The Makeup Chronicles: Thanks O!

Previously in the makeup chronicles: intro and manifesto, MAC me over, learning lashes

I (almost) hate to say this, but I am not a big Oprah Winfrey fan. I've never really watched her show, I've read some of her book club suggestions (usually a little before she deems them worthy of carrying her name and sticker) and was in sheer disbelief when I found out she was going to be on the cover of each issue of her magazine. Surely she was jesting. Nope, she wasn't. And until I actually picked up a copy of said magazine (thanks MdOH Dani), I was completely anti it too. At this point I realize you may have pegged me as a hater. Not at all true. I just didn't believe the hype...and truthfully I still don't.

However, I will give credit when its due. I really love the magazine. Although I cant afford much in it, it looks really polished and sophisticated which is pleasing to me. And I actually enjoy looking at Oprah's cover photos. Sometimes she's wearing something really cute, or holding an interesting prop. I completely coveted her hair all last summer. It was the hair I wish I could wear everyday - full and curly and fab.

The point of today's post is not hair. Its makeup.

Besides, she's switched over to a straight look that suits her but is not as covet-able as that curly wonderfulness.

Anyway, I finally got around to reading the May 09 issue of O (trying to be better about reading magazines since I only keep 3 of each in the house at a time), and I couldnt take my eyes off madam O. Look for yourself:


I loooove her makeup this month! Its natural, but glowy, and if she's wearing fake lashes I can't tell (truth be told, I think she is though). It screams daytime bridal to me. I'd been struggling to find some halfway decent makeup inspiration pictures and now I have one.

I'm happy with just one.

So you may be wondering why I need some inspiration if I'm doing my own makeup. Well, it always helps to have a model, right? Naw, I'm just joking. There is a slight chance that a professional may end up doing my makeup after all. BM Tamerah requested that I look into having a makeup artist come do my makeup (...and hers, MamaP, BM Naima). She offered to subsidize it as my gift and at that point, I knew there was no amount of explaining that could change her mind.

So I caved.
And then kindly asked MdOH Dani to look into it for me.

I haven't heard anything back in awhile on the makeup artist front, so I cant give a full update yet. Its in lovely capable hands, so now worries on my end. I'm just thrilled have finally found an inspiration picture that captures what I want for my wedding day makeup - whether I do it myself or recruit someone else to make me up. What gets me, is that I found it a seemingly unlikely place.

Thanks Oprah!
♥

The Makeup Chronicles: Learning Lashes

Previously in the makeup chronicles: intro and manifesto, MAC me over

After I got my makeup done at MAC, I fell in love with the look of false lashes. Problem is, I've never applied them myself before. In a perfect world, I'd pop over to the Sephora across the street from the HHT. Since I'll be made up and dressed by the time Sephora even opens, that's not really an option.

So my bcurrent plan is to purchase some cheapies from my nearest drugstore and practice practice practice. That and watch a bunch of YouTube videos.

I found one today that I wanted to share with you ladies who are interested in developing/perfecting your own fake lashes technique (lol). Lo of Lo&Co (a professional make-up artist and WeddingBee Pro blogger) posted this entertaining how-to video for applying false lashes.



Not only was it hilarious, I really learned alot. I think I'm going to try my first lash application soon. How about you? Anyone feeling like the bold and beautiful and interested in doing them yourself? If so, wanna compare notes?

♥

The Makeup Chronicles: MAC me over

Previously in the makeup chronicles: intro and manifesto

When I decided to do my own makeup, I knew I wanted to consult with some professionals along the way. Well, for some reason I decided to stop by the MAC counter in the mall for my first "make-up consultation." The reason I say "for some reason" is because every time I've gone to a MAC counter, its been too much. Too much color, too much foundation, just...too much. More makeup than a girl like me (who wears little to no makeup most days) would ever apply, even on my wedding day. However, you really cant beat the color selection they offer. Have you seen the displays? Shadows, blushes, lipstick for days! Too tempting for this DIY bride.

Despite my previous experiences, I threw caution to the wind, sat down in the chair, and hoped for the best. Here's what I got. I forgot I should have taken pics before I blended my shadow with my fingers and wiped off some of the makeup. Even with my "sabotage," I think this one with my eyes closed shows off the overall look better:


...and this one that the PHI and MamaP will approve of, with my eyes open:


As anticipated, overall I thought it was too much. The foundation was a greasy mess, the shadow was poorly blended, and the lipliner was a little overkill. However, there were several things I did like:

1. The eyeshadow base (you cant really see it in this pic) was a creamy peachy color. It was awesome by itself, and I didn't understand why she proceeded to put some other colors on top (and then not blend them). I would have posted its info, but come to find out that its not recommended for use on the eyes. Why in the world she put it on me, I have no idea. Maybe she didn't know?


2. Sheertone blush in Pinch O' Peach. Its a shimmery peach blush. I could tell by the way she applied it that a little bit goes a long way. Definitely layer it on a little at a time. It gave me the bridal glow that I have pictured in my mind, without having to add a whole lot of other products.


3. LustreGlass in Beaux on my lips. It's a bronzy-shimmery color. I liked that she asked me what color LipGlass I normally wear (Oh Baby and C-Thru are my faves), and then selected this one. She lined my lips first, a move I haven't done since undergrad, and I started to remember why I used to do that. We'll probably do a little of that day of.


4. Fake lashes! This was my first time in them. I think my natural lashes look pretty good, especially when topped with a good black mascara, but the fake lashes take it to a whole new level. Love.it.

So what did I take from my lessons? Peachy-bronzy neutrals are definitely the look I'm going for. I normally wear neutral/shimmery pinks, so this is a reasonable and logical side step for wedding-day colors. I also literally took away that delicious peachy blush and the LustreGlass.

It goes without saying that she must have used about 15 different products on me, and tried to sell me everything from the moisturizer she used (no wonder I was greasy), to all the makeup products she used, and the brushes she used to apply it with! Seriously. Were talking hundreds of dollars of product. Do people really fall for this? She acted as if I never ever wore makeup and I needed everything! I'm not sure if I was supposed to buy something, but I already had it in my mind that if she used something I really liked, I'd definitely purchase. And that's exactly what I did.

Cheeks and lips? Check. Two products down, several more to go.
To be continued...
♥

The Makeup Chronicles: Intro & Manifesto

I've added another thing to my DIY list...my makeup!

Unlike most of the things that made the list, I wasnt sure I wanted to tackle this. I also wasn't sure where the money, the time to do makeup trials, and the energy to find makeup artists was going to come from. Interestingly, MamaP assumed I'd just do my own makeup (but has no problem saying she'll need some help for hers). In her words "I do a good job." To some degree she's right. And as I get older, my makeup application technique gets better. I know that blending is the best thing since sliced bread, and that you can add more at any time, but its more difficult to take it off when you've overdone it.

The real reason I know I can handle this DIY Makeup? Because I want to look like me, only purposefully glowy-er: my foundation will be matte, my eyes will pop, my cheeks will be shimmery and, and my lips will be glossy.

This is my wedding-day makeup manifesto.
And I can definitely handle it.

I'm still working on the gameplan. Thankfully, I updated my every-day makeup not too long ago, and discovered a wonderful matte foundation in the process. I tend to gravitate towards shimmery pinks, peaches, and bronzes, so we'll be sticking with those. I've been investigating some new products to add to my arsenal, and plan to stop by a few makeup counters to pick up some tricks and techniques (and try out colors of course).

When I'm done, I'll look like myself, only better.
These are the Makeup Chronicles.

♥