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Fancy Nails!! - Neutral Nails

Deborah Lippmann - Fashion

Deborah Lippmann - Boom Boom Pow

OPI - RapiDry TopCoat

On Monday I went to the CFDA Awards.  I wore a bright orange dress so I wanted to keep my nails pretty neutral and minimal.

1. Apply two coats of Fashion and allow to dry.

2. Apply Boom Boom Pow to the base of the nail bed, close to the cuticle.  Use the brush to drag the polish up the nail bed slightly so most of the gold glitter is still concentrated at the base of the nail.  This polish only extends about half way up the nail.

3.  Apply OPI top coat.

The Daily Face - June 6, 2012 - Liner for Shadow

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeshadow: NARS Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Aigle Noir

eye brows: MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: L’Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Mascara

lips: NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Baroque

For this look I used the NARS Shadow Pencil as an all over shadow, applying directly onto the lid and then smudging with my finger. I actually wouldn’t recommend doing this unless you use an eye shadow primer underneath it.  This product really creases in the eye so it’s probably best used as a liner and not over the entire lid, like I did.  I wish this product didn’t crease so much because it’s a really awesome color.

For the rest of the look I simply applied mascara and a berry lip gloss.

I love using liners as shadows but I think I just discovered that this is better done with Make Up For Ever products because they dry and don’t crease.

The Daily Face - May 23, 2012 - Steel

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeliner: Tom Ford Noir Absolute For Eyes

eyeshadow: Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Strut

eye brows: MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: L’Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Mascara

For this look I applied Benefit shadow in a steel grey shade using my finger, from the lash line to the crease.  I like to concentrate the pigment near the lashes and toward the outer corners of the eyes, leaving the product on the inner corners of the lid lighter.

Next I applied Tom Ford Noir Absolute with MAC 263 brush as a winged liner and lightly in the lower lash line.  I’m totally sure why this product is called Absolute Noir because the product is definitely a very dark blue, not black. 

I finished the look with mascara.

Fancy Nails!! - Spots

Deborah Lippmann - I’m Not Innocent

Matesse Elite Nail Art Paint - White

OPI - RapiDry TopCoat

Crystal Stickers by Mark Richards - Rhinestones

1. Apply two coats of I’m Not Innocent to the nails and allow to dry.

2. Using the tip of a bobby pin and white polish make spot on the nails of various sizes.  You will be able to control how big or small the spots are by how hard or light you press with the bobby pin.

3. Apply a rhinestone to a spot on each of the nails.  I did two rhinestones on my thumb nails and middle finger.

4.  Apply OPI top coat

*Thanks to Carmel for giving me this idea!

The Daily Face - May 16, 2012 - Lime

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeliner: Illamasqua Precision Ink in Abyss

eyeshadow: MAC Eyeshadow in Lime, MAC Pure Pigment in Golden Olive

eye brows: MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: L’Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Mascara

blush: MAC Powder Blush in Swoon

For this look I started by applying MAC Lime shadow to the lid from the lash line, blending above the crease. 

I then applied the Golden Olive pigment on top of the shadow.

Next I applied Illamasqua Precision Ink in 60’s cat eye.  I find this Illamasqua liquid liner very easy to use, so if you are a liquid liner beginner this might be a good product for you to try out.  I like to play around with the shape of my winged liner.  Sometimes I apply the liner very flat against my lash line and other times I like to make a thicker line with more exaggerated curves along the eye.  Here I went for exaggerated curves, keeping the liner thin along the inner corner and building it up thicker around the highest point of the lid and through the wing.  The shape of your liner will change the shape of your eye, so play around and see how it works on your own eye.

Last I applied mascara and a sweep of Swoon blush to the apples of the cheeks.  Swoon is a very bright pink so I applied it very lightly.  Bright pinks and greens together can look clownish, so keep your bright pink blushes soft.

The Daily Face - May 14, 2012 - Gold Rush

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeliner: Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Pencil in Gold

eyeshadow: MAC Eyeshadow in Golden Rod, MAC Shadow in Goldmine

eye brows: MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: L’Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Mascara

blush: MAC Powder Blush in Harmony

Gold toned makeup is pretty universally flattering.  Which is why I usually advise non-makeup wearers who want to test the eye shadow waters, to stick to gold/bronze shades.

For this look I applied MAC Goldmine to the lid from lash line, blending up over the crease, almost to the brow bone, but slightly below.  I also applied this same shadow around the corners of my eyes and into the lower lash line.

Next I applied MAC Goldenrod on to of the already applied shadow around the entire eye.  Goldenrod is a very vibrant matte yellow, don’t be afraid of it. 

Then I applied another layer of Goldmine over the top of the Goldenrod, to tone done the yellow.

Next I applied Make Up For Ever Aqua Eye Pencil in gold as a normal liner around the entire eye; top lid, lower lash line, corner to corner.

I finished the look with a touch of blush and lots of mascara.

The Daily Face - May 10, 2012 - **SPECIAL GUEST FACE** - Amandalyn Ferri

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

face: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Bisque

eyeliner: MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

eyeshadow: Illamasqua Powder Eye Shadow in Obsidian, NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Cordura

eye brows: Design Ebony Drawing Pencil

eye lashes: L’Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes

cheeks: MAC Powder Blush in Harmony

I’ve decided to incorporate some guest faces into the Daily Face routine.  Here is my first, my best friend from age 14, lover of pizza, founder of the hit website The Information Super Highway, Amandalyn Ferri.  I started our makeup session by asking Amanda what she wanted to look like, to which she responded, “A clown,” to which I responded, “No.”  Then she suggested “The lesbian from Nightmare On Elm Street Three,” which I also vetoed.  Finally after I told her to “Get serious,” she said, “Ok, I want to look BAD.”  Which I interpreted as “good.”  And so it began…

First I evened Amanda’s skin tone with a light tinted moisturizer and concealer under her eyes.  Amanda has nice skin so it didn’t take take much product to even everything out.

Next I applied MAC Blacktrack to the inner rims of her eyelids.  I also applied liner onto the lid smudging into the lash line.

Then I applied black shadow from the lash line to the crease.  The shadow is most concentrated by the lash line and blends upward so the shadow in the crease is light and diffused.  I also lightly blended the black shadow into the lower lash line.

Next I blended the dark brown shade in the NARS Cordura Duo into and slightly above the crease of the eye.  I don’t like bringing shadow all the way to the brow, but I did blend the shadow over the eye socket bone so it’s visible when Amanda has her eyes open.  I also blended this color around the eye and below the lash line.

The goal for the shadow is to have the darkest colors closest to the eyeball and then for the color to get lighter as it moves away from the eye.

I applied a small about of blush as a contour underneath her cheekbones and filled in her brows with an Ebony drawing pencil.  Ebony drawing pencils create a good shadow underneath the brows and work on almost any hair color.

I finished the look with mascara.

I think Amanda looks pretty bad, as in super good.

Amanda before:

The Daily Face - May 8, 2012 - Blue Brows

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeliner: The Body Shop Liquid Liner in Black, Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Pencil Liner in 12L (Midnight blue)

eye brows: Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Pencil Liner in 12L (Midnight blue)

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

I did a colored brow look back in August and I think people were a little skeptical.  Rightly so, it’s a super weird look.  BUT WAIT!  I have seen colored brows popping up all over, most notably The Capitol of Panem!

For this look I first lined my lids with black liquid liner.  This acts only as a base.

Next I applied the midnight blue eye pencil on top of the black liner.  By starting with the black base the blue will be darker and more noticeable.

Then I shaded a little of the midnight blue pencil into my lower lash line, concentrating it around the outer edges of the eye.

Next using the same blue pencil, I shaded in my brows.  Start with very light strokes so you can control how deep the color is.  Remember it’s easier to add makeup than to take it away.

I finished the look with mascara, as per usual.

Hey! That’s me in Paper Magazine!

The Daily Face - May 7, 2012 - Red liner

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeliner: Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Liquid Liner in Red

eye brows: MAC Brow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

cheeks: MAC Blush in Harmony

Here’s a really simple way to do something crazy with your makeup without going overboard: wear a bold liner color with nothing else.  I chose red.

I simply lined the top lid with red liquid liner (winged optional) and paired with a matte brown-based blush.

I finished the look with lots of mascara.  This look has that “outside the box” quality while still being totally wearable.

Fancy Nails!! - Las Vegas Stripper Nails

Matesse Elite - Mint Ice Cream

Deborah Lippmann - My Old Flame

OPI - RapiDry TopCoat

Crystal Stickers by Mark Richards - Stars

1. Apply two coats of Mint Ice Cream, while using a tissue to wipe off the polish on the top part of the nail.

2. Apply two coats of My Old Flame leaving the moons exposed. 

3. Apply OPI top coat, sticking a star rhinestone in each nail as you go.

NOTE: Try using paper hole reinforcers to block off the moons if you are having trouble doing it free hand.  Just make sure the first polish is completely dry before you do this.  Practice doing it free hand though.  I wasn’t good at it at first either, but now I find it easier than using hole reinforcers.

The Daily Face - May 3, 2012 - Glasses II 

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeliner: The Body Shop Pencil Liner in Brown

eye brows: MAC Brow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

lips: NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Red Square

Since my last glasses post I got contacts, like an adult!!! Oh boy, you should have seen me when I went in for my first contacts fitting.  The doctor was explaining how to get them in and I was all, “I’m a makeup artist, I’m suuuper comfortable with eyes, I got this…”  Fast forward to me 20 minutes later, still trying to get the first contact in, nearly on the verge of tears.  I have since become better at getting contacts in, but I still like to wear my glasses.

For my eyes I lightly lined them with brown pencil and applied a lot of mascara.

Again I focused on the lips.  I love statement lips with glasses because it creates a stand-out “look.”  I applied NARS Red Square, a red lip pencil with an orange base.  Orange-reds are bit more light, young, and casual than deep, blue-reds, but that’s not to say there isn’t a place for those deep reds too. 

If you are a glasses wearer try defining your eyebrow as a way to make your eyes stand out behind your frames.  Be careful not to over fill your brows though because ultimately you want them to look natural.  Use short hair-like strokes with an eyebrow pencil and keep your pressure light so the pigment isn’t too dark.

The Daily Face - April 30, 2012 

under eyes: Make Up For Ever HD Concealer in 325

eyeliner: MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack

eyeshadow: NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Kuala Lumpur, NARS Eyeshadow Duo in Jolie  Poupee, MAC Eyeshadow in Blackberry

eye brows: MAC Brow Pencil in Fling

eye lashes: MAC Haute & Naughty Mascara

For this look I applied the light shade in the NARS Kuala Lumpur Duo to the lid from lash line into the crease and blended slightly above.  

Next I applied the darker shade in the Kuala Lumpur Duo into the entire crease from outer to inner corner.

I also blended MAC Blackberry into the crease.  This color can go very dark so start by applying lightly, you can always add more shadow for a darker effect.

Next I applied MAC Blacktrack in a small top lid wing and also to the upper and lower inner rims.

Then I applied the light Kuala Lumpur shade to the lower lash line and blended the shimmery purple shade from the Jolie Poupee Duo on top of it.

I finished the look with mascara.