Vanity and Vodka

When I do makeup, I usually try to stay within the "very wearable", "I might be able to wear this to work", or "let's go BOLDER" kind of perimeters.  But, I'm deviating today.  This is a bit more theatrical, fantasy, enchanted, and still sweetly delicate.  I hope you like it! :-)



Let's talk shop.  I did my full face routine, with foundation, concealer, powder, and brows. I primed my lids with Urban Decay Primer Potion, and Nyx Jumbo Pencil in Milk.   Then I started with Sugarpill Goldilux in the inner corner, then moved to Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics shadow in Saturate (THIS COLOR IS SO MAGICAL!!), then on the outer corner I used Sugarpill loose shadow in Weekender.  I found a violet in my Coastal Scents Metal Mania palette to soften edges and BLEND everything up on the crease.  End result, super pretty!
I traced the lower lid with the same colors. Super easy!

Now let's add some drama.



First and foremost, I'm wearing a HUGE pair of purple/black lenses from PinkyParadise.com. They command a lot of attention!  I lined my upper lid with black liner, and lower water line with WHITE liner AND SHADOW, and applied mascara.  I used a random pair of choppy lashes that I ordered from Ebay, and then... Oh yes...
PAPERSELF Small Peacock lashes. These magical beauties need to be treated with respect.  They are fragile, and made of paper. Take this piece of advice from me: Never use latex base adhesives on Paperself lashes. They will dissolve and crumble before your eyes. Use a clear, latex free eyelash glue, and you will have your gorgeous Paperself lashes for many uses!!  (Check MadameMadeline.com or NyxCosmetics.com for latex free adhesives).  After applying the glue, I simply placed them on top of my lashes where I wanted them, and held for 15 seconds. 



Final Touches:  I added some teal rhinestones that are very hard to see in the pictures (sad face). I placed one under my brow, and another under my lower lid. Blush is Nyx Dusty Rose.  Lips you are wondering?  Best question ever.... my favorite Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetic Lip Tar in Trollop. Amazing product, amazing color.

Have a great week!!!  I hope you like it!!

xoxo,
Colleen

P.S.
Thank you again SO MUCH for being such a wonderful group of the most lovely community I've ever been a part of.  I thank you!!  Your kind words and encouragement mean the world to me.

Easter Brights!  (This is from an older post! It's not Easter anymore!)
Happy Easter! Or Vernal Equinox. Or Ostara.  Or just SUNDAY!
Whichever holiday you celebrate on this day, I created this look based on my favorite colors of the season.  I hope you like it!
I used the Coastal Scents 88 Matte Palette, and the most superb Poison Plum by Sugarpill to create this look.  Lashes are Red Cherry 128’s.  Blush was Nyx in Dusty Rose, and the lip color was Doll Pink gloss by Nyx, mixed with a fuscia by Sephora.
I hope you have a beautiful week!  I’m going to eat a lot of chocolate eggs. After I finish my drink.
♥,
Colleen and Ivy
P.S. Yes, Ivy has extra toes. We are pretty sure uses them to sharpen knives while we’re at work.
Good girl.

Spring is in Full Bloom
..Just ask my allergies!
With all this color and blooming nature all around me, I’m playing with some bold shades from http://www.etsy.com/shop/MyBeautyAddiction.   I’m so glad to have found this shop.  So many colors, extremely affordable. These colors are SO vivid and pigmented- just what I was in the mood for.  A bit of POW.
Lashes are Red Cherry 203’s, blush is Glee by Bare Minerals, and lips are Amethyst gloss by Nyx. :D
Have a kick ass week.  My legs are killing me from all the ass kicking.  Must kick. Never stop.
XOXO,
♥ Colleen

This week’s look is brought to you by Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics!
I couldn’t be more excited to finally get my hands on some of their colors, and needless to say, I am so so so excited!!
I’ve kind of been intrigued by bluey-green shit lately, so hang in there with me. I am so in LOVE with this. In fact… this color Saturate is my new favorite (not kidding). This is the color I used directly on my lid. It’s ELECTRIC when you put it on.  Bright, vivid, and duo-chromatic. Changing from blue to green with movement. It’s like it GLOWS IN THE DARK, it’s that vivid! It’s quite unbelievable.
I used Static in the crease- which is a purpley-blue, and then Datura (pale pink) as my highlight color. Thanks again to Sugarpill for the inner corner sparkle, I used the outstanding Goldilux. This color is a PERMANENT fixture in my collection. It is AMAZEBALLS.  Lashes are Red Cherry 138’s.
And, please let us pay homage to the divine Lip Tars. I couldn’t decide which ones to use, so I mixed two, Pageant and Memento.  They are not messing around with the pigment with these, so use with care! The color is so incredibly beautiful!
Thank you Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics and Sugarpill for providing us with vegan, cruelty free, kick ass makeup.  Sincerely…THANK YOU.
XOXO,
Colleen & Ivy

At least she is not eating paper...

Gothic Glam
I couldn’t resist! I got the new Nyx Cosmetics palette, The Crimson Amulet Collection inspired by the film, Dark Shadows. I had to go to the dark side for this week’s look!
The look is a little vampy, a little trampy and I love it.
Yes, I used a highly pigmented white powder on top of my already pale foundation, so I’m extra ghostly :-) I used the darkest black shadow and the darkest taupe to do a cut crease/winged eye shape. Then used the white color to use as my highlighter color under the brows.
I did some light contouring along the cheekbones, and used the matte blush (duo) from the palette.  At first I went with the darkest of the lip colors, but it was a touch too dramatic.  I wanted the end result to still be “delicate” and kinda wearable, so I used the lightest shade of the lip colors. Turned out super pretty. My husband says this is his “favorite so far”!  (Isn’t that sweet?!)
Lashes are Red Cherry 74’s. And I’m wearing a pair of gray circle lenses.  CREEPY and pretty!
I’ll tone down the drama next week, and do a more wearable look with this palette, because it is so versatile. It may be my new favorite. The matte shades alone are utterly stunning! So lovely!
Hope you have a great week!  I need to find The Cure’s Greatest Hits album. (YEAH- I’m pretty sure I still have it on vinyl.)
xoxo,
Colleen and Ivy ♥

Ivy needs attention NAO

Everyday Precious Metals
As promised, here is another look using this extremely versatile palette, The Nyx Crimson Amulet Collection. The color combos can go on and on.  I did the entire look using everything from the palette.  Eyes, cheeks, and lips.
I went with a smoky bronzey goldy kind of a look that turned out super pretty and very everyday wearable.  In the close up picture of the palette I “hearted” the colors that I used.  The deep plum color on the top row was used as the shadow liner under my eyes.  The bronze color was my crease color, the gold was used on my lid, did some contouring with a sparkly taupe, and contoured with black.  Used the light vanilla color under the brow as highlight. Lashes are Red Cherry’s WSP (so fluttery!).
I hope you like it.  I’m a big fan of metals. I think they rock.  If you want to check out more metal inspiration, please feel free to click here and here or here. (I’m such an ass and I love it) =D
I’ll probably be back next week with another look from this palette (not kidding).
Have a wonderful week :-)
XOXO,
Colleen and Ivy

This is the look before I am about to be smacked.

Copper Wink
I just wanted to have a little fun with some super sultry copper glitter and some Elise lashes (lashes are sprinkled with gold glitter, but it might be tricky to spot with all the glittery glitter all over the place). I honestly can’t tell you where I found this glitter- all I can say is that the brand is Sparkleez (I can’t find it anywhere on the internets!!) :-(
I used a Nyx lip color in Dream of Africa and also tapped glitter onto my lips, although it’s tricky to see in the pictures.
Just having some fun!!
My best to you! Have a great week :-)
xoxo,
Colleen and Ivy

I have no words for this mess.

I Never Thought I'd Do This...

Why?  Because Bridal Makeup is in the imagination of every bride.  It can be anything she wants. I don't want to post a look of what Bridal Makeup SHOULD BE because there is no way (in my creative mind) that concept exists.

So here I am.  Again, entering another competition.  This theme: Bridal Makeup.  CLASSIC, EFFORTLESS, ETERNAL.

So this is what you get.
Colleen. Serving you my interpretation of a dreamy eyed, innocent, simple, classic look that to me- screams: fresh, young, eternal beauty.  Not too heavy.  Super wearable. This is a "Look at my face, and not my makeup" look. I think most brides want that.  It's not Halloween, gurl!!  It's your wedding day!! 

I hope you like it.  If you would like to vote for this look, I'll post the link to the competition at the end of this post.  I really love all of your comments and encouragement. You all are the best!! :-)
Seriously.  You are all the best. Thank you! :-)

Ivy was super excited to help this evening.

Just in case you are wondering.... I used the Coastal Scents Metal Mania palette pretty much for all of the shadows.  I did that on purpose.  I wanted a soft satin finish.  Lashes are my beloved Ardell 120's, blush was from the Lauren Luke Vintage Glam palette, and lips are courtesy of Nyx in Round Lipstick in B52 with Cafe Latte gloss.

Ok ok!! Sorry so wordy!!  Here is the link to the competition entry if you feel so inclined to show me some LUV. 

Have a beautiful day. NO. Strike that. Have a KICK ASS day!!  (And may it STILL be beautiful!!)

xoxo,
Colleen & Ivy

♦Hollywood Glam♦

Ok!  So I'm at it again for another submission to the Celebrity Makeup contest sponsored by Makeupbee.com and BH Cosmetics.  This is turning out to be quite fun!

So I went for a Hollywood Glam look that I found being fiercely werked by Miss Julianne Moore (another favorite redhead!). 


It's a little bit different from the usual Marilyn Monroe, or retro glam pin up.  There is a lot of facial contouring and dark shading on outside corners of the eyes.  The eyeliner is delicate.  The brows are muted.  However- it does feature the classic red pout that is synonymous with Hollywood Glam since the beginning of Hollywood Glam! 
It turned out quite lovely.  I hope you like it!  



I just want to say that I really appreciate all the wonderful feedback and communication I've been getting. It really means the world to me.  Thank you so much!!  Thank you for appreciating the magic of makeup like I do. You all are the best!

I hope you have a beautiful week!
xoxo,
Colleen
P.S.  *HERE* is the link to the contest entry, if you want to stop by and give me some LUV :-)  

 

     This is another submission of mine for the celebrity makeup look contest.  For this week, I am doing a Florence Welch look that I came across and adore.  I am so touched and moved by her music. She is an inspiration to me.
I love this look, I hope you do too!!






     For this look, I did a blue/black smoky eye with white accenting on the inner corners.  I used a heavy black liner on the upper, lower lid, and waterline. I kept the cheeks light, and used a pale lip color to match the photo as best as I could.

     If you get the opportunity, pick up the latest Florence & the Machine album- Ceremonials.  It is exquisitely beautiful.  You can download it from Amazon HERE   :-)

Wish me luck!!  #TeamFlorence!

To view and vote visit:  https://www.makeupbee.com/look.php?look_id=42617

xoxo,
Colleen