Spring 2012 Makeup Trends: Fab or Fail?

I did a post very similar (or perhaps completely identical) last year around this time.... so who am I to mess with tradition. This year I pretty much liked all the spring trends spotted on the runways... my only complaints are really about seasonality and personal preference. Anyway... on with the show.

FAB

Red Lips

I never was the biggest fan of red lips (at least on me).... but lately I have become obsessed. I am happy to be seeing this look carry over into spring.

Winged / Cat Eyeliner

Personally, my liner always needs a little flick.... so this is just a staple. An oldie but a goodie!

Bronzed "Sun-Kissed" Cheeks



Bronzer as blush is lovely in the sunny seasons.... gives you a healthy and effortless look.

Gorgeous Glowy Skin

To achieve this lovely and fresh-faced look you need lots of sleep.... a flawless foundation.... and a damn good highlighter!

FAIL

Super Bold Brows

This is the one trend that I noticed more than any other on the runway models... and while I am a fan (I've been sporting bolder brows myself for the last few months), it doesn't scream FRESH and SPRING when I see it.

Silver / Super Metallic Eyes

I love silver shadow as much as the next girl... maybe more. But, I find the look a little too ice queen.

Big Doll-Like Lashes

I do love me some lashes! Pile on the mascara and the falsies as far as I'm concerned... but it just feels slightly heavy and un-spring like compared to bronze glowy skin.

Dark Smokey Eyes

This one is the hardest to label a fail because I love my smokey eyes year round... especially for evening. But when the sun starts shining and the weather starts warming up, I think less becomes more.

That's my roundup... any other spring trends you've seen that you love or hate?

*P.S. I take no credit for these images... they were acquired by a simple google image search and absolutely no copyright infringement is intended*

Smokey in Seconds...

List of everything needed for a perfect smokey eye:

1.       Too Faced Shadow Insurance

2.       ELF quad in Drama

3.       Wet n Wild Color Icon Palette in Lust

4.       Almay Black Liquid Liner

5.       Tarte Eye Pencil in Black

6.       Too Faced Lashgasm Mascara

7.       NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder in Dark Brown/Brown

8.       Neutrogena Healthy Skin Makeup in Tan

9.       Benefit Boxed Powder in Dallas

10.   MAC lipstick in Blankety

11.   ELF Lipgloss (liquid lip color?) in Pink Lemonade

Even though I don’t usually like to “blog” about things I just filmed about… a simplified smokey eye, seemed well worth it!

Bargain Beauty: A Surprising Find

One of my favorite things to do is wander around my local dollar stores beauty department. Although I love the products found exclusively behind the pretty glass displays at the department store... nothing is quite as exhilarating as a good value :). The dollar store I frequent has a wonderful range of cosmetics... from loreal to ELF and everything in between. They carry discontinued items as well as overstock, and I can literally spend hours combing through.

One of my most recent purchases, which looked quite uninteresting was a double sided eyeliner (truthfully I bought it because it came with a jumbo sharpener!!!) It's LA Colors brand, which I've never tried.... but the pigmentation of this pencil rivals my favorite Tarte pencil. It's creamy... the color is rich.... and it stays put on the waterline.... this is a stand out product!

The Black Side:

The Brown Side:

Both Smudged Out:

I don't believe this exact product is still available, but if it's any representation of how LA Colors is as a brand... run don't walk!

An oldie but goodie...

Long time no blog . Okay, so this is going to be my very first "blog tutorial" I think the concept is a bit odd… but this look is so simple and turns out so pretty and eye-brightening… it's worth a shot.

So the look is based around one my very favorite eyeshadow palettes, it's from Prestige and it's called "Earthling" Take a look…. (perfection, except the rectangle shadow shape)

1. I start by putting this slightly pink toned champagne color all over the lid…. This color is pretty much an exact dupe for Stila's "Kitten".

2. Next I blend this sparkly gold - I mean GOLD shade into and above my crease.

3.This rich matte chocolate brown is perfect for the crease… I also smudge a bit under the lower lash line. I love that these colors are so blendable, because I love a smokey eye!

4. When I top this whole thing off with this GORGEOUS white-gold shade under the brow, the look pops. No joke…. This is my favorite highlight shade ever!

5. Now I apply some liquid liner on the top (of course)… a little black into the waterline (totally optional)…. And a couple coats of mascara (Maybelline - the falsies all the way)…. And this is how it turns out.



Blue on the eyes.... Tacky?

I was never one for blue cosmetics… even blue nail polish only recently crept into my collection. But this morning (after a long and quite relaxing - makeup free weekend) I woke up uninspired about what to do with my face! Golds… purples… silver - I do it ALLLLL the time, even green is overdone for me. So I dug around in my "eye drawer" and found some pretty blues.

I really love the way it came out, and even though there's a bit of my "signature smokiness" it still feels springy and fresh. Like crisp denim shorts :)

Sometimes a step outside the box is exactly what your Monday needs!

(slightly belated) Fridays Face - 4/8/11

So I thought since Fridays are my busiest days... I'd do a simple but fun post... face of the day.

Here goes.

This is what I used on my face

*Maybelline fit me foundation (310), Elf bronzer, maybelline pressed powder, maybelline mineral blush (peach), physicians formula shimmer strips highlighter.

This is what I used on my lips

*Rimmel lipstick in Airy Fairy, Sally Hansen Lip gloss in... I forget :(

This is what I used on my eyes

*Stila Road to Radiance Palette, Tarte smokey eye palette, Wet N Wild lust palette, maybelline the falsies, almay liquid liner and Tarte eye pencil



And voila... the finished project!

*excuse the foundation in my hair! (I was in the direct sunlight.... I was definitely glowy but NOT this shiny!!!)

*tweeezers please :)