Monday, October 21, 2019

5 Eyeshadow Looks We Love Inspired By Nature - Look 5 Snow

5 Eyeshadow Looks We Love 

Inspired By Nature - Look 5 - Snow




Welcome to the final post in my series of eyeshadow looks inspired by nature. Love it or hate it, snow looks so beautiful when it is freshly covering the trees. The way it glistens in the sunlight has an almost magical quality to it. Many have memories of sledding as a child, or skiing as an adult. Snow days off from school or work can mean time snuggled by the fireplace with a warm cup of cocoa. Urban Decay used to carry an eyeshadow called Bobby Dazzle, and they described the glitter particles in it as having the appearance of freshly fallen snow. I had this very image in my head as I created this eyeshadow look.  While I did add some sparkly hair pins and extra highlighter for these photos, I still think the look is wearable. I did in fact wear it out and about over the weekend. 

Here is how to get the look:
  • Prep skin based on your skin type with a moisturizer and primer if needed. I used Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentrate to hydrate and plump the skin. I also used this time to moisturize my lips so that everything is smooth.  
  • We are starting with the eyes for this look because of all the glitter and pigments being used. Cleanup will be much easier if you apply your foundation after. Apply an eye primer such as NYX Eyeshadow Base in White to the eyelids. This creates the base color for this eye look, and also gives the pigments and shadows something to stick to. 
  • Tightline upper lashes with a dark eye pencil. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils come in a large variety of colors, so pick something that will enhance your natural lash color and make your lashes look thicker. 
  • For your waterline, use a warm beige or light color eye pencil such as Urban Decay Venus or Yeyo. If you really want to make your eyes look bigger, try a stark white eye pencil instead. The Body Shop & NYX have great options. 
  • Now comes the fun part....glitter!  I highly recommend using a glitter glue. Too Faced Glitter Glue is my go-to for finer glitters and pigments.  If you really want to get your sparkle on, Lit Cosmetics has the best selection of colored cosmetic glitters and they also sell an adhesive that makes glitter much more user friendly. I honestly just pulled out a variety of white, silver and iridescent loose eyeshadows, pigments and glitters from my collection and began layering them on to my eyelid over a dab of glitter glue. I started with Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Pure Nude Sparkle Powder, and Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Loose Color in Platonic (both discontinued). Then, I moved onto to a mixture of white and silver glitters from Shany Cosmetics.I painted on a bit of Stila's Moonlight Eye Shadow, highlighting my eyelid and brow bone. 
  • You will want to define the crease of your eyelid with a matte shadow a few shades darker than your natural skin tone. I used Celebrity Skin (soft matte brown) from the Jeffree Star Cosmetics Blue Blood Palette
  • To darken the area around my lashes, I used a combination of Cremated (dark matte gray-green) and Undertaker (deep matte blue) from the same palette. I applied them as eyeliner using an angled brush on top and bottom lash line. I then used a fluffier flat brush to smoke out the lower lash line a bit. 
  • Over the dark shadow on my lower lash line I placed Urban Decay Moonspoon (metallic silver) for added shine. I highlighted the inner corner of my eye with Urban Decay Space Cowboy eyeshadow, and just under my brow with Cullinan (Icy white with a metallic finish) from the Blue Blood Palette. 
  • Once all of my eyeshadow was on, I applied my base, opting for IT Cosmetics CC cream. I concealed with Jeffree Star Cosmetics Magic Star Concealer, and set everything with a dusting of Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light.
  • For blush, I used NYX Mauve blush and a bit of Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Mood Light
  • To highlight my cheekbones and the bridge of my nose, I used Urban Decay 8-Hour Highlighter in Aura (on cheeks), and Jeffree Star Cosmetics Supreme Frost in Snow Globe over It Cosmetics Hello Light Creme Illuminator.  To add to the iridescence, I tapped on just a touch of Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Highlighter in Iridescence.  I chose a few different highlighters in a number of textures and worked in light layers to achieve the desired effect. 
  • I finished off the eyes with Ilia After Midnight Mascara
  • For lips, I used Urban Decay Super-Saturated High Gloss Lip Color in Lovechild topped with Jordana Cosmic Glow Holographic Lip Gloss in Crystalized Pink
  • I added some texture to my hair with Paul Mitchell Re-Works Texture Cream and added in some sparkly hair pins.
Here is the finished look:


A closer look.  All pictures are with flash, but without a filter applied.



I had such a hard time narrowing down which products I wanted to use. You can easily recreate this look with products from any number of brands. Some other choices that work well for loose eyeshadow and glitter are: Sugarpill Loose Eyeshadow in Lumi, Lit Cosmetics Love Me Tender Size #2, Glamour Doll Eyes Cloud Coverage, and/or Sugarpill Tako (matte white). 

For face highlighters, I also really like NYX Born to Glow! Liquid Illuminator, and Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal.

If you recreate this look I would love to see it! Send me a picture on Twitter @MakeupMatters1. Don't forget to check out my other posts for more eyeshadow looks inspired by nature.

Coming up next: A Complete Guide to Fall 2019 Makeup Looks (by request)!



*All products in this post were purchased by me. I do not get paid to write reviews, or mention products on my site. All opinions are my own. This is not a sponsored post. 




Sunday, October 13, 2019

5 Eyeshadow Looks We Love Inspired By Nature - Look 4 Mountains

5 Eyeshadow Looks We Love

Inspired By Nature - Look 4 - Mountains



One of the many visual pleasures nature has to offer is the breathtaking view of mountains. Snow covered mountain tops and deep sloping valleys are such a sight to behold that they are commonly a subject for paintings and other artwork.  Capturing the picturesque beauty is no small feat.  We may think of folks like Bob Ross, or Thomas Kinkade who attempted to paint a scene reminiscent of the crisp mountain air.  While no artist can truly capture what Mother Nature has, we can draw inspiration from her work as a reminder of that sense of awe we feel each time we are in the presence of her work. 

This look is a little bit different than the others in this series.  I did not pull inspiration only from nature, but also from other artists. For example, the work of @IllanaIII on Pinterest (@makeup.licious on IG) creates numerous makeup looks inspired by different landscapes.  Her photos juxtapose an eyeshadow look with the scene which she drew her inspiration from as I did in the first photo above. I did not want to copy her work outright, but would be amiss if I failed to mention her as a source of inspiration for mine. 

Here is how to get the look:
  • Select the eyeshadow colors that most closely match the landscape being used for inspiration.  I used two palettes that I custom created from Colourpop and Makeup Geek
  • Curl your lashes with a lash curler.
  • It is important to have properly groomed brows for this look. Complete your normal brow routine, which will be different for everyone. I used Urban Decay Brow Box in Bathwater Blonde as well as a brow pomade from Milani
  • Prime the eyelids with your favorite eyeshadow primer, or concealer.  I used the Milani Eyeshadow Primer that I had handy, applying a very thin layer from lash line up to just beneath my brow. 
  • For eye brushes, I recommend choosing a flat eyeshadow brush with a tapered tip and a few fluffy eyeshadow brushes of different sizes for applying and blending color. Try to opt for brushes that you can use for more than one purpose to cut down on the number of brushes you will have to clean later. For example, a flat eyeshadow brush with tapered bristles can be used to apply pigment with the flat side as well as using the tip to brush shadow along the lower lash line. 
  • I also made sure I selected a shimmery eyeshadow to highlight just beneath the brow and the inner corners of my eyes.  However, any face highlighter can also be used for this step. 
  • After the eyes are primed, begin by sweeping a dark metallic blue eyeshadow onto the eyelid with a fluffy brush. Stamp and blend the color to achieve a hazy effect. I used Colourpop Quantum Sleep (metallic cobalt blue) for this step. 
  • Next, I applied Bassline Pressed Powder Shadow from Colourpop (metallic periwinkle) to the inner third of the lid. I stamped it on with a fluffy brush, blending it into Quantum Sleep
  • To define the crease, I wanted to create a hazy blend of grayish brown with a hint of yellow. I accomplished this by sweeping a mixture of Colourpop's I Owe You (a warm-toned matte orange), Tiki (matte warm yellow with flecks of gold), and Take Flight (bright canary yellow) into the crease of the eye. I added Urban Decay eyeshadow in Naked (matte nude) and a touch of Makeup Geek Faux Fur (matte soft mink brown) to get the perfect color combination. 
  • Taking I Owe You, Naked and Faux Fur, I smudged this mixture of shadows along my lower lash line with a pencil brush. 
  • I went back in with a Sigma E54 Medium Sweeper Brush to apply some more Quantum Sleep to the outer third of my eyelid, and a touch more Bassline to the inner third. 
  • To highlight the inner corner of my eye and just below the brow, I used Makeup Geek's Shimma Shimma (light pinky beige with a shimmery finish). 
  • Finally, line the waterline with Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Pencil in Hustle, and tight line with a chocolate brown liner.  I used Dominatrix lip pencil from Jefferee Star Cosmetics (eye safe). 
  • Apply a couple of coats of your favorite black or brown mascara. I used Tarte Cosmetics Lights, Camera, Splashes because it provides amazing length and is waterproof. 

As with all of my posts, you should use whatever eyeshadows you have handy to recreate the look. I only include the specific products that I use to make it easier for you to find a dupe and achieve a similar look. Depending on your skin tone, you may have to adapt the colors to better meet your needs. Colourpop and Makeup Geek both offer affordable, high quality shadows. I only used a few different eyeshadow brushes to create this look. If you clean off your brush in between colors, you can probably get away with only three brushes; a fluffy blending brush, a pencil brush and a flat eyeshadow brush. 


I did tend to use fluffier brushes for most of the lid work here. I wanted to create a heavily diffused effect by stamping on the shadow, then blending it across the lid. It is also important to use brushes with a size that matches the area you are working on. For example, when applying color just beneath the brow, I used a smaller flat brush, that allowed me to get up close just under the brow. 


To get into the inner corner of the eyelid, I held a small brush at an angle, to paint the color on, highlighting the corner more easily.

Here is the finished look:




Another look (left with flash, right without):




When working with pigmented eyeshadow, I recommend doing your eyes first. This allows for easier cleanup. You can use any lip color that you would like. I opted for a neutral tone to stick with the earthy vibe of the look.  

Make sure that you are subscribed so that you don't miss look 5 in my inspired by nature series!  The next look is inspired by winter snow.  It will be my final look in the series, and I am very excited about this one!

Don't forget to visit my Inspired by Nature Board on Pinterest: https://pin.it/phksdp5cuv5lyr

*All of the items in this post were purchased by me. I do not get paid to write posts. This is not sponsored in any way.





Tuesday, October 1, 2019

5 Eyeshadow Looks We Love Inspired By Nature - Look 3 Autumn Leaves

5 Eyeshadow Looks We Love Inspired By Nature - Look 3 Autumn Leaves


Autumn is a favorite season for many makeup lovers.  The rich colors and textures of the season make way for fuller coverage and nature inspired hues.  It is the time of year where we put away our tinted moisturizer and bronzer for the season and opt for foundation and blush instead. 

Like my previous posts in this series, the focus is on the eye makeup.  I chose Colourpop Yes, Please! palette and the Naked Petite Heat palette from Urban Decay.  Just looking at the colors in these palettes make me think of autumn. 

Here is how to get the look:
  • Line the upper lash line with a plum toned eyeliner.  I used Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-One Eye Pencil in 1999, a plum with flecks of scarlet colored glitter. 
  • Apply a soft nude matte eyeshadow to the eyelid as a base. I used Urban Decay Vibrate from the Naked Petite Heat palette. 
  • Highlight just beneath the brow and on the inner corner of the eye with a satin cream colored eyeshadow such as Urban Decay Inhale
  • With an angled brush, draw over the 1999 eye pencil with a rich reddish brown eyeshadow like Strike from Urban Decay
  • Using a pencil brush, smudge a matte cayenne eyeshadow along the lower lash line. I used Heist from Urban Decay following it up with a clean pointed, but fluffy brush to smoke out the color. 
  • Emphasize the crease with an orange eyeshadow. Wild Thing from Urban Decay is what I used, but the Colourpop Yes, Please has many similar colors to the Naked Petite Heat palette, so use what you have in your collection.
  • Switching to the ColourPop Yes, Please! Pressed Powder Shadow Palette, I dipped a flat eyeshadow brush into the matte yellow.  Gently pat the color on the inner two thirds of the eyelid, building up the color until you reach your desired intensity.  
  • Pick up a tiny bit of the shimmery light gold color in the Colourpop palette and pat a thin layer over the yellow eyeshadow you just applied. 
  • Darken up the outer corner of the upper eyelid with Strike from Urban Decay Naked Petite Heat, or a similar color from the ColourPop palette. 
  • Use a clean brush to blend all of the edges together, applying more eyeshadow where you need it. The key to this look is applying thin layers that effortlessly blend into one another like a freshly fallen autumn leaf. 

Both of these eye palettes contain very pigmented shadows.  They may stain the eyelids, so you may want to start with an eyeshadow base.  I did not use an eyeshadow primer for this look, because I wanted the colors to look more hazy than bold.  A good eye makeup remover should help to remove all trace of color at the end of the day. 


I did not use a ton of eye brushes for this look.  Sometimes having a little excess color on the brush can help blend one color seamlessly into the next. 

Finish off the eyes with a healthy coat of mascara on top and bottom lashes.  For lips, I created a custom color mixing together Too Faced Melted Matte in Gingerbread Man with Urban Decay Lipstick in Gash. I lined my lips with Dominatrix from Jeffree Star Cosmetics, a chocolate brown. Blending the lip liner with the lipstick is key to avoid a harsh look. I used a small pointed lip brush blending the lip liner color toward the center of the lip.

Here is the finished look:


Below is a closer look at the eyes:


What do you think of this eyeshadow look inspired by autumn leaves?  What is your favorite season?

Another look in different lighting, and with the eyes looking down:



Make sure that you are subscribed so that you don't miss look 4 in my nature inspired series!  My next look is inspired by mountains. This series was requested by my Twitter followers. If you aren't following me on social media, I can be found on Twitter @MakeupMatters1.

*All of the items in this post were purchased by me. This is not a sponsored post. I do not get paid to write reviews or include products in my posts.