Step by Step: My Night Time Makeup!

This is a continuation of my "Everyday Makeup" post from last week.  Go HERE if you would like to see my makeup from the very first step :)

This is how I turn my Everyday Makeup to My Night Time makeup.  

Step 1: Highlight

I use this cheap-y eye shadow set for highlight.  You can buy makeup products just for highlight but I find that eye shadow with a bit of shimmer works great and it is usually a lot cheaper.

For the winter I tend to go with a white shimmery iridescent color and the pale gold shimmery during the summer months.

Also you should find one that has a bit of shimmer NOT large flecks of glitter. 

The basic concept of highlight is to call "attention" to certain parts of your face.  It "tricks" the eye by making those areas on your face more prominent because of the shimmer. (Important if you have flat pancake face like me lol!)

I put highlight on my cheekbones (to create the illusion of higher cheekbones), on my temples (a smaller more oval shaped face), on my forehead (it pulls attention to the center of your forehead creating the illusion of a smaller face), the center of my nose (to create the illusion of a thinner nose), right underneath the brow bone (to give you more depth in the eye area), cupids bow (to make your lips look pouty), and finally my chin (to give the illusion that the chin is pointier.)

And blend, blend, blend!

Here you can see distinctively see the highlighter on my cheekbone, blush at the front, and bronzer in the hallows of my cheeks.

Maybelline Define-a-Line in Ebony Black

Step 2: Eyeliner

I use this to line the OUTER part of my my lower lids.  I only line it about halfway because if I line the whole thing I find it actually makes my eyes look smaller.  Here my right eye is lined and my left one isn't.

Here both sides are lined and smudge the liner so it's not as harsh.

Wet & Wild Pencil in White

I use to white eyeliner to line the FRONT of my bottom lids.

Here you can see that the front of my bottom lids are lined w/ the white to help open my eyes.

Step 3: Powder Foundation

I do a quick dusting of this to "set" my liquid foundation as well as go my bronzer, blush, highlight & eyebrows to make everything look "softer" and less harsh. 

Guerlain Meteorites in Claire

Step 4: Illuminating Finishing Powder

I swirl the brush a few times and then lightly dust it all over my face.  It gives your skin that "radiant" glow and creates a sort of "soft" focus with the iridescent shimmer.

Step 5: Setting Spray

This is probably my Holy Grail out of my entire makeup arsenal.  I really don't know how I lived my entire life without this (especially in Hawaii.. humidity + my club ho girl days = scary raccoon eyes and blotchy runny foundation lol).

I spray it in a "X" formation on my face and it completely sets my foundation for the entire day.  I find that I almost never fix my foundation/eyeliner anymore.  I use to take out my blotting paper and re-powder at least 1x (sometimes 2x a day if I was running from work to HH or to my 2nd job) a day but I find that I maybe only touch up once every few months and it's really only during the hot summer months now.

And Finally...

Step 6: Falsies 

(I got lots of requests about how I do this! So here you dolls go :)!

As always falsies/lash extensions ect is very personal if you have GORGEOUS natural lashes then by all means.  However I'm definitely not blessed in that area so Falsies are my best friend! lol!

I try and re-use my false lashes 2 to 4 times.  I don't use the entire lash strip because I've found (after lots of trial and error!) that using the ENTIRE lash strip actually causes my eyes to look very "heavy".  It actually makes my eyes look smaller (and sleepy) which sort of defeats the purpose of falsies which is to have huge doll eyes of course!

I cut off roughly 1/3 of the falsies in the FRONT not from the back like most ppl do.  And the reason for that is because if you cut from the back then you're cutting off the longer flairs. The longer flairs "open" your eyes up - that coveted "almond" shape giving the illusion that your eyes are longer and wider.

I like to use black eyelash glue because when I use white/clear glue I tend to find that I almost always have to go back over with liquid eyeliner.  I put a thin layer and then I put two extra little "blobs" on both ends because those are the first places to come undone.

Here you can see my right eye has the falsies on and my left one doesn't.

I also glue my falsies SLIGHTLY about my lashline.  I find that it helps to open up my eyes more. I know everyone says to apply them directly onto your lashline but with eyeliner it can really cause your falsies to disappear and I find that by gluing them slightly higher the lashes are more apparent.

And here they're both on!

Then curl your natural and false lashes together!

(Lol excuse the mess behind me I was in the middle of cleaning out my closet for donation which resulted in the mess in the back..)

And that's it's!

If it's a special occasion or GNO I might go a little heavier on the eye shadow ect but for the most part this is pretty much my go to night routine.

And that's it from the very 1st step to the last!

I hope this was helpful and that you dolls enjoyed this!

Let me know if you have any questions and if you try any of this and how it went for you :)

Disclosure - All of these were my own products and I am not being reimbursed for this in any way shape or form. Cha Cha Cha!

Duty Free Goodies

As much as I miss home and the convenience of things in the states.. one thing I do enjoy is being able to go through Duty Free as much as I do hahaha.

While waiting for our flight back to Frankfurt I popped into one to pick up my usual Chanel powder foundation that I've been using for nearly 10 years now!  Old habits die hard.. I've tried using other powder foundations everything from Lancome to Shiseido but for whatever reason end up back with Chanel.  I think it just works the best with my skin.. I don't use a lot of it I usually just use it to set my liquid foundation and then use it for touch ups during the day. 

I do have to admit that I always find it humorous that it comes with a little black dust bag.. just like a real Chanel bag does hahaha.

As I was headed to the cash wrap to get my foundation rung up I happened upon the Guerlain meterorites illuminating balls.  I've seen this mentioned on a number of beauty blogs and always thought it was SO cute (I know, I know I'm a total sucker for cute packaging WHYYYYYYYYY?!! HAHAHA)

At Duty Free it comes 2 in a box with a the pretty pink Guerlain brush.  They only sold the Rose Teint 01 which was fine by me.. this one apparently is a little more of a light pink color.  The price is $80 Euros which roughly translate to $100 USD.  I checked the prices on Sephora.com and the price is $57 USD for one + the price of tax.  So if you're ever flying international I would definitely try and pick this up because it is quite a bit of savings.. they also have a smaller travel sized version that comes two in a pack as well for $50 Euros.  But I heard the smaller one is difficult to use because it doesn't allow you enough room to "swirl" your brush over the balls to pick up the powder.

I looked up online people seem to say these little balls don't really "expire" not sure if that's true or not but we shall see.. I'm thinking that if you kept them in a relatively dry place these little balls could last for a really long time.  I actually slipped the 2nd Meteorites in a plastic zip lock baggy and added in a few silica packets to keep moisture at bay.

To be totally honest I'm still not ENTIRELY sure what the purpose of this because the box really doesn't say but I'm assuming that it's the same concept as my MUFE microfinish powder.  Basically you buff it on after you finish applying your foundation to give yourself a radiant illuminating glow.


I've actually really enjoyed using my MUFE powder however in the last year since I started traveling the container actually EXPLODED and there's white powder everywhere.  My biggest complaint is that the packaging is awful.  I sort of wish that MUFE would put the microfinishing powder in a plastic twist tube brush applicator so that you can just twist the amount you want and then it comes out on the brush and you can just buff it onto your face.  Having the powder all loose in the little plastic container really makes it difficult to put on my brush.

Now I can't say for sure because I've never purchased this in the US before but looking on Sephora.com it appears that when you purchase the Meteorites it does NOT come with this brush. They do however SELL the same exact brush but it retails for $36 USD!  So if that's the case then this 2 for 1 + brush set is seriously an amazing deal!

I haven't actually used the Guerlain brush itself yet.. I'm kind of a closet hoarder especially when it's something I deem "pretty" so right now it's sitting on my vanity haha.. sorta like how people have "decoration towels" you know the towels you aren't allowed to use they just make the bathroom look pretty.  You know what I'm talking about BAHAHAH :p  The bristles I read online are actually made out of goat hair and are meant to be stiff so that it can pick up the powder off the balls easier.

It comes with a sponge on top which is probably useful in keeping the balls from rolling around and cracking if you plan on bringing this with you when you travel. 

But I would definitely recommend not using the sponge as an applicator.. as you can see in the picture it picks up A LOT of the color and you don't want to end up looking like a clown.. unless of course that is the look you are going for.. then by all means haha. ok I know bad joke hahahah.  The Hubs likes to tell me that nobody thinks I'm funny but me ::CRIES:: HAHA.

So I've been on the hunt for something that would give me a radiant glow and be easy to travel with.  And I have to be honest I don't think I'm going back to MUFE microfinish powder anymore!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Guerlain meteorites the packaging itself is so pretty and how could you not love the different colored beads haha.. but mostly the beads are in compact shape they won't explode everywhere when I travel!  I was a little hesitant the first time I put it on because of all the colors.. but if you take your brush and gently run it over all of the colors and buff it into your face it really looks like your face is SERIOUSLY radiant and glowing!  Only a very light dusting is needed!  The beads also carry the signature Guerlain violet scent it smells so pretty every time I take off the metal lid.

The S.A. @ Duty Free also mentioned you could also double this up and use it as a blush.. I haven't gotten around to trying it yet.. but if anyone knows please let me know :)!

LOVE! :) :) :) :)!!!!  I cannot tell you how happy I am with this product! 

Requisite shot of my new addition to my makeup vanity :) hahahaha.