Dark Cut Out Cat Eye - Sweet Sixteen Ready!

1. To start this look off, I primed the eyes using MAC Prep and Prime in "Radiant Rose". This will keep moisture on the eyelids, so eyeshadows don't crease or wear off. As for an actual eyeshadow primer, I used LORAC's eyeshadow primer. 

2. For eyeshadows, I turned to the MAC's RiRi Smoked Cocoa quad. This was limited edition, but it has some gorgeous cool toned shadows in it! To give a transition shade all over the crease I used LORAC's "Taupe" from the LORAC Pro palette. Working in the crease, I started blending the grey shadow from the MAC RiRi quad. This is a matte mid-toned grey. I worked this all in the crease using a Sigma E40 brush. To deepen the crease, I grabbed the next darkest shade from the quad on a Sigma E25 brush and worked that only the in the crease, focusing in on the outer parts. I did not want this color pushed up or down, only in the crease. To give the look even more depth, I used the darkest shadow in the quad on a Sigma E30 brush. I applied this directly in the outer v. This gave the look more dimension than what it had before. I wanted to keep the cool-toned eye look going all over the lid. I picked up LORAC's "Slate" on a Sigma E55 and worked this all over the lid, but focusing it more on the center of the lid. To add a little sparkle, I grabbed MAC's "Vanilla" pigment. I applied it using a MAC 242 with MAC Fix Plus to the inner part of the eye, and blending it onto LORAC "Slate". It looked gorgeous!

3. After the shadows were placed, I lined the eyes using a black liquid eyeliner. For this look in particular, I used Maybelline Line Stilleto. I gave the liner a little flick up, to lift the eyes up even more. As for lashes and mascara, I used Maybelline Lash Stilleto mascara on the top lashes to prep for false eyelashes. As for false eyelashes, I used Red Cherry lashes #43. It gives a very full lash effect, which is perfect for a more dramatic look like this.

4. Moving onto the face makeup, I prepped the skin using MAC Fix Plus to hydrate the skin. To prime the skin, I used Korres Greek Yogurt primer. This will ensure the makeup lasts all night long. As for foundation, I used Covergirl 3 in 1 Outlast foundation in the shade "825". This is my favorite drugstore foundation. It gives a satin finish, with full coverage, which I love for night outs! I applied this foundation using a Sigma F80 brush. Once the foundation was buffed into the skin, I started to highlight the face. For a highlight, I used MAC Prolongwear concealer in "NW15". I placed this under the eyes- going all the way back to the temples, on the bridge of the nose, forehead, chin, corners of the mouth, and along the jawline. This liquid highlight will bring these features foreword, that could be lost with such a dark eye look. To blend this highlight I used a Sigma F86 brush.

5. To set all of the liquids in place, I used the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit. I used the shade "Vanilla" on a Sigma F25 brush to set all of the liquid highlights in place. To contour the face I used the shade "Fawn" on a Sigma F05 brush. I placed the contour shade in the natural contours of the face- along the hairline, jawline, down the neck, and in the hollows of the cheekbones. This will really help emphasize certain features of the face. As for blush, I applied MAC's "Melba" on the apples of the cheeks, going back towards the temples. To highlight the tops of the cheekbones, I applied a tiny bit of MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish in "Soft and Gentle". 

6. Madi has great brows without doing much work. I lightly filled them in with Anastasia Beverly Hills' Brow Wiz in "Ash". This will bring a little more definition to the brow area. To set the brows in place, I used a clear brow gel.

7. Going back to the eyes, I lined the lower waterline with a black kohl liner. This makes the eyes pop even more. I highlighted the brow bone using the shade "Cream" from the LORAC Pro palette on a Sigma E55 brush. I finished the eyes off with one last coat of mascara on the tops and bottoms, to blend the false eyelashes.

8. As for lips, we wanted to keep it more toned down since the eyes are so dramatic. I used a little bit of MAC "Hue" with MAC "Pure Zen". It gave the perfect creamy formulation, so she didn't need a gloss with it!

9. To ensure the makeup will last all night, I sprayed her entire face using the Model in a Bottle makeup setting spray in the sensitive skin formula. 

As you can see for yourself, this cut crease looked gorgeous on her eye shape. It really lifted her eyes, with the right amount of shadows. The highlights on the face really brought her cheekbones forward. I loved how this look turned out, and of course, I loved working with Madi. She always puts her full trust into my work! XO!

Classic Red Lip - Sweet Sixteen Ready!

1. To start the eyes I used MAC Prep and Prime in "Raiant Rose" all over the eyelid, followed by the LORAC eyeshadow primer. I taped the side of her eye to give a crisp, cat eye look. All of the shadows used in this look were from the LORAC Pro palette. I began working the shade "Taupe" into the crease on a Sigma E40 brush. I took the color "Sable" on a Sigma E25 brush and worked that directly into the crease, to give it a darker look. Once both shadows were blended out, I grabbed "Expresso" on a Sedona Lace EB15. I worked this shadow in the outer v. It gave the cat eye a darker look. Once the darker shadows were blended, I took the shade "Cream" and put it all over the remainder of the lid using a Sigma E55 brush, and I also highlighted the brow bone with this shade. To kick the look up a notch, I applied NYX pigment in the shade "Iced Mocha" all over the center of the eyelid. This will draw more attention to the middle of the eyes.

2. To line the eyes, I used a black kohl liner and smudged it out with the shade "Black" from the LORAC Pro palette. I tight lined the upper and lower waterline using L'Oreal Voluminous eyeliner. I prepped the lashes for false eyelashes with the Covergirl Clump Crusher mascara. After a few coats, I applied Red Cherry lashes in "43". 

3. To start prepping the face for makeup, I misted her with MAC Fix Plus all over. Once that dried, I applied Korres Greek Yogurt primer all over. This helps the longevity of the makeup. For foundation I used Makeup Forever Matte Velvet Plus. She has combination to oily skin, so this is a great full coverage foundation. To apply the foundation I used a Sigma F80 brush. To highlight the face I used MAC Prep and Prime in "Light Boost" on the bridge of the nose, forehead, chin, corners of the mouth, and jawline. This will bring these features forward. To highlight under the eyes I used MAC Prolongwear in "NW20". To blend the highlights out I used a Sigma F86 brush.
4. To set all of the liquids in place I used the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit. I mixed the shades "Banana" and "Vanilla" on a Sigma F25 brush and applied it to all of the places I had highlighted with liquid, including the under eye area. To contour the face I used the shades "Havanna" and "Fawn" on a Sigma F05 brush. I placed the contours along the hair line, jawline, down the neck, and in the hollows of the cheeks. As for blush, I wanted to keep it somewhat neutral so I used MAC "Peaches" on a MAC 168 brush. I blended this into the contour. As for a highlight on top of the cheekbones, I used MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in "Soft and gentle".
5. Naturally, Sierra has great eyebrows. We lost them a little bit with all of the liquids and powders, so to redefine them I used the Anastasia Brow Wiz in "Brunette". I lightly filled them in, and then set them with a clear brow gel.
6. As for lips, Sierra loves her bold lips. She is a huge fan of dark, red lips. We wanted to switch up shades and formulations of what she regularly wears. First, I lined her lips using MAC lip liner in "Cherry", and filled them in half way. This will ensure no bleeding from the lipstick. For lipstick I used, Lime Crime's "Glamour 101". It was the perfect dark red, with a great creamy formulation. It didn't dry the lips out at all. I set the lips with a translucent powder.
7. Going back to the eyes, I worked a tiny bit of the color "Sable" and "Taupe" on a Sigma E30 onto the lower lash line. I needed to balance the top shadows out. Next, I lined her eyes with the kohl liner, and finished her off with some bottom mascara.
8. To set all of the makeup in place, I used Model in a Bottle setting spray in the sensitive skin formulation. This will ensure a full night's wear of the makeup.

I LOVE how this look came out! We went into it without any ideas, but just made it work with bouncing ideas off of one another. I always love working with my clients because each one is awesome, but Sierra is always a blast to work with! She looked beautiful with this classic red lip look. XO!

The Original Naked: Prom Edition

Over this past weekend I had the opportunity of meeting Savannah, and doing her makeup for her for her prom. I had such a great time hanging out with her, and getting to know her better! Can we just pause to admire her gorgeous, blue eyes?! So stunning- just like her! Quick disclaimer: The lighting with these photos and makeup makes the makeup look very yellow toned- which it did NOT in person! Let's break this look down...

1. Starting with the eyes, I primed the eyelids with MAC Prep and Prime in "Radiant Rose" and Tarte 24 hour Creaseless primer. This locked in moisture to the eyelids while guaranteeing the eye makeup to last all night long. All of the eyeshadows I used for this look were from the Naked 1 palette and Naked Basics palette. To start the look of the eyeshadows I took the shade "Naked" from the Naked 1 palette all in the crease on a Sigma E40 brush. To begin darkening the crease I took "Buck" from the Naked 1 palette on a Sigma E25 and worked that directly into the crease without pushing the color up or down. I wanted it to stay directly in the crease. To drawl even more attention to her blue eyes, I took "Half Baked" from the Naked 1 palette on a Sigma E55 and applied it all over the lid. To give the eye even more dimension I applied some MAC Fix Plus with the shade "Half Baked" and applied it just to the center of the eyelid. To highlight the brow, I mixed "WOS" and "Foxy" from the Naked Basics palette on another Sigma E55. 

2. After the majority of the shadows were done I tight lined using the L'Oreal Voluminous Smoldering eyeliner in black. As for liquid eyeliner I used L'Oreal Infallible Super Slim eyeliner in black to line her upper lash line. I applied a coat of L'Oreal Voluminous mascara and then applied false eyelashes. I used Ardell Demi Wispie lashes for this makeup look. It gives a natural, but glamorous look. After the glue dried I applied another coat of mascara to the tops and bottoms of the lashes.

3. To prime the skin for makeup, I applied Korres Greek Yogurt primer all over the skin using a MAC 188 brush. The primer allows a smoother application of makeup, and a longer wear of the makeup. As for foundation, I wanted something that would have a full coverage, with a natural, satin finish. Savannah has combination skin, so I didn't want to use anything with a dewy finish nor a matte finish. The happy medium is the satin finish. For this particular look I used Covergirl 3 in 1 foundation in the shade "825". This is my favorite satin finish, full coverage foundation. It works with all skin types. I applied the foundation with a Simga F80. By pressing the fountain into the skin with the brush, then buffing it out, gives the best coverage. To conceal anymore blemishes, I used BH Cosmetics concealer palette with a duo fibre brush. 

4. Moving onto highlighting and contouring the face... As for a liquid highlighter, I used MAC Prep and Prime in the shade "Light Boost". I applied this highlighter on the bridge of the nose, the forehead, the cupid's bow, the chin, the corners of the mouth, and along the jawline. This was all blended out using a Sigma F86. To highlight under the eyes, I used MAC Prolongwear in "NW15". This was also blended out with a Sigma F86. To set the liquid highlights in place, I used the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit. I mixed the shades "Vanilla" and "Banana" on a Sigma F25 brush. I applied this powder wherever I placed the liquid highlights. For contouring, I used the same contour kit. I picked up the shade "Fawn" on a Sigma F05. I placed the contour around the hairline of the forehead, the hollows of the cheekbones, on the jawline, and down the neck.

5. To add more color back into the face I applied MAC's blush in "Melba" to the apples of the cheeks in a backwards motion with a MAC 168. Since Melba is a matte blush, I wanted to give more dimension to the face so I grabbed MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in "Soft and Gentle" and applied that to the tops of the cheekbones.

6. Going back to the eyes, I wanted to deepen the outer V and work some shadows in the under eye area. I used the color "Faint" from the Naked Basics palette in the outer V on a Sigma E30. I took the same shade under the eye on the lash line. This gives the look a smokier effect. I finished by tight lining the lower waterline with the L'Oreal Voluminous Smoldering eyeliner in black.

7. As for eyebrows, we lost them a little bit with all of the liquids and powders. I lightly defined them using the Anastasia Brow Wiz in "Ash". I set the brow hairs in place using Benefit's Brow Gel in "Light/medium". 

8. To keep the look minimal, we went for a nude lip. I applied MAC's "Snob" and set it with a tissue and translucent powder. To finish the lips off, I topped it with MAC lipglass in "The Wee Coquette". 

9. Once all of the makeup was done, and Savannah was happy with how it looked I set the makeup in place. I used Model in a Bottle's Sensitive Formula setting spray to complete the look. 

Savannah looked absolutely stunning! I had a great time getting to know her better, too. I look forward to working with her again sometime in the future. Until then- XO!