Natural eye makeup-5 min! 
Limited time in the mornings?-Then this is the tutorial for you so you can get out the door quickly!!! This is a no frills tutorial today because it’s not the color combinations that I wanted to show but the quick and easy technique that will also elongate your eyes. Because of this, I used basic natural colors…but you can use any colors you like to switch it up!
Products Used:
MAC Eyeshadows in “Shale”, “Malt” and “Swiss Chocolate”, Maybelline Eyestudio Gel Liner in “Blackest Black” (optional), MAC Paint Pot in “Soft Ochre”, MAC Lipstick in “Pink Nouveau”, NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in “Black Bean”
You will also need a wide flat liner brush that looks like this:
PREP:
Conceal the entire lid up to the brow, all around the eye and all around the eye. Set with powder. Apply your eyeshadow primer all over he eye up to the brow…I used MAC’s Paint Pot in “Soft Ochre”.
Step 1:
Using your big fluffy, apply “Shale” to the front half of the eyelid….then apply “Malt” to the rest of the lid and up..stopping at the brow bone. I didn’t show this step because both shadows are so light.
Step 2:
Using your wide, flat liner brush, apply “Swiss Chocolate” to the end of your eye in a kind of “wing” shape. I do this by looking straight ahead in the mirror and angling the brush from my lower water line towards the end of my brow. Then I simply place the color on that angle. It should look something like this:
Step 3:
Using the same brush, place it back on the line and move it in towards the inner corner (but not going very far in at all)—kind of like a windshield wiper motion. Continue to add color to your brush, place it on the line and “windshield wiper” it over towards the inner corner. This is your trick and the key to this eye…it is going to elongate your eye and keep your shadow on the outer corner of the eye. It should look something like this:
Step 4:
Using your NYX Eye Pencil, apply liner to the top of the eye.. 2/3 of the way in…making it bigger or fatter on the outside of the eye. Using your flat liner brush, smudge out your liner. You can also smudge some of the liner onto the “wing” you have created on the outside of the eye…just to create some more darkness. It should look something like this:
Step 5:
Using a stiff brush, apply your highlight from the brow bone down into the inner corner. Using your fluffy brush, blend your “Swiss Chocolate” into your “Malt” and in towards the inner corner. If you don’t want any lashes…apply your mascara and you are done! If you want to step it up, apply your false eyelashes. Apply a coat of mascara to blend your fake lashes into your real ones. Your final product will look something like this:
and this:
I added some MAC “Pink Nouveau” as a final touch-Love this color! I love this whole look because it is nice and soft….and fast! And it gives you a winged/elongated look without messing with winged liner!
Erin
Prtty Peaushun Review
No, I didn’t type that wrong…that is how it is spelled 
and it is pronounced “Pretty Potion”! This is the stuff you have been missing for a night out to give your skin that allover glow. The product information on the website:
“Created by celebrity makeup artist Bethany Karlyn. Subtle, light reflecting particles in a natural emollient base gives the skin a gorgeous, flattering glow. Radiance conceals minor imperfections and enhances definition to create a sexy, slimmer silhouette. Infused with an innovative blend of plant extracts to lift, firm, tighten and diminish the appearance of cellulite, stretch marks and varicose veins, as well as minimizing bruising and sore muscles. Look great in your birthday suit with…PRTTY PEAUSHUN Skin Tight body lotion.”
Look great in your birthday suit??? I’m in!!! Here it is:
If you can’t see that writing, it contains 92% natural, raw ingredients, no toxic ingredients and it is cruelty free! I have medium but it also comes in plain, light, dark and deep so there is a color out there or everyone. The packaging of this product is so unique. At first I was skeptical and thought maybe it was just for aesthetic purposes for the product to stand out on the shelf…but I can admit when I am wrong ….and I was wrong. Bethany Karlyn calls it “anti-packaging” and it is designed to take up less space in landfills. You know where else it is going to take up less space?-In my kit..a benefit that I adore. I also think this allows you to get every last little bit out because you can squeeze it up toothpaste style..instead of the hard packaging that other lotions come in.
The lotion gives you a nice, beautiful glow…I like it because it isn’t overly shimmery like some others on the market…it really does just give you a beautiful lit-from-within glow. The tiny bit of color in it helps to conceal and disguise any discolorations in your skin. The price tag is a bit up there…$36 but for a cruelty free, non toxic product that makes your skin glow- it is pretty on target. Also, this isn’t your everyday lotion…go use some Jergens for that. This is some “creme-de-la creme, I’m putting on my lashes, I’m getting my hair done, I’m rocking that short dress and heels because I am going to see my ex at this wedding” lotion. There are some big names that have used this lotion and love it too–check out what celebrity fitness guru Tracy Anderson has to say about it at one of her shoots. Interested in your own? There is a list of retail locations here so you can try some out for yourself!
Erin
Ombre Eyes
Occasionally I will opt out of my usual smokey eye and go for a different look during the day…today was one of those days and I wanted to share this great ombre eye look with you. It is pretty easy to do this with any color family you want…or you can fade into different color families–whatever floats your boat! I chose a kind of dark charcoal into dark and light pinks for today and kept all the shadow off of my lower lash line. But you can also turn this into a great smokey eye if you drag some of that color down to the lower lash line!
Products Used:
MAC Eyeshadows in “Scene”, “Star Violet” and “Girlie”, Maybelline Eyestudio gel liner in “Blackest Black”, “MAC Paint Pot in “Soft Ochre”, NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in “Black Bean”, Revlon Just Bitten in “Darling”, Red Cherry #68 lashes (not pictured)
PREP:
Conceal the entire lid up to the brow, all around the eye and underneath the eye. Set with powder. Apply your eyeshadow primer, I used MAC’s Paint Pot in “Soft Ochre”
Step 1:
Using a stiff brush, apply “Scene” to the entire lid of the eye…stopping at the crease. No need to be perfect yet. It should look something like this:
Step 2:
Using a stiff brush, apply “Star Violet” right above “Scene”…It will pretty much be in the crease of the eye and a bit above…it will look something like this:
Step 3:
Using a stiff brush, apply “Girlie” right above “Star Violet”….it will end right around the brow bone like this:
Step 4:
Using your NYX Pencil…apply liner right on the lash line. Using a bullet brush or a smudger…blend that line upwards so that it gets lighter as it goes away from the lashline. Apply you gel liner to create winged eyeliner. Some tutorials can be found here and here. Apply your false eyelashes.Go over any excess glue with gel liner. Apply a coat of mascara to blend your false lashes into your real lashes. Apply your highlight from the brow bone into the inner corner. Using your big fluffy, blend your shadows together….I start by blending “Scene” into “Star Violet” and then “Star Violet” into “Girlie” and then “Girlie” into your highlight. Your final product should look something like this:
and this:
I love these Red Cherry lashes….they are always a nice switch up from my Andrea #33′s and they just give a lighter look because they aren’t as dense. I added some Revlon Just Bitten Balm in “Darling” to my lips because it has a nice pinky/purple tint. Hope y’all enjoyed!
Erin
Drugstore Glitter!
I am banning myself from the drugstore for a little while…I can’t keep myself under control when I’m in there and I need to get it together…seriously. In fact, after I photographed these colors to write this post, I ran to Walgreens because I realized I had run out of my quick dry topcoat…and then I proceeded to purchase three more glitter nail polishes. –I told you it’s a sickness. I already have a ridiculous nail polish collection and now it is overflowing with the addition of all of these great new glitters. I freaking love some sparkle….heck if I could find more sparkly shoes and tops I would go head to toe in the stuff. Lucky for my husband, family and friends, my nails are the only place I have taken this addiction so far.
Let me introduce you….
Essie Luxeffects in “Stroke of Brilliance”
This was an exciting find this past week when I was running errands with the hubby. I have had the entire Essie Luxeffects collection for a loooong time-and this one wasn’t in it…which made me wonder why it just popped up. Apparently, it started showing itself a month or two ago but it is just now making an appearance at my local drugstores (….is it sad I am there enough to know?). Anyway, I adore all of the luxeffects to use alone and on top of other colors…they are fantastic and this one is no exception. It’s pretty blue glitter looks awesome opposite some of the muted colors coming out for fall.
Wet N Wild Fergie Collection in ” Hollywood Walk of Fame”
I about died when I saw this….there was no way you could have pried it out of my fingers when I found it…and I would have been willing to pay much more than the $3 price tag. This can be a little difficult to get on…especially if you want an even amount of stars on each nail..but it is sooo worth it because it is absolutely adorable alone or over polish.
Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in “Rockstar Pink”
This is actually a long time favorite of mine….I wore it so much last year that I was over it and traded it in for matte nails…..but now I am obsessed again. I love this polish because it looks so good by itself when you wear a few coats. It covers the nail completely and is really gorgeous. It is also great on the tips of nails over another color.
Here is a little glimpse of what they look like on…I was so excited to show them that I didn’t want to have to paint my whole hand 3 different times and hold out on doing this post. Soooooo I quickly painted three different nails just so you could see the coverage…sorry they are a bit messy:
There are soooo many possibilities with these polishes!! I cannot wait to do some different combos! Here they are in all their glory one more time for ya:
Love them all and I hope you do too!
Erin
Get yourself a blending sponge!
So I’m sure you have all heard about the Beauty Blender sponge by now. When it first came out it was being snatched up and given rave reviews left and right. I have to admit…I was late to the game. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe people (well maybe just a little bit was because of that…I mean you never know who is getting paid to say it or who is saying it just because it was sent to them for free right?) but it was mainly the almost $19 price tag for.one.sponge. That is not cost effective for me to use on clients even if it is amazing. First, sponges don’t last that long. Second, I am a clean freak with my tools and unless I can disinfect it quickly and efficiently then I don’t want it (a sponge is not an easy thing to disinfect….as you can imagine.) So unless I had enough for each person I did that day that I could disinfect later, this relationship wasn’t going to work. Third, I don’t even use a brush when applying foundation because (I feel) it can soak up a lot of product and I like to warm my silicone foundation up anyway. But I did eventually purchase one for personal use…and I got hooked…crap@#^*%^!!! Now, after discovering the glory of the sponge, I just had to have it for my clients….so off I went for a solution and that is where I found this:
Where did I find it?? At Walgreens for $5….(on sale from $7.99). Now, there are sooooo many of these sponges cropping up everywhere…Sonia Kashuk makes a pricier one for Target. MAC makes one for around $18 and CVS carries one as well (it is super small in person). Anyway, my point is that people are making them under other private labels and there are more affordable options out there. So-how do you use it. Run it under some water and wet it. Ring it out. Put your foundation on the back of your hand. Pick up your foundation on your sponge and apply it to your face using the “press and roll” method. Voila!! A nice, even and beautiful foundation coverage. I even put on a nice sheer layer, then powdered and then applied another layer to areas that fade faster…still a wonderful finish. This has now joined the ranks with my Sensual Skin Enhancer, MAC Paint Pot and Maybelline Eyestudio Gel liner as a must have. It makes foundation go on beautifully!!! Don’t believe me? Go pick one up for $5 when they are on sale again…If you hate it you are only out $5 instead of $19..But if you love it then you can thank me later!!!
Erin
