My Thursday's Green

Salut my lovelies :)))

I just finished creating a fabulous look for you all, but I'm thinking it's gonna have to wait till tomorrow, since it's more appropriate for a Friday... ooh-la-laaa :)) Today's look is an oldie but a goody and I think a lot of you will find this how-to useful and easy to recreate. My Thursday is Green, for the color of the rain forest... also for jealousy (at times) and for dolla billz (most of the time ;)... however you relate to green, don't fear it but face it head on. Green eyeshadow is a good way to start adding some greenery to your life lol and happens to compliment all eye colors, not just my typical brown. So, for the blue, hazel and green eyed beauties out there, this entry is for YOU!!! The two looks I chose to show are extremely wearable with one of them being more appropriate for daytime and the other for night-time. Hope you all enjoy. Please vote in my poll, and if you want to see pictures of the celebrities mentioned, go to my entry The Nail House and click on the pix to enlarge.

bisous,

Maryam Maquillage

Green with Envy?

THE LOOK: This eye look would be a perfect match for blue or gray eyes because of the gray/blue tone of the green shadow that I used. Cool greens bring out the blue in gray eyes and make blue eyes even bluer. 

FACE: For this daytime look, I used earth tones on the face and lips and accented the lids with a rich emerald green shadow. I used my typical face routine: Bare Minerals matte foundation in golden medium mixed with warmth (BM bronzer). I used a second bronzer, Benefit Hoola on the backs of my cheekbones, temples and hairline to add some dimension and contouring to the face. Because the shadow is so cool, I counter-balanced it by adding a warm pinkish blush to the apples of my cheeks.

Tip: When contouring the face, make sure the Bronzer you're using is matte. Shimmery bronzers are supposed to be used as highlighters, on the foreground of the face (to fake a tan) and will make your contouring look extremely fake. Benefit's Hoola bronzer is matte and makes an excellent choice for contouring. 

EYES: First, I primed my lids with Urban Decay primer potion, as always. My next preliminary step was to add a color base of an oily consistency to help the eyeshadow stick easier. I used NYX jumbo pencil in Horse Radish. NYX jumbo eye pencils are amazing, they double as bases and can be worn alone... if you put them on correctly, they will not smudge all day. I even turned my mom on to them!!! I smudged out the pencil with my finger, took a flat shader brush and started packing on the green shadow all over my lid and above the crease, leaving the inner corner bare. Then, I took a grayish brown color on a dome-shaped fluffy brush and applied the color right over the edge of that green using windshield wiper motions and blending the colors together just at the edge.

Tip: When applying a contouring shadow, try to concentrate the color on the outer corner. This will give the eye a nice lift, making it look more exotic.

I finished the eye look by lining the outer portions of the top and bottom lash lines with a black pencil liner and adding 2 coats of mascara to the lashes. On the lips, I'm wearing NYX lipliner in soft brown all over the lip.

#2--EVENING LOOK: For this look, I did an Arabic eye interpretation, and btw Green in also the color of Islam, so it's only appropriate :))) In these photos, I'm extremely tan (see the hair being lighter than my skin), so this maybe a look for individuals of medium to dark complexions. Also, this look is perfect for green and hazel eyes, regardless of your skin tone.

EYES: For the eyes, I used the colors from the Urban Decay Ammo Palette, one of my favorite palettes out there. After priming the lids, (as one always should before applying shadow :) I took the color Mildew (a beautiful golden olive) and applied it to the center of my lid with a flat brush. Next, I took a black pencil liner (Urban Decay 24/7 in Zero) and lined the outer portion of my top lid, winging it out slightly. Taking a smudge brush and the color Oil Slick (velvety black with small glitter) I used it to smudge out the liner, and to fill in the outer corner of the eye. I kept the black shadow


parallel to the outer wing, creating a diamond shape. Next, I took a clean dome-shaped brush and used it to blend out the harsh edge of the black and green. The next step is optional, but I think it makes for a better transition, so go ahead and try it with me. With a dome brush, take a matte color that is close to your skin tone (I think I used Benefit's Hoola bronzer b/c of my tan) and apply it right above the green and black using wind-shield wiper motions. For the highlight and the inner corner, I used Polyester Bride from the palette (a shimmery white color with small glitters) and applied it with a small pencil brush for precision. I finished by applying two coats of mascara to the top and bottom lashes.

Tip: For an extra 'pop', take a beige or peach color and apply it to the waterline of the eye. This will make the eye dramatically wider and more awake.

Tip: To make the eye stand out even more, take a black gel or liquid liner and add a wing (just a wing--no liner across the lid) to the outer corner, tracing the outer edge of the eyeshadow. This step is super easy and takes 2 seconds, b/c all you have to do is trace :))

On my lips, I'm wearing NYX dolly pink lipliner and on my nails is Mattése nail enamel in Ballroom Blue.

Super Tan and Green... 

GREEN for my mask

GREEN FOR 'SAVE THE TREES'!!!

Natural is beautiful: the "No makeup" Makeup

I'm sure many of you are not as thrilled about the idea of plastering your faces with products as I tend to be, and firmly hold to the notion that less is more, and more is vulgar. You may be surprised to learn that I happen to subscribe to the same belief. Less is, in fact, more, especially when it comes to every day makeup. I absolutely do not support young girls wearing a heavy mask of foundation, nor do I believe in makeup being used as a veil. On the contrary, I think makeup is meant to highlight and bring attention to one's naturally beautiful and unique features. Of course, it took me a while to come to this realization, as I most certainly have used makeup as a hiding tool and wish I hadn't started 'using' as early as I did. So I admit it, I have abused makeup and was an addict for a long time.

My relationship with makeup began at the tender age of 13, when I got my first taste of pubescent zits. I shiver at the thought of those oil-based powders and concealers, which only made my skin more and more acne-prone (Thank God for Proactiv!) It quickly grew into a passion for transformation when I started experimenting with styles, ranging from gothic to gangsta' to schoolgirl, inspired by Fairuza Balk (The Craft), Left Eye, Buffy and others. Oh how I wanted to be Buffy... at times I even thought I was the fourth member of the TLC... anyway, I regressed. By the time I was in high school, I was the go-to girl for make-up--I experimented on all of my friends and take full credit for planting the seed of their current obsessions. I even taught my friends how to "shop" for make-up... but that's a story for another entry.

Back to being natural. Bottom line--I should not have been shopping or experimenting or plastering my face like it was a dry wall... I was fresh faced and should have probably kept it fresh, at least until 16. Why don't we ever listen to our mothers and years later wish we did? On a positive note, makeup technology and formulas have come a looong way since my high school days and I secretly can't wait to experiment on my little sister when she's of age. If she starts at 13 like I did, I'm OK with her using light eyeliner and perhaps some lipgloss, as well as grooming her brows. At 15, she can pile on the mascara and start using mineral foundation. After 16, it's all game on special occasions and by 18, she's free to choose.

It is important, however, to remember that people get used to seeing you in makeup and it's good and necessary to remind those around you, as well as yourself, that you are beautiful underneath it all. So, my thought for the day is to change it up, go natural, go bare, go free and be free :)

Bisous,


Maryam Maquillage

ABOUT THE LOOK:

So, although this is a natural look, I am wearing some makeup. I skipped my typical foundation primer and went with a mattifying moisturizer with SPF 15 from Proactiv. I find that with this product, skin doesn't really need much else as far as moisturizing, priming and protecting. It's a great all-in-one, non-comedogenic (does not clog pores) hydrating lotion that also primes and preps your face for the day. I used my favorite Bare Minerals matte mineral foundation just over my T-zone and a little under the eyes and mixed it with warmth (Bare Minerals' bronzing powder).

On my eyes, I'm wearing just 1 coat of mascara on both top and bottom lashes and the slightest amount of pale pink eyeshadow that I dotted on with my finger just to the center of my lid.

My lips are lined and filled in slightly with Mauve lipliner by Jordana.

This look took me about 2 minutes to complete, and the effect is natural but awake (hence the pj's). Oh yeah, I also brushed my eyebrows with a spoolie and applied some hair wax to keep the brows in place. I have to do that because my eyebrow hairs are very coarse. You can obviously skip this step.

EXAMPLES OF NATURAL MAKEUP:

The focus is on glowing youthful skin and the models' natural gorgeous features--cheekbones, lips, and eyes.

MOI--SANS MAQUILLAGE (ZERO MAKEUP)

Super Ellen in this one

'Eastern block', as my girl Jo would say. "Khan!"

I ate so much, my head exploded...

TIPS AND TRICKS: 

☺ Proactiv Oil Free Moisture with SPF 15. Forego their other stuff, but this one's a keeper. Go to your local mall, find a proactiv kiosk, and purchase it this way, otherwise you'll need a contract for the entire system.

☺ Natural does not mean makeup-less. If you love makeup like I do, keep it simple on those au natural days. A little mascara and concealer (just on the problem areas) go a long way. 

☺ Choosing a good bronzer can really transform you from looking like you're barely there to healthy and well-rested. I prefer a matte bronzer, like Benefit's Hoola, but also like mixing in Bare Minerals' Warmth with my every-day foundation for a subtle glow.

☺