I was up late last night watching Season 1 of 30 Rock on DVD. This may be lack of sleep talking, but I’m strangely fascinated by puffy Alec Baldwin…

When I finally opened my eyes this morning, I looked TIRED!

I filmed this video clip (click to see the video) a couple days ago, but it shows one of my go-to quick eye makeup looks, great for late-night TV marathons.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Seriously, how many times can one blogger say “Meow” about a makeup collection? But that’s how it makes me feel, so I’ll say it again: MEOW! It’s MAC Hello Kitty time.

My first reaction was mixed when I saw the promo pics for MAC’s latest collaboration. Sure, I was drooling over the branding and packaging from the start (I love Hello Kitty; always have), but the colors just didn’t look like stuff I could wear every day.

Well, color me lame and call me crazy because after seeing the collection in person last night, I’m fully on board now.

Matter of fact, a few stray kittens decided to follow me home last night: Eye Shadow 4 Lucky Tom palette, Tahitian Sand Beauty Powder, Fun & Games Beauty Powder Blush and Cute-Ster Lustre Lipstick.

The Lucky Tom Eyeshadow Palette Colors (from left to right): Creme Royal, Paradisco, Stylin’, Lucky Tom

Fun & Games Beauty Powder Blush

Tahitian Sand Beauty Powder

Cute-Ster Lipstick

Tabs was riled up this morning and snipping at my ankles because he hadn’t received his pre-ordered Lucky Tom palette yet. I had to tear him away from mine (did I mention he’s OBSESSED with HK?) long enough to do my face of the day.

For the eyes, I started with a thin layer of Perky Paint Pot over the eyelid.

Then, with Tabs locked in the other room, I went to work with the eyeshadows, patting Paradisco on the lid and Creme Royal inside the inner corner of the eye.

Next, I lined the upper lash line with Stylin’ and the lower line with a mix of Lucky Tom and Creme Royal.

To finish the eyes, I curled my lashes and added two layers of MAC Dazzlelash mascara (it happened to be nearby).

Now, for meow lips… (couldn’t resist)

I lined them with Pink Treat Cremestick Liner topped off with a layer of Cute-Ster Lipstick and some MAC Lipglass in Clear.

After blowing myself a kiss in the mirror I moved on to the cheeks.

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Smokey Eye ‘Til I Die!

I don’t know if I’ll ever tire of doing smokey eyes. There are just so many different ways to work the look, like this spin on a daytime eye for work. It’s a method I learned from my favorite MAC artist, Jen, using products from the MAC Metal Urge and Red She Said collections.

Featured Products

I use quite a few different products for this look, but the most important MAC ones (because of their overall influence on the look) are…

• MAC Brushed Metal-X Cream Shadow in Gilded Ash ($16.50): shimmery, gray-khaki cream eyeshadow
• MAC Cocomotion Pigment ($19.50): shimmery brown-gold loose eyeshadow
• MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Inter-View ($17.50): Shimmery brown, navy blue and bronze mineral eyeshadow trio

How to Get the Look

For me, the easiest way to do a smokey eye is to layer textured products. Here, I layer powder eyeshadow, pigment and cream shadow.

I start by dotting Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Wheat over my entire lid. It’s a primer used here to prevent creasing and helps the eye makeup last longer.

With my finger, I blend Eye Basics evenly over the the entire lid.

Next, I load a MAC 217 Blending Brush by swiping it across the pan of Gilded Ash, and then brush the shadow onto the lid and just barely into the crease.

I repeat the previous step several times, building upon the color, and fading it from the lid into the crease.

Then, with a MAC 252 Large Shader Brush, I apply Cocomotion Pigment into the crease and use a MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush to mellow out any harsh edges.

Next, I take the 252 and sweep MAC Ricepaper Eyeshadow underneath the entire brow, concentrating most of the color at the highest point of the brow’s arch.

Grabbing my trusty 224, I run the brush head along the edges of the color to soften any obvious lines.

Then, to enhance the smokey effect a little bit more, I pat the dark brown shade from the Inter-View eyeshadow trio onto the outer third of my lid with a MAC 228 Mini Shader Brush.

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Dark Circle Trubs, Volume 5,472

I suffered through a really bad bought of insomnia a few weeks ago, and my dark circles were extra terrible. My regular concealer, MAC Select Moisturecover, just wasn’t gettin’ it done.

My friend Jen’s wedding was right around the corner, and I didn’t want to show up looking like death warmed over. I needed serious coverage, and I needed it fast.

MAC to MAC

I spoke with Michelle, a lovely MAC makeup artist at a nearby counter, and told her what I needed…

1. Complete coverage for my dark circles.
2. Something that wouldn’t make my skin look ashy under flash photography.
3. Something that would last a full 10 hours and wouldn’t look cakey.

She suggested three MAC products: MAC Fast Response Eye Cream, MAC Studio Finish Concealer and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural.

MAC Fast Response Eye Cream

MAC Fast Response Eye Cream ($28.50) is a lightweight, moisturizing cream that smooths fine lines around the eyes and provides a better surface for the application of concealer.

MAC Studio Finish Concealer

MAC Studio Finish Concealer ($15.50), a very concentrated cream, straight up covers everything — dark circles, pimples, moles, tattoos and even birthmarks! I have it in the shade NW 25.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Pressed Powder

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural sets the concealer, helping it stay put all day long. It’s a low coverage (read: sheer) pressed powder and won’t look heavy or cakey applied around the eyes. My shade is Medium.

The MAC Concealer Triple Play Performed Great on the Day of the Wedding!

My circles stayed hidden all day long (and lawd knows they were still there!), and I think my makeup still looked natural in the pictures.

How to Cover Up Dark Circles for a Wedding or Big Event Using MAC Cosmetics Studio Finish Concealer

When applying MAC Studio Finish Concealer, lighting makes a huge difference. The product’s very pigmented, and I tend to over apply it in poorly lit rooms (like my bathroom at home), so applying the product in a space that gets good natural light yields the best results.

I begin the process with MAC Fast Response Eye Cream, applying a few dots under my eyes and patting them into the area with a fingertip until they’re thoroughly absorbed.

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One of my favorite things about makeup is that there’s always room to step up your game. I love to imagine all the tips and tricks that I’ve yet to learn.

I’m always looking to get better at doing smokey eyes. I’ve come across hundreds of smokey eye tutorials, and I think these 10 are some of the most helpful ones. I hope you find them useful, too!

1. A smokey eye video tutorial with MAC Pro makeup artist Chantel Miller

2. A black smokey eye by Christine of Temptalia.com

temptalia.com

3. A video how-to showing ways to use Stila’s Talking Palette

4. Get a high fashion look with this smokey eye by MissChievous of Specktra.net

specktra.net

5. A smokey eye video tutorial starring Kim Kardashian (and her awesome makeup artist)

kimkardashian.com

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