Face Laced (A Skitch-I-Y)

Well, hello! A bold return! Last time I dared look at my blog it was February. Woah! A LOT has been going on. Finished my internship, did some work, now I'm back on the job search cycle again, my plans for Parsons are rounding up, etc. Since I'm in between jobs, I have quite a bit of free time on my hands. Not that that's a bad thing, but I did realize I can't go back to my lazy ways. I enjoy having something or too much to do all the time. These past few days have been bugging me. I mean sure, I'm a very creative person and I've got plenty to make but somehow I've found myself waking up and sticking myself to my bed with my lappy on hand and a good cup of joe and lo and behold... there goes my day! It sucks, I know. Maybe I'm in a bit of a rut but let's just face it, these past few weeks have been a bit hard on my soul, my head, and my pocket. Leave it to me to find an expensive outlet for my woes. I head towards the makeup department, maybe more so than the fashion one. It's like child's play to me. It's art but practical and direct. Slap that on and walk out the door easy. Problem? I'm broke. So I decide to do something about it. I lay out all of my stock of makeup in front of me and I think, "If I can't get myself anything new, I'll work with what I've got and make it new.". It's just a matter of techniques, I suppose. 

Oh boy, was I right! I'm always really into graphic patterns and designs, so it's no surprise I also reflect that on my makeup aesthetic. I've always loved a good, lacey pattern too so I took it upon myself to spontaneously work that into my eye makeup. Here's the how-to on getting this really cool stenciled lace work on your peepers or any place on your face and body. It's so intricate, it's actually too easy to achieve.

You'll need:

A primer. Depends if you're doing this on your eyes or face, you'll either use a face or eyeshadow primer. My reccomendation is Nars' Eyeshadow primer or Make Up Forever's HD Face primer.

A white base. Leave it to NYX's Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk to transform your old, boring eyeshadows into an "OMG THIS IS AMAZING PAYOFF!" product.

Any good, flat shadow brush. Flat as in not paddle-like, but flat as in not tappered. Or just about any good blending brush will do. These are from Estée Lauder.

Eyeshadows and pigments of your choice. This technique I find works best with dry products, so I'd leave the cream pigments and shadows out unless you work them with a sponge but I fear that'll blend in too much with the NYX Eye Pencil base and you'll loose the effect. 

Lace or ribbon of your choice. This is my absolute favorite ribbon. I use it for absolutely EVERYTHING! I love that it's so organic.

How to:

Step 1: Prep and prime your skin. I didn't do it  for this tutorial because I'd be wiping it off as soon as I'd finish it so I didn't want to waste my primer on it but if you're going to use this for an event or costume, it's best you do.

Step 2: Take your white base and distribute it evenly on the surface you want to place your design on. Don't put on too much, because this can crease if overdone.

Step 3: With your finger, blend out the product until your get a nice, even coat. This will help the colors stick and the contrast between the colors and the stencil outlines pop.

Step 4: Place the lace over the white base. Hold it firmly in place.

Step 5:  Take your brush, dip it into the color of choice and start stippling it over the area. Remember to keep the lace steady in place or your design will shift and you'll loose the effect! Be as creative as you want. You can blend in different color variations or play with shine!

Step 6: Remove lace... 

And you're done! 

You can play around with this technique however you wish. It's great for a reptile effect or scales. This is how I used it. I didn't realize it was a bit of Black Swan-ish until after I finished the look but whatever. I didn't plan it so this is how it turned out and I loved it! I kept the lips nude because of course, there was so much going up on the eyes that I didn't want it to turn out like a face fiasco.

Products used: 

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC30

Sephora Mineral Foundation

Nars Blush in Sin

Nars Blush in Desire

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle

Nars Bronzer in Casino

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk

MAC Eyeshadow in Beauty Marked

Crown 88 Palette

Wet N'Wild Eyeshadow in Envious

Makeup Forever Starpowder in 44

Milani Liquif'eye Eyeliner in Black

Benefit Bad Girl Lash in Black

EOS LipBalm

DUO Eyelash Glue

Black Feathers

I also did this technique on my lips!

Products used:

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk

MAC Pigment in Blue Brown

Skitch-I-Y: Prabal Gurung s/s 2012

Photo via MAC Cosmetics.

With winter gracefully fading away, spring is here and it's time to pull out some color here and there. I'm more of a winter gal because I can't get enough of chunky fabrics and wrapped up looks, so when it's time for spring and summer I usually show off with makeup and accessories instead of my clothes. My wardrobe pretty much stays the same hues all year long but my makeup gets experimental. I absolutely loved Prabal's s/s 2012 collection (and don''t get me started on pre-fall!!!). It's strange that I was so intrigued by such a colorful collection but it's really pretty fantastic. The color schemes are well... delicious. And the makeup doesn't fall behind either. 

The inspiration for this season's makeup was flowers beginning to wilt and bursting orchids. MAC's Charlotte Tillbury was in charge of this look. The focus was on the lips. She opted for ombré colored lips in fuschia and burgundy and kept the face clean with just a sweep of silver on the eyelids. Since they used MAC Pro products and these are limited only to professional makeup artists, I'll show you guys how to recreate this look with other similar products and dupes. Let's get started!

Avon Intense Lip Color Conditioner

Nyx Matte Lipstick in Sweet Pink

 I used:

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer
in NC30

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish
Highlighter in Soft and Gentle

Clinique High Impact Mascara
in Black

MAC Satin Lipstick in Cyber

Sephora Mineral Loose Powder
Foundation in Light

Makeup Forever HD Powder

MAC Eyeshadow in Phloof!

Nars Bronzer in Casino

Backstage at Prabal, Tillbury used MAC Pro Process Magenta Chromographic Pencil with a blunt tip to draw in the pink lip with a soft border and then mixed MAC Pro Lipmix in Black, Burgundy and Fuschia to achieve the dark ombre color. Being as those are Pro colors, only professional makeup artists have access to those. 

I found that NYX's Matte Lipstick in Sweet Pink and MAC's Cyber are dead on dupes. They both have a satin finish (regardless NYX's says matte) and easier to find. Cyber is part of MAC's permanent collection and NYX is found at any Walmart or at your local drugstore. Plus, it goes around $6 so that's way cheaper too.

Step 1: Prep and prime your face. Remember the look should be dewy and soft. I have really dry skin so it's difficult for me sometimes to get that result. I like to spritz som MAC Fix + Before and after applying my foundation. Since I'm using a loose powder mineral foundation, I like to put on my concealer first where I need it and then apply the powder foundation. After that I sweep some MUFE HD translucent powder on my t-zone which usually turns into a shine fest.

Step 2: Prime your lids. With a soft, fluffy brush gently sweep some Phloof! eyeshadow all over the lid. Take it a bit above your crease so the color shows when your eyes are open. Don't overdo it. Just put on enough to give a little shine when the light hits.

Step 3: Apply just one layer of mascara. The lashes need to look almost bare but still noticeable. If necessary, take a lash groomer and brush though your lashes to remove any clumps the mascara might add. 

Step 4: Contour and highlight your skin very lightly. Add the highlight to the top of your cheekbones and contour right under them ever so softly. Also, contour under your chin and on your temples if needed to make your face look thinner. 

Step 5: Condition your lips. This will help with the ombré effect and will also keep your lips looking soft. 

Step 6: Take the Cyber lipstick and apply it to the inner part of your lips. Take it about 1/3 of the way down. Smack your lips together a couple of times so it'll fade out nicely.

Step 7: Take NYX's Sweet Pink and using the pointed tip along your outer lip line, sweep it across your lips while blending it with the Cyber. If necessary, take a lip brush and touch up the borders. Smack your lips again a few times and the colors will blend themselves out. No need for messy fingertips! 

And you're done! A simple and easy look that will definitely cause heads to turn and will welcome the spring season nicely! Here's the finished look: