spring trends: orange lips

It's all about orange! This spring orange lips are hot hot hot! There are so many different shades of orange that fit this trend that literally anyone can rock it. Just takes some trial and error to find the right orange shade for your personal skin tone. Orange smackers were all over the catwalks at this spring's NYFW and can be taken right off the runway and into the streets. Are you intimidated? Don't be, follow this tutorial to learn a universally flattering look to sport with your vibrant, on trend lips.

the eyes:

- Start by priming the lid with a nude eye base or eye primer. (Lorac Behind The Scenes Eye Primer)

- Pack a matte neutral eyeshadaow a few shades lighter than your skin tone along the brow bone and all over the lid. (NYX Nude Matte Shadow #I Have A Headache)

-On a fluffy blending brush, sweep a matte grey shadow through the crease and really blow this out upwards toward the brow bone. (NARS And God Created The Woman Palette)

-Tightline the upper lash line with a dark brown eyeliner. Make sure to keep this as close to the lashes as possible. This will make your lashline appear fuller. (Jane Cosmetics Water Resistant Eyeliner #Brown)

-With a black kohl liner, line the water line. (Jordana 12hr Made to Last Liquid Eyeliner Pencil #Black Point)

-On a flat definer brush, apply the same grey matte shade used in the crease to the lower lash line. This will create a slight smokey shadow. (NARS And God Created The Woman Palette)

-Wet a pencil brush with water, mixing medium, or setting spray and apply a shimmery metallic pewter shadow to the inner tear duct. (KIKO Cosmetics Long Lasting Wet or Dry Use Eyeshadow #200)

-Apply a few coats of your favorite mascara to top and bottom lashes. (DiorShow Mascara)

-Finish off the eyes with a flirty pair of falsies. (Ardell Lashes #Scanties)

the lips:

-Now if bright orange scares you, a good way to ease yourself into the orange trend is with coral. 
-If you find your lipstick bleeds easily, line the lips first with an orange or nude lip liner.
-Then apply your orange lipstick of choice. I chose a matte shade, so it will have better lasting power. (Wet & Wild Lipstick #Purty Persimmon)
-Top of the lips with some shine by applying an orange or coral lip gloss. (Maybelline ColorSensational Lip Gloss #Coral Heat)

other products used:

-Rimmel Stay Matte Primer

-Tarte Amazonian Clay 12hr Full Coverage Foundation #Ivory

-Sephora 8hr Wear Perfect Cover Concealer #Light 10

-NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder Pressed #Translucent Crystal

-Lorac Take a Brow

-Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel

-Sephora Los Cabos Bronzer

-Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush #Dim Infusion

-Benefit Watts Up Highlighter

-MAC Mineralized Skin Finish #Lightscapade

 I hope that you all will be bold and embrace this beautiful spring trend! And like I said, if you are scared at first opt for coral lips and ease your way into full on orange fabulousness! Please leave any comments or requests on any of my social media platforms listed below. Which you should be following already anyway.. ;-) Have a blessed day!

instagram: @gnomebusiness

twitter: @mc_gnomeski
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamalizarin

FIN

fresh off the runway: the plum paradise at offical rodarte

Today's look was inspired by the ultra dramatic, sultry plum eyes and metallic plum lips at the Official Rodarte show featured at NYFW 2014. The look the models wore had deep plum eyes with shadow that went completely into the brows and metallic rose gold inner corner highlights. The brows were quite perfectly haphazard and true to the model's natural hair color. Plum lips were on every model, some more purple, others more burgundy. But every model's lips were adorned with metallic glitter. While all of these combined into an artistic masterpiece, it was not wearable for the everyday woman. So today's feature is my wearable interpretation of the Rodarte runway for you to try at home. As always switch any of these products out for things in your own collection. Enjoy!

the eyes:

- Start by priming the lid space and under eye with an eyeshadow base or eye primer. (Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer)
-Pack a matte shadow close to your skin tone along the brow bone. (NYX Nude Matte Shadow #I Have a Headache)
-With a fluffy blending brush, apply a matte mauve shadow to the lid and blend up almost all the way to the brow. (Lorac Unzipped Palette #Unconditional)
-Next on an oval blending brush, apply a matte burgundy shade to the lid and through the crease. Do no extend pass the mauve shade. Some move should peak over the top of the burgundy. Also run this along the outer 1/2 of the lower lash line. (Lorac Unzipped Palette #Unbridled)
-Then with a flat shader brush, apply a  satin or matte deep plum shadow over outer 1/2 of the lid and throught the crease. (Lorac Unzipped Palette #Untamed)
-Wet a shader brush with water, mixing medium, or setting spray and apply a shimmery rose shadow to the inner 1/2 of your lid. (Lorac Unzipped Palette #Unbelievable)
-Now wet a pencil brush and apply a shimmery rose gold to the inner tear duct. Continue this color along the inner 1/3 of the lower lash line. (Lorac Unzipped Palette #Unreal)
-Liner along the upper lashes, tightline, and water line with a dark brown kohl liner. (Jane Cosmetics Water Resistant Eyeliner #Brown)
-With a flat definer brush apply the deep plum shadow very close to the lower lashes. (Lorac Unzipped Palette #Untamed)
-Prep your lashes for falsies with a quick coat of mascara. (Lorac Pro Mascara)
-Finish of the eyes with some piecey and romantic lashes. (Ardell Lashes #Scanties)

the lips:

-We are definitely skipping out on the silver glitter the model wore atop their plum lips to make this look more wearable. 
-Line the lips with a plum lip liner. (Milani Easyliner for Lips #Sugar Plum)
-Apply a plum glossy lipstick to the entire lip. (Revlon Superlustrious Lipstick #Plum Velour)
-Top the center of the lips off with a light red or burgandy lipstick that has some shimmer. This will make them appear more full. (NARS Lipstick #Flair)

 other products used:

-Rimmel Stay Matte Primer
-Tarte Amazonian Clay 12hr Full Coverage Foundation #Ivory
-Sephora 8hr Wear Perfect Cover Concealer #Light 10
-NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder Pressed #Translucent Crystal
-Benefit Watts Up Highlighter
-Sephora Los Cabos Bronzer
-Benefit Rockateur Blush
-MAC Mineralized Skin Finish #Lightscapade
-Milani Brow Fix Kit #Light
-Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel
-NYX Matte Finishing Spray

That completes this Official Rodarte inspired runway look! For more runway looks or anything else you have in mind please leave requests on any of my social media platforms below. You should follow me to by the way, so we can give internet hugs and stuff. As always thank you for your support and I will see you soon with another look! Don't forget if you recreate this to tag me so I can see pics of your recreation and hashtag #iamalizarin.

instagram: @gnomebusiness

twitter: @mc_gnomeski
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamalizarin

FIN

fresh off the runway: the effortless khaki shadow at hugo boss

The look at this spring's NYFW 2014 Hugo Boss show was effortless, classic, understated, yet strong. The models presented faces that were all about skin and muted tones. The stunning, simple, and unexpected color was khaki. The eye looks were top heavy, blown out hues of khaki which complimented every eye shade and gave the contours of the eye just enough depth. I was so intrigued by how wearable this look was for everyday and any skin tone that I had to recreate it for you all. So here we go.. my take on a soft khaki eye for spring.

the eyes:

-Start as always by prepping the eye space with an eye primer or base. (Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer)
-Pack a taupe cream base all over the lid. (Maybelline Color Tattoo #Nude Compliment)
-First sweep a matte skin tone shade through the crease with a fluffy brush. This will serve as a transition shade and help everything blend seamlessly later on. (Urban Decay #Habit)
-If you do not have a truly khaki eyeshadow, don't fret. Just do what I did. I mixed together an army green and a taupe shadow together to get this soft khaki color. Apply this all over the lid and blend through the crease with an oval blending brush. (Urban Decay #Stash & Rewind)
-To bring in a little more warmth into the khaki, I dusted lightly a shimmery yellow gold over the lid. (Urban Decay #Strike)
-Highlight the brow bone with a matte shade a few tones lighter than your skin. (NYX Nude Matte Shadow #I Have A Headache)
-Tightline the upper lash line with a black kohl liner to make the lashes appear thicker. (Jordana 12hr Made to Last Liquid Eyeliner Pencil #Black Point)
-Top the eyelook off with a quick coat of mascara on the top lashes only. (Lorac Pro Mascara)

the cheeks & lips:

-Bronze up the perimeters of the face lightly with a shimmery bronzer. (Sephora Bora Bora Bronzer)

-Contour very lightly under the cheekbones, temples, and sides of the nose with a cool toned matte bronzer. (Sephora Los Cabos Bronzer)

-Skip out on the blush for this look and move straight into highlighting. Dust a champagne highlighter along the highpoints of the cheeks, tip of the nose, cupids bow, and above the brows. (MAC Mineralized Skin Finish #Lightscapade)

-For the lips, opt for a satin finish peachy nude lipstick like the models wore. (Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick #Nude Lust)

other products used:

-Korres Pomegranate Primer

-Tarte Amazonian Clay 12hr Full Coverage Foundation #Ivory

-Sephora 8hr Wear Perfect Cover Concealer #Light 10

-NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder Pressed #Translucent Crystal

-Milani Brow Fix Kit #Light

-Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel

Finito! I hope you enjoyed this quick and effortless daytime look. Please let me know what you think. I was suprised how much I really loved this khaki shadow as I wore it throughout the day. As always please leave any comments or requests on this page or on any of my social media pages listed below. I would love to hear from you! Also, you should follow me on those if you are not so I can keep you guys updated on new looks and other fun stuff!

instagram: @gnomebusiness

twitter: @mc_gnomeski
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamalizarin

FIN

a celebration: oh so lucky. st. patrick's day

Who's celebrating Irish heritage with me this weekend!? Today's look is in honor of St. Patrick's day which occurs on March 17th every year. I wanted to create a look for you all that was eashy to achieve, because most of us want to spend our time celebrating instead of in the mirror! This incorporates the classic St. Patrick's Day colors of green and gold but in a very wearable and understated fashion. I hope you all enjoy and try it out for yourself. As always feel free to switch products out at will for those in your own collection.

the eyes:

-As always begin by priming the entire lid space with an eye primer  so that your shadows will last throughout the festivities! (Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer)

-Apply a shimmery gold cream base to the lid, stopping at the crease. (Maybelline Color Tatto #Bold Gold)

-Sweep a matte flesh tone shadow that is slightly darker than your natural skin tone through the crease. This will serve as a transition shade and help the color to follow blend more easily. (Urban Decay #Habit)

-Next, wet a flat shader brush with some mixing medium, setting spray, or water and pack a shimmery gold pigment all over the lid. (NYX Pearl Mania #unkown color name & NYX Matte Finishing Spray)

-Go in with a deep forest green shadow on a more precise blending brush and concentrate this color through the crease. Do not blend past our transition shade we laid down earlier. (Urban Decay #Poison)

-Next, apply a deep brown kohl liner to the waterline and tight line. (Kat Von D Autograph Eye Pencil #Immortal Love)

-Following the liner, pick up an vibrant green shimmery shadow of your choice on a pencil brush. I chose a beautiful emeral green. Blend this along the entire lower lash line. You can even do as I did and wet the pencil brush with mixing medium, setting spray, or water for extra vibrant color pay off. (Urban Decay #Damaged)

-Pack a matte shadow a few shades lighter than your skin tone along the brow bone for a highlight. (NYX Nude Matte Shadow #I Have A Headache)

-Finish off with lots of mascara and some spikey lashes for a piecey lash effect.(Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara #Excessive Black Noir & Ardell Lashes #Scanties)

the cheeks:

- Begin by bronzing the perimeter of the face with a shimmery bronzer. (Sephora Bronzer #Bora Bora)
-Next use a precise brush to contour the cheekbones, sides of the nose, and temples with a matte cool or neutral tone bronzer. (Sephora Bronzer #Los Cabos)
-Apply a muted coral toned blush right above the contour. This color will naturally compliment the golds and greens we are using. (Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush #Dim Infusion)
-I mixed two highlights for my cheekbones today, a champagne highlight and a true gold. (MAC Mineralized Skin Finish #Lightscapade & Nars Blush #Albatross)
-On the button of my nose and above the arcs of my brows I only applied the champagne highlight. (MAC Mineralized Skin Finish #Lightscapade)

the lips:

-Keep the lips a rosy nude that suits your skin tone best. You do not want the nude to be to close to your natural skin tone or it will not show up in your St. Pattie's photos.
-Apply a rosy nude lip liner first to help your lip color stay on longer and keep it from bleeding. (Milani Colorstatement Lipliner #Nude)
-Top that with a rosy nude lipstick in any finish. (L'oreal Coloriche Lipstick #Fairest Nude)
-Finish of the lips with a shimmery coral gloss to compliment the blush color. (Khroma Beauty Honey Gloss #Orange Blossom Honey)

other products used:
-Korres Pomegranate Primer
-Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation #1.0
-NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder Pressed #Translucent Crystal
-Milani Brow Fix Kit #Light
-NYX Auto Eyebrow Pencil #Dark Brown
-Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel

I hope that all of you who are celebrating this weekend will have a blast, but remember to be safe! Please as always tag me in any recreations you do I would love to see! Also, don't forget to hashtag #iamalizarin. If you have any comments or requests you may leave them below in the comment section or on any of my social media listed below... which you should be following if you're not already ;)

instagram: @gnomebusiness

twitter: @mc_gnomeski
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamalizarin

FIN

fresh off the runway: the unexpected grunge at tanya taylor nyc

The catwalk at Tanya Taylor NYC at this spring's NYFW, boasted effortless grunge. The models sported thick, heavy, and imperfect black liner that was left with out blending. It was truly perfectly imperfect. Not only was the liner bold, it also packed an impact with an unexpected break in the middle of the lower lash line. I loved how innovative and graphic this simple notion was, and knew I had to create a look reminiscent of what the makeup artists created. I hope you enjoy. If this is not something you are interested in wearing, take it as inspiration for your makeup and fashion to be slightly unexpected and unique.

the eyes:

-Start by prepping the eye lid with an eyeshadow primer. (Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer)

-Pack a matte shadow slightly lighter than your natural skin tone all over the lid and under the brow bone. (Tarte Mattenificient Palette #Sand Out from The Crowd)

-Blend a matte skin tone shadow a few shades deeper than your natural skin tone through the crease to give the eye socket some natural depth. (Tarte Mattenificient Palette #Peach For the Stars)

-With a black kohl liner line the entire upper lashline, make sure to make the line thick and do not stress over making it perfect. This is not meant to look precise. Take the liner all the way to the inner tear duct and line the inner third of the lower lash line. Sop the line here (no liner under where your iris rests when you look straight forward). Pick the line back up and line the outer third of the lower lashline and waterline. Make sure to connect the outer corner of the upper and lower lashlines. (Jordana 12hr Made to Last Liquid Eyeliner Pencil #Black Point)

-Coat all your natural lashes with mascara and skip on the falsies for this look. This is all about the liner, not the lashes. (Lorac Pro Mascara)

the lips:

-Apply a rosy brown toned nude satin finish lipstick to the lips. Skip on the gloss and lip liner. (Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick #Nude List

other products used:

-Korres Pomegranate Primer

-Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation #1.0

-Sephora 8hr Wear Perfect Cover Concealer #Light 10

-NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder Pressed #Translucent Crystal

-Sephora Bronzer #Los Cabos

-Tarte Mattenificient Palette Blush #Elevate

-MAC Mineralized Skin Finish #Lightscapade

Definitely not a look for the faint of heart, but I hope you found this interesting and if there are other runway looks you would like to see please leave a request below or on any of my social media listed below. And if you're not following me... you should. That is all.

 instagram: @gnomebusiness

twitter: @mc_gnomeski
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamalizarin

FIN

fresh off the runway: the cut crease at marc jacobs

At NYFW Spring 2014 the Marc Jacobs look was futuristic mixed with retro, a blend of the times. The models sported bleached eyebrows, but since I do not see that as very wearable for most people I opted for a softly defined brow. The look on the models was also a hard linear cut crease. The style of the cut was stripped to the bare bones, no blending just a brown line carved straight through the socket. While I loved the graphicness of this, I chose to blend out the cut in order to once again make this look slightly more wearable and smokey. I do hope you enjoy and try this out for yourself. It is perfect for a night out!

the eyes:

- Start by priming the lid with an eyeshadow primer. (Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer)

-Apply a cream champagne or white base to the lid. (Maybelline Color Tattoo #Barely Branded)

-Next, blend a matte shadow a few shades darker than your skin tone through the crease. We are using this as a transitions shade. It will help all the shadows to follow blend more easily. (Lorac Pro Palette #Taupe)

-With a flat shader brush apply a matte cream or soft white shadow to the lid and slightly upwards into the crease. (Lorac Pro Palette #White)

-Using a brown kohl eyeliner pencil, draw a line right above your crease while looking straight on into the mirror. Extend the inner corner past the tear duct slightly. Then exaggerate the tail, almost in a slight flick motion. (Jordana 12 hr Made to Last Liquid Eyeliner Pencil #Espresso Last)

-With a pencil brush, smudge a medium brown matte shadow over the liner in the cut crease. (Lorac Pro Palette #Sable)

-Now take a blending brush and apply more of the same medium brown in over the liner and blend upwards only. (Lorac Pro Palette #Sable)

-Using the pencil brush again, mix the medium brown and a dark brown and apply this on top of the liner in a smudging motion. (Lorac Pro Palette #Sable & #Espresso)

-With a blending brush and very little of the medium brown, blend out once again the same line upwards. The key is to build up color slowly and blend more than you think you need to. (Lorac Pro Palette #Sable)

-Apply a matte flesh tone a few shades lighter than your skin to highlight under the brow. (NYX Nude Matte Shadow #I Have A Headache)

-Now line the waterline with the same brown kohl liner. Tightline the upper lashline with this liner also, and extend the inner tear duct to achieve a cat eye effect. (Jordana 12hr Made To Last Liquid Eyeliner #Espresso Last)

-With that liner again, line the outer 1/3 of the upper lashline and extend out into a wing shape. Use a cotton bud and some makeup remover if you need to clean up the edges. (Jordana 12 hr Made to Last Liquid Eyeliner #Espresso Last)

-Blend out the lower lashline using a pencil brush or a flat definer brush and the medium matte brown shadow. (Lorac Pro Palette #Sable)

-Finish of the eyes by applying a few coats of mascara. (Lorac Pro Mascara)

the lips:

-Line the lips with a nude liner only one shade deeper than your natural lip color. This will make them appear fuller. (Milani Color Statement Lipliner #Nude)
-Apply a nude lipstick that suits your skin tone. (MAC Lipstick #Flair For Finery)
-Top it off with a shimmery nude gloss for extra dimension to the look. (Khroma Beauty Gloss #Summer Honey)

other products used:

-Korres Pomegranate Primer
-Tarte Amazonian Clay 12hr Full Coverage Foundation #Ivory
-Sephora 8hr Wear Perfect Cover Concealer #Light 10
-NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder Pressed #Translucent Crystal
-Sephora Bronzer #Los Cabos
-Milani Baked Blush #Luminoso
-MAC Mineralized Skin Finish #Lightscapade
-Milani Brow Fix Kit #Light
-Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel

That completes this runway inspired tutorial! I hope you all enjoyed the look. Keep on the look out for many NYFW 2014 runway inspired looks to come! Please tag me in any recreations and don't forget to hastag #iamalizarin so I can see! Also, please leave any comments, questions or requests in the comment section of this page or on any of my social media listed below. Oh and you should follow me if you're not already cause I'll love you foreverz ;)

instagram: @gnomebusiness
twitter: @mc_gnomeski
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamalizarin

FIN

an olympic beauty: the dreamy yuna kim

While watching the women's figure skating short program competition, I honestly was quite bored. UNTIL South Korean Yuna Kim took the ice. She was glowing in an amazing chartreuse dress, with radiant skin and a graphic brown smokey eye. Her performance was the best routine I have ever seen. I was so moved I began to cry watching her glide across the ice with such passion and and grace. She is truly and artist, the best in the world. I knew at that moment that I must do this look inspired by her. The makeup she wore was so wearable and would be complimentary on such a wide range of people. Now, I am obviously not Korean and look nothing like Yuna. But just as I did you can adjust her look to fit your eye shape and skin tone. I hope you enjoy!

the eyes:

-Start as always by priming your lids. (Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer)

-Begin by blending a matte skin tone color through the crease. This will help other colors to follow blend more easily. (Tarte Mattenificient Palette #View From Taupe)

-With a smaller blending brush, go through the crease with a coral color shadow. (Milani Baked Blush #Luminoso)

-Next, trace the outer V of the eye and draw through the crease with a dark brown kohl liner. Then fill in all the way to the lash line and inner tear duct. (Kat Von D Autograph Pencil #Imortal)

-Then pack a matte dark brown shadow everywhere on top of the liner. (Tart Mattenificient Palette #Dream In Chocolate) Be sure to keep the edges of the liner sharp.

-Highlight the brow bone with a matte shadow a few shades lighter than our skin tone. (Tarte Mattenificent Palette #Stand Out From The Crowd)

-Coat the top lashes only with mascara of choice. (Lorac Pro Mascara)

-Apply a natural set of lashes. (Ardell #21)

the cheeks:

-Skip out on the bronzer and focus on radiant skin just like Yuna's.

-Start by applying a coral blush to the cheekbones. (Milani Baked Blush #Luminoso)

-Top of the cheekbones and other highpoints of the face with a champagne colored highlighter. (MAC Mineralized Skin Finish #Lightscapade)

the lips:

-Apply a coral toned balm lightly to the lips for subtle color. (Bite Beauty Lush Lip Tint #Juice)

other products used:

-Korres Pomegranate Primer

-Tarte Amazonian Clay 12hr Full Coverage Foundation #Ivory

-Sephora 8hr Wear Perfect Cover Concealer #Light 10

-NARS Light Reflecting Powder Pressed #Translucent Crystal

-Milani Brow Fix Kit #Light

I hope you all found this Sochi Inspired look interesting and are intrigued to try it out for yourself. The soft colors will be perfect for day or night, and the coral tones really give the look a slight nudge into spring. Please leave any comments or requests below or on any of my social media pages which will be listed below. AND if you are not already following me on those, you should ;) Don't forget to tag me in any of your recreations or hashtag #iamalizarin so I can see!

instagram: @gnomebusiness
twitter: @mc_gnomeski
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamalizarin

FIN

a celebration: mardis gras 2014

Mardis Gras 2014 happens tomorrow, Tuesday March 4th. Whether you are going to a Mardis Gras party or Marching the Streets of New Orleans in a parade, you will need a colorful makeup look. Today's look features traditional Mardi Gras colors while incorporating spring trends such as colorful winged liner and purple lips. I hope you will be embrace the color and try this out for the festivities tomorrow. Be safe and have fun! 

the eyes: 

-As always begin with priming everywhere you will be applying shadow. (Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer)

-Then apply a white cream base all over the lid to help the colors to follow be more vibrant. (NYX Jumbo Pencil #Milk)

-Blend a matte shadow close to your skin tone through the crease. This will help the colors to follow blend more easily. (Urban Decay #Habit)

-With a flat shader brush, pack a matte bubblegum pink shadow over the lid. (Urban decay #X-Rated)

-With an oval shaped blending brush, blend a deeper matte pink shadow through the crease. (Dark Pink from Sephora Spring Pantone Palette 2013)

-Wet an eyeliner brush with mixing medium, finishing spray, or water and apply a shimmery kelly green shadow as winged liner. (Kelly Green from Sephora Spring Pantone Palette 2013)

-Using a pencil brush, apply a shimmery lime green shadow to the inner tear duct for an unexpected pop of lime. (Lime Green from Sephora Spring Pantone Palette 2013)

-Apply a purple waterproof eyeliner to the waterline. (Rimmel Scandaleyes Kohl Kajal #Purple)

-Blend this out along the lower lashline using a shimmery cool toned gold shadow. (Urban Decay #Strike)

-Highlight the brow bone with a matte pastel pink shadow. (Pale Pink from Sephora Spring Pantone Palette 2013)

-Coat the lashes with your mascara of choice. (Lorac Pro Mascara)

-Finish it all off with some dramatic and colorful lashes. (Katy Perry Color Pop Lashes #Purple)

the cheeks:

-First warm up the perimeters of the face with a warm toned shimmery bronzer. (Sephora Bronzer #Bora Bora)

-Then contour the cheekbones with a matte bronzer. (Sephora Bronzer #Los Cabos)

-Apply a shimmery cool toned pink blush to the cheekbones. (Milani Baked Blush #Dolce Pink)

-Finish off with a glow, by applying a gold highlighting powder to the tops of the cheekbones, above the brows, tip of the nose, and cupid's bow. (NARS Albatross)

the lips:

-Line your lips with a lilac lip liner to keep the lipstick from fading. (Jordana Easy Liner for Lips #Silver Lilac)

-Apply a lilac color lipstick. (NYX Round Lipstick #Power)

other products used:

-Korres Pomegranate Face Primer

-Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24hr Makeup #Ivoire

-Milani Brow Fix Kit #Light

-NYX Auto Eyebrow Pencil #Dark Brown

-Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel

-Sephora 8hr Wear Perfect Cover Concealer #Light 10

-NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder #Translucent Crystal

-Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder #Porcelain Ivory

I hope you all enjoyed this colorful look and will dare to try it out for yourselves. Have fun this Mardis Gras and don't forget to eat your pancakes! As always tag me in any of your recreations on any of my social media and don't forget to hashtag #iamalizarin so I can see. Please leave any requests or comments in the comment section below or on any of my social media listed below. ANDDD if you are not following me... you should. Because I like it. And I will give you internet pizza and cookies.


instagram: @gnomebusiness
twitter: @mc_gnomeski
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamalizarin

FIN

a celebration: carnival 2014 trinidad & tobago

This look is inspired by the Caribbean Carnival Tradition. My beautiful friend, Aimee, hails from Trinidad (home of the most well know Carnival Celebration) and requested I do this look for her. Each year the Caribbean people take over the streets in a colorful festival known as Carnival. This gigantic party is thrown ever year as a celebration of life and the freedom of the people. They dress in elaborate costumes which of course should be accompanied by jaw dropping makeup looks. Upon researching Carnival costumes, I realized the makeup ranged so widely that pretty much anything goes as long as it makes a statement with color! For the look today, I decided to present a colorful option full of many different blue tones inspired by the Caribbean sea. It is centered around glowing skin and subtle changes from one blue tone to the next. I hope all of you who celebrate this year have a blast and dare to try out this look!

the eyes:

-Start by priming you entire eye area, including above the brow bone and around the temples. (Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer)
-Next, blend a skin tone transition color through the crease with a fluffy brush. This will help all the other shadows that follow blend more easily. (Urban Decay #Habit)
-Apply a navy cream shadow to the lid using a flat synthetic brush or your finger. (Maybelline 24 hr. Color Tattoo #Electric Blue)
-Then apply a shimmery navy blue shadow to the lid with a flat shader brush. (Prestige Longterm Relationship Eyeshadow #Obsession)
-Highlight the brow bone with a matte shadow a few shades lighter than your skin tone. (NYX Nude Matte Shadow #I Have A Headache)
-Line your upper lashline just slightly with a black kohl eyeliner pencil. (Jordana 12hr Made to Last Liquid Eyeliner Pencil #Black Point)
-After wetting your flat shader brush with a mixing medium, setting spray, or water, apply a turqoise shimmery pigment to the center or the lid. (NYX Matte Finish Setting Spray & L'oreal Infallible 24hr Eye Shadow #Dive Right In)
-With a turqoise waterproof eyeliner, line the waterline. (Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Stick #Tempting Turquoise).
-Blend out the lower lashline using a pencil brush and a shimmery emerald green shadow. (Urban Decay #Damaged)
-Next apply mascara of choice to the lashes. (Lorac Pro Mascara)
-Top those off with dramatic lashes that sport a pop of color. (Katy Perry Color Pop Eyelashes #Blue)

the skin:

-Start by warming up the cheekbones with a tiny bit of bronzer. (Sephora Bronzing Powder #Los Cabos)
-Next blend a navy eyeshadow, very lightly under the cheekbones and down the sides of the nose to create a colorful contour. (Urban Decay #Prank)
-With a flat synthetic brush or your finger, apply a turqoise cream eyeshadow to the temples all the way up to the start of the brow. Blend outwards all the way to the hairline. (Maybelline 24hr Color Tattoo #Tenacious Teal)
-Going back into the turquoise pigment from before on fluffy brush, dust the pigment over everywhere the turquoise cream shadow was applied. Also apply this on top of the navy cheek contour and along the cheeks as your blush color. (L'oreal Infallible 24hr Shadow #Dive Right In)
-Next, apply a light blue duo chrome pigment to the tops of the cheekbones, the tip of the nose, cupids bow,  and brow bone. Also use this to blend out the edges of the turquoise pigment on the temples and forehead. (Makeup Forever Star Powder #942)

the lips:

-Keep the lips soft with a blue tone'd natural pink lipstick. (Revlon Superlustrious Lipstick #Primrose)

other products used:
-Korres Pomegranate Face Primer
-Lancome Teint Idol 24hr Foundation #Ivory
-MAC Prolongwear Concealer #NC20
-NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder Pressed #Translucent Crystal
-Milani Brow Fix Kit #Light
-Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel

That's it guys! Definitely not wearable for every day, but perfect for festivals, or other colorful occasions! Do not be afraid to be artistic and creative with your looks. Remember makeup can be an outward expression and celebration of life and creativity any time of the year. As always please leave any requests in the comment section or on any of my social media below. Don't forget to hashtag your recreations #iamalizarin so I can see!

instagram: @gnomebusiness
twitter: @mc_gnomeski
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamalizarin

FIN