Mama always said, “When life hands you insomnia, hide your dark circles with concealer.”
Okay, my mom didn’t actually say that because she doesn’t wear makeup (I know! The apple fell so far from the tree!).
Anyhoo, I was inspecting the purplish nether regions under my eyes this morning and feeling pretty crappy because of the whole no sleep thing, so I decided to run with it and try a purplish-brown smokey eye. The result improved my sour mood and put a lil’ spring in my step, for sure!
The shadows I used from left to right:
- MAC Showstopper (matte)
- MAC Newly Minted (matte)
- MAC Frisco (matte)
- MAC Saddle (matte)
- MAC Retrospeck (lustre)
- MAC Star Violet (veluxe pearl)
- MAC Sable (frost) – Whoops! I forgot to swatch this one. Click here to view a swatch.
I haven’t been a regular user of matte shadows in the past, but I went all out with them this time. Thanks to MAC Senior Makeup Artist Jennifer Karsten’s advice, I’ve decided I’m going to work diligently to couple them with shimmer shades to create more depth in my eye makeup looks.
The color map below shows where I placed the different eyeshadows…
- MAC Frisco – browbone
- MAC Saddle – crease
- MAC Star Violet – lid
- MAC Sable – outer third of lid
- MAC Showstopper – outer V
- MAC Retrospeck – inner third of lid
- MAC Newly Minted – upper lash line (I smudged this on top MAC Technakohl eyeliner in Graphblack)
- MAC Saddle and Sable – lower lash line
Trying to balance the look, I kept the lips neutral and the cheeks light.
What I used over the entire eye
On the upper lash line and waterline
- MAC Technakohl eyeliner in Graphblack
Lashes
- L’oreal Voluminous Carbon Black mascara
Brows
- MAC Concrete eyeshadow
To treat my undereye circles
Face
- Becca Luminous Skin Color tinted moisturizer in Nut
- Becca Stick Foundation in Coffee
- Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder
Cheeks
- MAC Feeling Beauty Powder Blush
Lips
- MAC Honey B. Cremestick liner
- Avon Glazewear Lipstick in Champagne Glow
What about you? What makeup look did you wear today?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Dao says
April 30th, 2008 at 8:49 pmOoh, you use Champagne glow. How do you like it? Nice look, very office-appropriate. I like your top too, is it still cold where you live? You have very nice application, the colors blend so well together. Believe it or not, I don’t have any matte shadows 🙁 Ok I lied, I have 1 but rarely use it since I find matte colors rather boring. I may reconsider that and go get me some of them matte to add more depth to my eyes.
rachel says
April 30th, 2008 at 9:18 pmthat look is absolutely gorgeous and i wanna buy all the colors. today was actually very minimal for considering finals are coming up. just a little dior undressed beige on the lids and some mascara…oh well. sometimes you have those days
Lehea says
April 30th, 2008 at 10:33 pmNice! I loooove Sable. That was the first eyeshadow I ever purchased from MAC. I use Graphblack too sometimes. I’m still trying to get used to lining the waterline, but I have yet to find something that goes on and stays on. 😛
Karen says
April 30th, 2008 at 11:00 pmHi Dao,
I like it a lot! It’s a great nude color, just ike you said it would be. Thanks for the complement on the top! It’s a dress I got on sale a few months ago in the fall (I wore it the Paris interview, hee). It’s been very chilly over the last few days because the fog moved in…how is the weather round your way?
I feel (felt?) the same way too about mattes. I didn’t realize that the trick is to mix it up (before I would just try to use all mattes together…really hard to blend).
Karen says
April 30th, 2008 at 11:01 pmHi Rachel,
I have my minimal makeup days too! Your look songs simple and pretty. How is the studying going? Are you ready for your tests?
Karen says
April 30th, 2008 at 11:02 pmHi Lehea,
Thanks! It was one of my first MAC purchases too! What do you pair it with?
Have you tried Fluidline on your waterline? For me that doesn’t budge. Some people love Liquidlast but I don’t like the finish and I find it too hard to use.
Eru says
May 1st, 2008 at 4:15 amKaren!
You look definitely cute~~!!!(I love the top you’re wearing, girl!)
I don’t have problems with dark circles, I usually don’t have any! But I do hate when concealer sinks into my fine lines…I’m still looking for my perfect concealer 🙁
Hugs! 😀
rachel says
May 1st, 2008 at 6:00 amhaha the finals are for calculus, chemistry and biology
i’ll never be ready
Karen says
May 1st, 2008 at 7:02 amHi Eru,
Thank you hon (on both the makeup and the shirt complements.) 🙂 You are so lucky that you don’t have dark circles. I am very jealous. Oh! Concealer sinks into my fine lines too. Have you tried putting primer on first? How is the weather there in your neck of Spain today? I hope it’s getting warmer.
Karen says
May 1st, 2008 at 7:03 amHi Rachel,
“I’ll never be ready.” Girl, I feel this way about my life ALL THE TIME.
Good luck on your tests! You’ll do fine. 🙂
Tonya says
May 1st, 2008 at 7:56 amVery nice Karen. I picked up Newly Minted myself resently. I love your color combination.
I’m going to MAC tomorrow is get my make-up done with the Naughty Nautical line. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Hope you’re having a great week!
Tonya
Glosslizard says
May 1st, 2008 at 8:12 amHappy Thursday, Karen!
You always look so fab, I’m not even sure I believe the part about you having dark circles! 😉
That eye map is astonishing! It’s like Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Sultry Eye Makeup! You use so many colors and yet the overall effect is never overdone! Great technique!
I’m heading over to MAC to eyeball Naughty Nauticals today! I saw Meet the Fleet before and loved the color, so I think your recent comments will have me caving on a matte shade after all! 🙂
Megan says
May 1st, 2008 at 8:21 amVery nice K…way too many steps for a weekday though 🙂 LOL Ummm I wore the pinks and purples from the estee lauder gwp again today because I like them so much.
Dao says
May 1st, 2008 at 8:50 amYou know, Avon is rocking my world these days. I’ve been using their Clearskin cleanser in the morning and my zits are pretty much under control. I also use the oil cleansing method to deep cleanse and remove makeup at night. It removes dead skin cells and makeup pretty well, even waterproof mascara. My skin is as smooth as a baby’s bottom now, a thing that I’ve never had for a long long long long time. I also use Neutrogena Acne Stress Control 3 in 1 lotion like Glosslizard mentioned and it works very fine too. Thank you Gloss for mentioning it, I had it in my stash for a while.
I looked at the price of Avon in Amazon.com and at Avon website and there’s a difference. Avon has more sales going on and you can save more by ordering from their website. Plus if you google for free shipping code, they sometimes have them as well. I will definitely buy some matte colors the next time I order. Jilian Dempsey, Dr. McDreamy’s wife, is the global beauty advisor of Avon and people are raving about the new blushes she made. Ok, enough of the obsessive gossip. Hope you have a nice day.
Eru says
May 1st, 2008 at 12:58 pmHey Karen 😀
Yep, I’ve tried with primer. It does make the concealer look a bit better but it ends skinking into my lines. I’m still waiting for someone to make the perfect concealer!! (Hope you have some cosmetics-maker readers, Karen!)
Spain is getting warmer, in fact! We had sun today, but I stayed home 🙂 I’m trying to choose a good sunscreen but I’m a bit lost.
Hugs! :3
Erus last blog post..Olay Aqua Hydratation Relaxing moisture mask ~Review
Karen B says
May 1st, 2008 at 1:13 pmLovely FOTD.
I played around with my eyeshadow this morning as well as I had a day off.
Eyes:
Stila Icon – lid & crease
Stila Barefoot Contessa – crease
Chanel Garden Party Quad peach – browbone + middle of my lid
Chanel Garden Party Quad light green – top and bottom lash line
taupe kohl pencil – waterline
brown-black mascara
concealer
Lips:
Stila Lipglaze in Apricot
Face:
Guerlain Terracotta 01
Wow, that’s quite a lot of products/colour for one look.
Karen Bs last blog post..Icon meme
Karen says
May 1st, 2008 at 3:00 pmHi Tonya,
Nice! Have you worn your Newly Minted yet? What did you pair it with.
Have fun tomorrow at the counter… can’t wait to hear about your look and your loot. 🙂
This week has been busy (as usual) but good. I’ve been a little disheveled but hey, what can you do except roll with it. How’s your week been?
Karen says
May 1st, 2008 at 3:02 pmHi Glosslizard,
Happy Thursday to you too!
Ha! I hide those suckers well, thanks to the miracle of modern makeup.
LOL, maybe I should’ve put an “x marks the spot!” on that map. I was kinda tempted, I can’t deny it! After I did I couldn’t believe I used so many colors, yowza.
Glad to hear about your mini loot. I am trying to become one with my mattes, too!
Karen says
May 1st, 2008 at 3:03 pmHi Megan,
Oh girl I knew you were gonna bust that palette out today. I do the same thing when I find shadows I like (it’s kinda like playing a song over and over again!). Did you wear your Tuberose Gardenia?
Karen says
May 1st, 2008 at 3:06 pmHi Dao,
Avon seems to be way less old lady than they used to that’s for sure. I will be getting a bottle of that Acne Stress Control when I finish up my tube of BHA (whenever that is). Neutrogena’s got awesome face stuff…
I heard those blushes were quite nice! I will look on the website when I have time to browse at home tonight. McDreamy is in that new movie, Made of Honor. I think I might watch it, because I like cheesy flicks like that.
Hope you’re having a good day, too!
Megan says
May 1st, 2008 at 3:10 pmLOL I so did…I’ll probably be wearing it for the next week at least. You know how you really love something…you just want to wear it all the time? I’m so there. I’m afraid my other fragrances are just going to have to chill out for the moment. 🙂
temi says
May 1st, 2008 at 4:06 pmReally pretty, Karen. Nice work.
Karen says
May 1st, 2008 at 4:31 pmHi Eru,
Aww, shucks! That happens to me too and primer seems to make the settling into the lines less obvs. If I find something I’ll be sure to share it with you!
What are you looking for in a sunscreen? Is this for your face, or body?
It was actually pretty warm here today… I am wearing just a t-shirt and jeans and flip flops! It feels great. 🙂
Karen says
May 1st, 2008 at 4:32 pmHi Karen B.,
Thank you! Don’t you love those mornings where you have more time to play with makeup? Your look sounds really pretty. I have Chanel’s Garden Party quad, too, and I love it.
Guerlain is sooo on my list! 🙂
Karen says
May 1st, 2008 at 4:35 pmHi Megan,
Yup! I totally do that too. Especially with fragrance. In January all I wanted to wear day in day out was Chanel Mademoiselle! That’s my last big fragrance crush.
I think you won’t be able to resist that big bottle for much longer.
Karen says
May 1st, 2008 at 4:35 pmHi Temi,
Thank you girl! Happy Thursday. 🙂
kia says
May 1st, 2008 at 8:57 pmgreat look.. the eye was nice, but seeing the whole face look really wow-ed me! frisco is a gorgeous highlighter, and gosh darn that loreal voluminous! it is smoking!!! your lashes are hot!
kias last blog post..Yummy411: MAC Naughty Nautical Launch
Mrs. Lynne, MakeupFix.net says
May 1st, 2008 at 9:16 pmOMG! Hollar at yo’ mom!! WOOOT. You look so seeexay 😉 Btw, your skin is looking so glowy and great.
Mrs. Lynne, MakeupFix.nets last blog post..MAC Product Releases: Naughty Nauticals Swatches And The Stroller-LESS Voyage
Shiny says
May 1st, 2008 at 9:36 pmI love the look, I try and go for something pretty similar usually although yours is better pulled together. I’ve been working on dupes lately because I am trying to save up for some long term investments… how do you feel about NYX brand? Also a lot of the colors you used are similar to a Bonne Bell eyeshadow set I have… which despite the $5 price tag has some really nice shimmer shades in it.
p.s. as for movies, I did enjoy Baby Mama. Love me some Tina Fey
Karen B says
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:56 amGarden Party for the win.
And that Guerlain terracotta bronzer is fabulous. I love love love it, and that’s after only three days of wearing it..
Karen Bs last blog post..Icon meme
hlee says
April 27th, 2009 at 12:17 amwow. you look so pretty in this. i have a dark skin tone so i find it hard to put on lighter makeup and i think i look scary with dark makeup on, but this might work. haha you look great. :]
Karen says
April 27th, 2009 at 8:38 amHi Hlee,
Thanks! You have to try browns and purples. A smoky eye always look classic when it’s executed well. It takes some time and practice but you’ll get there!