Light, Bright & Lovely

Mornin' y'all! Today's quick post is an up-close featuring a contrasting duo of soft baby pink eyeshadow and sharp shimmery jet black cat-eyeliner. I love this modern take on the classic pin-up eye, and I wear it almost daily. A lot of people ask about my favorite type of makeup for everyday, so I thought I'd share one of my personal classics.

Read more for a list of products and how I used them!

Honey Child

Salut cheries!!


Today's maquillage features my latest eyeshadow obsession: Honey by Urban Decay. Of course I own the deluxe shadow box palette that it comes in, but I also recently purchased the single shadow because I love it that much! If you're looking for a perfect gold eyeshadow that is not too bronze-y or too yellow, this is your winner! The quality of this product is absolutely incredible... The texture is silky smooth and there's virtually no fallout with these Urban Decay deluxe shadows. I love them, I am totally obsessed with Urban Decay makeup, and am not even paid to say this! (but I wish I was :)

Check out the rest of the face

Red-n-Naked

Salut mes amis!

Congratulate me, I'm officially on vacay!!! Though, I'm not on holiday, so I won't be leaving NYC... I'll be sticking around and writing my beauty, makeup and fashion posts like it's a full time job. Looking forward to that, because I'll actually have the time, so let the challenge begin :))

Today's post is titled Red-n-Naked because I'm incorporating my freshly painted fire red nails with a very subtle, barely there maquillage, appropriately using the one and only Urban Decay Naked Palette. Get yours today, it's a must-have for every makeup junkie out there!

READ ON for the review and quick tutorial :)

Fresh Lavender

Salut mes belles :)

Since so many of you have told me that you looove makeup tutorials and looks, today's post will be a quickie of one of my favorite go-to everyday makeup looks featuring another cat eye in a wash of metallic lavender eyeshadow. Try it, hope you like it!

To see the step by step cat eye liner how-to, check out my post The Purrfect Cat Eye (it's a popular one :) and you'll be an expert in no time!


The pictures don't do justice to the true pigmentation and sparkle of this Bare Minerals eye shadow in Metallic Lavender... but trust you me, these mineral shadows are potent! You only need a little bit of this product to achieve maximum results! Thanks bestie for this awesome prezzie oxox :)) I loves 'it!

Start off with a primer and add a bit of a sticky base to the lid to act as an adhesive for the sparkly shadow. I like to use NYX jumbo eye pencils for this purpose.

1. With a stiff flat brush, pack on the eyeshadow all over the lid
2. Using a dome brush, blend out the edges. You can use an eyeshadow that is a couple shades darker than your skin
3. Finish the eye look by lining the top lash line and coat the lashes with mascara.

Check out the products and the rest of the pix :)

Pretty Purple

Salut mes amis,

If you're just stumbling onto this blog, welcome, and I hope you like makeup. This page is dedicated to all things beauty related--makeup advice, beauty tips, cosmetics reviews and makeup looks of the day or maquillage du jour. I take requests and am fully at your service to answer any questions or concerns about anything aforementioned. If you've been here before, thanks for coming back!!! If you're one of my dear faithful friends, I appreciate each and every one of you and want to thank you sooo much for your support :)) you've all been amazing!!!

 ❤❤❤

Now that I've completed my mini love shout-out... I hope you've all had a restorative weekend :)) Mine was really great, it was filled with love (yay), laughter and family--three ingredients to making me tres heureuse (happy). Saturday was my papa's bday, so naturally there was lots of wine involved and I sooo needed it. Other than the lame time change, the weekend festivities have restored me and left me very content.

Today's post is for my Miss Larry, a simple pretty makeup look using the Urban Decay deluxe shadow box, which she recently purchased. If you don't have this palette, do not fear--you absolutely don't need to have this exact product (although the colors are phenomenal). You can certainly recreate the look using whatever shadows you have. I just wanted to attempt something simple and everyday, using very bright and shimmery shadows, plus Larry put in her request :))) Voila!!

bisous,

Maryam Maquillage

Yourself, slightly better ;)

Joyeux Jeudi :)))

Happy Thursday indeed!!! The last couple of days have been really quite great (for me), even though the bone chilling weather has returned to claim its casualties. I've been dressing warm, keeping it cozy in cashmere and chic in Uniqlo heat-tech. In the winter, layering is unavoidable, so make sure you take advantage of this weather and layer away! I like to pair men's "wifebeater" tanks (what a name...) with long cashmere cardigans and long sleeved cotton tees with bulky knits and vests. For every day, I like to wear my bright Russian shawl over a bland outfit to spice it up and also to show some solidarity ;)... I wrap the shawl around my neck, like a huge scarf for a Mary-Kate hippie effect. Finishing your outfit with a chunky scarf or a bright shawl will add another dimension to your layering, so don't be afraid to show your individuality.

Winter makeup, for me, means less is more. I know, I know... that's not why you came to read my blog, so I'll keep my minimal makeup chatter to a minimum. Instead, I'll show you some tips and tricks on how to achieve a bright eyed, awake and healthy winter look for our everyday lives--work, school, interviews, errands, meetings, and other fun mundane responsibilities that our lives are so full of :))) Read on...

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

The Purrfect Cat-Eye

Salut les filles :))

After a two day hiatus, I'm back with a very simple and classic look: the Cat-eye. Forget what you've heard, I'm setting the record straight--Cat eyeliner flatters every single eye shape and is extremely wearable. This look is great for beginners and masters alike and can be as simple or as dramatic as your heart desires. It also happens to be my go-to makeup look for every day and is my favorite easy "glam-me-up". So, if you haven't already tried it, I will walk you through it and together we shall embrace the power of the meow!!! Without further adieu, I present to you the Cat-eye, purrfect for every day--school, work, play, whatever. Enjoy!!!

bisous,

Maryam Maquillage

THE LOOK: To achieve the Cat eye is easiest with a gel or cream liner, though the look is often enhanced with eyeshadow. For the sake of simplicity, I'll focus just on the liner for today's post :)) The "Cat" qualities of this look have to do with the angle that the eyeliner wing extends outwards and the precision of the line. If you look at the eyes of the kitty in my pictures, his bottom "lashline" goes up at a 45 degree angle, so basically, in recreating this look, we're trying to "lift" the outer corners of our eyes up to 45 degrees. Sounds easy?? it is :))

Degree of DRAMA: Here are some celebrity examples of how the cat eye look can range in terms of drama. Like I said, this look is extremely versatile and can be kept at its minimum or taken to the maximum :)))

The Quintessential Cat Eye:
Adding some drama to every day makeup

The Classic Cat Eye: A bit more drama fo' yo' mama

The Mama Drama of Cat Eyes:
Bold, Graphic, and Fierce!!!

I love all three looks, but my favorite look for every day is the Quintessential, worn by Angie... I wear this cat style liner practically every day, pairing it with nude lips and a coat of mascara over my lashes... or sometimes nothing at all!! The quintessential cat eye is the easiest to achieve and I'm gonna show you how to recreate it!!!

Excuse my sleepy eyes, this was before my coffee. 

THE TOOLS: Black cream or gel liner and an angled liner brush. As always, I use my Clinique cream liner in True Black. It comes with a tiny brush, but I don't recommend using it for application... I use it for touchups only. For beginners, you might also need a gray or light brown pencil or shadow, just for guiding.

THE STEPS: Because my lids are super oily, I use a dab of Primer Potion even for an eyeliner application. I put two dots--one on the outer corner and another on the middle of my top lash line and spread it across and under the eye with my finger. If your lids are normal to dry, you can go ahead and skip this preliminary step.

1. With your gray or light brown pencil or shadow, draw a light thin line from the middle of your bottom lash line to the outer corner and extending the line at the same angle. If your bottom lash line does not naturally curve up, this is where you will have to fake the angle :)
2. Take some black liner onto your brush (not too much--this look is buildable) and trace or "sharpen" just the outer wing you drew with the pencil. Keep the line fine, and stop about 3-8 mm from the outer corner. My outer wing is usually about 5 mm, but yours can be longer if your eyes are bigger.
3. Take some more color on your brush and draw a very thin line from the center of your top lash line to the start of your outer wing. If you're using a fine brush, you can just dab the color into your lashes. 
4. The line has to be thinnest in the center of your eye (at the start of the eyeliner) and gradually get thicker towards the wing. If you're not comfortable drawing it freehand, take an index card (or an envelope--put those bills to good use!!) and place it slightly above your lash line, connecting the center to the edge of the outer wing. Fill it in and you're done!!!

Add some mascara to your top lashes :))

Rim the bottom waterline with a nude or beige pencil

Take a cotton swap and clean the line if you have to

Again, before coffee...

After coffee and blowout, wearing my new favorite vest, hand-made by my mama, with all the love in her mama heart ♥♥♥

LOVE YA MAMA!!!

Everyday Smokey

Salut mes cheries!!!

Happy Wednesday, hope you're all still warm and healthy. I'm feeling a bit scratchy in my throat, so I'm drinking hot tea with lemon and gargling with warm water and baking soda... yummy :/ Tonight, I'm making myself a special concoction, which I learned from my Russky bff: 1/3 honey, 1/3 lemon and 1/3 vodka. If you're feeling like you're about to catch something, try this "cocktail"-- it works better than Theraflu. My throat is always super sensitive and I'm constantly battling with it... my bf thinks it's stress related as I am about to start my final school semester. Whatever it is, I gotta nip it at the bud, so I'm keeping positive and happy while trying to stay warm.

Today, I wanted to show you guys my makeup look from this Sunday... it was a simple, everyday mini-smoky eye paired with pinkish nude lips and rosy cheeks. I wore the look to a kiddie party and would recommend it for any informal or formal daytime occasion. Basically, this is a super easy look to achieve and anybody, even a beginner, can recreate it on themselves. Hope you enjoy!!

bisous,

Maryam Maquillage

P. S. Please vote in my POLL on the right sidebar :))

ABOUT THE LOOK: In the winter, I like to use warm shades on my eyes and cheeks, even if it's for every day. For the face, I used my typical makeup routine: Laura Mercier mineral foundation primer (the best primer for mineral makeup ever), Lancome Maquicomplet concealer in medium bisque under my eyes, around the nose and on any blemishes, and my Bare Minerals matte foundation in golden medium. I also swept some Benefit Hoola bronzer across my forehead, nose and cheeks. 

Tip: To fake a tan, apply your bronzer to areas where you would normally highlight: across the forehead, down the nose and on top of the cheekbones. You can use shimmery bronzer if you want, but I still prefer matte for the winter. 

EYES: For the eyes, you will need just 3 eyeshadows: a matte chocolate brown, a lighter matte soft brown or tan (couple shades darker than your natural skin tone), and a frosty pink or nude color. You'll also need a brown eyeliner and black mascara. You'll need 2-3 brushes--smudge brush, contour fluffy brush, and an angled fluffy brush (optional). For pictures and detailed descriptions of these brushes go to my post Fabuleyes.

1. Line the bottom waterline with the brown liner. I used Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in whiskey because it's waterproof once it sets.
2. Extend the line outside of the waterline, creating an outer wing and line the outer half of your upper lash line. Don't line under the eye.
3. Take your smudge brush and a matte chocolate brown shadow and smudge the top liner and the wing your just created. Smudge it up and out and also inwards toward the center of the lid. I used Too Faced eyeshadow duo in Sexpresso. 
4. Take the remaining color on the brush (do not add more shadow) and line very gently under the lower lash line, stopping halfway in.
5. Take a fluffy dome-shaped (contour) brush and apply the medium brown color following the contour of your eye socket. Use windshield wiper motions and make sure to tap off the excess color from the brush. This look is about soft smokiness, so there can't be any harsh lines. 
6. Take the smudge brush and a little more dark brown and go over the upper lash line once more, then repeat step 5. I do these two steps about 3 times until I achieve the smokiness that I like.
7. Take an angled fluffy brush or just clean your dome brush and apply a frosty nude color to your brow bone and to the rest of your lid (inner two thirds). I used the color Peach Fuzz (a peachy nude with gold glitters) from the same Too Faced eyeshadow duo. These eyeshadows are absolutely fantastic, I love this duo for everyday.
8. Curl your eyelashes and apply two coats of Black Mascara. My favorite is L'Oreal Voluminous in Carbon Black. I dare not spend over $5 on mascara, ever...

I used Ardell half lashes to complete the look, but you obviously don't have to. I like these lashes because they give me an extra cat eye lift. I use Duo lash glue in dark tone, that way you don't have to conceal it :)) My eyebrows are filled in ever so slightly, only in areas where my brows are sparse. I use a gray eyeshadow to fill them in because my brows are black and then I brush it out with a spoolie.

I look really weird in this pic because the camera angle distorted my features. My nostrils are super flared... yikes!!! No me gusta... but the lip color came out very true to life ;)

Anyways, I added some pink blush on the apples of my cheeks to warm them up and sprayed some MAC Fix + on my face to settle the makeup. On my lips, I'm wearing NYX lipliner in Natural--my everyday go to lipliner--and NYX lipgloss in Beige. I don't know why it's called Beige, it's really a muted pink, but whatevs... Also, I'm really not crazy about the smell of this lipgloss, it smells like cheap fake cherry and I just can't stand it... the colors and the quality of NYX glosses are awesome, but the smell could definitely be upgraded. Alrightie, short blog, let me know what you think, and PLEASE VOTE IN MY POLL on the TOP RIGHT sidebar. Merci a tous!!!