Happy Halloween!

For your viewing pleasure:  some movie monster portraits (and a black kitty) made out of halloween candy by Detroit artist Eric Millikin.  The name of the series is "Totally Sweet".

There are 13 total portraits, and you NEED to check them out (and read the hilarious blurbs underneath the picture).  They are just too cool.

Go here to see the full gallery!  (When you are looking at his gallery page, mouse over the portrait to see the candy close up to see what he used.)

Vampire!

Who doesn't love a glamorous vampire look for Halloween?  Pfft, or anytime?  Here's mine.

The natural lighting for this photo really blew out my skin, which I actually like for the vampire look.

Eyes:  Urban Decay Primer Potion
          Sonia Kashuk Jewel of an Eye Palette -- plummy red, plum shadows
          Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy
          MAKE UP FOR EVER Star Powder 950 -- black gold
          Fyrinnae Loose Eyeshadow in Velvet Vampire -- sparkling red
          Tarina Tarantino Hyperliner in Tommy Jet (black)
          Ardell Lashes
          Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Eyeliner + Serum in Ultra Black
          Fresh Supernova Mascara

Brows:  LORAC Creamy Brow Pencil in Auburn

Face:  Becca Radiant Skin Satin Finish Foundation in Shell
          Sephora Mattifying Compact Foundation Powder in Light
          Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Milk Chocolate
          Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Dollface

Lips:  Estee Lauder Pure Color Long-Lasting Lipstick in Vintage Sherry (old limited edition)

For my eyes:
I primed my eyelids with Urban Decay's Primer Potion and applied the plummy red shade of shadow from the Sonia Kashuk palette all over the lids up into the crease and blended up to the brow, as well as on the lower lashline.  I didn't use any highlight under the brow.  In the crease, I used the plum color from the palette. I patted some Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy on my moving lid and a little into the crease.  I then patted and brushed the MAKE UP FOR EVER star powder, which is very black and has fine gold glitter, into the crease and outer v and blended it in with the red.  Then, I patted Fyrinnae eyeshadow in Velvet Vampire (a shade from their Arcane Magic colors), which is a fiery red with some red and gold glitter, all over the moving lid.  With a thin angled liner brush, I lined my lower lashes with the MAKE UP FOR EVER star powder, and lined my upper and lower waterlines with Tarina Tarantino Tommy Jet (black) eyeliner.  I applied some false lashes and lined the lashline with the Physician's Formula black liquid liner.  I used Fresh Supernova mascara to complete the eyes.

from left:  red and plum colors from Sonia Kashuk Jewel of an Eye palette, Fyrinnae Velvet Vampire, MAKE UP FOR EVER Star Powder 950

For my face:
I used primer and liquid foundation, as well as powder foundation for lots of matte coverage.  I swept Too Faced Chocolate Soleil bronzer in Milk Chocolate (a light bronzer) in the hollows of my cheeks to contour my cheekbones.  I very lightly brushed Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Dollface (a light cool pink) on the apples of my cheeks.

For my lips:
I only used Estee Lauder Pure Color Long-Lasting Lipstick in Vintage Sherry.

from left:  Too Faced Milk Chocolate bronzer, Tarte Dollface blush, Estee Lauder Vintage Sherry lipstick

And, because all of my other facial expressions in today's pics were meant to convey the serious "I'm a vampire" attitude, here's one of me grinning like a fool.

Of note -- I won't be biting anyone this year.  I have some vampire fangs, but I didn't wear them since I have to wear my Invisaligns... I can't even bite a piece of bread with those things in.

Have a safe and happy Halloween, everyone!

Neutral Eyes of the Day With Sonia Kashuk

Today I used the Sonia Kashuk Jewel of an Eye palette (full swatches here), which is part of her limited edition collection for fall 2013.  This may be on clearance in Target stores, although it isn't on clearance on the Target website.  It might be disappearing from shelves, but still be available online for a little longer.  It is an excellent palette if you like jewel toned shadows as well as deeper neutral shades with shimmer.

I used just two of the brown eyeshadows -- the lightest (which looks almost gold due to the shimmer) on the lid, and the deepest in the crease.  I used Wet 'n' Wild Brulee (matte cream) under the brow and to blend out the deep brown.  I used one thin coat Benefit's They're Real mascara, and a thin line of Physicians Formula Felt Tip liquid liner.

Have a wonderful day!

EotD with Fyrinnae Serendipity

This is using just one shadow (and a liquid liner).  That's it.

The shadow is Serendipity from Fyrinnae's loose shadow collection -- described on their website as "a glowing iridescent copper highlight."  It has a sheer dark base.

It looks like you are wearing 2 or 3 colors because of the nature of the highlights in the eyeshadow.

Eyes:  Urban Decay Primer Potion
          Fyrinnae Pixie Epoxy
          Fyrinnae loose eyeshadow in Serendipity
          Benefit They're Real Mascara
          Physician's Formula Eye Definer Felt-tip Eye Marker in Ultra Black

Fyrinnae Serendipity swatch over Pixie Epoxy

A little different angle...

Sorry this is such a short post -- I neglected to take more than 2 photos of this for some reason.

Have a gorgeous day!

Look of the Day Gemstone Series: Diamond

Hiya!  I have the next look in my "inspired by gemstones" series for you today -- a girl's best friend... diamonds!

I broke out the glitter for my diamond look.  Lots of sparkle in this one.

Diamonds, which are April's birthstone, are the hardest gemstones in the world. Diamonds actually come in many colors, which are "determined by the type of impurities that are present in the stone."(American Gem Society)  According to the American Gem Society the name diamond is "adopted from the Greek word "adamas," meaning invincible."

source: American Gem Society

You can sort of see the glitter on the cheeks.  

Eyes:  Urban Decay eyeshadow in Polyester Bride -- all over the lid up to the brow
          Girlactik Beauty glitter in Multi Jewels -- on the moving lid
          Tarina Tarantino Hyperliner eyeliner in Tommy Jet -- waterline
          Milani Liquif'Eye Metallic Eyeliner in Silver -- lower lash line
          Sonia Kashuk Long Wear Gel Liner in Ebony -- upper lash line
          Fyrinnae loose eyeshadow in Immortality -- over gel liner
          Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara

Cheeks:  Tarina Tarantino Dollskin Blush in Candy Cameo
             Sephora+Pantone Universe Alchemy of Color Face Palette -- highlighter

Lips:  Milani Color Statement Lipliner in Nude
         DiorKiss lipgloss in Sorbet Meringue

Girlactik Beauty glitter in Multi Jewels, Fyrinnae loose eyshadow in Immortality

Tarina Tarantino Dollskin Blush in Candy Cameo

Sephora+Pantone Universe Alchemy of Color Face Palette highlighter

Milani Color Statement Lipliner in Nude, DiorKiss Lipgloss in Sorbet Meringue

from left: Urban Decay Polyester Bride, Fyrinnae Immortality, Girlactik Multi Jewels, Tarina Tarantino Tommy Jet eyeliner, Milani Liquif'Eye liner in Silver, Sonia Kashuk gel liner in Ebony

from left: Tarina Tarantino Dollskin Blush in Candy Cameo, Sephora+Pantone Universe palette highlighter, Milani lipliner in Nude, Diorkiss lipgloss in Sorbet Meringue

This photo shows the glitter in the DiorKiss gloss better.

And for good measure, some diamond-y nails using Wet 'n' Wild Wild Shine Nail Color in 469.

Blurry photo so you can see the multi colored glitter.

Capturing glitter in photographs is rather difficult.  This was much more multi-colored and sparkly in person.

This makeup might actually work as a halloween costume if you wanted to be a a sparkle fairy or something.  Or a disco ball.

Sparkle sparkle!

Look of the Day with NYX Pardon My French

I used the NYX Love in Paris palette in Pardon My French (review and swatches here) today.  On my cheeks I used Kat Von D Everlasting Face Shaper Blush in Bellisima, and on my lips I used Milani Color Statement Lipliner in Nude and Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Gloss in Nouveau Nude.  I also used Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara.

Copper -- all over the lid
Dark green -- in  the crease, outer v, and lower lash line
Sparkling apricot -- above the grease to blend the green
Light gold -- inner corner by the tear duct
Dark brown -- liner on upper lash line

from left: Kat Von D blush in Belissima, Milani lipliner in Nude, Tarina Tarantino gloss in Nouveau Nude

The colors kind of remind me of the mums blooming in my garden!

Have a lovely day, everyone!