Makeup Monday: Using Tape as a Guide for Shadow

Okay, so it's not Monday.  But I've had these ridiculous pictures hanging around for a long time and I'm impatient.  Plus, who's going to be taking the time to stare at my eyeballs on Christmas Eve?  As an added bonus, this this might help anyone looking for last-minute holiday makeup ideas.

Okay, here we go.

I have eyes that angle down at the corners, tending to make them look kind of droopy.  Plus, if I just follow the natural line of them while putting on my makeup, it just enhances the droopiness.  I couldn't seem to make precise enough lines to make them look like they were curving up; it always just looked messy.  Then I came across an idea online:  use tape as a guide!  (Sorry, I can't remember exactly where I saw it first.)

Start off with putting two pieces of tape (one for each eye) on your hand.  This gets some of the stickiness off so you won't pull on your delicate eye skin.  I even rip it on and off my hand a few times to make it even less sticky.

Next, line the tape up as if you are extending it out from your bottom lash line, like so:

This will make the shadow look like it is angling up instead of down.  Apply shadow as you normally would, then GENTLY peel off the tape.

You can see the line from the tape in the picture above.  This is before I put on liner and mascara.  I sometimes leave the tape on for the liner as well, especially if I'm doing a cat eye.

This is after liner and mascara:

You can see the line that now makes it look like my eyes angle up instead of down:

With eyes open:

With flash:

Obviously if you want a more subtle look, just use lighter shadow.  You also don't have to extend the shadow out as far, but I like to go big.  Makes the eyes appear larger. 

Hope this helps.  Merry Christmas!

P.S.  Do you know how hard it is to take pictures of your own face?

Makeup Monday ~ Whiter Teeth

Wanna get whiter teeth without any bleaching?  Put on some red lipstick.  Seriously.

My lips are super pale, and everything just kind of blends together, lips, teeth, skin.  But darker lips make teeth stand out more, making them look whiter.

Here's a (wretched) picture I just took without lipstick.

And here's one I just took after putting on reddish lipstick.

The teeth look a little whiter, no?

Here's a picture I took a couple of weeks ago.  With even redder lips, my teeth look even whiter.

Just a little trick for ya.

Happy Monday everyone.

Makeup Monday: Advanced Style

This post isn't so much about makeup as it is about style. Advanced Style, to be precise. I found this amazing blog while hopping about on vintage blogs. I immediately fell in love with the ladies showcased, and I swear I check it every day.





Ari Seth Cohen, the author of the blog and soon-to-be released book of the same name, takes pictures of amazing older women who have cultivated their own unique style over the years.





I am amazed at their gumption and the genuine FUN that they seem to be having with dressing up.

I want to emulate them, but don't know if I quite have the guts.

Maybe someday.

Now get out there and have some fun!!

all photos from Advanced Style

Makeup Monday: Dolly Parton

(source)

I don't necessarily think of Dolly Parton when I'm thinking of trying new makeup looks. But she is quite famous for her hair and makeup. I read this excerpt from her book, My Life and Other Unfinished Business and thought it was great. (Found on Glamourologist.)

I like that she never seems to care what the current trend is or what is deemed classy or appropriate. She goes with what she likes and wants to look like.

We should all be so bold and brave.


I also like that she never seems to take herself or her looks too seriously.

"I describe my look as a blend of Mother Goose, Cinderella, and the local hooker."

(source for all other photos)

"You can do it in good taste, but if you want to look like the town tramp like me, you can."




"I'm just a backwoods Barbie, too much makeup, too much hair. But, don't be fooled by thinkin' that the goods are not all there."




"If I see something saggin', draggin' or baggin', I get it sucked, tucked or plucked. It takes a lot of money to look as cheap as I look."




"Those old seeds of doubt about my looks have grown into quite a bumper crop for many a makeup artist, wig maker and plastic surgeon."



"I'm not offended by dumb blonde jokes because I know that I'm not dumb . . . I also know that I'm not blonde."


Just some fun for your Monday.

Makeup Monday: On Beauty

I sometimes (okay rarely) have Makeup Mondays on this here blog, discussing makeup ideas, tips and tricks. Today, I'm just not feelin' it, probably because I've felt pretty crummy about my appearance as of late. I found this sign and thought it was good for today.

(found via Christine's Pinterest)

Makeup Monday: Hooded Eyes

What are hooded eyes? Some people call them bedroom eyes, I guess to try and make them sound more sexy. Or something.

Basically, hooded eyes are eyes that don't show much eyelid, but rather have the puffy part beneath your brow folding over your lid, concealing it from view.

Exhibit A (moi):

Sorry for the craptastic pics. I only had my phone.

Some famous people with hooded eyes:

Blake Lively

Leelee Sobieski

I think many people who go in for eye lifts have hooded eyes. The hoods tend to droop with age. I swear mine are going to be resting on my eyelashes soon.

So how to keep from looking like you're super sleepy or have really puffy eyes? Click on the links of the stars' name above; the sites offer some great tips for hooded eyes.

One of my favorite tutorials is from Marlena at Makeup Geek:



She's got great tips for all kinds of looks, and she has tutorials for all eye shapes.

The main thing I learned is a tip that seems counter-intuitive at first. The darker shadow should actually go on the hooded part of the eye and not on the lid. It seems like that would make that part of the eye stand out and look like you have way too much makeup on. But if you think about it, we use dark colors to detract attention from something, like wearing black to look slimmer. By using lighter colors on the lid, those colors draw attention to the eye and not the hood above.

After trying this method, I actually got nice comments on my makeup, and I never get comments on my makeup.

Hope this helps for you fellow bedroom-eyed beauties.

Makeup Monday: Frugal Primer Tip

[I've only done one post on makeup before, so I don't know if this can count as a series, but I did find a frugal makeup tip that I thought I'd share.]

(image source)

Uh, not quite...

One of the big things the cosmetics industry is pushing right now is primer. It helps the makeup's longevity factor, and keeps makeup from creasing and feathering. (Think of priming something before you paint it, like a wall, car, or piece of furniture; the paint adheres better and lasts longer. That's the same with makeup primer.)

Most makeup primers sold are pretty expensive. Drugstore makeup brands are starting to carry primers, but a lot are still only available online. These run anywhere from $10-$20. Department store makeup brands run much higher.

Most primers have some sort of silicone-like ingredient in them, like Dimethicone. Turns out there is another product that has Dimethicone in it, for much cheaper: anti-chafing gel. As a runner, I used to get bad chafing when my thighs rubbed together. There used to only be sticky gels for that, but now there are ones that are much smoother. They also dry with a nice silky feeling.

Monostat makes one, but many women are put off by something that is made by a company that primarily makes products for yeast infections. I tried to find it at my local drugstore, and couldn't find it. I wandered down the first-aid isle and actually found another brand that makes it: Lanacane.

(image source)

I bought it and tried it out and I do have to say that it does keep my makeup on longer than it lasted before. I'd like if it filled in some of my fine lines a bit more, but it could be that I'm not putting enough on. (It can feel a little greasy if too much is applied at once.)

Here are a couple of sites that have more information and reviews:

Makeup Alley

Red Lipstick Black Liner blog

Makeup Talk


These are for Monostat, but it has the the same main ingredients:

Glamour

The Beauty Brains

The Mineral Makeup Blog

Here's how Monistat (Lanacane is around $5-$6) compares to the name brand primers:

(image source)

Just thought I'd pass that along.

WFMW: $1 Cosmetics

I love experimenting with my makeup, but I can't afford to try new colors/products and then be stuck with something I don't like. I love that Rite Aid has a good return policy for makeup, but it seems that even drugstore cosmetics are expensive nowadays. Then I found a makeup line that had the perfect price: $1.00 for just about everything.





I came across e.l.f (eyes.lips.face) cosmetics when I first started shopping at Food 4 Less (my local grocery store). I assumed it was a store brand so never looked further into it. The store I shop at doesn't have a great selection, but every now and then I happen across a nice find. And for a buck a piece for everything, I didn't feel guilty for picking a new lip gloss to try or a fun new eyeshadow.

Recently a co-worker of mine told me that e.l.f. has a website. I decided to check it out and found that they have everything from makeup brushes to mineral makeup. They have a wonderful selection of colors, too. It's a flat shipping rate of $7, whether you order one lipstick or 50, so if you're interested I would suggest getting some other gals and put your orders together so you can split the shipping. Or, you can go to Food 4 Less, Big Lots, or Kmart. There might be other stores too; check out their store locator.

Some products, like those in their Mineral line, are more than a dollar, but I think the most expensive of the makeup was $5. Not too bad.

It comes highly recommended by customers, just read the reviews. Also, magazines like Elle, Allure, Real Simple and O sing it's praises. Plus, it's P.E.T.A approved!

All that and it's only a buck? That works for me!

For more tips and tricks, head over to We Are THAT Family's Works for Me Wednesday carnival.

Makeup Monday: Maybelline Dream Liquid™ Mousse

[I don't know if I'll actually do a makeup review each Monday; I just liked the way it sounded in the title. What can I say? I'm a sucker for alliteration.]

I've always been interested in makeup, mostly because I've been called Plain Jane often enough to think I need a little sprucing up. Also, I like the idea of experimenting with different looks, and playing dress-up.

I used to buy a lot of my makeup at department stores, but my new budget definitely doesn't allow it. As I've slowly been running out of my department-store makeup products, I'm replacing them with less-expensive drugstore finds. (And I've found them to be just as good, if not better.)

Foundation has always been hard for me to pick, since I have uneven skin tone and have a fear about looking two-toned:

(Image info)

pasty:

(image info)

or... uh... orange:

(image info)

[That's one reason why I love Rite Aid, you can return makeup!]

I tried Revlon Colorstay™ for a while, as I'd heard it was comparable to the M.A.C. foundation I had been using (and was a third of the price). While it definitely stayed on my face, it was hard to blend, and it seemed like it collected in the creases and clogged my pores. It also seemed kind of cakey and had too much of a matte finish.

I decided to try something lighter, a little less Kabuki and a little more dewy-looking. Enter Maybelline Dream Liquid™ Mousse.




It boasts an "airbrushed finish" and I have to admit, it really seemed to blend seamlessly for me. I wasn't sure about the color at first because the store was out of a lot of shades (I had to pick the lightest one), but I when I tried it on, it matched quite well. I like that it doesn't feel heavy, and doesn't seem to settle into wrinkles to make them more pronounced. And at around $8.50 a bottle, it's still less than a third of what M.A.C. costs.

So while I may never look like this model when I wear it:

"Adriana is wearing New Dream Liquid™ Mousse Foundation in Pure Beige."

I still think it does a better job than both M.A.C. and Revlon. The only thing I don't like is that it doesn't have any SPF in it. Other than that, it really works for me. (Now if I could just get my brows to look as good as hers!)

Anyone else have makeup finds they love?