It's no secret that I love a cheap and chic find, but this time I really hit the jackpot! When I was at Walgreens looking for a Christmas tree base, I snuck over to the cosmetics section and bumped into the new REVLON Holiday 2013 collection. This collection, called "Evening Opulence", was designed from one of my favorite makeup artists, Gucci Westman. Everything from this collection is drool worthy, but I decided to only go with the eyeshadow and the two glosses, those being the prominent part of the collection.
The shadow palette has so many color options, but I decided to go all out and used 4 of the shades, getting the signature look of the models in the ads.
Starting with ELF's shadow primer, make the lid a clean and even canvas. I used the tip of my ring finger to warm up and evenly blend the concealer.
For the eyes, I switched things up, lining the eyes first, both upper and lower lash lines, with Jordana's Denim Blue liner. Apply to the lower waterline to really frame the eyes, but this color and technique will also brighten up the eyes as well.
Starting from lid and blending up to the brow bone, apply the light shimmery blue shadow. This is mainly a powder glitter, for lack of a better word. It gives almost a hologram effect and really looks fab as a base for other shadows. Using a fine lining brush, apply the shadow to the inner corner of the eye and under the lower lash line, a bit past the outer corner. I cannot handle how gorgeous this looks, especially in photos.
Using the dark teal blue shadow, I used an angled liner brush to apply the color over the eyeliner, both upper and lower lash lines. It gives a bright dual chrome effect without looking crazy.
Using a flat, firm shadow brush, apply the grape color to the lid only, patting the color on generously.
To apply the burgundy crease color, I like using a fluffy, rounded crease brush. Start at the edge of the outer corner of the upper lash line, apply up at a slight angle towards the outer corner, and over towards the inner eye like a check mark/reverse check mark for the opposite eye. If you're concerned about getting a precise check mark or are just getting the hang of dramatic eyes, you can use a business card held up to the outer eye, at an angle.
Staying slightly above the crease, buff the burgundy shadow all the way across, stopping about 3/4 of the way over. A good marker is to take your ring finger tip, press lightly on the inner corner. The stopping point for your shadow will be the same width as your finger tip.
Grab a clean, fluffy brush, buff the two shadows so that it creates an ombré effect, with the burgundy shade melting seamlessly into the grape shade.
When you finish the shadow, you will most likely need to clean up the fall out. Depending on how much you have, you may need to clean up with a makeup towelette and reapply eye cream. I didn't have as much fall out, so using a bit of L'oreals True Match concealer dotted and blended did the trick.
If you've read my posts lately, you'll notice that I have a new love that has swept me off my heels. Yes, this love is of the foundation variety, a difficult category to swoop in on. Maybellines FIT ME foundation is perfect for this look. It gives buildable coverage and is semi matte. What I love about FIT ME, aside from the shade variety, is that it transforms the skin, making it look healthy, glowing, even toned and even textured! Yeah, I said it: EVEN TEXTURED! If you have scars from acne or large pores, this foundation almost erases the uneven texture, providing a smooth, fresh complexion.
I used a stippling foundation brush, swirling the foundation onto the areas that need more coverage and blending out.
Instead of going straight to the powder, I chose to apply the blush. Wet N Wild, one the Deb of the cosmetic world (don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about again. I've referenced Deb before. Google can be your best friend!). Anyway, WNW Pearlescent Pink is like a highlighter and blush in one. It has been compared to a more pinky NARS Orgasm dupe. I think that's a close comparison, but it's even better than NARS. Yes, I just went there.
Applying it directly to foundation, on top of the apples of the cheeks and outward, will give the best color payoff and will brighten up the cheekbones.
Another trick to luminous, even textured skin is using a warm glowy powder. I used Wet N Wilds bronzer in Reserve My Cabana. Bronzer is a misnomer. It is identical in finish to MAC's Beauty Powder from the Marilyn Collection. In fact, I would have loved that beauty powder more had the color been warmer and a tad darker. But I digress.
WNW bronzers are large sized and generous in coverage. The other two available colors are more of a true bronzer, whereas this is a bumped up pressed powder.
I used a fluffy powder brush and applied across the forehead, down the bridge of the nose, jawline and under cheekbones.
After all powder products are applied, clean up the brows with a pencil and brow brush.
Using Tartes Lights Camera Flashes, I combed out the top of the lashes first, cleaning up any residual powder. This also helps lengthen the lashes.
Rolling the brush under and upwards, will curl lashes and bring on the volume. With this mascara, I find I need 3 coats for upper lashes and only one for lower lashes. Don't go wild on the lower lashes, as it'll clash with the liner and actually have a reverse effect, making the eyes look smaller.
I really hate the word "lippie" btw. Why are we shortening to 2 syllables, something that's already 2 syllable? Lipstick. 2 syllables. Lipgloss. 2 syllables. Douchbags. That's 2 syllables too.
Back to me, so there are two gorgeous glosses from this collection. Both would work beautifully with a deep wine colored gloss.
These are Chanel colors, ladies and have a consistency somewhere between Glossimers and Lipglass. Please buy these two! Seriously. I may be getting multiples.
The top one, "Embellished" is like a sheer Vamp, if you had that Chanel lipstick. Rich and plummy, this is a shoe in for HG status in my opinion.
The bottom one, "Adorned", equally HG status, is the one that I featured in more photos, but is one that I love equally to its partner. This is a rich fuchsia that looks brilliant by itself or with dramatic eyes.
I really recommend this whole collection! I would've gotten the polish too, but I already had some dupes for them. Next on my list is the lip butters.
Which brand do you look forward to putting out their Holiday color first?
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