I’ve been asked how I do my eye make up and what I like using. Note: Almost everything I use is MAC.
How I do smokey eyes:
1. After MAC foundation (I need that base for the make up to stick to). Blackground Paint Pot all over lid to intensify the colour that’s going on top of it. Follow with either Graphito Paint – a charcoal grey with silver flecks on top or Plummage shadow – a matte teal navy blue. I really pack on Plummage with a dense brush (# 217) so the blue shows up. You can use any deep colour you fancy.
2. In the crease: Folie shadow (medium matte brown) using brush # 36. Blend blend blend!
3. Smoulder (black) kohl pencil to line upper and lower inside lid. I go on pretty thick and then blend/smoke it out with a thick soft flat brush (# 252).
4. Steamy shadow (metallic green) in the inner tear duct. I love this!! It gives a subtle flash of colour (see top pic). Electra shadow does the same thing (metallic silver). Any bright metallic works.
5. Mascara. I like Maybelline Volume Express but lately I’m really liking their Colossal Volume Express.
**For something fast to get out the door, I recently got this L’Oreal liquid liner to line the top lashes, winging out a bit + mascara and I’m done. Stays on all day and is pitch black. LOVE THIS!!**
My ‘hall of fame’ stuff:
Texture shadow (used as a blush. Now discontined. I swiped up 3 pots from Woodbury outlet).
Peaches Sheertone blush – a warm glowy peachy colour. LOVE this.
Sage skincare is brilliant!. I use their facial shampoo, grains and SPF every single day. I found out about them from an online forum years ago and am now hooked for life. I see a difference when using their stuff. (Not sold in stores).
MAC brushes. They aren’t cheap, but I’d get a brush once a month-ish and soon had a set that’s lasted for years. Just clean with soap/shampoo, squeeze and air dry.
The Body Shop Camomile eye make up remover. This gets off ANYTHING. Even Halloween make up when I REALLY shovel it on with a spade. Its feels like water in the eyes. Love this.
Any questions, ask away :- )
ps. If you have a mo, could you vote for me for this Luckstylespotter nail polish competition thingy I’m doing? I’m wearing Turquoise. Same as the 2nd pic above. Thank U!
tom tuttle from tacoma says:
thanks, Karen. do you do nudes? what’s your skin type?
Karen says:
Tom tuttle (love the name). My skin type is combo. Oily T (forehead, nose chin) and normal elsewhere. I *have* done a bare nude look (just mascara, foundation, texture blush) and full on nude: MAC chestnut lip liner with a nude MAC lipstick, gloss on top. MAC Frill (yellow) on lid, brown in crease and black at lashes. Don’t do it often though.
tuijja says:
Hello Karen!
Have to say I just love your blog!
I made a post about your lovely style and recommended your blog to my readers. I borrowed some of your pictures, hope you don’t mind!
http://mysilentdisco.blogspot.com/2009/05/viikon-blogi.html (it is in finnish, actually)
Tom Tuttle from Tacoma says:
thanks for giving me time. let’s catch you with bright or strong lips next time? btw, did RR do your makeup that day?
i can’t make myself buy MAC brushes. i heard the #187 is really a winner. a dear friend who’s a brush fiend said she hasn’t been able to find a good alternative. she owns a BIG and varied collection of brushes.
Karen says:
Tuijja – I just had a look. Thank you! I forgot about some of those pictures from earlier posts.
Tom – Sonia Kashuk at Target has good brushes too. I have a couple of those. There’s def loads of places to get quality brushes these days. Funny you say that about the strong lip thing but that’s exactly what I plan on doing very soon ; ) I have a couple of bold lipsticks that I LOVE.
Jackie says:
I had forgotten all about Sage skincare …. what is your skin type?
Tom Tuttle from Tacoma says:
Jackie – Karen’s answered me: “My skin type is combo. Oily T (forehead, nose chin) and normal elsewhere.”