New Years Chic part 2: Looks That Thrill

Need some last minute inspiration for a new look for 2014? I got you!

LOOK 1: Looks That Thrill

If you are more interested in a softer look that shows off your skin but still gives you added oomph, check out this look.

Start off by priming the lid with a cream shadow. An iridescent pinky-white shade (official terminology) like Benefit's Bikini-ini is just the ticket. Start by applying the cream shadow to the lid and blend upward. You don't want a thick coat of shadow, dark or shimmery, from lash to brow, rather a light hand applying upward gives an ombré effect.

Now is everyone's favorite time: getting fierce eyes for 5 dollah! Grab the Wet n Wild 8 color palette in "Comfort Zone" and a fluffy crease brush. 

Using the second shade on the right, kind of a light grassy green, applying into and under the crease generously. You can be a bit lavish with the application and not so concerned with precise lines. With a smokey eye, it's all in the blending!

Using the bottom right shade, a dual chrome brown teal (yes, you read that right!), create a "V" shape with a defining shadow brush, starting at the outside crease and moving to inside of the crease, above the iris. Then work shadow along the lash line, starting at the outside corner of the lash line.

Taking a clean blending brush, buff the lash line and crease together on the outer portion of the eye, completing the "V" shape. I also like to buff the colors towards the center lid so they look like they melt into one another.

Taking a fine lining brush and getting it damp, apply the third shade on the right as close to the lashes as possible on both upper and lower lash lines. This will not only give the appearance of fuller lashes, but it opens up the eye a bit more, whereas some smokey looks using tightlining can make the eye look small.

Since we are highlighting both the skin and the eye area, I wouldn't use a foundation with full coverage. We are often our own worst critic, but rarely have I been frightened by a woman wearing sheer coverage foundation. It's the oxidized kind that gives me the creeps.

I used Dr. Brandt's BB Matte for this look and I already know what you're thinking! No this isn't a chalky, ashy matte, not is it a drying pasty matte. On the contrary, this is the most natural looking BB cream I've used that doesn't give a luminous finish. It's somewhere between a luminous and matte, so satin would be an accurate descriptor. You still can see the glow, you still get even tone, but it's the BB version of the "your lips but better" look. To break it down, it's the tv show reenactment version of my skin. Truth.

To get a subtle blush, I used Model Co.'s Cheek & Lip tint. I think there's only one shade, sort of a fuchsia rose shade. The consistency is gel like and there are two methods you can apply it: to bare skin and follow with sheer foundation or directly on foundation or BB cream. I chose the latter because it looked so naturally glowy and was way easier to blend blend and see where the product is going. 

When you finish with the skin, you can top off with a powder if you are a grease machine, but I actually didn't use any. If I were going to be out for a wild night, I  would've been happy to keep a powder compact in my purse if I started getting sloppy as the night wore on. Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about ;)

Wrapping up the eyes, I applied a medium thick line of MICA black gel liner and winged it out subtly, just on the top lash. This gives a leg up to the eyes, making them stand out and perfectly frames them for pictures.    

For a strong brow, I like to comb them out first and then define them with Chella's brow pencil. I've spoken so much about Chella as a brand, because they really have making the best brow down to a science. I'm going to be posting a review of their brow kit next week because it really solidified my choosing Chella for the best in brows.

The genius of their brow pencil is in it's size. The pencil itself is thin and rolls up. You can literally create a brow from nothing with this because the thinness gives you more control to that attention to detail. In opting for a fuller brow frame, the thin liner gave me the ability to create it without having to be so slow and methodical. 

I finished off the brows by highlighting the brow with Chella's Ivory Lace highlighting jumbo pencil under the brow and blended out. This gives a nice lift and accentuates the arch.

Sealing the deal, I used their brow gel. This keeps the brows in tact and grooms them so they become more than just a feature. Just like the cheese, the brows stand alone.

I always finish up with concealer and mascara, giving myself ample opportunity to clean up the under eyes in case their is any fallout from darker shadow. It's the cherry on top for lack of a better word or phrasing.

Using Benefit's They're Real, I comb out the top of the lashes and then apply two coats to the top lash only. For the bottom lashes, I use the spikey end of the wand to define them, without adding a whole lot of volume.

For lips I keep it really simple in easy. For a darker smokey eye, I like the look of a sheer lip gloss. I used MAC's Lipglass in "Cultured", an iridescent pink that makes the lips look full and shiny, not rubbery and greasy. Insert KFC joke here.

Stay tuned for some lovely looks for a night out!

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