Beauty Look | Fall Makeup Look featuring Laura Mercier Custom Contour Palette

I love Fall. Period. There is nothing nicer than the cooler weather to bring out the deeper tones and hues for Nature, Fashion and of course Makeup!

The Makeup look that I am sharing today is my go-to Fall look. This look can be worn on any skin tone. It's not super bold, which is why it's perfect to wear everyday. One product that I wanted to feature, that I recently got, is the Laura Mercier Custom Contour Palette. It gives a perfect yet soft contour. I have more details on the palette as well as the products used for this look below:

Eyes
Coastal Scents - 28 Neutral Palette (Warm Brown, Light Brown, Light Beige and Dark Prune)
Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks in Cocoa and Copper
Giorgio Armani Eye & Brow Maestro in Wedgewood/Dark Brown
Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara
Maybelline Line Stiletto Liquid Liner
Maybelline Eye Drama Pencil Liner

Lips
Giorgio Armani Lip Pencil #12 (Dark Burgundy)
Rouge D'Armani Lipstick in #500
Giorgio Armani Flash Lacquer Lipgloss in #107

Face
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in #6.25
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in Warm Natural
Coastal Scents 10 Blush Palette - Warm Plum Tone
Laura Mercier Custom Contour Palette

The Laura Mercier Custom Contour palette is a great kit for anyone who wants a simple way to contour. You can use the shades to softly sculpt your cheeks and jawline. This palette can be filled with your own custom shades but is initially offered with the following tones:

1. Highlight #1 - Highlighter - Gives a glowing finish to the skin and to highlight
2. Contour Deep #2 - Deepest Contour - Sculpt into the hollows of the cheeks
3. Contour #1 - Medium Contour - Blend and use for a softer sculpted effect

For the look I did, I used the two contour shades together and paired with the blush. Be sure to check out this kit! The key to Fall makeup is using warm earthy shades on the eyes, glowing skin with a subtle contour and paired with plum/medium pink based lipstick. Try your own version of this look and you'll see why this is perfect for Fall.

Beauty Talk | #Contour Mania or Overload? - How to navigate this #1 Trend

Image/Makeup:  Kevyn Aucoin - The Book "Making Faces".

"This photo is really an illustration of the contours of the face. The application is exaggerated and not to be taken too literally. It's just to show how highlighting and contouring (when sparingly applied and carefully blended) can add definition to the face...You may never do this for everyday life, but for special occasions or photographs, it can really make a difference." 
- KEVYN AUCOIN

We have all seen the countless images of Contouring. The mass number of before and after pics showing the painted makeup 'maps' on faces. Instructions for the proper placement of light and dark makeup to achieve the perfect contour. The faces almost look like a mask of sorts which is now being referred to as a"contour map". Nonetheless, the after photo is always gorgeous, flawless and the makeup looks like perfection.

I have had a lot of my clients and people ask me about this trend. As much as it's popular it has also deterred clients from trying the trend. Especially if you are a person who has never worn makeup or maybe want to see how it's done, the images and videos can be overwhelming.

For this post, I am going to share the types of contouring and my tips of how you can make this trend wearable and simple, whether it's fierce or everyday!

BIRTH OF CONTOURING - Who and where it's used?

• Photography & Movies | Works well with the Flashing lights of Cameras.
• Celebrity | Typically seen on Instagram and with their respective Makeup Artists
• Drag Makeup | Ideal for stage performance to emphasize facial features against the bright lights

Contouring has become extremely popular via Instagram. The trend was really cultivated and developed by many drag performers who understood that to look fierce on stage, they needed to emphasize their makeup.

It works well for Photography because with the extreme flash effects from cameras, a person's face can end up looking too flat or one dimensional. Therefore this makeup technique helped to emphasize and re-create the dark and light areas on a person's face for the best photos.

WHY DO WE NEED TO CONTOUR?

• To define
• To accentuate facial structure 
• To balance light and dark
• Makeup artist technique which is great for Weddings and Special Occasions

WAYS TO ACHIEVE THE LOOK

Fierce Contour
This effect is achieved with Extreme Highlighting and contouring by using Concealer/Highlighter and Cream Foundation

Time: Half Hour
Best Product To Use: A mix of Liquid Foundation, Cream Concealers, Liquid/Powder Highlighters
Celebrity Inspiration: Kim Kardashian

Image Courtesy: kimkardashian.com

Evening Contour
Medium effect achieved when using a Contour Kit that has all of your go-to shades from light to dark, a blush shade and a highlight shade.

Time: 15 Mins.
Best Product To Use: Contour Kits i.e. Anastasia Beverly Hills or BH Cosmetics
Celebrity Inspiration: Jennifer Lopez

   Image Courtesy: google.com/images

Everyday Contour
Light and wearable version for Daytime. Using the natural bone structure as a guide on placement and then using a soft light Bronzer to define and adding a soft wash of blush on top. The idea is to create the shadow into the hollow of the cheek, which is right under the fullest part of your cheek.

Time: 5 Mins. or less
Best Product To Use: Giorgio Armani Bronzer or Matte Toned Bronzer/Blush
Celebrity Inspiration: Mila Kunis

Image Courtesy: google.com

Hopefully this post and the tips above can help any of those who are trying to figure out how to navigate and use this makeup trend. I do feel that there is so much emphasis on the extreme versions of contouring but it can definitely be achieved with fewer products so it's easy, simple and beautiful. At the end of the day, do whatever works for you, whether it be extreme to light.

Product Love | Giorgio Armani Faves & Coming Soon!

 

Let's be real, anyone who receives a goodie bag, a gift or swag, can't help themselves but to feel excited! That's how I felt when I received my goodies from Giorgio Armani. I got a mix of current and yet to be launched goodies which I am going to share below!

SUN FABRIC SHEER BRONZERS

Giorgio Armani launched a collection of NEW bronzers for the Summer called Sun Fabrics. My two favourites from this collection were Shade #100 and #400. Shade #100 is a a gorgeous, smooth caramel brown that diffuses beautifully on the skin. A great all over bronzer to set foundation or for a soft contour in the hollows of the Cheek and the perimeter of the face. Travel friendly with the inclusion of a brush!

Shade #400 is a bit warmer and adds more depth to the face. I like to use this one as my "touch-up" bronzer to re-emphasize the cheek bones, works great alone or paired with blush. This also makes a great transition colour for eye shadows whether you are doing a smokey or a neutral eye.

EYES TO KILL MASCARA

This is a gorgeous Mascara, creates full, long, thick and dramatic lashes. The formula is amazing to work with and you can continuously work the product through your lashes till you achieve the desired look! The whole collection of Mascaras are amazing, but this one is my current favourite!


CHEEK FABRIC SHEER BLUSH

I absolutely adore this blush! Shade #506 looks great on EVERY skin tone. The blush is a warm rosy pink which is super flattering. Offers great pigment and blend-ability which diffuses onto the cheeks perfectly!


ROUGE ECSTASY LIPSTICK

This is such a gorgeous pink shade called Peony, a warm pink shade that works well from Summer into Fall. Rouge Ecstasy lipsticks are amazing because they have Vitamin E and Shea Butter which helps to protect the lips with each use. Highly pigmented colour with an amazing hydrating feel!

COMING SOON! | ROUGE ECSTASY SPICE & EYE & BROW MAESTRO

There are three new shades coming in for the already existing Rouge Ecstasy collection. Three new Red Inspired shades. Let me introduce you to Rouge Ecstasy Spice a gorgeous warm Red! I will be doing a look based on this shade soon so you can see how it looks on!

I am so excited for the launch of this product! This is Eye & Brow Maestro #02 and looks amazing with my skin tone and hair colour! It is a versatile Brow product that offers the following uses:

• 9 Gorgeous shades
• Easily applies and sets for 20 hour wear
• Does not fade
• Natural looking colour
• Allows for precision definition or natural looking brows
• Great as an eyeliner
• Works amazing as an Eye shadow base

Check out the above products as they work well into Fall and are perfect additions to add to your makeup bag or kit! Stay tuned for Makeup Looks on the blog showcasing these products!