Drawing Inspiration: The First Red Robin of Spring

Although winter seems as though it may never end, I have hope that somewhere from beneath the snow spring will emerge because over the last couple of weeks I've spotted several robins. I thought that their cheerful orangey-red feathers served as great inspiration as we wait for the colors of spring to arrive. Here's my take on the first sign of spring!

As always, prep the eye area with an eye primer. Next apply a white base to the lid area only. I used my NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk. This will make the colors we use pop! I find you get a more even application if you apply this with your ring finger.

With a slanted flat brush or a clean finger apply a yellow-white shadow below your brow and in the inner corners of the eyes. This color is barely noticeable but draws light into the eyes.

Now, using a fluffy round brush and a skin toned shadow with an orange tint to it, brush on a layer of color from the lash line up to just below the brow. This step is to give that orange base that enhances the other orange hues and more importantly to create a layer of powder that makes blending other colors easier. If you don't have this shade just skip it!

Next, with a flat shader brush and a creamsicle orange shadow, pat on an even layer of color that covers the lid. The left over can be swiped along the lower lash line. This shadow should either be matte or satin finish, frosts will look too flashy.

To add dimension to the lid you can pat on a burnt orange on the outer and inner corners of the lid (without completely covering the inner eye highlight). If you don't have another darker orange color you can simply add another layer of the creamsicle orange or even a little touch of a light brown or soft red. A bit of bronzer can do the trick!

After that, with a fluffy blending brush, lightly layer on small amounts of a neutral/warm medium brown in the crease. When you get to the outer corner of the eye, instead of connecting the color to the outside corner of the lash line, sweep the brown up and out, leaving a space about the width of a pencil between the color and the outer corner of the lashes. Blend the brown and oranges into one another until the line is blurred slightly.

With a slanted liner brush and a dark warm toned brown, line the upper lash line and the outer 1/3 of the lower lash line. At the corner make a soft wing. Soften the top of the line gently with a Q-tip. Add black pencil to the waterline for an extra kick then put on a few coats of black mascara.

Finish with natural looking flush on the cheeks. I combined several powdered blushes to get the color I have and applied it with a jumbo cotton ball. Keep the lips warm but natural. I mixed up a soft rose lip color and topped it with a gloss that had a hint of shimmer to it. This look is soft but with a fresh pop of color that works for day as well as night. If you're trying to get into using colors more this is a good look to try!

Spring Cleaning and Shopping Your Makeup Collection

Spring is just around the corner and that means...dun dun duuuunnnnnn...spring cleaning.
But spring cleaning isn't just about cleaning house it's also the perfect time to clean up and clean out your beauty products.

First, make sure to regularly clean all your brushes and other beauty tools. This is sooo important to maintaining healthy skin. Plus, clean brushes means better makeup application. If you haven't already, read my post on the importance of sanitizing your kit.

Next, you need to discard any products that are expired. How do you know if something's expired?
The rule of thumb: Toss powder products, such as eyeshadows, powder blush, face powders and brow powders, that you opened more than 2 years ago. Toss cream products, like cream or liquid foundations, cream shadows and lipsticks, after they've been open 1 year. To make this process easier for next year, write the date that you open a product on the bottom of the container in permanent marker!

And last, here's a fun way to rediscover your makeup collection! Survey your entire kit. Separate your makeup into two piles. In the first pile place all the items you regularly use: your go-to eyeshadows, the blush you use every single day and that lip gloss you use all the time. In the other pile put all the makeup you don't routinely use: the lipstick you got as a stocking stuffer, the eye liner that's migrated to the bottom of your bag and the eyeshadow you bought but never seem to wear. Put the items in the first pile in a bag, drawer or other container out of sight. Use only the items from the "neglected products" pile for a set time...say...a week or a month. By shopping the makeup you already have you rediscover your makeup and refresh your beauty routine without spending a penny!

Spring Mix: Violets & Pink Roses

     This is a look that channels the warmth and life of spring. I created a purple eye that can be worn both day (for those of you who like to get creative!) and night (as a great alternative to blacks and browns). Pairing it with a rosey pink lip gave it even more of a spring-inspired brightness. Read on for the step-by-step.

When wearing colored shadows I definitely recommend that you use an eye primer to help keep the colors in place and to neutralize the natural discoloration that may alter the appearance of the colors you use. My favorite is Urban Decay's Primer Potion but there is an ever growing selection from drugstore brand to high end brands.

After priming, I applied a cream base to the inner half of the lid with my ring finger, using Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Yogurt from NYX. Any warm, champagne color will work well.

Next, with a flat eye shadow brush, I patted on a shimmery purple lilac shadow onto the same area where I applied the cream base. Blend out the edges and bring color into the inner corner of the eye.







To the outer half of the lid, I gradually layer on a soft, matte purple with a small fluffy brush. The color should be slightly more intense in the outer corner and in the crease. Blend the purple lightly into the shimmering lilac for a gradiated effect. With what's left on the brush, blend the color up to but not past the brow bone.




With a purple grape shadow and a liner brush, line the upper lash line and the outer half of the lower lash line. The remaining shadow on the brush is then swept in the crease.

Finish with a skin-tone shadow across the brow bone. Line the waterline with a black eye liner and top with two coats of black mascara.

Complete this look with barely there blush and a fresh, pink rose lip or just a nude-pink lip gloss.