Halloween -- The True Galactic Mermaid

A while back, I posted a "Galactic Mermaid" look using the Lorac Pro Palette 2. Honestly, the only thing about that post that was really mermaidy were the nail strips I just so happened to be wearing. However, today I did a look that could truly go either way! This look would be great for either a mermaid or alien costume. So without any further ado, let's get started!

Initially when I did this look, I was definitely aiming for the mermaid idea, hence the starfish hair clip!

Before applying any foundation, I began with the eyes. I laid down a thin layer of the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in "Milk," using my finger to blend the product out, Then, I took the Makeup Geek shadow in "Sea Mist," and patted this all along the mobile lid. I continued patting the shadow to really help build up the intensity. Then, I took the Makeup Geek shadow in "Envy" and used this color to really deepen the crease. After I was happy with the intensity, I took a clean blending brush to help blend the colors seamlessly, reapplying "Sea Mist" as necessary to keep the color vibrant. Finally, I applied the Makeup Geek shadow in "Rockstar" on the inner third of the lid, as well as the inner corner and the brow highlight.

To add some more variety to the look, I applied the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Shadow Pencil (which is discontinued, but essentially just a chubby stick version of the original Glide-on Liner Pencil) in "Delinquent." I also lined the inner water line with the NYX Slide On Pencil in "Pure White" to give me an innocent, doll-like appearance. 

Since I wasn't exactly going for the "natural" look, I used the Makeup Geek shadow in "Envy" to fill in my brows. This is a very subtle touch, but in the right light, it is noticeable! From here, I just applied a few coats of mascara to both my upper and lower lashes.

For the skin, I applied my foundation as usual. Since I used a blue-green shadow on the lid, I really made sure to brighten up under my eyes with concealer to assure that I didn't give myself a blue-ish tone to my undereyes. From here, I moved on to the rest of the face, which was actually pretty simple. 

For the gems, I used these rhinestones that I bought from Joann Fabrics and Crafts, and applied them where I would normally apply my cheek highlight, using Duo Clear-White Lash Adhesive. Then, I applied these amazing lashes that I found at Walmart (which I seriously wish I could find online), that had these beautiful pearl accents. For my cheeks, instead of applying a traditional blush, I used the Makeup Geek shadow in "Sea Mist" and applied this the way I would a normal blush. Another great thing you could do is use a piece of lace as a stencil to create a scale-like effect on the cheeks, but unfortunately I couldn't find a piece of lace that I was happy with.

Finally, on the lips I applied MAC "Shy Girl," for that natural, nude look. However, if you decide to turn this into an alien look, I would recommend going with something like Kat Von D "Poe" or even something like the Urban Decay liner that you used earlier!

- D. 

Halloween -- Black Dahlia Zombie w/ No Specialty Products!

Halloween is in less than two weeks, and I know I've definitely been procrastinating getting this look out. However, I think it's about time! If you've never read about the "Black Dahlia" murder case, I definitely recommend reading up on it! Personally, I find it fascinating how far forensic science has come in 50 years. If this murder case had happened in the 21st century, who knows what we could have found! More than 55 years later, though, this case is still unsolved, and the story has been featured in film and television.

I chose to do this look on a budget, meaning I could only use products I already had, and I had no fake blood! Of course, if you want to do this look, I highly recommend purchasing a cheap bottle of fake blood from your local Halloween store. This tutorial is also perfect if you want to do a Joker costume!

This look is actually super easy, just time consuming, To start off the look, I used the NYX Slide On Pencil in "Pure White," and traced on the shape of the Glasglow smile. This will disappear under the "prosthetic" we'll be using, but it just helps to give a general idea of where we will be placing everything.

Now for our "prosthetic." Of course, if you are allergic to latex, you will want to use a latex-free lash glue, but I just went for the Duo Eyelash Adhesive in "Clear-White," which dries clear. For a latex-free alternative, you could also go for the NYX Latex Free Eye Lash Glue, which also dries clear! You will also need some single-ply toilet paper, but if you only have two-ply, you can simply peel the two sheets apart. From here, I used a cotton swab and started patting the lash glue over the white liner we used earlier. Then, taking small pieces of the toilet paper, I began layering the toilet paper to create a torn skin effect. To help the edges of the toilet paper blend better, I layered the lash glue on over the edges of the paper, and feathered it out with the cotton swab.

Once I got a few good layers down, tapering out at the edges of the outline, I began to take small pieces of toilet paper and rolled them, placing them along the edges to create an indent for the cut. I did this along the upper and lower edges, to make it look more like the skin has been ripped apart (cute, right?). At this point, it won't look like much of anything, really.

Here is where I began to add color. Before I did anything, though, I powdered over the areas that I had applied the toilet paper with a translucent powder. Then, I mixed together my CoverGirl Outlast 3-in-1 Foundation and my Aveeno Natural Protection Sunscreen, to create a pale base. The reason I mixed in the sunscreen is because of the zinc oxide in the sunscreen. If you use a sunscreen that has zinc as an ingredient, it will give you a white cast, which is perfect for this look!

Now, back to the mouth, I used the skinny end of a cheap cosmetic sponge, and first layered on my OCC Lip Tar in "NSFW." I got pretty messy with this, but try to avoid getting it in places you don't want it, because it is a real pain to get off. I pounced this into the "cuts," as well as around it, to create an irritated look around the edges. Then, I used the OCC Lip Tar in "Black Dahlia," which only seemed appropriate, and did the same thing, this time focusing more on the inner parts of the cuts. Again, don't worry if it gets a bit messy. Around the edges, I added little bits of Lime Crime's Velvetine Lip Color in "Salem" to add a bit of a dried-blood effect. I also mixed together "Salem" with "Black Dahlia" and blended this into the inner corners of my lips, while still keeping the inner portions of my lips pale.

Now that the main portion of the look has been set up, you can begin adding some finishing touches that really bring everything together. I took the black shadow from my Coastal Scents 252 Ultimate Palette (which has obviously been well-loved) on a small angled brush, and applied this to the inner edges of the ridges that we created with the toilet paper. This creates a truer bloody color, and adds more depth to the cuts. Then, I took a mix of the blue, purple, and brown, on a fluffy blending brush, and began adding some bruising around my face. I added it around my nose and eyes, specifically, as well as around the edges of the cuts and on my chin. 

Then, I took a mix of the olive green, yellow, and just a touch of the brown, and took this again, under my eyes, in the hollows of my cheeks, and over the forehead. This creates more of a gaunt, sickly appearance. To add the effect of the peeling skin, I took my lash glue and smeared it across my forehead. Once it was dry, I began to scratch and peel at it a bit. Then, I added more of the green, yellow, and brown mixture to create almost a rotting skin appearance. 

Of course, inspired by the American Horror Story rendition of Elizabeth Short, I finished off the look with a classic winged liner using my Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner, as well as a coat of my Maybelline The Mega Plush Mascara and a coat of my Maybelline The Rocket mascara! Besides, what zombie-fied aspiring actress of the 1940s would want to be seen without big lashes and winged liner?

I hope this look has inspired you to do something a little more out of the box this Halloween! I personally am considering doing this look for a party I was invited to, and it's great because you don't have to go out and purchase a ton of special effects makeup! What are you planning on doing for Halloween?

- D.

Halloween -- Last Minute, Budget-Friendly Glam Cat!

I know that the title of this post sounds ridiculous. However, I know a lot of girls want to look cute for Halloween, so I came up with this look that I think would be great for parties! My favorite part about this look is the ears, because you don't have to go out and purchase cat ears, which makes it perfect for a super last minute costume. Throw on some black clothes, this hair and makeup, and no one will question what your costume is!

Let's start with the hair! About a year ago, I was working at Sephora, and I saw a girl walk in with her hair styled into cat ears. While I was brainstorming for some Halloween looks, I remembered her, and decided I would show you guys just how quick and easy it is!

The first thing I did was part my hair down the center. You can do this however you like, but I left my bangs parted as they were (because I promise you don't want to see my hair in a center part...it isn't cute). From the root of my part, I took a small section and spritzed some hairspray through the hair to add some grip. Then, I began to braid! Make sure the braid is tight, otherwise it won't hold its shape. Then, I pinned the end of the braid about 2 to 3 inches below where it began, to create a little cat ear! I added more hairspray, and pinched the braid to create a point. Repeat on the other side, and you have super quick DIY cat ears! To finish it off, I pinned my bangs to the side and curled my hair, teasing to add some volume and a wild-like appearance.

The makeup itself is glamorous, but pretty simple. I started with the eyes, priming my lid with the Lorac Behind the Scenes Eyeshadow Primer. I took some ordinary scotch tape and pressed it on the back of my hand to remove some of the stickiness, and placed it under my eye at an angle to ensure a crisp, clean line. I took my Lorac Pro Palette 2 and used the color "Black" all over my lid, pulling it out to create a cat-eye effect. I then took a mix of "Cool Gray" and "Light Brown" and used these two shades to really blend out the edges of the black shadow. Luckily, these shadows blend together beautifully, making my job so much easier! 

From here, I carefully pulled off the tape, and smudged "Black" along the lower lash line, really blowing the color out. I then applied "Liquid Gold" pigment from Makeup Geek on the center of the lid. I used "Beige" on my brow bone as well as the inner corner, to brighten everything up, as well as NYX Liquid Crystal Liner in "Crystal Gold" along the inner corner of the lower lash line. To finish off the eyes, I lined my waterline with Milani Liquid Eye Liner Pencil in "Black." To further enhance the cat-eye effect, I applied Andrea 53 Lashes.

For my foundation, I just did my normal routine, as well as for my eyebrows. I also covered my lips with my foundation, to get rid of some of the color and provide a base for the nose! For the nose, first took a mix of "Cool Gray" and "Light Brown" from the Lorac Pro Palette 2 and heavily contoured my nose, from the eyebrows to the tip of my nose. I made sure to keep the contour pretty dramatic. Then, I took my Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner in "Blackest Black" with my Real Techniques Silicone Liner Brush and drew a heart shape on the end of my nose, making sure to fill in the nostrils as well. It feels pretty weird, but it only takes a minute. Then, from the septum of my nose, I drew a triangle shape down through my cupid's bow, to create the little cheek pads that cats have! To further enhance the shape of the cheeks, I again took "Cool Gray" and "Light Brown" and contoured my cheekbones, going all the way in to the corner of my mouth. Finally, I just drew some dots above my upper lip, and added some whiskers!

From here, I threw on a cute black dress and a leopard print scarf to really pull the look together, and you are party-ready!

Keep an eye out for more of my Halloween looks, I have a few easy looks prepped that will hopefully give you some inspiration if you have yet to find a costume and don't have much time to find one!

- D.

September Favorites!

I feel like I'm a bit late on this post, but the last week has been pretty busy for me, so you'll have to excuse the late-ness of this post. September has been a pretty good month for beauty, so let's jump right in!

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick -- Black Cherry & Milani Color Statement Lipstick -- Sangria. So this is actually a color combination that my friend Jas introduced me to, and I am obsessed. Together, these two lipsticks make the perfect deep oxblood color. I keep looking for a color like this, and it seems that I can only find the perfect shade when I mix these two together! I always apply Sangria first, then Black Cherry on top, to ensure maximum opacity. And of course I had to include pictures from Tumblr of when I first tried this combo on.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Nail Lacquer -- Black Dahlia. Obviously, I've been loving the oxblood colors this month. But this color is absolutely incredible. If you are looking for an almost-black red nail color, this is the perfect color! The formula is incredibly creamy and fast-drying, and it has a pretty decent staying power. Keep in mind that most nail colors don't last on me because I work with my hands so much, so if you don't spend every day sewing for 4+ hours, then this will probably last even longer on your nails!

Maybelline The Rocket Mascara & Maybelline The Mega Plush Waterproof Mascara. This is another combination I've been wearing nonstop this month, and when I try to go for each of these mascaras alone, I notice a definite difference. I always apply The Mega Plush first, then The Rocket second. What I love about this combination is that The Mega Plush really separates my lashes, and acts almost like a primer for the super volumizing effects of The Rocket!

Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette -- Triple Fudge. So being brilliant as I am, I forgot this palette at home back in California before moving out here to North Carolina. Go figure. Andrew sent a big care package to me, and he sent me my beloved palette in the box! Of course, I've raved about this palette for almost a solid year now, but I didn't realize how much I missed the shade Triple Fudge until I was left without it for almost two months. This is my go-to brow shade, and my brows are definitely loving having it back!

Mossimo Harmony Combat Boots. I featured these boots in the Fall Lookbook I posted not too long ago, and the reason is because I wear these boots almost every day. They are so easy to wear, and they don't do that weird sock slipping thing that a lot of boots I own tend to do. When I first saw these boots in Target back in August, I fell in love with them completely. I love the strappy studded detailing, and they're super easy to slip on because they zip right up!

What have you been loving this month?

- D.

Fall Lookbook

The leaves are starting to change here in North Carolina. This is the first fall I have had away from home, and it's the first REAL fall I think I have ever had at all! This past weekend, Andrew came to visit for my school's fall break, and we went exploring and sight-seeing here in this little college town of mine. I definitely live in a beautiful town, but it gets pretty chilly here, especially compared to what I'm used to! As the cool weather sets in, my wardrobe changes quite a bit, so I thought this would be the perfect time to do a quick fall look book to help inspire you!

This first outfit is perfect for a lazy school day, without looking like you just rolled out of bed (even if you did). The color scheme of this cozy thermal sweater is perfect for the fall weather. Something you can't see, though, are the adorable red elbow patches! For me, you can't go wrong with moto boots, especially ones that you can just slip on, zip up, and head out. I also paired a gunmetal watch with this outfit, so I'm never late to class! And of course, to tame your mane on a windy day, a cute beanie is a total must.

Beanie: Charlotte Russe - I actually bought this beanie years ago, so they no longer have this exact color, but here is a link to a very similar style!
Sweater: JCPenney
High-waisted Jeggings: Aeropostale
Moto Boots: Target
Watch: Charming Charlie - unfortunately, they no longer sell the gunmetal color, but they do still have this style!

This outfit is great for a cool night. It's perfect for when you want to look a little more dressed up, without being over the top or freezing! The girly floral print of the dress is balanced by the edgy flair of the black faux leather jacket, and of course, you can't go wrong with some tights to keep you warm, and some chunky heeled lace-up booties! To pull everything together, I added some dainty cream rose stud earrings.

Faux Leather Jacket: Aeropostale - I bought this years ago, so they no longer have this exact style, but Aero does some great high quality faux leather pieces that I have linked.
Dress: Target 
Booties: Forever21 - they no longer sell this specific style, but you can find a very similar pair at Target
Earrings: Forever21

This last look is great for anyone who wants to channel their inner 90s chick on one of those strange freezing-in-the-morning-but-scorching-in-the-afternoon days that I know places like California are notorious for. I went with a warm flannel shirt that you can easily just wrap around your waist when it gets warm for that laid-back 90s style, plus a basic white v-neck, some black shorts, and black tights, to keep everything else simple. To complete the look, I added some rings and some chunky cut-out boots!

Flannel Top: Aeropostale - another piece I bought years ago, but flannels are so in style right now. The most similar one to this that I have found is from Hollister, but of course you can always look at places like Forever21, Wet Seal, and American Eagle, which all have great selections.
V-Neck: Forever21
Shorts: Forever21
Tights: Walmart
Rings: H&M - their website has a terrible selection, so I would definitely suggest going into your local H&M and checking it out in person!
Boots: Tilly's

Of course I had to stop to pet a cat, and this photo is the only one that had a good shot of these boots!

I hope this helped inspire you and get you in the mood for fall! Halloween is just around the corner, then of course the holiday season comes up right after that, which I am so excited for.

What is your favorite fall trend?

- D.

Five Minutes to Fall

I was browsing the aisles of CVS the other day, and the display for the fall collection by Wet n Wild caught my eye. Of course, it was nearly empty! I decided that was a good sign that I should check it out. The entire collection is just what you would expect from a fall collection -- lots of deep colors with warm undertones. As I was playing with the palette I picked up, "Melrose at Night," I realized just how quick and easy these palettes are for an on-the-go smokey eye! It only took my five minutes to apply the shadows, and this palette is so easy to just throw in your makeup bag and head out there door.

To find this collection near you, Nouveau Cheap has this awesome Interactive Sightings Map that can help you out!

To start this look out, I used the Maybelline Color Tattoo Leather in "Creamy Beige" all over my lids as a base. From here, I moved onto the palette. I used the Wet n Wild Color Icon 5-Pan Eyeshadow Palette in "Melrose at Night," and obviously, completely ignored the labels that were embedded in the shadows. I used the pink "Crease" shade all over my lid, staying under the crease. Then, I mixed the brown "Eyelid" and taupe "Browbown" colors together, and rocked that into the crease lightly. I didn't want the crease to be overly defined, so I made sure to really blend these colors out.

For my liner, I used the blackened purple "Definer" shade (which reminds me so much of "Blackheart" from the Naked 3 palette, by the way) and smudged this along my upper lash line. I also winged it out slightly, pulling the color into the crease and feathering it out. I also used this shade on my lower lashline, then used the creamy "Base" shade to highlight my brow bone as well as the inner corner.

And that's it for the shadow! This palette makes everything so quick and easy. After I finished with the shadows, I tightlined my upper and lower waterline with the L'Oreal HiP Color Chrome Eyeliner in "Black Shock," which was actually my favorite black liner for the majority of high school. Of course, I curled my lashes, then applied one coat of my Maybelline Waterproof The Mega Plush Mascara, followed by my Maybelline The Rocket Mascara.

On my lips, I used the limited edition Mega Last Lipstick in "Sunset Siren." I was so shocked by this lipstick. While I usually love the original Mega Last Lipstick, it does tend to be incredibly drying. The formula of this is still matte, but so much more comfortable on the lips. The texture actually reminds me a lot of the Maybelline The Mattes Lipstick collection that just came out! Because the eye look is so neutral, you can definitely get away with a bold lip, and "Sunset Siren" is perfect for that classic vintage red lip that is always popular around the holidays.

- D.