Vintage Funk with a Retro Edge

Salut chicas!!!

Joyeux Weekend!!! Hope you've all had a productive week and are now relaxing to your heart's content. I'm not, as of yet, but I will be soon :)) A big thank you to all of you who have been so supportive of my bloggy thus far, thanks for your kind words, thoughtful comments, awesome requests and great questions!! I've had so much fun reading and responding. Keep them coming, because as much as this blog is for me, it is also (and mostly) for you :))

My look of the day is from Christina Aguilera's new video Not Myself Tonight and it is another long awaited request from an ooold friend. In this video, Xtina is being her typical dirrrty self, thrusting her person and invading your space, but her makeup is en pointe. There are several distinct looks in the video, but the requested makeup was the one where she's wearing curled bangs and a ponytail a la the 50's. This look is actually my favorite from the video, and I think it's probably the easiest to replicate. So, let's get started!!!

bisous,

Maryam Maquillage

The Humble Aquarian

Salut les filles ;)))

Happy Thursday and Happy Birthday to my bestest bestie, my Lizzie!!! Birthdays galore! Wowzers, there are so many Aquariuses in my life, I feel like I must seize this opportunity for inspiration--and I shall :))) So, let's talk astrology... As a teenager, I used to be very involved in pursuing the knowledge of the zodiac, signs, compatibility, etc., but as I've grown older, that passion seems to have escaped me. I do remember, however, that being a Libra, I am highly compatible with Aquariuses because we are both native air signs. That explains the birthday season--most of my friendships have been written in the stars, awwww :)) So, to honor all you water carriers, you beautiful, airy Aquarians, my make-up look of the day is inspired by your unique and mysterious qualities. Hope you all enjoy and benefit from my mini how-to, (even if you're a scorpio, taurus or leo ;)

bisous,

Maryam Maquillage

Lovely Aquarius drawing I found on the net

THE LOOK: Inspired by air, water and the color aquamarine, I'm keeping this look "humble" to represent the humility of the Aquarian nature, and (also to keep it wearable and simple since I'll be wearing this look to school)... I'm not one for trying too hard when attending classes, I think it sends the wrong message hehe... then again, if wearing bright and bold makeup to school is within the boundaries of your personality, then by all means, go for it!! For me, school is not a runway, but that's just me lol...

THE TOOLS: Here are some options for you to achieve this look:

The eyeshadow: Shattered from the Urban Decay Ammo palette, first sample on my arm on the bottom of the pic. This shadow is very shimmery and has a nice blue-green sheen, depending on how the light hits it.

The jumbo pencil: NYX electric blue jumbo eye pencil, second sample on my arm. This is the brightest of the options.

The eyeliner: Bourjois Sparkling eyeliner in Lagon ensoleillé (sunny lagoon). I purchased this one in Paris, so if you like it, you might have to search the internet a bit. This pencil is the third sample on my arm and is my number 1 choice for this look. The color is bright and matte with tiny silver glitters that actually show up :)) Kudos to Bourjois!!!

Other tools: L'Oréal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black, NYC liquid eyeliner in Jet Black (only $1 in Target, however, it's quality is quite eeh), Urban Decay Primer Potion, and an eyelash curler of your choice.

TO ACHIEVE THE LOOK: 

1. With your bright aquamarine eyeliner or shadow, draw a thick line across your lid, winging it out slightly. If you're using a shadow, you might want to do this with an angled eyeliner brush.
2. Take your black liquid liner, you can use gel or cream liners as well, but NO pencil... you need a smudge-free formula for precision. Make sure the brush you're using is fine and the bristles don't feather out. 
3. Start at the inner corner of your eye: place the tip of your brush at the roots of your lashes and drag all the way across. Try to do this in one swift stroke, keeping the line thin and staying close to the lashes.
4. Next, curl your eyelashes and apply one coat of mascara. Take tweezers and pinch the tips of your lashes in 4 or 5 places across. The sparseness will create a dow-eyed effect. Finish with another coat of mascara.

connect the dots

Eye C U

When does a blink become a wink ;)

Same look on a different day :)

P. S. If you've been following my blog, by now you probably know that I am completely obsessed with NYX cosmetics. For this week only, Hautelook is doing a sale on NYX palettes and makeup sets. The prices have been cut up to 75% off!!! Here's the link and happy shopping!!!  http://www.hautelook.com/event/5478

Wearing my Cartouche Isis earrings. Why? Cuz I stand with Egypt...

that is my first and last political statement ;)

And my lipstick is MAC amplified creme in Warm Me Up

Fabuleyes

Hellooo Old Friends and New :)))

Thank you all for following my blog and sending me such positive feedback. I really am inspired by all your interest and kind words. Merci!!!

As some of you may know, New York has officially been welcoming the winter weather with temperatures falling well below freezing, leaving us New Yorkers with only one activity: sitting at home in the privacy of our heating systems. Since I'm not a polar bear and actually a hibernating bear (from Russia with love), I fully enjoy packing on the winter pounds while lounging in the comfort of my bear domain. However, as luck would have it, winter season for me means birthdays galore with the kick-off starting last night for my friend Karolina's birthday. Turning a rather monumental age, she did it up last night at the Four Seasons, cuz she so fancyyy :)) Great time had by all and happy birthday again my lovely!!! I must admit, it took me a while to come up with my outfit lol, given that I had to fit the dress code and also be able to keep myself from slipping on black ice that has covered the streets of New York City, as of late. Wrapped in several cashmere pieces and my fox collar, I took a change of shoes and was actually rather comfortable while the other 5 people I saw on the street were rattling their teeth. Needless to say, I feel accomplished... especially when I dress appropriately for the weather :))

One thing that cannot be affected by any weather WhatSoEver is my makeup... Thank goodness for that!!! The look that I'm presenting today is my party makeup from last night's celebration of the first birthday of the season aka Karolina's. Hope you all enjoy it :)))

Bisous,

Maryam Maquillage

THE LOOK is very simple, focusing on bringing out brown, light brown or hazel eyes. I kept the lips and the face very simple with my usual routine.

THE TOOLS: I never show the tools!!! Thanks to my homeslice Jo for pointing this one out :)))
1. For packing on the color, use a flat shader brush like this small eyeshadow brush from Sonia Kashuk. This brush is flat, dense and has a fine edge. Click on the pics to enlarge.

2. For contouring the crease or softening the edges of the shadow, use a fluffy dome shaped brush like this crease shadow brush from Sonia Kashuk. This brush is soft, fluffy and has a rounded edge.

3. For smudging out pencil eyeliner or shadow, use a smudge brush like this one from Sonia Kashuk. This brush is flat and has short, dense hairs.

4. For your highlighter or a "wash of color" application, use an angled eyeshadow brush like this one from Sonia Kashuk. The hairs on this brush are fluffy but angled, so the application is minimal.

5. For gel or cream liner, use a fine, pointed brush like this one... again from Sonia Kashuk :) I find that there really is not much difference between a straight one and a bent one. 

THE EYES are gold, bold, and glittery though it doesn't seem to translate in photos. I used my Urban Decay Naked Palette, and added MAC reflects gold glitter on top.

HOW TO: 
1. Start by priming the lids with primer. I used Urban Decay Primer Potion, as always.
2. Take your contouring crease brush or fluffy dome shaped brush and the color Naked (matte nude-beige) and apply in the socket of your eye using windshield wiper motions. If you're darker, use the color Buck (matte light brown).
Tip: For a more exotic eye, concentrate the color on the outer corner and blend it up toward the brow.
3. For more dimension, add the color Buck to the outer edge. If you're darker, take a matte dark brown eyeshadow of your choice.
4. For the gold lid part, take a gold base and apply all over the lid, staying under your crease color. I used NYX jumbo eye pencil in pure gold. Smudge it out with your finger.
5. Taking a flat shader brush (small eye shadow brush), apply the color Half Baked (true gold) all over the lid, leaving the outer third blank.
Tip: When applying metallic colors, use patting motions instead of sweeping motions. Sweeping the color on will produce a lot of fallout under the eyes.
6. Take the color Smog (metallic bronze-brown) on the same brush and pack in on the outer third that you left blank.
7. Clean the flat brush and take fine gold glitter and pack it all over the gold.
8. For your highlight, take an angled fluffy eyeshadow brush and apply the color Virgin (pearly pale pink) under the eye brow and in the inner corner of the eye. Sweep it on very gently.
9. Take a brown waterproof pencil liner like Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Whiskey and line the inner half of the bottom waterline and tear duct. Line the outer half underneath the lash line and seal with Smog on a smudge brush.
10. Line the top lash line with a black gel or cream liner and wing it out. I used Clinique cream liner in True Black.
11. Add your lashes if you choose or just add mascara and you're done with your Fabuleyes!!!

FACE AND LIPS: After doing my regular face routine, Bare Minerals matte foundation and Benefit Hoola bronzer, I highlighted my cheeks with MAC mineralize blush in Earth to Earth and sprayed 3 spritz of Mac Fix+ finishing mist to keep the makeup lasting all night. BTW, these pictures were taken after I came home from the dinner and I did zero touch-ups on my eyes or face. Mac Fix+ really really works. For the lips, I used NYX lipliner in soft brown and Coastal Scents plumping lip gloss which is unfortunately discontinued.

P. S. I used these Ardell whispies about 5 times, 

so they've lost their original shape, but I kind of 

like it. I think the look is more natural.

This is me hibernating...

Licorice flavored cotton candy @ Four Seasons

I ONLY LIKE ONE SEASON

GUESS WHICH ONE :)))