"6 Ways To Make Blue Eyes Pop" via The Beauty Department

This is a follow up post to one written previously about The Beauty Department.

A few weeks ago The Beauty Department completed their "shadow focus: eye color" theme, by focusing on blue eyes which they had not yet covered. They had only posted a color wheel, describing that since orange is directly across from blue those shades would make blue eyes come to life, and used an example photo of Jessica Pare. They have finally followed up that post with 6 great tips and example photos, due to an overwhelming amount of emails asking them to post more than one shade! You can find this post here. 

This picture is directly from The Beauty Department's post.

The post mentions that Copper is one of the best colors that compliments blue eyes. This made me extremely happy, since that is the color I dyed my hair! Now I know why I've been getting more and more compliments on my eyes :D

The next tip they gave was to smudge your liner and not focus too much on having a straight, defined line. They recommend Stila's Smudge Stick Waterproof Liner. I might have to try that! I tend to try to be a perfectionist with the liquid eye liner, but smudging seems like the way to go.

They also say that peach, apricot, champagne or gold family colors really work well, too. I wish they would have mentioned this instead of the orange! I fees as though those colors differ greatly. I will definitely take this tip into consideration and branch out to more colors.

Another of my favorite tips that they include is the classic wing, which I do all the time! They recommend black brown eye liner, which I try to utilize. They also say that bronze/brown shades work well to bring out blue eyes. I tend to use a lot of brown just because I like neutral colors. I guess I didn't lack too much of a makeup sense after all!

The last tip on the post talks about winged shadow (including the waterline) and a nude lip for balance. I have found that if you don't fill in the water line the look is just not complete. I still am looking for nude shades of lipstick/gloss. Hopefully I get one soon in my June Glambag, Birchbox, or Look Bag.

Please feel free to leave any comments!

Thanks for stopping by! :)

--- Other products that you might want to try. I am not affiliated at all with these brands.---
Small Eye Shadow - Atlantic Blue - 1.5G/0.05Oz
Mac Small Eye Shadow - Bitter - 1.5g/0.05oz
Mac Small Eye Shadow - Rule - 1.5G/0.05ozi.d. 
BareMinerals Eye Shadow - Pebble - 0.57g/0.02oz by Bare Escentuals
Elle Cosmetics Eyeshadow
Elle Cosmetics Makeup Kabuki Brush
Ultimate Diamond Luminous Mineral Makeup Spf 15

Everyday Look

I wanted to try out my new  e.l.f. Essential Eyebrow Collection and put together a look that I can wear during the day or on a date.

Closed eye view

The brow kit came with a lighter brown powder and a darker shade to outline the shape. I find that even though I wanted to find a red eyebrow pencil to match my hair, the brown works just fine. 

I don't think I can go without the cat eye look since I've started using it, because I really love how it looks and how it elongates my lashes. I've used the following colors from e.l.f.'s Studio Makeup Clutch Palette: a cream color to highlight my brow bone, a brown for my outer lid, and a golden shimmery color for the inner part of my lid. I used my e.l.f. cream eye liner in coffee to line my upper lash line, as well as my e.l.f. exact lash mascara. 

  

Should I apply more shadow? I use e.l.f.'s Mineral Eyeshadow Primer before applying my shadow, but I don't think it makes colors as vivid as some other primers I've seen out there on comparison blogs like "Too Faced Shadow Insurance", "Sobe Botanicals", "Detrivore", "Concrete", "UDPP Original" or "UDPP Sin" (credit to Phyrra). 

My friend just let me have her smaller container of Urban Decay's Eye Shadow Primer Potion :) I'm excited to see if that works better.

I still have not found a great angle or amount of lighting to show  the color well. This takes time I suppose. If anyone has any helpful tips, please leave a comment below! Maybe its just my crappy point and shoot camera....

Overall look. What do you guys think?

I have another look that I will be posting tomorrow. I think I've actually gotten the smokey eye down!  I've watched so many tutorials, by now I should be able to do it, right?


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Oh purple, how I love thee. Orange..not so much.

So here is a look that I've tried and I think really works. In a previous post I was informed that orange is the color I should really try to wear to make my eyes pop, but I felt like my hair, which is copper gold, does that enough for my eyes for now and I can wear other colors that compliment me. I will post a picture where I am wearing orange, but I don't think I like it too much. Maybe I need to pair it with another color. I'm not sure.

(The purple eye shadow is from e.l.f.'s Studio 32-Piece Eyeshadow Palette - I really love this Spring palette! The cream eye liner is also from e.l.f. and I am wearing my Fresh - Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15 )

I think the purple works well and even if it doesn't bring out my eyes entirely, it still compliments my skin.

The look I "should" wear more often..

Orange shadow (also from e.l.f.'s Studio 32-Piece Eyeshadow Palette)

Maybe I need to add more eye liner or something to define my eyes. I feel like I look dead without some kind of liner. I also didn't have any lip color on at this time, which might have helped. I was going to the beach, but thought I'd wear a little makeup. I also never leave the house without putting on my Dr. Jart + - Waterfuse BB Cream or my e.l.f. Mineral Concealer, Foundation, and Blush (all SPF 15).

What do you all think?

Thanks for stopping by!

Blog Recommendation: The Beauty Department

I really find this The Beauty Department helpful in giving great makeup tips and ideas to help me branch out of my not-so-existent makeup routine/style. I'm trying to learn a lot more about makeup, what "looks" could be good on me and what I should try to avoid, and products that I can trust and work well for my skin type. I have found some inspiring ideas for new looks and ways to bring out my best features.

Some ideas that I want to try out as soon as I get the proper products:

1. Matte Contouring:

I like to wear neutral/natural colors most of the time to stay in my comfort zone. I strive to find makeup ideas that I can use when I don't want to look like I have a ton of make up on. I've been told that I look great without makeup, so I try to keep it simple. I think matte contouring is a great way to bring out your eyes without the flair.

2. Changing up your waterline colors 

This post talks a lot about how the lighter the color you go on your waterline the more it opens up your eye, but also makes a point that if you want your eyes to be piercing, go with black. I have not tried anything other that no color or black (which technically would be nude and black, but I think they actually put on a "nude" liner in the photo). 

I'd like to see how the white looks, but I don't think I've found a liner that stays on my water line in white. Any suggestions?

Some helpful tips I found while browsing The Beauty Department:

1. Shadow Focus: Blue-eyed Beautiful

We learn by the color wheel is that the color directly across from your eye color is what compliments it most. For me that would be a shade of orange, salmon, and possibly the rust color. The site says that by using orange my eyes "will really pop!" I will make a post in the future to try this out. I don't think I have really used orange standalone, but hey, I'm adventurous! 

2. Pairing your makeup with your jewelry!

"Accessories are the perfect way to further your form of expression and can really make an outfit come alive. And jewelry is another amazing source of inspiration for your makeup and can be tied together the same way you’d match a red shoe with a red bag or clash a lace top with spiked earrings." - The Beauty Department

As I am trying to be more fashion forward, I found this post to be very helpful! I never thought about matching your makeup to your earrings, rings, or necklaces before. Read the post to find out more! Definitely will post a look inspired by this blog post in the near future!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cat Eye/Winged Look - Suggestions Wanted

I am still working this whole Cat Eye/Winged look that has become pretty popular. I was wondering if I should  have my liner extend to the inner corner of my eye or leave it as is (in the photo below)? My eyes are pretty light and I try to avoid using too much liner. I try to curl my lashes too, but they aren't super long. I'm trying to win some falsies and I might go buy some soon. Any recommendations?

Thanks for stopping by! :)