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A Sunset-Inspired Face of the Day with MAC, Urban Decay and Benefit

by 81 Comments

Can you remember the last time you watched a sunset?

I couldn’t, so I watched and waited on the back deck last Saturday afternoon with my camera to refresh my memory. Luckily it was a clear day (one of very few lately), and I caught the sun, in a burst of buttery gold, peach and pink, slip back behind the mountains.

Such beauty… It moved me to do my makeup! 🙂 Well, kinda. We were going out to dinner anyway, but what better inspiration than a beautiful sunset, right? I picked shimmery, peachy golden eyes and a pink lip with some random MAC, Urban Decay and Benefit.

Since we were going out, I blinged it up with Urban Decay’s Heavy Metal Glitter Liner along the lower lash line (what a nice glimmer of subtle, golden sparkle!) and added Benefit Hoola Bronzer into the crease.


Lips: MAC Liberty of London Lipstick in Petals & Peacocks, MAC Lip Pencil in Trimmed in Pink

Hello, kinda awesome! I think it brings a warm depth to the eyes, especially where it contrasts with something shimmery. If you’re already a Hoola fan, I recommend giving it a try in the crease with your favorite shimmery gold eyeshadow on the lid.

At first I thought a bright fuchsia lip might be too much for the look, but I went for it anyway. You could always take it down a notch with a clear gloss instead.


Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden (entire eye), MAC Cream Color Base in Pearl (entire eye), MAC Eyeshadow in Woodwinked (lid), Benefit Hoola Bronzer (crease), MAC Beauty Powder in Shell Pearl (brow bone), Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Bourbon (upper and lower lash lines), MAC Technakohl Liner in Brownborder (waterlines), Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Liner in Midnight Cowboy (lower lash line), MAC Studio Fix Lash in Black (upper and lower lashes)


Cheeks: Benefit Dallas Blush (apples), St. Tropez Bronzing Rocks (beneath apples)

Monday, Monday

What’s the verdict on Monday, ladies? Love it or leave it? Mine’s flown by so far, whoosh!

Maybe it’s on account of the time change. I don’t know how I feel about Daylight Savings overall, but I don’t mind the extra hour of light at the end of the day. As soon as the weather turns good for good it’ll be a perfect excuse for after-dinner walks. 🙂

I love early evening walks because you run into all sorts of random wildlife, some of the human variety, as well as others like this Tabs look-a-like who was patrolling the bushes…

…and this gigantic turkey!

YIKES! I stayed far, far away. He was sending me signals: “Watch it, lady. I WILL go for your ankles.”

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Really lovely look! I much prefer it with fuchsia lips, though, it really brightens up the look!

    How random, seeing a turkey just strolling about. That baby wouldn’t live long if seen here on Balkans… did Tabs try to catch it? Hehe talk about fast food.

    Reply

    • LOL, really? Would it not last long because people would try to capture it?

      Tabs was actually really scared of it! It was waaay bigger than him.

      Reply

      • haha the thing is i’m soon gonna go at least 5 shades darker in summer and my yellow undertone is gonna play up majorly. this is more suited for cooler undertones. i put it on my hand and decided it was a no go :/ I did get the shell beauty powder though and will definitely watch the vid tutorial you did. i adore beauty powders 🙂
        .-= shivotra’s last blog post… Lush Brazened Honey Face Mask – Review =-.

        Reply

          • Oh, I missed those. I wasn’t too much into MAC back then. Karen, I have a HUGE favor to ask you. Can you please recommend me some blushes. I am total NOOB when it comes to blushes. I am NC 40. Everytime I go to the MAC counter, I am absolutely lost. I have been holding onto my precious peachykeen for ages. Now i need to find more :/ I just don’t trust pushy sales people sometimes.
            .-= shivotra’s last blog post… Lush Brazened Honey Face Mask – Review =-.

          • Hi Shivotra,

            Hmm… what colors are you looking for? Pinks, berries, browns?

            I honestly think that if you’re that devoted to Peachykeen and are happy with it then stick with it. I wore Blushbaby for years — YEARS! — without any other blushes in my life.

    • I’m NC40 as well and I keep 3 MAC blushes for different looks….powder blushes in Buff(peachier nuetral) and Blunt(bronzed looked) and a cremeblush called Brit WItt (more pinkish/berry). All 3 are gorgeous and give a different look, but are complimentary to NC40. I hope this helps

      Reply

  5. I love this look on you. Loved the pink lips! The bright pink with the bronzy eye is not a combo I would have tried but I really like it. Gonna have to give this a try. Thanks!

    Reply

  6. Heya hotstuff! That is an awesome look – and the hair just completes it!!!

    I might copy that look for one of the two weddings im going to in the summer. With your kind permission, of course! 😉

    Reply

    • ps – Monday flew by too … busy at work. Then went to the gym, walked to dinner and now im just mucking around before I go to read in bed! 😉

      Reply

      • This is the funny thing. The bride in one of the weddings is an aspiring pastry chef — so the cake promises to be a treat.

        The dad of the bride in the other wedding works for Blue Bell which is a famous ice cream company here in the South — and there promises to be ice cream in that wedding.

        That excites me to no end!

        Monday was really busy, but not bad at all. Yours?

        Reply

        • I am ALL about the food (especially desserts) when it comes to a wedding! We had a chocolate cake at ours (big surprise).

          My Monday went by really fast. I’m glad I managed to get in a workout at the end of the day, though.

          Hopefully today won’t be as hectic… it’s always nice to get some time today to breathe, LOL!

          Reply

  7. Great look! I like it both ways. The toned-down lip would work beautifully for a summery daytime look, an the fuchsia lippie is great for evening. I get so excited about new makeup looks between seasons, especially when the weather is starting to warm up. Can’t wait to start trying out a couple of new looks of my own. 😀

    Reply

    • Hi Sole,

      Yeah, me too! I’m so itching for the summer collections… I live for ’em.

      How are things with you? Are you Spring Breaking yet?

      Reply

  8. it’s a good thing you and Tabs stayed away…turkeys can MESS YOU UP!! they have sharp claws!

    i love that bright lip color! really suits you!

    Reply

  9. I just ordered petals and peacocks lipstick the other day! can’t wait to get it and try it out with some looks 🙂

    Reply

    • There’s a gang of ’em that roam the neighborhood. I haven’t seen ’em since we moved here in the fall. They really freak me out, LOL!

      Reply

  14. I’ve been big into gold and pink eye looks lately, I think they’re kinda a Spring staple of mine!

    Girrrrrl, you’re on a roll lately… you’ve just been looking hot-hot-hot with every look you do! 🙂

    Reply

  17. Oh my f’in God, that has got to be the BIGGEST freakin’ turkey I’ve ever seen. It also happens to be the ugliest.

    Then again, I think turkeys are pretty ugly birds.

    That’s a pretty look. It suits you. Brown eyeliner looks horrendous on my pale skin. I don’t know what it is about brown eyeliner, but paired with my brown eyes and super pale skin, it is not a pretty picture. Brown eyeshadow acting like eyeliner, on the other hand, looks great. Maybe I’m just brown eyeliner-biased?

    I’ve yet to find a Zena look-a-like in my neighborhood. She’s too unique-looking, I think. I’m sorta peeved at her as I have two very angry red scratch marks down my right arm. I think she thought my arm was a scratch post. It HURT. Thankfully, she’s getting them claws clipped on Thursday. It looks like my arm was mauled by a two-clawed cat.

    Reply

    • Right now I’m rocking two big scratches on my right arm, too. It must be a pet conspiracy! Perhaps Tabs and Zena email each other late at night while we’re sleeping to discuss their plans of attack.

      Reply

      • Or they could be communicating via telepathy. It wouldn’t surprise me if she possessed that skill. She seems to know exactly what to do to get us giggling at the right time.

        Reply

  18. I love this look. you have inspired me to try my first fushia lip! can’t wait to see how it looks (at the store first though…) it goes well with the outfit and fun hair =)

    Reply

    • Hi Babybubblz,

      I really hope you like the color! Even if you feel unsure about it at first maybe wear it around for a bit. I like to do that with colors I’m not sure about… it gives me a chance to think and see if my mind changes in a few hours.

      Reply

  20. I love your blog! I’ve been reading it for a while & I think this is my first comment…

    This is such a pretty look. Natural, but the lipstick adds color 🙂 I love the lipstick on you! I just bought that color too; I can’t wait to wear it. I still need to get a liner for it, but I’m not sure what color to get.
    .-= Tara’s last blog post… To Whom it may concern: =-.

    Reply

    • Your fuchsia lipstick is out there waiting for you! If this one doesn’t work most certainly try MAC Girl About Town. That’s another good one!

      Reply

  22. I absolutely love this look – stunning!!!!

    I love pink lips so much – espcially when the sun comes out – I can’t wait until summer here to try the same!

    Reply

  23. Hi Karen,

    You look beautiful! As a serious lover of a good fuchsia lip, I am way inspired by this look ^^

    I must ask– how did you do your hair?? It looks marvelous~

    Reply

    • Hi Kitty,

      I should probably do a tutorial one of these days, LOL! Basically I wash it the night before, put in some sort of curl-inducing product to define the waves and give the hair more body and let it dry overnight. The next morning I curl the front pieces with a large-barreled curling iron. Before I curl the hair I’ll spray it with Straight Sexy Hair’s Heat Protecting spray (it says it’s for straight hair styles, but works great with the curling iron, too). After all the pieces are curled, I spray it with hairspray and let it cool, and then I break up the curls with my fingers. And that’s it!

      Reply

  27. OMG, Karen you look so lovely in the Petals & Peacocks lipstick..It looks like it gives you the same effect as MAC “Girl About Town”….I love pink lipsticks and have tons and tons in my makeup bag..lol…do you think it will be worth while for me to get Petals & Peacocks lipstick?
    Btw, I am your #1 fan:) And I heart your video tutorials…Please keep up the good work…you are one of my inspirations:)…
    .-= Joy Doyin ‘s last blog post… Best Kept Skin Care Secret =-.

    Reply

  29. OMG that turkey scared me – they are pretty ugly creatures but oh so delicious!

    This a great look and loving the throw back striped top with the bra strap showing – so very Flashdance of you!

    Reply

    • That turkey certainly wasn’t the easy on the eyes, for sure. The frightening thing about it was its height and girth. Seriously… that bird looked like it could eff up a 15-pound tabby in a hot second.

      And LOL re Flashdance… I was actually feeling very “What a Feeling” when I was getting dressed!

      Happy Tuesday!

      Reply

  30. i love the petals & peacocks! i ordered it online 2 days ago and it should be at my house tomorrow! i also bought the english rose (i think this is what its called) lipgloss as well and the green eyeshadow!

    Reply

  32. Karen I’m lovin petals and peacocks on you. It’s almost like a pinky purple. I checked this out but I didn’t pick it up since I just got girl about town a few weeks ago. But I don’t know after this post I’m itching to go back to mac. Totally off topic but I was thinkin about getting blooming lovely. Do you think it would look nice on nc50 skin. I have up the amp and I love it. Thanks Karen.

    Reply

  35. Karen,
    I love the look. It so totally suits you, and I LUV the pink lips. That is a fabulous color on you….but it seems as though you look gorgeous no matter what.

    As for the turkey….. OOOoohhh goodness no… I would have been hiding behind cars and and shakin” in my heels…. Those birds are mean aren’t they? Anyway, LUV ya and have a wonderful day.

    Britney

    Reply

  36. Love the bronzer on the crease idea! Coincidentally, there is a turkey in my hood too. (He’s been there since Thanksgiving, must be a lucky bird). I can’t believe you got close enough to photograph that one!

    Reply

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