Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2012 RTW Fashion Week (Source: style.com)

Something funny happens to me all the time: when it’s cold (like today, -15C / -26C with the wind), I like to do springtime inspired looks.  Why do you think that is?  An easy look that has been my go-to for the past couple of months now is this: Pat McGrath’s Sophia Loren-inspired makeup for Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2012.  It’s all about the flushed cheeks, brows, flared lashes and the kitten eye. Oh, and can I just say I love that the term kitten eye?  Like, kittayns! #crazycatlady

Get the Look

For the eyes, go over the entire lid with your foundation to even it out.  Brush and fill in your brows (MAC Brun eyeshadow).  Take a black liquid liner (Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner) and start lining the outer half of the upper lash line. Make sure that the line gets thicker as you move towards the corner, and draw a slight flick at the end.  I made the line quite thick on the corners, but someone who has a lot of visible eyelid can pull this off with a thinner line.  Go over the outer corner with a black pencil (Urban Decay Zero 24/7 Pencil) and smudge with a brush to soften the line.  Don’t forget to line the top waterline black as well. Highlight the inner corner with a light-reflecting champagne eyeshadow.

On the lower lash line, take a brown pencil eyeliner (Urban Decay Whiskey 24/7 Pencil) along the outer half and soften the line with a brush.  Line the lower waterline with a flesh coloured pencil.  I don’t have a flesh coloured pencil, so I mixed two eyeshadows (Urban Decay Naked and Virgin eyeshadows) and applied with an angled liner brush. Apply lots of mascara on top and bottom lashes, and a half strip of false lashes if you wish.

For the face/cheeks, keep the base sheer with a lightweight foundation (Bourjois 55 Beige Fonce Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation) and go over it lightly with a translucent powder (Kett Sett Powder).  Apply a mix of a coral and a brownish blush (Tarte Blissful and Exposed Amazonian Clay Blushes) along the cheeks, close to where you would normally shade and contour.

For the lips, apply a rosy pink lipstick (Chanel Jersey Rose Rouge Coco Lipstick).  You can keep the lips matte like this, but I went with a little dab of sheer light pink lipgloss (Giorgio Armani Pink 508 Wild Rose Gloss d’Armani — from the Spring 2012 collection ‘Luce’).

Read on to see more pictures!

(...)
Read the rest of Everyday Makeup: A Recreation of Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2012 RTW Runway Look. (488 words)

© Arianne for Glitter Geek, 2012. | Permalink | 34 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Categories: Bourjois, Dolce & Gabbana, Looks, MAC, Makeup, Maybelline, Tarte, Urban Decay | Tags: fotd, looks i'm loving

It’s rare that I feature a full breakdown of a fashion week look, but Giorgio Armani at Milan Fashion Week totally blew me away and this was totally worth sharing. Luminous. Angelic. Breathtaking.

Giorgio Armani S/S 2012 Makeup Look

The focus is on the perfect iridescent eyes and skin. International make-up artist Linda Cantello uses mother of pearl-like highlight on the eyes and the temples, along with aqua eyeliner and a wet lip look to achieve the Armani glow.

Giorgio Armani Products Used

Get the Look

For the skin, prep the skin with Regenessence Youth Serum and Regenessence High Lift. Dab some Designer Lift Foundation on the forehead, cheeks and chin and extend it with your finger tips. If necessary, cover up circles under the eyes with High Precision Retouch. Draw on your hand Smooth Silk Eye Pencil N°12 (brown) and dab some under the cheek bones to shade the face. For a mat finish, powder the entire face and eyelids with Luminous Silk Powder.

For the eyes, draw a line with the Smooth Silk Eye Pencil N° 4 (black) along the upper lash line, drawing it straight outward.  Pass over the same line with Eyes To Kill Eyeshadow N°20 (new for Bronze Collection for Spring/Summer 2012). Using the Maestro Eyeliner N°1 (black) draw a second line to thicken the lashes line and create depth with the previous line. Take the Smooth Silk Eye Pencil N°4 again and draw a line starting at the beginning of the eye socket, stopping leaving the middle blank and then continuing to the outer corner of the eye.  Soften the lines, extending the outer line further outwards.  Then dab on the top outer side of the eyelid going into the brow and a bit above and to the outside corner of the eye, Eyes To Kill Eyeshadow N°23 (new for Bronze Collection for Spring/Summer 2012) for the “nacrée” finish (for those who don’t understand French like myself, nacrée = mother of pearl). Fill and shape the brows, then curl the lashes and apply Eyes To Kill Lash Stretching Mascara n°1 (black).

For the lips, apply Gloss D’Armani 100 for a glossy finish.

Giorgio Armani S/S 2012 Makeup Look

Giorgio Armani S/S 2012 Makeup Look

Who else is dying to recreate this look?  I love that it’s the perfect mix of feminine and edgy.  The new Eyes To Kill Eyeshadows for Spring/Summer 2012 sound divine, too.  What do you think?

© Arianne for Glitter Geek, 2011. | Permalink | 13 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Categories: Giorgio Armani, Makeup | Tags: inspiration, looks i'm loving

I’m going to spare you the long-winded introduction that you probably never ever read anyway.  I am really this excited to tell you about this drugstore gem that I just discovered.  It’s called Annabelle Smoothie Eyeshadow Pencil ($8.95) and it is sensational.  I have it in Acaidisiac, a limited edition bright turquoise.

Annabelle Smoothie Eyeshadow pencils are cream eyeshadows or eyeliners in jumbo pencil format.  They go on the lids very opaque and creamy for effortless blending with a brush or finger.  They promise more than 9 hours of comfortable wear without creasing, smudging or melting.

Annabelle Smoothie Eyeshadow Pencil in Acaidisiac

Did it deliver?  Oh, did it ever!  On my slip-’n-slidey eyelids, I wore this without any eye primer before I went out for a day in the park.  It was very humid and on top of that, this sweaty girl rode her bike by the lake.  Ten hours later, my eye makeup was still in tact.  Seriously amazing, yes?

Annabelle also claims that the pencils are waterproof, and this is mostly true.  I found that it faded a little when I put a puddle of water on my eyelids and blotted.  Yes, I know it’s extreme, but what if I get caught under a really bad storm?

After seeing this colour, I got inspired to recreate a look from the Christian Dior S/S 2011 RTW runway, featuring bright colour blocking makeup.  It’s quite clowny and costume-y in person, but damn was it ever fun to recreate!

Source: Style.com

Wearing Annabelle Smoothie Eyeshadow Pencil in Acaidisiac

I’m also wearing Annabelle Le Big Show mascara (on Fembotika lashes), Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum, MAKE UP FOR EVER #17 Espresso Eyeshadow (to contour cheeks), and MAC Lady Danger lipstick.

And another face photo, complete with freaky blank expression

They are available now at pharmacies and mass retail stores.

What’s Your Favourite Long-Wearing Eye Makeup?

Besides this, I also love Giorgio Armani waterproof pencil, Smashbox Jet Set gel liner and of course, MAC Fluidline.  They last even on my waterline!

© Arianne for Glitter Geek, 2011. | Permalink | 49 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Categories: Annabelle, Looks, Makeup, Reviews, Swatches | Tags: drugstore, eyeliner, eyeshadow, fotd, holy grail, inspiration, looks i'm loving

MAC eyeshadow in Swimming is my most recent acquisition, and it has quickly become a must-have.  I really think it’s a hidden gem in MAC’s permanent line.  It’s a gorgeous shimmery sea green that pairs perfectly with blues, teals, golds and purples.  I couldn’t wait to show off this beautiful colour, so today I bring you this face of the day.  My inspiration is this Fantasea Girl look from Sephora a few years ago.  Instead of copying the entire look (which is totally fab by the way), I wanted to make it more wearable by not bringing the colours all the way up to the brows.  It’s a fun way to do colour for a summer weekend.  Read on to learn how to get the look.

Swatches (from left): Auraline Bright Violet, Sassy Minerals Off Kilter, MAC Swimming, Annabelle Blu-Ray, MAC Soft Brown, Urban Decay Sin

Get the Look

For the eyes, start by patting down a purple eyeshadow (Auraline Bright Violet) on the inner third of the lid going a little bit past the crease, and the inner third of the lower lash line.  Layer a glittery lavender pigment (Sassy Minerals Off Kilter) on top of the cream eyeshadow.  Next, apply a shimmery sea green (MAC Swimming) from the outer two-thirds of the lid all the way up past the crease.  Apply the same green eyeshadow along the outer two-thirds of the lower lash line.  Next, apply a thick line of a matte navy blue (Annabelle Blu-ray) along the outer half of the upper and lower lash lines.  Blend a warm medium matte brown (MAC Soft Brown) above the crease to add warmth and depth.  Highlight the brow bone with a shimmery champagne (Urban Decay Sin), as well as the inner corner of the eyes to brighten.

Line the lower waterline with a teal liner (MAC Undercurrent).  Smudge the same teal liner on the outer two-thirds of the upper lash line.  Apply mascara (Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill) on the upper and lower lashes.  Add a pair of gigantic lashes (Illamasqua No. 23) to finish off the eyes.

For the cheeks, bronze all over the high points of the face with a peachy bronze (Dior Aurora).  Then, apply a matte pink (Tarte Dollface) high on the cheekbones, making a ‘C’ shape around the outside of the eyes to make them pop.

For the lips, apply a coral lipstick (MAC Crosswires) to complement the summery look, and top off with a shimmery gloss (Chanel Maline).

Keep reading to see more pictures!

(...)
Read the rest of Mermaid Colours with MAC Swimming Eyeshadow. (473 words)

© Arianne for Glitter Geek, 2011. | Permalink | 38 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Categories: Annabelle, Auraline, Chanel, Dior, Giorgio Armani, Illamasqua, Looks, MAC, Makeup, Sassy Minerals, Swatches, Tarte, Urban Decay | Tags: fotd, inspiration, looks i'm loving

Giorgio Armani Fall 2011 Fashion Week / Source: style.com

Since I haven’t done a look in a while, I want to get away from the usual smoky eyes or bright lips, and venture into the world of fun eyeliner.  My usual eyeliner regimen is pretty boring; I usually just wear black or brown, or maybe some glitter on top.  Today, I’m recreating a look from Giorgio Armani’s Fall 2011 Fashion Week, featuring a double winged eyeliner.

Get the Look

For the eyes, start with a golden pink (MAC Expensive Pink) base all over the lid. Tone down the shimmer by adding a peach (MAC Arena) over the pink. Pat a matte beige (Urban Decay Naked) down the centre of the lid. Next, add depth to the crease with a matte warm brown (MAC Soft Brown) and blend out. Deepen the crease further with a darker matte brown (Urban Decay Buck). Highlight with a sheer pearly pink highlighter (Mary Kay Shade 1 Liquid Illuminator).

For the liner, line both lower and upper waterlines (Giorgio Armani La Femme Bleue Waterproof liner).  Line the upper lash line with gel liner (MAC Blacktrack) and wing out horizontally on the outer corners.  Draw a second line under your lower lash line starting in the centre, leaving a small gap between your lash lines and the liner.  Wing it out parallel to the top line.  Finish off with mascara (Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill).

For the cheeks, highlight the top of the cheekbones with a sheer pearly pink illuminator (Mary Kay Shade 1 Liquid Illuminator). Run it over the bridge of the nose, cupid’s bow and chin as well. The models don’t look like they are wearing any blush, so no blush for this look.  Lightly contour the cheeks with a deep matte brown (MAKE UP FOR EVER #17 Espresso).

For the lips, line and fill in with a neutral lip liner (NYX Natural), then go over with a neutral lipstick (Vasanti Luxembourg).

Read on for more pictures!

(...)
Read the rest of Revamping Black Eyeliner: A Recreation of Giorgio Armani Runway Look. (381 words)

© Arianne for Glitter Geek, 2011. | Permalink | 16 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Categories: Giorgio Armani, Looks, MAC, MAKE UP FOR EVER, Makeup, Mary Kay, Vasanti | Tags: fotd, inspiration, looks i'm loving

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.

© Arianne for Glitter Geek, 2011. | Permalink | 9 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Categories: Chanel, Looks, Makeup, Mary Kay, NARS, Reviews, Swatches, Urban Decay | Tags: blush, bronzer, fotd, looks i'm loving

Confession #1 of the day: I’m not big on celebrities.  TIFF 2010 is in full force in the city but I just couldn’t care less about seeing celebrities.  What I love about these festivals though is the beautiful hair, makeup, and dresses that grace the red carpets in the city.  Here are some looks I kind of heart right now.

Rachelle Lefevre
(Photo by Stefania Yarhi)

Confession #2: I have never actually heard of Rachelle Lefevre before, but her curls and makeup are just perfection.  MAC Sr. Artist Gina Bettelli calls this look “doll-like bohemian [with] Fabulous Felines inspired aubergine smoky eyes, velvet lashes, and fresh natural skin.” I like it. A lot.

Natalie Portman
(Photo by Stefania Yarhi)

The hair!  Natalie Portman wore tighter curls in the front and looser waves on the back.  It sounds like something that wouldn’t work but this look just. works.  The gunmetal eyeshadow is just killer.

Marion Cotillard
(Photo by Jeff Vespa/WireImage/Getty Images)

Confession #3: I’m not entirely sure how to pronounce Cotillard (I have never taken a French class in my life!), but Marion Cotillard is totally my newest girl crush.  She just looks so effortlessly breathtaking.  It must be a French thing.

© Arianne for Glitter Geek, 2010. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Categories: Hair, MAC, Makeup | Tags: looks i'm loving

My poor MAC Dare You lipstick has been collecting dust in my vanity all throughout the warm summer months, so I decided to take her out to play for today’s look.  I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to do, but Jenn of Spiced Beauty suggested that I do a pin up look.  I found this photo of Dita Von Teese that I thought would be perfect:

Source: Jim Spellman/WireImage via InStyle

Swatches (from left): UD Sin, UD Naked, MAC Sweet Chestnut, MAC Spiced Chocolate, MAC Dark Devotion, MAC Soft Brown

Get the Look

For the eyes, fill in your brows darker than you usually do (MAC Dark Devotion).  Start with a matte base similar to your natural lid colour (UD Naked) all over the lid up to the brows.  Take a shimmery cranberry (MAC Sweet Chestnut) into the crease and blend out.  Smudge this colour on the lower lash line.  Then using a pointed crease brush, deepen the crease with a matte black brown (MAC Dark Devotion).  Again smudge on top of the cranberry on the lower lash line.  Blend out the crease colours with a matte chocolate brown (MAC Spiced Chocolate).  Blend above the crease colour with a medium brown (MAC Soft Brown) to soften.  Highlight the inner lower lash line with a shimmery champagne (UD Sin).

Start lining the eyes by smudging the black brown on the top lash line and wing out, and trace on top with a black liquid liner (Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner).  Apply mascara to the top lashes (Marcelle Power Volume Mascara), and top off with big, big, BIG lashes (shu uemura Smoky Layers false lashes).

For the cheeks, apply a matte rose blush (Chanel Rose Temptation) to the hollows of the cheeks to contour.

For the lips, apply a dark red lipstick (MAC Dare You) to complete the look.  I really should have used a lip liner for this lipstick in particular, since it tends to bleed.  I had to fix the full face photos after the fact so the lips didn’t look so messy.

Read on for more pictures!

(...)
Read the rest of Pin Up Look Inspired by Dita Von Teese. (351 words)

© Arianne for Glitter Geek, 2010. | Permalink | 24 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Categories: Chanel, Looks, MAC, Makeup, Marcelle, Revlon, shu uemura, Swatches, Urban Decay | Tags: fotd, inspiration, looks i'm loving, pin up, red lips

Remember when I said last year that I couldn’t wear bright lips in public?  Well, ladies, things have changed here at Glitter Geek.  Not only am I posting a bright lips FOTD, but I am glad to say that I now wear fuchsia and red lips in public.  Unfortunately I have nowhere to go today so only my cat is seeing me all gussied up.

Today’s look was inspired by Gwen Stefani’s makeup in InStyle magazine April 2010.  Work it, Gwen!

Source

Get the Look

For the eyes, fill in the brows.  You don’t want wimpy brows with a very strong lip look.  Using a fluffy crease brush (MAC 217), apply a warm matte medium brownall over the lid and past the crease.  Next, take a dark matte brown and apply all over the lid.  Blend.  Using a smudger brush, apply the same dark brown to the outer crease, and outer two-thirds of the lower lash line.  Using the liner brush of your choice (Sonia Kashuk bent liner brush), apply a thick line of black eyeliner on your upper lash line.  Take your time, go over it a few times to get the right shape and deep colour. Finish off with lots and lots of mascara.

For the cheeks, contour with a matte bronzer on your temples and hollows of your cheeks.  Add a coral blush to the apples of your cheeks.

For the lips, line and fill in with a cherry red lipliner.  Top off with a bright fuchsia lipgloss.

(...)
Read the rest of FOTD: Bright Fuchsia Lips and Thick Liner à la Gwen Stefani. (329 words)

© Arianne for Glitter Geek, 2010. | Permalink | 19 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Categories: Annabelle, FACE atelier, L'Oreal, Looks, MAC, Makeup, Marcelle, theBalm, Too Faced | Tags: fotd, inspiration, looks i'm loving, pink lips

This look is so hot that I might cry!

Here’s a tutorial from the Marcelle website:

And no, Marcelle didn’t ask me to post this.  I saw it in Shoppers Drugmart and was absolutely floored by the promotional photo.

© Arianne for Glitter Geek, 2010. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Categories: Makeup, Marcelle | Tags: looks i'm loving