Annabelle
FOTD: Subtle Smoky Eyes with Steely Blues.
Aug 29th
Whew! I’m back with another FOTD. I attended a friend’s wedding yesterday and this is the look I wore. Thank goodness the hair was also cooperative. Those are flat iron waves created by yours truly, thankyouverymuch! 
I haven’t used my MAC Smoke & Diamonds (LE) eyeshadow in any FOTDs so I thought I’d pull it out of hiding for this look. I just kind of winged it, but I really like how it turned out. 
Don’t let the finished face fool you; this look was actually quick and easy!
Swatches (from left): MAC Smoke & Diamonds (LE), Annabelle B-Ray (LE), MAC Carbon, MAC Soft Brown, MAC Arena
Get the Look
For the eyes, fill in any sparse areas on your brows (Benefit Medium Brow Zings). After priming your eyes (Too Faced Shadow Insurance), apply a light shimmery peach (MAC Arena) on the inner corners and under the brows. Then, take a shimmery grey taupe (MAC Smoke & Diamonds, LE) all over the lid. Take a matte navy (Annabelle B-Ray, LE) to the outer crease and outer V with a crease brush, and go over it slightly with a matte black (MAC Carbon). Lightly blend above the crease with a matte warm brown (MAC Soft Brown). Smudge the matte navy to the outer two-thirds of the lower lash line. Line the upper lash line (MAC Blacktrack Fluidline) with a slight wing. Line the upper and lower waterlines with a pencil dipped in gel liner (Urban Decay Zero dipped in MAC Blacktrack) for maximum staying power. Apply mascara (CoverGirl LashBlast waterproof) to both upper and lower lashes.
For the face and cheeks, start by priming with a mattifying primer (CoverFX ClearPrep FX). Apply foundation (FACE atelier Foundation #6 Honey), concealer (theBalm TimeBalm Medium), and powder (Marcelle Translucent Medium). Sculpt the cheeks, temples, and jawline with a dark matte brown powder (MAKE UP FOR EVER #17 Espresso). Then, add a pop of matte peachy pink to the apples of your cheeks (Pink Beauty Object of Affection).
For the lips, get your favourite neutral pink lipstick (MAC Viva Glam V) and top it off with a golden pink gloss (Smashbox Candid).
Glitter Geek’s Top 10 Products of Summer 2010.
Aug 22nd
10. MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Invisible Cover Concealer #350.
When the weather is hot, my cream concealer just won’t do because of caking issues. Instead I have been using this great click pen liquid concealer by MAKE UP FOR EVER, and I really like this one. It takes care of dark circles without the need for setting powder. It dries completely without any stickiness, so it is excellent for minimal makeup summer days when I just don’t want to fuss with too many products.
9. Sonia Kashuk Blending Sponge.
Sonia Kashuk is my #1 reason why I am annoyed that Target is still not in Canada. The Sonia Kashuk blending sponge is an essential tool in my makeup bag for perfecting the skin on my face and under eye area. Used wet with my MAC Fix+ Rose, about 10 swipes of my tinted moisturizer or foundation all over my face and I’m done. Flip it over to the pointed side and blend out under eye concealer in a jiff. It is really that easy.
8. MAC Eyeshadow in Arena.
Many a summer day my eye makeup was very minimal. Some days eyeliner was not even used. When I felt like putting on a “me but better” face, 9 times out of 10 I wore MAC Arena. This shade is so versatile on my skin tone (about NC35 – NC37) because I can use it as a light lid colour or as a highlight. If I am really pressed for time, I just highlight my eyes’ inner corners and brow bone and I instantly look more awake.
7. MAC Lipstick in Viva Glam V.
Here I am again, telling the world about my undying love for MAC Viva Glam V lipstick. Seriously, if I were to have a BFF in lipstick form, Viva Glam V would be it. The shimmery mauve is oh so easy to wear, and the Lustre finish makes it more comfortable to wear than other MAC formulas. Oh, and did you know proceeds from all Viva Glam products go towards MAC AIDS fund to support those living with HIV and AIDS? Now I won’t feel so bad getting backups of this amazing lipstick.
6. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Oil Free in Almond.
On days when I want to even out my skin tone more than usual, I reach for this instead of my usual foundation. Laura Mercier’s tinted moisturizers are well-known in the beauty universe, and rightly so. This one provides a heavier coverage than your regular tinted moisturizers, so it covers your minor imperfections while still letting your skin show through. I find the oil free formula is great for oily skin like mine and it has never broken me out. This was a great buy!
5. MAC Hipness Blush.
This has become my default blush. The almost-matte coral is incredibly flattering on any complexion. It’s not the most pigmented blush I have, but it can be built up to a super intense colour when layered. The nice thing about Hipness is that it works with a warm look as well as cool colours. So if someone were to ask me which one blush I would take with me on a deserted island — obviously this someone is not in their right mind! — I would definitely pick my Hipness blush. Because we’re tight like that.
4. Dior Addict Shine Eau de Toilette.
This is the latest addition (I almost typed addiction, ha!) to my small perfume collection. I like to switch to a lighter scent in the summer months and this is what I’ve been wearing this scent all summer long. I’m not fluent in perfume-speak, but it smells like a fresh floral on me. It starts off more citrusy, but as it wears through the day, it begins to smell like a fresh field of flowers. It is always a nice surprise whenever I catch a whiff of this scent. It is summer in a bottle.
3. Annabelle Zebra Bronzing Powder in Haute Gold.
What a great bronzer and a great price! Everyone I know who has used this — fair and tan — shares my love for this bronzer. Fact: I totally cracked up when some Glitter Geek readers were fooled into thinking I wasn’t wearing bronzer in my original review. 
I looked like I had naturally glowing skin like I’m not wearing any makeup. That is all.
2. Pure + simple All Natural SPF 30 for Oily/Impure Skin.
I don’t know why I haven’t yet posted a review on this, but it has seriously saved my face from those horrible itchy patches I got last summer. It’s a physical sunscreen, which means that I look like a powder-face geisha after I put it on, but it works. On most days I just wear my MAC Mineralized Skin Finish Natural (Medium Dark) over it and everything looks as it should. Non-greasy and doesn’t smell revolting. It can be found at Pure + simple spas in the Greater Toronto Area or online.
1. Cover FX ClearPrep FX Matte Foundation Primer and Anti-Acne Treatment Gel.
My favourite primer continues to save my face from turning into a greaseball every day I wear it. It is pricy, but if you have oily skin and think there is nothing out there that’ll help you, you should really give this ClearPrep FX a try. And normal to dry skinned beauties, be not afraid! I didn’t find ClearPrep FX to be drying, either. I tell everyone about it, so tell your friends!
Now That I’ve Shared Mine, What Are Your Go-To Products This Summer?
Disclosure: The bronzer was sent to me for review, and I bought everything else. Wow, that’s a lot of new products!
EOTD: Graphic Teal and Blue.
Aug 15th
Sometimes I do pretty makeup, but there are days when I just want to put on over the top, I-really-hope-no-one-rings-the-doorbell-right-now makeup. Today is one of those days, LOL!
Swatches (from left): joe fresh Peacock, Annabelle B-Ray, blue from CARGO Venice quad, MAC Arena, MAC Soft Brown
Get the Look
- Start with an eye primer (Urban Decay Primer Potion) all over the lids up to the brows to make colours appear as vibrant as possible.
- With a flat synthetic brush, pick up an icy blue (blue eyeshadow from CARGO Venice) and apply to the inner third of the lid and inner third of lower lash line.
- Flip the brush over, then take a matte teal (joe fresh Peacock) to the outer two-thirds of the lid and middle of the lower lash line. Blend the two colours where they meet.
- Then, using a pointed crease brush (MAC 226), trace out the wing with a deep matte navy (Annabelle B-Ray). Fill in the wing on the outer third of the lid. Line the outer third of the lower lash line.
- Take a fine tipped liner brush and emphasize the shape of the wing with the same navy eyeshadow. See pictures for details, it’s kinda hard to explain.
- I didn’t like the blue inner corner highlight on its own, so I applied a shimmery peach (MAC Arena) on top. Highlight the brow bone as well.
- Blend lightly above the navy with a mid-tone warm brown eyeshadow (MAC Soft Brown).
- Line the upper lash line and waterline with black eyeliner (MAC Blacktrack Fluidline).
- Apply mascara, and false lashes (Ardell 120 Demi) if you like.
Summer Smoky Eye: Softer Browns for the Faint of Heart.
Jul 24th
The Summer Smoky Eye series continues this week, and this time I had the opportunity to make my sister Liza over for a wedding she was attending. She normally wears no makeup (she is poreless anyway!) and her idea of being put together is a little bit of mascara. And by little bit I mean I can’t even tell she’s wearing any. She wanted to amp up the glamour with a soft smoky eye and this is what we came up with.
The colour placement on this one is super basic, so really I think anyone can do this. If the other brown smoky eye was a bit too much for your taste, then you might like this one better.
Swatches (from left): NARS Cordura Duo Eyeshadow, MAC Soft Brown, MAC Arena
Get the Look
For the eyes, using a fluffy shader brush, take a shimmery light peach (MAC Arena) to highlight the brow bone and inner corners. Then, apply a matte medium brown (MAC Soft Brown) all over the lid. Using a fluffy blending brush like the MAC 217, take a deeper shimmery brown (lighter side of NARS Cordura Duo) and apply on the outer 1/3 of the lid and outer crease. Smudge this same colour on the outer 2/3 of the lower lash line. Take a deep brown (almost black like the darker side of NARS Cordura Duo) and apply to the outer V with a pointed crease brush like the MAC 226. Smudge this same colour to the outer 1/3 of the lower lash line. Smudge a black eyeliner on the outer half of the upper lash line (Annabelle Ohmygoth!) and go over the same line with the deep brown. Add mascara (L’Oreal Voluminous waterproof) to the top lashes.
For the cheeks, start with a cream blush (MAKE UP FOR EVER #5 Nip Slip HD Blush) to make the colour last longer. Then go over it with a no- or low-shimmer coral powder blush (MAC Hipness). Contour the cheeks and temples with a matte dark brown blush (MAKE UP FOR EVER #17 Espresso).
For the lips, go with a gorgeous neutral lipstick (MAC Viva Glam V).
Summer Smoky Eye?!? Glittery Purple.
Jul 18th
I’m hesitant to call this one a Summer Smoky Eye, just because it looks quite dark and dramatic to me. But it was fun to do, especially adding the last bit of glitter to the eyes.
Swatches (from left): Urban Decay Freakshow, Annabelle Violet Vibe (pigment), MAC Coquette, MAC Carbon, Sassy Minerals Off Kilter (pigment)
Get the Look
For the eyes, apply a mid-tone blue violet (Annabelle Violet Vibe Pigment) with a wet flat synthetic brush, all over the middle of the lids. Using a pointed crease brush, apply a rich dark purple (Urban Decay Freakshow Deluxe Eyeshadow) to the inner and outer corners of the lid, and the crease, creating a pointed shape on the outer corner. Blend out the crease colour with a matte taupe (MAC Coquette Eyeshadow). Deepen the corners with a matte black (MAC Carbon Eyeshadow). Duplicate the purples on the lid to the lower lash line (dark, mid tone, dark). Line the upper lash line with a black liner (MAC Blacktrack Fluidline), creating a double-wing. Line the lower waterline, then add mascara to both upper and lower lashes (Maybelline Full ‘n Soft). Last but not least, add the glittarz to that lid.
For the cheeks, first warm up the face with your favourite bronzer (Annabelle Haute Gold Bronzer). Then, apply a coral on the apples of the cheeks, nose, and chin (MAC Hipness Blush).
For the lips, apply a coral-y peach lipstick (MAC Fresh Salmon). Top off with a shimmery golden pink gloss (Smashbox Candid Sheer Color Lipgloss).
