Party Season Makeup Tutorial – Christmas 2011
My take on the Look of the season.
Hey Divas, compliments of the season to you. This holiday season, I have decided to not just write an article about the party look for the season, but to also do a makeup tutorial on this look to enable you recreate it if you so choose. Let’s just say it’s my Christmas gift to you.
So this Christmas, the look is a dark look. Almost gothic in my opinion, with very dark plum lips, and light/Nude shimmery eyes. Am talking real dark plum. However, you can always change this look slightly to make it your own which is exactly what I have done seeing as I don’t like to conform or be told what to do.
The picture on the left is my take on the look of the season, and below is a list of all products used:
Eyes: NYX Box of Eyeshadows – 112 colours (watch video for exact colours used).
NYX Solo Eyeshadow in Highlight
NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk
Urban Decay Eyeshadow primer Potion
Lips: MAC lip Pencil in Currunt
MAC lipstick in Plumful
Blush: MAC Blush in Desert Rose
Eyebrow: MAC Pencil in Chestnut
Makeup Forever Eyeshadow in no 28
Lashes: Makeup Academy lashes (No name)
Brushes: Sigma “Make me Blush” Brush kit
Click on the link below to view the tutorial on how to recreate this gorgeous makeup look. Don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe to my channel.
Till next time, it’s your girl Grace FaceQuizite wishing you a very Merry Christmas, and Happy New year in advance…. x o xo
NYX Makeup Review – Eyeshadows
NYX solo Eyeshadows
Hi fabulous ones, so it’s been a couple of weeks since my last blog. Well I am working on making that at least every week so please bear with me. My topic for today is actually a review of what is fast becoming my favourite brand of eyeshadow – “NYX Eyeshadows”. I will be giving you my view on this product based on my experience of using it, and so far it’s all good.
I stumbled upon the NYX range of cosmetics on one of my travels to the United States. I was a bit iffy when I saw the
price as I immediately assumed that the products wouldn’t be that great considering how cheap they were. However, I did a quick swatch test on the back of my hand right there in the shop, and it was “Love at first touch”. Oh my God!!!!!!!! The texture of these eyeshadows were just so smooth and creamy. Not that dry chalky texture you get from some other brands, and the pigmentation was fantastic. The NYX Eyeshadow colours have such great colour payoff and needless to say I have been hooked since. I bought about 10 of the solo pieces there and then, and I haven’t looked back since.
NYX Makeup Artist kit
I recently went onto the NYX website and came across their bigger pallets and of course I just had to buy a couple. So I purchased the NYX Makeup Artist Kit which included 36 gorgeous eyeshadow colours, 3 sets of contouring /highlighting colours, four Blush colours and 5 lipgloss colours, all of which were humongous in size. See picture below…
I also bought the NYX Box of Eyeshadows 112 Colours. This is also fabulous with great colour payoff. The only difference is that the eyeshadow sizes are smaller but still bigger than the ones i have seen in the 120 pro palettes, plus there are 112 Eyeshadow colours in this palette so what’s not to love. See picture below….
Those who know me, know that i am a makeup freak and i will not give my seal of approval to any product i have not yet tried out. These have been tried and tested and i can confirm they are fabulous products. They are reasonably priced and have great colour payoff.
NYX 112 Eyeshadow Colour Pallet
You can get NYX products from www.nyxcosmetics.com or for those of you living in the UK, www.nyxcosmeticsstore.co.uk . The only problem is they don’t seem to have these gorgeous pro pallets on the UK website. They do however sell the trio eyeshadow pallets as well as the 10 colour eyeshadow palettes, and of course the solo eyeshadow colours.
I have done a makeup tutorial on my you tube page http://www.youtube.com/facequiziteusing the Makeup Artist Kit
Pallet. So go and check it out so you get to see the great colour payoff. I absolutely love, love, love this palette. It gets my seal of approval. I will also be doing a separate youtube review on this product in the next couple of days so please do check out my youtube channel and please subscribe so you can get automatic updates of my video uploads.
NYX Trio Eyeshadow
So till next time, it’s your girl Grace saying – Stay fabulous x
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A Makeup Tutorial Using NYX Eyeshadow
What is permanent Makeup
Hello again fabulous ones. Today we will be looking at the topic of Permanent Makeup which is a topic so dear to my heart.
But why so? I hear you say. Well, simply because I have come across too many clients with badly done permanent Makeup, Eg bad eyebrow tattoo. Not only is it difficult to rectify if it goes wrong, but as a makeup artist, I like to be in full control of a look I create, and if a client has badly tattooed brows on, it means I have to either work with badly shaped brows or, I go through the long process of covering it up with makeup and creating a completely different brow shape.
Permanent Makeup can be either one of the best decisions you ever make or the worst. Therefore if you must have permanent Makeup done then at least do it right. Go to a Licensed Permanent Makeup Artist as opposed to a Tattoo Artist. This is your face, you don’t get to choose a new one if anything goes wrong. In the United Kingdom for example, Tattoo Artists are not licensed to tattoo the face. Only Licensed “Permanent Makeup” Artists are, and there is a very good reason for this.
If you have sparse, little or no eyebrow hair or just want to frame your eyes and emphasise your face shape then this Permanent Makeup enhancement is for you. There are many techniques that are used to either give you an eyebrow lift to open up the eye area for a youthful appearance, recreate non existent eyebrows, simply redefine the shape, or how about a new shape altogether. The end result can be a soft pencilled appearance which is called colour mist brow or hair simulation for a completely natural flawless look.
Example of Semi Permanent Makeup done on both the brows and Eyeliner.
WHAT IS SEMI-PERMANENT MAKE-UP?
Also known as Micropigmentation, Dermagraphics or Permanent Cosmetic Enhancement. Permanent Make-up is a revolutionary advanced form of cosmetic tattooing used to infuse hypo-allergenic pigments into the dermal layer of the skin. New advanced techniques result in a long lasting look that is either subtle or dramatic, recreating beautiful brows, and striking eyes or enhanced lips that give your face shape and definition.
Permanent makeup is permanent, it gradually fades over time leaving a residue of colour. This varies from client to client and depends on your skin type, colour of pigment implanted into the skin, age and care of your enhancement e.g. soft neutral colour implanted into the lips will fade faster than a black eyeliner. Therefore a touch up/colour boost is recommended every 12-18 months to maintain the fresh new appearance of your enhancement.
WHO BENEFITS FROM PERMANENT MAKE-UP?
Almost anyone and everyone. Alopecia suffers who loose their eyebrows and lashes.eg patchy or non existent eyebrows, anyone who finds applying their makeup problematic e.g. arthritis in the fingers, or poor vision. Swimmers, athletes and those who regularly participate in sporting activities. Allergy sufferers who react to makeup, Require correction of asymmetry of facial features. Both for Men and Women who want to look good 24/7
IS THE PROCEDURE PAINFUL?
Sophisticated equipment and advanced techniques are used along with topical anaesthetics before and during the treatment to help reduce any discomfort. It’s no more painful than having your eyebrows tweezed.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PROCEDURE?
After your treatment the colour of your enhancement will appear 30-40% darker and more intense, gradually fading to your chosen colour within a few days as the pigment settles, the area might also be slightly swollen with mild redness however this lasts for a few hours and varies between each client.
WHEN PERMANENT MAKEUP GOES WRONG
When Permanent Makeup goes wromg, the consequences can be dire. The reasons for wanting semi permanent make up removed can vary from bad work to simply not feeling comfortable with the results.
This sort of work requires years of experience and the most up to date equipment as well as expertise in healing and scar management. When work is done on the face, there is no room for error.
Red lipsticks – How to wear it
Hi beautiful ones, and welcome to another edition of “ASK GRACE FACEQUIZITE”. This week we will be looking at how to wear red lipstick. “Why red lipstick” I hear you say. This is because red lipstick is the trickiest of all lipstick colours. It can make you look exquisite if you get it right, but it can also make you look like a clown if you get it wrong, and as a result most of us are a little bit hesitant when it comes to wearing red lipstick. Hopefully, this article will help you become more confident in wearing this unique shade of lipstick.
According to Terry Barber, Director of Makeup Artistry at MAC, “Red lipstick is the stiletto heel of make-up” In other words, it’s instant sexiness. It is a slick of glamour in a tube. And ladies, you’d better get used to it, as next season Red is back in the fashion spotlight once more.
‘Pure red lipstick is a classic and there are women who wouldn’t wear anything else as it makes them stand out in a crowd. It makes you the centre of attention so you had better get it right otherwise you will stand out for the wrong reason.
Preparing your lips
There are four steps you should observe before applying red lipstick:
- Exfoliate by buffing away any dead skin from the lips using a specific lip exfoliating cream or brush gently with a toothbrush.’
- Moisturise with a balm such as Clinique’s Superbalm Lip Treatment and then blot away any excess.
- Use a Primer on the lips to make a more even surface. (This step is not compulsory but helps).
- Line your lips with a lip liner to ensure the lipstick doesn’t ‘bleed’ into the skin above and below the mouth. This is all before the colour goes on.
Choosing the correct Shade of Red for your skin tone
When wearing red lipstick, keep the rest of your make-up neutral, and avoid lip gloss on top of red lipstick. When choosing colours, a general rule is that Orangey Reds work for everyone, and Pinker Reds suit darker skin tones. Beware of red lipsticks if your teeth are on the yellow side, some Bluey reds can make the teeth appear less white.
If you still feel choosing the correct shade of Red lipstick is a bit cumbersome for you, then go to the store with a friend for a second opinion or seek the advice of an in-store makeup artist.
Tip 1 – Red lips look best when worn with neutral colours on the eye. This is not to say you can’t have a strong eye makeup look with red lips but try and keep the shades within the neutral family if possible. Eg black, grey, charcoal, Brown, Beige etc as this makes the red lips stand out.
Tip 2 – Red lips on a nude face is a powerful statement on it’s own so tone down the blusher to avoid looking like a clown.
Tip 3 - If you’ve bought a red lipstick shade that’s too bright, dark or whatever, don’t throw it away. Instead, experiment with other lipstick shades you have on hand to create the perfect shade of red.
And there you have it ladies, hope you find this article useful.
Till next time, it’s your girl Grace FaceQuizite saying, Stay Fabulous……
Valentines makeup look ideas
Suggestions of Eye makeup for Valentine's day
Hi Ladies and welcome to this week’s special Valentine’s Edition of Ask Grace FaceQuizite. As Valentine’s day is just a couple of days away, I have come up with two different looks that will work for a special valentine’s day date with your special one. I understand that some of us struggle when it comes to how we wear our makeup when trying to impress someone we like very much, especially those in a new relationship. For some reason, we tend to get confused about the tiniest of things. Things that normally wouldn’t stress us out eg what do i wear, how should i wear my makeup, what do i do with my hair etc. Suddenly start to cause us unnecessary stress. So, to help alleviate at least one of these causes of stress, I am suggesting the two makeup looks below and giving you a step by step guide on how to recreate them.
Both looks are very suitable for Valentine’s day and very easy to re-create. I love them both though I never wear red lipstick but thought “why not? It’s valentine’s.
I am currently working on creating video tutorials for different looks so do watch out for these. I will also endeavour to include step by step pictures of each look in my future articles so please bear with me till then.
Once you have decided on which look to go for, follow the step by step guide below to recreate it .
Look 1 – Silver Ring
Makeup look 1 - Silver Ring
- Apply eyeshadow primer all over your eye lid
- Apply an eyeshadow base from lashline to crease preferably in black or charchoal
- Apply a gray eyeshadow colour on your lid, from lashline to crease
- Apply black eyeshadow to the outer corner of your eye and blend
- Apply a colour close to your skin tone to the crease area in sweeping motions to blend out colour eg a light brown.
- Apply a silver eyeshadow or glitter to the inner corner of the eye to give it extra pop.
- Apply a light eyeshadow colour eg MAC’s Arena or Shroom to your browbone.
- Apply Eyeliner on your upper lid and your waterline
- Apply Mascara on both top and bottom lashes and finish off the look with false lashes for that extra Vava voom.
For this look i will recommend a light colour on your lips but you can wear it with a darker colour if you so desire.
Look 2 – Smoulder
Makeup Look 2 - Smoulder
- Apply eyeshadow primer all over your eye lid
- Apply a nude colour eyeshadow base all over the lid from lashline to browbone.
- Apply a light eyeshadow colour eg MAC pigment in Naked all over your lid from lashline to crease
- Apply a brown eyeshadow colour to your crease area in sweeping motions ensuring you don’t take the colour too high
- Blend, blend, blend.
- Apply a neutral colour to your browbone eg MAC eyeshadow pigment in Vanilla or eyeshadow colour in Arena.
- Apply eyeliner on your upper lid and your waterline
- Apply Mascara on both your top and bottom lashes and finish off the look with false lashes.
For this look I would recommend stronger lips eg red or plum but preferably red, to go with the Valentine season. I never wear red but I did just to show you how well it works with this look.
So there you have it. Two lovely looks to choose from for your valentine’s day date with your special one, or even a night out with your girls. Ensure you practice your preferred look prior to the special day, and whatever you do, make sure you look and feel fabulous.
Till next time, It’s your girl Grace FaceQuizite wishing you a happy Valentine’s day in advance…. xoxo
How to Makeup – Create Tinted Nude Lips
Tinted Nude Lips with a Pink effect.
Hello Divas, and welcome to another Series of Ask Grace. This week we will be looking at how to create the perfect Tinted Nude Lip.
“What is a Tinted Nude Lip” I hear you say; This is a nude lip with a hint of colour.
Creating a nude lip is easier when you have natural pink lips. However it can be a bit more difficult to create if you have darker lips, so today I am going to be giving you a step by step guide on how to create this look regardless of the colour of your natural lips. The Nude lip looks absolutely fabulous when worn with Smokey Eyes.
Nude lips should be worn with a bolder eye. Not necessarily a smokey eye makeup but your eyes need to pop. A couple more coats of mascara and a slightly thicker eye liner will do the trick. However if going out in the Evening then by all means go for a full on Smokey Eye with your nude lip.
How do I create a Tinted Nude Lip:
- Line your lips with a slightly darker lip colour. (Use a light brown pencil if you are trying to achieve a beige effect nude lip colour (any brand will do), or a light plum lip liner if you are trying to create a pink effect nude colour).
- Blend out the harsh lip liner colour to a softer smokey look taking care to avoid the centre of the lip (this applies to both the top and bottom lip).
- Fill lips with a nude lipstick colour (eg MAC’s “Cherish” or “Myth” for that beige effect and “Creame Cup” for the pink effect). You can use any brand, it doesn’t have to be MAC.
- Once again, blend along the edges of your lips. Blend the lip liner with the lipstick so that the two mesh together, ensuring you don’t go outside of the defined lip shape.
- Apply a tinted lip gloss colour over the centre of the lips eg Lancome’s Juicy tube smoothie in “Fruity Pop”, or MAC’s lip glass in “Pretty Plush” or lipgelee in “Slicked Pink”. Again any other brand will do.
- Slightly kiss your lips together, and voila!!! Beautiful Pouty Tinted Nude Lips.
So there you have it my beautiful Divas. Give this a try and let me know how you find it.
Till next time, It’s your girl Grace FaceQuizite saying, STAY FABULOUS………….
How to create a smokey eye look that works for both day and evening
Hello beautiful people and welcome once again to my blog. I know it’s been a minute since i posted any new topics but this has been due to other conflicting priorities so apologies. I am back now, and will try to update it as often as possible with some fantastic makeup and beauty tips that you would find very useful so do watch this space.
This week we are looking at How to create a smokey eye look that will work for both day and evening without it appearing too strong for a day look.
Smokey eye look using brown and orange eyeshadow colours
Usually a smokey eye look is more suitable for going out in the evening. However it is also possible to wear it during the day, even to the office if it is done in a subtle way, using the right colours.
A quick tip - For this particular look, avoid eyeshadow colurs that are too dark eg black, navy blue, Charcoal etc (unless you want to create a smokey look that is strictly for the evening) and stick to slightly lighter colours such as browns, purples, olives etc.
For today’s smokey eye look, i will be using orange and brown eyeshadow colours.
What tools do i need to create this look
- Eye Shadow Primer
- Eye shadow Base
- Set of good quality brushes
- Eye shadow (if possible stick to matte eyeshadow colours)
- Black Eye liner – this could be a gel liner, liquid liner or kohl pencil liner.
- Mascara or false eyelashes
So now that i have the right tools, how do i create the look?
- Ensure your eye area is clean and free of oil
- Apply your eye shadow primer all over the eyelid from lashline to brow bone
- Once the primer is dry, apply your Eyeshadow Base on your eyelid from crease to lashline – your base colour should be in black applied very sparingly, or preferably in dark chocolate.
- Apply your orange eyeshadow in a sweeping motion just above your crease and try not to take it too high.
- Then appyly your dark brown or Chocolate coloured eyeshadow from lashline to the crease.
- Blend the point where the brown meets the orange with a blending brush so the two colours mesh together.
- Apply a lighter base colour, something close to your skin tone to your brow bone area
- Apply your highlighter colour over the light base color.
- Blend the point where your highlighter colour meets with the orange so that the two colours mesh together.
- Apply your eye liner to your top eye lid and then into your water line.
- and finally, apply your mascara or falsies
And there you have it my beautiful ones, as simple as ABC. So go yea forth and get to painting, and don’t forget to blend, blend, blend. If you are confident enough of your creation then send it to me and i will publish it on my blog as well as on my face book page.
Till next time, it’s your girl Grace saying “STAY FABULOUS” x x
What is Foundation Makeup
Different types of Foundation
Foundation makeup has definitely come a long way. Gone are the days when choices were limited and most foundations were thick, unmanageable creams. These days, there are many types of foundation available, from thick creams with the consistency of a concealer, to the very sheer tinted moisturisers which create an even skin tone while creating just a hint of colour. Thicker, drier makeup covers more, but it’s harder to blend. With light makeup, blending is easy, but it’s harder to conceal skin’s imperfections.
Foundations (foundation makeup) should do more than even out skin tones and conceal blemishes; it should also actually help your skin appear dewier, stronger and healthier. Below is a list of the different types of foundation makeup.
Tinted Moisturiser: If you don’t need a lot of coverage but do want something to even out your skin tone and relieve dry skin, tinted moisturiser may provide you with just what you need. Tinted moisturizer is perfect for softening and protecting the skin while adding a hint of foundation colour. This makeup is also ideal because you don’t have to put on moisturiser and then foundation.
Mousse: Mousse foundation is easier to apply in thin layers than liquid foundation makeup, so you have more control. Mousse makeup is liquid makeup with air whipped in, making it lighter and smoother. It comes in a spray or aerosol-type can, like whipped cream. Whipped foundation makeup is good for all skin types, but it’s especially nice for those with dry or aging skin because of its tendency to go on smoothly instead of caking up in facial lines.
Liquid Foundation: Many women prefer liquid foundation makeup because it applies so smoothly. You can enhance the smoothness by putting it on with a slightly damp makeup sponge. Liquid foundation makeup is good around the eyes, where you may want a bit more coverage; this can be applied with the tip of a triangular shaped sponge or with a small lip brush for the best control.
Cream-to-Powder Foundation: One of the most interesting and popular foundation makeup options is cream-to-powder foundation. It goes on as a liquid, but dries to a powder finish that minimizes oil and lasts all day. You’ll find cream to powder foundation makeup in compacts that look like powder, or in tubes or bottles. The good thing about this type of foundation makeup is its easy application and the fact that you don’t have to put on powder for full coverage.
Concealer: Concealer is thickened, even tinted to correct colour for particular areas such as under-eye smudges, pimples, scars, redness etc. It is thick and comes in compacts or cover sticks.
Mineral Makeup: Minerals are the latest thing in foundation makeup. Their popularity has come about mainly because they contain very few ingredients and tends to be perfect for people with allergies or sensitive skin. Brush on minerals foundation makeup with a big, puffy brush, building up layers of very fine powder. Advertised as a “soft-focus” look. The main problem I have with mineral foundation makeup is that there doesn’t seem to be enough shades for people of colour, and most of the colours they do have for dark skin tends to give an ashy appearance.
Foundation makeup tips
- Feel free to use your fingers when applying foundation and concealer; however a sponge is very useful for blending and also wiping away any extra product.
- Oil based foundations tend to separate, so they need to be shaken for a smoother application.
- I prefer little or no foundation for everyday use. Too much foundation can give the face an artificial look.
- Cream foundation can create the look of having a milky complexion.
- If your foundation formula is too oily, try adding a few drops of astringent. This will make the foundation a bit shearer, but does cut down on the oiliness.
- If and when you use foundation all over the face, be sure to blend it properly into your jawline and slightly onto your neck. Otherwise, you’ll have a distinct line between the two, and it will make you look like you have a mask on.
- Sometimes in a photograph of yourself, you will notice that your face is lighter than your neck and chest. That’s because the flash reflects light off the face (with foundation and powder) and the raw skin of your chest or neck absorbs the light. Next time you think you are going to be photographed, be sure to apply a bit of the powder to your neck and chest, or wear little or no foundation.
Till next time, it’s your girl Grace saying – Stay Fabulous x x
Eye Shadow – Step by step guide on how to apply.
Different eye makeup looks
- Prep your eyes with concealer - Use a Concealer to cover up under eye circles. To do this, apply three dots of concealer under each eye. Start at the inner corner where skin tends to be darkest, then under the pupil, and the third on the outer edge. Pat with your ring finger until it blends with into your skin.
- Apply eye base /Primer to your lid – Eye base is the secret to keeping your eye shadow in place for hours. Without properly priming your lid first, your eye shadow will likely end up a greasy line in your crease.
- Apply eye shadow. It’s best to use a three-toned shadow and build from lids to brow, allowing each colour to blend into the other. Start with a light eye shadow colour that almost matches your lid. Sweep the colour all over the lid, from lash line to brow bone. Follow with a medium colour across your lid only. Build on this with a darker eye shadow colour in the crease. Blend the colours well.
- Follow with eyeliner - Dark eyeshadows work great as eyeliners. Wet an angled brush, then dip in a dark eyeshadow. Line eyes as close to the upper lashes as possible from the inner corner to the outer corner. Follow with liner on bottom eyes, but only line from the middle of the eye out. Smudge the bottom line with a Q-tip or your finger. For a smokey eye, use a brush to pat in a dark eyes hadow along the upper lid as well as under the lower lid. You don’t want a harsh line, instead you want to blend it so it’s smudgey.
- Brighten your eyes with a highlighter – This step involves only the inside part of the eye. With a gold or pink highlighter (white is too bright), draw a v-shaped shape that follows the inner corner of your eye from top to bottom. Blend with your fingers. This will help make your eyes pop.
- Highlight your brow - Take the same highlighter and dab it on your brow bone. Blend with a medium sized sturdy rush or your finger.
- Curl lashes – An eyelash curler will make even long lashes look more gorgeous.
- Apply mascara – Place the wand of your mascara brush at the bottom of lashes and wiggle back and forth. Follow with another few sweeps of the wand. Apply to bottom lashes as well.
There you have it my fabulous ones. Give this a try and send your pictures to “grace@facequizite.com” no later than 28 June 2010 for your oppourtunity to win an eye shadow set. Only one entry per person allowed.
Till next time, Stay fabulously beautiful……
Grace FaceQuizite
Thank you
Hi guys,
I just wanted to seize this opportunity to say a big thank you to all you regular visitors to my site and blog. Thank you for all your encouraging comments. I really appreciate each and everyone of you and promise to try as much as possible to keep bringing you useful beauty and makeup information/Advise/Tips.
Stay fabulously beautiful….
Grace FaceQuizite x x
