Look of the Day Gemstone Series: Garnet

The gemstone that inspired today's look is January's birthstone, garnet.

Garnets can be found in all colors of the rainbow.  According to the American Gem Society, the stone was named for its resemblance to a pomegranate seed (pomegranate's scientific name is Punica granatum --- so, it makes sense: granatum --> garnet).  There are six different species of garnet that differ from one another in chemical composition, but share similar physical characteristics and crystal forms.

According to Wikipedia, garnets have been in use as gemstones and abrasives since the Bronze Age (c. 3000 - 600 BC).  Crushed garnets are sometimes used to create "garnet paper", a kind of sandpaper which is primarily used for woodworking.

source: American Gem Society

Almandine garnets are most commonly used as gemstones, and they are the red color I imagine when I think of a garnet.

source gemselect.com

From the LORAC PRO Palette, I used the shadow called "Garnet" as it is the deep red color of an almandine garnet, and because it's named garnet.  ;)

I used Garnet on the outer 1/2 of the lid, crease, and lower lashline.

I used Nude on the inner 1/2 of the lid, under the brow, and in the inner corner.

I used Milani Shadow Eyez in Almond Cream on the lid as a base.

I added some of the L'Oreal Infallible eyeshadow in Glistening Garnet for a little extra color in the crease.  Yes, I also used it because it is named Glistening Garnet.

I also used L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly mascara, Sonia Kashuk gel eyeliner in Ebony on the upper lashline, and Tarina Tarantino Hyperliner eyeliner in Tommy Jet on the lower waterline.

I kept my cheeks and lips neutral choosing Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed, Milani Color Statement Lipliner in Nude, and Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Plump Perfect Lipstick in Perfect Blossom (discontinued).

Swatches:

from left: Milani Shadow Eyez in Almond Cream, LORAC shadow in Nude, LORAC shadow in Garnet, L'Oreal Infallible eyeshadow in Glistening Garnet

from left: Tarte blush in Exposed, Milani lipliner in Nude, Elizabeth Arden lipstick in Perfect Blossom

I think this is actually quite a wearable look.  The "Garnet" shade from the LORAC PRO Palette has enough brown in it to make it seem more neutral than it looks in the pan.  It may be my favorite color in the PRO Palette.

Thanks for checking out my garnet inspired look today!

Opal

Diamond

Citrine/Imperial Topaz

Emerald

Tanzanite

Ruby
Amethyst

Look of the Day Gemstone Series: Amethyst

It's February, so I decided to use February's birthstone, amethyst, as today's inspiration.

Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz and is a semi-precious stone.  According to Wikipedia, the name comes from the ancient Greek a- ("not") and methustos ("intoxicated"), which is a reference to the ancient Greek belief that it was an antidote to drunkenness.

source: American Gem Society

Shades of amethyst range from pinky-violet to deep purple, and intensity within one crystal of amethyst quartz can vary greatly.  However, the stones are most often cut so the finished gem will have a homogenous color, rather than for size, which would most likely include striations of color, which lie in a striped pattern parallel to the face of the crystal.

source: list-of-birthstones.com

Amethysts can lose their color if overexposed to light sources such as sunlight or black light (so they should be protected when worn outside or in a discotheque). Amethysts can also be artificially darkened using radium radiation.  

The most prized amethyst gems have no blemishes or inclusions within the stone, and are a medium to deep purple with flashes of red.

I used several purples on my eyes ranging from light lavender to deep violet to create my amethyst look.

daylight bulb

with flash

Eyes:

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Color in Orchid on the inner corner

Sephora Moonshadow Trio in Dusk Till Dawn -- lightest color on inner third of the lid

Darling Girl Cosmetics loose eyeshadows in Fra-gee-lay on the middle of the lid

Sushi Flower Diamond Dust on the lower lashline

from left: Fra-gee-lay, Sushi Flower

BFTE loose eyeshadow in Grape on the outer third of the lid

NARS eyeshadow single (I don't know the name becaue I depotted it looooong ago -- it might be Daphne)

Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color Eyeshadow in Amethyst in the crease

Urban Decay eyeshadow in Limit to blend out the crease

Urban Decay eyeshadow in Strange under the brow

from left: Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Orchid, Sephora Moonshadow in Dusk Till Dawn (lightest color), Darling Girl loose shadow in Fra-Gee-lay, Darling Girl loose shadow in Sushi Flower, BFTE loose shadow in Grape (all three swatched over Pixie Epoxy), NARS eyeshadow in Daphne (probably), Elizabeth Arden eyeshadow in Amethyst, Urban Decay eyeshadow in Limit, Urban Decay eyeshadow in Strange

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eyeliner in Ransom on the lower waterline

Milani Liquid Eye eyeliner pencil in Perfect Purple on the upper lashes

NYX Studio Liquid Liner in Extreme Purple on the upper lashes

from left: Urban Decay eyeliner in Ransom, Milani eyeliner in Perfect Purple, NYX liquid eyeliner in Extreme Purple

L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly Mascara

Cheeks: Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Milk Chocolate to contour
             Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed
             Wet 'n' Wild Fergie To Reflect Shimmer Palette in Rose Champagne Glow

from left: Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Milk Chocolate, Tarte blush in Exposed, Wet 'n' Wild Fergie Shimmer palette in Rose Champagne Glow

Lips: MAKE UP FOR EVER Rouge Artist Natural lipstick in N1
         Rimmel Stay Glossy lipgloss in Non Stop Glamour (I think -- there is no name on it)

from left: MAKE UP FOR EVER Rouge Artist Natural in N1, Rimmel Stay Glossy lipgloss in Non Stop Glamour

I have a set of amethysts that I wear frequently (it's not my birthstone, I just find amethysts really beautiful).

This ring belonged to my mother, and I "borrowed" it from her as a teenager.  I wore it ALL the time, so she decided it should just be mine.

These earrings were my grandmother's, and she gifted them to me for my birthday one year to match the ring.

My pendant was a high school graduation gift from my parents to match the ring and earrings.

In all of the above pics the purples photographed really blue, so I attempted to tone them (which I don't normally do) to make the colors a little more true to life.  The below picture was taken in indoor light and actually reflects the violet colors of the shadows better.  I didn't think to try indoor light until the end of the day, which is why the shadows are slightly faded.

Thank you for checking out my amethyst look of the day!  

Opal

Diamond

Citrine/Imperial Topaz

Emerald

Tanzanite

Ruby