My Blush Collection and Storage

Here is my blush collection that I've accumulated for the past few years. Take note that a big percentage of my stash (around 70%)I had bought myself (I was/am a MAC MSF collector from way back), and the rest were press samples. This post is put up just to show you how I store my stash. I will be paring this down very soon as I need more space.

I went to Target one day and I saw these 3-compartment trays that fit my compacts perfectly. I bought two and I am so glad I did because they also fit in the blush drawer of my 8-drawer vanity. They look very organized instead of them being in a box piled one on top of the other. This way, I can easily see and use the blush or mineralize skinfinish I will use for that day.



my blush drawer open



See rest of the storage and collection after the jump

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.

Look Using Coastal Scents 88 Warm Palette

Here's a look featuring the Coastal Scents Warm 88 Palette. I am pretty impressed with the colors. They were vibrant and the staying power was pretty good with a good base (I used MAC paint in Bare Canvas and paint pot in Perky). I am especially impressed with the lid and crease colors I used. As long as a good base is used, the pigment remained vibrant and the finish was pretty smooth on the lid. For the tutorial below, please refer to the picture above for particular shadows used.


I also used one of my favorite MAC beauty powder blushes, Joyous. True to its name, it's a very happy color and I really love how it perks up the complexion.


I also used Aromaleigh Drama Queen eyeliner in Copper for this look.

Here's a step-by-step illustration.


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


Using Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop 3/8" shader brush (or the MAC 239), apply Shadow A on lid.


Using MAC 224, apply Shadow B on crease.


Using Sonia Kashuk blender brush, apply Shadow C on the outer V and to contour the crease. Blend the colors together using the 224 using windshield-wiper motions.




Using the Sonia Kashuk blender brush, apply more Shadow B and C to deepen the crease, then blend using the 224.


Using Stila No. 5 brush, apply Shadow D on the browbone to highlight.


Using Sonia Kashuk bent eyeliner, wet-line Aromaleigh Drama Queen eyeliner in Copper on upper lashline using MAC Charged Water.


Apply mascara. Using Coastal Scents mini-detail brush, apply Shadow A on inner lower lashline and Shadow C on outer lower lashline. Tightline and water-line using Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Zero.





Face:
Monistat gel as primer
Joppa Mineral foundation in Medium-Light 2.5
UD 24/7 pencil concealer on undereye area
Bare Escentuals Well Rested over UD 24/7
Aromleigh ultra resolution finishing powder in English Rose
MAC beauty powder blush in Joyous

Lips:
MAC lipliner in Whirl
MAC lipstick in Lightly Ripe
MAC lipglass in Virgin Kiss

Greens and Olives Using Aromaleigh En Pointe Mineral Shadows

I got some samples of the new limited edition eyeshadow collection from Aromaleigh, the En Pointe. It celebrates the art of dance/ballet. I used two of the green-hued shadows from this collection for this look. I can't wait to use the rose and pink colors from this collection (signature colors of ballet) because they are just gorgeous. For this look, though, greens are the focal point.


Here are the specific shadows I used.


I also used my favorite dark hunter green, Grand Entrance from the Holiday '08 Warm Eyes Palette.






I used MAC Joyous beauty powder topped with Redhead MSF, and used the 6-piece blush and contour palette to contour.

All products Aromaleigh unless otherwise noted.


Apply Urban Decay primer potion all over lid and lower lashline. Using a fluffy brush, apply MAC paint pot in Greenstroke on lid. Using Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop 3/8" brush, apply Waltz foiled on the lid using MAC Charged Water.


Using the same brush, apply Arabesque damp on outer lid.


Using a clean Loew Cornell brush, apply Amarante dry on crease and outer V.


Using the same brush, apply Holy Grail on outer lid and crease, blending into Amarante. Blend using the MAC 224 brush.




Apply MAC Grand Entrance shadow using Sonia Kashuk blender brush.


Apply more Grand Entrance and blend more with the 224. Using the MAC 227 brush, apply MAC Sweet Joy eyeshadow on the browbone.


Apply Indelible gel liner in Endangered to line. Apply Arabesque on inner lower lashline, and Holy Grail on outer lower lashline. Apply Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Zero to tightline and on waterline.


Apply mascara







Face:
Monistat gel as primer
Earthen Glow mineral foundation in Yuan Yuan
MAC Studio Sculpt concealer in NC20
Dayna's Rested mineral undereye concealer
Aromaleigh Ultra Resolution finishing powder in English Rose
MAC Joyous Beauty Powder blush
6-pc contour and blush palette to contour
MAC Redhead mineralize skinfinish over blush

Lips:
MAC lipliner in Whirl
MAC lipstick in Rubia
MAC dazzleglass in Rags to Riches

Gold and Bronze Look Using MAC Style Warrior's Solar Bits

Happy Memorial Day everyone! I hope you had a great three-day weekend. Here's a look using MAC Style Warrior Solar Bits in Scatterrays and Bronzescape. It's very important to note that two requirements for the application of Solar Bits are the following: (1) a good, tacky base, and (2) mixing medium. I used Urban Decay primer potion, then added Rubenesque paint pot in order to make the product adhere to the lid better. Mixing medium is another important tool because the product is hard to work with when it is dry. It is heavy and gritty, and would need to be foiled in order to stick to the skin and create a smooth finish. You don't need to fully soak your brush in water to work with the Solar Bits. A slightly damp brush is perfectly fine. As for the mixing medium, I used MAC's water-based mixing medium for this look, but your Fix+ or Charged Water would work just as well. I don't really recommend plain water as it would come out gritty, chalky and powdery in the end after the water has evaporated. You can make your own mixing medium by mixing 3 parts (distilled or purified) water to 1 part glycerin that you can buy at the drugstore. (NOTE: Do NOT make large batches as the lack of preservative would make this concoction bacteria-prone. Create small batches, like for a week's use, then throw the rest away.)


I used Handwritten to deepen the crease.


I used Shadow A (a matte highlighter) from the 28-piece Neutral palette to highlight.


I used MAC Eversun beauty powder blush on the apples of my cheeks, and MAC Refined Golden bronzer to contour.





I also used MAC Ravishing cremesheen on the lips, topped with Smile dazzleglass.

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


Apply Urban Decay primer potion all over lid, brows, lower lashline. Using a fluffy shader brush, apply MAC paint pots in Rubenesque on lid.


Using a stiff shader brush (MAC 239 or Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop 3/8"), foil Scatterrays using MAC mixing medium. Blend with finger. (NOTE: this has been taken before blending the product in; this wasn't the finished step!).


Using a damp shader brush, apply Bronzescape on outer V. Blend with the 224 brush.




Apply more Bronzescape to create depth to the crease. Blend again with the 224.


Apply Handwritten matte2 eyeshadow on the crease to contour using the 226 brush. I used a matte crease color to balance the metallic sheen of the Solar Bits.


Apply matte highlighter (Shadow A) from the Coastal Scents 28-piece neutral palette to highlight using Essence Of Beauty big fluffy brush. Apply Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Zero to tightline and on lower lashline. Apply Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Ye-yo (white) on inner corners. Blend with finger.


Apply Blacktrack fluidline on upper lashline. Apply Red Cherry falsies #1. Apply mascara.











Face:
Monistat gel as primer
MAC Prep + Prime Refined Skin Zone on t-zone
Joppa mineral foundation in Medium Light 2.5
Urban Decay 24/7 concealer on undereye area
Dayna's Rested mineral concealer on undereye area
DreamWorld creme topping (finishing powder) in Peach
MAC Refined Golden bronzer to contour
MAC Eversun beauty powder blush

Lips:
Softlips lip balm
MAC cremesheen lipstick in Ravishing
MAC dazzleglass in Smile