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Makeup Post: Smoky Eye/Nude Lip - Kim Kardashian Inspired

Kim Kardashian Makeup Look

Today I will tell you how to achieve the makeup look in the picture. I took this picture today so the routine is fresh on my mind. Like I have mentioned in earlier posts, I dyed my bleach blonde hair brown and changed my makeup completely. I went from no eyeshadow and pink lipstick to a smoky eye and a nude lip! So I hope this helps anyone with brown hair and brown eyes - or just someone who loves makeup too. Enjoy :)

To begin start with absolutely no makeup. I like to use Neutrogena makeup remover wipes to make sure all excess makeup is gone, especially on my eyes, from the night before.

I then moisturize lightly w/ MAC's Oil Control Lotion.

I use SmashBox Camera Ready Primer. It works wonders!!!

I then apply MAC's Pro Longwear Foundation in NC30. This has yellow undertones.

I put MAC's Select Cover Up Concealer in NW15 under my eyes. You can go a little darker but I like my under eye concealer to be really light, as you can tell from the picture.

I apply MAC's Studio Fix Powder in NW15 all over my face, lightly though. I add extra under and above my eyes to brighten them up.

Then I use the Naked Bronzer/Brush duo. I don't use the blush much but I start off with their bronzer because its light. I apply it on my forehead, cheeks, chin, etc.

I then let that sit and go to focus on my eyes. I have spent foreverrr trying to figure out how to do a smoky eye look. I could NEVER get it right. But now I've got it so listen up.

You want to do a color on your lids. Blue, purple, whatever works for you. I use bright blue.

Then you want to take a medium/dark brown shade and apply it to the crease. Blend it and before you know it the bright color will be barely noticeable but still there.

Then take a light color with some shimmer and apply it beneath your eyebrows. I still use Tranquil Moon from Estee Lauder.

Now curl your lashes. Never do this immediately after eyeliner or it will smudge.

Then line your eyes with eyeliner. I do a different color on top and bottom. For the bottom (waterline) I use Loreal's Black. For the top I use Too Faced's Expresso.

I do one coat of MAC's Zoom Lash mascara followed by another of Benefit's They're Real. Zoom Lash really separates the lashes and They're Real adds length, so I like the combination.

Finish off with an extra coat of Bare Mineral's Bronzer in the Deep End... Forehead, cheeks, nose, chin... It will really give a glowy look. I don't use bronzers with shimmer in them anymore.

Finally lips. Line with MAC's Oak Lip Liner, apply MAC's Creme de la Nude lipstick, and finish with a nude or light pink gloss - I use one from Nars.

At the end I lightly fill in my eyebrows with MAC's Brunette eyebrow pencil (the twist-up one, not the sharpened one).

The end.. I hope this helped!!! Enjoy!

Love,
Jennifer :)

Summer Read: Lean In

Lean In is one of the best non-fiction books I have ever read. 

I highly recommend it to all girls.

The idea of the book is: Women hold themselves back because of their own insecurities and doubts. They deny themselves of opportunities. 

Studies show that girls consistently outperform boys in school. 

If this is the case, then men are getting better jobs not because women aren't capable or qualified, but because they're doubtful.

Women don't feel experienced enough for certain jobs so they never take chances, while men simply tell themselves they can learn how to do anything and are open to greater opportunities.

This is a must read for all girls. I highly recommend.

Hair & Skin Care

I love maintaining my skin and hair. I have found that certain products can actually make a difference. Here are the best hair and skin care products I've used:

First, because my hair is damaged from being blonde, I use Bumble & Bumble's "For the Truly Damaged" Shampoo, Conditioner, and Mending Complex. 

Eminence Organic Skin Care. I found out about this line after getting facials at the Ritz Carlton Spa. This is one of the main product lines they carry and use during their facials. Two of my favorite products are the Lime Refresh Tonique and the Pink Grapefruit-C Gel.

Manuka Oil is the best stuff to put on blemishes. It has yet to fail me... It works like a charm. Apply it to a pimple at night and it'll be gone - or at least unnoticeable with makeup - by the morning. I believe in this product so much. It smells terrible though, but since when did that matter when you're fighting a breakout.

ARCONA - I have yet to try this line but I really want to. I have heard amazing things and it's a favorite of celebs. I will try to order a kit when I get the chance but for now, I just wanted to include it because it's definitely worth checking out.

C Booth Derma C 24 is a great line that used to be sold at supermarkets but was recently taken out. You can still order it online though. I love the Oil-Free Daily Moisturizer. It leaves your skin hydrated without being too greasy. The Vitamin C Micro Daily Facial Scrub is one of my favorite exfoliators. 

Closet

All Things Makeup

I wanted to do a makeup post for anyone out there looking for some great products.  I recently dyed my hair from blonde to brown and had trouble adjusting to the change until I changed my makeup.  IMO, when you change your hair you need to change your makeup.  Here are some of my favorite products:

In Photo Above: 

From MAC... Lipstick in Snob, Eyeliner in Photogravure, Mineralize Concealer - I wear NC30 or NW25 if I'm extra tan, Lip Glass in Saint Germain (It looks amazing layered over Snob), Oil Control Lotion, and Prep + Prime Skin.

From Benefit Cosmetics... The BEST mascara I have ever used.  It's called They're Real and was recently featured on the cover of ULTA's catalogue. 

The other makeup products I use are... 

For powder I use MAC's Mineralize SkinFinish Natural Powder.  I have three shades: Medium Dark, Medium Deep, and Light Plus.  I think it's important to mix shades and not have just one overall color on your face.  Also, because I use self-tanners and I spray tan, it's important that I'm prepared for my skin tone to vary.  On my cheeks, I use MAC's Mineralize Blush in Dainty.  I don't use too much, though, because for me my look is focused more on bronzer.  The bronzer I use is Sun Queen Shimmering Maxi Bronzer from Rimmel London.  You can get it at drug stores like CVS and Walgreens.  Apply it to your nose, cheeks, bottom of your chin, top of your forehead, and high up on your cheekbones.  For lips, like I said earlier I use Snob and Saint Germain (which are pictured above), but I also dab the center of them with another lip gloss from MAC - Plushglass in Bountiful.  It gives the perfect amount of extra shimmer and sparkle that I don't get from Saint Germain. 

For my eyes, I prime them with the Paint Pot in Soft Ochre, then apply a light purple shimmering eyeshadow from Estée Lauder - it's called Traquil Moon. On the corners I sometimes add Amethyst Spark, which is a darker purple.  Then I line my eyes on the top with Photogravure, line the bottom with Loreal's eyeliner in 902 Black (stop when you get to the inner water creases), use MAC's Prep + Prime Lash, and finish with my favorite mascara that I mentioned earlier, "They're Real."

 The final step to my makeup is somewhat tricky, but really important.  I dip the Bare Minerals Mini Concealer Brush in MAC's Studio Fix Foundation Powder in one of the lightest shades - NW15.  Then I apply the powder underneath my eyes and to the following section of my face: above my lips...within my smile lines... below and around my nose (basically imagine a triangle below your nose and apply it there).  Doing this highlights the parts of your face that should not be tan and should be "brightened up."

To the best of my knowledge, that is my makeup routine.  I hope this helps anyone looking for information on cosmetic products.

xo,

Jennifer

My New Car!

I do not take what I am given for granted. I am so blessed. My love for my grandma goes beyond any material things. She is my best friend.

Love,
Jennifer

San Francisco

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