Cheap of the Month: Drama Rama

If you've been followivg my blog for awhile, you will know my love of Gia Carangi. In the realm of 80's supermodels, to me, she reigns supreme. I love these two looks specifically because they feature some beautiful plum colors and a reddish plum lip. 

So I set my goal high when seeking a Cheap of the Month look. Cheap as in cost effective, not cheap meaning 'trampy'. Although....nah!

So first, you'll need to start with cleansed and hydrated lips, eyes and face. For this look I used EOS lip balm in Lemon Drop, L'oreal Age Perfect Hydra Nutrition Day/Night Creme for face and my Chanel Ultra Correction Anti-Wrinkle eye cream (not cheap, but this is something I am reviewing).

For this look I also primed my face with foundation as well and am really loving the L'oreal True Match Lumi in W Sand Beige. I really like to use the same brand of moisturizer and foundation together, whenever possible. Often I find that products within the same brand work synergistically with one another.

Prime the lid with Nyx Jumbo pencil in Milk. For this I actually emphasize the white color on the inner corner and brow bone and blend over lid. That way you have a wide awake look with a nice lift on the brow.

Before you crap your pants, lemme just talk about Wet n Wild for a bit. This is a brand that I have laughed out of town numerous times. It was my go-to joke for cosmetic nubes. Laugh no more. This brand has grown up avd deserves a major award for how awesome the pigment is, not for just eye shadow but also blush, highlighters, bronzers and lip color. Legit! Even better? This palette I used, called 'Petal Pusher', has a dupe for MAC's Beauty Marked. Check out that crease corner on the right hand side. Exact match. Exact. I am in love. Still need convincing? Heres Beauty Marked....

Ok so lets get down to it. I applied the lightest color, the browbone color on the top left of the palette in the inner corner of the eye and swept up to the browbone. Take the crease color, the one on the right aka Beauty Marked duplicate, and apply in a jagged "V" form. Instead of stopping at center iris, I took the top crease color all the way to the inner crease.Also, you'll want your stopping point for the outer portion to match where your brows end, blended outward. With a clean blending brush, blend in a swirling motion.

Taking the eyelid color from the right of the palette, blend shadow into the edges of the "V", creating the ever trendy ombre look.

Using a lining brush, I used the definer shadow on the bottom and swept under the eyes and also on top. We will be using a liquid liner, but I like the smoked out effect of the shadow. Yes, I said 'smoked out'. Shush you stoner!

Using the ELF liquid liner in black, draw a medium thick line on top lash, staying close to the lashes. You'll want to thin it out as you reach the inner corner of the eye. For the outer corner you'll want to make a subtle wing..

Before we add mascara, were going to add blush and highlighter. I chose not to use a powder because this is a luminescent look, but if you are oily feel free to use a powder. 

For blush, I have another awesome dupe for you. I love Tarte and before the great flood that claimed most of my belongings, I had a gorgeous blush called Peaceful from them. It was gorgeously pinky-coral with a pearly quality that makes the skin look really fresh and appealing. The dupe I found is also from Wet n Wild, called Pearlescent Pink. Wet n Wild is amazing and I think I'm in love. Want to see them?

Wet n Wild Pearlescent Pink

Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Peaceful

For the blush I apply to the tops of the cheeks and center of the forehead. Up next I used Hard Candy's So  Baked Bronzer in Tiki. This is another dupe for a higher end product, Mary Lou-Manizer from The Balm. Wanna see those?

Hard Candy Just Baked in Tiki

Mary Lou-manizer from The Balm

For highlighting, I like to make "c"'s on either side of the eyes, on the center of the forehead blending into blush and bridge of the nose, blended down to cupids bow.

For lips I wanted a bold lip with a warmer plum tone to compliment the cooler tones used on the eyes. For this look I filled in my lips with my Wet n Wild Brandy Wine pencil and applied L'oreal's Colour Riche lipstick in Divine Wine on top.

Using a clean powder brush, go over the face, blending the highlighter and blush together. Blend  outward.

Time for mascara! I used my Holy Grail mascara, Jordana Best Lash Extreme, to top and bottom lashes.
Want a great polish to go with this look? I got the most amazing polish today from L'oreal called Brit Invasion. Its sorta a grey purple with gold flecks. It is so beautiful and I believe it to be limited edition so, run and buy it before its gone-zo!