June Birchbox: Instant Reviews

Birchbox is a tiny bundle of monthly love made with beauty junkies in mind. For $10 a month you receive a package filled with 4-5 samples, many of which are deluxe size, with the occasional full-size product thrown in. These instant reviews are just that- my first impressions based on my initial testing, swatching and, of course (you know me) a peek at the ingredients. 

This month's theme is Jet Set, with selections to "indulge your inner jetsetter, from hardy formulas that can last throughout a long-haul flight to imported finds that we've picked up on our global adventures". Sounds promising, right? I don't know that I'll be doing many of those long-haul flights this summer, but imported beauty finds is music to my ears!

BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages by Cynthia Rowley

Sample Size: full box, 20 bandages

Retail Size: 20 bandages for $5.00

Sample Value: $5.00

Birchbox Says:

Klutzy fashionistas, we feel your pain and so does designer Cynthia Rowley. The fashion visionary teamed up with BAND-AID® Brand to create these haute band aids, which cover up life’s little boo boos and look good doing it.

I say:

These were the first thing I saw when I opened my box, and I was more excited than anyone has a right to be over Band-Aids! But, when's the last time you saw something this sexy in a package marked "sterile"? And, as accident-prone as I am, I will definitely get use out of these!

One quick mention, for anyone comparing notes: The Birchbox insert seems to have a typo where it lists the value of these at $15. The $5 retail value I used above is the price listed on Cynthia Rowley's official website. FYI, in my search to verify the price on these, I happened to notice Target has them available on-line for under $3 a box!

theBalm® cosmetics Stainiac in Beauty Queen

Sample Size: 0.04 oz/1.2ml

Retail Size: .3oz for $17.00

Sample Value: $2.27

Birchbox Says:

Why use two products when you can get the same effect with one? This two-in-one lip and cheek stain gives us a natural, understated flush...Use a single coat for a subtle look or layer it on for a more visible (yet still discreet) hue.

I say:
Right on! I love the idea of a multi-use stain, especially for summertime, and this gel-based formula is as easy to use as it gets. Beauty Queen, a slightly blue-based berry shade, went on my lips sheer and streak-free, and built up noticeably with just one additional coat. On cheeks, a little dab gave a nice flush, and blended evenly (and without settling into pores or grabbing on to any dry spots).

Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner
Sample Size: Full size, 0.07oz/.2g
Retail Size: .2g for $15
Sample Value: $15

Birchbox Says:

Twiggy fans, rejoice: this London-based brand’s liquid liners let you create mod looks in a flash. The precision pen tip allows you to control the thickness of the line you create and vary the intensity of your look. Plus, the fade-proof formula will hold up all day and night.

I say:
Woohoo! I have been hearing raves about this brand for ages, so I was thrilled to see this liner in my box. The sturdy felt-tip applies the inky black liquid effortlessly- no skips, tugs or bald-spots. The line I drew on my hand dried almost instantly, and then stood up to a pretty brisk rub. My next test was dishes, and while this liner doesn't purport to be waterproof, it certainly lives up to the "fade-proof" claims (as a matter of fact, the line I drew is still visible now, about 12 hours- and countless hand washings- later). Also, this little baby is half the price and almost twice the size of my current favorite, Lancome Artliner, so this could well be a new staple in my personal arsenal!


John Varvatos Star U.S.A
Sample Size: .04oz/1.2ml
Retail Size: 1.7oz for $55
Sample Value: $1.29

Birchbox Says:
The manly scent combines red ginger essence from Laos, juniper berries and cedrat from Sicily, blue spruce, green cardamom, osmanthus, vetyvert, belambre, and tonka bean from Venezuela.

I say:
My nose for women's fragrances is actually pretty sharp, but somehow, almost all men's scents smell the same to me, and this one isn't any different. I'd call it clean, almost sporty, even a little green. It comes across more citrusy than herbal or spicy/woody to me, which is surprising given the notes listed. Not a bad scent, but not something I'd search out.

This extra was a "sneak peak" at Birchbox's new men's service- it was a cute little addition to the box, though I do have to say that for the higher price point of Birchbox Man ($20/month) I'd need to see something more than a vial sample (let's be honest, you can walk into most department stores and get these for free) to get me to sign up.


Melvita Floral Water in Rose
Sample Size: .95oz/28ml
Retail Size: 6.76oz for $22
Sample Value: $3.09

Birchbox Says:
Powered by organic ingredients like rose petals...each spray soothes, firms, and heals delicate skin. Each of Melvita’s Floral Waters uses healing natural extracts to refresh and soothe skin...Rose is ideal for sensitive or prematurely aging complexions.

I say:
I'm not sure where I stand on the issue of floral waters. One one hand, floral compounds are chock-full of skin irritants (they're even listed in the ingredient list as "natural components") and that's not beneficial for anyone. Rose, however, has a very storied history: it's touted as a natural anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant, and is said to treat everything from sun-damage to depression. Now, it's easy for me to dismiss folk-remedies- I mean, women used to use lead to whiten their skin- but in the case of rose, science is pitching in to back up some of those claims.

This formula is pretty simple, it's basically just rose water, some citric acid (probably to adjust the pH and maybe as a preservative) and some lysine, which I was happy to see- it's an amino acid that helps to moisturize and repair the skin's protective barrier. The addition of this natural moisturizing factor tips the scales to the plus side for me: I'll be keeping this little bottle in the cooler this summer!


Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream
Sample Size: .1oz (3g)
Retail Size: 1.25oz for $16
Sample Value: $1.28

Birchbox Says:
Invented by a pharmacist back in the 1950’s, Yu-Be has been Japan’s top-selling skin cream for over fifty years. Great for head-to-toe hydration, it helps with all forms of stubborn dryness, including flaky red skin, chapped lips, and callused feet. High concentrations of glycerin and sodium hyaluronate seal in moisture and protect skin from the elements. Finally, vitamins B, C, and E infuse skin with antioxidants and boost firmness. It’s so gentle that even infants and kids can safely use it.

I say:
Another wildly popular import whose reputation precedes it, I was excited to see this tiny tube in my box- if only to see what all of the hype was about. One peek at the ingredients, however, reminded me why I never tried this "wonder cream".

Remember, this cream was formulated over 50 years ago, so it comes as no surprise that the ingredients add up to what is really a pretty out-dated moisturizer. Yu-Be is, at it's core, a blend of basic emollients with a few antioxidants thrown in the mix. The form of vitamin C used, ascorbic acid, is one of the more unstable, and in such a low concentration (it's the second to last ingredient) who knows if it would even have an effect on the skin? Vitamin B2 is also listed, but is a know photosensitizer, something I'd definitely stay away from.

The final nail in the coffin? Camphor. In my opinion, camphor is one of the very worst ingredients used in skincare- it's extremely irritating, so though it can temporarily relieve pain or itching, it actually damages skin in the long-run. Camphor can actually be toxic and enters the blood stream easily, so it should never be applied to mucous membranes or broken skin- yet it's a common ingredient in lip balms! Infuriating! Most alarming is the statement that it's gentle enough to use on kids and infants: according to the International Programme on Chemical Safety, "Even in small doses, camphor consumption can cause fatal poisoning in children and infants." It's also not recommended for pregnant or nursing women. So explain to me again why I want this on my cracked heels or chapped lips? No thanks!

TOTAL JUNE BOX VALUE: $27.93

Camphor rant aside, I really thought this box hit it out of the park. In fact, I'd go so far as to say this is my favorite box yet! It's almost as if Birchbox read my wishlist and made it a box just for me. Aside from the Yu-be (which I'll be keeping far away from my lip-balm eating toddler) I will use every single thing in this box, and feel fancy while I'm doing it!

What did you get in your box? Was it as big of a success for you this month?

Eye of the Day: Weeping Cherry Blossom

This is one of my very favorite looks for spring nights out; the vibrancy of the pink is a nice change after all of those deep, dark winter hues, but at the same time, the matte finish, bold liner and semi-cut crease really step up the drama. Not into pink? Use any other light-bright shade to customize it!

First, use a skin-toned primer on your lid from lash to brow- today I used Urban Decay Potion Primer. Next, using a short, dense paddle brush (MAC 239) brush a mid-tone bright matte pink shadow (Kryolan Flamingo) along the entire lash line, blending up and out to just above your natural crease.

Next, line your eye with your favorite liquid liner (I used Lanome Artliner in Noir). Lining before you contour your crease is essential- the wing has to end at the natural crease of the eye- trust me, it makes it look! To determine the correct angle, imagine making a line from the outer corner of your eye to where it would meet the end of your eye brow.

After lining, load a small smudger brush (my beloved, Lancome #10, has been discontinued) with a deep, matte eggplant shade (MUFE 160). Starting at the outside corner of your eye, where you ended your liner "wing", use light sketching strokes and follow the underside of your brow bone in, stopping at about the center of your lid (above the pupil). A lot of tutorials show this step with a pencil brush like MAC's 219, but unless your lid space is huge, I think a small smudger is lots easier to work with here.

After you've got your crease "cut" you can lightly begin blending your eggplant line up in the outer 1/3rd of your eye, working toward the brow. I stick with the smudger brush for most of this process, wiping excess shadow off before I start to blend.

When I'm relatively comfortable with the fade of the plum shade, I do turn to my pencil brush; using it clean at first. Use a windshield wiper motion to blend the deep crease color into the skin below the brow bone. Next, add just a tiny amount of your matte pink (the same shade you used on the lid) and blend over the top edge of where your plum has faded out. Make sure you're working on top of the eggplant shadow- if you put the pink on bare skin you won't get the subtle gradient we're looking for. Since I don't have a lot of space between my lid and brow bone, I like to leave some space to make the area look larger, so I stop shy of taking the pink up to the brow.

Next, go back to your small smudge brush & pick up a little bit of matte black shadow (I used the one from my Sleek Acid Palette). With a light hand, work the black in the corner V to give some depth to the look. At this point, I lined my water line (all the way) and lash line (just the outer half, tapering off at the pupil) with Makeup For Ever Aqua Eyes pencil in matte black, and smudged over that with the black shadow left over on my brush.

Of course, you could stop here and you'd have a very eye-catching cut-crease look, but I wanted something just a touch softer. Grab your pencil brush once more and place it, without applying additional color, in the crease just inside where your liquid liner meets the crease color. Keeping it in place, move the brush in small circular motions. You're basically using the motion of the brush to bring a little of the black and eggplant into the outer corner of the eye. If you need to, you can add the tiniest amount of eggplant to your pencil brush, but keep it super light- you don't want to blend away the defined crease.

To finish, add a bit of white shimmer to the inside tear-ducts and under the eye brows, blending into the pink slightly. Top it off with mascara and you're done!

30 in 30: Question #29. Do You Like Liquid Liner?

OK, so 30 days didn't happen. My cat ate my...computer? I accepted a drink from a stranger and woke up yesterday in a motel bathtub full of ice? I thought it was 30 business days (on the planet Mercury)? Anyway, we are in the home stretch, so I'm going to continue on with...

Question #29. Do you like wearing liquid liner? If so, what's your favorite?

I adore a nice winged cat eye, and my long-time favorite to achieve it is Lancome Artliner in Noir. It’s a long, felt tipped pen that applies precisely, goes on bold in one stroke, and stays on all day. I’m honestly surprised it’s not more popular among other bloggers and YouTube gurus- it’s tops!

Calaveras de Azúcar

For those of you who aren't familiar, Dia de Los Muertos (which translates to day of the dead) is a Mexican holiday to honors, remember and celebrate those who have passed on. The holiday is marked by festive eating and drinking, sometimes on the grave site of the dead, where colorful altars are set up with favorite foods and drinks of the departed loved ones. Among the common decorations are calaveras de azúcar (Sugar Skulls).

In commemoration of the holiday, which is celebrated on November 1st and 2nd (to coincide with the Catholic holidays All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day) I thought I'd share with you my Halloween costume from this year: my very own pout painted up like a super sweet sugar skull!

This was my first crack at a calavera de azúcar, but luckily for me, they come as basic or as detailed as you'd like, so I had a wide range to work from. I started out by applying Ben Nye Cream Foundation in P-1 White over my entire face using an ELF studio powder brush. Next, I applied a fine white opalescent glitter all over (I'll be washing that out of my hair until next year!) I used a good craft store glitter; unfortunately, you really can't see it in the picture, but trust me- it's there. This gave a nice effect that was reminiscent of actual sugar, though were I to do this again, I'd spray a sealer over the white cream before applying the glitter. I didn't this time and I found that the cream makeup somewhat coated the glitter and reduced its shimmer.

Next, to make my face appear more skeletal, I used a MAC 109 brush and NYX Black eyeshadow to carve out the hollow under my cheek, angling the line down along my chin and then blending it out toward my neck. An inverted heart painted on with MAC Blackground Paint Pot mimics the nasal cavity of the skull.

For my lips, I chose a red lip liner (Ben Nye in Plum LP-24 which, despite its name, is a cherry red shade) and traced a small, heart shaped lip inside my natural lip line, slightly exaggerating the line up over my Cupid's bow. Once I was happy with the shape, I filled in with MAC Lady Danger lipstick and a tiny bit of OCC Lip Tar in NSFW. For the stitches/skeleton teeth effect, I used Lancome Artliner in Noir.

The first step for my eyes was a good primer- I used Urban Decay Primer Potion this time, but I like Too Faced Shadow Insurance just as well, so if that's what you have, use it! Using my orbital bone as a guide, I then used a synthetic concealer brush to fill in the entire ocular cavity with black. I ended up using the same MAC Blackground Paint Pot that I'd used on my nose, so in the end I may not have needed a primer, but better to be safe than sorry! When I finished filling in my eyes, I topped of the black area with a dusting of Sugarpill Chromalust pigment in Stella (an awesome black base with vibrant rainbow sparkles!)to add a bit of interest.

To do the "petals" around the eyes, first I took a liner and lightly traced the area- the same Ben Nye Plum for the red petals, and Urban Decay Ransom for the purple. I did the smaller, red petals first, basically placing one above and one below my pupil, and then one at the outer corner of my eye. Then I went back with the purple and drew larger petals in the gaps. For the red petals, I used Sugarpill Love+ to fill in, on the purple petals I first filled in with Sugarpill Poison Plum and then made a center highlight and blended out to the edges of the petal with Sugarpill Dollipop.

At this point, I was running out of time and had a very impatient toddler (and perhaps a more impatient toddler's Daddy!) waiting, so I grabbed a bit of Sugarpill Darling Chromalust and mixed in a couple drops of MAC water-based mixing medium to make a paste. Using a fine lining brush (Grumbacher #1 Goldenedge Round from the craft store) I pained a freehand vine on the center of my forehead, as well as spikes coming out from between the petals around my eyes. I also used the same brush to paint a few hash marks around the inside corner of the eye, and after washing it, painted small hearts at the end of the petal spikes using Makeup For Ever Aqua Cream #7 Fuchsia. My final touch was a flower at the center of my head- the orange center is done with Sugarpill Flamepoint (which darkened a bit due to the moisture from the cream makeup) and the yellow petals are OCC Liptar in Traffic with Sugarpill Buttercupcake on top. A spritz of Mehron Barrier Spray kept the entire thing on through the night; this photo was actually taken after trick-or-treating!

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday, and even if you're not Mexican or Catholic (I'm neither myself) use this day to remember with fondness the people in your lives who are no longer with you in body, and take comfort in knowing that as long as you honor them in memory, they'll always live on in spirit.

Real Charity: An OutInAPout Editorial Opinion

For those of you that read any number of other beauty blogs, or follow certain bloggers or YouTubers on Twitter, you've no doubt heard that today Lancome is "celebrating" what they're calling "Genes Day". If you follow me on Twitter, you already know my opinion on the subject, so you have my permission to skip this post- or add your thoughts to the comments!

Today, October 22nd, Lancome is having a one day fund-raiser to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The company is donating $7 from the sale of every bottle of it's Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate to the hospital- so nice of Lancome, right?

Maybe, maybe not. Génifique retails for $78. In my experience, this means that the company pays maybe $15 cost on the item, meaning that Lancome is really only giving about 11% of ONE product's proceeds to charity. Their commitment is no less than $100,000. A lot of dough for you and me, but really, it's a pretty paltry sum for a brand who's parent company netted $1.66 billion (yes, billion with a "B") in just the first half of this year. That's like taking $16,000 out of your wallet to dig out a penny for the guy on the corner with a cup.

When it comes down to it, this "fundraiser" is merely a marketing gag. Lancome is hoping to rope in new clientele under the guise of charity and profit from it. Génifique is what many companies call a "wow product"- its instant "results" (in this case, the silky feel resulting from Génifique's high concentration of cheap, run-of-the-mill dimethicone) "wow" the client into interest without much care about the product's long term effects. In short- if they can get it on your hand, chances are good you'll buy it just because it feels nice. Add in the false sense of benevolence at the idea of "shopping for charity" and sales soar! Now, I know I have readers that love this product; if you like the product and use it anyway, stock up on your bottle today and pat yourself on the back! However, the idea of using charity as a promotional stunt kind of makes me want to gag.

If you're feeling charitable and are in the market for an anti-aging serum, I say buy Olay Regenerist Serum. For under $20 you'll get a comparable, if not more effective, treatment. Then take the $60 you saved and donate that to which ever charity you want! Remember, you can give to charity any day of the year.

Quick Tip: Pro Trick to Longer Wearing, Stay-in-Place Eye Liner!

This is one of my best tips, and it's so ingrained in my daily routine that I forget that it's not something everyone does! If you have problems with eye liner fading, smudging or transferring from one part of your lid to another (that's me!) you'll love this tip. This is also a great tip for beginners, since it helps to disguise any application mistakes!

Just as face powder helps to set your foundation, a powder (in the form of eyeshadow) placed over your liner can help it set and last longer. Simply draw on your liner, then take a small eyeliner or smudger brush (I like the Lancome #10 or MAC 212) and apply your choice of powder eyeshadow over where you placed the pencil. It's that simple!

For added staying powder without changing the look of your pencil line, choose a shadow shade close to your pencil, and use a thinner brush to place the powder on top of the pencil line. For a bit of added interest, try changing up the shade of your liner by layering it with different shades of shadow.

This trick is also perfect for people who aren't super-comfortable applying liner, or those that just prefer a less harsh line. Work the shadow into the liner with short, back and forth motions, which will blur the line a bit. This gives a softer, lightly smoky effect that hides the effects of a shaky, unsure hand!

D-Eye-Y:Under the Sea

This is the color combo that restored my faith in blue eyeshadow! A childhood in the 80s instilled in me a healthy fear of the baby blue monster, and when I began my career as a makeup artist in the mid-90s, I stayed as far away from the stuff as I could. Frankly, it was too soon- we needed time to heal. One day, the brand I worked for (ironically nicknamed Mama Blue) launched a brilliant matte Crayola blue eyeshadow that screamed "Try me!" and my world was turned on its head. OK, maybe that's an exaggeration, but since my line wasn't exactly known for their vivid shades, anything beyond the normal subdued spectrum was game for me!

It's been several years since I took the leap into the big blue with that vivid Crayola color, and I'm happy to say, my forays into the wild blue yonder gave me the tools to cure many people of their abhorrence of the azure, terror of teal...condemnation of cyan. OK I'm done.

Needless to say, when Sugarpill Cosmetics generously sent me a package of their goodies to try, I was thrilled to see that a few of the shades in the assortment were perfect for one of my favorite looks. This look has always reminded me of the ocean; bright blue where the sun hits the shoals, cool kelpey green in the depths, with mysterious glimpses of what I like to imagine could be the flash of mermaid fins (so much nicer to me than slimy, scaly fishes!)

The great thing about this look is that it's super fast to do- the analogous colors gradate easily from one into another, so you don't have to spend a ton of time blending.

• After priming the entire lid, apply a matte bright yellow to the inner 1/3 of the lower eyelid.
• Using a small, dense brush, apply a vibrant kelly green to the remaining portion of the lid, leaving just a bit of bare skin at the outer corner.
• Use the same brush (after wiping it clean) and lightly blend the horizontal line between the yellow and green, being careful to leave a bit of the unadulterated yellow at the inner corner of the eye.
• Next, take a vibrant mid-tone blue and apply it to the outer 1/3 of the eyelid.
• Using a fluffy shading brush loaded with a bit more of the blue, extend the color up into the outer V area, blending it lightly with the green in the middle.

How far up you choose to bring your color will vary based on your eye shape and comfort level. Since my eyelid is quite small and I have a good amount of space from crease to brow, I like to extend my color slightly above my crease. If you have more lid space, or you're a bit color shy, you may choose to keep your shadow mostly on the lid, blending just slightly into the crease for dimension.

• To soften the top edge, use a skin-toned powder on a clean fluffy shading brush and swipe left to right over the edge where the colors meet bare skin.
• Apply a deep blue liner to the outer half of both the top and bottom lash lines.
• Using a tiny smudger brush, dust a shimmering gold on to the tear duct and inner half of the lower lash line.
• With the same brush, go back to the inner corner and extend the gold from the tear duct up onto the lid, following the line where you blended the green into the yellow.

I have to interject here- I generally try keep shade descriptions in my tutorials kind of ambiguous (it's so not necessary to rush out and buy the exact one I have- use what you own!) but I have to gush a bit about Sugarpill's Goldilux. I am so glad Amy sent me this shade! I have tons of golds; I'll admit, I never would have purchased this one on my own. For the most part, I find most golds eminently dupeable. Sure, some are more antique gold, some closer to bronze, but essentially the finish is the same and I find myself grabbing for whichever is nearest. Goldilux, however, is different from any other gold shadow or pigment that I own. It's an intense, metallic true gold, which is nice on its own, but what sets it apart is its twinkle. Goldilux's shimmer particle size is so fine that it blends in perfectly with the pigment, resulting in maximum wattage without visible chunks of glitter. It's just plain gorgeous. Now, resume tutorial:

• Again, using a small smudger, blend the vivid blue shadow over the liner along the bottom lash line. Moving inward, lightly blend the blue into the gold at about midpoint.
• Swipe on a quick coat of black mascara on the lashes, or falsies if you're feeling fancy, and you're ready to go!

Product List:

Base: Too Faced Shadow Insurance (or Urban Decay Primer Potion- I use them interchangeably.)
Inner Lid: Buttercupcake Pressed Eyeshadow (all shadows used are from Sugarpill Cosmetics)
Middle & Outer Lid: Midori Pressed Eyeshadow

Outer Lid, Outer V & Lower Lash Line (Outer): Afterparty Pressed Eyeshadow
Lower Lash Line (Inner), Tear Duct, and Inner Corner: ChromaLust Loose Eyeshadow in Goldilux
Top Lash Line and Waterline: Blue Jay Duo Eye Pencil (Vincent Longo)
Mascara: Diorshow in Nior/Black
Brows: Automatic Brow Pencil Duo in Soft Brown (Estee Lauder)

Natural Brow Powder in Light Brown (Merle Norman)

Brushes:

MAC 239 (small dense eyeshadow)
MAC 222 (fluffy, domed shader)

Lancome #10 (small smudger)

*Pro Tip: I actually used my finger for this part! Shocking but true; sometimes you can't beat a clean digit for dense application. While it's generally true that brushes give you more control over the placement of your color, using your fingers helps you become more comfortable with your bone structure, which helps you learn where to place color.

Lime Crime Look:The Phoenix

This incendiary look is an update of an old signature look of mine that came to be known as fire eyes. When I first created this look, you simply couldn't find red eyeshadow; I used blush and lip liner to create the flame's vivid red. Now, in honor of Xenia and the launch of her fantastical Lime Crime Makeup, I've been inspired to revive fire eyes. From the ashes of old arose- the Phoenix!

I created this look with eye colors exclusively from Lime Crime Makeup, using only 2 shadows and a glitter for the entire look! Read on for all of the details, and make sure to click here to read my complete review of Lime Crime Makeup.



As always, I started by priming my lids from the upper lash line up to the eye brows. Using a small eyeshadow brush, I applied bright yellow Circus Girl to my lid, starting at the inner corner of my eyes and extending it just up to (but not in) the crease, leaving the outer third of my lid blank. I was very careful not to take the yellow into the crease or outer "V" of the eye, since I wanted the red to be as pure as possible.

Placing my pencil brush in the crease at the outer corner of my eye, I worked Siren (a warm, satiny red) along the crease, extending it just past the center of my lid, blending it slightly into the yellow shadow. Switching to a fluffy, domed shading brush, I used the brush clean first to blend the red crease shade lightly into the yellow, being careful to leave the inner corner pure yellow and the outer corner pure red. Then I applied the smallest bit of red pigment to the brush and applied it lightly it to the center of the lid and out. As you can see in the closeup, the result was a gorgeous coppery orange tone.

As an update to my old look, I added a bold blue "flame" along my lower lash line with sapphire blue glitter. I moistened a flat, angled eyeliner brush with a mixture of glycerin and water, dipped it into the glitter and placed the sparkles just underneath my bottom lashes, thinning and winging the line up slightly at the outside corners. Then, I used a moist smudger brush to apply a bit more glitter to my tear duct, extending it up slightly onto the inner corner of my lids. I applied a deep blue liner to my waterline, and finished the look with black mascara, false half-lashes, and a thin line of black gel liner to disguise the lash band.

Since this look is more editorial than daily wear, I chose to match the boldness of my eyes with a bold red lip. I applied a cherry red shade to my lips, patting a bit of Circus Girl pigment on top before applying clear gloss. When I ventured out on a shopping trip later in the day, I did switch to a more toned down lip, filling my lips with a nude liner before topping it with a bit of Circus Girl mixed into clear gloss.

Product List:

Eyes
Base: Urban Decay Primer Potion
Inner Lid: Circus Girl Magic Dust (Lime Crime Makeup)
Outer Lid & Crease: Siren Magic Dust (Lime Crime Makeup)
Lower Lash Line, Tear Duct, and Inner Corner: Unicorn Glitter (Lime Crime Makeup)
Top Lash Line: Blacktrack Fluidline (MAC)
Waterline: Blue Jay Duo Eye Pencil (Vincent Longo)
Mascara: Chanel Inimitable in Black
Brows: Automatic Brow Pencil Duo in Soft Brown (Estee Lauder)
Eyebrow Mascara in Auburn (Bourjois)
Lashes: Andrea Accents #305 in Black

Cheeks
Fusion Soft Lights in Dusk (Smashbox)

Lips
Pro Longwear Lipcolor in Lasting Lust (MAC)
Circus Girl Magic Dust (Lime Crime Makeup)


Brushes
MAC 239 (small dense eyeshadow)
MAC 219 (pencil brush)
MAC 222 (fluffy, domed shader)
Estee Lauder 7E (flat, angled eyeliner)
Lancome #10 (small smudger)

Bright Eyes in a Jiffy

Here's a quick, easy way to brighten your eyes- it's great for those days when you hit the snooze button one too many times, but don't want to show up to work still looking half asleep. All you need is white eyeliner, a shimmery (not sparkly) white shadow, and your favorite mascara.

Start by putting a drop of Visine in each eye. This is a popular photographer's trick- in addition to decreasing redness, the extra moisture from the drops will make them glisten and appear instantly brighter.

Next, use your white pencil to line the water line. The color will fade a bit after a few blinks, so don't worry if the look is a bit 60's mod at first. Now, take your liner and dab a bit of white onto the skin right around the tear duct- closest to the inner corner of your eye. I like to use a smudger brush to blend out the pencil line just a bit. Then, using the same brush, add a bit of shimmery white shadow around the tear duct, extending it up onto the very inner corner of the lid itself. Use the same white shimmer to highlight beneath your eyebrows- start under the high point of your arch and blend outward to where your eyebrow ends.

This trick works great as is, but you can easily work it into any eye look; just do your lid and crease as you normally would, adding the white liner and shadow as a finishing touch. Add a coat of your favorite mascara and you're ready to go!