Cut Crease Eyeshadow Tutorial for Asian Hooded Eyes!!!

So, as promised, here is the cut crease makeup tutorial on the look I did last week. 

Enjoy!!!

 One more thing!!!  Don't know if you realized, but I had a hair cut this weekend!!!

 I found a wonderful hair salon and hairstylist in London.  It's a place called B:Zar.   Now I don't have to wait until I return to Singapore for a hair cut.  It's a Japanese hair salon and every single stylist in there is Japanese.  I find that it's really important for me to have my hair cut by a stylist that understands Asian hair really well, and one that understand Asian trends!!  Exactly one year in London and I've found my place!!!

Makeup over 50!!!

My mom is visiting me for a month and just like me, she never leaves home without makeup!  However, she's been doing the same look day in and day out for years.  Unlike many women her age who have not moved on from the makeup they were comfortable with in their 20s and 30s, my mom has moved on and experimented with current colours and products.  However, she is reaching a new period in life and a new look is in need.

As young women, we have bright, firm skin and thick, bouncy hair that's full of life and colour.  As we age, our hair gets thinner, some of us become grayer than others and women within certain cultures start covering up their heads with a scarf.  Many women hide behind their long, luscious hair in their youth, but when you no longer can depend on your crowning glory, it's time to glam up your look with makeup!!!

I'm not saying you should wear more makeup as you age.  In fact, less is best in order to look younger.  Foundation should remain light and sheer but play up your eyes as they are the most noticeable feature on your face. 

Neutral tones are great for keeping the eyes natural, but add a little smokey effect to make your eyes stand out more.  As for brighter colours, there is one I believe works for everyone and it's purple.  There are so many shades of purple to choose from.  They range from pale lilacs for cool skin tones to deep, dark purples for warmer skin tones. 

Now, back to my mom!!  She is considering embracing the tradition of wearing a head scarf.  Without being able to glam up her look with her hair, I suggested wearing a bit more makeup on the eyes!!!! A little goes a long way and I replaced her usual brown or purple eyeliner with black and added a darker corner to her single eyeshadow look.  For a natural look, I suggested pairing up MAC Beauty Marked to her usual MAC Trax.

Here's a look at my mom's look before and after. 

Before

After

Mom's efforts on her own!!!

As you can see, it's still pretty simple but her eyes have a little more pop to them!! 

This whole idea of playing up your makeup can be applied whether you are an older woman starting to thin, cover up your hair or you're a young woman who has decided on a short pixie cut and even a shaved head. 

When the focus is now mostly on your face, don't be afraid to play it up with makeup!!!

Bronze Summer Look

Summer is here (well, in some parts of the world except for the UK) and there's nothing better than soaking up the sun and ridding yourself of that pale winter skin.  If you live in a place, like the UK, where summer doesn't necessarily mean warm weather and sunshine, there's always makeup to fake a beautiful, flushed, summer look.

When I say faking a a summer look, I'm not talking about a fake tan.  All you need to get that summer glow are the right eyeshadow colours and a bronzer to replace your usual blusher.

Use bronze or rust coloured eyeshadows with some browns that have a bit of shimmer and definitely use a bronzer on your cheeks.  These colours will give you a very natural look.  Summer makeup should always be light and natural.

My favourites for the summer are MAC eyeshadow in Mythology paired with MAC eyeshadow in Mulch.  Use Mythology as your main colour.  Mulch, as it is the darker of the two, should be used on your corners.  Blend the colours out really well as you want them to look as natural as possible.  Go easy on the eyeliner and opt for a pencil liner on the upper lashline only.  Naturally enchance your bottom lashline by adding mascara to the bottom lashes.

As for your bronzer, use it on your cheeks as you would with your blush but brush just a teeny tiny bit of it on your chin, nose and forehead.  This will give you a beautiful summer glow.  I'm using MAC Bronzer in Refined Golden. 

Opt for a terracotta shade of lipstick or something peachy to complement the look.  I'm using Revlon Lipbutter in Macaron. 


Important Tip:

Don't over do the bronzer as you can appear too have too much of a fake tan.  Applying it all over your face like you would a powder will give you an overly bronze look or make your face look dirty.

Apologies for Incorrect Colour Listed in My Previous Post!!!

Hi Everyone!!!

I just wanted to apologize for listing an incorrect colour name for the blue eyeshadow I used in the previous blog post.  It's MAC eyeshadow in Blue Edge...NOT...Satellite Dream!!!!

Naturally Green!!!

Common eyeshadow colours we tend to play with are usually, pink, purple, blue, brown and silver.  These are pretty safe colours that go well with many different skin tones.  Green is not a colour we use very often.  We usually think green is a very bold colour that should only be reserved for a big night out, or for the very brave.  However, the right shade of green can look pretty natural and appropriate for a day out or for work.

I've used 3 different shades of green to give you an example of how natural it can be.

1) L'Oreal Infallible eyeshadow in Permanent Khaki
2) Makeup Forever eyeshadow in 57
3) Makeup Forever eyeshadow in 93

Permanent Khaki paired with MAC eyeshadow in Mulch

Apologies that the Permanent Khaki looks silver but it's actually a deep shade of khaki green

Permanent Khaki paired with MAC eyeshadow in Electra

Makeup Forever in 57 and 93

So there you go, three different combinations of green, all with a very natural finish.  The last look has a surprisingly pastel finish and is perfect for a spring look. 

You never know how the colours are gonna look like on you.  If you're in a makeup store and love a colour you see, ask a makeup artist to try it out on you rather than just testing it out on your hands.  It may look more natural on your eyes than it does in the pot. 

Playful Eyeliners!!!!

A fun and young look that's super trendy is the single line of coloured eyeliner on your eyes paired with a black or brown mascara.  It's a great look for teens and girls in their early 20s for everyday wear.  For those of us who are a little older, we can pull this look off too but stick with more conservative colours like deep purple and blue.  This is a great way to give your eyes a little pop of colour when you have no time to fuss with eyeshadow. 

I used a deep purple/plum pencil eyeliner from MAC.  This is the most flattering colour for any age and any skin tone. 

I used a blue pencil liner from Makeup Forever's Aqua Eyes line.  Blue is a great, eye catching colour.  It can be a little daring depending on the shade of blue you pick but it will brighten up your eyes for sure.  For girls who generally do wear blue eyeshadow, this is a great substitute for those mornings you just couldn't get out of bed early enough to do the whole works. 

I used Illamasqua medium pencil in Torment.  Yes, this pinkish red is a little unconventional but I just wanted to show how you youngsters out there can play around with the range of colours available. Try out some, pink, green, gold, silver orange etc.  It's fun and easy and while you are in your teens and early 20s, you may as well take advantage of the fact that you can get away with this type of playfulness.


So where can you find a fantastic range of coloured eyeliners?

Illamasqua has amazing colour pencils in all shades and sizes for use on your eyes, face, lips and body.   They have a smooth texture that glides on your skin beautifully.

MAC fluidliner is another great option.  I have one in Blacktrack but it comes in a wide range of colours.  Use an angled brush to apply it.  It will give you the best control!!

Makeup Forever has a range of super waterproof pencil eyeliners that come in a range of fun colours.  The Aqua Eyes pencil liner in blue is one of my beach vacation must-haves.

Favourite Makeup Pros and Cons

You've probably noticed from all the different blog entries I've done, that there are several makeup products I use over and over again.  I do indeed have my favourites but just like anything in this world, nothing is perfect...well...almost nothing.  Some things do come close to perfect but even those have their pros and cons.  Here's a list of my absolute favourites and the good and bad about each one. 

K-Palette 1 Day Tattoo Real Lasting Eyeliner

Pros:  Provides great control when doing fine lines and great control overall.  Lasts all day long and has a perfect, jet black liquid liner look.

Cons:  Not as waterproof as the name indicates it should be.  When it comes in contact with rain, tears or any type of water, it doesn't just smudge...it runs!!!!


MAC Duo Fibre Brush

Pros:  Spreads my foundation evenly whether it's liquid or powder.  Helps to achieve a beautiful, natural finish with great coverage.

Cons:  I do take care of my brushes but this one seems to shed easily.  In fact, there's always a hair or two left on my face after using this brush. 


Missha Perfect M BB Cream

Pros:  It has a wonderful texture and gives great coverage with a very natural finish that lasts all day.

Cons: Not dark enough when I've been out in the sun and I'm more tanned than usual.


Majorlica Majorca Glam Lash Mascara and Maybeline Volume Express Cat Eyes

Pros:  Both create thick, clumpless lashes that lasts all day.  They are extremely waterproof, don't smudge and are the mascara I like to use when I'm at the beach.

Cons:  Incredibly difficult to remove even with the best eye makeup removers.


MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus 

Pros:  Works great when layering with other liquid foundations for maximum staying power.  It's also really easy to apply.

Cons:  On its own, it doesn't last all day on my oily skin. 


MAC Paintpot

Pros:  It's a great cream shadow that lasts all day.  It works great as a base under powder eyeshadow and makes it last even longer. 

Cons:  The product gets dry after some time and becomes a little hard to extract from the container. 


And finally here's the one product I have absolutely ZERO complaints about!!!

MAC Powder Eyeshadow

This is my ultimate favourite and what I think many people would agree, the best quality eyeshadow!!!!  Even on oily lids it doesn't get into your creases.  It lasts all day long and has great build-able colour intensity.

If there's a product you use that you have absolutely no complaints about, let me know what it is!!!  I'm always interested in trying out makeup products that have great reviews.  

Beauty Makeover #1

I've had plans to do several makeovers and post them on my blog!  Last night, I finally managed to get one makeover done.  I did my friend Anita's makeup for the Asian party we went to and I'd like to share the makeover with you!

Anita's Makeup Profile:
Anita likes to keep things simple and she rarely wears makeup.  In fact, I think she never wore makeup until recently, but only when she's going to a party. 

What I Did:
Because Anita has amazing eyes I wanted them to stand out a little more.  I used a dark brown colour on her eyelids and a dark blue (MAC eyeshadow in Contrast) in her corners and creases.  I love a thicker liner on Indian eyes so I tried that out on her.  She used a deep brownish red lipstick which I think matches her skin tone perfectly. 

Here's the makeover!!! 

without makeup

with makeup

I think she looks good either way but the look with makeup is certainly more fitting for a night out!!!  And, it seems to have made her quite a hot commodity at last night's party!!!!

All About Eyeliners!!

You're probably wondering why there are so many eyeliners out there and what the difference is between all of them.  Is it just a matter of giving consumers a variety of choices or do all these eyeliners really work differently?  I actually have several types of eyeliners, having started off my makeup escapades with just eyeliner and experimenting over the years to find ones that worked best for my oily eyelids. 

So here is the breakdown of eyeliners out there, with some categories having even more variety!!! 

LIQUID
Variety: Felt tip pen, thin and soft brush in a bottle or tube, thin and firm brush in a bottle or tube, waterproof, regular

Best used for creating very defined line with or without a prominent wing tip.  Liquid liners with firmer brushes are great for making finer lines as they provide great control.

PENCIL
Variety: Khol, waterproof, regular, smudgeproof, comes in a wide range of colours

Best for creating a smokey look.  You can purposely smudge this type of eyeliner.  A pencil liner creates lines with softer edges.  It can help to create a casual and edgy look.  It comes in a variety of colours and in my opinion is the most versatile of all the eyeliners available.  Pencil liners can be used to line the eyes, work great as an eyeshadow base and can be used to line both your upper and lower waterline. 

GEL
Variety: In colour mostly

It is smudge-proof and great for oily eyelids.  Great for creating classic looks (from the 50s and 60s) with medium line thickness.

Apply with an angled brush to create a sharp, angled wing tip. 

CAKE
Variety: Not much variety and usually available in brown and black

This has been around for a long time. In my opinion, it's probably the hardest to master and has the least amount of staying power.  It's almost like a water colour paint and requires a wet brush to work the product.  The lines created are similar to that of a gel liner but I find the colour intensity usually quite disappointing.

Unfortunately I also can't show you how it looks as I don't own one of these!!!  I had one 10 years ago from makeup school but I'm not a big fan and there are much better products to work with these days. 

I recommend a pencil for the absolute beginner and a firm brush tip liquid eyeliner for slightly more advanced beginners!!! 

My favourite pencil eyeliners are Diorshow waterproof eyeliner and Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes eyeliner.
My favourite liquid liners are K-Palette 1 Day Tattoo Real Lasing Eyeliner and L'Oreal Superliner.
My favourite gel liner is MAC Fluidliner. 

Frosty Friday!!!!

It's finally Friday and it's a cold one!!!  I was sitting in my apartment freezing my butt off and somehow just got inspired by the cold winter day!  Here's a look inspired by this Frosty Friday!!!  It's a little more dramatic than usual, but take away the bottom lashes and I think you might be able to get away with it on a night out on the town!!!  Enjoy!!!

Here's a closer look at the eyes!!!

What I used:

FACE: Missha Perfect M BB Cream in 31, Covergirl stick concealer in , Benefit Cosmetics Watt's Up, MAC contour powder in Shadester, Covergirl loose translucent powder in medium

EYES: Covergirl stick conealer in 710 , Sephora eyeliner in white, MAC eye shadows in Blue Edge and Tilt, Ros n Roy eyeshadow in a silvery white (no name), 17 eyebrow pencil in natural brown, Dior Show waterproof pencil eyeliner in black, Makeup Forever Aqua eyes eyeliner in blue, K-Palette 1 Day Tattoo Real Lasting Eyeliner 24 Hr in black, Rimmel Max Volume Flash mascara in black, criss cross eyelashes, end piece of a drug store brand false eyelash set

CHEEKS: MAC eyeshadow in Electra (to just give some added metallic shimmer)

LIPS: Dior Addict lip gloss in 257

Getting the Right Shade!!!!

Just a quick one to let you know that if you have difficulty finding the right colour foundation, go from tanned to fair during the different seasons or totally love the coverage a BB Cream gives you but are a little bit too dark for the range, you can always mix two colours or two products. 

I like to mix my Missha Perfect M BB Cream in 31 with MAC Studio Fix Fluid in 45.  I find that being in London I've become very pale (yes I'm still tanned but paler than what I'm used to) and the BB Cream sort of blends in with my natural skin tone.  So I end up with a face fairer than what I like.  By mixing a darker foundation with the BB Cream, I get a great BB Cream finish in a shade that suits me better!!!!

Basic Eyeshadow Application!

I realized after blogging about two different looks, for those who are fairly new to makeup, I should probably explain some basic eyeshadow application techniques.  I keep writing reminders to use darker colours on the outer corners and lighter colours in the inner corners and BLEND!  But what does all this really mean??  This may clear things up a little.

STEP 1:
After applying your eyeshadow primers (I like MAC Prep and Prime with paintpot over it) over the entire surface of your eyelids, the first colour you should apply is your medium base colour.  Apply it over the eyelid but stop at where you feel the bone of your eye socket.

STEP 2:
Blend to soften the hard edges!

STEP 3:
Apply the darkest colour to the outer corners of your eyes!

STEP 4:

Blend to soften the hard edges and to fade it into the first colour!

STEP 5:
Apply the lightest colour on the inner corners of the eyes, just above your lashes, right on the corners and right below the lower lash line.

STEP 6:
Blend to soften the hard edges!

STEP 7:
Apply the same light colour as you did in the inner corners but this time on your brow bone, just below your eyebrows!

STEP 8:
That's right!!!  Blend to soften the hard edges and to let it fade into the colour below it so that all the colours now melt together!

STEP 9:
Almost there!!!  This is what it looks like all together!

STEP 10:
Apply eyeliner, mascara and eyebrow pencil!  Voila!!!  You are done!!!!

Important tips: 

1) You can apply this technique to any colour combination you choose!!!

2) CLEAN UP YOUR EYEBROWS, it'll look so much nicer.  I know...I'm so in need of an eyebrow cleanup myself!!!