Tutorial: Ombre Cat Eyeliner

I've been experimenting with eyeliner techniques and colors, especially since colored eyeliners are quite becoming more "in." I still love my black and browns, which have been staples in my makeup bag, but sometimes, it's nice to have a pop of color once in a while. On its own, it's a statement without eyeshadow, giving you a nice, edgy look. I usually use this technique when I need to go to an event after a workout session and I don't really want to bring brushes and all.

In this tutorial, I have a two-toned ombre cat eyeliner using the classic black and plum eyeliner. The cat eye starts off first as plum then wings out to black in the end. It's subdued enough to be worn in weddings or formal events yet it's got an interesting twist to it. You can use the eyeliner technique alone without eyeshadow but if you want to use eyeshadow or a full face of makeup either you feel inspired to put on makeup today or you just want to feel better, check this tutorial out. The warm gold scheme of the eye color contrasts well with the plum eyeliner so the plum stands out because otherwise, nonsense. Maybe you can't use this for your passport photo, but for a wedding, maybe.

Plum gel liner adds a different twist to an otherwise classic look

What You Need:
(I indicated the brands I used in the parenthesis. Feel free to use other brands of your own preference)

• Eyeshadows (Urban Decay Naked Smokey Palette)
• Black Eyeliner (L'Oreal Superliner Superstar)
• Purple/Plum eyeliner (MAC Fluidline in Looking Good)
• Black Pencil Eyeliner (Urban Decay24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion)
• Charcoal Pencil Eyeliner (Eye of Hours eye pencil in Charcoal Obsidian)
• Eyeshadow primer (NYX Eyeshadow base)

(Note: I did already my base, brows, contour, cheek color, and lip color here, so let's go straight to shadow)

Step 1: Apply eyeshadow primer from lashline to browbone.

Step 2: Apply a light contour color on the crease (UD Combust)

Step 3: Dab a shimmery golden color on the lid (UD Dirtysweet)

Step 4: On the outer 1/3 of the eye, apply a darker color with the same shimmery finish as the lid color (UD Radar)

Step 5: Smoke things out by applying a dark gray-black or black color on the outer V of the eye (UD Black Market)

Step 6: Line the bottom liner with charcoal pencil and set this with the same color you used on the outer V. Highlight the browbone and inner corners of the eyes with a bone-colored color (UD Thirteen). Blend the life out of the edges for nice, even transitions.

 Step 7: Tightline the upper lashlines with black eye pencil. Blend and smudge to slightly "smoke" it out.

Step 8: Use a purple eyeliner to line the top lashline, stopping until just before the outer corner.

Step 9: Go over where you ended the purple eyeliner with the black eyeliner and continue on lining the eyes and "flick" out the wing."

Step 10: Your eye liner should look like this: Starting off as purple, then ending with a black wing tip. If you want, lightly blend the transition between the purple and the black so you get a nice, blended ombre effect.

Finish off your look with some mascara on curled lashes. Apply falsies if desired. Finished!

Take this look to your next event or party. It's a way to introduce colored liners to your makeup kit, accompanying them with a basic black or charcoal and an otherwise neutral eye. The wing tip does take a lot of challenge getting even and I really took a long time there. If you have any wing tip tricks  to get both sides even, do leave them in the comments below.  Enjoy this new look for the new year!


Store Directory:

Eye Of Horus
Available at Purbeauty, Landmark, and SM Department stores; available at glamourbox.com, and beautymnl.com; facebook.com/eyeofhorusph; instagram.com/eyeofhorusph

L'Oreal Paris
Available at all leading groceries, beauty hubs, and department stores nationwide; lorealparis.com; lorealparisexclusif.ph; facebook.com/LOrealParisPhilippines

NYX
available at leading department stores; nyxcosmetics.com; facebook.com/nyxcosmeticsph

MAC

click here for a complete list of stores; maccosmetics.com; rustans-thebeautysource.com; maccosmetics.com.ph; facebook.com/MACcosmetics

Urban Decay
urbandecay.com; facebook.com/urbandecayglobal; instagram.com/urbandecaycosmetics

Lasting Makeup Over or Underwater with Make Up For Ever Aqua Collection

It's Stellar season once again since it's summer and while I'm not dancing this year as I did two years ago, I'm doing backstage work this time since I'll be doing hair and makeup with my pole sisters and brother. Yesterday, we just had our photoshoot and I was at the studio the whole day transforming students to comic book villains, sorcerers, and sweaty, sexy jazz dancers. Even though it's a photoshoot and the makeup would need to last up until the last pose, I took this as our "trial makeup" for the actual day.

As dancers need makeup that not only would be seen way up to the back of the theater, they also need to last long. A few weeks ago, I was invited to the launch of Make Up For Ever's Aqua Collection. The Aqua Collection is supposed to be made for synchronized swimmers who need to look pretty with their makeup not melting and turning the pool to a rainbow of pigments. If it could last swimming with no retouch, it can last  a sweaty pole dance number.

The Aquamatic glide-on eyeshadow glides on like a pencil and blends well like an eyeshadow. It can be used as an eyeliner for a quick look on the go or blended like a wash of color. It's got a wide range of colors from the natural and wearable ones like blacks and browns to metallics and brights. Use the brights and metallics not just on the face but to create festive body art.

Aquamatic Glide-On Eyeshadow in Matte Black, Php 1,350

The black one (Matte Black) is your basic black matte for smoky eyes or cat eye if you don't want to bothered with a lot of control liquid liner needs. Yesterday, I used it to make question mark details and lasting cut-creases on my makeup for Riddler and Two-Face. I blended it as soon as I applied it if I am doing the cut-crease or the dark-eye detail of Harvey Dent's evil side.

Lanie (left) as the Riddler and Angela (right) as Two-Face. I used black to create the question mark details and the dark makeup detail. 

Just last week, I did makeup for my yoga teacher Nikki since she would be attending an event at Resort's World. I used Noir Mat as a smoky eyeliner for the eye makeup to stay put.

Brights like purple and blue can be used as a statement eyeliner too if you are tired and bored from the usual blacks and browns

 Just in case you want a pointier tip for your glide-on eyeshadow, the bottom end twists off for a built-in mini sharpener. Just be careful in using it so you don't break off the tip. How waterproof is this? I wore this as an eyeliner without setting it with powder, taught a yoga class at noon when it's really hot and I even sweat buckets,  took a shower, and I still have my liner on with no smearing at all. You would need makeup remover to remove this. Make Up For Ever suggests Sens'Eyes Waterproof Sensitive Eye Cleanser to remove this easily.

Compliment your colorful eyes with sweet kisses of apricot and cotton candy with the Aqua Rouge liquid lip color. The colored product is topped with a sealing topcoat (clear formula, like a clear lipgloss) to seal the color without the stick or crack so your color lasts the whole day.  

The Apricot color is my personal favorite for nude lip colors. I'll be using this in a prenup shoot later. Php 1,550 at Make Up For Ever stores.

Dancers, make up artists, theater performers, and even makeup afficionados who would love their makeup fix without the smear wherever they go would love this because of its durability and user-friendliness. Have the basic black or dark brown with you for subtle eye definition and probably choose your favorite color pop if you want to buy. If this product can withstand synchronized swimming and a yoga class in the hot humid weather we have, it must be awesome.

Like Make Up For Ever Philippines in Facebook for more updates or follow them in Instagram,

I Miss Smoky Eyes

Lately I've been lazy to wear makeup. But since it was the despedida lunch of my auntie and grandma as they would be flying back to the States the following day, I thought I'd look good too and go with teal-ly smoky eyes to match my teal dress. All MAC unless stated otherwise.

Skin Care:

• Human Nature Tomato and Lemongrass Toner
• Olay Total Effects Moisturizer with Cooling Essence
• Just a Pinch Gel Blush (from A Rose Romance collection)

Base Makeup:

• Concealer: MAC Studiofinish NC30
• Foundation: MAC Studioperfect NC30. I'm so pale now. Subic was months ago and I had to use NC40 for a good few weeks since NC35, which is what I really use was too white. I like Studioperfect's finish though.
• MAC MSF in Dark to contour
• Fanny Serrano in Skin to Highlight
• MAC MSF in Blonde as a blush

Eyes:

• Mosscape and Shell as base (Mosscape on lids and Shell on browbones)
• Shu Uemura Eyebrow Gel in Seal Brown
• TBS black eye kajal
• TBS eye color #43 (the green one from Smoke and Fire collection) on crease
• Mood Ring on inner 2/3 of lids highlighted with TBS Emerald Sea
• Cloudburst to set black kajal
• Blacktrack to line upper lids and create the winged eye effect.
• TBS Sea Shell on browbone and inner tear duct highlight
• Plushlash on lashes

Lips:

• Saint Germain mixed with All Styled Up

Glad the weather cooperated as well and didn't make my hair mushroom up or make the makeup melt. I really missed wearing makeup though and I miss the time I actually had time and energy to put makeup on myself. Oh, and my skin actually feels so much better after my diet. I thought I'd keep it for a while though, yet I really miss the French Fries I used to down everyday. Maybe I could do a few cheat days because yes, I do food reviews too. I promise I'll work out.

And speaking of working out, I've been doing and following Tara Stiles' Yoga for Weight loss for a few weeks now. The girl's done wonders for my arms though and my back, but more of that later.

How to Deal with Mineralize Eye Shadows

One of the complaints I have with mineralize eye shadows and also some of my clients is that they're too sheer and they don't last that long on the eye. Actually, mineralize eye shadows are sheerer as compared to the traditional eyeshadows we buy individually. I've been trying to work my way around them as to how to sell them when I'm in the store or when I review them.

Actually, a few days ago, I was playing with my new toys at home when I decided to use just purely MES on my eyes. I figured that a pigmented look is also possible. So here's how to make use of the MES and make them stay longer:

I use a base. As an alternative, I use an eyeshadow base in a cream formula. Shown here is MAC Cream Color Base in a neutral color like Shell. Although this is no longer available locally here, try a neutral-colored cream eyeshadow, an eyeshadow primer, or a base. I use little only of the cream color base because too much of it causes my eyeshadow to crease, which isn't a pretty sight.

Anyway, for tools, I use a densely-packed brush to deposit the product on my lid. I like the MAC 239 brush (left) and my The Body Shop eyeshadow brush (right). This brush is from the Nature's Minerals collection, since the bristles are dense and stiff enough to grab the color from the pan and effectively deposit it on the lid. What I do is just pat the brush on the color, then pat on my lid, layering for intensity. Just deposit, deposit, and deposit.

Now, since depositing does give better color payoff than sweeping, it also leaves harsh demarcation lines. What I do is that I get a fluffy brush to blend the edges of the color, making the eye makeup seamless, so there are no harsh demarcation lines.

Let's compare the intensity of color with two swatches:

The color holds so much better with a base(left) rather than without (right). Without base, there's hardly a hint of color and the product comes out rather powdery.

I'm glad that with a few experiments, I could maximize the use of my products. Actually, I figured that the MES can be great for bridals or daytime looks or in combination with our traditional shadows since they give a healthy amount of shimmer if used properly.

REVIEW: MAC Smoke and Mirrors Eyeshadow Palette

A good day-to-night neutral palette sure is hard to find. However, once I set eyes on the Smoke and Mirrors eyeshadow palette from this year's Holiday Collection, I knew that it was going to be one of my most highly-recommended eyeshadow palettes for those willing to invest and would want to start off with a good day-to-night makeup. So, when Mike was out shopping for the studio at the MAC Rockwell counter, he asked me what would be a good neutral eyeshadow palette. Well, you all know now what I recommended. :)

So I borrowed the palette for the weekend so I could review it finally. And so, here it is.

Check out the neutral colors without the shimmer and glitter overload:


And swatches of the shadows too:Clockwise from top left: Fire In Her Eyes (Frost), Wide-Eyed Wonder (Frost), Black Magique (Veluxe), Spell No. 9 (Satin), Deception (Frost), and Smoke and Mirrors (Satin)

I like how the finishes are not that overpowering with shine but they still have a bit of shimmer with the frost and satin finishes. Colors are quite muted and conservative, which are perfect for first-time eyeshadow users. In fact, this was the eyeshadow palette I used during my neutral look demo when I spoke at Atelier De Maquillage. It's also a perfect day-to-night palette.

However, the color payoff isn't that intense as you could see in the swatches and they come out quite sheer considering I swatched this with a dense 239 brush. is that if you want color intensity, using this alone isn't recommended. No, I do not recommend and never will recommend the wet application technique. What do I recommend for intense color? A good eyeshadow primer like MAC Paint Pot in Painterly or Fresco Rose (I use Fresco Rose curently), MAC Prep+Prime, MAC Cream Color Base in Shell, Shu Uemura cream eyeshadow, Laura Mercier Eye Basics, and the infamous UDPP. I prefer the Paint Pots though because they're waterproof yet glide on smoothly and really, the colors are crease and practically everything proof. The palette comes with a 213 SE brush, but of course, I highly recommend getting 239 and 242 for packing the pigments in and a 224 brush to blend the colors to a seamless finish.

Fire In her Eyes happens to be a matte and universal highlighter. I consider Smoke and Mirrors to be a double-purpose color, since I also use this as eyebrow powder makeup, since it's relatively matte and the color still remains subtle. I use little amount though, and I top this to my eyebrow pencil or cream, if I want my eyebrow makeup to be insured. Black Magique doesn't come out as intense black as Carbon or Kryolan Black (two of my absolute favorite intense matte black colors) but for a subtle smokey eye, or for those afraid of going all out black, this could be a best "beginner" black.

Here's a quick tutorial for a good daytime look:
For a five-minute glam, after prepping eyes with eyeshadow base, apply Spell No. 9 on the lids with a 239 brush and highlight the browbone with Fire In Her Eyes. Contour the crease with Smoke and Mirrors mixed with Deception (Deception mutes Smoke and Mirrors a bit so the brown isn't too dark) using a 217 or 224 brush. Blend, blend, and blend so it doesn't look clownish. Tightline the top and bottom lashlines with a waterproof brown eyeliner like Technakohl in Brownborder and for 100% sure staying power, set the liner with Smoke and Mirrors. Define brows and then curl lashes and apply 3 coats of lengthening mascara.

This looks subtle but the eyes are defined and awakened without looking too overly made up. It goes well with any lippie color since it's quite neutral. I used this tutorial yesterday with my MAC Viva Glam V and I like how subtle it looked since I went out looking casual that day.

Retail price for this is Php 2,800. This is a limited edition palette available only for the Holidays and only when supplies last.

Smoke and Ash : Suite Array Swatches

My latest MAC purchase because I couldn't resist leaving the MAC counter without buying anything:

MAC Suite Array eyeshadow in Smoke and Ash. (Retail Price: Php880, so you get two shadows for a little over the price of one eyeshadow pan). Both shades are

"matte with an overlay of pearl and provide sheer to medium buildable coverage with a beautiful luminescent effect."

Swatch:

The coverage is quite sheer, since I used only 1-2 swipes for the black one (smoke) but if you add more layers, you can go for a more opaque coverage like the silver one (ash). My main color usually is the silver one and I use the black to contour but you can make black the main color and add silver as a highlight.

To apply, MAC makeup artists recommend using a cream eyeshadow base or primer and then really layering for intensity as these are quite sheer. If you want a subtle wash, then 1-2 swipes would do. But for super-duper intense colors, you might need layering and a bit of patience.

Recommended tools: a dense eyeshadow brush, a sponge tip applicator, or your finger. :)

Metallic Smoky Eyes Tutorial

With the Holiday Season coming back, warmer, spicier, and more dramatic shades looking really hot this season, I went for a dark, warm smoky eye with a spice by adding a metallic texture in this new tutorial.



And like any makeup tutorial I have, you guys know how much I stress about blending! Blending makes the colors seamless and the effect very pro. :)

Have fun!

Waterproof Love

Since most of my work last week has been involving water and beach shoots lately so the quest for water-resistant makeup has been my adventure the past few days (also i've been bombarded with shoots and all). Actually, I'd like to zero down two in my list that I've discovered so far. Waterproof makeup (especially the eye makeup) is also important not just for heavy-duty shoots but also weddings where a lot of crying is involved and sometimes every day life, when all's too sweaty.

However, since waterproof makeup can be expensive, I can zero in two of my favorite waterproof variants:

Here's my ever-so-fabulous mascara favorite:

FASIO Mascara (any variant) (Php395.00 at Rustans)

It's practically waterproof, smudge proof, cry proof, sweatproof, and everything proof. I think it's almost makeup remover proof, you practically need to soak it in makeup remover to get it out. I used that for my beach photoshoot and the models were surprised they didn't end up looking like a raccoon. :) Plus, if you don't remove it properly, you would have more for the next day. :)

For eyeshadow, I'm loving In2It waterproof colors. Plus, they go on sale!

That's my eye and I've already road-tested it by summerging my entire face in water. As you could see, the makeup is still intact. The technique though is to layer, layer, and layer. You can use a sponge tip applicator for intense application. That's what I did since I did an ultimate road test.

The good thing about in2it is that they have a variety of colors and the price isn't that high. I havent tried using a sealant yet but this looks like a good alternative for now. :) You have my claim on these products as I have subjected these babies into violent road-testing. Although that's a lot of layers, just to make sure. :)

My Green-and-Lilac EOTD using my Baxi Shadows

Just a few weeks ago, I saw a pallete of Baxi eyeshadows and 2 blushers and after finding out how super pigmented they are got myself one (At Php100.00 a pop. ha!)

Since I'll be heading off for a shoot in a few minutes, I thought I'd share first my EOTD using my super inexpensive and super colorful Baxi shadows.

So here's the guide:

Basically I just used colors marked 1, 2, and 3. For the others, though, I did incorporate a bit of other makeup. :)

So here's how to do it:

I applied concealer on areas that need evening out and buffed mineral foundation on my face and set it with Setting Powder.

Groomed and defined brows and tightlined my eyes with dark brown eyeliner.

Then, I lined my upper eyelids with black kohl pencil and smudged this up to the crease for a smoky effect and also to act as a base (im going for colorful smokey eyes here)

On inner upper lid, I dabbed color #1 and blended this through halfway.

On inner lower lid is color #3, and i blended this halfway.

On outer upper lid, I dabbed in color #2. I blended where the two colors meet (a defined boundary is yucky) and also up towards the crease. I blended this so it does not look like a stroke of color. I also swept color #2 on the lower outer lashline to act as a drop shadow.

Finally, I highlighted the ball of the lid with a shimmery green loose powder eyeshadow (you can use your favorite MAC pigment/Careline loose powder shadow/MMU eyeshdaow) and BLEND well.

Then, for more definition, I lined my eyes with black pencil liner and smudged to soften. Curl lashes and add lots of mascara.

No blush here, since I made my eyes take center stage. I added a frosty glittery pink lipstick to go with the whole scheme.

Gotta go now! Hope you like this EOTD!