Trendsday Wednesday : Subtle Smokey Blue

The number one makeup look I get asked about the most is the smokey eye.

Over the years I've found that everyone has their own perception of a smokey eye and what

The beauty of this makeup look is that it can be done in so many different ways with so many different colors!

Today I'm showing you how to play up brown eyes with one of the fall season's hottest colors: Cobalt Blue

I found this image on Pinterest (originally from a French makeup lover) and it spoke to me

The image on the left is the inspiration and the image on the right is someone else's interpretation

I love how the blue has hints of purple in it as well as a distinct cobalt liner and that the rest of the face was kept clean and neutral.

That keeps the look easy enough to wear on a night out or an afternoon play date in the park. 

To vamp it up for evening I would suggest adding a brighter blush and some false eyelashes as seen in the image above.

My interpretation of the 'pinspiration'

1) Begin by lining the upper eyelid with a deep blue pencil or cream eye shadow

To give it the creamy feel I simply wet the brush I used: M.A.C shadow in Contrast and also added Tilt by M.A.C

2) smudge the liner around with a fluffy brush or q-tip

3) Using the same liner/shadow line the lower lash line underneath eyelashes and smudge with q-tip 

4) Apply a shimmering purple/blue color all over the lid and blend into the crease ( M.A.C. Plum & Purple Haze mixed with Red Ginger shimmer purple &shimmery blue)

5) Line water line with dark brown (M.A.C. coffee eyeliner) or black eyeliner (M.A.C Smolder Eye Kohl)

6) Apply eyelashes for added effect (Ardell Natural lash)
Keep the rest of the face clean and fresh by using a hint of blush in the same tone as your skin color ( I used M.A.C in gingerly) and a nude lip gloss or lipstick

All the makeup used:

   

*side note: I first primed my lids with Urban Decay's Primer Potion
**please keep in mind that skin tone changes the overall intensity of this look.

Tell me - is this a trend you would ever try?

LOTD on LUCKY!!

So I'm a contributor over at LUCKY magazine in their community section and my second post is now published and available to vote and comment on!

You can check it out here:

http://contributors.luckymag.com/post/lotd-easy-does-it

Please go and show me some love so I can move up in the contributor ranks and hopefully become a part of their style collective in time for the next LUCKY FABB conference!

Practical Matters - Makeup Tips

photo via: For the Love Of

A few weeks ago I mentioned I went by my friend Andrea's house for a makeup lesson for her.

She was interested in creating a new look in under 15 minutes that would take her from day to night.

She's a lover of all things fashion and beauty but also a busy mom of 2 (#3 is on the way) and wanted to ramp up her usual makeup to something a bit more modern 

(she says she's been wearing the same eyeshadow for years) 

My goal was to give her some fun tips and tricks to apply to her everyday look while showing her a few options to take her makeup up a notch and also go from picking up the kids to date night with her husband.

I compiled a list of my top 5 makeup tips and explained each one to her in detail as well as showed her a few fun things she could add to her repertoire when she felt she needed a pick me up. 

Check out the post HERE for more details.

If you'd like to schedule a makeup lesson or makeover of your own please check out my Facebook Page 

Sweet Emotions Makeup Artistry and contact me for a date!

The Happenings

Things have been a bit crazy around here the last few days.

I've been busy prepping for my god-sister's weddings that will be taking place next week!

(really??? next week!? Eeek!!)

So I've been busy organizing and stocking up on all the new goodies I will need to take with me on my trip

(more on packing for a cross country makeup job later)

And yesterday I had a lovely morning makeup lesson with my friend Andrea 

image via: Instagram

(check out her blog next week for the full post)

On top of all that I'm working on the website, scouring the Internet for logo ideas and generally working on housekeeping details for the business side of Sweet Emotions.

With the new baby it's been a bit of a challenge to manage it all but I love it.

I have to say I was quite excited to work with Andrea yesterday. 

She has great energy, wonderful skin and really pretty hazel-y green eyes and I couldn't wait to jazz them up!

However I am lame and did not take any pics of my own.

(makeup artist fail)

Too busy running my mouth I suppose.

But who doesn't love to talk about makeup application????
I know I do!

So I swiped this photo from her blog for a sneak peek to show you what I've been up to lately.

image via: FourFlightsofFancy

Next week I'll have a full post on what I did to spruce Miss Andrea and also how to pack when travelling with your makeup.

Mommy Makeover

All too often I hear women complain of being stuck in a makeup rut.

They are still wearing the same 'look' they've been wearing for about 10 + years, trading in frosted lips, super sculpted cheeks and frosted blue eyeshadow for muted browns and tans, heavy brows and over lined lips.

Everyone from 'housewives' and stay at home moms (SAHM's) to working women, wives, mothers and single gals alike.

I hear the same thing......"I want to experiment a little bit.....BUT I don't know what to do!"

That's where I come in.

My job and whole goal is to make women feel and look beautiful while educating them on how to re-create that feeling / look on their own.

Sounds like I would be out of a job if everyone learns to re-create the looks they love on their own.

But, for me, it's more about empowering the women to have the courage to try that new thing they saw in a magazine.

And everyone is different with what they need and how they approach things.

Take Michelle for example, she contacted me back in late December to find out if I ever did just simple consultations for everyday makeup as opposed to a "special occasion" as she was tired of looking how she felt each day.

And then she posted this a few weeks ago.

Immediately I contacted her and suggested we meet up and get this ball rolling.

So Saturday afternoon I trekked down to her abode and we got busy.

Let me start by saying Michelle is a fabulous homeschoolin mama to 6 (that's right S-I-X) beautiful kids.

5 boys and 1 lovely little girl.

Suffice to say she has her hands full.

But she was tired of feeling like "the housewife and wanted to spruce up her look just a bit to add a little pep in her step and to allow her to feel beautiful ALL day long (not just "special nights out").

Michelle has such a beautiful heart and I really wanted that inner beauty and shining light to be reflected in her face.

She's also not very big on flash and super heavy and dark colors.
She even admitted that she's somewhat intimidated by colors and the whole makeup process and is very much Type A, follow the rules type of woman.

No problem.

I also wanted her to feel really comfortable with all that was going on so I made sure to explain each step and product to her and gave her a nice little face diagram to assist in her next endeavor on her own.
 I created a fairly simple look that would bring out the wonderful green in her eyes and let her inner light shine.

look at that glow!!

I had intentions on taking before and after pics but honestly, I hadn't seen her in 13 years and we spent the first hour just catching up and chatting and then I opened my 'magic box' and went to work!
We kept it simple with minimal foundation a little highlighter to give her that 'extra glow' that makes her look like she's been sipping sweet tea and relaxing on the veranda all day instead of wrangling 5 boys and a nice neutral lip.
Nothing super flashy, save for a wash of purple shadow on the eyelids but enough to get her out of her rut and into a new routine she can easily re-create on her own.
I think / hope she was pleased with the results as I was happy to work with her and help in any way I can.
Her mother and stepfather stopped by as I was wrapping up and commented on how snazzy she looked.
Even in jeans and a cardigan - she was a glowing woman!

Thanks Michelle for a wonderful afternoon!!!