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

Earthy Shimmery Eye Look Using Aromaleigh Mineral Eyeshadows

In a recent sale of Aromaleigh, I snagged these gorgeous earth-toned shimmery shadows called Satin Petals Frost. This is one of my favorite eyeshadow collections from Aromaleigh, mostly because of the amazing texture and pigmentation. Satin Petals Frost gives a satiny sheen that is very pretty without going overboard. I bought full sizes of the ones I was eyeing, because they were on sale at 45% off retail price. I am very particular about my mineral shadows- I want pigment, I don't want all-shimmer-zero-color-payoff mica bombs. Aromaleigh is one of those select mineral makeup brands that deliver. The shadows remain vibrant even without foiling; all they need is a good eyeshadow base. Second, the texture is very smooth, not gritty like some mineral shadows I've tried, and they glide like butter on the skin. Their range of colors is also mind-boggling- so many finishes, textures, colors, highlights and lowlights to choose from - just perfect for an eyeshadow 'ho like me. :D Most of all, I like how quick the turn-around-time is with this brand. I get my products usually in three business days, and for someone as impatient as I am, quick shipping (coupled with great quality products and accurate order processing) is high up on my list in choosing products that I fork out hard-earned money for.





Above are some swatches of the full sizes I got. I bought neutral colors that can be used as an all-over lid color. I also bought some darker ones that can be used as crease colors. Amaryllis is a beautiful terracotta color with taupe lowlights and copper highlights. I used this as my crease color for this look. I also used Balsam, a cool muted brown with grey tones. Foxglove is a lovely all-over lid color, a silvery pearl taupe.


I was glad to use one of my favorite mineral blushes, Lumiere Fresh Roses.




I used some of the most amazing glows/shimmer blushes I've tried, mineral or otherwise. These are from Adorned With Grace Minerals. For this look, I applied Glamorous.


I also used my favorite bronzey lipstick from MAC, Brave New Bronze.


I used my beloved coral bronze lipgloss from Jouer, Pink Sand.

Here is a step-by-step. All eye products Aromaleigh unless otherwise stated.


Apply MAC Butternutty shadestick all over lid and browbone, brows and on the lower lashline. Blend with finger. Apply MAC Layin' Low paint pot on the lid using a fluffy shader brush. Using Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop 3/8" brush (or MAC 239 brush), apply Foxglove on the lid using MAC Charged Water.


Using the same brush, apply Balsam dry on crease.


Using the same brush, deepen the crease by applying Amaryllis. Blend with the 224 brush.


Apply a little Ivy on the outer V.


Blend with the 224.




Using the same brush, apply a little Willow (not in pic) on the outer V. Blend the colors together using the 224.


Highlight the browbone using a light beige eyeshadow.


Line upper lashline using Indelible gel liner in Tanzanite. Apply mascara. Rim eyes with Urban Decay 25/7 kohl liner in Zero.


Apply Balsam on lower lashline.





Face:
Monistat gel as primer
MAC Prep + Prime Refined Skin Zone on t-zone
Shills Natural Science BB Cream SPF 30 (review coming soon!)
Earthen Glow Minerals in Helena over Shills
Urban Decay pencil concealer
Bare Escentuals Well Rested
DreamWorld whipped creme in Butterscotch (finishing powder)
Lumiere mineral silk blush in Fresh Roses
Adorned With Grace Minerals Glamour glow (shimmer blush) on top of Fresh Roses

Lips:
Soft Lips lip balm
MAC lipliner in Whirl
MAC lipstick in Brave New Bronze
Jouer lip gloss in Pink Sand

Lilac and Purples Using MAC Eyeshadows and Lovely Lily Pigment

I made a purple look using a pigment I don't think I've ever tried more than once or twice, MAC Lovely Lily pigment. I was pleasantly surprised with this product. It is not gritty on the lid, applied very smoothly even when used dry, and it's just a lovely light lilac that went great with the purples used in this look. I also used one of my favorite medium purples from MAC, Shale. It's a beautiful crease color and also a blender color to blend the light and darker eyeshadows.


I also used Shadowy Lady on the outer V and crease, mixed with a tiny bit of Modern Heir.


I used Baby Petals to highlight.


I also used for the first time a combination of MAC Face and Body foundation and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural. I used two light layers of the Face and Body foundation in C3, set by the MSF Natural in Medium Plus. I am so happy that these are exactly my shades. I can't believe how exactly these shades matched my skintone. Watch out for my review of these two face products soon!


I may be a trifle late on this, but I am loving On A Mission beauty powder blush from the Style Warrior collection. The plummy/berry color fully complements my warm complexion, and I like how it looks dark in the pan but just perfect on the skin. It applies like a dream on the skin, and is not splotchy at all. As with all beauty powder blushes, it gives this alluring subtle sheen that is so hard to resist.


I used the very pretty To Swoon For lipstick from last year's Holiday Adoring Carmine: 3 Lips set.


I used MAC Cremesheen glass in Ever So Rich.

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


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


Using Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop 3/8" brush (or the 239 brush), apply Lovely Lily pigment on the lid dry in patting motions.


Using the 224 brush, apply Shale on the crease.


Using the Sonia Kashuk blender brush, apply Shadowy Lady mixed with a tiny bit of Modern Heir on the outer V. Blend with the 224.

Peachy Plums Using MAC Mineralize Shadows and Aromaleigh En Pointe

Here's a look using the dark berry/plum color in the new MAC mineralize eyeshadow in Odd Bits from the Colour Craft collection. I really like the colors in this quad because the shades are pretty versatile, an odd mix (which reflects its name) of cool and warm tones.


I also used the dark brown shade in the Inter-View mineralize eyeshadow from Red She Said collection to deepen the crease.


My full size Aromaleigh shadows from the En Pointe collection arrived 3 weeks ago, and I was excited to use the lovely, feminine colors. I used Giselle for this look, a pretty peachy pink.


I also used Aromaleigh's Red drama queen liner for this look.


I also used Smooth Merge MSF for this look.

All itemes MAC unless otherwise stated.


Apply Bare Canvas paint on lid. Using Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop 3/8" brush (or the 239 brush), apply Aromaleigh shadow in Giselle foiled on the lid using Charged Water.


Using the other side of the brush, apply the berry color in the Odd Bits quad on the crease going down to the outer V.




Using the Sonia Kashuk blender brush, apply Cranberry eyeshadow on the outer V, then add the brown side of Inter-View. Blend the colors with the 224 brush.


Apply Vanilla pigment on the browbone using Stila No. 5 brush.


Wetline Aromaleigh Drama Queen mineral liner in Red using Sonia Kashuk bent eyeliner brush and Charged Water.


Apply Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Zero to tightline and on waterline. Using the Sonia Kashuk mini-crease/detail brush, apply Giselle on inner lower lashline, and Cranberry on outer lower lashline. Apply falsies (I forget the brand) and mascara. Although this is a very pretty color, this was my first time to use mineral liner with falsies, so it caked a little bit as I was running a second application of liner on my lashline. Pardon the mess!





FACE:
Monistat gel as primer
MAC Prep + Prime Refined Zone on t-zone
SkinFood Mushroom blemish balm (BB) cream (review coming soon!)
Meow mineral foundation in Naughty Abyssinian (Flawless Feline formula)
DreamWorld cream topping (finishing powder) in Peach (clay and silia formula)
MAC Warm Blend MSF to contour
MAC Smooth Merge MSF

LIPS:
MAC lipliner in Whirl
MAC lipstick in Purple Rite
MAC marbled lipglass in Eclectic Edge