Valentine's Day Makeup Look: Sexy Rose Gold Smokey Eye

Hello! 

I've wanted to start doing makeup looks for a while now, and I figured doing a Valentine's look would be a great way to start! I basically just sat down and created this, I wanted it to be festive but still easy and wearable. I used pinks and browns and a hint of glitter (I always look for a reason to wear glitter!). 

This would be a great evening look to pair with a multitude of outfits. However, I wouldn't pair this with a red dress because you don't want too much color happening on your eyes since the red dress would be the main event. If you ARE wearing red, rock the black winged eyeliner and gold glitter liner but skip the eyeshadows. You can still do a soft medium brown eyeshadow to add definition to your crease but keep it simple. The gold glitter will still make it fun and festive without being overdone. I hope you enjoy and whether you're flying solo or have a special night planned with your love, have a fun and chocolate filled Valentine's!

Products Used:

My 10 Steps to a Flawless Valentine's Makeup Look

Step 1: Prime your eyes with an eyeshadow primer or cream shadow base. I am using MAC Painterly Paint Pot.

Step 2: Using a fluffy crease brush apply MAC Samoa Silk and MAC Arena into the crease using small circular and windshield wiper motions. Apply Arena slightly lower in the crease than Samoa Silk. The soft shimmer in Arena are going to help when we start to blend out the darker shades. You want this to be nice and blown out since we are doing a smokey eye.

Step 3: Using a smaller crease brush (I use the MAC 217) apply Brown Script onto the outer third of your eye and through the crease. You want to keep this color lower than Arena, don't get crazy blending this out too quickly. Just take your time blending back and forth.

Step 4: Using a flat shader brush apply MAC Rose pigment onto the eyelid, but don't pull it all the way out, just up to the outer third where we placed Brown Script. You can spritz a bit of Fix + onto your brush when applying this pigment, it will give it a gorgeous metallic finish! 

Note: After each step I always go back with that first fluffy crease brush with no additional product on it, and gently blend around the edges to ensure a smooth gradient of color.

Step 5: Using a pencil brush apply Ground Brown to the the outer 'V' of your eye. Remember to apply this a little at a time. Once you get the shape you want, use your smaller blending brush (MAC 217) to gently blend the edges so they are smooth and seamless. 

Step 6: Apply a black gel eyeliner of your choice. I use Inglot for a few simple reasons, its black as night, easy to use, and does NOT move. It is also affordable which is a bonus! To create your perfect wing: using your lower lash line as your guide, follow that line up as if you were extending the lower lash line. Don't pull your eye taut when drawing this first line otherwise the wing will be too flat. Next connect the wing back to your upper lash line and fill in. You want the eyeliner to be thin at the inner corner and gradually thicken as you get to the wing. 

Ta da!

Step 7: Apply the gold glitter liner to the base of the black liner, from inner corner to the edge of the wing. Keep this line thin, we want the glitter to be an accent not the main event! I also use a waterproof black pencil liner to line my upper and lower waterlines, and a black liquid liner to create a slight wing at the inner corner of the eye. This will give the eye a sexy almond shape. 

Step 8: Apply your favorite mascara (mine is the MAC 3D) to upper lashes ONLY. Next we move onto the skin! I used a pore filling primer so that the foundation goes on smooth and flawless. Next apply foundation, concealer, setting powder, bronzer (Smashbox Suntan Matte), blush (NARS Desire), and brow products. 

Step 9: After setting you under eye concealer, take Arena on a pencil brush and apply just under the lash line. Swipe the brush softly back and forth to blend. Next take Brown Script on a small flat definer brush and apply to the outer half of the lower lash line, then use the pencil brush to blend. Lastly, take Ground Brown on the same definer brush and apply to the outer third of the lower lash line, again blending softly with your pencil brush to soften the edges. We want the lower lash line to mimic the upper, a smooth gradient of dark brown at the outer corners and getting lighter as you move inwards. Apply mascara to bottom lashes.

Step 10: Apply lipstick and lipgloss! I used YSL Rouge Volupte #1 and topped it with NYX Butter Gloss in Peaches N' Cream. I wanted to keep the lips soft since the eyes are dramatic. If you don't have some of these products just find something similar, I know drugstores can have great dupes!! I also added MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade to the top of my cheekbones and cupids bow for a highlight.

Finished Makeup Look:

(Don't mind my hair, I wanted to just focus on the makeup! I will probably do some soft messy curls for my Valentine's date night)

I hope you all have wonderful week and Happy Valentine's from me and Tyson! He's my puppy Valentine : )

XOXO Amanda

Makeup Must Have: Bobbi Brown Corrector and Concealer Kit

Hello!! I wanted to share with you all two of my most favorite products from Bobbi Brown, her creamy Correctors and Concealer Kits. These two products used together are what Bobbi calls "the secret to the universe" and I can tell you that she just might be right. At least to the woman's universe anyway. When using the correct shades these products completely transform your face by not only correcting those pesky dark circles, but also by brightening the entire complexion. They say the eyes are the window to the soul, and this is totally true. Our eyes show our emotional, physical, and mental state, so naturally we want them to be as bright and clear as possible. 

The two single pots you see in the picture above are the Correctors. Bobbi has created 12 different shades in bisques and peaches to suit every skin tone. The bisque shade range has a salmon tint to them and the peach range has a soft orange tint. Using the basic rules of color theory Bobbi uses these to counteract dark colors that we get under our eyes. We use the bisque shades for light to medium skin tones and the peach shades for medium/olive/dark skin tones. It is necessary though to always have an artist match you, because these shades don't just have a uniform pairing. A fair skinned person may use a peach corrector rather than a bisque one if the shading under her eyes goes more bluish. Everyone is different so always have an expert evaluate your skin so they can match you to the correct shade.

The duo compact is the Concealer Kit which comes with a concealer shade and a setting powder. All the shades have a Pale Yellow setting powder except Alabaster which has a White setting powder. This powder is very finely milled because it is intended solely for the eye area and will not cake up or settle into fine lines when used properly. The concealer shades run in the same shades as Bobbi's foundations with a few exceptions. There is not a Warm Sand concealer shade like the foundation, there is however a Cool Sand concealer shade which is not as warm as the Sand concealer shade. There is also an Ivory concealer shade, but not an Ivory foundation. Bobbi made these changes because the under eye area does not have the same coloring as the rest of the face, so her concealers reflect as such. 

The Secret:

1. ALWAYS hydrate with an eye cream to prime. You only need a tiny bit, but this step is necessary in order for your concealer to apply smoothly. Your under eye area must first be hydrated just like your skin must be properly hydrated before applying foundation.

2. Apply Corrector in a triangle shape under the eye. Start at your inner corner and blend down towards the top of your cheekbone and out towards the outer corner of the eye. Don't over apply! We want to keep this area smooth and flawless so don't pack on too much, you can always dab a touch more if needed. Blend Corrector by tapping lightly with your ring finger or my favorite with a damp Beauty Blender.

3. Add Concealer (just a small amount!) over top of Corrector, I always use more Corrector than I do Concealer because the Corrector is doing the work of getting rid of the darkness and the Concealer is bringing the skin back to your natural skin tone. Blend out in the same area (down to top of cheekbone and out to outer corner of the eye).

4. Using a soft brush lightly pat the Pale Yellow setting powder over top. Don't swipe the powder or you're going to disrupt the lovely blending you just achieved. 

Voila!! You should feel more awake and brighter. I can't tell you how many women are astounded at the difference these two little products make. I will usually complete the full application on one eye first so they can see the difference and it is really amazing how much more confident and beautiful you feel just by brightening the eye area. These truly are a necessity! 

Hope you all are having a wonderful week!!

XO Amanda

Kitten's Crushes: Valentine's Day Edition

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Valentine's Day is approaching and I couldn't be more excited! I have always loved it (yes, even when I was single). To me, anything that celebrates pink, chocolates, flowers and romantic comedy movies is amaze. This spring, light pink is THE color. The Rebecca Minkoff top above (#8) is the perfect date top along with this Hermes perfume (#6) I used to wear this lovely perfume and had never received more compliments. 

For a fun day-date or going out with the girls I love the "I Love You" Wildfox jumper (#2) matched up with these fun Steve Madden Leopard flats (#3).

 No matter what you are doing, it's always nice to add a little romanticism to your home! Spruce up your kitchen or living room with beautiful silk Peonies (#4) or a cute sign on your bookshelf (#5).  

XOXO Kitten