DRUGSTORE Warm, Smokey, Grungy Eye Look (Inspired by Adore Delano)

So the longer I am alive, the more in love with drag I become.  

Although Pearl Liaison has slowly risen to the top of my list, the first queen I ever fell in love with is Adore Delano, of course.  I already have an Adore makeup tutorial up on my blog, which is her signature makeup look.  But I saw this photo on her Instagram and had to stop what I was doing to screen shot it.  It is seriously STUNNING.  I know that she is wearing those blue contacts and obviously the blue weave.. but I still had to recreate it the best I could.

It's one of the most striking makeup looks I've seen in a while.  And yes.. it's really, really dramatic.  Most people probably wouldn't wear this makeup during the day, and it is even a little intimidating for every day night-time wear as well.  So I toned it down a bit -- not a lot, but a bit -- to make it more wearable.  I swapped out that gorgeous orange shadow for a more muted caramel shade, and used much less dramatic lashes.  But everything else is virtually the same!

The key to this look is BLENDING, BLENDING, BLENDING.  The blending creates so much dimension on your eye, and really makes it smokey and gorgeous.  AND I decided to recreate this look using only drugstore and inexpensive products, to show how beautiful "cheap" makeup can be!

Read on for the tutorial!

Spring Awakening 2015 Makeup Looks

This post is LONG overdue (by almost two weeks!) but I figured I should put it up in case anyone was curious about the makeup I did for the 2015 Spring Awakening Music Festival.

I obviously love a good event to paint my face for, and music festivals and outdoor concerts really provide a great opportunity to be creative and go a little out-of-the-box.  Sure, it's sort of strange riding the train or bus with some tribal-inspired white dots all over your face.. but if you love makeup as much as I do, it's definitely worth it!

Day 1:

Day 2:

Day 3:

All of the white paint work was done with your standard white facepaint (the kind that comes from Halloween superstores, or clown/carnival paint at Walgreens, etc.) and a super-fine tipped paint brush (which you can find at Michael's or JoAnn's for literally 25 cents)!  And the gold line across my face from the Day 2 look is a very opaque yet shimmery gold liquid eyeliner from LORAC's 2014 collection, which is unfortunately discontinued.  But any thick liquid gold liner would work!

I decided to keep the rest of my face simple and neutral, with a subtle copper-ish smokey eye and natural looking lash each day.  I didn't want the focus to be lost on any crazy eye makeup or wild lip color -- the star of festival makeup is definitely the paint!  

Get creative with looks like this!  I took inspiration from photos and images I have seen floating around the web, and of course put my spin on each one to make it my own.  I already can't wait 'til the next music festival!

Yves Saint Laurent Les Sahariennes Healthy Glow Balm-Powder + Rouge Volupté Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick REVIEW

It probably comes as no surprise to any of you that I love to splurge on certain things in life.  And one of those things mixes two of my obsessions: YSL and makeup.  There's just something so luxurious about YSL products that I can't resist.  My favorite cologne, my favorite lipstick, my favorite bag.. you name it.  You don't have to agree with me or approve of me, but it is what it is -- *hair flip*.

I recently picked up two more YSL items from Sephora and thought I'd do a quick mini-review of them both.

1. Les Sahariennes Healthy Glow Balm-Powder, in "3 - Epice" ($55)

Dat packaging doe.  I mean, can it get any sleeker?  Jeez.  I'm in love with the deep brown color of the resin on the front.. it's gorgeous.  And of course the beautiful golden YSL logo and container makes it that much prettier.

Yes.  Yes this is expensive, and especially expensive for only 0.31oz of product.  But hear me out.

Now let me tell you -- I have literally never touched something quite like this balm in my entire life.  The closest thing I've used/owned is the DiorSkin Crystal Skin Nude Skin Perfector (may it rest in peace).  That Dior balm was seriously one of the coolest makeup products I owned, and I truly miss it in my collection.. and in my life.  I hadn't found anything remotely close to what that felt like, until I met the Les Sahariennes Healthy Glow Balm-Powder.

The Dior Skin Perfector was a clear, translucent primer for your face that went underneath any foundation.  However, this Les Sahariennes balm is more of a finishing product -- or, as I like to use it, an all-in-one primer, "foundation," and bronzer.  

It's marketed as a bronzer -- likely due to it's sheer coverage and shimmery formula -- but I've been using it as the only product on my face, and it has been absolutely amazing.  The makeup itself feels like exactly what you'd think by reading something like "balm to powder."  Upon first touch, it feels creamy like a cream blush.  But once you smooth it all over the skin, it almost melts into your face and creates a goooorgeous silky finish.  It fills in any line, pore, or imperfection, and leaves a super smooth, almost airbrushed effect on your skin.

The balm comes with a dual-ended applicator, for all-over coverage or for contouring/bronzing.  I honestly just use my fingers to apply this as I would a liquid primer or a bb cream.  It's definitely light coverage, so don't expect it to look like a true foundation.  You can definitely wear it OVER your regular foundation -- I would recommend it as a finisher over a cream or liquid foundation, but NOT a powder (to avoid looking muddy) -- but like I said, I use this as the only face makeup after I moisturize, and it has worked wonders.

I especially love the lightweight feel of this for the summer, as well as the beautiful bronzy glow it gives your entire face.  There are hints of little sparkle-y particles in the formula itself, but once you sheer it out on your skin, it ends up looking like a bronzed glow from within, rather than fairy dust.  It's the perfect summer makeup!!

2.  Rouge Volupté Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick, in "13 Peach Passion" ($36)

I SERIOUSLY CAN'T WITH YSL PACKAGING.  IT GIVES ME LIFE.  Anyway.  I already have this lipstick in "3 Beige Ultimate" so I knew I was going to love the formula.  

I've been loving coral lips for the summer for the past two summers or so.  I think a subtle yet opaque coral lip is perfect for everyday wear in warmer months.  Coral lips look gorgeous with golden and bronzy eye makeup, and that's definitely one of my favorite eye looks for the summer.

The color of this lipstick is a perfect, peachy pink coral.  And the formula is just the right balance of opaque and creamy, and smooth and shiny.  Don't get me wrong -- I love a good matte lip.  But I think the summer is the perfect time to experiment with glossier lips.  I paired Laura Mercier Lip Glacé in "Nectar" over the top of this lipstick and it is TO DIE FOR.  It intensifies the coral color and creates massive shine.  To add a bit of shimmer to my lips, I tried NARS Larger Than Life Lip Gloss in "Gold Digger" over top, and it created a beautiful, golden coral color with champagne sparkles.

Peach Passion

It's just such a summery lip color that is super versatile and can work with so many looks.  I think of a peachy or a coral shade as the "nude" or neutral lip of the spring and summer months.  And, like the face balm, this product is on the pricier side.  But if you're going to shell out $36 for a lipstick.. make it this YSL one.  (That, or invest $50+ on a Tom Ford.. but that's a different story.)  It's worth it!