Autumn/Winter Smokey Eye for Hazel/Brown Eyes

My Dearest Beauties,

Plums and dark warm browns are really in this season. They are not only beautiful colors to use for a smoldering smokey eye but they are also very flattering against hazel and brown eyes. If you have been reading my blog for a long time you may have seen my lovely cousin in a previous makeup pictorial, see it here. So, without further due, I am going to try to explain the steps to achieving this look.

I started off by applying Clinique's Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup, concentrating on the center of the face and diffusing it with my fingers to the edges and neck. I concealed the under eye circles and highlighted the cheekbones, bridge of the nose, center of the forehead chin and cupid's bow with Maybelline's DreamLumi Touch Highlighting Concealer. I don't rub this on the skin but I rather tap it away until it is undetectable. Applying a highlighting concealer helps to sculpt and lift the face which gives more dimension. I set all of that liquid makeup with translucent powder in order to keep the face as fresh as possible. My favorite is Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre applied with Real Technique's Blush Brush.

The key to a great eye makeup is layering. I like to start off by applying a creamy or gel type product. For that I heat the tip of my Dali pencil in Electric Mauve just a tiny bit with a kitchen lighter. This transforms it into a gel that will easily glides onto the eyelid without having to tug or pull on this delicate area. Once I apply it on the eyelid and lower lash line, I blend the edges with the warmth of my fingertips. I then pack the lovely and matte MaxFactor Mono Eye Shadow in Dark Plum #8 using an Ecotools flat shadow brush. Once again, blend, blend, blend. I love to line the upper and lower waterline of the eye with an intense Dali Black Pencil. The combination of the glittery and shimmery base with the matte shadow gives a dimensional and interesting finish to the eyes.

I take the lightest eyeshadow color in the Benefit's Cabana Glama palette and apply it to the inner corner of the eyes to bring light and open them up. I, then, use the Real Technique's Duo Fibre Eye Brush with Hoola bronzer from the same palette and blend it just over the plum color to wrap the smokey eye up and make the lovely Lorena almost look like she was born with a smokey eye on.  I also go in with the the Real Technique Duo Fibre Contour brush with Hoola again, this time I use it along the hair line, a little on the temples and on the sides of the nose to warm Lorena's complexion up.

To finish the skin off I use a very fresh and shimmery blush, on the cheeks blending it up towards the temples, from Benefit called Coralista using again a Real Techniques Duo Fiber Face Brush. Duo fiber brushes are great because they allow you to build up color slowly which helps you avoid applying too much product. Remember that it is easier to put more that to take off.

I then go on and fill in the lips with this amazing Seventeen lip pencil and then add a little shine with Dior's clear gloss. Last but not least, is L'oreal Lash Architect Waterproof Mascara on the top and bottom lashes. A smokey eye calls for a LOT of mascara. I didn't show it, but I did use some Samoa Clear mascara on the eyebrows to ensure they are not moving around.

This last picture was taken with the camera's flash on to see if the makeup passes the picture test. Help me be the judge. Tell me what you think on the comments below.

Remember that you can use any products that you have at home to achieve this look. In case you are to buy any of these, know that I only use my trusted products for makeup pictorials. I hope you found this fun and useful.

Much love,

Samar

No Makeup Makeup Pictorial

My Dearest Beauties,

We all need that makeup look to resort to when we are in a hurry or maybe when we simply do not feel like putting in the effort. This makeup is even useful for school, work, a flying day,  a picnic, and for a day-to-day basis. It is a pick me up look, so that you won't look like you just got out of bed and hit the road. This look will make you look put together and to the eyes of many, it will look like you are not wearing any makeup at all, hence the name.

1. Start off with a clean face that already has all the skin care on (moisturizer, sun screen, eye lotion, wrinkle treatment, whatever it is you use).
2. Conceal. I use the Benefit Boi-ing concealer in shade # 03 under my eyes to conceal the circles. Note that I don't go all around the eye because I use the natural pigment of my upper lid as a shadow. Use the same concealer to hide any blemishes or undesired pigmentation. Make sure to blend away the edges with the use of your fingers or brushes.
3. Powder. I use stay-matte sheer pressed powder oil free by Clinique all over my face. As the name implies this powder intends to mattify your face without adding tons of coverage. I use it to set my concealer (having oily skin I don't want the cream concealer to move around and crease) and to give my complexion a more evened out look. I apply powder with a Ecotools brush.
4. Eyebrows. Don't ever forget to give your eyebrows some love, remember they not only frame your eyes but also your face; so if you are not naturally blessed with perfectly shaped brows then go ahead and give your eyebrows a little filling. I use Seventeen Longstay Eyebrow Shaper in shade 90. 
5. Mascara. I use one coat of Maybelline The Collossal Volum' Express Waterproof first and then I go ahead with Dali Vibralash, both in black. This combo gives me volume, length and separation; which results in flirty and fluttery lashes without going OTT (over the top).
6. Blush. Blush makes you look healthy and glowy, I use a natural but satin shade on my cheeks by Chanel, 99 Rose Petale. I apply blush with an Ecotools brush.
7. Lips. Finish off with a Lip Maximizer Collagen Activ by Dior. This will give your lips a nice shine, moisture and a cool plumping effect.

Now, you are all done, this literally takes me under ten minutes. It doesn't require any extravagant makeup skills and it will make you look awake, healthy and radiant. You don't need to use these same products, I just share them with you because these are the most trusted products in my makeup collection. For something like a no makeup makeup always go with your most trusted products, because you know that they won't let you down.

If only I looked like that when I wake up every morning! Thank goodness a little bit of makeup can do a lot. Tell me what you think of this look in the comments.

Much Love,

Samar

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Summer Day Time Foundation Routine

My Dearest Beauties,

Foundation routines in the summer get tricky. We have so many layers to think of and so much heat to melt them all off. The trick is minimizing layers and using multi-tasking products. Another very important tip is to never forget to set your foundation with a good oil absorbing powder. These steps will prolong the life of your makeup thus making you look flawless for longer. Stay oil free and with a beautiful complexion. Use a good moisturizer before hand and let it sit for at least 10 minutes, give your skin time to absorb it and interact with it. Like I've mentioned before, moisturizer will not only give life and flexibility to your skin but it will also allow the products to glide on it like a dream.

Products used:

Vichy Normaderm Moisturizer 

Eucerin Sun Fluid SPF 50+ Mattifying

Makeup Forever Full Cover Concealer

Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre

Clinique Stay Matte Sheer Pressed Powder

Mac Fix+

Start by using a tinted sun protection. This is crucial for maintaining youthful skin that is sun spot free and unified by the tint. Dot it all over your face, do not shy away! You need to protect your skin. Then rub it in in circular motions all over your face and down your neck. Rub it in till the fluid unifies and covers all spots on your skin.Use your concealer to hide under eye circles or any blemishes that were not covered by the tinted sun fluid. Right after that comes setting your under eye concealer and face. For my eyes I use the technique used in my previous post of how to stop mascara from smudging. For your face use a powder puff to press the powder onto your face. It is very important that you do not rub in the powder with a brush or a sponge. When you press the powder in, instead of brushing it on, you will not only set the liquid products but you will not move them around therefore uncovering what is supposed to be covered. Apply a bit of bronzer and blusher to your preference and spray it all with Mac Fix+ to make all the powders look less powdery and more like skin. There you go! All done!

This is the finished look with the rest of my makeup on.

Enjoy protected and flawless skin all day all summer long!

Leave your comments below! Tell me what you think when your try it!

Bisous,

Samar