Crimson Lips and Neutral Eyes

I have been taking my makeup inspiration from some unusual places lately. I'm forever on a quest to find something to watch on Netflix to justify the subscription (easier said than done) and my recent guilty pleasure has been re-watching my Agatha Christie favourites. For me, Miss Marple wins in the battle of the Christie sleuths but the maquillage in Poirot makes up for the lack of suspense.

This particular eye look was inspired by Henrietta Savernake's makeup in The Hollow, played by Megan Dodds. You can see a good still of her eye makeup here. The character wore a lovely pale pearlised eyeshadow on the brow bone with a little on the lid too. It was subtle but very pretty and immediately made me think of the Guerlain Rue de Rivoli palette. I used the iridescent cream/pink on the centre of the lid and the brow bone and a mix of greys and fawn colours in the crease. I lined (very wonkily) using the Hourglass Script liner. In retrospect, I wish I had opted for a gel liner for a more matte finish.

I chose to go for a more statement lip than Henrietta wore, primarily because I had a new lipstick to play with but also because the colour and finish felt quite 'Poirot' appropriate. I bought this lipstick in a recent Avon order and it's in the shade Matte Crimson. As soon as I swatched it, I worried that I'd picked out a MAC Rebel dupe. I've swatched them side by side and was relieved to see that they're not identical but probably a little close considering how often I opt for such a deep, opaque colour. I'm pleased to report the formula isn't a lip-husking disaster either.

Avon Matte Crimson on the left, MAC Rebel on the right

Do you ever take inspiration from looks you've seen on TV or films? Or do you have a favourite era makeup wise?

Currently obsessing over....Halloween (yes, really!)

My natural makeup style is really conservative, as you probably already know (hello, taupe eyeshadow and dark rosy lipstick!). However, in my teens, I had a secret desire to copy the hair and makeup of the goth girls in the year above. I thought they looked so cool and interesting whereas a lot of my friends just thought they looked strange. My dress sense was always a little quirky and that's probably still true now but I do wish I hadn't wasted the opportunity to be more expressive with my hair and makeup whilst I was younger.

Anyway, I guess that's a rather roundabout way of saying that Halloween gives me an excuse to be a bit different without having to really explain myself. The look that I just posted here was inspired by Pixiwoo's Vampire makeup and watching this set me off on a long binge of Youtube viewing. I was especially engrossed in videos by Sokolum79, Hollywood Noir Makeup and Letz Makeup but there were many others too. If you're looking for inspiration or you enjoy theatrical makeup, I'd highly recommend checking them out. Personal favourites include Pixiwoo's Miss Argentina Makeup, Sokolum's Hunger Games Capitol Makeup and the Victorian Gothic Circus by Hollywood Noir Makeup. I really want to have a go at this Lisbeth Salander look too.

In terms of deciding which look to re-create for this evening, I was somewhat restricted by which items I could purchase locally with my half-term entourage. My local Claire's didn't have any long black wigs or the Snazaroo Face Paint set that I was after, so that was my witch, vampire and Miss Argentina ideas out of the window. Instead, I picked up a neon pink wig and some two-tone fake lashes. After several failed attempts at copying Michelle Phan's Cyber Gothic Anime, I decided to have a go at re-creating Sokolum's Wide Eyed Doll.

This was my trial run from last night but I suspect I will make some adjustments today, like getting hold of some eye drops as bloodshot eyes wasn't part of the plan! I wish I could have justified some circle lens contacts as I think that really helps achieve the creepy doll-eyed effect. 

Will you be dressing up this evening? Do you like to be more adventurous with your makeup given the right occasion?

Maybelline: Looks from New York Fashion Week

Last week I sent a link to the LiveRunway Channel, where New York Fashion Week Sponsors, Maybelline, were presenting videos from Autumn/Winter 2012 shows. I fully intended to watch some of the action as it was happening but, as ever, life with three small children got in the way. I've managed to catch up a now: I won't even begin to try and talk about the clothes (I'm about as fashionable as a toilet dolly) but I feel pretty safe talking about the make up.

All of the looks below were created using Maybelline cosmetics. I've noted the products where possible from the videos but I'm aware that some of these are US only. I'm hopeful that the Color Explosion Caffeine Rush Palette and Dream Bouncy Blush will all make it over here eventually!

The makeup looks created by the Maybelline artists for the Autumn/Winter 2012 collections seemed to fall into one of three themes: Natural, Bold or 60's inspired eye makeup and Statement Lips. The looks at DKNY, Pamela Love, Billy Read and BCBG all fell into the natural category, with some going as simple as just a slick of clear Baby Lips balm on the lips. At Carlos Miele, makeup artist GATO opted for a more tanned, contoured look.

DKNY

Makeup Artist - Charlotte Willer
Face: Dream Lumi concealer, Fit Me powder. Master Shape brow pencil used to define the brows.
Eyes: Color Pearls eyeshadow in Sinful Sinnamon (the light shimmery colour on the upper lid), One by One mascara.
Lips: Baby Lips clear lip balm

Pamela Love

Makeup Artist - Charlotte Tiller. Charlotte described the look as 'Factory Girl Glamourous'.
Face: Fit Me Foundation + Fit Me Powder, Dream Bouncy Blush in Coffee Cake
Eyes: Colour Explosion palette in Caffeine Rush 05 used over the Master Drama liner, Falsies mascara
Lips: Color Sensational lipsticks in 215 Totally Toffee and 725 So Pearly, mixed together and patted on to the lips

Carlos Miele

Makeup Artist - GATO
Eyes: Color Tattoo 24HR in Bad to the bronze as a base, Colour Explosion palette in Caffeine Rush 05, Great Lash mascara
Cheeks: Dream Bouncy Blush in Coffee Cake
Lips: Superstay 14HR Lipstick in Beige Forgood


Several of the shows went for quite 60's inspired looks. At Betsey Johnson and L.A.M.B, Charlotte Willer created two different takes on the Twiggy look. At Rachel Zoe, Charlotte Tilburry used a gel eyeliner to shape all around the eye and across the socket, smudging with a pencil brush to create a beautiful smouldering effect. For all of these 60's looks mascara played a big role. At Custo Barcelona and Katya Leonovich the focus was also the eyes but these looks had a more grungy and less structured  feel.

Betsey Johnson

Makeup Artist - Charlotte Willer
Eyes: Master Drama pencil liner in brown, Colour Explosion palette in Caffeine Rush 05, Falsies mascara
Cheeks: 2 Dream Bouncy Blush shades mixed
Lips: Color Sensational Lipstick in Born with it topped with a clear gloss
The look was finished off with dots of glitter applied to the centre of the eye.

L.A.M.B.

Makeup Artist - Charlotte Willer
Eyes: Master Drama pencil liner in Blue on upper lash line and in the crease, drawn on lashes on bottom lash line with gel liner, Falsies mascara clumped into spikes
Cheeks: Dream Bouncy Blush
Lips: Color Sensational lipsticks in 'Born with it' and 'So pearly' mixed together and patted on


Lips were the focus of the makeup at Wes Gordon and Bibhu Mohapatra. I think these are both my favourite of all the looks that Maybelline created. At Wes Gordon, the lips were immaculately painted with red lipstick whilst the rest of the makeup was kept very bare. At Bibhu Mohapatra icy white eyes were paired and with a gorgeous glossy blackcurrant lip. Mwah!

Wes Gordon

Color Sensational Lipstick in Very Cherry

Makeup Artist - Charlotte Willer
Eyes: Nothing at all
Face: Dream Nude Airfoam foundation, Dream Bouncy Blush
Lips: Color Sensational lipstick in Very Cherry

Bibhu Mohapatra

Makeup Artist - GATO
Eyes: 24H Color Tattoo in Infinite White (US only shade)
Lips: 10H Tint Gloss in Timeless Plum

The Products

As a beauty blogger, I have to admit that my focus is the products, not just the application. So, watching all these looks being created, I couldn't help but pick up on the products that made repeat appearances. Especially ones like the Color Tattoo 24HR Cream Gel eyeshadow that I've seen mentioned by American bloggers. I'm pleased to report that the Color Tattoos will be arriving in the UK in April.

I did a quick inspection of the Maybelline UK site and Boots and apparently the Dream Nude Airfoam foundation and Master Drama pencil liners are already available in the UK. The Caffeine Rush palette and Dream Bouncy blushers that seemed to be in constant use aren't available in the UK. Neither is the Baby Lips balm which apparently comes in a variety of tints as well as clear. I have a feeling I will be calling in favours to get my hands on the Dream Bouncy Blush!

Do you have any favourites from these looks? Do you like to investigate the catwalk trends for inspiration or do you find they don't usually translate to everyday looks?

Coming soon...

I've been having a lazy day today so no full post but here's a look at what's coming soon. And yes, I did take a picture of all of my eyeshadow palettes. I'm not entirely sure why but I think it's mostly to shame me into using them more often.

I also wanted to mention a couple of things that I'm obsessed with at the moment. I don't tend to take much notice of TV adverts but the D&G The One advert has been catching my for the wrong reasons. I am totally fascinated with Scarlett Johansson's lips in the ad and I'm led to believe it's a lipstick called Scarlett that she's wearing. Look at the perfect wing too!

I really feel the urge to investigate D&G Cosmetics suddenly. I've also been crushing on Eve Lockhart's hair (played by Tara Fitzgerald) in The Body Farm. Whether natural or expertly done, I love the subtle highlights in her brown locks.

From the BBC website

What are you fascinated by at the moment?




PS. I am totally getting sucked into X Factor at the minute. These guilty pleasures are getting out of control. First it's The Bachelor and now X Factor, where will it end? What did you all think to Misha B's outfit. *Sits back for Grace Jones comments*.