Makeup Geek » Beginner Looks http://www.makeupgeek.com Tips, Video Tutorials, Reviews, and more! Fri, 24 May 2013 13:41:52 +0000 en-US hourly 1 4 Ways to Wear Colorful Eyeshadow to Work http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/4-ways-to-wear-colorful-eyeshadow-to-work/ http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/4-ways-to-wear-colorful-eyeshadow-to-work/#comments Wed, 24 Apr 2013 21:43:18 +0000 Marlena http://www.makeupgeek.com/?p=214699 color-at-work-2

 

I know many of you wear neutral eyeshadows every day to work (which is totally ok), but I’m hoping to get you to branch out and wear some colors during your work week!  You can wear colors, but it’s all in how and where you place the color.

Here’s my 4 tips for wearing colors:

  1. Pick just 1 color and apply it to 1 part of the eye.  So either along the lashline OR in the inner tear duct OR on the outer part of the eye.  1 color, 1 place.  I call it “strategic placement”.  
  2. Always pair a color with a neutral.  Having a neutral surrounding a color automatically tones it down and makes it more work appropriate.
  3. Pick a color that is light to medium in color.  The darker the color, the more dramatic it is.  (If you want to wear a dark color, keep it close to the lashline)
  4. If you’re afraid of color, start with purples or greens.   Because these colors aren’t too vivid and look great on every skin and eye color, they’re a safe bet for being more daytime appropriate.  (think of blue and orange- not really the most safe colors for makeup! haha)

Look 1:  Along the Lashline

Look-1-Products-v4

 

Look 2:  In the Outer Corner

look-2-products-v4

 

Look 3:  All over the Lid

look-3-products-v4

 

Look 4:  In the Inner Tearduct

look-4-products-v4

Thanks to maxineczka for supplying these great photos (check out her Youtube channel)

]]> http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/4-ways-to-wear-colorful-eyeshadow-to-work/feed/ 14 Party Makeup for Teens using Drugstore Products! http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/party-makeup-for-teens-using-drugstore-products/ http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/party-makeup-for-teens-using-drugstore-products/#comments Wed, 17 Apr 2013 01:40:17 +0000 Marlena http://www.makeupgeek.com/?p=214730

Today I have a special tutorial, for all my teen Makeup Geeks, this one is just for you. I am going to show you this easy party makeup that you can do using all drugstore products so it’s really inexpensive and still looks amazing. I also want to share with you the must haves in your makeup collection if you are just starting out, want to advance your collection, or want to make sure you have the all important basics. :-)

MUST HAVES

Young Teens

If you are a teen and you are just starting out in makeup all you need is a good mascara and a lipgloss. My favorite mascara is the L’Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black mascara as it makes your lashes dark black and adds both length and volume. For lipgloss, the best to have is NYX in Beige. Its a soft pink that looks great on every skintone at any age.

Mid – Teens

For those of you who are in your mid teens you will want to start using a little bit of concealer. My favorite one is the Maybelline Fit Me concealer. It comes in a wand form and is easy to apply. Just dab it over your blemishes and pat lightly with your finger. The great thing about this concealer is that it covers really well without being to thick or to cakey. You can also begin to wear a little more color on your lips. A good lipstain is perfect for this. I really like the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lipstains because they apply very easily, just like a crayon. They have great colors and once you blend them out it just comes across as a nice stain that looks very natural and not to heavy.

  • Maybelline Fit Me Concealer – (Amazon) (eBay)
  • Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lipstains (Amazon) (eBay)

Older Teens

Once you move into your later teens, you can start wearing eyeliner, eyeshadows, blush and all the other fun stuff that comes with it. My favorite blush is by Milani and the color Luminous is a perfect color. It’s  a soft peachy/pink that gives the cheeks a soft glow when applied to the apples of the cheeks. My favorite eyeshadows to wear, which can be applied with your clean fingers, are the L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows. Just swipe or pat a small amount over the lid and you are good to go. If you want something that’s waterproof and still easy to apply try the Maybelline Color Tattoos. These are easy to apply by using your ring finger and swiping a small amount on the lid staying below the crease. These add a perfect pop of color to the eyes. For the eyeliner, if you want to apply it in the waterline or along the upper or lower lashline, use the L’Oreal Hip Eyeliners. These are very creamy and glide on smoothly. The must have colors are a dark brown, a dark purple, and if you have darker features or want something more dramatic for night or weekends, get a black as well. The Milani Liquif’eye Liners work great too. Lastly, if you prefer a gel liner or want something a little stronger in terms of pigmentation and staying power, the Maybelline Eye Studios are by far my favorites.

Prom Makeup_Before and After

prom2

prom3

prom4

TUTORIAL PRODUCTS

Face

  • Revlon Age Defying Concealer – (Amazon) (eBay)
  • Milani Minerals Blush – #201″ Luminous” – (Amazon) (eBay)

Eyes

  • L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow -# 892 ”Amber Rush” (Amazon) (eBay)
  • L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow – #997 “Eternal Sunshine” – (Amazon) (eBay)
  • Maybelline Eyestudio Eyeliner – “Brown” – (Amazon) (eBay)
  • L’oreal Voluminous Mascara – “Carbon Black” – (Amazon) (eBay)

Lips

  • NYX Mega Shine Lipgloss – “Beige” – (Amazon) (eBay)

Tools

And there you go, the perfect look for any teen who needs or wants a great party look!  With so many color combination in the L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows, the combinations are limitless. Just remember to always let your natural beauty shine through no matter what. :-)

XOXO,

Marlena

]]> http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/party-makeup-for-teens-using-drugstore-products/feed/ 2 NEW Makeup Geek Eyeshadows and a Fun Summer Look http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/new-makeup-geek-eyeshadows-and-a-fun-summer-look/ http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/new-makeup-geek-eyeshadows-and-a-fun-summer-look/#comments Tue, 09 Apr 2013 22:16:23 +0000 Marlena http://www.makeupgeek.com/?p=213023

Hello Makeup Geeks, I am so excited to bring you these newest additions to our line of eyeshadows. :-)  I have been working hard to get the formulation just perfect so you can have amazing quality. We have 5 new colors along with one that has been in the store for a while. I am most excited about the shade “Cosmopolitan“, it is an exact dupe for MAC’s “Expensive Pink” with richer quality and higher pigmentation.

As always, we wanted to add to our line of neutrals while bringing you more interesting shades. We also have one inspired by Marlena’s favorite color, raspberry pink to add to our collections of pinks. With a great combinations of shimmers and mattes, you are sure to find more than one to love.

new-compacts

Hipster

admin-ajax (3)The Bottom Line: Mix between a dark sand and light taupe tan with slight shimmer.

How It Relates: Hipster is a cool toned dark sand that is a shade lighter than Pretentious and slightly darker than Latte with cooler tones. Hipster has a slight shimmer to it whereas Latte is a warm matte. The closest to this would be Pretentious in color and finish.

All About the Color: If you want to be part of the hip crowd then this dark sand shade is perfect for you! This elegant shade has a slight shimmer to it that’s perfect for adding a pop of dimension and shine to your look. This color is ideal for a day at the office, or pairing up with your favorite cool tones to warm them up. No matter where you wear it or what you wear it with this color is sure to make you look Hipster Chic!

Buy in the Makeup Geek Store: Pan Version | Compact Version

 

Frappe

admin-ajax (4)The Bottom Line: Frappe is a medium maple brown matte.

How It Relates: A shade darker than Creme Brulee, this stunning shade has the same creamy texture and matte finish. Lighter in color than Latte this has slight red/orangey undertone to it with the same finish and creamy texture.

All About the Color: Named after one of our favorite guilty pleasures this medium maple brown color will have you coming back for more. The matte color has a creamy texture and glides on smoothly and evenly for a stunning finish. Ideal for the summer months for a soft wash of color or paired up with a darker shade for a perfect brown eye. This also makes a great transition color for darker skintones.

Buy in the Makeup Geek Store: Pan Version | Compact Version

 

Simply Marlena

admin-ajax (5)The Bottom Line: Bright rosey pink with purple undertone and gold flecks.

How It Relates: The newest addition to our line-ups of pinks, this amazing color is the brightest of our girly shades. This cool-toned pink has a purple base and slight gold shimmer. The striking shade has a matte finish as Mango Tango and Cupcake with a brighter, more vivid appearance.

All About the Color: The perfect addition to our collection, and sure to be your new go to pink! This stunning matte pink color has a slight purple undertone with hints of gold flecks to give it that personal Marlena touch. The rich color and smooth texture allows the color to apply effortlessly and look amazing. This is the perfect pink for channeling you inner girly-girl.

Buy in the Makeup Geek Store: Pan Version | Compact Version

 

Cosmopolitan

admin-ajax (2)The Bottom Line: Rose Gold with gold flecks and a shimmery finish.

How It Relates: This elegant shimmery color is warmer than others similar to it making it a perfect fit with other shades from Mango Tango to Glamorous. This has rose pink undertone that makes it deeper than Mango Tango with a gold hue to it and the same amazing finish as Cinderella.   If you’re familiar with MAC’s Expensive Pink, this one is pretty much spot-on, but with more payoff and smoother texture.  Swatch the two side-by-side and you’ll be amazed at how much nicer Cosmopolitan is :)

All About the Color: Just like the drink, this chic rose gold shade is sure to become a quick classic. The stunning color is always in style and the shimmery finish makes it the perfect addition to your eyeshadow collection. Adorned with small gold flecks for added style, this impressive color is perfect for a refined soft look in the day, or a paired up with darker shades for a sultry, hot look at night. No matter where or how your wear this impressive color it’s sure to be one that everyone will love.

Buy in the Makeup Geek Store: Pan Version | Compact Version

 

Graphite

01-graphiteThe Bottom Line: Dark Graphite Grey with silver flecks and a shimmery finish.

How It Relates: Dramatic greys are definitely getting attention and this one fits in perfectly. A shade lighter than Galaxy, and darker than Mercury, Graphite has distinct look all it’s own. This has the same texture and high quality as its brothers, this shade fits perfectly in the middle.

All About the Color: An exquisite color to add to any collection, this dark grey has small silver flecks and a shimmery finish. The remarkable pigmentation and creamy texture makes this easy to apply and looks great regardless of whether you are teaming it up with lighter shades for a wearable day look, or smoking it out for an intense, dramatic sexy look.

Buy in the Makeup Geek Store: Pan Version | Compact Version

 

Lemon Drop

lemon-drop1The Bottom Line: Shimmery Bright Lemon Yellow

How It Relates: A warm ray of sunshine, this bright punch of color is perfect for summer. The warm shade is brighter and more vivid than its sister Yellow Brick Road but with the same shimmery finish.

All About the Color: Sugary sweet with a punch of sour, this bright yellow shadow will brighten up any drab day. It’s the same sweet, sugar-coated, flavor packed lemon we all knew and loved as kids. Now the same bright yellow can adorn your lids. With a sugary sweet shimmer finish, this bright yellow has a creamy, velvet-like texture and smooth consistency. With an intense pigmentation, this sweet sensation is sure to be one you will love.

Buy in the Makeup Geek Store: Pan Version | Compact Version

 

Swatches

We did a fresh batch of swatches so you can see how these new shades compare to our existing shadows.  We hope you find them useful!

neutral-swatches

Cinderella-swatch-5

Dark-Swatches

yellow-swatches

The Look

Face:

  • Maybelline Concealer – 25 Medium (Amazon) (eBay)
  • Emani Pressed Mineral Foundation – 292 Golden (Amazon)
  • Revlon Colorstay Foundation – 310 Warm Golden (Amazon) (eBay)
  • Stila Convertible Color – Peoney (Amazon) (eBay)

Eyes:

Lips:

  • Nars Satin Lip Pencil – Luxembourg (Amazon) (eBay)

Brushes:

And there you have it, new eyeshadows and a new look. Let me know what you think of the new shades in the comments below or leave a review on each individual eyeshadow color page. We would love to hear from you!

XOXO,

Marlena

 

]]> http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/new-makeup-geek-eyeshadows-and-a-fun-summer-look/feed/ 7 Glamorous Makeup for Brown Eyes http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/glamorous-makeup-for-brown-eyes/ http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/glamorous-makeup-for-brown-eyes/#comments Wed, 03 Apr 2013 01:50:23 +0000 Marlena http://www.makeupgeek.com/?p=211172 brown-eyes

Hello my lovely Makeup Geeks! Today I am doing a look for all your brown eyed girls out there. I didn’t get a chance to do this when I did the other eye colors and I have had a lot of request for it. Today I have Jessica with me who is our lovely model for the day. This sweet pink and silver look is stunning and brings out the hues in brown eyes amazingly. This combination of silver and pinks is one of my favorite combinations as it is sophisticated while still being girly at the same time. :-) So pull out all your silvers and pinks and lets get going on this look.

Face:

  • Maybelline Fit Me Concealer “25 Medium” – (eBay) (Amazon)
  • Mark Face Powder – “Buff” – (eBay) (Amazon)
  • Eve Pearl Salmon Concealer – Peach - (Amazon)
  • Illamasqua Powder Blush – Naked Rose - (Sephora)
  • Burberry Fresh Glow Luminous Base – (eBay) (Amazon)

Eyes:

Lips:

  • Revlon Lipstick – Pink Pout – (eBay) (Amazon)
  • MAC Cremesheen Lipgloss - Fashion Scoop – (eBay) (Amazon)

Tools:

Makeup for Brown Eyes 01

Makeup For Brown Eyes 05

Makeup For Brown Eyes 04

 

]]> http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/glamorous-makeup-for-brown-eyes/feed/ 6 My New Favorite Foundation! and Flawless Foundation Routine http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/my-new-favorite-foundation-and-flawless-foundation-routine/ http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/my-new-favorite-foundation-and-flawless-foundation-routine/#comments Fri, 29 Mar 2013 00:39:09 +0000 Marlena http://www.makeupgeek.com/?p=213832

OK Makeup Geeks, today I have my new FAVORITE foundation to share with you all. I love when I find new products that I absolutely love and then I can share them with you. I recently went to Sephora to find a foundation that was talc-free, paraben-free, and mineral-oil free. This is a must for me since I have gotten older because my skin has become more sensitive. I was thrilled to find the Cover FX foundation.

Cover FX tries to be as organic as they possibly can and keep their ingredients simple. I have been using this for the last week and I love this foundation. This last all day and dries to a nice satin finish so it doesn’t appear to flat or look overly shiny on my skin. I find that I don’t have to use much powder with this as the foundation alone gives such a flawless finish to the skin. The big test for me was when I wore this to San Fransisco all day long in the wind and heat. The Cover FX foundation lasted all day and didn’t fade or oxidise or turning my skin orange.

This retails for $40.00 for 1 fl.oz. of product. The color I am in is G40. The colors are broke down into three separate categories, P (pink undertones), N (neutral skintones), G (golden undertones). The neutral shades range from N10 – N110, with the fairest shade being N10 and the darkest being N110. The pink undertones range in shades from P20 – P50 with the lightest at the bottom and moving up in color. For the golden undertones the shades are G20 to G80 with the lightest at G20 and the darkest at G80. The best way to find your perfect shade is to visit your local Sephora and have them color match you.

I love the packaging on this and that the product is in a handy squeeze tube. This makes accessing the product as simple as it gets. The texture on this is wonderful, it has a silicon feeling but it’s not. It is very silky and glides on smoothly and evenly without caking up or feeling heavy. This foundation really does feel amazing on the skin. They key to using this is knowing that a little goes a long way, so it doesn’t take much when applying it. There are no harsh chemical smells or anything that would aggravate anyone’s allergies or anyone sensitive to strong smells.

I also got the Cover FX Blotting Powder that I love as well but I don’t have to use it much because the foundation is just that good. They also have a cream foundation which I haven’t tried yet so if any of you have used it let me know in the comments below what you think of it..:-)

HOW TO APPLY

  • Use a good primer, I am using the Clinique Pore Minimizer and apply with clean fingers.
  • For my eye bags I have to apply a darker, peach colored concealer to counteract the darkness. Here I am using  MAC Studio Sculpt in NW35.
  • Now for the foundation, you only need a little bit because the formula is thick. I dab small dots on face and then take a Beauty Blender and wet it and squeeze the excess water out really well, and use patting motions to work the foundation into the skin.

This covers so well, even the redness around my eyes. To set the under eye are I sweep on a small amount of the Cover FX Blotting Powder with a fluffy brush. I got my shade in Light (it’s also available in Medium and Deep) so I could use it under my eyes to brighten them. From here on you can apply your makeup the way you want to. For this video I used the Tarte Blush in “Tipsy”, a lipgloss by Smashbox in the color “Infinity”, and of course my L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara and that’s easy. Really easy, really simple!

ADVANTAGES

  • Covers amazingly
  • Takes very little
  • Great packaging
  • Applies smoothly and evenly
  • No harsh odor
  • Leaves a soft, satin finish to the skin

DISADVANTAGES

  • Price, It does run on the expensive side with it being $40.00 for 1 ounce but it is worth every penny! :-)

PRODUCTS USED

I really love this foundation and if have already tried it, or you do try it, let me know what you all think of it. I can’t wait to see if you all love it as much as I do. :-)

XOXO,

Marlena

]]> http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/my-new-favorite-foundation-and-flawless-foundation-routine/feed/ 13 My Go To Style! http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/my-go-to-style/ http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/my-go-to-style/#comments Fri, 01 Mar 2013 02:49:14 +0000 Marlena http://www.makeupgeek.com/?p=209393

Hi Makeup Geeks!

I wanted to do a fun video showing you my everyday look including hair, clothes, and makeup! I know some of the looks I do in my videos aren’t something I would wear on a daily basis, so this will give you an idea of what I typically wear when just going to work.  This look takes very little time so is perfect when you are in a hurry but still want to look great.

Be sure to check out my hair and outfit on my Simply Marlena post

Look_Outfit_Makeup

Face: 

  • Burberry Velvet Foundation – “Trench No. 207″ (eBay) (Nordstrom)
  • Emani Pressed Mineral Foundation -” 292 Golden”  (Amazon)
  • Stila Convertible Color – “Lilium” (eBay) (Amazon)
  • Eve Pearl Salmon Concealer Treatment – “Tan” (Makeup Geek)

Eyes:

Lips:

  • MAC Cremesheen Glass – “Fashion Scoop” (eBay) (Amazon)

Tools:

Be sure to check out my hair and outfit on my Simply Marlena post

I get so many questions from you all about my nails! I get gel tips done, so I never really know what color she uses (I just walk in and point to the one I want :) ). This time I had my nail technician do an ombre look with a soft pink going into the white at the tips. I have no idea what the names of the shades are, but if you want something similar, just bring in a picture and they can do whatever style or color you like. When I do use nail polishes on my nails, I like the Essie ones.  Two of my favorite colors are “Muchi Muchi” which is a soft pink, or “Off The Shoulder” which is a brighter pink.

New Nails

If you want to see my “go to” hair and and outfit check it out here on my personal blog!

]]> http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/my-go-to-style/feed/ 5 How To Apply Cream Blush http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/how-to-apply-cream-blush/ http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/how-to-apply-cream-blush/#comments Tue, 05 Feb 2013 23:41:09 +0000 Marlena http://www.makeupgeek.com/?p=208258 How to Apply Cream Blush

Today I am going to give you all the information I know about cream blushes. I know some of you are intimated by them and how to use them. The main questions I hear are how to apply them and what kinds are best. So for this video I am going to provide everything you need to know about how they work, when its best to use them, how to apply them and everything else you need to make sure you get the most from these remarkable products.

Cream Blush 01

Who is Cream Blush best for?

  1. Dry Skin – If you have dry skin then cream blushes are going to work amazingly for you. If you use a powder blush on top of your dry skin the powder can enhance the dry look of your skin and make your cheeks look very dull. However, using a cream blush will add extra moisture to your skin and add a youthful glow to your skin that a powder blush won’t provide.
  2. Aging Skin – As we age our skin tends to get drier. Using a cream blush will automatically add a youthful glow back to your face along with a dewiness we tend to lose as we get older.
  3. Cold Climates – A cream blush is ideal for those of you who live in colder climates, or during the colder months. Cream blushes sit on the skin and add moisture that the cold air takes away. For those of you who live in warmer climates or where it’s humid, a cream product can actually slide, melt or make you look more oily. It’s best to use a cream blush in the colder seasons or if you live in a cold climate.

My Favorite Cream Blushes

  1. Stila Convertible Cream Blush
    I love this because it’s a dual purpose product that can be used on the lips and cheeks. These are very highly pigmented and not sticky which makes them easy to apply. This non-greasy, creamy formula adds the perfect glow to the cheeks.
    Price: $25.00
    Where to Buy:  Sephora  .  Amazon .  eBay . Nordstrom
  2. Illamasqua Cream Blush
    This rich and creamy blushes are highly pigmented and glide on the cheeks smoothly and evenly. They give a perfect glow to the cheeks and have a great range of colors for fair skin to dark skin.
    Price:  $26.00
    Where to Buy:  Sephora  .  Amazon .  eBay
  3. NYX Cream Blush
    These are by far the least inexpensive of the bunch. However, they don’t lack on quality. They are highly pigmented, aren’t sticky and don’t leave your skin looking oily. They come in a wide range of colors for fair skin to dark skin.
    Price: $6.75
    Where to Buy:   Makeup Geek Store  .   Amazon  .  eBay

Cream Blush Feature

How to Apply

  1. Fingers – This is by far my favorite method of applying cream blush. Using your clean two middle fingers, pat your fingers into the blush picking up some of the product. Smile and apply the blush to the apples of the cheeks and blend the color backward. If you feel you have applied too much color, use a sponge like a Beauty Blender and pat over the top to pick up some of the color until you get your desired color.
  2. Cheek Highlighter Brush – This brush has a soft, flat top that allows you to stipple the cream blush onto your cheeks. Gently stipple the brush into the blush picking up a small amount. Apply it the same way by smiling and placing on the apples of your cheeks and blend backward. Using a brush isn’t my favorite method as it applies too much and you will probably have to go back with a sponge and remove some color.
  3. Beauty Blender or Sponge – The only thing I recommend using this for is for tapping off any excess color on your cheeks and blending the color out.

I hope all this information is helpful for you all!  Don’t be afraid to use cream blushes as they give such a nice finish to the skin.  Always apply lightly and build as needed.

Have a great week!
xoxo,
Marlena

]]> http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/how-to-apply-cream-blush/feed/ 12 3 Steps to Thicker Looking Lashes http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/3-steps-to-thicker-looking-lashes/ http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/3-steps-to-thicker-looking-lashes/#comments Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:59:19 +0000 Marlena http://www.makeupgeek.com/?p=204047

All women desire longer, thicker lashes. But no one wants to spend a lot of money on getting lash extensions or take the time of applying false lashes every day. Having dramatic lashes with length and volume makes your eyes appear bigger and can transform your face instantly. So, today I am going to share with you three easy steps you can do daily to achieve longer more lustrous lashes.

Curl Your Lashes

This is the first step to making your lashes appear longer and thicker. Right now my favorite eyelash curler is the Tarte Picture Perfect. It has a soft rubber tip which is great for curling the lashes well.
Begin by placing the curler at the base of your eyelashes and hold for 3 seconds. Next, move the curler out to the middle of your lashes and hold for 3 seconds and then repeat on the tip of the lashes. Check out my video on how to curl you lashes like a pro
Lash Curler

Apply TWO Mascaras

The first mascara you want to use is a thickening mascara with a big wand like the Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara. The bigger wand adds a lot of product to the lashes giving them a fuller effect. The second mascara is for length and should have a skinny wand like the L’Oreal False Fiber Lashes Mascara. The skinny wand gets at the base of the lashes very well and adds extra length and volume.
Woman applying mascara on eyelashes

Use Black Gel Liner

Applying a black gel liner to the upper waterline darkens the base of your of your eyelashes making them appear thicker. To do this, use a eyeliner pencil as a tool and dip it into a good water resistant eyeliner like the Maybelline Eye Studio or Makeup Geek’s Immortal and run it along the upper rim of your lashline. If you don’t find it to harsh you can do this to the lower waterline as well. To enhance the lashes even more add a small amount under the eye coming in 1/2 of the way.                          

      iStock_000011555617Medium
You should be able so see a huge difference in your lashes with these 3 easy steps.  I hope this helps give you what you need to create stunning, almost false looking lashes that everyone will love!

xoxo,
Marlena

Products Used:

 

]]> http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/3-steps-to-thicker-looking-lashes/feed/ 2 How To Pair Your Eyeshadows Like a Pro http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/how-to-pair-your-eyeshadows-like-a-pro/ http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/how-to-pair-your-eyeshadows-like-a-pro/#comments Wed, 09 Jan 2013 22:49:27 +0000 Marlena http://www.makeupgeek.com/?p=204005 How to Pair Like A Pro

Today I am going to show you how to pair eyeshadows together to create tons of looks. For many of us, it can be confusing when we are looking at a palette of colors to try and figure out which ones work best together and which ones won’t. This tutorial will help you to learn which colors, finishes and combination work best together and hopefull help aid you in picking which shades to choose from.

Three Basic Rules of Pairing Eyeshadows Together

  1. Always include a neutral -  Using a neutral eyeshadow along any brighter shades you may use will keep the look more wearable and tone down the overall look.
  2. Always mix your finishes – Eyeshadows come in finishes, shimmer and matte. Using all shimmer on your eyes will make you look like a disco ball while using just matte finish eyeshadows will look to flat. Using a combination of both with give depth and detail to the look.
  3. Use a light, medium and dark color – A mixture of these three, regardless of the color scheme, will give you a well rounded look with a lot of dimension.

Skin Tone Shades

Now we can move on to blending shades. You always need to have a couple of shades that can be used for blending that are close to your skin color. One a matte finish and one with a shimmer finish. The matte one you will use under the browbone to blend out any harsh lines, the shimmer will be used to highlight under the browbone or in the inner corner to open the eye and make it appear lighter.

Below is a guide that gives you different kinds of color combinations that you all can put together. There are two ways of doing this Monochromatic Looks and Polychromatic Looks.

Monochromatic Looks

These are where you take one color in varying shades and do a look based on just that color.

This look incorporates a light, medium and dark pink. The dark goes on the outer part of the eye, the medium pink on the middle of the eye and the light pink goes in the inner portion of the eye. Blend together this gives you an overall pink look.

This is a traditional dark brown smokey eye. This is where you take a dark brown and place it on the lid, a medium brown in the crease, and a light brown or tan color right above the crease to blend the colors out.

 

 

This stunning green eye is easy to do. Place a light green all over the lid and wing up the end with a medium green shade and right along the lashline you smudge a darker green color.

Examples of Monochromatic Quades

Purples

Browns

Greens

Polychromatic Looks

Polychromatic looks is where you pair shades together based on light, medium and dark. It doesn’t matter if the shades are different colors as long as you follow the light, medium and dark rule.

This is reminiscent of a purple smokey eye where you place a dark purple over the lid and blend with a light pink in the crease and then go around the eye with an orange shade.

This is a fun tropical look. This is where you place the lightest color on the inner part of the eye and then move the the medium shade and finish with the darkest shade. Here I have a light yellow, medium green and a dark blue on the outer part of the eye.

Here I have used a blue, purple and a pink. The medium blue shade is on the outer part of the eye and the purple is used to darken the outer corner to add depth to the look. Use the lighter pink to blend the colors out.

Examples of Polychromatic Quads

 

Find these eyeshadows in the Makeup Geek store here!

I hope you all found this information helpful. Just remember, it doesn’t matter what colors you use as long as you follow the 3 basic rules. Use a neutral shade, mix your finishes and have a light, medium and dark color in your palette.

]]> http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/how-to-pair-your-eyeshadows-like-a-pro/feed/ 13 How to Look Fresh and Dewy http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/how-to-look-fresh-and-dewy/ http://www.makeupgeek.com/tutorials/how-to-look-fresh-and-dewy/#comments Fri, 21 Dec 2012 00:48:24 +0000 Marlena http://www.makeupgeek.com/?p=203457

Winter is officially here and with it the dry air and cold wind that accompanies it!  I wanted to show you how you can have skin that glows, and looks fresh and dewy :)

1. Choose the right foundation

You want to pick a foundation with a satin finish formula, unless you have dry skin, then choose a sheer formula.  Right now I’m loving the Burberry Velvet Foundation as it is talc-free and doesn’t have Octinoxate- a bonus for those with sensitive skin. Another great one is the Makeup Forever HD foundation which gives a glowing finish to the skin. If you have dry skin, the best alternatives are the NARS Sheer Glow or the Neutrogena Healthy Skin, as they give a dewy finish while still providing great coverage.

2. Apply Powder Sparingly

If you have combination skin, use the least amount of powder you can.  If you have dry skin, skip the face powder all together.  The trick to using powder is use as little as possible and apply only to the oily parts of your skin- usually the t-zone.

3. Use Cream Blush instead of Powder Blush

Using powder blush can sometimes make your skin look dry and powdery.  To give a more dewy finish to the cheeks, using a cream blush is key!  My favorite drugstore cream blushes are by NYX as they come in many colors and don’t feel sticky. Some other great ones are the Stila Convertible Cream Blushes or the Illamasqua Cream Blushes as they are highly pigmented and blend well into the skin. To apply any of the cream blushes, using clean fingers, pat the color over the apples of the cheeks.

4. Use a Liquid or Cream Cheek Highlighter

Adding a cheek highlighter above the cream blush will add a soft glow to the cheeks and give your face a more radiant appearance. I am using Burberry Fresh Glow.  I love this product because it doesn’t have glitter in it yet adds a subtle glow to the skin. A good drugstore highlighter is the Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Highlighter Duo. To apply, use a small brush and dab the color directly on the top of the cheekbones and come along the temples slightly.

  • Burberry Fresh Glow – $48.00    (Amazon)
  • Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Highlighter Duo – $13.00 – $15.00    (Amazon)

I hope this helps you all achieve that beautiful dewy glow for the winter months! Stay warm out there :)

xoxo,
Marlena

 

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