Makeup Tutorial : Natural Cut-crease

So far, we've gone from dramatic to colorful to natural in the previous tutorials. So I had a brainstorm. Why not mix it up? A natural makeup look with a dramatic twist. It's been done before, but that's how I'm pitching it.

This technique is especially helpful for women with smaller lids spaces or monolid eyes. I understand it can be a little hard to work on eyeshadow placement when you feel it won't fit and the result would be 'clownish'. This particular trick should help create the illusion of more lid space and, as a result, more open eyes.

Switch up the colors as you see fit, but within the same placement and theme.

Products

Left to right: L'Oreal 24h Gel Liner, Lancome brown eyeliner, Essence I Love Rock black eyeliner, Red Cherry Lashes # 205, NYX Box of Eyeshadows.

Tutorial

1. Take the brown eyeliner and outline the area that sinks between your eye socket and brow bone. Press lightly to locate the area,

2. Blend the line out until it's a brown hazy blur. This will act as a base and outline for the eyeshadows.

3. Line a warm medium brown eyeshadow onto the pencil outline. Blend out the edges so it's not too sharp.

3. Take a dark brown and outline below the medium brown. Blend it into the medium brown so there is a smooth transition between the two shades.

This should be what it should look like. All good? Excellent. Moving on.

4. Picking up a light vanilla/cream eyeshadow, pat it on your eyelid. Avoid blending it into the brown shadows and concentrate it solely on the eyelid.

5. You may also use the same light shadow under your eyebrow to highlight your brow bone and in the inner corner to brighten the eye.

6. Take the same dark brown eyeshadow and line the lower lashline to about half way. This is to balance the eyes and add a bit of definition.

7. Line your eyes as usual. One tip is to extend your liner to a similar length of your cutcrease. This will elongate your eyes and accentuate the cat-eye effect.

8. Throw on some lashes or a lengthening mascara. Don't forget to coat those lower lashes as well.

And here is the finished look!

An exaggerated 'natural' eye with a dramatic twist and added flair with the long lashes. Definitely for someone who wants to add a bit more 'oomph' to their everyday makeup. This technique may take some practice and getting used to, but the result is amazing.

I hope this helped you. Have a good one!

-L

Review: Sleek Makeup iDivine Ultra Mattes V1 Pallet

Eyeshadows are the dresses of the makeup world. Or at least I believe they are. They can be worn casual, bold, bright, dramatic, simple; it all depends on the wearer. Eyeshadows reflect your makeup style.

Sadly, low-end makeup brands in Dubai are slow to update with new collections and products so there aren't a lot of new toys to test and play with. Boo hoo. Finding new brands is pretty rare as well. We lack many of the popular American , UK and Asian brands. So you wouldn't believe my excitement when an amazing friend brought this bundle of joy back from her adventures in London.

This is a review on Sleek Makeup's i-Divine Pallet in Ultra Mattes v1.
(And of course, it's bright.)

I have read, heard and watched all the hype circulating around Sleek's eyeshadows. I've heard of how pigmented they are, the color payoff, the quality, etc. So I psyched that I could finally test it out for myself.

The packaging is 'sleek' and eye-catching. I would assume that each design corresponds to the shades, hence the bright colors for this particular pallet. The pallet itself reflects a matte coat with the Sleek logo.

The pallet contains 12 eyeshadow of a very good size and amount, The quality of each eyeshadow is absolutely phenomenal. I always fear lighter shadows to turn out chalky, patchy with low pigmentation. These eyeshadows (both light and dark), are smooth to the touch and the color payoff is just crazy (in a good way). Plus each of the colors have names. Cool!

Swatches with flash

Swatches without flash

As shown, the color pigmentation is everything a makeup enthusiast would wish for. The pastels are opaque, the yellow and blue are true and bright and the dark shades are just right. The gray and white are a little more sheer, but can be layered for intensity. The colors photograph beautifully and pack on with minimal fall out. The consistency is soft and velvety to the touch. The colors for this pallet offers variety for very bright and interesting looks.

I am definitely satisfied with the quality and vibrancy of the eyeshadows in the pallet. And now I'm itching to get my hands on the rest. Of course, this pallet is not for everyone. However, it can be used for a sheer wash of color on the lid or a pop of color incorporated into a neutral look. I do recommend you give this (and any other pallet in this brand) a try.

After all, everyone needs a splash of color in their life.


-L


*The pallet or products from the brand can be purchased at http://www.sleekmakeup.com/

Makeup Tutorial: Natural / Work Appropriate

Sleepless nights, bad diets, genetics... just some of the hundreds of factors that lead to dull, lifeless skin. I've had plenty of days like that. And so, for presentation purposes, I turn to my trusty makeup to combat my dark circles and severely blemished skin.

This tutorial is especially for women who don't have a lot of time to get ready. It is quick and simple and can be accomplished in roughly 10 minutes. In this tutorial I'll be focusing on brightening the eyes. I'll probably do a full faced one in the near future.

As always, switch up the shades according to your skin tone. I would advise sticking to natural/neutral colors for an every day look. We're aiming to enhance your eyes, not transform them.

Products: 

Left to right: BYS 'Natural Delight' Eyeshadow Pallet, L'Oreal 24h Gel Liner, Maybelline the Falsies mascara, Rimmel waterproof liner in 'Nude'.

Tutorial

1. Using a shade slightly lighter than your natural skin tone, pat it over your lid. Concentrate it more below the crease for a 'bright' effect and blend the edges.

2. Taking a warm medium brown, blend this into the crease for definition and shape.

3. This part is optional. But because my eyes are slightly hooded and puffy, I added it. Take a dark brown shade and concentrate it on the outer corner of your eye. A little goes a VERY long way. Blend it into the warm medium brown so it appears flawless.

4. Pick up the first skin tone shade with an eyeshadow brush and use it as a brow-bone highlight. This also helps in blending the brown shades a bit more.

5. Line and mascara as you normally do. Here I used a gel liner on the top lash line and a nude/skin tone liner in the waterline. The skin tone liner acts a brightener and suits medium skin tones better than plain white eyeliners do.

And voila!

The look is complete. Straightforward and easy with the flexibility of skipping a step or two. This look is not meant to be dramatic, hence the absence of false lashes. They're heavy and annoying to wear on a daily basis.

I hope this helps you on those days you have to rush out the door without looking like a zombie.

Have a good one.

-L