Neutrals Using MAC Smoke and Mirrors Eye Shadow Palette

Here's a quick look using my new MAC eyeshadow palette in Smoke and Mirrors. I've already featured a review and some swatches on this product, so I created a look using the pretty colors in the palette. It's pretty simple though, so don't expect anything flamboyant.



I also used my favorite brown gel liner, Graphic Brown.



I also used my Fab-racadabra Bronze Face Kit for this look. I love this palette!

Here's a step-by-step. All MAC products unless otherwise noted. Sorry no face pics! I have FOTD pic after the jump.


Apply Bare Canvas paint all over lid and browbone. Apply Perky paint pot on lid using a fluffy shader brush. Using a stiff shader brush (239 or Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop 3/8"), apply Spell No. 9 on lid. Using Sonia Kashuk blender brush, apply Wide Eyed Wonder on crease.


Using the same blender brush, apply Black Magique on crease and outer V. Blend with Wide Eyed Wonder using the 224 brush.


Using the Sonia Kashuk blender brush, apply Smoke and Mirrors to mix with Black Magique.


Add more Black Magique using the blender brush when necessary. Blend with the 224.




Using the Stila No. 5 brush, apply Fire In Her Eyes to highlight. Using the Sonia Kashuk bent eyeliner brush, apply Graphic Brown fluidline on upper lashline.


Apply Red Cherry false lashes no. 15. Using the Coastal Scents small taklon brush tip, apply Fire In Her Eyes on inner lower lashline and Black Magique on outer lower lashline. Rim eyes (waterline and tightline) using Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Zero. Apply mascara.





FACE:
Dr. Denese SPF30 Tinted Defense Day Cream
Earthen Glow mineral foundation in Yuan Yuan
Dreamworld creme topping (finishing powder) in Butter (clay and silica formula)
MAC Golden powder to contour
MAC Sunbasque blush
MAC iridescent shimmer in Buffed and Polished on cheekbones

LIPS:
MAC lipliner in Whirl
MAC mattene lipstick in Composure
MAC lipglass in Mouthwatering

Pinks and Purples Using Mineral Shadows and Blushes

I was able to get some samples of the beautiful Les Papillons eyeshadow collection from Aromaleigh. I had high hopes for these shadows, and they didn't disappoint. The colors are beautiful, the pigmentation rich. In fact, these babies are hella pigmented. In the look below, I used the Aromaleigh eyeshadows dry, and yet they stayed vibrant on my lid for hours and even withstood a long nap.



Here are the four eyeshadows I will be using for this look. Flying Flower is described on the Aromaleigh site as "A joyful cool frosted pink with soft violet highlight and sparkles of copper. Silvery metallic heart." Dormant Dream is "dramatic and vivid fuschia purple with a metallic heart and pearl frost finish (A customer requested a "Gucci" purple, and this is the result!)". Fragile Charms is "a muted mauved purple with fuschia and burgundy undertones. Slight blue highlight, silvery metallic smoothness and brilliant diamond glints", and Emergent Beauty is "The deepest pearlescent mauved burgundy with smoke tones, deep metallic red and sparkles of russet and aqua." I love the names of the products, and Kristen's descriptions are out-of-this-world!

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


Apply MAC Butternutty shadestick all over lid and lower lashline. Using a fluffy brush, apply MAC paint pot in Fresco Rose on lid.


Using Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop 3/8" brush, apply Flying Flower dry on lid.


Like so.


Using the other side of the same brush, apply Dormant Dream on outer V.


Using the Sonia Kashuk premium blender brush (black handle), gently blend the edges of the shadows.


Using the Loew Cornell shader brush, apply Fragile Charms on the outer-most part of the lid.


Blend all harsh lines with the SK premium blender brush.




Using the Loew Cornell brush, apply a tiny bit of Emergent Beauty on the crease, and add more Flying Flower and Dormant Dream as necessary. Blend with the SK blender brush.


Using the Stila No. 5 brush, apply a pearly light pink shadow to highlight.


Using Sonia Kashuk bent eyeliner brush, apply MAC Blacktrack fluidline on upper lashline.


Rim eyes (waterline and tightline) with Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Zero. Using the MAC 219 brush, apply Flying Flower on inner lower lashline, and Emergent Beauty on outer lower lashline. Apply Red Cherry false lashes #503. Apply mascara.







Face:
Monistat gel as primer
Cory mineral foundations in Beyond Cream
Urban Decay 24/7 pencil concealer
Bare Escentuals Well Rested mineral concealer
Lumiere all over face enhancer (Radiance) in Island Sands
MAC Taupe blush to contour
Lumiere veena blush in Violaceous
Adorned With Grace mineral shimmer blush in Dainty over blush

Lips:
Estee Lauder artist's lip pencil in Tawny Writer
MAC lipstick in Aristo-chic
MAC dazzleglass in Money, Honey

Neutrals Using Coastal Scents Original 88 Piece Palette

We've seen a lot of looks creating colorful, bold eye looks using the 88 palette, but I noticed that there is a bunch of great-looking neutrals in the same palette. I decided to create a look using the neutral colors in the 88 Original (matte) palette. You can refer to the photo below for the particular shadows used.




I also used Aromaleigh Gothic Lolita Rouge in Corset for this look.


Apply MAC Beige-ing shadestick all over lid, brows, and lower lashline. Smooth product on the lid with finger. Using a flat shader brush like the MAC 239 brush, apply Shadow A on the lid.


Using Sonia Kashuk blender brush, apply Shadow B on the crease.


Using the same brush, apply Shadow C on the crease and outer V, and blend using the MAC 224 brush.


Apply Shadow D on the outer V and crease using the Essence of Beauty smaller contour brush. Apply MAC Fascinating eye kohl on inner corners and using the Coastal Scents' mini-detail brush, apply Shadow E over Fascinating.


Apply Shadow E on browbone to highlight. Line the eyes using MAC Penultimate Liner in Rapidblack. Line waterline and tightline using Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Zero. Line innermost quarter of the lower lashline with Shadow E, and the rest of the lashline using Shadow D. Softly smudge the line. Apply Red Cherry falsies #66.







Face:
Monistat gel as primer
Earthen Glow mineral foundation in Yuan Yuan
MAC Studio Sculpt concealer in NC20
Dayna's Rested mineral undereye concealer
DreamWorld whipped cream (finishing powder) in Angel (clay-silica formula)
Aromaleigh Gothic Lolita Rouge mineral blush in Corset
MAC Sculpt powder to contour

Lips:
MAC tinted lip conditioner in Pink Fish
Rimmel 1000 Kisses lipliner in Spice
MAC slimshine lipstick in Ultra Elegant

Smoky Lilacs Using Aromaleigh and MAC Shadows

I made a smoky lilac look using Aromaleigh's Valentine limited edition shadows, and some of my newly acquired MAC shadows. To refresh our memory, here are the shades again:







Also, for the first time in months, I've used my Meow mineral foundation in the Flawless Feline formula, and I forgot how smooth and flawless-looking this brand is. I usually wear it during summer because it feels so light and airy, I feel like I am not wearing any makeup at all. I tried it again when I saw it sitting in a corner in my dresser drawer, and I'm so glad I did. Love this foundation to bits!

Here's a quick tutorial on the eye look. All products MAC unless otherwise noted:


Apply Soft Ochre paint pot all over lid and brows. Smooth with finger. With a fluffy shader brush, apply Fresco Rose paint pot on lid. Apply Beige-ing shadestick on lower lashline to prevent smudging of shadows.


Using Loew Cornell Maxine's Mop 3/8" brush (or MAC 239), apply Aromaleigh shadow in Sweet Nothings on the inner 2/3 of the lid foiled using Charged Waters.


Using same brush, apply a little bit of Beautiful Girl Minerals mineral shadow in Magical and apply on outer lid dry.


Using the 224 brush, apply Flirty Number shadow on crease.


Using the 224, apply Shale on crease blending into Flirty Number.


Apply Fascinating eye kohl on inner corners, then apply Yogurt over it using the 219 brush.


Using the larger crease contouring brush from Essence of Beauty, apply Shadowy Lady shadow on crease going down making a V-shape. Blend well with the 224.


Using the 227 brush, apply Yogurt on browbone to highlight.


Apply Blacktrack fluidline, Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Zero to tightline and on waterline, Sweet Nothings on inner half of lower lashline and Shadowy Lady on outer half of lower lashline. Apply Red Cherry falsies #1.







Face:
Monistat gel as primer
Meow Flawless Feline mineral foundation in Naughty Abyssinian
MAC Studio Sculpt concealer in NC20
Dayna's Rested mineral undereye concealer
DreamWorld whipped cocoon (silk finishing powder) in Whipped Strawberries
Valerie Beauty mineral blush in Smokin' Mocha

Lips:
MAC tinted lip conditioner in Pink Fish
MAC In 3D lipliner in Plum Mate
MAC lipstick in Rubia
MAC dazzleglass in Comet Blue