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The Daily Face - April 18, 2012 - Natural Green

under eyes: NARS Eyeliner Pen

eye liner: MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

eyeshadow: MAC Eye Shadow in Club, MAC Pigment Powder in Golden Olive

eye brows: MAC Brow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

For this look I started by applying Club shadow to the lid from lashline to crease.  Club is an odd color because it looks brown from some angles and olive green from others.  This dual tone gives it a lot of dimension, making it a great single color on the lid.

Next I applied NARS Eyeliner Pen to the top lid from inner to outer corner, winging slightly at the outer corner.  I also applied liner into the bottom lashes on the outer corner of the eye.

Last I applied Golden Olive pigment to the lower lash line from inner to outer corner and finished everything off with mascara.

The Daily Face - April 16, 2012 - Matte

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eye liner: MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

eyeshadow: MAC Eye Shadow in Brule, MAC Eyeshadow in Haux

eye brows: MAC Brow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

lips: Tom Ford Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in Sour Cherry

For this look I used an all matte eye paired with a super shiny lip.  First I applied Brule shadow to the lid from the lashline to crease.

Next I applied Haux shadow (a neutral plum-brown) along the eye socket bone above the crease.  If you look at the photo below notice how there is no pigment in the actually crease, but rather slightly above it and blended upward.

Then I applied Blacktrack to the inner rim of the top lid, as well as to the lid itself, in a small cat eye.  I also added a touch of the Haux shadow under my lower lashline.

Last, I finished the look with Tom Ford Ultra Shiny Lip Gloss in Sour Cherry and plenty of mascara.

The Daily Face - April 11, 2012 - Dark Blue

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeshadow: Illamasqua Powder Eye Shadow in Obsidian, MAC Eyeshadow in Deep Truth

eye brows: MAC Brow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

This black Illamasqua shadow is great, probably the best black shadow I’ve used.  Often I find dark shadow difficult to apply and blend smoothly, but this stuff is super velvety.

For this look I started by applying the black Illamasqua shadow to the lid from lashline to crease.  When you are using dark shadows start light and then build on top of it until you reach your desired color saturation.  Use the eye socket bone as a guide for the shadow, diffusing the shadow at the edges so there are no hard lines.

Next I brought the shadow down on the lower lid as a drop shadow.  I chose to keep the shadow on the outer edge of the bottom lid only.  Make sure the shadow on the top and bottom lid connects at the outer corner of your eyes.

Then I blended the dark blue MAC shadow onto the outer area of the top lid and into the crease.  Make this blue shadow as subtle or bright as you wish.

Finish the look with plenty of mascara.

The Daily Face - April 5, 2012 - Pinks

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeshadow: NARS Eyeshadow in Ashes to Ashes, Illamasqua Pure Pigment in Berber

eyeliner: NARS Liquid Eye Pen

eye brows: MAC Brow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

For this look I used a combination of purpley-grays and golden pinks, an unusual color palette that somehow works together.

I started by blending NARS Ashes to Ashes to the lid from lashline to above the crease.  You want to be able to see the color above the crease when your eyes are open, but make sure to blend thoroughly up toward the brow so there are no hard lines. 

Next I applied Berber, the Illamasqua pure pigment with the small flat brush to the outer corners of the lower lid.  Pigments should be applied lightly at first since they can be very bright.  You can always add more if you desire a brighter look.

Then I blended a small amount of the pigment in the corner of the top lid.  This should add a little brightness to the Ashes to Ashes, but should be subtle.

Last I applied NARS liner pen to the outer edge of the top lid right along the lashline and a few coats of mascara.

The Daily Face - April 4, 2012 - Multicolored Liner

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeliner: MAC Eye Kohl in Minted, MAC PowerPoint Eye Pencil in Tealo, Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Pencil in Gold (10L), Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Pencil in Blue (12L)

eye brows: MAC Brow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

This is an all liner look.  I started by lining the outer corner of the top lid with Tealo.  The liner should extend half way through the lid, to about where the pupil is.  Next, using Minted, I lined from the inner corner of the top lid blending it into the Tealo liner.  I also used Minted liner around the inner corner of the eye, wrapping onto the bottom lid.  Then I lined the very outer corner of the upper lid with the blue Make Up For Ever liner, as well as lining the outer corner of the lower lid until it blends into the Minted liner.  Last I used gold liner to create a thin gold sweep along the inner corner of the lower lid and the outer corner of the lower lid, without connecting the the two lines.

I recognize that this description sounds like a weird maze, but it’s easier to do it than to read it (or write it), I promise.  Use the close up photo as a guide and don’t forget lots-o-mascara!

The Daily Face - April 2, 2012 - Stripes

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeshadow: Illamasqua Eye Shadow in Sex (matte white)

eyeliner: Illamasqua Precision Ink in Abyss, Illamasqua Precision Ink in Scribe

eye brows: MAC Brow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

To get this black and white look I began by applying the matte white eyeshadow to the lid from lashline to crease.  Then I applied white shadow wrapping around the inner corners of the eyes and blended it onto the inner corners of the lower lid.

Next I applied Illamasqua Precision Ink in Abyss to the top lid in a sweeping wing from inner corner to outer corner.  The Precision Ink is fairly easy to apply and also manipulate with a Q-tip if you need to, but I still applied it in stages, first the outer corners then connecting the inner corners.  Liquid liner is pretty difficult to apply in one swoop.

Next I applied a thin line of Precision Ink in Scribe (white) directly into the lower lashline, connecting it to the wing of black liner.  Directly beneath the white I applied a thin line of black liner and connected this into the wing as well. Then I applied another thin line of the white under the black and brought the line all the way up under the wing. Use the photo as reference for this to make sense.

Last I applied mascara, my faaaavorite thing.

The Daily Face - March 28, 2012 - Gold

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeliner: Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Pencil in Gold

eye brows: MAC Brow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

Still working with this tan from Mexico that will soon be completely faded.  I was really hoping it was just going to be 70 degrees from now on.

For this look I used Make Up For Ever gold Aqua Eyes Pencil as a shadow.  I applied it as I would liner, but made the line extra thick and then smudged it upward with my finger.  Then I applied a little liner into the lower lashline and finished the eyes with mascara.  No blush/bronzer required here.

The Daily Face - March 26, 2012 - Gray

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeshadow: Tom Ford Eye Color Quad in Titanium Smoke

eye brows: MAC Brow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

Like most people, as the weather gets nicer I tend to wear less makeup.  This is especially true when I’m a little more tan.  If you have a nice summery glow (mine courtesy of Mexico) try not wearing blush or bronzer.  It’s good to let your face have a break from makeup and a natural tan is the perfect opportunity to go bare.

For this look I blended a light application of the gray shade in the Tom Ford palette from my lashline to the crease.  Next I applied the dark sparkly shade to the outer corners of the eyes, concentrating the pigment along the lashline to mimic the look of liner.  Last I applied the dark shade lightly to my lower lashline to create a slight drop shadow.  I finished the look with mascara and chapstick.

The Daily Face - March 8, 2012 - Black and White; Glamour

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeliner: MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

eyeshadow: MAC Eyeshadow in Copperplate, MAC Eyeshadow in Gesso, MAC Eyeshadow in Carbon,

eye brows: Tom Ford Brow Sculpt in Espresso

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

cheeks: MAC Harmony

lips: NARS Lipstick in Shanghai Express

Here is my follow up to yesterday’s Black and White natural look; this one is a Black and White glamour look.  As explained in my post yesterday, makeup artists had to apply a lot of makeup just to achieve a natural look, so for a more glamorous look the amount of product used was out of control!

First I applied MAC Copperplate as my base shadow from lashline to crease.  Then I blended MAC Carbon into and above the crease, taking the shadow all the way toward the inner corner of the eyes and up toward the brows. Next I applied MAC Gesso as a highlight under the brow bone and Carbon as a drop shadow under the outer corner of the lower lid.

Next I applied a lot of MAC Harmony blush to the hollow of my cheekbones to create a sculpted look.  Make sure to use a matte blush (without shimmer) and something with a neutral brown tone as this will show up as a shadow in black and white.

Last I applied a lot of mascara and Shanghai Express lipstick.  When choosing a lipstick make sure it’s not too dark or it will come out looking black.

The Daily Face - March 7, 2012 - Black and White; Natural

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeliner: NARS Eyeliner Pen in Black

eyeshadow: MAC Eyeshadow in Aqua, MAC Eyeshadow in Copperplate, MAC Eyeshadow in Gesso

eye brows: Tom Ford Brow Sculpt in Espresso

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

cheeks: MAC Harmony

lips: NARS Lipstick in Morocco

Do you love black and white films?  Because I do, especially anything by Hitchcock and specifically starring Ingrid Bergman.  Makeup for black and white films was almost a different medium than makeup for color film.  Today, if you want an actress to look natural you can put almost no makeup on her, aside from a little foundation to even out the skin.  However, in the days of black and white film a makeup artist had to pile on product just to achieve a “no makeup” look.  If you sent an actress to set with no makeup on, her face would look flat and washed out and she would most likely throw a fit when she saw herself on the reel.

Makeup for black and white film is different because color doesn’t matter, you are only working tonally to create values of grey which will add dimension to the face.  Because of this, makeup artists used all kinds of crazy colors, like blues and greens, to achieve tonal distance between shades.  Sculpting was extremely important so in lieu of blush makeup artists would apply a dark shading in the hollows of the cheek bones to accentuate the highlights and shadows of the face. If you saw an actress’s makeup in person she might literally look like a clown, but on film her face would look natural, dimensional and totally beautiful.

Here’s my interpretation of the natural black and white look, a la Ingrid Bergman in Notorious.

First I applied MAC Aqua shadow to the entire lid from lashline to crease. 

Next I blended MAC Copperplate into the crease from corner to corner of the eye and applied a drop shadow under the lower lid. 

Then I applied MAC Gesso to below the brown bone, blending into the skin to create a highlight.

Next I applied a very thin line of NARS eye liner pen to the top lid.

I blended MAC Harmony to the hollow below the cheekbones.  Use quite a lot of product here, you will feel like a clown, but in black and white it will show up as if you have perfectly sculpted cheekbones.

Last I applied a light sweep of mascara and NARS Morocco lipstick lightly to the lips. 

I feel super ready to engage in some espionage.

The Daily Face - March 5, 2012 - Navy Blues

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeliner: MAC Eye Kohl in Blooz, MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

eyeshadow: Tom For Eye Color Quad in Titanium Smoke

eye brows: MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

Navy Blue can be a great alternative to black when it comes to eye makeup.  It still gives the eyes a dark feel, but I find it little more formal and sophisticated looking than brown.

For this look I began by lining the inner rims of the upper and lower lid with Blacktrack.  I chose to line with Blacktrack and not the Navy eye pencil because Blacktrack is the only eyeliner I’ve ever used that stays put on the inner rims of the eyes.  Pencil usually fades off or smears. 

Next I applied MAC Blooz Eye Kohl to the top lid, originating smoothly from highest point on the lid and extending slightly past the natural eye.

Then I blended the navy eye pencil into the black liner on the lower lid, making sure to close any gaps in the lashes with the product.

Next I applied the light sparkly shadow in the Tom Ford Eye Color Quad into the inner corners of the lid and the dark sparkly shadow onto the outer corners of the lower lid.

Last I applied mascara to the top and bottom lashes.

The Daily Face - March 1, 2012 - Tom Ford Red

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeliner: MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

eyeshadow: NARS Eyeshadow in Biarritz, NARS Eyeshadow in Blondie

eye brows: MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

lips: Tom Ford Lip Color Rouge A Levres in Wild Ginger, Tom Ford Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in Lost Cherry, NARS Lip Liner in Jungle Red

There is no better red lipstick than a Tom Ford red, so I was super excited when the people at Tom Ford Beauty sent me some products to try and included the necessary ingredients to recreate the bold lips of so many Tom Ford ad campaigns.  Since I wanted the lips to be the main focus I kept the rest of the makeup simple, but with a 50s vibe.

First I applied NARS Biarritz shadow to the entire lid from lashline to brow.  

Next I blended NARS Blondie shadow onto the eye socket bone just above the crease.  You want to put this color just above the crease so it is visible when your eyes are open, just be sure to blend so there are no hard edges.  

Then I applied Blacktrack to the outer corners of the eyes and winged the liner very slightly.

Last for the eyes, I applied Haute & Naught mascara, using the light separating wand first, followed by the dramatic volumizing wand.

For the lips I began by lining the with NARS Jungle Red Lip Liner.  This color is a little darker and more blue than the Tom Ford red, but I often like to line red lips in a slightly darker color because it add dimension to the lips.  If you do this be sure to blend the darker liner down onto the lip so you don’t end up with an early 90s dark-liner-light-lip thing.

Last I applied Tom Ford Wild Ginger to the lip all the way up to and covering the lip liner and finished it off with Lost Cherry Ultra Shine Lip Gloss.

*Now I just need a pair of TF glasses I think.

The Daily Face - February 29, 2012 - Leap year!

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeliner: MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack, MAC Eye Kohl in Minted

eye brows: MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

People on the internet seem to be really jazzed that it’s a leap day today, but honestly February is my least favorite month and I’d rather it not have an extra day.  It’s too bad the 24 hour surplus couldn’t be tacked onto June or July instead, don’t ya think?  Well, since there is literally nothing we can do about it we might as well spend the extra time playing with makeup.  

For this look I began by lining the upper and lower inner rim with Blacktrack.  Really smudge the liner into the lashline to close any gaps in the lashes.  

Next apply the Minted Eye Kohl around the entire eye and smudge the edges with your finger so there are no hard lines.  Make sure to connect the liner at the corners of the eye.

Last I applied a lot of mascara to both the top and bottom lashes.