Ice Queen

When I first started working on this look, I was wanting to do something fun and colorful, yet slightly subdued. And when I started playing with the colors, I hated it. This look is a primary example though of a look that I started out hating, but ended up loving! This is a fun, colorful, icy look that is loosely inspired by Frozen (which was totally unintentional, but that's the way it ended up going...)! It is also incredibly easy and will definitely get people stopping you to tell you how much they love your makeup!

I'm also gonna take a moment to recognize that I probably look incredibly conceited/into myself right now because I'm sitting in an airport as I type.

To start this look out, I covered my entire mobile lid using my NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in "Milk." Next, I used my Coastal Scents 252 Ultimate Eyeshadow Palette, and took a medium shimmery purple color and used that on the outer two-thirds of the lid. Then, with a very, very light hand, I took the dark navy color and placed this in the crease, being careful to really blow this color out and keep it from getting too intense. Finally, on the inner third of the lid, I took the light shimmery silver color and used that as a highlight.

For the blue liner, I used the Milani Liquid Eye Mechanical Eye Pencil in "Blue," which is a gorgeous, shimmery royal blue color. I did a fairly thick line, and brought it two-thirds of the way along the lower lash line, to help start out our gradient liner. I then went back with my NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in "Milk" and used this on the inner third of the lower lash line. I used both of these pencils as a base for the next color, which was the light blue eyeshadow, and applied this color to the lower lash line, fading it into the dark blue liner to create a beautiful gradient effect. Then I used the L'Oreal HiP Color Truth Eyeliner in "Black" to tightline, although this would definitely look even better with a purple or blue liner! I did not use the blue liner on my waterline because of the glittery specks in the liner, which make it unsafe for use in the waterline. Then, I topped it all off with Maybelline The Mega Plush Mascara and Maybelline The Rocket Mascara.

I wanted really intense brows but really subtle cheeks for this look, so I used the Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in "Dark Brown" (which is weirdly not available in "Dark Brown" on the Anastasia website, but is available at Sephora and Ulta) through my brows, and topped it off with the Benefit Gimme Brow in "Medium/Dark." To contour, I used Inglot 358 Matte, and for a subtle peachy glow, I used the Milani Baked Blush in "Luminoso."

On the lips, I chose to keep it a similar color to my natural lips, but obviously, much prettier. I used the Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural Lipstick in the color "N9 Copper Pink."

I hope you enjoyed this look! Have you gotten any snow where you live? 

- D. 

Vamped Up Taupe

I was playing around with my favorite lip combo the other day, and decided it was time to do a tutorial featuring the combination! I saw my friend Jas wearing this lip color in one of her selfies and just had to know what it was. Luckily, it was a combination of two colors I already had in my collection! This look is great because it's super easy to do without going over the top, and incredibly affordable, since all but one or two products are from the drugstore, including the lip colors!

The eyes for this look are incredibly easy. I started out using my Maybelline Color Tattoo Leather in "Creamy Beige" all over the lid, stopping at the crease. Then, I took the bottom taupe color from the Wet n Wild Color Icon "Silent Treatment" Trio and patted this on top of the cream base, placing it all over the lid. This color blends out incredibly easily, without blending away altogether, so I made sure to blend it into the crease, creating a seamless transition. For my inner corner highlight, I used the top pink shade. I then took the middle blackened brown color on a small pencil brush and lined the outer half of the upper lash line. I pulled up with the pencil brush to create a slightly winged out effect, while also smoking out the outer third of the lid. I also applied this black color along the lower lash line to make the look even smokier.

To complete the eyes, I used the Milani Liquid Eye Pencil in "Black" on the upper and lower water line, then, of course, a few good coats of my Maybelline The Mega Plush Mascara and the Maybelline The Rocket Mascara.

For my contour, I used the "Fawn" shade from the Anastasia Contour Kit. On the cheeks, I used the Maybelline Fit Me Blush in "Light Rose." To add a nice soft glow to the tops of the cheekbones, I used the "Sand" shade from the Contour Kit to highlight.

Of course, my favorite part: the lips! To achieve this perfect deep wine color, I first took the Milani Color Statement Lipstick in "Sangria" as my base color. Then, I took Revlon's Super Lustrous Lipstick in "Black Cherry" and applied that on top, using a lip brush to help the two colors blend together beautifully. Be sure to blot if you try this combination -- you don't want this color slipping and sliding!

And that's it! this look is super easy and quick, and it's affordable! Now I have a question for you. I'm still on the hunt for the PERFECT vampy deep wine color. Do you have any recommendations? Leave them in the comments below!

- D.