Currently Obsessed: Teal Under-eye Liner

Hi Loves! 

I have been so slammed with work and activities that I haven't gotten a chance to share much on this blog lately!  My past weekend was spent in San Jose with the lovely BF.  It was short but sweet and filled with lots of yummy food and drinks (BonChon Chicken & Fantasia, anyone?).

Clients oftentimes ask me what colors (shadows, liners, etc.) would work best for their eye color.  Because I work 9-5 (actually, 7-7...) at a corporate beauty company, I stick to a standard smokey brown eyeshadow look.  Lately, however, I've been obsessed with using jewel-toned eyeliners to line my bottom waterline, like this:

via Pinterest

Obviously, my look is a little more muted for work (sadly, no gold glitter), but the fun thing about this is that you can do your eyeshadow any way you like, really, depending on the day & occasion.  This can work with a subtle brown smokey eye for work or amped up with a dark smokey or glittery shadow for a more dramatic, fun look for a date or girls' night.  

Here's a set of jewel-toned, versatile eyeliners that I'm currently obsessing over: 

Urban Decay, Ocho Loco 2 Set, $59 for a set of 8 full-sized liners - greens, teals, blues, purples, browns & the blackest black eyeliner I've ever used!

What makeup looks do you guys find that you're doing more often now that Fall is here? 

2014 Pantone Colors

via Pantone.com Behold, the 2014 Pantone colors!  I'm sure we all enjoyed having Emerald Green as our 2013 Pantone color of the year, but it's time for us to be on the lookout for these beautiful 2014 colors.  Whether it's makeup or fashion, these colors will be sure to dominate every store, brand, and beauty item.  I can already picture myself rocking a Dazzling Blue-hued eyeliner, paired with a Cayenne-colored lipstick.  Hemlock is my nail polish color of choice.   Color Ideas: 1. Dazzling Blue: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Pencil, "Abyss" - $19

2. Cayenne: MAC Mineralize Lipstick, "Style Surge" - $22

Photo credits: NotSoFrivolous.com

3.  Hemlock: Essie, "Turqoise & Caicos" - $8

via TheDailyVarnish.com

Pixie Epoxy for All that Glitters

I was so happy to be given the chance to do another makeup photo session with Maureen, the mastermind behind Maureen Koo Calligraphy.  Since we did a pretty natural look last time, I decided to create a glittery smokey eye for her to wear for her night out!


Before & After



A closer look..

My secret weapon for this shoot was a bottle of Pixie Epoxy.  For anyone who works with loose pigments, shadows, and glitter, this magical bottle will be sure to become your best friend.  I don't know about you, but I find it almost impossible to put glitter pigment or even some shimmery/glittery eyeshadows on without fallout all over my face.  While the glitter is supposed to stay on my eyelid, by the end of the day, my entire face becomes a glittery mess instead.   

A quick dab of Pixie Epoxy helped me keep this MAC glitter pigment pot intact on her eyelids.  The best part? (Besides the fact that an enormous tube only costs $7!) The epoxy enhances the color of the pigment (whatever color it is that you choose to use) and keeps it on throughout the day without feeling like you've got anything heavy on your lids.  A very happy Maureen texted me the next day to report that she had absolutely no glitter fallout all night ;).

Photoshoot - Daytime Vixen vs. Nicki Minaj-inspired Look

I was so happy to work with Jade last week for a fun pop-up shoot!  *I apologize in advance - we did this pretty late at night so there was no natural lighting - the photos did turn out a bit funky because I took her "before" photo when the sun was still out, and the other photos were all taken after nightfall, with flash. 



We opted for a pretty, smokey yet subtle look for our first set of photos.  I really wanted to highlight her beautiful almond-shaped eyes and create a flawless complexion.

After a while, we decided to amp it up with a Nicki Minaj-inspired look!



Jade's flawless skin, almond shaped eyes and full, luscious lips made my job incredibly easy.  It was really fun to see how different colors showed up on her beautiful caramel-colored skin - I, for one, would never be able to pull off that beautiful Urban Decay lippie! 

Quick Dupe Alert! Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Pencils

Anyone who knows me, knows that I swear by Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-on Pencils.  They are so pigmented & creamy (so there is no tugging on the delicate eye area!) and relatively long-lasting (with the holy grail Urban Decay Primer Potion, aka UDPP, of course). 

One other thing?  They're kind of expensive.  Say, $19/color expensive.



Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Liners Photo Credits: vampyvarnish.com

As much as I thoroughly enjoy paying $19 for an eyeliner, I was definitely on the lookout to find a cheaper but definitely comparable alternative.  My findings?

1.  L'Oreal HIP Color Chrome Eyeliner, $10

Photo credits: temptalia.com

The only issue with these liners is that there are only four colors to choose from.  The color payoff and wearability is definitely comparable to that of Urban Decay's.

2.  NYX Slide-On Pencils, $8

Photo credits: glamtrotter.com

These babies are as cheap and as close to Urban Decay's liners as I could find.  There are 18 colors to choose from and are a great alternative to the 24/7 liners.  They are smudgeproof and vibrant, and you can bet I'll be stocking my kit up with every single color!

As much as I enjoy higher-end products, working in the beauty industry (particularly in the product development side) has taught me that sometimes, the only difference between an $8 eyeliner and a $19 dollar eyeliner is marketing and branding.  I am, by no means, saying that all products are created equal - I truly believe that some products are worth paying more for.  However, whenever I can find a dupe and I can save some money, I am all for it! 

What are some dupes for high end products that you buy at a much lower price?

Wedding Shoot - Fullerton, CA

I am, as ever, lagging behind in updating this blog with my latest projects, so here are some photos of a bridal party that I did at the end of June.  I must admit, I was pretty concerned because it was literally the warmest day of the month and the wedding was outdoors at 3pm - not exactly the best conditions to stay sweat & shine-free if you ask me, but definitely the best conditions to test out the longevity of makeup & setting spray ;).

The beautiful bride, Katy. Products Used: Face: Urban Decay Brightening & Tightening Complexion Primer Potion Sheer Cover Concealer "Light" Chanel Perfection Lumiere 10 Beige and 30 Beige Cargo Blue-Ray Powder #10 Urban Decay All-Nighter Spray Cheeks/Contour/Highlight:  NARS "Laguna" Bronzer MAC "Wedge" Eyeshadow Benefit "High Beam" NARS "Orgasm" Brows: MAC Brow Pencil "Lingering" Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion LORAC Pro Palette "Nude" (Inner corner) "Gold," "Sable," & "Expresso" (Crease) Urban Decay 24/7 Liner "Bourbon" Chanel le Volume Mascara "Noir" MAC Fluidline "Blacktrack" Lips: Sheer Cover Lipliner "Natural" MAC Lipstick "Crosswires"

My bride, Katy, was very concerned about looking overdone. She normally does not wear any makeup and wanted to make sure that she still looked like herself. After getting a good idea of what look she wanted (natural, blushing bride look, enhanced features), we were able to achieve a look that she felt comfortable with and a look that would also look great in photos. 



The mother of the bride, Barbara. Products Used: Face: Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Sheer Cover Concealer "Light" Chanel Perfection Lumiere 10 Beige and MAKE UP For Ever 127 Cargo Blue-Ray Powder #10 Urban Decay All-Nighter Spray Cheeks/Contour/Highlight: NARS "Laguna" Bronzer MAC "Wedge" Eyeshadow Benefit "High Beam" Chanel Blush "In Love" Brows: MAC Brow Pencil "Fling" Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion LORAC Pro Palette "Nude" (Inner corner) "Mauve" & "Sable" (crease) Urban Decay 24/7 Liner "Bourbon" Chanel le Volume Mascara "Noir" MAC Fluidline "Blacktrack" Lips: Chanel Lipliner "Nude" MAC Lipstick "On Hold"

Barbara, Katy's mom, is not a makeup-wearer by any means.  Her main concern was that she would look like a raccoon and that her face would feel heavy.  I was able to convince her to let me put minimal foundation on her to get the appearance of a flawless complexion so that she would glow in photos. 



A guest at the wedding, Belen. Products Used: Face: Murad Skin Perfecting Primer Sheer Cover Duo Concealer "Light/Medium" Graftobian Foundation Creme "Buttermilk" Chanel Perfection Lumiere 60 Beige and MISSHA Perfect Cover BB Cream #27 Cargo Blue-Ray Powder #30 Urban Decay All-Nighter Spray Cheeks/Contour/Highlight: NARS "Laguna" and "Casino" Bronzer MAC "Wedge" Eyeshadow Benefit "High Beam" Chanel Blush "Tweed Sienna" Brows: MAC Brow Pencil "Lingering" and "Strut" Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion LORAC Pro Palette "Nude" (Inner corner), "Sable," "Expresso" & "Slate" (Crease) Urban Decay 24/7 Liner "Perversion" MAC Fluidline "Blacktrack" Lashes: Chanel le Volume Mascara "Noir" Falsies - a pair I picked up from Downtown LA, but a similar pair from MAC here. Lips: Chanel Lipliner "Nude" Tom Ford Lipstick "Pink Dusk"

Belen was so happy with her look that she sent me this photo the next day to show me how well her makeup held up in 100-degree heat & a night of dancing!

Belen, the girlfriend of Katy's brother, had one request: The bolder, the better.  With this in mind, we created a foxy, smoldering smokey eye look for her.  I emphasized her large eyes with dark eyeliner and false lashes from a vendor in DTLA.  With the help of Graftobian's creme foundation, I was able to create the appearance of clear, radiant skin. 

I was so happy to hear that Katy, Barbara, and Belen had no problems with the longevity of their makeup throughout the entire wedding ceremony & the reception that followed.  It was such a rewarding experience to show Katy & Barbara that it was possible to have makeup on without looking (and feeling!) overdone.