EOTD Blue Smoky Eyes Using MAC Holiday 09

I’ve been obsessed with blue smoky eyes for a while, and have been using MAC’s Blue Flame from Style Black alternated with NARS Night Flight to build up that dark blue glitter. For some reason, I think that a blue smoky eye is much more modern, edgy, and rocky than the more traditional one built with blacks, grays, and silvers.

This was one done using MAC’s Mystic Cool Palette from Holiday 09. I’ve done a look before from this palette, where I mentioned that the colors themselves are not obviously complementary. The blues together are gorgeous though. In putting this look together, I didn’t want to use any eyeliner on the upper lid, as I thought that it would start to look like those 80s smoky eyes which are so planned and constructed. This is much softer, more organic, and smudgier than that.

Base: Paint in Bare Canvas, and NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
Inner: Turquoise
Outer: Dark Blue
Crease: Dark Brown (very little)
Lower Lid: Zero and Dark Blue
Tear Duct and Brow Bone: Shimmery Gold Highlighter

Roman Goddess EOTD Using MAC Devil May Care Palette

I was thinking Roman Goddess when I put together this look, and really wanted to bring out a rich, opulent, luxury feeling. I deliberately didn’t line the upper lid to really bring out the golds and bronzes, as I love how gorgeous they look shimmering together. I also extended the shadow to almost touching my eyebrows to really bring out that imposing, gorgeous feeling. A little bit over the top maybe, but the colors are so beautiful that I felt they deserved it. I used the MAC Devil May Care Palette from Holiday 09, but the colors are not so original that duping isn’t possible.

I haven’t got full face pictures, but I’d recommend a gold or bronzey tinged lip gloss - Liberated from MAC Style Warriors is my first choice, though anything with a hint of gold shimmer will work nicely, as long as the color is kept warm. Again, warm toned blush and a touch of bronzer will really work the glamazon opulence going here.

Base: Paint in Bare Canvas and NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
Inner Lid: Antique  Gold
Outer Lid: Bronze
Crease brushed out to wing: Burgundy
Lower Waterline: Urban Decay Zero
Lower Lashline: Bronze shadow
Browbone: Light gold
Mascara: Maybelline XXL Colossal

Looking at the palette, the burgundy color could be duped with MAC A Little Folie, the gold color maybe Gorgeous Gold, the bronze by Bronze. Suggestions welcome for the rest of them.

Neutral Pink With Turquoise EOTD Using MAC Mystic Cool Palette

Another look from my MAC Holiday Palette series. I appreciate these are a little behind the times, but remember that I’m all about rediscovering hidden gems in my stash as well as splurging on the latest must haves (hello Spring Color Forecast!). Maybe I’ll help you take a look at your palettes or other forgotten colors as well.

This look was done using the Mystic Cool Palette. Out of all the palettes that were released as part of Holiday 2009, this is definitely the odd-ball and hardest to work with. Individually, the colors are beautiful, and reasonably good quality (what is it about palettes that they never seem to be the same standard as regular pans?), but they just don’t seem to gel together in an obvious way compared to the other palettes. I wore this look to dinner with a friend, and really enjoyed wearing it. I love a shock of turquoise wherever I can get it.

Base: Paint Pot in Bare Canvas followed by NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
Inner Lid: Pale Pink
Outer Lid: Frosty Pink
Crease: Brown
Brown Bone and Tear Duct: Shimmery gold highlight
Lower Lash Line: Turquoise shade

I wish I could advise on some good dupes for this set. The dark blue is probably MAC’s Contrast, and the turquoise looks like Urban Decay’s Flipside. The brown I am sure is easily dupable, I am just drawing a blank at the moment. However, the two pinks right now seem undupable to me, unless anyone else has any suggestions?

Christmas Present Haul Post

Santa, aka my lovely husband, was very good to me this year. I got some great gifts like Frye boots, amazing, amazing books, and he made a stocking trip into Sephora. This, to me, was the cutest ever. He took a list I had sent him, handed it to a girl, and then she found everything for him in 10 minutes. So sweet! And she managed to throw in an awesome surprise!!

So, what's the haul:

• Fresh! Sugar Cubes. Oh, I'm so mad excited about these!!! Plus they were completely unexpected. Recently, I've been thinking I want to take more baths (I do shower, really), but haven't had anything nice or fun to throw in. I was debating heading to Lush! for their bath bombs, but these look uh-mazing. Fresh! are one of my favorite brands, but a wee bit pricey for me, so what a treat!
• Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick. Remember about 10 years ago this was THE lipstick to wear. Well, I gots me to thinking about 6 months ago that I wanted to try it again, and I couldn't find it anywhere. I put it on the list, and wow - thar she be! (I don't know why that came out as pirate speak). I think I may have to dedicate a whole post to it later. 
• NARS Dolce Vita Lipstick. Karen at Make Up and Beauty Blog posted about this a couple of weeks ago, so I decided it was a must have. I do love it, but weirdly, if you want to know what color my lips are, they are exactly the same. No difference when I put it on. Is that a good thing? Can't quite decide yet.
• NARS Lip Velvet Matte Pencil in Cruella. I heart these pencils so bad. I actually asked for Dragon Red, but it was sold out, and she said it was exactly the same. They aren't. Dragon Red is more blushy berry red, this is a cooler, bluer, stronger red. I've tried it once, I think I like it. Plus, lovely husband lost the receipt so I think I'm stuck with it. 
• Philosophy Bath & Shower Gel in Caramel Apple. I heard these were good, but at $16 they seemed pricey. Then I saw the size of the bottle. Hey ho! I wouldn't necessarily have picked this scent, but do you know what? I love it. Awesomeness. 
• Sephora Powder Brush. I actually asked for a blusher brush. I'm going to try and exchange it. That's kind of annoying that the girl got the wrong brush to be honest. They are different! 
• Essie Lollipop. What a gorgeous bright red! Maybe my pedicure color for West Palm Beach. 

Did Santa bring you any nice presents for Christmas?

Nails of the Week: China Glaze Thunderbird

  Normally I am a muted dark narnish girl, and for the last 3 months I've barely switched it up from vamp red, navy, or gray. But it's Christmas, and I wanted something with a red shimmer in it to put me in the holiday spirit. I got 12 or 13 colors from China Glaze earlier in the week, and Thunderbird from their Retro Diva collection really hit the mark for holiday color. I really love the deep color and the red shimmer which catches the light beautifully. I've had it on since Tuesday, so I don't think it's done too badly in terms of wear and tear (I am no lady when it comes to nail varnish, and my nails are never much longer than what you see in the photo). Tomorrow I'm going to switch it out and go into full holiday spirit with either Ruby Pumps or Emerald Sparkle.