Hey, celebutantes! Remember the Benefit holiday 2009 kits from a few weeks back? This morning I felt like playing with ‘em, so for my look today I put Celebutante and Powderazzi to work (along with some goodies from Benefit’s permanent line).

I wasn’t feeling too coordinated (observe my birdsnesty hair), so I went with an easy pewter eye that didn’t require a ton of blending, pairing it with a plum lip — which initially seemed like a good idea but didn’t turn out great judging by these pics, LOL! Once I eat my lipstick off, I’ll probably change to something more neutral.

What makeup are you wearing on this terrific Tuesday?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. If you’d like to see a tutorial featuring this look, hit me up in the comments!

If you’re feeling blue about Homecoming, you’re not the only one. The color’s been a popular choice this season for formals and dances.

MBB reader Cheyda is looking for makeup ideas to go with her blue dress.

Hi Karen!

I am going to my first formal dance (homecoming) in about a week.

I’m wearing a navy strapless dress with my hair down, and I have NO idea what makeup to wear.

I want it to be kind of dramatic, but not too out there. Plus, it needs to stay put.

Any suggestions as far as colors and brands?

Thanks a bunch!

Cheyda

Hi Cheyda,

How exciting! Dances are so much fun. Not only do you get to play dress up, but they’re also great opportunities to try new makeup looks.

It sounds like you want to be noticed without looking overly done. I got you.

Before we get into details, here are some things to consider:

Photography. Chances are you’ll be in some pictures, so you’ll want makeup that looks good in photos. When I do makeup for pictures, I wear a little more than I normally would. Natural, everyday-type looks, those done with a very light hand, can look washed out under flash photography.

Leading up to Homecoming, take a few practice swings at your look. Go from start to finish and ask friends or family (or use your camera’s shutter timer) to snap some test pictures with the flash. It’ll give you time to adjust your technique before the dance.

Long-wear products. If you plan to dance the night away, you’ll want your makeup to last, so primers, waterproof formulas and long-wear products (like lipsticks vs. gloss) are musts. Layering also helps increase wear time.

To go with your navy dress. I’m thinking a shimmery purplish blue smokey eye with pinkish nude lips and a sheer, matte pink cheek. What do ya think? I can see it now… The colors should pop without looking to matchy-matchy or melodramatic.

What you’ll need

1. A shimmery peachy eye primer like Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Sin ($17)
2. A shimmery golden beige shadow with glitter like Urban Decay Eyeshadow Midnight Cowboy Rides Again ($16)
3. A long-wear, shimmery blue eye pencil like Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Binge ($36, part of the Super Stash set)
4. A shimmery purplish blue eyeshadow like Urban Decay Deluxe Eyeshadow in Frigid ($18)
5. A black eye pencil like Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero ($17)
6. A waterproof mascara like Stila Lash Visor in Black ($12.50)
7. A sheer matte pink blush like Chanel Joues Contrastes in Rose Dust ($40)
8. A nude lip liner like MAC Cremestick Pearl Liner in Gingerroot ($14.50)
9. A nude lipstick like Benefit Full-Finish Lipstick in Lady’s Choice ($18)

You can find drugstore alternatives (Sonia Kashuk makes some great ones) to most, if not all, of these products. If you’re interested, shoot me a line and I’ll send some suggestions.

Continue Reading…

Rise and shine, ladies. TGIF!

This shimmery purple eye comes courtesy of two products from the new MAC Style Black collection, the Greasepaint Stick in Black and Mineralize Eyeshadow in Young Punk. That’s Young Punk layered on top of the stick on my lids.

Also in the mix: the Eye Kohl in Smolder along the waterlines (upper and lower), Young Punk along the lower lash line and two coats of the new Zoom Fast Black Lash Mascara on my lashes.

I was shooting for something wearable enough for a business meeting…

Oh — remember the Origins GinZing Eye Cream-concealer trick for dark circles we talked about the other day? I used it for this look, mixing GinZing with Laura Mercier Secret Concealer and applying under my eyes.

Continue Reading…

Do you remember the look I tried last week that featured red lips and teal/brown eyes?

I felt like doing it again today, but this time I snapped a few extra pictures for a quickie tutorial.

After the post last week, reader Jenna left a great tip in the comments that I also wanted to try… She suggested adding some black eyeliner to ramp up the drama, and here’s how it turned out:

Better, right? Thanks for the tip, Jenna!

If you’d like to give the look a try…

What you’ll need

1. An eyeshadow primer like Too Faced Shadow Insurance ($17)
2. A creamy pearl eyeshadow like MAC Cream Colour Base in Pearl ($17)
3. A dark brown pencil eyeliner like MAC Eye Pencil in Coffee ($13)
4. A dark brown eyeshadow like MAC Brun ($15)
5. A warm matte brown eyeshadow like MAC Eyeshadow in Brown Script ($15) or Soft Brown ($15)
6. A matte peach eyeshadow like MAC Eyeshadow in Arena ($15) or Bamboo ($15)
7. A shimmery teal eyeshadow like MAC Eyeshadow in Aquadisiac ($15) or Steamy ($15)
8. A matte black liquid eyeliner like LORAC Front of the Line Pro ($22)
9. A shimmery golden brown eyeshadow like MAC Soba ($15)
10. A black mascara like MAC Mascara X in Black ($13)
11. A matte red lipstick like MAC Lipstick in Chili ($14) or Russian Red ($14)

NOTE: I ended up using MAC Eyeshadow in Waternymph instead of the teal eyeshadows and MAC Mattene in Classic Dame instead of matte red lipsticks listed above. Both are limited edition and tricky to track down, but they’re similar to the colors mentioned.

Swatches from left to right: Too Faced Shadow Insurance, MAC Cream Colour Base in Pearl, MAC Eye Pencil in Coffee, MAC Eyeshadow in Brun, MAC Eyeshadow in Brownscript

From left to right: MAC Eyeshadow in Arena, MAC Eyeshadow in Waternymph, LORAC Front of the Line Pro Liner, MAC Eyeshadow in Soba

Continue Reading…

New York Fashion Week is just about over, but I’m not ready to let go quite yet.

Today I had some time during my lunch break to play, so I tried to re-create the makeup from last week’s Agent Provocateur runway show.

Inspired by a 70s fetish club, this sultry look features red lips and teal eyes. MEOW!

I’d never think to pair these colors together, but this look turned out surprisingly wearable. I might actually rock this someplace other than my living room, ha!

If ya want a tutorial, gimme a holler in the comments.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Itching to try a few New York Fashion Week makeup looks on yourself? Check out Daily Makeover’s Fashion Week Looks Facebook contest, and enter to win a Zeno Mini (an $89 value).