Basics of Threading...

So I finally figured out threading! Well, sort of. I would never do it to actually shape my eyebrows but I can at least clean up the stray hairs around it. I still need a lot more practice but I was happy to be able to grab some of the hairs this morning. I had tried it once before but could not get it to work - I think I was using too big of a loop or something. Or maybe not positioning it the right way.

Anyway, here's a really helpful video from Pursebuzz that breaks down the basics. Pursebuzz also has a really fun beauty website as well.


Normally, I get my brows threaded maybe once a month or so for cleanup and then I would just tweeze them for basic upkeep. But I got in trouble for doing that last time I went to get my eyebrows threaded... when you pluck them, you pull out everything so that when they grow back in, they grow back thicker. Not a fun look. So I'm going to try to thread them myself in between visits so that the hair grows back in fine vs thick instead.

Inspired Look: Temptalia's Bronzes, Pinks, and Golds

I decided to play around with a look that I saw on one of my favorite beauty blogs, Temptalia.com: Bronzes, Pinks, and Golds.



She used a lot of colors from the MAC Brunette, Blonde, and Redhead collection that just came out last week. I didn't have any of them so I used her suggestions for substitutions (also called "dupes").

Here's what I used (all MAC unless specified otherwise):

• Eyes: Motif eyeshadow, Expensive Pink eyeshadow, Urban Decay Mildew eyeshadow, Smut eyeshadow, Shroom eyeshadow, Clinique deep brown creme liner, Urban Decay Bourbon 24/7 Liner (brown), Maybelline Define-a-Lash mascara (black)
  
• Brushes: 1/4" Loew's Cornell Maxine's Mop (narrow flat eye shader brush), 239 (flat eye shader brush), 217 (blending brush), 227 (large fluff brush), 208 (angled eye liner brush)
  

Directions: On the inner lid, apply Motif eyeshadow using a 1/4" Loew's Cornell Maxine's Mop brush (from Michael's). Apply Expensive Pink eyeshadow to the middle of the lid using the 239. Darken the outer lid using Mildew eyeshadow and drag into crease using the 217. Darken the outer V further with Smut using the 217 in small circles. Sweep Shroom underneath the brow bone to highlight with the 227. Apply deep brown creme liner using 208 along upper lashline. Finish with Urban Decay Bourbon Liner on lower lash line and Maybelline Define-a-lash mascara on lashes.



So... not quite as pretty as the look she did, but I kind of like it for an every day neutral look!

Playing with Make-up: Smokey Eye Palette from 2008 MAC Holiday collection

Fascinating Ruby Palette: 6 Smokey Eyes

Top Row (L to R):

* Gorgeous Light silver with white pearl
* Ambiance Cool mid-tone grey with silver sparkle
* Carbon Intense black

Bottom Row (L to R):

* Scant Creamy white with pink pearl
* Satin Taupe Taupe brown with silvery bronze shimmer
* Dark Devotion Black brown

Playing with Make-up: Blue / Turquoise / Lime Green look

Lately, I've been following a lot of make-up/beauty websites (ex. MakeUp Geek, Temptalia, Pursebuzz, Makeup and Beauty Blog)and I love when they do "look" posts. Basically, they show pics of a certain make-up look and then break down what products they used to achieve that look.

So please don't make fun of me... but I decided to try it myself! My disclaimer: I know I'm not a make-up expert or anything, I'm just *playing* here :) I'm not going to call these tutorials or anything, I just thought it would be fun to show some of the looks I've been playing around with.

I decided to do a bold and bright look for New Year's Eve. I tried this out on my sister once and it was really pretty so I thought I'd give it a try on myself. To give it an extra "kick", I added false eyelashes!

Blue / Turquoise / Lime Green Look



What I used (eyes only):

• Mary Kay eye primer to prevent creasing
• MAC Blackground paint pot on lid to help deepen color and make the eyeshadows really pop (otherwise, they don't show up on my skin...)
  
• MAC Deep Truth (royal blue) eyeshadow (e/s) on outer third of lid
  
• Prescriptives Marine (turquoise) e/s in middle of lid
  
  

• Mary Kay Lemongrass (light lime green) e/s in inner lid
  
• Repeat colors along lower lash line with a pencil brush
  

• MAC Carbon (matte black) in outer corners for more depth
  
• MAC Shroom (shimmery off white) as highlight under brow bone and in tear ducts
  
  
• Bobbi Brown black ink gel eyeliner on upper lid
• MAC Engraved power point pencil to line bottom waterline
• Modlash false eyelashes in #21 (super cheap at the drugstores) - second time wearing them, still getting the hang of it. They definitely finish the look better than my skimpy lashes!
• MAC Cork (light brown) e/s to fill in my brows
  

Another shot of the finished look:



I really liked it. A lot bolder than what I normally feel comfortable wearing, but I figured NYE was a perfect time to give it a try!

Let me know what you think! (interesting? lame? ok, maybe not that harsh - hahahaha)