FOTD: Soft Eyes, Hot Pink Lips

This look was achieved using FACE Atelier Lipstick in Pink Sizzle & Lip Glaze in Shiraz.

Easy Fresh Spring Makeup

Another YouTube vid, another FOTD post...

A few weeks ago, I got a request to 'do something' with MAC Sumptuous Olive E/S. This is a shadow that can easily become muddied if too much smokeyness is added, so I kept the inner corner light and just blended the Sumptuous Olive out at the crease. Teamed with glowing coral cheeks & lips, this kept the overall look fresh and spring-like.

I know I wasn't pouting when I took this pic, so not sure why it looks like I was !!

Chanel Pro Lumiere

Sleek Primer Palette

MAC Sumptuous Olive E/S

AVON Gel Shock Liner

Clinique Naturally Glossy Mascara

Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

MAC Omega E/S (brows)

MAC Select Cover-Up Concealor NW20

DIOR Capture Totale Loose Powder

Benefit Coralista

Estee Lauder Blazing Sun Crystal Lipstick (available online from 28th Feb)

Bronze/Gold Indian Inspired Eyes

I had the absolute pleasure of doing the hair & makeup for a bride having her indian/scottish wedding reception last night, following their traditional indian ceremonies in India a couple of weeks ago. I then had the pleasure of actually attending the wedding!

After spending a day surrounded by amazing jewellery, Saaris, food and beautiful women, I was completely inspired to do an 'indian inspired' look for my own makeup.

Not wanting it to look like I was trying to rock a culture that clearly wasn't mine, I just used a few touches; warm colours on the eye, dark brows and a nude lip. The sparkling effect from MAC Antique Gold reflects let me capture that deep golden look around my eye, without it being too over the top.

Click here to see the video on YouTube.

FOTD Featuring MAC Smut

I got a request on YouTube to create a look using Smut by MAC. It's a gorgeous matte, cool dark brown.

I didn't want to do a shimmery evening smokey eye, so I used 'wedge' all over the lid, which is also a matte shade.

being pouty

As a twist, I added a slick of blue mascara, which contrasts with the dark brown beautifully

Cheeks are kept bright with a swish of Sleek's new blush from the Stiletto collection, called Scandalous

What do you think?

FOTD

Hi,

I promised I would be doing more of these; I'm having a bit of a lull in terms of product reviews at the moment, both in terms of stuff to review & the energy to think about actually reviewing them, so am loving having more time to actually dedicate to FOTD makeup posts!

I didn't have time yesterday morning to A - do my makeup to any decent standard and B - photograph it before work, so this look is the makeup I did for filming 2 non-makeup related videos yesterday (which you can see here if you like!)

So, this was another very simple look - I've used...

FACE Atelier Foundation

MAC 'Cubic' Blush

MAC 'Carbon' E/S for brows

MAC 'Plumage' E/S in outer v

Dior Capture Totale powder

MAC 'Angel' lipstick

YSL Aquaresistant Mascara

Back to Work FOTD

Today was my first day back at work since finishing up before Christmas. I had a 4.48am start, so please excuse the slightly gormless look, but it was sooo early!

I wanted to keep it natural and uncomplicated so just whacked a Benefit cream shadow over my lids & a slick of mascara & I was done. I was also trying out my new Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation, which I have quickly fallen in love with!

I'm going to try do more of these, so need to get a bit of variety into my work makeup!

A x

Fresh Faced & Bright Eyed Makeup Inspired by Kylie

Clearly I look nothing like Kylie, but I loved her makeup in the 'All The Lovers' video, so had a go at recreating it, for a fresh faced, more natural look for the new year after all the glitter and statement lips of the festive period...

stills from the video

I'm also not one to spend ages taking pics either, but everything seemed to be in place tonight to get a few snaps. Plus, my chores were done & I was just messing about...

And finally, editing the video which you can see here...

Xmas/New Year Makeup Matte Eyes & MAC Rebel Lip

Hi lovelies,

Was getting a bit bored of having glitter all over my face & decided to do a matte look. Was also challenged on twitter to come up with a look using MAC Rebel Lipstick & here's what I did!

You can see the video here, but here's a quick break down of what I did...

Skin - MUFE HD Foundation, mixed with a smidge of MAC Face & Body in white, to lighten it slightly. Concealed under the eyes with MAC NW20 Select Cover Up.

Eyes - covered from lashes to brow with Brulee. Created an outer V & kept the crease super dark and defined (don't blend too much) using MAC Carbon. Defined the lashes with a very thin line of Clinique black gel liner. Loads of black mascara on top lashes only.

Brows - defined using Shu Uemura brow pencil, then darkened with MAC Carbon.

Cheeks - Illmasqua Nymph Blush & Chanel Bronze Universel to contour.

Lips - MAC Rebel Lipstick!

hope you like it!

A xx

Festive Red Lip: New Video!

Tonight's video is a really simple, clean & modern red lip. Perfect for the festive season, a christmas party or just for wearing about the house!

And I just wanted to show you... In the video I used Benefit's She Laq on my lips & eyebrows. The video was shot about 5 hours before the pic below and in the meantime I'd eaten lunch, drunk some milk and some kisses (!) and this lipstick has not budged!!

(scuse my glasses... I stabbed myself in the eye a few days ago with a 224 and still struggling to wear my lenses)

FOTDs Revisited...

So, I can't believe it's been a nearly a year since Beauty Blogging Blonde was born!

2010 has been a roller coaster year for me and I would count down the last few days of the year with a 'revisited' series. I will be going back over some of my favourite products & posts and thought I'd start with a post on some of my favourite Face of the Day pics.

When I started BBB, I was looking for a place literally to record looks I'd done and without even knowing it, I needed somewhere to record 'FOTDs'!! My little blog has evolved into so so much more than that and I have had some brilliant opportunities from writing it. Anyway, before I start getting too sentimental - lets get onto the pics! Some of these are very recent and some are very early - the very first pic is of the Dita Von Teese look and it is the first one I ever did.

I hope you enjoy!

FOTD & FOTN!

FOTD...

I forgot to post this when I put the video up a few days ago. This was done using the Bee Luscious Garden Girl Palette (click here to get 15% off one for yourself!).

I'm looking forward to creating some more looks with this. The shadows are ridiculously pigmented and blend out forever (make sure you have a couple of clean 217s!).

FOTN...

Last night was a friend's 30th birthday and instead of partying it up in town, we all piled round to his house for sophisticated drinks (read cocktails, jaeger bombs, cigars & twister...). Where we live in Scotland, it can be difficult getting home from the city after a night out so a house party is usually a preferred option for bigger get-togethers. It also means you don't get sore feet from wearing sky-scraper heels, you don't need to worry about a jacket or bag - it's great!

It also means that my makeup tends to be more relaxed than if I was going to a club and I took the opportunity last night to go for my current favourite 'naturally polished' makeup that I've been sporting for a few weeks now.

For daytime, I would wear this but without the liner on the bottom waterline. For evening, run a black liner along the waterline and et-voila! Daytime to Evening in one easy step!

There will be a video tut on this look up in about 3 days, but for the time being here is a list of products used...

FACEAtelier Foundation in Ivory

MAC Plum Foolery blush from Hark The Heraldry Tartan Tales compact

YSL Metallic Colourama Palette as a highlight on brow bone and cheek bones

MAC Patina & Satin Taupe E/S

Avon Gel Shock Liner in Black

YSL Mascara

Dior Lip Glow Lipbalm (read about the drama to actually buy it here!)

Shu Uemura Eyebrow Pencil Hard Formula 6 (Seal Brown)

What makeup have you been loving recently? do you have a 'go to' look? And what do you think of the perm a week on? I think I'm getting better at styling it and I am loving the volume!

A xx

Illamasqua 'Liquid Metal' FOTD Video

I went out to dinner to my favourite Turkish restaurant on Saturday with my husband (that still feels strange to say!) and our friends...

Just a quick video using 'Stoic Liquid Metal' by Illamasqua

Orchid Dream Gloss Stick - Blue Dahlia Collection FOTD

For me, the pièce de résistance from the new Estee Lauder Blue Dahlia collection, has got to be the Gloss Stick in Orchid Dream.

The colour is beautiful - a real deep pink, with the faintest hints of blue coming through and gentle shimmer throughout. It's not quite a lippie - it's much softer and sheer than any lipstick, but the colour pay-off is way deeper than a traditional lipgloss. It's buttery soft to apply and is super moisturising.

This shade is limited edition, so I am already planning to pick up a back up!

And here's today's FOTD using Orchid Dream!

Hope you like it!

A x

* I received this for review purposes