Tutorial: Playing with grays

I know I've been off the radar for a few days, this pregnancy is starting to take a toll on me but believe me, I am trying. This is one of the last two tutorials I will be posting for a while. I didn't notice how big my nose is getting so next time I take pictures of myself will be after the baby is born and the bloating has gone down... anyways, enough complaining... let's get to this tutorial!

This is another of my smokey eyes look, I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.

This is a list of the products that I used, feel free to use whatever you have on hand, no need to buy this specific products to make this look work: Mac Painterly Paint Pot (neutral color), Mac Blackground paint Pot (Black), Mac Blacktrack Fluidline (Eyeliner), Lancome Hypnose Mascara. As for the shadows, I don't have specific names for them, I use the dark gray and light gray from my Sephora Blockbuster Limited edition palette; and a couple of colors (neutral, skin tone and white shimmery) from my BH cosmetics 28 Eyeshadow neutral palette.

First step, as usual, start with clean eyelids.

Apply a neutral color shadow base all over lid, all the way up to your brow bone (Neutral Shadow base can be replaced with Eyeshadow primer). I am using Mac Painterly Paint Pot.

Apply a black shadow base as the picture shows. If you don't have black shadow base I guess you could skip this step all together and just apply the darkest gray shadow on that area instead.

Using a blending brush, try smoothing the harsh edges.

Apply dark gray eyeshadow over the black shadow base, the black base underneath will make the gray pop and look more concentrated.

Using a smaller brush, apply a lighter version of the gray shadow on the rest of the lid, all the way to your crease.

Find an eyeshadow that's close to your own skin tone and using a blending or crease brush, apply it to your crease in windshield wiper motion, this will smooth the lines in your crease.

Apply a thin line of black shadow base under your lower lashes, not touching the inner third part of it.

Apply dark gray shadow over the the black shadow base under your lower lashes.

On the inner side of your eyes apply a white shimmery shadow. Blend well.

Line your eyes. I went with a semi cat eye to make my lashes appear longer. Also, apply a highlighter shadow to your brow bone, I am using Shroom by Mac.

Apply eyeliner on your top and bottom water line, I am using Mac's Fluidline.

If your lashes are like mine, go ahead and curl them.

Apply a couple of coats of your favorite mascara.

Final look! If you have any questions at all do let me know!

Tutorial: Bronze Smokey Eye Look

As requested by my friend Carla, here is the step by step tutorial on my Bronze Smokey Eye look

For this look I used 3 shadows. Two of them I got from my BH cosmetics 120 color palette. The two colors I used are circled in the picture above. One is a bronze looking color and the other one is brown copperish.

The other stuff that I used: All of this are MAC products: Shroom eye shadow, Painterly Paint Pot, Blacktrack gel liner, Lip glass in C-thru and Matte Lipstick in Honeylove.

First thing you need to do is start with clean eyelids.

Using your fingers (or a brush, if you like) apply a neutral shadow base all over your eyelids, all the way up the your eyebrows. The shadow base can be replaced with Eyeshadow primer.

Using a smaller shadow brush, apply the bronze color on the inner third part of your lids.

Apply the brown shadow all over the rest of your lid, all the way to the crease.

With a clean blending brush, smooth all the harsh edges.

With a crease brush, apply a thinner layer of the bronze color all over the brown shadow, this is what will create that smokey look. Blend any harsh edges again if you need to.

Using a larger brush, apply a highlighter color on your brow bone. I am using Shroom by Mac.

Now to the lower lash line. Using any smudge brush, apply a thin line of the brown color underneath your lashes.

Dip the same brush into the bronze shadow and apply it over the brown.

This is what it will look like so far.

Apply eyeliner as close to your lashes as possible.

Line your lower and upper water line. I am using Mac's blacktrack gel liner and a flat brush.

I didn't apply eyeliner under my lower lashes, instead I applied black eyeshadow with a flat brush, try to do it as close to the lashes as possible.

What it looks like so far.

Curl your lashes and apply your favorite mascara on. Mascara makes a world of difference, don't you think!?

As for the cheeks,

I do my blush the same all the time, if you would like to see my blush tutorial, click here

On my lips I like to go with a very neutral color, I love nude colors! I am using Mac's Matte Lipstick in Honeylove.

And lastly, apply a thin layer of lipgloss. I am using Mac Lipglass in C-Thru.
If you ever wondered about the lip color in most of my pictures, these are the products that I use most of the time.

Final look. Extra tip: Since this is a bronze smokey eye look, I applied extra bronzer on. You might want to do that too if you'd like.

If you would like to know about the other products I am using, let me know.

Beauty tip: Applying blush

I just wanted to share with you all the way I apply my blush. This doesn't mean this is the right or the wrong way of doing it, this is just how I do it and I think it works very well...

I know this is not the same makeup look I wear on the next photos but I do my blush the same way all the time... at least for now.

This is the stuff I use, feel free to use whatever you have on hand.

Smashbox Naked Beauty High Lights / Creamy Cheek Color

Estee Lauder Signature Blush

Bare Escentuals Angle Blush Brush

Sigma SS131 Duo Fibre Powder Brush

I dip my angle brush into the cream blush, just a little bit, you don't want too much product on your brush.

Making a "fake smile" apply the blush on your cheekbone, angling the brush the way the photo shows.

Repeat steps on the other cheek. 

I am not done yet!  This is just half the process.

Dip the other brush into the powder blush... again, not too much.

Do the "fake smile" again and apply the blush on your cheekbone.  Angle the brush again.

Do the other cheek

With a clean brush blend the edges, we don't want any harsh lines showing. 

Since I am using dark eye makeup I went with a softer blush, but you can apply more or less product depending on the look you are going for.

The reason why I apply both cream blush and powder blush is because by layering powder on top of cream blush it will make it last a lot longer on your skin.