Strike a pose!

Hi friends, welcome back! This weekend was a hot one here in So Cal and as soon as I spotted this yellow crop top I knew I had to wear it out and pretend it was already summer, lol! So, as I was putting my outfit together I realized it was too cute not to wear it somewhere gorgeous. When I stopped to think of gorgeous places, well of course iconic Rodeo Dr. came to mind! The window displays were so inspiring, and before I knew it I was posing all mannequin like lol! The window displays are so gorgeous!! Come with me and take a walk through Rodeo Dr.!

Details:

Outfit: Zara

Shoes: Aldo Shoes

Earrings: Forever 21

Purse: Boutique in Miami, sorry dont remeber the name!

Bangles: Instagram account @Barcellets

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Nature Shoot!

Hey Makeupl0verr's, I recently purchased a gorgeous teal chunky necklace and decided to make a spectacle of myself wearing it. Lol. Hope you like both my dressy and casual take on this necklace and dress ensemble :) Thanks for stopping by!

Details

All accessories: Forever 21

Heels by: Lola Shoetique

Boots by: American Rag

Dress: Brandy Mellville

Photo Credit Instagram: @ea_87

and for a more casual look, I changed into combat boots :)

This bag was free with purchase, sorry forgot where!! 

FashionL0verr's Welcome!

Thought I'd post today's outfit seeing as I love fashion and thought I should share that side of me with everyone.

Today was a super gorgeous and hot day in So Cal!! My moms birthday landed on Easter this year so it was an extra special day! I wore a White crop top and tan colored pants with a faux leather finish, both by Zara.  I bought these white pumps two years ago at Aldo Shoes before I went on a trip to Miami and I have gotten sooo much use out of them! I LOVE them!! And finally my purse was a birthday gift and it is by Jessica Simpson. Also, I live for Pottery Barn and took that shameless pic at the end in that amazing and comfortable chair that went perfect with my outfit. LOL!
Thanks for stopping by! P.S these pictures were taken with my iPhone 5.

My "Go To" Smokey Eye- Super quick and stunning!

Hey Makeupl0verr's!! This look is my absolute favorite, it's glamorous, beautiful, and best of all super EASY! Keep reading for products and steps! Enjoy!

1. Fill in Brows using Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, I used it in the color Brunette. 
2. Using Mac Photo Finish Concealer & a small flat brush, clean up under your brows for a flawless finish.
3. Prime your eyelids using Urban Decay Primer Potion. (I just apply it with my index finger)
4. Apply Malt by Mac with a Tapered Blending Brush into your crease. Apply a small amount just to help the colors look smoked out. (Don't worry too much about structure with this look)
5. Take Mac Blending Brush #217 and apply Sable by Smashbox to the deepest part of your crease and down onto your lid. 
6. Take that same #217 Brush (yes the dirty one lol) and apply Sumatra by Smashbox onto your lid. Keep the most concentrated amount of color close to your lash line and blend upwards going over some of the Sable color. This will blend the colors together. I apply a few layers of Sumatra just because I like it really dark. 
7. Use a pencil brush and swipe some of Sumatra under your lower lash line.
8. Line the upper and lower water line using Mac Pro Longwear Eyeliner in Black Ice.
9. Here I used my favorite Red Cherry Lashes #43! :)

This look goes great with a nude/pink lip like the one from +Aurora AmorPorElMaquillaje (AuroraMakeup)  

Winged out Smokey Eye

Hey Makeupl0verr's, if you like the smokey eye pictured below, keep reading for the products and steps to get it!! :)

1. Prime your eyes with Urban Decay Primer Potion. Under your brows prime with concealer, I used Mac Photo Finish Concealer in NC 20.
2. Fill in your brows using Anastasia Brow Wiz in Brunette, or the shade that applies to you.
3. If you want the sharp edge like mine, then add shadow shields to make that much easier to get!
4. Take a Tapered Blending Brush and apply Malt by Mac into your crease and blend it out towards your brows. 
5. Use a Mac 217 Blending Brush and apply Sable by Smashbox (or any light brown shade will do) into your crease. Keep this color in the deepest part of your crease and blend out away from your eye to begin the smokey effect.
6. Using NYX Jumbo Pencil in Black Bean, apply a thin layer to your entire eyelids. Keep this layer thin!! Now take a small flat brush and smooth that out.
7. With a clean Mac 217 Blending Brush, take Blackout by Smashbox and apply it only to the the outside corner of your eyes and blend it out as far as you'd like it to go. I blend it out almost meeting my brows just for a dramatic effect. 
8. Using a pencil brush, I used Mac's 219, apply Azure by Smashbox to your lower lash line and blend it out. If you spray your brush lightly with Mac Fix+, you will get the Azure eyeshadow to look darker, which is what I did here. 
9. Take a clean small flat brush, spray it with Mac Fix+, and apply Azure by Smashbox to your lids. 
10. Take a clean blending brush with a small amount of Sable eyeshadow on it, and swipe it across your crease to make sure the shadows blend well together. 
11. Take Smashbox Limitless Eyeliner in Onyx and apply it to the top and bottom waterlines.
12. Apply Red Cherry Lashes in #20 with Duo Lash Glue.
13. Remove your shadow shields and run your concealer under your eyes as well as along the edge of your eyeshadow for a super crisp look! 

Hope you guys liked this super dark smokey eye!! 

Comment here to suggest looks you'd like to see, or comment on my Instagram page (@Makeupl0verr)! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Makeupl0verr's love Bronze

Hey Makeupl0verr's, welcome back! 

As you can tell from my Instagram page (@Makeupl0verr) I cannot put down the Smashbox Full Exposure Palette! So many different looks you can create, and below is my latest creation. :) Steps are listed below! :) 

(The bottom row shadows are all matte and are named "M1", "M2", and so on from left to right)

1. Prime your lids with Too Faced Shadow Insurance. 
2. With a Tapered Blending Brush apply M3 to your crease. 
3. Using a Mac 217 Blending Brush apply M2 to the deepest area of your crease, as well as out towards your temples to start building your smokey eye. The M2 e/s makes up most of this look, so be generous with this step to really complete the final look. :) 
4. With a clean 217 Blending Brush apply M7 to your outermost section of your eye and lightly up into your crease. Blend the M7 out into the M2 e/s to complete the smokey eye effect.
5. Using Mac Pencil Brush #219, apply M2 under your lashes, make sure to keep this in the outer half of your lower lashes. Take a small amount of M7 with the pencil brush, just to darken up the M2 under your lower lashes.
6. Using a small flat brush, spray it with Mac Fix+, and apply Honey Lust by Mac onto your eyelids, as well as the beginning of your lower lashes.
7. Take the NYX Wonder Pencil in Light and apply it to your waterline to really open up your eyes!
8. Apply your favorite lashes to complete this look! I applied two pairs of Red Cherry Lashes because I'm pretty obsessed with how much better two pairs look instead of one. lol! I glued #747M on top of #747L and Voila!! 

Here's the final look!! :)

Frosty Smokey Eye

Hey Makeupl0verr's,  here's another smokey eye I created inspired by Valentine's Day :) Steps and products listed below for your enjoyment! :) 

1. Outline the base of your brows with Mac Dipdown Fluidline using a small angle brush, mine has no name, it's so old! I filled in my brows from the arches to the end with Dipdown. To fill in the beginning to middle of my brows I used Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Brunette. Clean up under your brows just to make sure it looks as clean as possible using Mac Studio Finish Concealer NC 20. 
2. Prime your eyes with Urban Decay Primer Potion, and I used the original color. I prefer to apply Shadow Shields to make sure my shadow has that crisp line at the edge but this is optional! :) 
3. Using Mac 224 Tapered Blending Brush, or any tapered blending brush, apply Mac Eyeshadow in Malt onto your crease.
4. Take Mac 217 Blending Brush and apply Sable by Smashbox onto your crease, keeping this color only in the deepest part of your crease.
5. Take Mac Pro Longwear Eyeliner in Black Ice and apply a thin layer as a base in the outer corner of your eye where your black eyeshadow will go. This will intensify the smokey effect. 
6. Now apply Mac Eyeshadow in Black Tied over the Black Ice pencil with a clean Mac 217 Blending Brush. Blend, Blend, Blend and bring the Black Tied e/s as far into your eyelids as you'd like depending on how dark you want your look. Drag the Black Tied e/s down under the outer part of your lower lashes with Mac 219 Pencil Brush.
7. Apply Mac Eyeshadow in Nocturnelle with Mac Eye Shader Brush 239  directly next to Black Tied and bring that in around the half way point of your eyelids. Take a clean 217 Blending Brush and blend between Black Tied and Nocturnelle to make sure they are no harsh lines. 
8. Spray a small flat brush with Mac Fix+ and apply Mac Eyeshadow in Swish to the inner half of your eyelids, as well as under the inner half of your lower lashes. 
9. Apply Inglot Gel Liner #77 with an eyeliner brush to your water line. Totally optional! This gel liner works well for my super watery water line!
10. Apply your favorite lashes to complete your look! I love Red Cherry Lashes  and I glued #117 on top of #747M.

Hope you try this look and tag me in your pics! (@Makeupl0verr) 

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Valentine's Day Inspired Smokey Eye

Hey Makeupl0verr's, below is a step by step list on how to get this smokey eye! 

1. Prime eyes with Urban Decay Primer Potion. (only on the lids) Then conceal under your brows with Mac Studio Finish Concealer in NC 20.
2. Using Anastasia's Dip Brow in Ebony, with a small angle brush, outline the bottom of your brows as well as the outer top half. Fill in with Anastasia's Brow Wiz in Brunette.
3. Apply your Shadow Shields wherever you'd like your eyeshadow to end :)
4. Using a tapered blending brush apply Malt by Mac on your crease. Make sure to apply the color from the most inner part of your eyes and take it past the shadow shields, this will help the gradient effect all through out your e/s :)
5. Using a Mac 217 Blending Brush, apply Sable by Smashbox in your crease (keep this color on the lower part of your crease only to create depth)
6. Take Black Ice Pro Longwear Eye Liner by Mac and draw a small "V" on the outer corner of your eye. Make sure to color in the "V".
7. Using a clean Mac 217 Blending Brush, apply Blackout by Smashbox only to the outer part of your eye. Blend out as far as you'd like it to go and blend up into the crease. Using Mac's Pencil Brush #219 drag the Blackout e/s down under your lower lashes, keeping it in the outer half only.
8. Using the first 217 Blending Brush, apply Sumatra by Smasbox right next to the Blackout. Keep Sumatra as close to the Blackout as possible, this color is just used to create a nice gradient look into the sparkly pigment :) 
9. Using a flat brush, spray it with Mac Fix Plus, and apply Inglot Loose Pigment #22 to the inner part of the lid as well as under the inner part of your lower lashes. 
10. Using an eyeliner brush, mine is from Bare Minerals, apply Inglot gel liner #77 in your water line and a very thin line on your eyelid.
11. I used Red Cherry Lashes #117 on top of #505 for this look. Glue your lashes on with Duo Lash Glue. 
12. Remove your Shadow Shields and run your concealer or foundation under your eyes and up along the eye shadow, just to give it a crisp clean look!

These pics were shot in daylight so the colors are true to what it will look like in person! Below I have added the link to the Inglot pigment! Hope you guys found this helpful!! :) 

http://inglotcosmetics.com/22.amc.pure.pigment.eye.shadow/product/10717

Primers, Bases, & Key Products!

Hey Makeupl0verr's, below is a list of key products I have used to maximize my makeup's potential! 

I'm sure I will discover newer products that are amazing for enhancing my makeup's appearance and quality, but for now, here are some of the products I don't think I'll get over any time soon! :)

Primer- for your eyes

1. Urban Decay Primer Potion has been a staple in my makeup kit! It has a light bare finish that takes care of any discoloration on the eyelids and my eyeshadow lasts a long, long time!
2. Too Faced Shadow Insurance is also a favorite of mine because it's clear and works perfectly in case I want my eyelids to be free of any tint of color. This can come in handy if you are going to apply a base of a specific color to really enhance the eyeshadow. That way your primer and base don't clash or make some weird color combo, which has happened to me. :(
3. Paint pots are definitely a great way to prime your eyes and also enhance your e/s of a specific shade. I love Mac's Painterly paint pot, it's pretty much as bare as the UD Primer Potion but with a tint of more "bare" (If that makes sense!). This is usually what I'll use when I'm wearing a more natural look. I have tried the color paint pots but when it comes to priming my lids, I like to apply that all over and a bare color is my personal preference.
4. Concealers have always been great primers. I know a lot of makeup artists like to use concealer from the lash line up to the brows, and it works very well. Personally I don't always choose to use concealer but if you do, Mac Studio Finish in whatever shade works for you will be a great choice. Also, Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage works great as a primer, and again in whichever shade works best for your skin tone. 

Primer-for your canvas :) 

1. Mac Fix Plus isn't exactly a primer but it definitely works like one!! I like to spray this all over my face after moisturizing and before applying any concealer or foundation. This step really makes me feel like anything I apply will be used to the best of its ability!
2. For anyone who has very sensitive skin or just likes to be as organic as possible, Lorac aquaPrime is Oil-Free, Silicone-Free, Paraben-Free, and Fragrance-Free! I personally LOVE this primer, it almost makes me feel like I'm doing something good for my skin! 
3. Smashbox Photo Finish Primer is very popular and I'm sure you've all tried it at some point or another. This primer, in small amounts, can really help create a nice even canvas. If I do use this, I apply it to my t-zone only. A little goes a long way with this product, and I have oily skin which can get oilier just by adding a rich product like this one. 

Bases- for your eyes

1. Hands down NYX Jumbo Pencil's in Milk #604 and Black Bean #601 have been absolute staples for whenever I want to create a highly pigmented look! To get my dark shadows darker, and my bright shadows brighter, these two pencils work great!! Apply a thin layer and spread it out evenly with a flat brush, then apply your eyeshadow on top of that. Just in case your shadows aren't at the intensity you'd like, spray Mac's Fix Plus on your brush and then apply it over the jumbo pencil. This combo works beautifully! Below is an example of me using NYX Milk penicl, Black Bean, and the Fix plus to apply the shadow.                                                                          
   
2. Paint Pots work great as a base for your e/s as well. Like I said in the Primer-for your eyes section, a Paint Pot of a specific color will work great at enhancing your e/s shade similar to the NYX pencils. Again a thin layer will be your best bet at avoiding creasing and messiness! 
3. Cream Shadows!!! These used to scare me! I mean, they are cream and you pretty much know they are going to move and crease easier than your regular shadows! Fret not my Makeupl0verr's! Applying a thin layer of cream e/s can be an amazing addition to your already amazing makeup look. It will enhance the color of your e/s and give it this glossy effect that will look amazing. (check out my list of products in my "Ivy Smokey Eye" blog post, I did this exact step!) Just remember less is more with creams. :) 

Key Products

I wanted to mention these products because they are always the icing on the cake! Pun intended ;) Three of my essentials whenever applying makeup:

1. Evian Natural Mineral Water Facial Spray "Brumisateur", this stuff gives you a glowy, hydrated, cleaner, flawless...I can keep going! I will literally spray this before and after my makeup, sometimes in the middle of doing my makeup, it is simply amazing. You will feel hydrated and beautiful! Highly recommend it. :) 
2. The Beauty Blender! I'm not really touching on foundation in this blog post but I do use a beauty blender after spraying either Mac's Fix Plus or Evian Brumisateur on my face, just to really soak it in. When you have a Beauty Blender you'll find out it works for sooo much more that you just can't put it down! 
3. And last but most definitely not least! My life line, my Shadow shields! I love these little guys, as you probably already noticed, they are always a part of my makeup process whether on myself of clients! 

If you have some favorite products you can't put down please comment! I would love to know what they are and try them out! Below are links to my three key products :) 

http://www.beautyblender.net/ 

http://www.evian.com/en_us/56-Facial-Spray

http://www.shadowshields.com/

Ivy Smokey Eye

Hey Makeupl0verr's, here's a list with full details on how to get this look :)

1. First I prime my eyelids using Urban Decay's Primer Potion and under my Brows I use Mac Studio Finish Concealer in NC 20. Apply your shadow shields and you are ready to begin! :)
2. Using a tapered blending brush, swipe Nectar e/s (Smashbox Master Class Palette 1) all across your crease. Don't forget to go past the shadow shield to make sure you get an even distribution of color all through out. Next, using the same palette & a Mac 217 blending brush, take Sable and apply that all along the crease as well to build depth in your eye.
3. Using a Mac 217 blending brush, take Blackout by Samshbox, and apply it to the outer corner of your eye, blending until it is to your liking! Drag the Blackout e/s down under your lower lash line using Mac 219 Pencil brush for an easy application :) This brush is amazing for a smokey eye!!
4. From the Master Class Palette, take the e/s cream "Ivy" and apply a thin layer with a flat brush to the first half of your eyelid. Next using Too Faced Summer Eye Palette, I applied Mac Fix Plus to a small flat brush and applied Mermaid e/s to my eyelid. Use that same flat brush with Fix Plus and apply Mermaid e/s to the inner first half of your lower lash line. This e/s on top of the cream e/s will really make the color POP! :)) To make sure your look is blended well, take a clean blending brush and lightly blend the Mermaid e/s into the Sable e/s. 
5. Line your eyes with Inglot Gel eyeliner #77.  I like to apply this on the waterline as well because pencil liners just don't work as well on me. 
6. Choose your favorite dramatic lashes and you are set! Here I chose Red Cherry Lashes #117 & #747L. Sit the #117 on top of the #747L and apply your Duo glue :)
7. Once you remove your Shadow Shields, use your concealer under your eyes and along the outer edge of your e/s. This always makes your makeup look crisp and clean! 

Bronzey Smokey Eye: Steps & Details

Hey MakeupL0verr's, here is a step by step list on how to get this bronzey smokey eye! Hope you find this helpful :)

1. I like to prime my lids using Urban Decay's Primer Potion. I like to apply this only on my eyelid, I prefer concealer along my eyebrow to better highlight that area for a more dramatic effect! Mac Studio Finish in NC 20 is my favorite concealer.  Once I'm prepped I always put my Shadow Shields on, they help you create such a professional look without having to be one! lol
2. Apply Nectar e/s by Smashbox (Master Class Palette 1) all along the crease with a tapered blending brush. Make sure to swipe the color back and forth past your shadow shield, this will help your e/s look perfectly blended! (This is the transition color that will help pull your other shadows together seamlessly) 
3. Using a Mac 217 blending brush I start applying Blackout by Smashbox in the outer corner and blend, blend, blend until it is to my liking. Sidebar, this is pretty much where the Shadow Shields do half of the work for you! You can drag the Blackout in as far as you'd like, and also down under your lower lash line for a really smokey look.  Then on the inner half of your eyelid, as well as the lower first half of your lash line, apply your bronzey e/s. Here I used a baked e/s by Lorac that for some reason has no name on it :/ I spray Mac Fix Plus on the e/s going on the inner part of my eye just to make sure it pops a little more & also reduces fallout when the e/s is sort of wet. 
4. I lined my eyelids, as well as the water line, using Inglot gel eyeliner #77. This eyeliner is amazing and dries quick on your water line! I love it better than pencils. For my lashes I used Red Cherry Lashes #117 and #747L. You can sit the #117 on top of the #747L and then add your Duo lash glue and apply them together at once for a very dramatic look! 
5. Just in case your eye shadows aren't blended enough, take your Nectar e/s and go over the crease again just to perfect the look. :) 

Here are some links to the products I mentioned above! 

http://inglotcosmetics.com/77.matte.collection.......amc.eyeliner.gel/product/12104

http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/145/380/Products/Brushes/Eye/217-Blending-Brush/index.tmpl

http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/145/19395/Products/Brushes/Eye/286-Duo-Fibre-Tapered-Blending-Brush/index.tmpl

http://www.madamemadeline.com/online_shoppe/products.asp?cat=Red+Cherry+Natural+Lashes&pg=2