Monthly Archives: February 2013

COOL OR WARM? Determining Your Undertone!

Picking a foundation can be a frustrating adventure if you aren’t completely sure of your undertone. Cool complexions are more pink based while warm complexions are more yellow based. The undertone of your skin has nothing to do with its shade — just because you have fair skin doesn’t mean you have cool undertones and darker skin isn’t always warm. There are a few different ways to determine if you are warm or cool but here are the basics:

THE FABRIC TEST: In good lighting (preferably daylight) take a peice of yellow fabric and hold it next to your face, and do the same with a peice of red fabric. Which color is more flattering to your skin? If it’s red then your are cool toned, and if the yellow looks best you are warm.

THE VEIN TEST: Look at the veins on the underside of your arm and crook of your elbow. If they are blue then you have cool skin, and if they are bluish green then you have warm skin. This occurs because the yellow undertone in warm skin makes the veins appear more green.

THE JEWELRY TEST: Do you look better in silver or gold? Typically speaking if you have cool undertones you will look better in silver, and warm undertones look beter in gold.

THE CLOTHING TEST: Do you look better in black, white, navy, red, and jewel tones — then you are probably cool tone. If you have a warm undertone then ivory, brown, orange, and other earth tones will suit you.

It is best to determine your undertone by looking at the skin on your body rather than your face — because of facial redness, sometimes it seems like you have pink undertones when in reality you are yellow toned.

Some ladies have neutral undertones and look great in everything! If you are one of the lucky few that are neutral, make sure to pick a foundation that isn’t too yellow or pink.

If you are interested in getting a MAC foundation please check out this POST because their naming system concerning cool/warm is quite different!

Here are some celebrities with WARM SKIN:

Celebrities with COOL SKIN:

I hope that was helpful and thanks for reading!

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-Sarah

TUTORIAL: APPLY EYESHADOW LIKE A PRO – Daytime Look

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A daytime, work appropriate look was requested by one of my readers. I decided to take it a step further and show how to do professional looking makeup that is subtle and wearable for daytime. There are four different components to the eyeshadow: lid shade, transition, crease, and highlight. You can change the colors you use, but just stick to the general guidelines.

STEP ONE: Fill in brows and apply primer. I went for a very strong brow, just for fun 🙂 I used Maybelline brow pencil in Blonde and MAC Espresso and Omega for my brows, and Urban Decay Primer Potion.

STEP TWO: Apply MAC Patina to the lid with a flat shader brush (MAC 239). If you don’t have Patina, use an antiqued gold color… something close to the color of your skin tone! You don’t have to be extremely precise because we are going to blend it out in the next step.

STEP THREE: Apply matte transition shade with a big fluffy brush (MAC 224). I used MAC Soft Brown because I wanted it to be a very warm look; warm colors make blue and green eyes pop!

STEP FOUR: Deepen the crease with a medium matte brown using a crease/blending brush (MAC 217). I used a mixture of MAC Cork and Mulch, but any matte brown will do. Try to keep the color concentrated to the crease — don’t over blend into the transition.

STEP FIVE: Apply brow highlight. I used MAC Vanilla which is a Velvet (mostly matte with tiny amound of sparkle) You can use either a shimmery or matte highlight for this look.

STEP SIX: Apply Liner. I used a brown gel liner by MAC called Dipdown, and winged it out slightly using a MAC 210.

STEP SEVEN: Apply liner to waterline, curl lashes, apply mascara. I used MAC Coffee Pencil, Lancome Lash Curler, and Loreal Voluminous Mascara.

I hope that was helpful!

DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE! LOVE YA!

-Sarah

A GUIDE TO MAC HIGHLIGHT EYESHADOWS

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After making my guide to MAC Transition Colors (click here) I decided to make another for their highlight shades. MAC has an astronomical amount of highlighters and I am only reviewing the ones I personally own — which is all but four depending on your skin tone. When purchasing highlighters you in no way need this many! I would recommend having at least one matte and one shimmery highlighter to begin with. It’s nice to have one neutral, one yellow based, and one pink based highlight — but not entirely necessary!

Personally I prefer a matte highlight, so in regards to the shimmery shadows I will try to remain unbiased!

I hope that you find this helpful in your search for the perfect highlight! The pictures may seem a bit dark, but it is the best way to capture their true color without washing them out. Please click to enlarge!

Guide to MAC Matte Brown Eyeshadows (click HERE).

Guide to MAC’s Eyeshadow Finishes (click HERE)

Top Left to Right: Gesso, Blanc Type, Vanilla, Mylar, Brule
Bottom Left to Right: Shroom, Dazzlelight, Naked Lunch, Nylon

GESSO (Matte)

Gesso is a matte stark white and definitely has its place my kit. I like to use this when I want a very strong highlight, or if I’m wearing purples or greens. I think they changed the formula because it is a bit dry and you really have to dig your brush into it to get a good amount of pay off. If you would like one similar to this with shimmer I would go with Crystal Avalanche or Vapour.

BLANC TYPE (Matte2)

Blanc Type is a creamy beige with incredible payoff! I used to find this eyeshadow a bit too powdery, but I have been reaching for it a lot more lately because it does a great job of covering up any discoloration under the brow.

VANILLA (Velvet)

Vanilla is an ivory with slight pink undertones. I absolutely LOVE Vanilla for fair, light and even medium skintones. It is by far my favorite of all. Holy grail status! There is a tiny bit of sparkle in the pan, but it doesn’t really translate to the eye. Orb is similar but more pinky/peachy.

MYLAR (Satin)

MAC describes it as a creamy white with shimmer but it is more like a subtle sheen. I really like Mylar and I think it is great to wear when you want to do a natural “no makeup, makeup”.

BRULE (Satin)

Brule is a soft creamy beige, which is a close match to most light skintones. I love to use it as an all over wash or a very subtle highlight. Although MAC calls it a Satin, Brule appears nearly matte on the eye.

SHROOM (Satin)

Shroom is a beige with shimmer and although MAC considers it a Satin, I think it is much more like a frost. This color is extremely popular but I do not love wearing it myself. It is a very neutral highlight, meaning it does not lean pink or yellow. If you like shimmer in your highlights Shroom may be a great option for you!

DAZZLELIGHT (Veluxe Pearl)

MAC says Dazzlelight is a neutral with shimmer but I think it leans slightly yellow. With that said, it is my favorite shimmery highlight in their permanent line. I love to wear it in the inner corner! This and Vanilla are my top two recommendations!

NYLON (Frost)

Nylon is a pale gold with shimmer according to MAC. I would call it a whole lotta shimmer with some pale gold mixed in… My Lord, it’s the frostiest eyeshadow I have EVER seen. I only use this on occasion when I want a very bright inner corner highlight. This is Dazzlelight’s crazy aunt twice removed!

RICEPAPER (Frost)

MAC calls Ricepaper a peachy gold with shimmer, and I agree with that description. This is too dark for me use as a highlight on my skintone, but is gorgeous for gals NC40 and above. I typically use it as a lid shade. Definitely has great texture and is smooth as buddah!

NAKED LUNCH (Frost)

Described as a minimal pink with shimmer, Naked Lunch has quickly become on of my new favorites! I typically wear it as a lid shade, but it makes a great highlight, especially if you are doing a look with other pinks!

So that’s it for my highlights… I hope that was helpful! Which is your favorite highlight? Please leave a comment below!

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