Halloween Test Drive

I have decided that this year I will be going as Medusa for Halloween!  I already have curly hair, so all I have to do is at snakes and some sick makeup and I will be good to go!  Since the makeup for Medusa is pretty detailed and involved (at least the kind I want to do), I decided that I would do a couple test runs before the day, so that I can perfect it and make sure it is on point.  Two nights ago, I tried it out for the first time!  The lighting in my house is just absolute CRAP after dark, so please excuse the crappy quality.  It is unfortunate because there is SO much more green and even a little red to the look that you can't see at all :(  It needs to be tweaked a bit for sure, but I am pretty happy with my first go at this type of theatrical application :)

I am extremely happy with how the lips turned out, especially because I made a concoction all my own!  I used Bobbi Brown Gel Liner for the black around the outside of the lips, Stila Smudge Stick in Moray topped with Dior Olive eyeshadow for the green in the center, then went over the very middle of the lips with QUO Electric Eyes Green Pencil, and just used a clear gloss over top!  The eyes are a little more smudgey than I wanted them to be.  I was going for a smudged, almost dirty look, but in hindsight, I think using sharper lines will make it look much better.  I completely winged the eyes, so I am proud even though they need work :)  I used Celebrity lashes from Sephora for this look.  For the scales, I used a gold cream shadow base topped with gold shadow.  Then, I took a piece of fishnet stocking and used a sponge to dab Kat Von D Shadeshifter shadow in On the Road to get the pattern :)

I picked up some fangs at a local Halloween store, but not the whole mouth kind.  I bought the single, press-on ones so that I don't ruin my makeup and I will still be able to talk throughout the night :p  I also bought some awesome reptilian contacts online.  I can't wait for them to get here so I can take another shot at the Medusa makeup with the FULL look!!!  Check them out! 

I would love to hear what you all think of this look and especially if you have any suggestions on how this could be improved!  Leave any tidbits in the comments section and I will always reply! Stay beautiful (and mildly creepy) this Halloween!

Make-Up, not War,

Rain xoxo

INSTAGRAM

PINTEREST

Natural Makeup

Occasionally, I like to go more natural with my makeup...but only occasionally lol  I almost always have a full face of foundation on, but sometimes I opt for just mascara and a natural lip.  Now, whether that is because I run out of time doing my makeup in the morning, because I'm just too lazy, or because I actually decide to do it, is for me to know and you to find out ;)  Today I went on the more natural side with a cheeky blush application, natural lip balm, and mascara only on the top lashes with a liiiittle white eyeliner on my lower waterline.

I'm starting to get a little better with my brows, but you can see they're not QUITE even and a little misshapen at the ends...BUT I've come a long way and I'm happy with them :)  I think I need to invest in a brow pencil to sharpen them up a little bit, but that's for another day!  Let me know what you guys think of this natural, "no makeup" makeup look!  Stay beautiful, lovelies!

Make-Up, not War,

Rain xoxo

INSTAGRAM

PINTEREST

Contouring/Face Sculpting

So, I am trying to get a little more into face sculpting/contouring with cream products.  I picked up a contouring wheel from Lise Watier a couple of days ago and decided to test it out this morning.  Normally I just contour with powder products like my bronzer, blush, and highlight.  It works well for the darker applications I think, but for some reason powder highlight just doesn't do it for me...I don't get that bright, creamy look I always want.  This morning I spent a little extra time on my face applying product, but I am happy with the results.  I need a little more practice I think and I need to get a proper blending brush (right now I am using my Beauty Blender), but I got that sculpted look I was after.  However, I think the pictures turned out a little better than what I think it looks like in real life...in the mirror I almost feel like I just have dirty face?  Maybe it's just because I am not used to how sculpted it looks or maybe I need to blend a little more?  I will keep practicing and once I have it down, I'll do a pictorial!  I think it might be that I need to wet the Lise Watier cream before applying it because it is quite thick and I might need to dampen my sponge a little more for blending.  Overall though, I'm pretty satisfied with how it turned out :)

 When I picked up the contouring wheel from Shopper's Drugmart, I also picked up a Quo eye pencil in this gorgeous shimmery green...I just couldn't resist it!  Lise Watier also has a correcting wheel that comes with a lilac and a green portion, but I really wanted the dark colour for contouring.  I might pick up the correcting wheel another time though :)

I applied foundation first and concealed under my eyes and fixed any blemishes before I applied the highlight and contour with a concealer brush.  I then blended the products out and together with a damp Beauty Blender.  In hindsight, I think it needed to be just a liiiiittle more wet, but I still like the results :)  I've always loved that high, sculpted cheekbone look, but powder just wasn't giving me the results I wanted...with a little more practice, I think this just might become a staple in my routine!

I'd really love to hear feedback from you guys on how you think this turned out?  I'm not very impartial when it comes to my own face :p  Also would make me super happy to see comments on what you guys want to see or any questions you might have?  Let me know!  Stay beautiful <3

Make-Up, not War,

Rain xoxo

INSTAGRAM

PINTEREST

Desperately Holding onto Summer

So I know that I did a Fall look a couple of posts back, but I am definitely going to miss all the bright colours of Spring and Summer :(  So, to celebrate the awesome Summer we've had, here's a bright and vibrant look!

Purple and vibrant pink look with Marc Jacobs Lip Lacquer in Boom Boom

This lip gloss is amazeballs.  It is SUPER pigmented and lasts for hours, which is surprising for a gloss, but it's not really sticky, which I love!

I used the "tape trick" to get the harsh line and I also used NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil - Milk to get the colour to really show through.  Eyeshadows are Sleek Acid Palette and Sephora Collection.












Just something quick and fun for you guys to check out.  I had a request on reddit to do a pictorial for this look, so when I do, I will post it here as well in case anyone is interested :)  Please leave a comment if you have anything to say, questions, or suggestions!  Love to hear from you :)

Make-Up, not War,

Rain xoxo

INSTAGRAM

PINTEREST

Lashes, Lashes, Lashes

I have been debating trying false lashes for a long time now.  I have tried them before, but I've never really been happy with the results.  Either I just couldn't get them on my eye, they were uneven, or they just looked plain cheap.  Plus it seemed that I could never get them to fit my eye properly :(  SO I finally decided to invest in a nice pair and some good lash glue (instead of what comes with the lashes I had bought in the past because apparently this is a big no-no) and I'm actually pretty happy with the results.  

I learned a few things from some of the girls I work with (i.e. trimming the lashes to fit my eye, using tweezers or lash applicators to apply them, what kind of glue to buy, and to blow gently on the glue to dry it just a little before applying) and so this weekend I was adventurous and wore them to work and then out with some friends.  I was impressed because they did not budge all day and I got a lot of compliments on them.  To me, I felt like I looked like a doll, but most people said they looked pretty natural!  To try them out, I went with a naked eye (I didn't even put mascara on the bottom lashes) and a dark lip - still so in love with MAC Media lipstick!  What do you guys think?

I used the new line of Sephora Faux Lashes in a style called "Celebrity" because they looked like they gave good length and volume without being too heavy, plus they had an invisible band so I could do any look with or without liner.  It took me less time to apply these lashes than it normally does to apply my mascara!

The lashes didn't move at all during the day or my night out until midnight!  Had them on from about 8 a.m.!  First I combed and curled my natural lashes.  I used Duo Lash Glue (blue) and applied them with tweezers.  My nose always seems to get in the way, so I applied them on the center of my lid first and then used my fingers and the tweezers to push the lashes onto my lid on the corners.  After the glue was completely dry, i used black liquid liner to fill in any spaces between my lashes and the faux ones and then curled all the lashes together and applied a very thin layer of mascara to keep with the more natural look :)



I was so happy with how they turned out and lasted (once I got used to them), that I went online and ordered some from House of Lashes that I've been debating over for quite some time.  I picked up a style called Siren and one called Temptress that I've heard a lot about from many MUA'S on IG.  Their comapny has some amazing looking lashes, but for now, I think I'll stick to the more natural looking ones...maybe later I'll get a little crazy for you guys ;)  I think I may now be addicted to fake lashes...stay tuned to find out!  Stay beautiful my loves.

Make-Up, not War,

Rain xoxo

INSTAGRAM

PINTEREST

First Fall Look of the Season

I know I might be jumping the gun a little, but the weather today really inspired me to do my first Fall look of the season!  I did a bit of a makeup/wardrobe shop yesterday and got some great stuff to prep me for the upcoming cooler weather!  I have to say that I am a summer girl through and through, but I do love how cooler temperatures keep my makeup from running all over the place!  

My first stop was MAC where I picked up a lipstick called Media (check out the pics below) and I am just soooo in love.  It is an amazing deep wine that I think will probably be my go-to colour for the next few months.  I also picked up Lustre Drops in Pink from MAC as well.  Never tried them before, but I'm going to see if I can get the glossy eye look using them.  If not, they look gorgeous just on the cheeks :)  Next I stopped at Sephora and got me some plum lip liner from the Sephora Collection to go underneath my new lipstick, a pretty shimmery blue eyeshadow called Surfin U.S.A., and a gorgeous eyeshadow from the Kat Von D line called Shade Shifter - On the Road that I think compliments Media quite well.  I had to stop at Urban Planet to pick up a cheap maxi skirt for fall in a pretty plum colour.  It only cost me $10 and it has a nice slit on the left side that I love...looking forward to wearing it with some biker boots!

Anyways, the look I did this morning was in preparation for Fall and I'm pretty happy with it!  I used a lot of the products I grabbed yesterday, and I will continue to experiment! (please ignore my flyaway hairs that get in the way of the closeup picture on the bottom right...it's not a line through my makeup haha)

Face: Benefit Stay All Day Primer, Lancome Teint Idole Ultra, Laura Mercier Setting Powder, NARS Laguna Bronzer, NARS Orgasm Blush, e.l.f. Baked Highlight, MAC Lustre Drops in Pink

Eyes: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo - Medium Brown, Urban Decay Primer Potion, NYX Jumbo Eyshadow Pencil - Milk, Kat Von D Shade Shifter Eyeshadow - On the Road (crease blended up), Kat Von D Eyeshadow - Orbi & Dimebag mixed (deep crease), Sephora Collection Colorful Eyeshadow - Surfin U.S.A. (lid), Kat Von D Eyeshadow - Lucifer (outer corner), Urban Decay Eyeshadow - Half Baked (center lid, applied wet), Laura Mercier Eyeshadow - Buttercream (highlight), Stile Smide Stick - Moray (lower waterline), Urban Decay 24 Hr Eyeliner - Smog (upper lid), Marc Jacobd Highliner - Blackquer (tightline), Diorshow Maximizer & Iconic Overcurl Mascara (lashes)

Lips: BITE Lip Primer, Benefit Fake Up Concealer - 02, Sephora Lip Liner - Plum, MAC Lipstick - Media  

I've been trying to edit and filter my pictures less, but it's tough when I don't always have the greatest lighting!  I can't wait until I can get my new camera and never have to worry about it again!  Possibly in 2 months? *crosses fingers*  Let me know what you guys thought of this look and any suggestions, questions, or requests are always welcome :)  Stay beautiful!

Make-Up, not War,

Rain xoxo

INSTAGRAM

PINTEREST

New Toys!

When you work in the industry and just love what you do, you tend to run into people that share your passion for makeup and beauty.  One of my dear friends works at a MAC in Vancouver and every once in a while we send each other "Beauty Care Packages" with new products we want each other to try, or just things we think would look great on the other!  Last time, I sent her some fragrance, a few skin-care goodies, lip tar, and a new pencil eyeliner for her to try.  She sent me the MAC Lip Conditioner, which I have used before and LOVE, and a totally gorgeous blue shadow called Contrast.  I of course had to do a quick look with it to show her how much I loved it and this is what I came up with!  This was probably the fastest look I've done in a long time, but I like it!  I might have to spend a bit more time on it in the future to perfect it...it kind of turned into a bit of a cut crease!

Products used: MAC Eyeshadow in Contrast, NYX  For Your Eyes Only Palette in Supermodel, Stila Stay All Day Liner in Sky Blue (limited edition), Sephora Long Lasting 12 Hr Wear Eyeliner in Fancy Blue, Diorshow Artpen, Marc Jacobs Highliner Blackquer, Buxom Full Bodied Lipstick Provocateur, Nars Laguna Bronzer, Milani Blush Rose D'Oro, Benefit Sun Beam, and Too Faced Mascara Better Than Sex

My conclusion after playing with the goodies my PENcil liner Pal sent me is that I need to buy more MAC pigments!  The shadow is actually quite sparkly and I am totally in love...I wish it showed in the pictures better :(  In other news, I have started saving for a nice CANON camera to take makeup pictures with!  No more being frustrated with bad lighting!  Yay!  Comment below if you have any suggestions, requests, or questions.  Stay beautiful!

Make-Up, not War,

Rain xoxo

INSTAGRAM

PINTEREST

Flawless Foundation: Brush Beauties

Start with a bare face...see?  No one has perfect skin!  Especially not me :p












There's a great debate among many of us makeup-lovers as to what does it better: a brush or a sponge.  It's hard to really give a definitive answer because there are so many different brushes, sponges, and application techniques that give different finishes suited to each person's preferences.  Right now, I'm using a brush to apply my foundation, but that's just because I've been trying a new application technique.  Before about a month ago, I used my Beauty Blender almost every day.  So for you guys today I am going to share how I apply my foundation first with my brush and then with my sponge in a different post...this will be my first pictorial!

For the technique with my brush, I use a flat-top kabuki brush and a full coverage foundation (right now I'm using Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H Foundation 310) because this technique blends out the foundation.  This is a fairly new technique for me and I'm loving it.  I picked it up from pinterest on a pin that someone had adapted from a beauty blogger/M.U.A. a while back...this is her website...though I added/changed a step or two I think :)



**note: if you have very dry skin, you might want to dampen your brush before application and avoid really matte full coverage foundations as this can highlight dryness.  Instead, opt for moisturizing foundations.

Before you begin this tutorial, please apply your foundation primer!  For this particular application, avoid primers that have silicone or a mattifying effect to them as this technique tends to leave a matte finish and you don't want to get cakey.  I use the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer, but the Smashbox Hydrating Primer works well too, anything hydrating but oil free!

Step 1: Pump your foundation onto the back of your hand, or PAW PALETTE if you have one, into about the size of a quarter, mine kinda slid off to the side, but it looked like a quarter to begin with :p (I know it doesn't look like much, but this should be enough to cover your whole face).

Step 2: Dip your brush into the foundation and lightly dot the product along the outside of your face, nose, chin, and cheeks, but avoid your forehead for now (don't double dip here if you can help it, one dip should be enough).

Step 3: Start at the borders of your face and stipple the product inward in tight motions.  If you usually apply foundation under your eyes and on your eyelids, take a little more product on the edge of your brush and stipple it there as well.  Avoid the area around your mouth where you get any smile lines (I promise we'll fix this in a sec).  And don't forget to blend around your nose really well!







Step 4: Use whatever is left over on the brush on your upper lip and below your mouth (still avoid those smile lines!)

Step 5: Take a little more product and stipple across your forehead and into the hair line.  The skin above your hair line is usually much lighter than your face and it can look like you have a mask on if you skip this step.

Step 6:  Take what is left of the product on your hand and dot it under your jawline.  Blend the product up into your face in stippling motions and slightly down onto your neck to avoid a harsh line.  Also blend the product a little where your ears connect to your face as the colour difference can be noticeable here too.

Step 7: Your entire face should be covered now except for that area around your smile lines, so take whatever is left on your brush (even if it looks like nothing) and stipple that area.  Continue to stipple all over your face to really blend the foundation.

Step 8: And this is the gooder!  Buff your foundation using the same brush in small, circular motions all over your face, including your hair line, under your eyes, and your eyelids.  This is going to help give you a skin-like finish and make any imperfections look less visible.  Do this 2 or so times, or until your foundation feels just a little bit tacky.

Step 9:  Apply your cream-based products (concealer, highlight, contour, etc.)

Step 10: LET YOUR FOUNDATION SET!!  This is so important and many of us often forget this, but you only need to wait about 5 minutes (I use this time to do my eyebrows).  After your face has set, take a kleenex or tissue and blot all over to remove any excess product.  Pay extra attention to the areas around and under your eyes and on your eyelids as foundation tends to collect and crease here.  If you have large pores like me, avoid blotting your nose.

Step 11: Apply loose powder (setting, coloured, or otherwise) with a puff or precision powder brush.  Do not sweep the powder over your face, but instead press and/or roll it onto your skin, especially under the eyes and around the nose.

Step 12:  Apply any powder products now (blush, bronzer, etc.)

I know this seems like a lot of steps, but it actually only takes about 10 minutes total once you've done it a few times and have gotten the hang of it :) I find that this technique really gives a nice matte finish and helps increase the staying power of your makeup, especially in full coverage foundations.  

I still top my whole look after everything is done with Urban Decay De-Slick Setting Spray to set everything and control oil throughout the day!









The lighting in the final look is different than the pictures I took throughout the tutorial because the light in my bathroom (where I do all my makeup) is different.  It was too much of a pain in the butt to constantly change rooms to take pictures and I didn't want my foundation to set before I was done blending :(  BUT I think you still get a good idea of the steps I took and what your final product should look like :)  Of course it takes a little bit of practice to get it looking just the way you want it, but if you like a nice, matte, porcelain look, this technique might just be for you!  You can customize the steps to your liking, like I did, until you get it just right.  So play around with this!  Try different foundations, different cream and powder products...just have fun!  Next pictorial will be the sponge alternative to this technique!  Let me know in the comments section what you thought of this and how your experience with this technique was!  I'd love to hear from you all!  Also let me know if there is anything else you would like to see!  Stay beautiful <3

Make-Up, not War,

Rain xoxo

INSTAGRAM

PINTEREST