The Brown Smokey Eye

Beauties,

I am working on acquiring some equipment to start filming tutorials, but until that time my sad photos will have to suffice.

Today is a simple brown smokey eye, a look coveted by many. Don't be scared.

First we will start with basic terminology. Please see image for the regions of the eye that will be discussed during this tutorial:

The lid (see #1) refers to the area of your eye from corner tear duct to opposite corner tear duct. The crease (see #2) refers to the area right above this that often disappears when you open your eyes. The brow bone (see #4) is the area of skin covering the bone directly under the eyebrows. You should familiarize yourself with these areas since they will be referenced in the future.

1. Apply an eyeshadow primer all over the eye. This means apply the product from lash line to brow bone.  I have exceptionally oily eyelids so I always use Bare Minerals Prime Time Eyelid Primer, the clear one, all over before I use one that has a skin tone shade over top.  I've been using Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Wheat a lot lately, but this changes a lot.

If you don't apply a shadow primer do not proceed to the next step. It's over. Dramatic, but seriously. 

2. Apply a medium brown shimmer shadow to the lid. I used Snakebite from the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette using a Sigma E55 shader brush.

3. Apply a matte warm brown eye shadow through the crease. I used smashbox eyeshadow in nude which is discontinued, you can try MAC Soft Brown or Makeup Geek Beaches & Cream using a fluffy black haired blending brush. I used a Sigma E40 Blending Brush which is a better, cheaper version of the MAC 224. 

4. Apply a slightly darker warm brown eye shadow in the outer corner through the crease. I used MAC Brown Down using a MAC 217

5. Using a small bullet brush (I used Laura Mercier's Eye Crease Brush) apply either a matte black or super dark brown eye shadow in the outer most corner of your eye lid. Pack the color on carefully so it's nice and dark. I used blackout from the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette. Then using the same brush you used in step 4 blend out the color so there are no harsh lines. 

6. Apply a matte white or cream color eye shadow along the brow bone. I used Bobbi Brown Ivory 

7. Apply eyeliner on the top lashline. I used Maybelline Eye Studio gel liner in blackest black using a Bobbi Brown Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brush. 

8. Under the eye, lined using an angle brush the color used in the outer corner, I used  out with the same warm brown color I used in the crease to give a soft but still defined look of lining. 

9. Finish the look with mascara, obviously. I used Chanel Le Volume in black. 

I realize this is slightly involved, but have faith! With the right tools you can totally master this look no problem. Buy the brushes!! You won't be sorry. Then I'll come over and show you how to use them and we can drink wine together. Yay! 

xoxo. LP

The 2014 Grammy's Makeup Hits

There was glitz and glam all over the red carpet last night for the 2014 Grammy's. Shout out to little Lourde for winning best song of the year. <3

These are my top makeup hits from yesterday's Grammy event.  

4. Sarah Hyland (a.k.a. Haley Dunphy from ABC's Modern Family) She is stunning! Swoon over that red lip and those rosy cheeks (for this pop of color on the apple of your cheeks try Chanel's new cream blushes in Affinite.) She looks classy without being overly made up. I love her bright undereys and the soft smudgey eyeliner on her lower lashes plus her strong, but not over-done brows.  

3. Let's discuss Katy Perry's fresh look with that amazing pink lip. Love! I would love to see a little more blush on those cheeks, but I think she looks absolutely gorgeous. For a pink lip like this try Laura Mercier creme lip color in pink label. 

2. Next up, almighty Beyonce. Look at her rocking that dark lip! I looove the smokey shimmery lid (try Makeup Geek eye shadow in Moondust). I would like her eyebrows to be filled in, but hat's my brow obsession speaking. I like how it adds kind of a natural flare to it. 

1. Zendaya Coleman: I love everything about this look. Her brows!!!  The smoldering smokey eye. Highlight + Contour, and that nude lip. On point!! I do not love her hair styling, but the makeup..mmhmm. 

For her sculpted cheek bones try Anastasia Beverly Hills' contour kit. For that hot lip try E.L.F studio matte lip color in Praline. 

What were your favorites? 

xoxo. LP

Blushing Giveaway

In honor of my Instagram page hitting 300 followers (and let's be honest, the weekend) I've decided to do a weekend GIVEAWAY! 

Since you all know I'm obsessed with it, I'll be giving away one (1) Smashbox Full Exposure Palette to one (1) lucky winner. 

Here's how to enter: 

1. Follow my page Instagram page @blushing_artistry 

2. Repost the giveaway image using the hashtag #blushinggiveaway 

Feel free to repost as many times as you like. No limit on entries. 

If your page is private please leave a comment so I know you've entered. 

A winner will be chosen on Monday January 27, 2014. 

Good luck babes! 

xoxo. LP

My Makeup Rut - a cosmo confessional

Confession. I'm in a makeup rut with no plans on getting out.
I wake up at 5:30..hit snooze a few times, and crawl out of bed at 5:45 each morning in order to beat nightmare traffic and get into my freezing cold office by 7:15am. Ew. I have to admit that I've been putting my face on the bench in exchange for a couple more minutes of zzz's.

That being said, here are my 5 uber lazy it'stooearlytoeventhink favorite products that can help you look alive-ish even in a rut....at 5:45am.

{from left to right: chanel le volume mascara, laura mercier pressed mineral powder, bobbi brown pale pink blush, stila 10 in 1, chanel eclat lumiere concealer}

Stila 10 in 1 BB cream - Can't live without this. Ever. I use it mostly as a primer since I need a little more coverage, but if you're lucky enough to have pretty skin, you could definitely get away with this alone.

Laura Mercier pressed mineral powder - I use the color tender rose. Greatest powder of my life, (the loose is amazing too). Amazing coverage and fabulous oil control. Lasts all day.

Chanel eclat lumiere concelear- Pop a little of this under your eyes and you're good to go. *I live by Bobbi Brown's corrector and concealer, but sometimes a girl's gotta cut corners*

Bobbi Brown pale pink blush - Blush gives you life. Period. Someone once commented on a photo of my dear friend, Kristy Adams stating, "Your excessive use of blush scares me." I live by these words.

Chanel Le Volume Mascara - Worth every single cent. This mascara makes your lash line so thick that you'll forget you didn't have time to put eyeliner on.

Now go get some coffee.

xoxo. LP

Starting a Skin Care Routine

Oh the skincare routine... Don’t have one? Start one! Having a routine will not only help your skin look and feel better on a daily basis, it will make a world of difference on your big day for your makeup (and let’s be honest—your makeup artist too!)…not to mention some assistance in aging gracefully. Here are a few tips, tricks and product recommendations to add to (or begin) your skincare routine. **If your wedding or event is less than 2 weeks away, I do not recommend starting or adding any unfamiliar products to your routine in case an unwanted reaction occurs!**


CLEANSE! This is the most important thing you can do. Even if it is just taking your makeup off with a makeup wipe (I like the Neutrogena ones), TAKE IT OFF! Your skin and eyes need to breathe and have a break from the stuff we pile on our faces daily.  Leaving mascara on the lashes while you sleep makes then dry and brittle (you should be going for full and soft), and let’s not even turn down the nasty road of potential eye infections. Even if you’re not a daily makeup wearer, dirt and environmental toxins and free radicals take a toll on the face if you don’t cleanse. Giving the face a refreshing wash before bed and in the morning will set you up for a glowing complexion and help the rest of your skincare products to sink in and work better. 

1. Neutrogena Make-up remover wipes 2. Bobbi Brown’s Hydrating Rich Cream Cleanser 3.Trader Joe’s - Nourish cleanser 4. Laura Mercier foaming one-step cleanser 5. Clarisonic Cleanser

Product recommendations: Laura Mercier foaming one-step cleanser good for normal to oily skin. This oil-free beauty packs a cleanser, toner, and a makeup remover all in one foamy pump to take the day off in one easy step.  I am also newly obsessed with the Nourish cleanser from Trader Joe’s! It's extremely gentle, and leaves your skin feeling wonderfully clean, without any tight, dry feeling. And for $6 you can’t beat it! For those of you with drier skin types try Bobbi Brown’s Hydrating Rich Cream Cleanser.  It’s formulated with rich emollients and Enriched Mineral Water Blend to cleanse, purify and remove all traces of dirt and makeup without stripping skin of moisture.

Gadgets: I swear by my Clarisonic- Developed by the lead inventor of the Sonicare toothbrush, this fancy device goes beyond cleansing by using sonic technology to gently and deeply cleanse pores. It removes six times more makeup than manual cleansing so that products absorb better, making skin more receptive to skincare ingredients. With regular daily use, it reduces dry skin patches, oily areas and blemishes and immediately leaves skin feeling and looking smoother. Warning! When you first start using this you may be a little shinier than normal and break out a bit, but that’s all the toxins making a mass exodus from your face. Stick with it! You’ll see the results soon enough ;)  Ps. I haven’t tried the Olay ProX tool, but it claims similar results and is super reasonably priced! If you have tried this one, please let me know your experience.


HYDRATE! Not only is it important to drink enough water daily, but using a skin-type appropriate moisturizer for the face and an eye cream for the eye area is another critical step in taking care of that beautiful face!  Why a different product for each area, you ask? I know, I know, it’s annoying to have to splurge on two separate products, but it is absolutely necessary since your face area and eye area have drastically different needs. Let’s start with the face: The skin on the face is thicker and heartier than the skin around your eye and thus needs a thicker and heartier moisturizer, lotion or cream. Note: it is important to hydrate even if you’re oily. If you don’t, your skin will compensate by overproducing oil, which equals even oilier skin! Hydrated skin will show less texture and hold onto makeup longer. With great skin less makeup is needed.  Now, the reason it is so important to hydrate and pamper the under eye area is because this skin is so paper thin! A good visual comparison: skin on the face = construction paper and skin under the eye = tissue paper. Eyes are the first place you see signs of stress and the first place that will start to show age. A good eye cream, any eye cream really, will help that thin, delicate area line-free and de-puffed as long as possible! Not to mention that a dry eye area doesn’t play nice with products like concealer and eye shadow primer! Get your mug camera ready and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

I should add that I don’t care for skin care products with fragrances added to them, I’m a sensitive bug, and I just don’t believe that fragrance helps your skin. The less additives the better!

1. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream 2. Bobbi Brown’s Hydrating Face Cream 3. Benefit's - It’s Potent! Eye Cream 4. Kiehl’s Oil-Free Sodium PCA Moisturizer 5. Bobbi Brown’s Extra Repair Eye Cream 6.Laura Mercier's Face Polish 7. Clinique's - All About Lips 8. Bobbi Brown's Lip Balm

Products: For dry skin, I love Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream. This daily hydrator leaves skin comfortable and calm. Plus, it helps reduce moisture loss during the day. For normal to dry skin Bobbi Brown’s Hydrating Face Cream is a-maz-ing!  This baby hydrates and steadily releases moisture, skin conditioners and nutrients throughout the day. Skin is smooth and plumped; makeup stays fresh and glowing thanks to a combo of hydrating ingredients. For combination to oily skin: Kiehl’s Oil-Free Sodium PCA Moisturizer. This cream is lightweight and won’t clog pores!

I am loving the new It’s Potent! Eye Cream from Benefit Cosmetics. It helps fade dark circles and helps to smooth the appearance of fine lines for brighter eyes. For a true treatment of the eye area try Bobbi Brown’s Extra Repair Eye Cream – My all time favorite! This heavy-duty cream dries down enough to be used under makeup, but packs a mean punch when it comes to dryness, puffiness, darkness, and wrinkles. A teeny bit of this cream in the morning and at night will make a world of difference if you struggle with any of the above eye issues.


EXTRAS: Exfoliating the face and lips will help shed any dead skin cells and let your glowing skin show through! Washing your face with a washcloth in the evening a couple nights a week can help and try adding a facial scrub. My personal fave is Laura Mercier’s Face Polish.  Your skin will be baby smooth and you’ll never go back!  Don’t forget to hydrate your pout with Lip balm! Hydrate those babies so your wedding day lip color goes on smooth and stays fresh longer. Try Clinique’s All About Lips and Bobbi Brown’s Lip Balm.

I welcome your questions and feedback! If you have a must-try product I’d love to hear about it! Email me at blushingMUA@gmail.com!

Until next time. 

xoxo. LP