FOTD - Aztec Eyes

I rarely do dark lids fading out (AKA true smokey eyes), since I don't think they suit me as well as other colour placements. However, I do think they're the epitome of 'sexy' on other women! Well, maybe not ones including turquoise and bronze, but still, you catch my drift, right?!

 

EYES - TFSI, ELF cream eyeliner (black), Sassy Minerals 'Gasoline Rainbow', Fyrinnae 'Digital Faerie', random bronzey colour, Natural Collection 'Sea Shell', MAC 'Vanilla' pigment, mascara, Collection 2000 black pencil eyeliner.

FACE - No.7 'Beautifully Matte' foundation, Collection 2000 'Lasting Perfection' concealer, Colection 2000 powder, Stargazer bronzer.

LIPS - Random gloss.

 

Please excuse the ratty circa 2005 scene kid hair, I had a bad incident with some spray wax -_-

What are yor favourite shades to combine with black eyeshadow? Do you wear 'true' smokey eyes?

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Top 10...Neutral Eyeshadows

Even if you're a die hard lover of bright colours - you have to confess that neutrals are a must have in every make-up collection. Matte, shimmer, it doesn't matter so long as you can fling them on and be on your way! These are the ten eyeshadows I reach for when I need to tone it down...

[[ MUA 12, MUA dark brown, Shiro 'S.S Anne', Mad Minerals 'Ruby Sunset', Sassy Minerals 'Happy Hour' ]]

MUA Shade 12 - The well known and loved £1 MAC 'Club' dupe from Superdrug. A brown based red with blue-green duochrome...so I guess you could argue it's not entirely neutral, but shush.

MUA Dark Brown - Because I'm far too lazy to trek back upstairs to check the shade number! This is the perfect shade for filling your eyebrows if you have dark hair, I use this every single day.

Shiro 'S.S Anne' - A slightly golden, peachy tan shade with fine silver glitter. S.S Anne is PERFECT as a one colour wash with a flick of dark eyeliner for definition. I've been wearing it all the time since I bought it!

Mad Minerals 'Ruby Sunset' - One of those deceptive shades which looks dull  as an afternoon at your Nan's, but actually transforms from a golden light brown into a glimmering wine once the light hits it. Beautiful.

Sassy Minerals 'Happy Hour' - This is currently in my 'to finish off' pile as part of P10P (which I'm failing miserably at, by the way) but it's so gorgeous I'll definitely be buying it again! A peachy, slightly golden champagne perfect for highlighting.

[[ Urban Decay 'Smog', Urban Decay 'Toasted', Urban Decay 'Gridlock', Barry M 'Chocolate', MAC 'Vanilla' pigment ]]

Urban Decay 'Smog' - You better damn well like 'Smog', because Urban Decay put it in every darn palette they release. I'm pretty sure I have three pans now! A warm, dark brown ideal for lining and deepening the crease.

Urban Decay 'Toasted' - Awesome as a one colour wash, 'Toasted' has just enough pink to keep it interesting yet understated.

Urban Decay 'Gridlock' - 'Gridlock' is perfect for pairing with dark taupes, or a slick of liquid eyeliner and bright pink lipstick.

Barry M 'Chocolate' - If you're bored of black smokey eyes, you need this in your life. However, it does tend to go patchy so be careful when blending!

MAC 'Vanilla' Pigment - I'm pretty sure everyone's heard of the wonders of 'Vanilla' pigment by now, right? Well, if you haven't, it's probably the most raved about MAC product to date and for good reason! Golden cream/ ivory with golden shimmer and a hint of pink - ideal highlight shade for any skintone.

What are your favourite neutral eyeshadows? Craving any from my list?

(P.S) Didn't mean to repost this. I realigned the photos and Blogger decided it looked better here than three pages back!

FOTD - Faeries vs. Monsters

Today was one of those days when you wake up with plans, get up, feel inspired and then...boom. Something crops up which stops you fulfilling your plans. In my case, this was my grandparents visiting for an entire six hours. SIX HOURS. So instead of researching and producing designs for college work, I've drank lots of tea, done a few sudokus and painted my face.

[[ Nails are Models Own 'BlooBoo' ]]

[[ Oh hair, no matter how much I baby you, you're always dry as a bone. ]]

EYES - UDPP, FPE, Fyrinnae 'Digital Faerie', Venomous Cosmetics 'Stiletto Snake', Venomous Cosmetics 'Monster under Your Bed', Sassy Minerals 'Understated', Kryolan liquid eyeliner, mascara, GOSH pencil eyeliner.

FACE - Kryolan ultra foundation as concealer, Collection 2000 'Matt + Minerals', Kryolan translucent powder, Accessorize 'Bermuda' bronzer, Ben Nye blush.

LIPS - Clinique 'Coral Crush' lippy, OCC 'Hush' lip tar.

I decided on wearing a coral lip instead of the usual flat out nude, it is brighter 'in real life' but creamy enough to get away with it. I'm not really a fan of coloured lips paired with coloured eyes, though - maybe I just love MAC 'Honeylove' too much? 

TUTORIAL - Singed Orange Smokey Eyes

Annabella of Skin Scrubs requested I do the makeup from the Appleton 'Don't Worry' video (it's a remix, but heck, none of you want to hear it anyway - trust me!) and I loved it. Orange is a really hot colour for Spring, and although smokey eyes are usually ditched in favour of something softer, I think the brown really works. Brown, plus orange, plus the peaches, pinks and creams of the season - what could go wrong?! I think this look would be great for parties and (fingers crossed) late night BBQs with friends.

Click the jump if you want to find out how to recreate this look!

Read more »

EOTD - MAC 'Steel Blue'

Just eyes today since my hair is wet and therefore I look a bit like Screech from 'Saved by the Bell' - not good! I wouldn't usually just post an eye without the face, but I had to show you how amazing 'Scatterrays' is...

I USED - UDPP, MAC 'Scatterrays' solar bits, MAC 'Steel Blue', Sassy Minerals 'Happy Hour', Sleek 'Bad Girl' palette dark blue, Urban Decay 'Peace' eyeliner, Kryolan white pencil eyeliner, Illamasqua gel sealer, mascara, random falsies.

'Scatterrays' is actually a peachy gold, but it has such a reflective pearly finish that it photographed as being more silvery. Doesn't it look like glitter, though?! The solar bits pigments are much chunkier than regular MAC pigments, so they apply as more of a scattering of colour, which is a gorgeous effect for a simple look. 

Have you got any solar bits pigments? What do you think of them?

FOTD - Easy Smokey Look with MAC 'Old Gold'

 MAC 'Old Gold' is quite possibly one of the most recognisable pigments out there. True, it has its dupes, I think there is a similar mica a good few indie companies use to make eyeshadows with the same green/ gold duochrome (usually called 'Aztec Gold' or the same 'Old Gold'). I can never really decide whether I really like it or not...over black it looks awesome, but on its own...hmm...I'm not quite sold.

[[ 'Old Gold' is the only true colour in this look - layering it over black eyeliner brings out the green duochrome ]]

[[ I should take the cash I'm NOT spending on cosmetics and finally buy new plugs! ]]

EYES - UDPP, E.L.F black cream eyeliner, MAC 'Old Gold', Sassy Minerals 'Understated', Urban Decay 'Zero', Natural Collection black pencil eyeliner random falsies, mascara.

FACE - Shu Uemura under base mousse, Collection 2000 'Matt + Minerals' foundation, Kryolan ultra foundation as concealer, Kryolan powder, Accessorize 'Bermuda' bronzer, Evil Shades 'Love Bite' blush, Sleek 'Peach' Glo palette.

LIPS - MAC 'Honeylove' lipstick, Taxi London 'Mile End' gloss.

It looks distinctly like I was going out in these pictures, doesn't it? Unfortunately I wasn't. I just went to the pub with my Dad, his mate and my boyfriend - then back home for curry and cake! I'm off to Bolton tomorrow for the uni tour, accommodation tour and presentation on media and computer graphics/ imaging. I'm not exactly sure what to expect - but I'm excited, I think it will really hit home that I'll be moving there at the end of the year!

What do you think of 'Old Gold'? What are you favourite duochrome eyeshadows?

FOTD - Sky Blue and 'That' Purple

A while ago on Twitter, I asked for some eyeshadow colour combination ideas. I'll admit, sometimes I just can't be bothered thinking for myself and you guys do a great job of doing it for me! Anyway, somebody suggested turquoise and purple (who was it?) and I thought immediately of one of my favourite eyeshadow combos...

EYES - UDPP, Nyx 'Milk' jumbo pencil, MAC 'Clear Sky Blue', MUFE 92, MAC 'Entremauve', Sassy Minerals 'Sensible Shoes', Kryolan liquid eyeliner, GOSH pencil eyeliner, random falsies, Sleek black, Sleek indigo, purple glitter.

FACE - Kryolan Ultra Foundation as concealer, Collection 2000 Matt + Minerals foundation, a mish mash of about five different blushes (no idea why), Kryolan powder.

LIPS - MAC 'Blankety' lippy, GOSH 'Darling' lippy, Taxi London 'Mile End' gloss

Aint sky blue and shocking purple just one of the best colour combinations ever in existance of the whole entire Universe? I think so. I hope I can buy a full size of MAC 'Clear Sky Blue' one day because it is hands down my favourite pigment!

Have you got a favourite MAC pigment? Or a favourite sky blue eyeshadow?

FOTD - Smog and Glitter

I felt a bit granny yesterday, sitting in an oversized cardigan, grey tights and hair scraped in to a bun. I thought, perhaps a bit of glitz and glam would make me feel more...me! This is a pretty 'every day with a bit more effort' look for me. Nothing like a hint of gold and some shimmer to make you feel more alive :)

EYES - UDPP, Darling Girl 'Calla', Darling Girl 'Cider', Urban Decay 'Smog', Sassy Minerals 'Understated', Darling Girl 'Tarnished', Yaby shell, Kryolan eyeliner, mascara.

FACE - Kryolan 'Ultra Foundation' as concealer, Collection 2000 'Matt + Minerals' foundation, Sleek 'Universal' powder, Topshop 'Nutmeg' blush.

LIPS - MAC 'Honeylove' lipstick, Taxi London 'Mile End' gloss.

When I hold my hair back in FOTD photos, I genuinely look like I'm trying to be cute or pose or something - I'm not, I just have the world's biggest side fringe haha. Word of warning on glittery eyeshadows - use a sticky base! I ended up with silver glitter over my face, which doesn't bother me, but I also got it in my eyes. Not good. Now I'm going to go and see if I can scavenge some of the orange cake my mum baked yesterday...

When do you wear glitter? As an 'everyday' thing, or just special occasions?

FOTD - The Devil Dressed in Blue

Well I believe the closing scene
Is being told so close to me
I'm having trouble getting sleep

The devil dressed in blue

Well after all the enemies

Staring back inside of me
I wrote a tune so it seems 
That convinced me to always sing 

EYES - UDPP, Gosh black eyeliner pencil, Venomous Cosmetics 'Sydney Harbour at Night', Venomous Cosmetics 'Centipede', Sassy Minerals 'Under Stated', MAC 'Vanilla' pigment

FACE - Kryolan 'Ultra Foundation' as concealer, Collection 2000 'Matt + Minerals' foundation, Kryolan powder, Shu Uemura 'Medium Peach' glow blush, Lancome bronzer

LIPS - A little bit of OCC 'Trick' lip tar

I woke up this morning with one of my favourite songs stuck in my head, 'The Devil Dressed in Blue' by Right Away, Great Captain. It's one of those slightly odd, simple, toe tapping kind of songs which puts you in a good mood - even if it doesn't have the cheeriest of lyrics. Maybe it's just because it reminds me of the drive to and from Leeds Festival last year...those were a wild few days! I urge you to all click the link and give it a listen, let me know what you think of it :)

FOTD - An Eyeful of Urchins

I felt like going a bit bright today before hopping off to town to get some photos printed and have a nosey around the shops :)

[[ I keep pulling out my eyelashes, something I do when I'm stressed, will hopefully stop after uni interviews! ]]

[[ I sorta love wearing purple since it matches my zebra plug! ]]

EYES - UDPP, NYX 'Milk' jumbo pencil, Venomous Cosmetics 'Sea Urchin', Venomous Cosmetics 'Purple People Eater', Venomous Cosmetics 'Centipede', Sassy Minerals 'Understated', Kryolan liquid eyeliner, mascara.

FACE - Kryolan Ultra Foundation (as concealer), Collection 2000 'Matt + Minerals' foundation, Kryolan powder, Ben Nye blush.

LIPS - OCC 'Hush' lip tar, MAC 'Honeylove' lipstick.

Venomous Cosmetics 'Sea Urchin' is SUCH a good dupe for Urban Decay 'Fishnet'. Both colours are hard to photograph well, though :/ 'Hush' is one of my newest lip tars and I'm not entirely sold on it yet...it sort of clashes with my skintone and I had to dab on some 'Honeylove' to make it work for me. I think it would suit paler, girls with pinker skin tones better.

What colours are you wearing today? Don't forget to vote in my poll to the left!

(P.S) Would anybody be interested in a post entirely of photos of things I've made/ drawn/ painted on my college course? None of it is amazing but it might be handy if you're looking to study art!