Category Archives: NARS

Fool-proof Smokey Eye Using Lise Watier Fall 2011 Quatuor Wet & Dry Eyeshadows in Équinoxe.

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I can’t show you swatches of Lise Watier Équinoxe quad without showing you a look, can I? That would be so mean of me. :P When I first saw this palette, it instantly screamed smokey eye to me. Unfortunately I wore this look before I found my bottle of Métamorfix liquid transformer, so these shadows as shown here were applied dry. Just for kicks here’s a reminder of how the palette looks like:

Lise Watier Quatuor Wet & Dry Eyeshadows in Ḗquinoxe

Get the Look

For the eyes, start with a grey cream eyeshadow base (Mary Kay Glacier Gray Creme Eye Color) all over the lid past the crease. Go over the same area with the grey from the Lise Watier palette, and blend out the edges. Next, pat on the muted blue all over the lid. Take the chocolate brown with a pointed crease brush and map out a slight wing shape on the outer corners. Fill in the outer third of the lid with the chocolate brown. Then, using a pencil/smudge brush, smudge the chocolate brown into the top and bottom lash lines. Clean up the shape with a Q-tip, if necessary. Just above the chocolate brown, apply a matte warm brown (MAC Soft Brown) to warm up the brow bone. Highlight the brow bone and inner corners with the icy white eyeshadow.

Line the top and bottom waterlines with a black liner (Annabelle Ohmygoth! Smudgeliner). Finish with a couple coats of volumizing mascara (Annabelle Le Big Show Mascara).

For the cheeks, keep it natural with a matte pinky brown blush (NARS Douceur Blush) and sweep up and out towards your ears.

For the lips, apply a glossy nude pink lipstick (Chanel Ming Rouge Allure Laque).

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FOTD: Craving Colour.

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I love a good colourful look to celebrate summer.  Today I was inspired by Lisa Eldridge’s new video Beach Brights to take my bright eyeshadows for a spin.  At first I thought I’d just do a bright eyeliner, but as you can see, I kinda went colour crazy.  It’s the first time I’m trying a teal and purple combo, and I think it works well.  I also wanted to show off Chanel Rouge Coco in Jersey Rose (thanks H. of 25fLONDON!), which is my go-to lipstick this summer.  Enjoy the look!

Swatches (from left): Sleek Chaos i-Divine Palette Eyeshadows in Teal, Sea Green, Medium Brown, Dark Brown, Auraline Bright Violet, MAC Arena

Get the Look

For the eyes, build up the colour by patting on a bright teal (Sleek Chaos i-Divine Palette) all over the lid and on the lower lash line. Blend the colour into the crease, then apply a medium brown on the crease. Deepen the outer crease by adding a dark brown. On the outer lid, blend in a vibrant purple (Auraline Bright Violet) and the outer third of the lower lash line.  Highlight the brow bone and inner corners with a light peach (MAC Arena).

Line the upper lash line with a black gel liner (MAC Blacktrack), and the waterlines with a black pencil liner (Giorgio Armani waterproof).  Apply your favourite mascara (CoverGirl Lash Blast).

For the cheeks, lightly bronze all over the high points of the face with a peachy pink bronzer (Dior Aurora).  Then, on the apples of the cheeks, apply a light dusting of a shimmery peachy pink blush (NARS Deep Throat).

For the lips, apply a warm rosy pink lipstick (Chanel Jersey Rose). Add a shimmery lip gloss on top (Chanel Maline).

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So Winter has Made You Paper White, Huh? Get a Quick Golden Look with NARS Sertao Blush.

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Gold, copper, and bronze are very in this Spring.

‘Kay.  I think I’m starting to sound like a broken record here, always talking about Spring trends.  But if you live in Canada, you totally get it.  We’ve been waiting for Spring for many months, so it’s a pretty big deal ’round here.  We even have a ceremonial dance to welcome Spring.  True story; look it up.

So, I will talk about Spring trends whether you like it or not.

Let’s talk bronzer for a sec, shall we?  What of it?  Well, it’s probably not a good idea to douse yourself with the stuff right after Winter has taken away your Summer (sunless) tan.  Here are some tips to slowly ease the golden, bronzed look back into your life as we transition into the most beautiful season ever.

#1 — Step Away from a Matte Base.

The bronzy summer glow starts with your base, so pick a foundation or moisturizer with a dewy finish.  I have combination skin that’s more on the oily side, and really like NARS Sheer Glow ($55).  For reference, I’m a MAC NC40 and my match is Barcelona.  I don’t own this yet, but my sample from Sephora was very well-loved.  Those with normal-to-dry skin types might love Mary Kay TimeWise Luminous-Wear ($23).  It contains hydrating jojoba and and mica that imparts a lovely glow.

If, after reading all of the above, you are totally cursing me because your skin is so. very. oily, I have a solution for you.  Apply your matte foundation, then infuse light back into your face with an illuminator like Mary Kay Liquid Illuminator ($23). Read more on these in a future post; they are kinda amazing and also limited edition!  Illuminate the high points of your face only (cheeks, temples, nose bridge, chin) to put the dew back onto your skin.

#2 — A Multi-Use Eye & Cheek Product is Your New Best Friend.

NARS Sertao Blush

Here’s where NARS Blush in Sertao ($29) comes in. NARS blushes are well-known for their incredible pigmentation, and Sertao is no different.  I recently discovered that it makes a beautiful light golden brown eyeshadow, too. A few quick swipes across the lids, on the cheeks, and temples et voilà — you are golden.

Another great thing about Sertao: it lasts and lasts and lasts.  Most of my blushes I put eventually fade as the day goes on, but Sertao’s gorgeous sheen and colour stays on my cheeks until I take it off.

NARS Sertao Blush Swatches

#3 — Softly Define the Eye with a Smudged Brown Eyeliner.

A very monochromatic look may be great for the runway, but in real life it just looks like a lot of yellow.  This is not cute, especially if you have yellow undertones in your skin.  Break up the yellows by smudging brown eyeliner close to your upper lash line.  Keep it soft; we don’t want to see a solid line.  I used Urban Decay Whiskey 24/7 Liner from my Naked palette.

You’re 99% done at this point.  Add some mascara, and your fave neutral lip gloss (I like Chanel Glossimer in Maline), and you’re set to run out the door.

Wearing NARS Sertao Blush (lid), Urban Decay Whiskey 24/7 Liner (top lash line), and MAC Studio Fix Lash Mascara (lashes)

Wearing NARS Sertao (eyes and cheeks)

Was that quick or what?

Are You Ready for Spring Yet?

What Spring trend are you dying to wear, or are currently wearing? Everybody knows I am crazy about my bright lips, but recently I’ve been wanting to try the brights on my eyes. :)