Taupe Neutrals Using MAC Eye Shadows

I did a simple eye look using taupe and brown eyeshadows from MAC. I used my favorite taupe shadow ever from MAC called Twillery. Unfortunately, it's a limited edition from the Inventive Eyes Quad from 4 years ago:


Vellum is totally gone, I did a bad de-quad-ing so it literally crumbled into pieces.

Twillery is still one of my favorite MAC eyeshadows, so much so that I have two of these. For this look, I used Bare Study paint pot underneath to give Twillery a little bit of a lighter shimmer, in order to open up the eyes:


Bare Study

For this look, I also used Bronze and Time and Space eyeshadows (see first photo above). To give more depth and dimension to the crease, I also used MAC Satin Taupe eyeshadow:





I used Manila Paper to highlight. It's from the Colour 4 quad of the Spring Colour Forecast collection. This shadow is quickly becoming one of my favorite highlighters.



I also used the amazing mineral blush from Jouer named Blossom. I love the formula of this blush. It is so finely jet-milled and it applies like a dream on the skin; it is never splotchy and finish is gorgeous.



I used Refined mineralize skinfinish from the Sugar Sweet collection.


I also used one of my favorite lippies from the MAC Give Me Liberty of London collection, Peachstock.


I used Virgin Kiss lipglass on top of Peachstock (from the A Rose Romance collection).

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


Apply Urban Decay primer potion all over lid and browbone. Using a fluffy shader brush, apply Bare Study paint pot on lid.


Using a stiff shader brush like the 239, apply Twillery on lid. Pack it on.


Using Sonia Kashuk blender brush, apply Bronze on outer V.

Simple Silver and Grey Look Using MAC Eye Shadows

If I have a favorite MAC eyeshadow palette of late, it would be the Tone:Grey quad from the MAC Trend F/W '09 collection. I'd thought that the colors were a bit blah and were not really of interest especially if you consider them individually, but the combination of all these shades is pretty amazing to me. I also like that the blue really makes the eyes pop and it kicks up the boring grey-smokey eye a notch. For this particular look, though, I used mostly the greys in the quad.

I also used Silverthorn eyeshadow from the Rose Romance collection. I LOVE this eyeshadow. It is just the perfect silver for me - not too bling-y, not too garish, not too dull, but just gives the right sparkle to the eye to make it glow.









All MAC products unless otherwise stated:

I used Urban Decay primer potion on lid and lower lashline, Cash Flow paint pot on lid, Silverthorn on lid applied with the 239 brush, Waft and Tone Grey on crease and outer V using Sonia Kashuk blender brush and blended together using the 224, Waft on outer lower lashline and Silverthorn on inner lower lashline using the 219 brush. I used A Warmer White to highlight using Stila No. 5 brush. I lined the eye using L'Oreal Lineur Intense liquid liner, and rimmed eyes (waterline and tightline) using Urban Decay 24/7 pencil liner in Zero.



FACE:
Dr. Denese SPF30 Tinted Defense Day Cream
Earthen Glow mousse mineral foundation in Helena
Urban Decay 24/7 concealer
Bare Escentuals Well-Rested on undereye area
Lumiere face enhancer in Nectar Radiance
MAC Golden powder to contour
MAC beauty powder blush in Secret Blush
LIPS:
Jordanna lipliner in Nutmeg
Estee Lauder lipstick in Soiree
MAC cremesheen glass in Fashion Scoop

Blues and Greys Using MAC Tone: Grey Eyeshadow Quad

Here's a look featuring MAC Trend F/W '09 collection's Tone: Grey quad. I am liking the combination of grey and blue because it's a breath of fresh air amidst the proliferation of many grey and black eye looks. The blue gives a new look to the greys, making a more vibrant overall appearance.


I used the DSquared greasepaint stick in "B" to prime the outer V of my eye and the lower lashline.


I used Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner in Skinny Jeans to prime the lid for the grey shadows.


I used Silverthorn eyeshadow from MAC A Rose Romance collection together with the shadows in the Tone:Grey quad.


I used L'oreal's Lineur Intense liquid liner which is quickly becoming a favorite for everyday use.




I used On A Mission beauty powder blush from Style Warrior with Sculpt powder to contour.


I used Nico Now lipglass.

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


Apply Bare Canvas paint all over lid and browbone. Apply Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner in Skinny Jeans on lid using a fluffy brush. Using the 239 brush, Tone Grey lightly on the lid to even the color. Apply B Greasepaint stick on the outer lid.


Intensify B Greasepaint stick on the outer V.


Using the 239 brush, apply Silverthorn on outer 2/3 of lid. Using the Sonia Kashuk blender brush, apply Tone Grey on mid to outer lid.




Apply The Right Smoke on the crease and outer V using the Sonia Kashuk blender brush. Add Waft using the same brush and in gentle but quick one-direction sweeps, blend the colors together.


Using the Stila No. 5 brush, apply A Warmer White on the browbone. Using the 219 brush, apply Vanilla pigment on the tearducts/inner corners. Apply L'oreal Lineur Intense liner on upper lashline. Apply B greasepaint stick on lower lashline.


Using the 219 brush, apply The Right Smoke on lower lashline over the greasepaint stick.





FACE:
Monistat gel as primer
Missha Perfect Cover BB cream (review coming up!)
DreamWorld mineral foundation in Theia
Lumiere radiance (complexion enhancer) in Winter Silk (review coming up!)
MAC Sculpt powder to contour
MAC On A Mission beauty powder blush

LIPS:
MAC lipliner in Whirl
MAC lipglass in Nico Now

Smokey Eyes Using Aromaleigh Mineral Eyeshadows

Who says only high-end or department store cosmetics can create pigmented, sultry smokey eyes? I challenged myself to come up with smokey eyes using mineral shadows, and here is what I came up with. I also challenge you, dear readers, to come up with amazing looks using mineral makeup from small, independent mineral makeup companies such as Aromaleigh. Not all quality cosmetics come from department stores or makeup boutiques. In fact, some of these pigments are actually better than some mainstream products I've tried.


Of course, to come up with a pigmented eye look, you have to have a good base. I used my favorite base for smokey eyes, my Benefit Creaseless Cream Liner/Shadow in Skinny Jeans, an amazing pewter color that really makes the loose pigments adhere to my lid and create a beautiful base for them.


I used my MAC beauty powder blush in Feeling.


I used my MAC Penultimate Liner in Rapidblack.


For the lips, I used A Rose Romance lipstick from the A Rose Romance collection.


I applied Fashion Scoop Creamsheen glass.

All eye products Aromaleigh unless otherwise stated.


Apply MAC Soft Ochre paint pot paint all over lid and lower lashline. Using a fluffy shader brush, apply Benefit Creaseless Cream Liner/Shadow in Skinny Jeans on the lid.

A Green Look Using MAC Photo Realism Eyeshadow Quad

I am so in love with this palette. This is definitely the best product that the MAC Makeup Art Cosmetics Fall '09 collection has come up with, at least for me. I love that the greens don't look too green at all. They're sort of olive-greyish-bluish-yellowish with a hint of green throughout.



I also used my wonderful Urban Decay liquid liner in Smog, which I believe complemented the color theme of this look.





I also used MAC beauty powder blush in Secret Beauty, then topped with beauty powder in Summer Rose. I really like the effect.

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


Apply Bare Canvas paint all over lid and lower lashline. Using a fluffy shader brush, apply Greenstroke paint pot on the lid.


Using the 239 brush, apply Fresh Approach on the lid.


Using the Sonia Kashuk blender brush, apply Image Maker on crease.


Using the same brush, apply Grey Range on crease and outer V. Blend the two colors with the 224 brush.

Konad Nail Stamp Art: MAC Love & Friendship and China Glaze Awaken Nail Lacquers

Remember the MAC Love and Friendship nail lacquer from the A Rose Romance collection? I love how romantic and dreamy the shade is, so I used an "edgy" color for the Konad to balance the look.



In my opinion, Awaken is the best shade from the China Glaze Romantique collection. It is a beautiful shimmery metallic charcoal shade that is edgy yet cool. I used this for the rose image on my nail, and I think it went well with the lilac shade of Love and Friendship.







I like how Awaken almost looks like silver on certain angles, which almost makes the image blend into its lilac canvas. This is great for work because somehow the image is camouflaged by the metallic shimmer of Awaken, unless you peer closely. I really, really like the China Glaze Romantiques as Konad image polishes. They make the images appear perfectly on the nail, but they are not too in-your-face. The images turn out to be very subtle, perfect if you want to wear them to work or to some subdued event. I will be trying out my other Romantique polishes for my future Konad works.