5 Minute Glitter Eye Makeup Tutorial

Hello pretty people!
    With New Years Eve going down tomorrow and last minute plans being made, I thought it'd be the perfect time to share one of the simplest ways to get a glamorous eye makeup look. It's simple, fool-proof and allows you to be ready in a snap. It's long lasting and looks sultry in a subtle way, that is definitely eye catching for whatever party you find yourself rushing to. Let's get started shall we?

    First take a cream eye shadow in a shade that is similar to your natural skin tone and spread it across the eye lid.

    Take a matte medium tone brown into the crease to act as a transition shade.

     To ensure that I had clean lines, I used some art tape and applied in an angle on my lid before going in with a gunmetal shade, a slightly blue toned gray and applied it heavily on the outer v portion until it was built up to a consistency I liked.

     Take a bright white shimmery shade onto you inner corner and sweep it slightly onto the lid and brow bone to highlight the eyes. Use a firm eye shadow brush to really pack the color on.

     Apply your favorite mascara to your lashes or false eyelashes depending on your preference. But which either you choose make sure to curl your eyelashes to open up the eyes.

     Take a black liquid liner and wing out your liner as much as you like. I did a small cat eye to accentuate the shape of the eye shadow line.

   
    That's it everyone! I hope you have an amazing new years. If you like this post be sure to tell me in the comments down below as well as any questions, requests, and recommendations. Until next year, love y'all!
Grace

5 Things: End of The Week Favorites #17

Hello pretty people!
     Wow, it's Christmas Eve when I'm writing this and the high of today was 59 Fahrenheit. The weather was so nice, I decided to take my photos outside again today, embracing all the warmth while I still can. I know it's probably because of global warming or something of that sort, but for now, I'm enjoying 3 things about no snow: 1. Driving is much safer without slippery snow 2. I don't have to scrape off my windshield before going to work and 3. Not as many new potholes. So I'm counting my blessing right now. Anyway, this past week was intense. Over the weekend I did a caroling and Christmas store in my old neighborhood, I worked, and of course hung out with boo-thang haha. Anyway, I found a few new favorites, and learned the magic of mixing different things to compliment my face.

     I love my Neutrogena Skin Clearing Foundation, but it doesn't have the best lasting power. I decided to try mixing in some of my favorite CC Cream and the outcome was amazing. The Face Shop Pure CC Cream helps to maintain a consistent color throughout the day without getting patchy or darkening. It really give my skin a perfected look when mixed with foundation. It also makes it match me even more perfectly, since I'm much paler now that the winter is thick upon us and I haven't spent too much time in the sun.

    This is a newer product that I'm adding into my rotation. The Pacifica Perfect Lotus Powder is really nice on the skin. The shade is a universal light and it has a really finely milled quality to it. It has a buildable coverage with a weightless texture. I really like this for setting areas that crease easily or get dry and cakey throughout the day.

     The past week I've been trying to find the best way to accentuate my hazel eyes. They are a combination of dark green and brown, making it fun to pick which color to emphasize. Of course I usually opt for enhancing the green tones. After researching which colors go the best with hazel eyes, I settled on using warm toned caramel browns. The perfect crease color for me is the Colourpop Super Shock Shadow in Cornelius. It looks great if you apply it with your fingers and blend out with a fluffy brush.

     The best time to go to Target, is right now! I have seriously never seen so many products on sale at once before. Once companies start fazing out products to make room for new ones, they go on sale, and such is the fate of the Rimmel Glam Eyes Mascara. This is a really good mascara that grabs my lashes and gives them a long and voluminous look, without feeling brittle of too heavy. The only thing I could hope for, would be a waterproof formula, but c'est la vie.

    Lastly is the Pacifica Power Of Love Lipstick in Nudie Red. This is a great everyday lip color for me. It glides on very smoothly and never looks too heavy. It is a wearable rose toned nude that really compliments my skin tone.

    That's all for this week! I hope you all enjoyed this post, if you did be sure to comment down below what product you've been loving this week as well as any questions, request, and recommendations, which I'll get back to ASAP. Until next time, love y'all!
Grace

Strobing for Everyday Wear

Hello pretty people!
     The newest trend that everyone is obsessing over is a technique called strobing. Strobing is highlighting on steroids, basically. It's taking the driver's side and pushing contouring to the back seat. For those of us who have always had trouble with heavy contouring, strobing is a simple process of accentuating the high points of the face with highlighter. By pushing forwards your features, it will create a slim shape for the rest of the face. While I love the look of strobing, it's not entirely realistically wearable for the everyday working woman or student. So I wanted to share how to use this new trend in a sophisticated and professional way for everyday wear; Perfect for a day at the office to school to date night.It's a slightly matte approach to the strobing technique. Let's jump into this tutorial shall we?

1. First off apply a brightening and moisturizing base over your face. I'm using the Pixi Fresh Face Primer which really helps to enhance a healthy skin tone.

2. Apply your favorite luminizing foundation. Here I'm using the L'Oreal True Match Lumi Foundation and applying it with the Real Technique's stippling brush to provide a fuller coverage to my skin, whilst keeping it natural.

3. Apply your favorite liquid highlighter to the high points of your face. I dotted the Jelly Pong Pong Liquid Gossamer along my cheek bones, brow bone, chin, cupid's bow, nose and in between my eyebrows for an overall glow and blended it out with a dense foundation brush.

4. If your like me and have oily skin, set the liquid highlight with a powder one, I'm using the Philosophy Color of Grace Shimmering Face Powder and a big fluffy brush. I took my regular powder (Neutrogena Healthy Skin) and set the outer portions of my face.

    That's all for this look! Of course you can totally make this your own by using different products to make it even stronger, I just like a more natural look. If you liked this tutorial, tell me in the comments as well as any thoughts, questions, recommendations and requests, and I'll get back to you ASAP. What is your favorite product to strobe with? Until next time, love y'all!
Grace

5 Things: End of The Week Favorites #16

Hello pretty people!
    This past week has mainly been filled with work and the occasional outing. One of those being my school's winter concert and of course, and after party at Chile's. I didn't do too much with my makeup this week, although I did find some old favorite and tried my hand at a new lipstick and body scrub, which I'll tell you all about in this post. Let's jump into it shall we?

   
     This is an oldie but a goody for me. I've always loved how L'Oreal hair products work for me, and the scent is so heavenly. It makes my hair so silky and the Ever Pure Moisture Conditioner leaves my hair looking so smooth. It is made for color treated hair, and while my color is currently fading, it still works wonders on it. I've repurchased this so many times I can't even keep track of what bottle number this is. I highly recommend the Ever Pure Moisture conditioners and shampoos for all hair types, whether died or not.

     Balanced Guru Scrub Me Nice and Gritty body scrub is really nice as a pre-shave exfoliate. It has a nice gritty texture and doesn't leave an oily residue, which can be nice sometimes. It has a very strong minty scent that is nice and refreshing, rejuvenating not only the skin, but the senses. The formula includes raw sugar, organic coffee, coconut oil, babassu oil, cocoa butter, spearmint, and ginger. I really like to use this on my legs, arms, and decolletage every couple of days.

     I forgot how nice NYX Pinched Blush was until I started using it again this week. It provides such a nice flushed look to the cheeks without being to bold and in your face. Since it's been getting colder, my skin has been needing a color boost to give some life back into my face. I really like to apply this with a big powder brush onto the apple's of my cheeks and blend it out to my temples before touching a little bit onto my nose for a refreshed, just walked outside, flush.

     I've had this product sitting in my makeup storage since my sister brought it back from Korea in late September. The thought was that once I was paler, that I'd begin using this since it would add a brightening effect to my face. I'm glad I waited too, because now it's a perfect lip for everyday wear. It's really moisturizing and has a great formula which is creamy and glossy. Innisfree Cream Mellow Lipstick in Vanilla Pink had actually been on my wishlist back in the day, and now has a solid home in my collection. 

     With the weather becoming colder, it is once again time to welcome Essie's Find Me an Oasis back into my rotation. While amazing for the summer when I'm tanned, I love using this in the winter as it is the perfect blue. It's described as a cool refreshing ice blue. 

     Lastly is my favorite glitter top coat, Skinfood Nail Vita Alpha in Sparkling Wave. It's a gorgeous multi faceted glitter polish. It has big silver glitter pieces, tiny blue and purple micro shimmers, and a slightly bigger silver shimmer. It looks so great over the Essie Find Me an Oasis, and since there is no snow out yet here in Ohio, it's gives a really cute snow fall look.

    That's all for this week everyone! I hope you enjoyed my 16th installment of this series. Be sure to leave me comments in the down bar, as well as any questions, requests and recommendations. What was your favorite product this week? Until next time, love y'all!
Grace

Holiday Party Makeup

Hello pretty people!
    It is that time of year again: friends and family getting together during the advent to celebrate love and the holidays. This tutorial incorporates warm tones and a bright red lip to ring in the season with some yule tide joy. It ties together some classic elements with a fun hip and young twist. Let's get started shall we?

1. First, apply a copper toned gold all over the lower portion of the lid. I'm using the ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in KathleenLights with my finger tip.

2. Take a warm caramel brown and apply it into the crease. I'm using the ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in Cornelious and blending it in with my finger tip. This shade is really great for a transition between golds and neutral creams.

3. Apply a warm toned medium brown to the outer-v and lower lash line. Here I'm using the ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in Blaze which is a really nice and creamy golden brown shade, with a my finger before blending it in with a fluffy brush.

4. To add some shimmer, I'm taking the Pony X Memebox Shine Easy Brown Palette and using the shade Fair Brown which is a champagne glitter, onto the inner corner and tear duct. I recommend using a flat brush and some kind of mist to help pack this color on.

5. Take a black eyeliner and tight line the upper lash line, follow by a nude eyeliner on the inner 2/4 of the lower lash line. Here I used the Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal in Black and Nude.

6. To add a touch of classic holiday glamour, take a black liquid liner and create a thin wing. I used the Starlooks Pro Longwear liner for this. A little trick to get a perfect wing, is to use tape and place it at an angle starting at the lower lash line, to help guide your hand.

7. I'm not a big fan of fake lashes, but if you are now would be the time to apply them. I just went in with an eyelash curler to open up my eyes, before applying a good lashing of mascara. I used the Memebox I'm Mascara which creates really long and voluminous lashes.

 8. Apply a warm toned blush that has gold shimmers to the hollows of the cheeks. This will help to add depth and enhance the gold shades we used on the lids. Here I used the Milani Baked Blush in Berry Amore with the Ecotools Powder Brush.

9. To tie in all of the gold colors, apply a golden highlight to the high points of your face. I used the Hard Candy So Baked Bronzer in Hula Hula and the Ecotools Powder Brush to my cheekbones, nose, and chin.

10. Lastly to finish off this whole look, apply your favorite red lipstick. If you need some red lip recommendations, I did a whole post on it, which you can find here. Here I used the Pony X Memebox Lipstick in Rose Garden, which is a great neutral red shade. To clean up the edges I went in with a concealer.

     That's it for this post! I hope you all enjoyed this Holiday Party Makeup look. Be sure to leave me any comments, questions, recommendations, and requests in the down bar and I'll get back to you ASAP. What is your favorite accessory for holiday parties? Until next time, love y'all!

Grace

5 Things: End of The Week Favorites #15

Hello pretty people!
     This past week, I finished up my college classes for the semester and was able to get back into my routine. Basically, I've gone to work, spent time with my boyfriend, and wrote up a killer reflection letter for my English class. I've had a few opportunities to go out though, allowing me to try my hand and some products this week. My makeup had a solid 90s vibe with pink toned shadows and a brown toned rose lipstick to tie everything together with a nice natural highlight thrown in there.

Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter
    This product makes my skin look and smell amazing. I like to wash my body once day, and afterwards, nothing feels better then rubbing on some lotion. In the winter months, my skin needs a lot more love, and this butter is so nice and creamy. It doesn't leave me feeling greasy at all and it sinks into my skin very nicely. It been so nice on my legs after I shave, since it's so gentle it doesn't create any bumps at all.

  I On Beauty Precision Foundation Brush
    This brush is a dream for liquid foundation. It helps to create a really flawless base. Everything glides on and give really nice coverage. I like how much it applies on the face, not too much and it blends everything in without looking too streaky.

Jelly Pong Pong Cosmetics Liquid Gossamer
    This is such a gorgeously wearable highlighter. It gives a rose gold hue to the face and is so light weight that is works perfectly for my oily combination skin, leaving a gorgeous glow, instead of looking oil slick. There are a ton of natural ingredients in this and it is also non-comedogenic so it's safe to use on the skin.

Avon Blushing Raisin Quad
    Although I think this product is discontinued, it is one of the smoothest eye shadows I have ever used. It comes with really beautiful an wearable pink and purple toned shades. It really creates a perfect grungy vibe for those looking for an easy and wearable 90s look.

The Face Shop Black Label Lipstick in Grace Pink

    Sticking to the 90s vibes that the eye shadows provided, I piggy-backed the Face Shop's lipstick onto this. Grace Pink is a really creamy and long wearing brown toned rose shade, which not only is natural, but gives a nice effect. I really love how cool toned this color is and it works as a nice transition shade.

    That's it for today! I hope you enjoyed this post if you did be sure to leave me and questions, comments, requests and recommendations in the comments down below. What product did you love this week? Until next time, love y'all!

Grace

Perfect Holiday Red Lipsticks

Hello pretty people!
    Tis the season for holiday parties! I love being able to dress up and look classy with some winged liner and that perfect holiday red lip. When I think of the ultimate red lipstick, I think of the color of holly: Bright cheerful, semi-matte, and works with my skin tone. I have a neutral skin tone which makes me able to wear warm tones as well as cooler tones, so hopefully there is something for everyone in this post!

Pony X Memebox Blossom Lipstick in Rose Garden
    This is the darker of the three shades I have featured. It's a creamy and matte finish that wears comfortably on the lips. It's priced really reasonably and the quality is really nice. It's formulated with white flower extract, honey, and shea butter to moisturize the lips while giving off a semi-matte finish. The shade should work on most skin tones.

Clio Virgin Kiss Tinted Lip in Red Juck
    This color is described as a fresh tomato red and is on the brighter spectrum of the colors. It wears for a very long time, and has a slight orange tint to it. Once again, this is a matte finish lip and wears comfortably on the lips. The long wearing properties come from safflower extract which is something that  Korean geisha's used in their lip stains in the past. This color should look good on those with a warmer skin tone, since the orange hue can help brighten the face.

Tre'Stique Matte Color Lip Crayon in Chile
     The last perfect holiday red is a cooler toned shade. It's matte and wears really gorgeous throughout the day. It wears lightly on the lips, so it won't feel too heavily on the lips. It contains peach oil, coconut oil, and cocoa butter which provides moisturizing properties. This shade has a blue undertone, making it great for those who have a cooler skin tone.

    That's it for this post everyone! As always I hope you enjoyed it, if you did be sure to comment down below and questions, thoughts, requests, or recommendations and I'll get back to you ASAP. What is your favorite holiday lip shade? Until next time, love y'all!
Grace

5 Things: End of The Week Favorites #14

Hello pretty people!
    Today I have yet another installment of the End of The Week Favorites. It has been a super fun week, between a nice break from school, spending time with friends and family for the holidays and eating a ton of food! Literally I've been living off of Thanksgiving left overs this whole week. Anyway with working three days this week as well as activities this week I have a really good selection for this week. Let's jump into this!

    First is a skincare product that I've been really liking throughout the week. It is an organic spot treatment that has beneficial ingredients like fruit acids, willow bark, vitamin c, and CoQ10. It helps to hydrate the skin while clearing up the pores and unclogging the skin. I like to wear this under my makeup before I put on primer. It smells really good and helps to clear my skin during the day while I'm out.

     I was skeptical when I first bought this concealer, but now it is easily my favorite. Neutrogena Skin Smoothing Concealer is the creamiest stick concealer I've ever used. It glides over problem areas and wear really nicely throughout the day. I use over my blemishes and red spots once I apply my foundation and tap it into the skin to set it. It doesn't look cakey and I actually notice a difference in my skin after wearing it, because it has Pro-Retinol, Pro-Vitamin B5, and Vitamin E.

     I know.... I'm going through a major Neutrogena phase. I'm addicted to how their base products make my skin look and feel. They're great on and make my skin better when I take it off, so I feel like I'm winning when I use these products. The Neutrogena Healthy Skin Pressed Powder is airbrush in a pan. It blurs all my imperfections and sets everything so nicely. It leaves a silky smooth feeling on my skin and has the same beneficial formula as the concealer.

     When I got this in my Ipsy last month, I didn't actually plan on using it too much. Flash forwards two weeks and I'm in love. The brush is small and tapered so I can make my brow game super strong. It's so quick and easy, it's buildable, and it fills in the sparse areas easily. I like to run it through the end of my brows and work my way backwards, finishing off at the front. I like to leave a few strands in the front straight  to give my brows a naturally full look.

     This has been a very neglected product in my collection. I've recently been trying to incorporate pink tones into my eye makeup lately to accentuate the green in my eyes, so this base has been perfect. Maybelline Color Tattoo in Inked in Pink is a gorgeous champagne pink tone which is extremely long lasting and has a really pretty shimmer to it. I like to go over it with a brown shade in my crease and pop a inner corner brightener to finish it off.

    That's it for this week! I hope you all enjoyed this post and be sure to comment down below any questions, comments, requests, and recommendations. What product did you love this week? Until next time, love y'all,
Grace