"You can buy all the make up that Mac can make"

Today, I'm going to do something a little different and stray from my usual fashion musings and OOTDs. I've scheduled this little post for you.

I haven't really posted much about make up in the short time I've been blogging. When I posted a make up look last month for the blogging challenge, I had such positive lovely feedback, and Hannah from Daisies & Dr Martens asked to see more posts like it. Of course, I was more than happy to oblige.

Wearing make up has been a daily ritual of mine since my age reached double digits. I've always loved playing around with different colours and different looks; not because society has told me I need to wear make up to be accepted, but because I genuinely enjoy wearing it. To me, make up is just another part of fashion and personal style. I don't wear it because I'm told I look ugly without it, or because I'm told to hide my 'flaws'. It's just another part of my outfit, and I feel undressed without at least a coat of mascara. Anyone who encourages me to hide behind a mask of make up can take the high road! 

I've barely worn make up during my injury, and I can honestly say I've missed wearing it these nine months. Creating a look for this post was a real pleasure.

I set up the products and tools I thought I'd need. I forgot to add my blusher brush, and completely forgot to use my eyelash curlers, though. Can you tell I'm a little rusty?

I'd also recommend having tissues, cleansing wipes, or cotton wool to hand for any mistakes or stray product. Natural light is best for applying, but I'm sure you're all skilled at applying make up in poor light, and in moving vehicles on the way to work... or is that just me?

These are the products used to create the look, numbered in the order I used them. I only used the eye shadow brush this time, as well as a blusher brush, but it's always handy to have different brushes for shading and lining the lids. A good quality set of brushes are a good investment and should last a life time.

Products used:

1. Benefit Some-Kind-a-Gorgeous lite.

2. Benefit Powder Pop (Dandelion, Dallas, and Hoola powders).

3. The Body Shop Pressed Face Powder 01.

4,5,6. Inglot (my customised freedom palettes).

7. Bourjois Paris Contour Clubbing Waterproof liner in 45 Blue Remix.

8. Bourjois Paris  Regard Paillete Sparkling Eyeliner 34 Vert Stupefiant.

9.Maybelline New York The Colossal Volum' Express Waterproof.

I don't confine myself to just one brand. I love shopping around for great products. I love Inglot, Benefit, The Body Shop, Maybelline, L'Oreal, Mac, Too Faced, Bourjois, Urban Decay... to name but a few.

Okay... let's get started.

Straight from the shower, I've cleansed, toned and moisturised my skin. I like to apply my base when my skin is still a little damp, as it absorbs the product better.

At the moment, I'm using Benefit's 'Some Kind-a-Gorgeous lite' which is a light foundation that sets like a powder when applied to the skin. It doesn't feel heavy, as so many foundations do, so my skin can still breathe. I use the provided make up sponge to apply a light layer all over my face.

(I had to skip the under eye concealer step, as I'm all out. I use one from The Body Shop).

I decided to go for a pink blusher today. I chose to use 'Benefit Powder Pop'. Using a blusher brush, I gently swept the lighter shade, 'Dandelion', from the outer apples of my cheeks along the cheekbone area until I was happy with the definition. I then blended a light amount of the darker shade 'Hoola' over the top towards the end of the cheekbones (nearer the ears). I followed this by using a translucent  Body Shop powder over any shiny areas, such as my chin and nose.

As I've always been blessed with good skin, I keep my base light. I don't always wear foundation, and when I do I often mix it with moisturiser to tone it down (especially in the summer). It's difficult to find the right shade for my very pale skin. I'm never going to have a flawless base due to my millions of freckles, so I just go with it. I use an under eye concealer to hide dark circles; go easy on the blusher to prevent looking like a clown; and use a powder to blot out shiny areas. If I'm out and about in the summer, I'll usually switch foundation for suncream.

I didn't have a specific look in mind when I set out these Inglot palettes. More often than not I make it up as I go along. I'm pretty experimental. For the lid, I've used two shades of turquoise, one lighter than the other, and a lime green. I chose the colours as I was wearing a turquoise and coral outfit.

Using

1. Sweep over the entire lid until bright and evenly coloured.

2. Shade the outer 3rd or so of the lid to create definition.

3. Using a damp eye shadow brush, highlight the inner corner of the lid and lower lash line.

Using:

4. Line the upper and lower lash lines/lids.

5. Line the inner lower lash line.

6. Generously coat the upper and lower lashes.

I started by sweeping the lighter turquoise shade all over the lid, and built it up until it was evenly coloured.  This photo shows the first step, and my lashes in their natural state. I find a damp brush will make the colour more intense.

And the end result...

First step... end result when the green was still damp... and end result after a bit more blending.

I personally think eye make up doesn't need to be too neat, but I should have touched up the green a little before snapping these photos. My hair had just been washed and dried, which always leaves stray strands of hair in my fringe, and I'm over due a trim, so sorry for the messy fringe!

After taking a few photos, I realised the green needed a bit of blending, so I went back to the dressing table to fix it. (Top left, bottom right show final results).

And a rare glimpse at my scary face! As you can see, the base is subtle, and I've left my lips untouched to tone the look down.

And, voila!

Sorry for the really long post. I hope you've enjoyed reading it. If this is something you'd like to see more of in the future, leave me a message and let me know what you think!

Do you wear coloured eye make up, or do you prefer natural shadows? Or do you avoid eye make up altogether?