Welcome back to Makeup 101. Today’s topic, how to amp up your makeup. We’ve got the basics covered in parts 1 and 1.1 [be sure to check them out if you have not just yet] but now it’s time to bring it all home and take it from day to night. Take your natural makeup from the office to hours de vours in a few quick steps!

You’ve started the day with a great moisturizer, primer foundation, blush and mascara now it’s time to boost your radiance with a sultry smoky eye, liquid eyeliner and a flattering pair of falsies.

Use a stiff haired, eyeshadow brush to create contrast throughout your eyelids. Apply a deep, warm, matte shade of eye shadow to the outer crease of the eye to give your eyes dimension and depth. A pencil brush will help you blend the color into your outer crease, offering your eyes the slightest bit of drama.

What We Like: NYX Charcoal

Why We Like It: You’ll be tempted to amass your own sensational color library of these richly pigmented eyeshadows. These pressed mineral shadows pack a color punch, are easy to blend and last for many hours.

The contrast of sleek navy liquid eyeliner against warm skin will make eyes appear more defined without appearing heavy or garish. Makeup newcomers are often intimidated by liquid eyeliners – Don’t be! Liquid eyeliner can be your best friend once you get the hang of it. Hold the liquid liner applicator like you would an ink pen.

What We Like: Benefit Cosmetics Magic Ink Liquid Eyeliner

Why We Like It: A jet-black, liquid eyeliner with maximum staying power. What it does: This highly pigmented, smudge-proof liquid liner is not for the faint of heart. With its tiny, tapered brush, liner goes on smoothly for precise application and drama that lasts.

HOW TO:

Begin by gently pressing your finger to the outer corner of the eye, creating a flat surface for drawing on your liquid or cream liner. Add liquid eyeliner to the upper lash line by using an angle brush. Start by adding your liner to the inner corner of the eye. Point the angled corner of the brush toward the inner eye. Sketch the liquid eyeliner directly above the lash-line, continue through the length of the eye. Once you’ve reached the outer corner of the eye, point the angled brush in the opposite direction. Press the brush to the skin at the outer corner and connect the lines. This will give your eyes a perfectly sleek eyeliner design.

What We Like: Ardell Runway Eye Lashes

Why We Like It: These lashes are high-end professional grade eyelashes that lets you steal the looks you see on the runway. Easy to apply and remove. Thick fabulous lashes in a variety of styles. Create fun, flirty looks in no time.

A pair of false eyelashes can make all the difference in the world when taking your look from day to dramatic. False lashes alone bring the drama, our objective is to create minimalist drama if you will. Find a suitable pair of falsies by looking for length and fullness. A tip that will aid you in maintaining a more natural look; false lashes should not extend further than the tip of your nose once applied.

HOW TO:

Remove lashes from the container. Apply a pearl-sized, droplet of glue to a flat surface. With a pair of tweezers, dip the lashes into the glue, or drag a thin line of adhesive onto the lash band. If you’ve selected individual lashes, dip the bud shaped lash end into the glue. Allow the glue to settle for 8-10 seconds. Apply false lashes slightly above the natural lash line. Once applied to the eye, allow the lashes to dry onto the skin for 20-30 seconds before applying mascara.

For the appearance of extra full lashes, coat both sides of the upper and lower lashes with 4 coats of black mascara to complete the look.

Makeup was created to enhance your natural beauty. Wear it well!

Be sure to check out the rest of these series here:

Are you keeping up with your new year’s beauty resolution? If you’re following us and our Kinky Girl 2012 Beauty Plan, you are well on your way to becoming your own natural haired beauty maven!

Related posts:

1. 2012 beauty plan part 1: pretty is as pretty does
2. 2012 beauty plan part 1.1 | prime time
3. blue eyed beauty

It is the second week of 2012. You’ve proclaimed that this is your year in love, life, career and beauty and made the New Year’s resolution to get fit, eat a salad a day and wear makeup to work every single morning. Renewing your beauty routine could be the motivation to keep your complete self-improvement overhaul’s momentum through the year.

If you need a little bit of motivation or guidance, have no fear, I have some affordable products to get you started or to help you get back on track with your beauty resolutions in this first part of our 2012 Beauty Plan. With these simple steps you’ll be the belle of the ball (or your Chem 201 class or work cubicle) in no time!

Start with a great Foundation

Want a clear and clean complexion? Get your look in gear by starting with a luminous liquid foundation. I’ve been asked on several occasions, “Is there a brand out there that makes a wide range of foundations for women of color?”

The answer is YES! There are many brands out there who make more that 4 shades of brown toned foundations but is there one that I love? DOUBLE YES! The NARS, Sheer Glow Foundation is perfect for creating a longwearing natural foundation application. In early 2011 NARS developed a color extension that added 16 shades to the brands foundation range.

If you’ve got dry skin, try NARS Sheer Glow foundation. A glowing, satin-finish foundation with sheer and buildable coverage. Replete with skincare benefits and the NARS Complexion Brightening Formula, skin is hydrated, more luminous, softer and smoother. When used daily, Sheer Glow Foundation improves skin brightness, radiance and texture. Dermatologist tested. Non-comedogenic. Fragrance free For normal to dry skin types.

If you’ve got oily skin, check out the NARS Sheer Matte foundation. It is an oil-free, soft matte-finish foundation with sheer, buildable coverage that controls oil and shine throughout the day. Replete with skincare benefits and the NARS Complexion Brightening Formula, skin is more luminous, softer and smoother. This foundation minimizes visible discoloration, brightens and clarifies overall skin tone, improving skin luminosity and radiance. For normal to oily skin types.

On a personal note. I use NARS foundation in New Guinea (I have normal skin), my sister wears Maccao (possesses oily skin) and my mother darling is wearing Cadiz (has combination skin). These incredible foundations work beautifully on 3 different skin types and tones. I highly recommend!!

Fake your Vitamin D

For a one-step pop of natural color, reach for Guerlain’s all over bronzer in Terracotta. Using a bronzer with or in lieu of or in addition to a blush can take a monotone foundation application from a “ Hi, how are you?” to a “Wow, you look amazing!”

Use a fluffy blush brush to add the soft, shimmering blush through your face. Apply bronzer to your hairline, temples, cheekbones and chin. Adding the natural shades of bronze to your skin tone brings natural color to your complexion for a radiant appearance.

Fake your Flush with Orange Tones

If it’s a colorful cheek that you desire, CARGO’s “Rome”, a soft tangerine is for you. Ever notice that you look outstanding in peach, coral or bold orange? These shades are complimentary to deep chocolate, warm and olive-brown skin tones.

Concerned about the perfect blush application? Smile and add the blush to the apple of your cheek. Blend in a circular motion until the blush gently fades into your skin.

Now that your skin has a radiant glow, let’s hone in on your eyes. Click to go to page TWO for even more beauty advice!

Related posts:

1. beauty supply mafia: the ugly business of cutting blacks out of the beauty market
2. just throw it in the bag: cheap and effective beauty buys to keep in your purse
3. blue eyed beauty

blue has been the new black for a while now when it comes to highlighting the eyes and blue eyeliner was big on the runways this spring.

it’s an 80s look that has come (back?) into our lives and is showing no signs of leaving anytime soon.

if you want lined eyes, but want to skip the harshness that can sometimes come with black liner or want something stronger than brown, then blue eyeliner can give you that.

try a deep navy or indigo blue gel liner like bobbi brown long-wear gel eyeliner in denim ink. this award-winning liner offers the precision of a liquid liner and the ease of a gel-based formula. if you are nor familiar with gel liner or want to stick with a more traditional product, then nars stylo eyeliner in blue bayou delivers up a funky blue punch in a teal blue giving you femme fatale eyes with epic effects.

to top off the blue look at night you can go for blue lashes. one of my top two picks in the blue mascara category is benefit bad gal blue brightening mascara. this deep-blue-violet mascara makes eyes appear whiter & brighter. the ingenious shade also enhances the color of your eyes– blue appear more blue, brown eyes more golden, and hazel eyes more lush green. it’s the same coveted badgal formula & voluminous brush for the ultimate in lash love.

my other favorite is dior waterproof diorshow mascara in azur blue. i loveeeee this stuff. and i continue to buy it because the blue is so vibrant and because it smells like roses. that is the best smelling mascara i’ve ever owned hands down.

inspired by the backstage beauty secrets of runway models, this ultra-glamorous catwalk mascara lengthens, thickens and curves lashes. and the waterproof formula holds its own when you swim, splash or even shed a few tears.

i love this stuff and you should try it too so you can be a blue eyed beauty!

what say you? are you digging the blue eye beauty look? [ratings]

No related posts.