The debut of... My own face...

Hey everyone, so I figured it was about time to actually do makeup on myself and create a better step-by-step process for viewers to follow. Here it is! 

 1) Firstly I prepared my skin with Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel for Combination-Oily skin. I also like to apply a lip balm at this point so that by the time I get to my lips they will be moisturized and smooth.



2) For my skin I applied some of Benefit's Porefessional, a primer that minimizes the look of pores. I used Bourjous Healthy Mix Serum foundation in the shade 52 and applied with my fingers. Following the foundation, I applied the Bourjous Healthy Mix concealer under my eyes in shade 52, blending it in with a Real Techniques Essential Foundation brush.

 3) For my eyes I used the Smashbox Softbox eye palette. I'm not sure of the exact name of the palette, but I've inserted a picture further below so you can take a look at the colours used. To begin I used a fluffy brush to apply the shade "vanilla" all over my entire eyelid, from the lash line all the way to my eyebrow. I then applied the colour "Nectar" just onto my lid, blending slightly into the crease. Then I took some "Lucky Penny", a lovely bronze colour onto my eyelid and blended softly so that the eye didn't look too orange. With a dense, stumpy eyeshadow brush I applied "Sienna" to my lash line and underneath my eye as well. I blended a very small amount into my crease, but because it is dark and shimmery I had to use a very small amount and be quite careful. I then blended the matte colour "Nude" into my crease to make everything look more blended and subtle. After touching up the "Sienna" on my lash line, I applied Stila's "Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner" in the shade "black". I only applied it to my top lash line.

 Following the eyeliner I applied Clinique's "High Lengths" mascara in the shade "Black".

4) I then used a fan brush to brush away any excess pigment that had fallen down onto my face, to avoid rubbing it into my skin. I filled in my brows with Benefit's "BrowZings" in the colour "Light". Following this I used Essence's "Clear Brow Gel" to set my eyebrows so they don't move around too much and keep their shape. On my cheeks I used a new favourite of mine, Tarte's "Amazonian Clay Blush" in the colour "Exposed".

5) For my lips I applied Benefit's lipstick in "Skinny Dip" and then a very small amount of Rimmels "Vinyl Gloss" in the bright pink shade "190- Pin Up".

 Here is the Smashbox palette I used, I use this palette very often as it has great wearable daily colours that aren't too extreme. I received this palette at a Smashbox school I went to in 2012. I think all of the colours are fantastic, with the exception of "Flirt", a shimmery taupe colour. I don't like this shade because the eyeshadow is very glittery and tends to end up all over my cheeks. The liner gels are pretty, but I rarely use them because I prefer to use a matte brown or black liner. The brush included is also very good, overall the palette is great for travelling and everyday looks.

 Here is a quick snapshot of all the products I used (minus the Rimmel gloss because I forgot it, as well as my moisturizer and lipbalm).

Finally here is the finished look, excuse the hair which was half-damp and the weird look on my face, I was trying to get good lighting and this was the best picture I got!

I hope you liked the step-by-step tutorial, I'll be sure to feature more in depth makeovers like this in the future. Thanks for reading!

New Products and Review

I got a bit carried away this week as I had some extra time to leave campus and visit the local drugstore. I visited Shopper's Drug Mart and Walmart, and here is what I purchased:

Lip Products:
All 3 products I'm going to review today were lip products. I also bought a L'Oreal BB Cream which I will review later in greater detail. 
Firstly I bought the Maybelline Colour Whisper in "30- Pin Up Peach". I thought the colour was pretty, but the Shopper's Drug Mart I was in didn't have a tester, so I think I got lucky with this colour. Unfortunatley I couldn't get any good lighting for this picture, but further below is a swatch comparison of the 3 lip products so you can compare them in the same light.

Maybelline Colour Whisper in Pin Up Peach

Secondly, I bought another Maybelline Colour Whisper in "35- Coral Ambition". I have never owned a coral coloured lip product before, and I thought as spring was rolling around it was about time I tried one. From the lovely consistency of the Colour Whisper line Maybelline has come out with, I thought it would be a good way to try a new colour without being too ambitious. The colour payoff of both of the Colour Whispers are very nice and quite sheer, however they are very buildable. The product is very moisturizing and comfortable to wear, just enough colour that it shows but not pigmented enough to get all over your teeth, which is a huge bonus for me.

Maybelline Colour Whisper in Coral Ambition

The last lip product I bought was a total impulse buy. I had no intention of purchasing anything when I visited the local Walmart, but I was with a friend and I got carried away. I had recently read reviews of the Maybelline "Vivids" collection, but the neon pinks and oranges aren't exactly my everyday style (not that I won't be experimenting with a few later on...) so instead of purchasing a neon colour, I decided to go for a far more muted and wearable "160- Fifth Ave. Fuschia". This colour is from Maybelline's regular lipstick "ColourSensational" line. I don't know what forced me into this purchase, other than the fact I am always impressed with Maybelline's lip colours, especially their lipsticks. I own several other lipsticks from Maybelline, so I was enticed into buying a colour I may never wear publicly but I find very pretty.

Maybelline's ColourSensational in Fifth Ave. Fuschia

I think I've discovered that the Maybelline Colour Whisper line is definitely a hit, the colours are all very nice and I think they have great pigmentation for a balm-like formula. I have heard the deeper colours have even more pigmentation, so I will definitely be trying more in the future. As for the regular Maybelline lipsticks, I think they have great creamy consistencies and very nice lasting power, despite sometimes being a bit thick. Here are swatches of all three colours in the same light for comparison:

Colours from top to bottom: Coral Ambition, Pin Up Peach, and Fifth Ave. Fuschia

Everyday Makeup with Model Jessica

Since my last post didn't have a detailed description of the makeup look I created, I figured it would be a good time to show another makeover. My wonderful model Jessica, another makeup enthusiast on my floor, offered to be my model when we were bored of studying and writing essays. She brought some of her makeup palettes, ones I hadn't used before, and I used products I own myself. 

Face:
On the face I used the Bourjous Healthy Mix Serum foundation in the shade 52. (Ideally I would have used one shade lighter on Jessica's skintone). 
Jessica didn't need much concealing, as her skin is very smooth with no blemishes or redness. I used Maybelline Dream Lumi concealer underneath her eyes in the shade "nude".
I powdered her skin with Bourjous mineral radiance powder in the shade "01- rose clair". 
Eyes:
On her eyes I used the Lorac Unzipped palette. I used a variety of colours, but overall found the shades to be quite red. I used matte colours all over the lid and in the crease, and to finish placed the shimmery "undiscovered" shade in the centre of her lid. Finally I lined her eyelid with a gel eyeliner by Mac in the colour "Blacktrack". For mascara I used Clinique's "High Lengths".
Brows:
For Jessica's brows I used Benefit's "Brow Zing's" palette in "light". I used the powder colour but not the wax, as I felt it would be too dark for her brows. I used the clear browgel by Essence to set her brows. 
Cheeks:
On the cheeks I did subtle contouring with the bronzer by Benefit called "Hoola". For blush I used a shade from Jessica's 10 Blush Palette by BH Cosmetics.
Lips:
For Jessica's lips I used a Maybelline Colour Whisper in the shade "Pin Up Peach".

Whole Face Makeup

Eye Makeup

 

Makeup On Models

I've been very lucky to have the opportunity of creating makeup looks on various people, with different skin tones and skin types. Because these makeovers are from a few weeks/months ago I don't remember all of the products I used, however for my next posts I will use far more detail. These are just to introduce some of the makeup looks I have created. Unfortunately the images were taken with an iPhone, but in future I hope to use a better camera. Here are some images of the models before and after the makeup application:

 

Jessica after makeup

Jessica before makeup

Brooke before makeup

Brooke after makeup

Ayla before makeup

Ayla after makeup

Welcome To My New Blog!

Welcome To My New Blog!

Hello everyone! My name is Megan and I am passionate about all things makeup and skincare. On this blog I intend to write reviews on products and give out tips to people who are curious about makeup application. I also hope to post pictures of makeup I have applied, with a detailed description of products I have used and a step-by-step process of how the makeup look was created. I intend to have more casual makeup looks posted, as well as creative and unique ideas inspired by films, fashion and theatre. I hope you all enjoy reading my blog! Feel free to leave any comments or feedback, I'd love to read it!