Day 43 of 365 of The Great Makeup Challenge: Bright Coverage! Today’s makeup was all about covering up skin irritation. Before I even begin my instructions on how I did my makeup today, I have to share my horrible experience that preceded my makeup application. I obtained a sample of a face mask, which I try to do every so often to help my complexion. The product I tried is the Algamoor Mask by Moor Spa (product information can be found here). Following the instructions, I applied a thin layer of the mask to my face and left it on for 10 minutes before washing off with warm water. About five minutes in, I began to feel an uncomfortable burning/tingling sensation. The product is to help with oily or acneic skin, so I thought this was why. However, after rinsing I soon realized that I was experiencing an allergic reaction to the product! By way of history, I have never had an allergic reaction to any skin care product, and I’ve tried a ton of them! My face began to swell rapidly, burned, turned fire engine red, and broke out in hives. I took an allergy pill and the hives began to back down after about 30 minutes. It took almost 2 hours for the swelling to completely go down, and I still have remnants of the hives via small bumps all over my face. My face was also severely itchy all day! At the time I applied my makeup, my skin was also still very, very red and swollen. If you look closely at the photos, you can see that my face is swollen and there is a red hue to my skin. I will be contacting an Aesthetician friend of mine to let her know what happened and see if she has any recommendations. However, in the interim, I really recommend that you avoid this product!
Now on to The Challenge!
What you will need:
Instructions:
For my makeup application today, I decided to go with cool tones and a liquid foundation to try to offset and cover the redness. I began with a makeup primer to help smooth out the bumpy texture of my skin resulting from the allergic reaction. I then applied a light coat of Smashbox High Definition Healthy FX Foundation, which I highly recommend as it glides on easily, provides a nice coverage, and it has great skin care benefits. I applied concealer to my under eye circles and any majorly red spits, and dusted on a light coat of powder to set. I very lightly contoured my cheekbones with bronzer and highlighter, wanting to avoid adding too much bronzer, which could accent the redness of my skin. I then swept the highlighter down the bridge of my nose and lightly across my forehead to highlight and detract from the red tone. It’s not always recommended to highlight your forehead, as it could just make your skin look oily, but in this case I needed to! I chose a plum blush (I don’t think I have to keep emphasizing why I’m using cool tones, now do I?) and applied it to the apples of my cheeks only.
Moving to my eyes, I applied eyeshadow primer, and while that dried I golden-green cream eyeshadow from the crease of the eye to the brow, blending from the inner to outer corners of the eye. I applied the bright green eyeshadow to the eyelid, and followed it by applying the bright yellow eyeshadow into and slightly above the crease. The main focus of my eye look was the bright green liquid eyeliner. I applied it to the bottom lash line first. I then drew a line moving from the center of the bottom lash line outward bast the outer edge of my eye, allowing the line to slightly tilt upward with the shape of my cheekbone. I then drew a parallel line moving from the outer corner of the eye outward, ending at the same point as the bottom line. I chose to leave a gap between the two lines to create an interesting shape.
With regard to the liquid eyeliner I used, I have to note that I’ve had an issue with this particular product. It’s not that its a liquid liner (I’ve used these a million times without any problems), it seems to be the product itself. I’ve never had any issues with NYX products before, and I’m actually a fan of the brand. I’m not sure if this particular bright green liquid eyeliner was defective or not. It would not glide on smoothly, leaving odd gaps in the line, as well as flaking off shortly after application. On top of that, this bright green liquid eyeliner actually burns a bit on application (not just this time when my skin is irritated, but also in the past). Has anyone else used the NYX Studio Liquid Liner, whether in Extreme Green or not? If so, have you ever had a problem with it? I will definitely keep using NYX products, and I’m willing to try the Studio Liquid Liner in another color to see if that works out better. Although I’ve had issues with this liner, I still keep using it for the vibrant color it provides. I always get a ton of compliments when I wear it, even with smaller applications.
Getting back to the application for today, I finished the eyes off with two coats of mascara to the top lashes and one to the bottom. I then finalized the whole look with a plum-colored lipstick to complete my plan of attack to distract from my red-hued skin.
There you have it! I think I fairly succeeded in concealing my poor red, irritated skin. What do you think? Do you have any tips for covering such tones? If so, share! Of course, be sure to also share any photos, ask any questions you may have, or share any ideas you want me to try our via reply post, my Submit page above or Email Me!
See you tomorrow for Day 44 of The Great Makeup Challenge!
Note: All products I recommended above are available from Sephora, Ulta, your local department store, your local drug store, or through Amazon.com.
Day 42 of 365 of The Great Makeup Challenge: Brilliant Brights for Follower Friday! Once again, it’s time for Follower Friday! Today’s question comes from Shala, who asks:
“What is a good lipstick color for redheads?”
I’ve been a (fake) redhead many times in my life, and I’m very aware of the makeup challenge that comes with it. The wrong shades can make your complexion look muddied or sickly. Natural shades of red present more of a complication, as they will pull out any warm tones in makeup (oranges, reds, yellows, pinks, etc.). My past experience has taught me to avoid these shades when going with red hair, and I’ve learned a few tricks for picking the right color to accentuate the hair color instead of compete with it! So for today’s Challenge, I’ll address Shala’s question, as well as continue our brights theme.
Remember: if you have any specific bright colors or color combinations you want me to try out, any shapes you want to see, or a question for Follower Friday, send me a message via reply post, my Submit page above or E-mail Me! I welcome the challenge!
What you will need:
Instructions:
Today’s look was all about a great, bright pink. I wanted to choose a coordinating color that would play off the pink without overwhelming it, so I chose to go with bright blue. It’s a bit Barbie, but I love the combination and contrast. I kept with the base I’ve been using the last few days: applied a tinted primer; concealer to my under eye circles; dusting of a warm powder to set; contouring cheekbones with my favorite bronzer/highlighter combination palette, applying the darker shades of the palette to the hollows of the cheekbones and the lighter tones to the tops of the cheekbones; and eyeshadow primer to my eyelids. I finished the base with a very light dusting of a sheer light pink blush to the apples of my cheeks, blending slightly upward with my fingertips along the hollows of the cheeks where I naturally flush. I didn’t want to detract from the main focus of my look with a strong blush, so I opted for one that was pale and without shimmer.
Moving to the eyes, I began by lining the inner rims with black inner rim liner. I then applied a light, neutral shadow to the entire eye area to provide a lightening effect with setting an even base for the bright colors, adding to the enhancement. I then applied my blue eyeshadow to my eyelid only. The bright blue eyeshadow in this palette is on the sheer side, so if you use this one you may need to keep layering the eyeshadow until you reach your desired level of intensity. I opted to maintain the blue eyeshadow in a fairly sheer application with this look.
Next, I applied my hot pink eyeshadow. If you are a redhead like today’s follower, Shala, I recommend avoiding warmer shades of pink (depending on the shade of your hair and your complexion, of course). Cooler tones will work better, but typically I do not feel that pink eyeshadow works well for redheads. I really love shades of purples and greens (once again, cooler tones) on a redhead. You can definitely also go with our bright blue eyeshadow for contrast. As for my use of the hot pink eyeshadow, I began applying the eyeshadow to the crease of the eye, using an angled eyeshadow brush and beginning at the inner corner and working outward. At the outer corner of the eye, I drew a diagonal line with the pink eyeshadow up and out to the end point of my eyebrow. I then drew a line across to meet the pink eyeshadow at the center of the crease of my eye. This created a wedge-like triangular effect at the outer corner of the eye, and by drawing the line that led back to the eye with my eye closed, it provided a natural dip in the line itself. I filled in the wedge I created with the pink eyeshadow, continuing to layer the color throughout until I reached the intensity level I was seeking. Remember: you are in control of the level of intensity of any eyeshadow, adjusting same by how much you add or subtract while applying. I finished the pink part of my eye look by lining the upper lash line and inner corner of the eye with hot pink eyeliner.
Moving back to my blue color, I lined the bottom lash line with bright blue eyeliner. When I reached the outer corner of the eye, I continued drawing the line straight outward, ending at the end of the brow line. I then drew a line with the blue eyeliner straight upward to meet the top point of the board meeting the top point of the pink wedge I had created. I then created a line moving back downward along the outer edge of the pink wedge back to the eye. This then also created a blue wedge at the outer corner of the eye, which I filled in with the blue eyeliner and topped with a dusting of the bright blue eyeshadow. The addition of the blue eyeshadow on top helps add to the intensity of the color and increase the staying power.
Now to address Shala’s question for the day. My biggest recommendation for redheads when choosing a lipstick is to choose a shade with an underlying cool tone. You can choose from red, pinks, and purple shades of lipstick, but you should look for shades with cool tones such as a blue undertone. I am also a big fan of plum and burgundy shades that are big for Fall. I find that it helps offset the natural warmth of red hair, providing a nice contrast as well. I do recommend trying to stay away from brown shades of lipstick. My person opinion is that it can make your complexion look muddied. I have the same stance on orange lipsticks (and warm tones altogether), as it serves to actually overemphasize the warm tones in your hair and complexion in a not-so-pretty way. For my lipstick today, I chose a lip stain in a vivid pink with blue undertones that would look stunning with red hair (and every other hair color as well!). Some people may not be comfortable jumping into such a vivid shade, but I recommend you try it. As with almost all makeup, you can adjust the intensity by applying more or less. No matter what shade you decide to go for, the key is to look for those cool hues. If you use that as your guide, as a redhead you can’t go wrong!
Well, Shala, I hope that answers your Follower Friday question! Be sure to let me know how it works out for you! Share any products you try out, your experience with them, and, of course, photos! If there are any other redheads out there with recommendations, feel free to chime in on your recommendations and favorite products!
Post your photos, ask any questions you may have, or share any ideas you want me to try our via reply post, my Submit page above or Email Me!
See you tomorrow for Day 43 of The Great Makeup Challenge!
Note: All products I recommended above are available from Sephora, Ulta, your local department store, your local drug store, or through Amazon.com.
Day 41 of 365 of The Great Makeup Challenge: Neon! After finishing my week-long series of inspirational looks from The Colorist October 2011 issue, I needed a new idea. In considering what to do for today’s look, I started reviewing the recent resort fashion collections. As with the collections we saw throughout 2011, a common theme amongst them were pops of bright (often neon) colors. To me, this is a perfect way to cheer up on a drab Fall day. I’ve always been a fan of a pop of color, and lately I’ve been exploring using unexpected lines in makeup. So I decided to combine both today, taking inspiration from a Spring 2011 look above. Starting with today’s look, I’m going to explore some various ways to play with these bright colors. Remember: if you have any specific bright colors or color combinations you want me to try out, or any shapes you want to see, send me a message via reply post, my Submit page above or E-mail Me! I welcome the challenge!
What you will need:
Instructions:
Today’s inspirational look above is rooted in a very bare-skinned look as the base for the bright eye makeup. My skin has a tendency to look sickly if I go with too bare a look. I know my limitations. So I varied this a bit to meet my skin’s needs. I opted to go with the same base I’ve been using the last few days, as I feel that its really helped to present an even, warm complexion. I began with a tinted primer, applied concealer to my under eye circles, and dusted on a light coat of a warm powder to set. I then applied eyeshadow primer to my eyelids, and while that set I moved on to contouring my cheekbones. I opted to go back to using both parts of my favorite bronzer/highlighter palette, applying the darker shades of the palette to the hollows of the cheekbones and the lighter tones to the tops of the cheekbones. I applied both very lightly, to add just a subtle contour. To add a touch of color and warmth to my cheeks, I lightly applied a warm beige blush to the apples of the cheeks.
Moving to the eyes, I lined the top inner rims only with black inner rim liner and lined the bottom inner rims with inner rim brightener to really open the eyes up. I then applied applied a light, neutral shadow to the entire eye area to set a light, eye-opening base for the bright shadows. For those bright shadows, you can opt for eyeliners if you have them, but I used what I had in stock, bright shades from my limited edition bright Givenchy Le Prismissime 9-Colors Eyeshadow palette. I began by first applying the light purple shade in the palette to the under eye area. Using an angled brush, I began at the inner corner of the and worked my way outward. When I reached the center of the eye (where the lash line naturally begins to turn upward), I drew my line straight outward, ending just past my natural brow. I applied additional layers of the purple color on top of the line I created until I was satisfied. I then moved to the bright orange shade. Once again using an angled eyeshadow brush, I began at the inner corner of the eye, arcing upward to just below the brow, and created a line mimicking my brow arch as it moved outward. When I reach the end of the brow, I created a sharp, straight line outward, running parallel to my purple line. I layered the orange shadow as well until I reached the intensity I was looking for. I then finished the eyes with a quick swipe of two coats of lengthening mascara to the top lashes and one to the bottom.
I finished the look with a simple orange lip gloss to add a little punch of color and shine to the lips.
The look was overall very simple, but very fun. Today’s weather was dark, dreary, cold, and rainy. The bright colors provided a bit of a pick-me-up. Try it out for yourself! Of course, if you do, don’t forget to share! Post your photos, ask any questions you may have, or share any ideas you want me to try our via reply post, my Submit page above or Email Me!
See you tomorrow for Day 42 of The Great Makeup Challenge!
Note: All products I recommended above are available from Sephora, Ulta, your local department store, your local drug store, or through Amazon.com.
Day 18 of 365 of The Great Makeup Challenge: Green with eye envy! Today I decided to continue with my trend of bright makeup this week with a burst of green.
What you will need:
Instructions:
Because of my skin’s recent outbreak of minor irritation, I once again started with the simple base of my tinted moisturizer. I applied concealer under my eyes, and a light dusting of Sephora Mineral Powder to set. I applied bronzer into the hollow of the cheeks for contouring, as well as a light swipe across the t-zone (forehead, down the bridge of the nose, and on the chin) to warm up the area of my face where I naturally tan. I also added a light application of bronzer along the jawline and down the neck for a defining, contouring contouring effect. I then added Wet ‘n’ Wild MegaGlo Face Illuminator along the tops of the cheekbones up to the temples for a highlighting effect. I finished by applying a rosy blush to my cheeks to complete my facial warm-up.
Moving to the eyes, I applied a light, shimmery green starting from the inner corner of the eyes and sweeping it up along the brow bone to the outer corner of my eyes. I then applied my darkest shade of green, a bold jade color, to the outer half of the eyelid, working it from the center of the lid outwards to the corner. I then worked my medium green shade from the inner corner to meet the darkest shade at the center of the lid. The goal was to create a gradation effect on the eyelid, moving from the inner corner of the eye to the outer corner, slowly getting more intense and color. I applied black inner rim eyeliner for contrast and definition. I followed this with a bright green eyeliner around the entire eye.
I applied two coats of Urban Decay’s Skyscraper Multi-Benefit mascara to the upper lashes, followed by one coat of Maybelline’s Lash Stiletto Voluptuous Waterproof mascara to the bottom lashes. As a contact wearer and allergy sufferer, I prefer to apply a waterproof mascara to the bottom lashes so that the mascara won’t run when my eyes are watering.
I finished the look by dabbing on Benetint Lip Balm SPF 15 to my lips. The balm not only moisturizes and gives a slight sheen, it also adds a touch of rosy color to the lips.
Get your Green on and show me what you got! Share your photos with me, and tell me what colors you want me to take for a test drive. Send me some ideas! I still have almost a year to go, and I am only so creative! Challenge me!
Share your photos and experiences, and show me some of your makeup skills! Post your photos, ask any questions you may have, or share any ideas you want me to try our via my Submit page above or Email Me!
See you tomorrow for Day 19 of The Great Makeup Challenge!
Note: All products I recommended above are available from Sephora, Ulta, your local department store, your local drug store, or through Amazon.com.
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