Pretty in Pink...

It's Monday! Not usually a day you get excited for but hopefully a new makeup look can turn that frown upside down!

Today's look is a bit softer than the previous posts I've had but still has bold eyelashes. I feel like there is a stigma around pink and blue eye shadowed looks. In the way of looking tacky, but if you know where to place your colours — everything will turn out fine! I will do a tutorial in the upcoming weeks to help explain where to put shadow colours. I am sure it will help those people who's blu shadow turns into this:

So let's get on with it!

How I Achieved This Look:

Step 1:

Using a puffy blending brush and a colour like "Backstage Pass" by Lancome from the Color Design palette, blend this shade into your crease. Some like to do the lightest colours first but I find when I define my crease, it's easier to place my other colours correctly and I always have a shade to blend into. Just a personal preference.

Step 2:

With a dense eyeshadow brush apply a colour like "Pink Venus" by MAC across your lid and "Pink Freeze" by MAC on the inner half. Should create a nice gradient of pinks

Step 3:

Using a small dense eyeshadow brush apply "Embrace" by Buxom from the Tango palette to the outer corners and lightly into your crease. Harsh lines are not welcome in this look.

Step4:

Blend until your happy.

Step 5:

Using the eyeliner of your choice, I used transformer mixed with black eyeshadow, apply a thiner but definite eyeliner to the tops lids. I used false eyelashes in this look which required my line to be thicker than if I wasn't using lashes.

Step 6:

Apply your favourite mascara, I am currently using "Full Exposure" mascara by Smashbox. And apply your false lashes if you opt for them. If you need help applying false lashes, I did a tutorial a while back and you can find that here

Step 7:

Line your lower inner lash line with white eyeliner to make your eyes appear bigger and more open.

Step 8:

Using "Pink Freeze" by MAC, apply it under your eyes in the inner corner to 2/3 of the way to your outer corner.

Step 9:

Apply "Embrace" by Buxom to the outer third and blend into the "Pink Freeze" you previously applied.

Step 10:

Finish it off by apply mascara lightly to your lower lashes and adding a highlighter colour, I used "Venus" from the Naked Basics Palette by Urban Decay, just on top of my brow bone and to the inner corners of my eyes.

And there you go! I could have summarized in fewer steps but information is easier to swallow when you really break it down!

If you have a look you want to see me do a tutorial for, as always, send me a message or comment!

Have a wonderful week beautiful!

Love & A Hope for Spring,

Let's Start a Monday Tradition ...

Makeup Mondays!!

Every Monday there will be a new makeup look up for you (or an official apology/excuse combo).

So let's begin with today!

On Saturday I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the 10th Annual Heart to Heart Gala Fundraiser hosted by The Catholic Family Services of Durham. It is an evening where the community comes together to celebrate and raise money in support of our services which goes to assist over 600 abused women and their families. If you would like to know more and/or help click to visit their website HERE

It was an absolutely lovely event!


Here is the makeup look I wore that evening:

How I achieved this look:

Step 1.

Using a shadow SLIGHTLY darker than your skin colour, in my case I used one the warmer matte shadows in the Smashbox Full Exposure palette (which is one of my all time favourites for bridal!). I used a fluffy blending brush to sweep this into my crease. This created a bit of an outline as to where my crease should be when it comes time to use darker colours. It's a trick I use to make sure my client's makeup is applied correctly for their eyeshape. It also allows me to blend the darker colours in to my skin colour later.

Step 2.

With a denser eyeshadow brush I applied a darker warm brown tone into the outer corners and across my crease. Then, using the fluffy brush from Step 1., I blended it.

Step 3. 

Next, I took "Venus" from Urban Decay's Naked Basics palette and applied it to the inner corners and 3/4 of the way to the outer corners of my eyelids. I took the blending brush and blended again until it was a smooth transition.

Step 4. 

Using a small about of black shadow and a small eyeshadow brush, I darkened the outer corners and just slightly into my crease to define it more and add a little more drama. You guessed it, I blended once again after this.

Step 5.

Using a transformer, in this case Metamorphix by Lise Watier, with a consistency comparable to more of a gel liner rather than a liquid liner I applied my eyeliner using black eyeshadow.

Step 6.

I lined my waterline with black kohl liner and applied a little black eyeshadow over it to ensure it wouldn't go anywhere during the night.

TIP: Eyeliner pencils are waxy, so to ensure it doesn't disappear right away I apply shadow over it to lock it in place.

Step 7.

Taking the same darker warm brown, and then the colour slightly darker than my skin tone, I blended the shadow underneath my eyes to a soft finish.

Step 8.

I used a Mac Pro Long Wear lipliner in "In Anticipation" to make my eyes pop!

et voila!

Next week I will try to stay away from all the neutrals and bring you a fun look. Maybe I will even use false lashes!

Love & A Good Cause,

Smoulder!

Let's celebrate this winter Friday with a super easy makeup look!

How I achieved this look:

Step 1.
Choose a dark colour of your choice. I used a gray-brown colour, not like I could tell you what it's called because it's been in my kit forever and the label has worn off but it's from Estee Lauder.
Apply this colour with a brush or your finger —you can usually achieve a slightly more pigmented coverage with your finger, from your lash line to your crease.

Step 2.
Take a clean crease brush and blend away from your crease in a back and forth motion. Blend until you can blend no more!

Step 3.
Take an eyeshadow colour close to your skin tone and use this to seamlessly blend your shadow into your brow bone. I've used the colour "Foxy" from Urban Decay's Naked Basics palette.

Step 4.
Take your favourite highlighting shade, I used "Venus" also from Urban Decay's Naked Basics palette and highlight your browbone and the inner corners of your eyes just the brighten the look up and to add some depth.

Step 5.
Apply your favourite mascara and lashes if you wish. (I did not add lashes)

AND THAT'S IT!

Bonus:
Keep your lip colour lighter — you don't want your smokey eyes competing with a dark lip.



See, I told you it was super easy! It's also a great look to practice your blending.
Now, go get 'em tiger!

Love & Sass,

Let's Catch Up

In the spirit of "Throwback Thursday", I thought I would write about that time I was my sisters Maid of Honour.

Almost a year ago, I had the privilege of being my sister's MOH. For two years, I helped plan the wedding, planned the engagement party, bridal shower and bachelorette. I created & designed invitations, thank you cards, posters and anything else I could. I was very busy but I loved every moment of it.

Nothing had me more nervous or excited than delivering my MOH speech at the reception though. I decided very early that I wanted to do something unexpected. Although, if you really know me — it actually seems very expected, but I digress...
I wanted to "WOW" my sister. I have always been somewhat of a closet ham but on the flip side I get paralyzingly nervous when I have to speak in front of more than 5 people at a time.

So the struggle is real.

Ten months before the wedding I started writing. I wrote down all the nice things I wanted to say knowing it needed to be REALLY nice because after having seen a MOH somewhere in the States perform her speech to the beat of "Without Me" by Eminem, I had found my performance inspiration. I knew my sister LOVED that song, as did I, and I decided I would do my own version. Keep in mind I used her chorus and a few of her lyrics but I promise at least 80% of the verses are all me.

So for the final 6 months before the big day, I practiced and practiced my rap. On the way to work, for my colleagues (those who would let me), on the way home from work, in the car, in the shower - EVERYWHERE.

As a comfort, I created a video of the lyrics to play behind me. It was intended to help me as back up so the audience didn't miss any words in case I did.

I had the wedding party in kahoots with me, along with the day-of coordinators, photographers, audio/visual guys and the MCs. A LOT of prep and planning went into this delivery.

SO the big day finally came and aside from the time I was doing everyone's makeup (yes, I did that too), my mind was on my upcoming speech. Dinner came and I couldn't even eat. I told the staff to keep bringing it but don't take it away because I was just so nervous I would eat AFTER my speech. They laughed at me.

My name was called to come up and ten months of preparing, planning and practicing was about to be summarized into 7 minutes.


Before you watch, if you haven't seen it before, here is my disclaimer;

For 3 minutes prior to where the video starts I had been delivering all those nice things I had previously mentioned I wanted to say. It went flawlessly. However, rapping fast while you're nervous makes it REAL easy to get out of breath. At one point during my rap I started sounding more and more like a goat because of how shaky my voice was and how hard I was pushing to get my breath in/out. You can't notice it too hard in the video but it's the one splinter I have left over from my performance. Either than that — I am proud and satisfied. I also give "cred" to the MOH who was the original genius to use this song.

So, as I say in the video, without further ado...

http://youtu.be/2w1mVjErp3g

After I performed, I walked straight to the bar to catch my breath and forget about my goat-esk voice.

The bar has been set for her speech at my wedding.

Love & Guts,

I'm Back!

Hello World!

After a long hiatus I am finally back in action here!

So keep checking back to read about makeup and design tutorials, tips and trends!

Love & Warmth,

5 Minute Summer Makeup!

Hello beautiful,

Here is a quick tutorial I whipped up for you!
Summer is fast approaching and who wants to wear tonnes of makeup in the heat!?

This is a look you can whip together super easily and quickly so it's less time indoors and more time at the beach!

I used "Naked" and "Virgin" from my favourite Naked palette to create this and I used "Half Baked" to line my lower lash line. The mascara I used for this tutorial is Make Up Forever's Aqua Smokey Lash.

Love & Sunshine

My New Hair!

Heyo!

Just updating you on my hairstyle as of late.
It's called Phoenix hair—if not officially then I have named it that.

I get my hair done at Salonik by my good friend Annika. She's simply amazing.
Check it out and tell me what you think :)

Love Love Love