyeshadow. 

To define my upper lashline, I used MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack to do a cat-eye flick and once dry, I topped it with some Altered State, using an angle brush. I lined my waterline using Urban Decay eyeliner in Ransom (pinkish-blue-purple) and applied black mascara after curling my lashes.

My brows I filled in slightly with MAC Wedge eyeshadow to keep them neutral and subdued. 

I used MAC The Perfect Cheek blush (neutral rosy pink) to contour below my cheekbones, and I applied MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle (warm, shimmery champagne-peach-beige) to the tops of my cheekbones as a highlight. 

On my lips I used OCC Lip Tar in Grandma (I think, the name has rubbed off) which is a coral shade that leans quite pink on me (see photo above). I applied a little bit and blotted it down, smudging it with my pinky finger to soften the colour and work it into my lips. I didn't want too strong a colour since I had purple on my eyes. But I think it works well. A little bit of warmth to an icy look. 

My skin is Sleek BB cream, OCC concealer, and Pari Mineral Glow powder mixed with Ben Nye powder to set. 

So there you have it - a sexy, colourful smoky eye look - perfect for a night out in winter! Anyone could wear this look, but it'd be especially smashing with brown eyes. 

Here's me doing my best haughty Ice Queen look. 

Stay warm, safe and dry lovelies!

C.

Beauty Squared Round-Up - December 8, 2012

What was interesting in the realm of beauty links this week? Here's what we found for you. Enjoy!

Beth is your typical American teenager living through a zombie apocalypse on AMC's Walking Dead. Here's her beauty tips, in case you ever need them.

If you've seen photos of Marilyn Monroe, you've probably seen a Ceil Chapman dress. She made some stunning frocks for stars such as Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe. Pin Up Girl Style takes a look at this legendary dress engineer. 

Stylish clothes designed for bicycle riding? What took so long? 

One of the things I love most about make-up is the way it can make someone see themselves in a whole new light. Lipstick Angels are an L.A. organization of volunteer make-up artists who help women feel beautiful, special and confident. 

What makes badasses (like the band The Kills, above) so sexy? 

Life after extreme weight loss.

Three easy ways to disguise signs of drowsiness on your face.

Inglot's Double-Sparkle eyeshadows combine matte and shimmer into one eyeshadow!

I LOVE the sparkly strands of hair in the photo of Beyonce, above. Click here for more beauty inspiration ideas.

A collection of make-up artist Luke Goss's best tips in one video!

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!

Soft and Sultry FOTD

I was inspired by the look of Victoria's Secret models for this. In particular, this photo:

I like the softly sultry big round eyes, warm skin and glossy lips. It's important to note how airbrushed this photo is though. I'm only guessing at the make-up look they may have used.


Here's my version, using slightly cooler colours. It's soft, sexy and simple.

On my skin is Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer all over my face and MAC Studio Fix Concealer under my eyes and on any blotchy spots. I used MAC Magically Cool Liquid Powder in Truth & Light for some sheen and as a setting powder. I used a kabuki brush to buff, buff, buff and buff some more. 

On the eyes I used a few different colours but the important step to this look is blending. Everything has to be soft and very blended.

First I applied Urban Decay Primer Potion to my eyelids and let it set. I then applied L'Oreal Couleur Infallible in Forever Pink on my eyelids, blending it up to the crease.

L'Oreal Couleur Infallible in Forever Pink

 On top I added a bit of MAC Skintone (L) eyeshadow and also to my browbone, blending it across from the corner of my eyebrow to the inner corner of my eye.

MAC Skintone (L) eyeshadow

With a long, fluffy crease brush, I applied the medium purple-brown shade from the Quartz Sally Hanson Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy palette, blending it form the outer corner of my eye, up through the crease and towards the inner edge of my eyebrow, in an angled upward curve.

Sally Hanson Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy medium shade in the Quartz Eye Palette

To deepen the effect, I used a touch of MAC Smut eyeshadow and then added more of each shade to get the effect I wanted. I wanted it soft, almost like a natural shadow in the crease but the sheen to each eyeshadow made it even softer.

MAC Smut eyeshadow

I used Smut along my lashline, working into the lashes and out up to the crease. I could have used a liquid eyeliner as they must do in Victoria's Secret but it would've added a hard edge to this look. For further emphasis and to add a bit of warmth and even more shimmer, I used Bare Escentuals Sex Kitten. I applied it along the lashline and up into the crease. Layered and blended and layered and blended.

Bare Escentuals in Sex Kitten

I swept the same combination of eyeshadows under my eye, very softly.

You can't have a sultry look without false eyelashes, but I wanted them to look natural. First I curled my lashes with my Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler and then applied some delicate Ardell lashes I've had for awhile, using my Duo lash glue.

Ardell False Eyelashes in 110 Black

The lashes help to give more emphasis to the lashline, and the band on these is thin enough that I don't need liquid liner to camouflage the fact I'm wearing falsies. 

Then lots and lots of mascara - L'Oreal Voluminous mascara on the top and Clinique Bottom Lash mascara on the bottom.

L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara in Black

Here's the side view.

Lashes!

I didn't apply anything in my brows, but I did brush them up with an eyebrow comb for a bit of a messy look. Undone is sexy. 


For a bit of shimmery glow, I used MAC Lustre Drops along the top of my cheekbone and browbone.

MAC Lustre Drops in Pink Rebel

I chose my warmest, most shimmery, sultry blush for my cheeks.

MAC Warm Soul Blush

And finally, I chose a sheer, nude gloss for a bit of shine. I dabbed it on the centre of my lips with the tip of my finger. 

Soap & Glory Gloss in Peche

I love this look. It's a little bit retro, a whole lot seductive and really soft and pretty. It's not quite  Victoria's Secret but I love it!

Let us know what you think!

C.

FOTD: Smoky Copper Eye

I forget sometimes how pretty and sexy a simple smoky eye can be. I was inspired by a PixiWoo video and the Laura Mercier Metallic Cream Eyeshadow in Burnished Copper for this look which is very simple and packs quite a punch. 

Here's how I got the look.

For my base I wanted a natural, healthy glow so I applied Olay Total Effects Moisturizer and then topped it with Sally Hanson Inspired By Carmindy Airbrush Spray Makeup which I applied with a JoeFresh Beauty foundation brush. Under my eyes and in the spots I needed it, I used Vasanti concealer (highly recommended). 

My blush is MAC Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul, which I applied in a half circle shape from my cheeks up to my temples. This is one of my very favourite products - it gives an instant warmth and glow to my skin. I highly recommend it.

For my eyes, I applied the Laura Mercier Metallic Cream Eye Colour in Burnished Copper to my eyelid, blending it from lash line up to the crease in a thin layer with a flat eyeshadow brush. I also swept it lightly along my lower lash line. This is a beautiful product with lots of shine. I'd wear it on its own.

On top of the cream colour, I applied a combination of Bare Escentuals Eyeshadow in Cashmere and MAC Pigment in Most Darling (from the A Tartan Tale 2010 holiday collection) for a goldy-brown finish. I blended the powder into the cream but concentrated it on the lid, leaving a touch of red to show through around the edges. 

Bare Escentuals Cashmere

MAC Pigment in Most Darling

To finish the eyes, I applied MAC Eyeliner Pencil in Teddy (it's a warm brown) to my waterline and smudged it out into the lashline. Applying eye pencil to the waterline gives your eyes a smoky, sultry look. It's one of my very favourite techniques. Using shades other than black to line your waterline gives a softer effect.

I curled my lashes with my Shu Uemura eyelash curler. My mascara is Maybelline Great Lash Blackest Black Mascara on the top, applied heavily to fit with the sultry eye look and Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara on the bottom lashes. 

Finally, I applied MAC Lip Pencil in In Synch to my lips and topped it with Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker lipgloss for a very nude lip.  

This is so easy and so sexy. It's a softened smoky eye that can be worn for day or night. Try it and let us know how it works!

C.