Breast Cancer Inspired

At work this past weekend we had a charity event for the Look Good Feel Better Foundation for women with cancer. As you all know this is very close to home so I did a pink look in honour of my mom. I did more cranberry like tones around my eyes to make it a little more flattering because pink usually gives my eyes the illusion that I cried all day or that they're very irritated.

Face Products Used:

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in "NC15"

CoverFX Matte Fx Pressed Powder in "Light"

Benefit Bronzer in "Hoola"

Coast Scents 10 Pan Blush Palette 

Too Faced "Snow Bunny" Bronzer

Eye Products Used:

MAC Paint Pot in "Idyllic"

MAC "Da Bling" Eyeshadow

MAC "Cranberry" Eyeshadow

MAC "Carbon" Eyeshadow

MAC "Blanc Type" Eyeshadow

MAC "Pink Freeze" Eyeshadow

NYX Jumbo Pencil in "Black Bean" 
Benefit "Bad Gal Lash" Mascara 

MAC "Copperplate" Eyeshadow (brows)

Lip Products Used:
California Mango Lip Balm
MAC "Pink Friday" Lipstick 

xoxo Victoria.

FOTD: Copper, Blue & Purple

I forgot to take a picture of my makeup with my eyes closed today because, as always, I was running late again lol. Cut crease looks have always been my favourite but I really dont specialize in them so Im going to start doing MANY more just so I can get better. They are harder than basic blended looks but with practice I'll be able to master them! :)

Face Products Used:

Smashbox HD Concealer in "Fair"
MAC Mineralized Skin Finish Natural in "Light"

Coastal Scents Camo Quad in "Dark"

Benefit Cosmetics Bronzer in "Hoola"

MAC "Bite Of An Apple" Blush 

Too Faced "Snow Bunny" Bronzer

Eye Products Used:

MAC Paint Pot in "Painterly"

MAC "Tilt" Eyshadow

MAC "Plumage" Eyeshadow

MAC "De-Vil" Eyeshadow

MAC "Shock-a-holic" Eyeshadow
MAC "Twinks" Eyeshadow

MAC "Carbon" Eyeshadow

MAC "Gesso" Eyeshadow 

MAC "White Frost" Eyeshadow

NYX Jumbo Pencil in "Black Bean" 
Benefit "Bad Gal Lash" Mascara 

ELF "Dramatic" False Lashes

MAC "Copperplate" Eyeshadow (brows)

Lip Products Used:
California Mango Lip Balm
Gosh "Darling" Lipstick 

Coastal Scents "Strut On Nude" Lipgloss

xoxo Victoria.

FOTD: Smokey Green & Gold

Face Products Used:

Dior DiorSkin Nude Concealer in "Ivory"
MAC Mineralized Skin Finish Natural in "Light"

Benefit Cosmetics Bronzer in "Hoola"

MAC "Bite Of An Apple" Blush 

Too Faced "Snow Bunny" Bronzer

Eye Products Used:

MAC Paint Pot in "Painterly"

MAC "Woodwinked" Eyshadow

MAC "Sweet & Punchy" Eyeshadow

MAC "Mystery" Eyeshadow

MAC "Humid" Eyeshadow
MAC "Blanc Type" Eyeshadow

MAC "Gesso" Eyeshadow

NYX Jumbo Pencil in "Black Bean" 
NYX "Doll Eye" Mascara

MAC "Copperplate" Eyeshadow (brows)

Lip Products Used:
California Mango Lip Balm
MAC "Blankety" Lipstick

xoxo Victoria.

FOTD: Smoke & Bubblegum

 This is another silver smokey eye featuring bubblegum pink lips. I wore this look to work today & I loved it so much. Basic smokey eyes are classic & go with every skin tone, hair colour & just creates a simple sophisticated look that can easily be amped up for nighttime!

Face Products Used:

Dior DiorSkin Nude Concealer in "Ivory"
CoverFX Matte FX Pressed Powder in "Light"

Benefit Cosmetics Bronzer in "Hoola"

MAC "Bite Of An Apple" Blush 

Too Faced "Snow Bunny" Bronzer

Eye Products Used:

MAC Paint Pot in "Painterly"

MAC "Silver Ring" Eyshadow

NYX "Charcol" Eyeshadow
MAC "Blanc Type" Eyeshadow

NYX "White Pearl" Eyeshadow

NYX Jumbo Pencil in "Black Bean" 
Benefit Cosmetics "Bad Gal Lash" Mascara

MAC "Copperplate" Eyeshadow (brows)

Lip Products Used:
California Mango Lip Balm
NYX "Narcissus" Lipstick

xoxo Victoria.

FOTD: Plumage Blues

This is just a REALLY QUICK fotd post. I wore this to work yesterday & I didnt have enough time to take a bunch of photos so I snapped this one right before I had to leave just for you guys! This look actually got me tons of compliments, which surprised me because I thought it might've been a little strong against my peaches & cream complexion. I am not a fan of wearing lipstick or lipgloss to work, mainly because my hair gets stick in it on the way there. At work I paired this look with Benefits new "Benetint Lip Balm" which is a nice cherry red colour (identical to their original "Benetint").

Eye Products Used:

MAC "painterly" paint pot

MAC "mystery" eyeshadow

MAC "sky blue" eyeshadow

MAC "plumage" eyeshadow

MAC "blanc type" eyeshadow

MAC "white frost" eyeshadow

MAC "carbon" eyeshadow"

NYX jumbo pencil in "black bean"

Benefit "bad gal lash" mascara

MAC "corduroy" (brows)

Face Products Used:

Smashbox HD concealer in "fair"

MAC MSF Natural in "light"

Benefit "hoola" bronzer

MAC cream colour base in "fabulush"

Too Faced "snow bunny" bronzer

Lip Products Used:

California Mango lip balm

xoxo Victoria.

FOTD: Smokey Neutrals

 I've been on a neutrals kick lately. I find them to be the most simplest looks to do & they flatter my eye colour very nicely. Neutrals also dont clash with whatever Im wearing. Today Im going to dinner with James & his friend. Dont mind the slightly bluish tone to the eye photo. It was extremely red hued so I tried to fix it but this is as good as I was able to make it.

Eyes:
MAC "painterly" paint pot (base)
MAC "gift o' glamour" pigment (inner half of the lid) (MAC 239 brush)
MAC "most darling" pigment (crease & outer V) (MAC 217 brush)

MAC "corduroy" eyeshadow (crease & outer V) (MAC 217 brush)
MAC "carbon" eyeshadow (crease, outer V & lower lash line) (MAC 219 brush)
MAC "blanc type" eyeshadow (highlight) (MAC 227 brush)
MAC "white frost" eyeshadow (inner corner, highlight & lower lash line) (MAC 275 brush)

NYX jumbo pencil in "black bean" (liner, waterline & tightline) (elf professional eyeliner brush)
Benefit "bad gal lash" mascara

Face:
Smashbox high definition concealer in "fair" (Jordane B-54 brush)
MAC MSF Natural in "light" (MAC 150 brush)
Benefit bronzer in "hoola" (contour) (MAC 168 brush)
MAC "fabulush" cream colour base (blush)
Too Faced "snow bunny" bronzer (highlight) (MAC 188 brush)
MAC "corduroy" eyeshadow (brows) (MAC 263 brush)

Lips:
California Mango lip balm

MAC "go for it" lipstick

xoxo Victoria.

Current Makeup Favourites!

Mascara: Smashbox “Lash DNA”

Eyeliner: NYX Jumbo Pencil in “Black Bean”

Waterline/Tightline Liner: NYX Jumbo Pencil in “Milk”/NYX Jumbo Pencil in “Black Bean”

Eyeshadow Base/Primer: MAC paint pot in “Painterly” or paint pots in general

Eyeshadow: MAC “Patina”

Foundation Base/Primer: Garnier Skin Naturals “Pure Hydrating Care Long-Lasting Shine Control Moisturizer”

Foundation: MAC Studio Sculpt SPF 15 in “NC15”

Powder: MAC Mineralized Skin Finish Natural in “Light”

Concealer: Smashbox High Definition Concealer in “Fair”

Contour: Benefit Box Bronzer in “Hoola”

Blush: MAC Cream Colour Base in “Fabulush” or MAC “Bite Of An Apple” Powder Blush (limited edition)

Highlight: MAC Cream Colour Base in “Luna”

Lip Balm: California Mango

Lip Pencil: Jordane Cosmetics “Spirit”

Lipstick: MAC “Blankety”

Lipgloss: DiorKiss Luscious Lip Plumping Gloss in "Lime Glace"

xoxo Victoria.

Contrasting Colours

I personally love looks like this that use contrasting colours to make a statement. Its the perfect addition to a casual chic outfit (check my previous OOTD blog). 

Eyes:
MAC "painterly" paint pot (base)
MAC "copperplate" eyeshadow (all over the lid) (MAC 239 brush)
Urban Decay "zero" eyeshadow (crease & outer v) (MAC 217 brush)
MAC "bitter" eyeshadow (lower lash line) (MAC 214 brush)
MAC "sweet & punchy" eyeshadow (limited edition; to the beach collection) (lower lash line) (MAC 214 brush)
MAC "gesso" eyeshadow (highlight) (MAC 227 brush)
MAC "white frost" eyeshadow (highlight & inner corner) (MAC 275 brush)
NYX jumbo pencil in "milk" (waterline)
NYX jumbo pencil in "black bean" (tightline & liner) (thin liner brush)
Benefit "bad gal lash" mascara

Face:
MAC pro longwear concealer in "NW15" (MAC 194 brush)
MAC MSF Natural in "light" (MAC 150 brush)
Coastal Scents camo quad in "dark" (contour) (MAC 168 brush)
MAC "fabulush" cream colour base (blush)
Too Faced "snow bunny" bronzer (highlight) (MAC 188 brush)
MAC "corduroy" eyeshadow (brows) (MAC 263 brush)

Lips:
California Mango lip balm
NYX round lipstick in "margarita"
Coastal Scents 88 eyeshadow palette; any of the orange shadows (pat over top of lipstick)


xoxo Victoria.

NYX Smokey Eye

This is a classic smokey eye using the NYX trio "white pearl/silver/charcoal" & a bold coral lip :) enjoy!

eyes:

1. prime your lids with MAC "painterly" paint pot all over & MAC "blackground" paint pot in the outer corner
2. using a 217 brush, blend NYX "charcoal" into the crease & the outer corner (over top of MAC "blackground" paint pot) with windshield wiper motions
3. next take NYX "silver" with a 239 brush & pack this colour onto the middle of your lids
4. then take NYX "white pearl" with the same 239 brush & pat this colour onto the inner 3rd of your lid
5. with the 217 brush again, take MAC "carbon" & blend a little bit into the outer corner, intensifying the darkness of NYX "charcoal"
6. line your lower lash line with MAC "carbon" using the 214 brush
7. with a 227 brush using a MATTE skintone colour, for me this is MAC "blanc type", blend out any harsh edges to create a smooth transition to the highlight (this will be your highlight for this look)
8. with a 275, apply MAC "white frost" to the inner corner of your eyes
9. fill in your brows
10. using a black eyeliner pencil, line your tightline and waterline, i used Urban Decay "24/7 eyeliner pencil" in zero
11. using any black eyeliner (gel, cream, liquid, pencil) line your upper lash line, i used ELF "studio cream liner" in black
12. apply your favourite mascara, i used NYX "doll eye"

face:

1. first prime your skin using clean fingers with either a moisturizer or foundation primer, i used Clinique "dramaticlly different moisturizing lotion"
2. next conceal under your eyes and any imperfections with a 194 brush or your fingers & dab onto the skin, i used MAC "pro longwear concealer" in NW15
3. apply your foundation, i used MAC "mineralized skin finish natural" in light
4. if using regular foundation, set with powder.
5. next take your contour colour with a 168 brush and contour the hollows of your cheekbones and anywhere else you'd like, i used Coastal Scents "dark camo quad" in the darkest shade
6. apply with a fluffy dome brush (i used the "blush" brush from Visage), MAC "bite of an apple" blush (limited edition) to the apples of your cheeks & blend up along your cheekbone
7. finally dust a little of Too Faced "snow bunny bronzer" onto the top of your cheekbones up to your temple as a highlight with a 188 brush

lips:

1. prime your lips with a lip primer or lip balm, i used California Mango lip balm
2. line & fill in your lips with an orange-based red lip liner, i used a generic brand
3. next apply MAC "toxic tale" (limited edition) lipstick

xoxo Victoria.

FAQ- what are my favourite eyeshadow primers?

My top 3 primers in order:

1. MAC paint pot
2. Urban Decay primer potion
3. Too Faced shadow insurance

I do not like using NYX jumbo pencils as a primer but they're alright as a base. However, i have noticed they crease much more than i expected on oilier lids. I'd stick to either a MAC paint pot or Make Up For Ever's aqua cream for coloured bases, but they are quite expensive so just blend really well if using NYX.

Concealers are also pretty good as a base but once again, they crease on oilier lids. Generally if your lids are oily you're going to have to invest in a good eyeshadow primer, thats what i've come to learn in my 2 years of freelancing.

Tip: to help prevent creasing, try setting it with an eyeshadow the same colour as your skin before applying your makeup. This helps lock in the primer & will stop it from sliding around your eye lid as much.

***PLEASE NOTE that each person will have a different opinion on what primers work for them. Cheaper brands seem to crease more on myself than more expensive brands. I generally go by the term "you get what you pay for" but i know some of my friends & even clients ive worked on have great luck with just using their concealer on their eyes. Shop around, chances are you'll have a different experience with each product than i have. These are just my personal favourites & the more expensive the brand, the more pampered my client feels.

xoxo Victoria.