Long time no write!! I've had a busy summer, fall is shaping up to be much the same, and I have a TON of ideas and not a lot of time to actually share them. I'm working on it. Today, I thought I'd share with you a really easy, really classic, every day look that works great whether you're going to the office, out for a day with the girls, or out for evening with someone special. Really, this look goes from casual to dressy with nothing more than a lipstick choice. The finished look:
How did I get there? Here are the products I used for the complete look. I don't wear foundation daily, but if you do, that will be your first step!
From Left to Right: Smashbox Baked Fusion Softlights blush/bronzer, Benefit High Beam highlighter, Too Faced Shadow Insurance, Smashbox Brow Tech in Brunette, Urban Decay Naked3 Eyeshadow palette, Dior Diorshow Mascara in Catwalk Black, Benefit Eye Brights, Ardell false eyelashes in Black Wispies, Duo Eyelash Glue in Dark Tone, Makeup Forever Artist Palette Professional High-Intensity Eyeshadow in 518 Nude, Sephora Matte Shadow in °42 Strawberry Macaroon, and Smashbox Jet Set Waterproof Cream Eyeliner in Jet Black.
I always start with my eyebrows. I took my Smashbox Brow Tech and filled in my brows, first. Next, I took the Too Faced Shadow Insurance primer and used a concealer brush to swipe on the primer from brow to lash. We're not lining the bottom lash line, so no need to sweep primer underneath the bottom lashes. I then took the Smashbox Jet Set Eyeliner and created a subtle cat eye line by taking my flat eyeliner brush and putting it at the outside corner of my eye, perpendicular to the lash line, and sweeping line in, towards the inside of my eye, slowly rotating the brush parallel to my lashes as I went further in, creating a perfect tapered look. Thinner line on the inside of the eye, widening out to the corner, with a wing only as wide as the length of your eyeliner brush and not extending out, past the eye. We're going for a bold, strong line without being too dramatic.
Now for the eyeshadow. I started with Makeup Forever in 518 Nude. It's a light, slightly beigey pink, matte and perfect for fair skin tones. I used an eyeshadow brush to sweep color from lash to brow, ignoring the kind of triangle area immediately below the peak of my arch. Next, I took Mugshot from Urban Decay's Naked3 palette and swept it in just the crease and outside corner of my eye, concentrating on the crease. I finished it off by sweeping Sephora Strawberry Macaroon in that triangle area below the arch of my eyebrow, blending as I went to ensure a seamless look.
With the eyeshadow complete, it's time to finish the eyes. So I brushed two coats of Diorshow Mascara on top lashes only -- both side so the lashes, focusing on the roots, followed by Benefit Eye Brights drawn onto the water line of my eye to create a bright eye effect. Using the Duo Eyelash glue in Dark Tone to help emphasize the depth and bold darkness of the lash line, I applied my daily go-to lashes, Ardell Wispies in black.
I finished the overall look by highlighting under my eyes with Benefit High Beam and sweeping Smashbox Baked Fusion Softlights on the apples of my cheeks, up to the hairline at my temple, and on my T-zone. I was going to be smooching a sweet bee, so I skipped the lipstick.
However, a nude lip, either matte or glossy, would complete this look in a perfect, casual, daytime fashion. A bolder lip -- pink or even red -- could take this look to evening with style.
This look is something I actually wear quite a bit. While my personal preference is my bolder smoky eye look with full eyeliner, this is quick, easy, and always looks good. Plus, it basically matches every outfit! It's a great look when you hit the snooze button in the morning. :o)
I'm off to watch game 2 of the Giants in the NLCS and work on my newest obsession -- Origami Owl. I'll be posting a super quick post about that very soon!!
Stay Fancy!
