Smoky Blue-Charcoal Grey Tutorial Using MAC Eyeshadows

I am so in love with the products I used for this look! I will be featuring/reviewing them individually in separate posts, but for now, here is a step-by-step tutorial on how I did this blue-grey smoky eye. This is my first time to combine grey and blue, and I really like the resulting color.


For the grey component of this look, I used Charred, a beautiful deep charcoal grey from The Originals collection. It looks quite boring in the pan but it packs a mean punch when worn. This looks like it has a lot of blue undertones, so this is perfect for the bluish grey look that I was going for.


For the blue part, I used Zonk Bleu!, a beautiful teal. It is a Veluxe Pearl (formula) but it goes on sheer, which again is perfect for this look. It will aim to soften the Charred color, and I don't like to add too much pigment to the eye, so this one is great for blending out Charred.


I used a combination of Ricepaper and Pincurl to highlight, and Brule (not in photo) to soften the edges of Zonk Bleu!.


I also used my new dazzleglass, Local Colour from The Euristocrats II collection. This is my favorite dazzleglass as of the moment. Beautiful light peachy-pink with lots of sparkles.

Here's a step-by-step. All products MAC unless otherwise noted.


Apply Beige-ing shadestick all over lid and on lower lashline. Using a fluffy shader brush, apply Delft paint pot on lid.


Using Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop 3/8" brush (or the 239 brush), apply Charred on lid, staying just under the crease.


Using the Sonia Kashuk fluffy eyeshadow brush, apply Zonk Bleu! on and above the crease.


Using the 224 brush, slowly blend the harsh edges.


Like so.

Blue Liner Using Aromaleigh Mineral Makeup and Pop Beauty Brown Eyes Palette

Here's a look using neutral shadows with a pop of blue on the lashline. I used my Pop Beauty Brown Eyes Wallet Palette and Aromaleigh Rocks! Sonic eyeshadow in Bluespark. I took step-by-step pictures of this look, only for them to be corrupted in my camera's memory card! I hope to retrieve them soon, but for now, here are the FOTD pics:







Eyes:
Urban Decay primer potion
Pop Beauty Brown Eyes palette
Aromaleigh Rocks! Sonic eyeshadow in Bluespark wetlined on the upper lashline using MAC Charged Water
mascara
Urban Decay 24/7 pencil liner in Zero to tightline and on waterline

Face:
Monistat gel as primer
MAC Prep + Prime Refined Skin Zone on t-zone
Earthen Glow mineral foundation in YuanYuan
Urban Decay 24/7 pencil concealer
Dayna's Rested mineral undereye concealer
Aromaleigh ultra resolution finishing powder in Translucent
Aromaleigh Gothic Lolita Rouge blush in Dolly

Lips:
MAC tinted lip conditioner in Pink Fish
MAC lipliner in Whirl
MAC Funtabulous dazzleglass

Also, just want to share photos of my reunion with my parents. I hadn't seen them in 2.5 years, so we're on vacation right now in California touring them around. This is such a happy time for our family, and I want to share it with you guys.


L-R: my uncle, dad, me, hubby, mom and my little boy at the Premium Outlets in Cabazon in Palm Springs in California. Every time we go to California, we always have to pass by this outlet mall. This time, I bought 4 Coach bags, a pair of Oakley sunglasses for hubby, presents for my parents and brother, a pair of shoes for my little boy, and a facial cleanser and Clinique makeup remover from the Cosmetics Company Outlet. Didn't like the MAC collection there, because I already have most of the colors they have there. Their product stock wasn't that nice.


We had dinner at one of the casual fine dining restaurants at the casino hotel we stayed in at Palm Springs in California.


My wonderful dish: seared ruffie (a delicately flavored, yummy flaky fish) with garlic lemon butter sauce on a bed of risotto rice


My parents' shrimp and fries with tartar sauce on the side


my little boy's Kobe beef burger


my aunt's garlic seafood pasta

Teals and Blues Using MAC Pigment and Shadows

Trust MAC to come up with the most vibrant and glorious shades of teal and blue. I don't wear blues very often (rarely is the word, maybe twice or thrice a year, if ever), so this was the very first time I used Sea & Sky mineralize shadow duo after having it my stash for several months. I like the combination of the colors, though. Reminds me of the waters of those pristine, beautiful Philippine beaches that to me have the finest (double meaning: "fine" as in having the best quality and "fine" as in consisting of minute particles) powdery white sand in the world. I miss them a lot!

Here are photos of the products used for this look. All MAC products unless otherwise stated.

Delft paint pot


NOTE: This vial is NOT from the recent Holiday Cool pigment set. I heard that the Teal pigment in that kit was not as vibrant as the original Teal pigment. I used the original one for this look.










Apply MAC Beige-ing shadestick all over lid, brows, and lower lashline. Smooth product on the lid with finger. Using a fluffy shader brush, apply Delft paint pot on lid. Doesn't have to be perfect.


Using a flat, stiff shader brush like the 239, apply Teal pigment on the lid dry in quick patting motions.


Using the other side of the same brush, apply Zonk Bleu! on the inner corners.


Using Sonia Kashuk's blender brush, apply the dark blue side of Sea & Sky mineralize shadow duo on the outer lid.


Apply Cloudburst on the outer V and crease using the Sonia Kashuk blending brush, blending into Teal and Zonk Bleu!. Softly blend the colors using the 224 brush.


Using a clean 224, apply Brule on the borders of the shadows above the crease to soften harsh lines. Apply more Cloudburst and the dark blue side of Sea & Sky and blend using the 224.


Using MAC 227, apply the lighter side of Sea and Sky mineralize eyeshadow duo on the browbone. Line eyes using MAC Blacktrack fluidline. Apply Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Zero on waterline and tightline. Using the Sonia Kashuk mini detail brush, apply Parrot shadow on inner lower lashline, and Stormwatch shadow on outer lower lashline. Apply Mod Lash falsies #55. Apply mascara.







Face:
Monistat gel as primer
Monave mineral foundation in Saturnina
MAC Studio Sculpt concealer in NC20
Dayna's Rested mineral undereye concealer
Aromaleigh Ultra Resolution finishing powder in Peaches & Cream
Adorned With Grace mineral shimmer blush in Fascinating
MAC Refined Golden bronzer to contour

Lips:
MAC lipliner in Whirl
MAC lipstick in Viva Glam VI Special Edition
MAC cremesheen glass in Fashion Scoop

In Focus: EO Mineral Cosmetics

A few weeks ago, I received some mineral eyeshadow samples and a full-sized lipgloss from Edda, creator of EO Mineral Cosmetics. The samples may look miniscule when you eyeball them in the baggies, but they actually hold enough product for several applications, and you will know why in the next sentence.

The first thing that I noticed in these samples was that the shadows were VERY pigmented. Very bright. Vivid as hell. Of course, I am not complaining, as I hate washed out pigments and products that claim to be shadows but just turn out to be shimmery mica bombs with zero color pay-off. These shadows do not need to be foiled to achieve amazing pigmentation. That was my mistake when I used them wet in the look below. Hooooboy. The eye look was super duper bright; it was no less than head-turning. I was actually stopped by a stranger and was asked if I do eye makeup tutorials on YouTube, because it looked good. Well, it was a compliment alright, but I've never been stopped in my tracks by a stranger before to ask about my eyeshadows. Foiling may be okay at night for EO pigments, especially the non-neutral ones, but if you foil them, be warned that they will be very bright. Applied dry, though, they are some of the most pigmented and prettiest mineral shadows I've tried. As I said, maybe that's because I hate glitter bombs, and would prefer color over plain shimmer anytime. Staying power was excellent with an eyeshadow primer. The texture is very fine, just like other mineral shadows, but application is buttery smooth and not gritty on the lids. And the lipgloss? Oh my - very pigmented as well.


Swatches applied dry without a base

The pigmentation of these shadows reminds me of my favorite mineral shadows, Aromaleigh's Pure Hue, Gothic Lolita, or even Rocks! Sonics.







Face:
Monistat gel as primer
Earthen Glow mineral foundation in Janelle
Mary Kay Signature concealer in Ivory
Bare Escentuals Well Rested
DermaBlend Quickfix stick concealer
DreamWorld creme topping in Peach (clay/silica formula)
MAC beauty powder blush in Feeling

Eyes:
MAC Soft Ochre paint pot as base
EO mineral shadow in Mermaid foiled in lid and on lower inner lashline
EO mineral shadow in Tanzanite foiled on outer lid and on lower outer lashline
MAC eyeshadow in Blue Edge on outer V and crease
MAC eyeshadow in Cloudbound to highlight and on inner corners
Almay liquid liner in Black on upper lashline
MAC Graphblack Technakohl liner on waterline
Red Cherry false lashes #99

Lips:
MAC 3D lipliner in Plum Mate
MAC cremesheen lipstick in Creme D'Nude
MAC dazzleglass in Glamour O.D.

I'm Feelin' Blue

Again??? Yup, again. I used to hate blue (always preferring green for eye makeup), but I wanted to use my blue shadows that have not been receiving enough love from me lately. Here is how I did them (all products MAC unless otherwise specified):


Apply Beige-ing shadestick on lid, brows and lower lashline as base. Apply Rollickin' paint pot on lid (don't worry if finish is uneven, it will be rectified later on).


Here is a picture encompassing three steps. Using a shader brush, apply Aromaleigh Pure Hue eyeshadow in Heaven foiled on entire lid, then apply Shu Uemura eyeshadow in ME Blue 638 on mid to outer lid. Foil Aromaleigh Rocks! Sonics eyeshadow in Moonaged Daydream on outer V.


Another shot


How it looks unblended.


Using 222 brush, apply Knight Divine shadow on crease and outer V. Blend with the other colors.


Apply Cloudbound eyeshadow on inner corners, and under brow to highlight. Blend with crease color. Line with Blacktrack fluidline, tightline and waterline using Graphblack technokohl. Apply mascara, Moonaged Daydream on outer lower lashline, and Heaven on inner lower lashline.




I know, I look sick here, that's because I was. I was feeling a bit under the (hot, scorching) weather, and it also explains in part why I used that title for this entry. I used Cory mineral blush in Spiced Plum. OMG, can you say pigmented??? Just a little (like a crumb or two) looked like pigment exploded on my face. I forgot how pigmented (and very economical) Cory blushes are, so I will use a lighter hand next time. To tone it down, I used MAC mineralize skinfinish in Lightscapade. I used Masque lipstick with Spring Bean lustreglass on top.

Some More MAC Cool Heat Looks

Had enough of Cool Heat? Well leave this site fast, because here are a couple more, lol =). The first one is more of blue than green, I made Blue Flame the dominant color in this look. As you can see, my winter/spring foundation shade is a tad light now that summer is here. It's time to add a wee bit of the darker shade to match my new summer skintone.







Eyes: (All products MAC unless otherwise stated)
Beige-ing shadestick all over lid and smoothed on brows, lower lashline
Delft paint pot on lid
Solar White e/s on inner to mid lid, to highlight, inner corners, inner to mid lower lashline
Gulf Stream e/s on mid lid
Cool Heat e/s on outer V
Warm Chill e/s above crease
Blue Flame e/s on crease, outer V and outer lower lashline
Feline kohl power pencil to tightline and waterline
Blacktrack fluidline
Maybelline mascaras

Face:
Camellia Rose skin-smoothing primer
Adorned With Grace mineral foundation in Y3 and Y2 (60-40 mix)
Dermablend Quick Fix stick concealer in Ivory
Bare Escentuals Well Rested over Dermablend (undereyes)
DreamWorld creme topping (finishing powder) in Butterscotch (clay and silica formula)
MAC Sculpt powder to contour
MAC Light Flush MSF as blush

Lips:
MAC Spice lipliner
MAC Rubia lipstick
MAC Flusterose lustreglass

And here's a look using the Cool Heat shadows with Aromaleigh's Rocks! Sonic eyeshadow in Lazysod. It's that bright green pigment on the inner to mid lid. I swear, that is one of the brightest greens I've ever seen in a while, but it is so pretty! It is super bright that I had to hide it below my crease so as not to be visible when my eyes would open because I used this for work. Ha.