Beauty Look | Anastasia Beverly Hills Palette - Cool Mauve #Makeup Look - #ModernRenaissance Eyeshadow Palette

In the past, for me to be able to achieve a cool toned eyeshadow look, on my skin tone was challenging. The reason it would be difficult is that either the shadows weren't pigmented enough or I had to layer a lot of primer/concealer to get the shadows to look right.

Even though at first glance, the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette looks like a warmer palette, there are a few colours in the palette, that allowed me to create this cool mauve look.

Check it out below!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Palette & Makeup Used

• Lid: Tempera
• Crease: Warm Taupe & Buon Fresco
• Mid Lid: Buon Fresco
• Outer Corner: Cyprus Umber
• Inner to Mid Lid: Vermeer (Mixed with Fluid Sheer #8)
• Lashline: Buon Fresco & Warm Taupe
• Outer Corner Lashline: Cyprus Umber
• Mascara: L'Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara
• Liner: L'Oreal Lineur Intense & MAC Cosmetics Feline Eye Pencil
• Foundation: Maybelline FitMe Foundation Shade 315
• Concealer: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer
• Blush: Fluid Sheer #8
• Highlight: Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter Girl Next Door/Chic Phreak
• Lips: Maybelline 665 Lust For Blush Matte Lipstick with Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb

Really like how this look came together! I loved how I could use the duo ended brush that comes with this palette to do all of the eyeshadow application. More looks to come!

Beauty Tip | Affordable #eyeshadows by #CoastalScents

So let's be honest, if you are a Makeup Artist or a Makeup Junkie, the costs of buying makeup add up when there is so many products & tools you have to invest in. With Social Media, it makes it harder to resist to add new items to your collection or kit because everything you see looks good ;)

The way we find info on makeup is really easy, just look at your phone! You can do your research via YouTube Videos, blogs and you can get recommendations by asking other makeup artists or friends. Doing your research before you buy anything, may help you save some money in the long run.

I came across CoastalScents via YouTube through Makeup YouTubers and I noted that they had a lot of affordable makeup products. Their eyeshadow palettes were SUPER popular and I ended up purchasing a number of palettes and other makeup as well. The products have worked well for me both personally and professionally.

What I LOVED the most is that the 28 Neutral Eyeshadow Palette had shades that were similar to MAC eyeshadows and the cost ($11.95 CDN)! I have shared the swatches below and the MAC shadows they dupe for:

• Naked Lunch
• Nylon
• Soft Brown
• Haux
• Expensive Pink
• Jest
• Beauty Marked

• Hush
• Vanilla
• Phloof!
• Tempting
• Cork
• Era
• Mythology

• Gleam
• Creme Royale
• Wedge
• Sable
• Amber Lights
• Corduroy
• Patina

• White Frost
• Quarry
• Grain
• Blackberry
• Brown Script
• Brown Down
• Carbon

This is one way to help get you a large quantity of eyeshadows for a lot less. The 28 Neutral Eyeshadow Palette, is a great palette if you are:

• Starting out in Makeup
• Looking for a perfect Bridal Eyeshadow palette
• Interested in getting a high quantity of eye shadows that are affordable

Happy Shopping!

Fun Makeup | How I used "regular" Makeup Products to create this #Halloween Skull #Makeup Look

I'm so excited to share how I created this Halloween Skull Makeup look! Firstly, I'm happy to tell you that I didn't have to purchase special "Halloween makeup" that we typically find in the month of October. Secondly, I did this without having to spend $ on buying new makeup just to create this Halloween look, I used what I already had at home :)

The best rule of life is the K.I.S.S. rule (Keep it Stupidly Simple)! This can pretty much apply to any aspect of life. I wanted to apply this rule to creating my latest Halloween look. I wanted to show that I did not have to spend $ on buying "Halloween" makeup products, rather using what I already had to get the look I wanted. So, there you go...the K.I.S.S. rule!

Thee Best Halloween memories I have are the ones where I created either a DIY Costume or a Makeup look. One year I was an aging woman, which I used eyeliner to create the aging effect, 80's girl following that, and one year it was the "Robert Palmer" makeup look (Sidebar: If you don't know what this is, you MUST look this up right now!) This look was created using the borrowed (aka secretly took my mom's) Charlie Red Lipstick and black eyeliner! It totally worked!

I did the Skull last year and with practice and doing it on repeat, each year this look will get better and better! Here is the breakdown of the products I used and the order in which I did as well!

Skull Makeup Look Products (Everything was on hand):

1. NYX Cosmetics Wonder Pencil  in 02 (Milky Nude Pencil)
2. Giorgio Armani Face Fabric (DC) in 0.5 (This is the lightest shade & I wear 5, just to give context)
3. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 5 (I wear shade 8)
4. NYX Highlight and Contour Pro Palette
5. MAC Pro Longwear Eye Liner in Definedly Black
6. Laura Mercier Caviar Stick (Eyeshadow Stick) in Tuxedo
7. Quo Vinyl Liquid Liner in Black
8. Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow Palette
9. Giorgio Armani High Precision ReTouch (Concealer) in 2

The reason I didn't want to use white makeup for the skull is that anytime I have ever seen a Skull in books or at the museum, they were decayed looking, with almost a beige like tone. Rather than use the Halloween White shade, for me what worked was using a really light shade of foundation! It works out well. :)

BONE SKULL CREATION:

DETAILS:

SHADOW & DIMENSION CREATION:

A really important tip I wanted to share, is to really take your time on the Bone "skin"creation. Be sure to layer the foundation evenly and take your time blending it on the skin. This will give you a great base for the rest of the Skull Details.

Last but not least, have fun when creating wild makeup looks like this one I did for Halloween. Be mindful that it doesn't have to cost a lot of $, just a bit of time, inspiration and creativity!

Enjoy!

Fun Makeup | #12DaysofChristmas Makeup Looks | Day 3: Holiday Glam

A classic red lip will never cease to amaze paired with a shimmering highlight! Today brings Day 3 of the 12 Days of Christmas Makeup Looks by me @MakeupbySand! This look is called Holiday Glam! This look is my fave so far, because it pairs a classic red lip with a touch of gloss with a gorgeous glowing highlight! Check out the details below!

Products Used:

Face

• Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk #6.25 Foundation
• Giorgio Armani #100 Bronzer & #507 Blush
• Urban Decay Naked Palette 1 - The 2 shades were mixed together: Sin and Half Baked

Eyes

• Urban Decay Naked Palette 1 
• Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Cocoa 
• Coastal Scents 28 Neutral Palette - Warm Brown Shade
• Giorgio Armani Eye Pencil in #4 & Eyes To Kill Mascara
• Maybelline Line Stiletto

Lips

• Giorgio Armani Rouge D'Armani Lipstick in #409
• Dior Lip Liner Pencil in Rouge Dior
• Giorgio Armani Lip Gloss #608 (A small dab on the centre of the bottom lip)

I love how this look gives glamour! From the power red lip with bronzy/gold/champagne eyeshadows and that GLOW, this look will be a hit at any festive party! It suits EVERY skin tone  and you can play with different tones of the red lipstick to suit your comfort and confidence level!

Happy Holidays!

Beauty Tip | Bright Eyes with a Pop of Colour!!

There is one rule to Makeup...Make your own rules! There are literally a million different ways to do the same look and the same goes for the different ways you can wear makeup.

What can be popular one season, is completely wrong the next season. There was a time where I would match my eye makeup to the outfit I was wearing. The look would be a mix of tone-on-tone shades, worn together with a very cool gradient effect. For added drama, I would wear it with a winged liner.

Lately, I have moved towards a bright pop of colour under the lower lash line, while keeping the eye look pretty neutral. This way I get the best of both worlds, a soft glam look with a pop of colour.

Here a few looks I have done this year where I used this pop of colour technique, check them out below:

1. Pop of Blue

• Used Neutral Beige, Gold and Brown for the Eyes
• Added light blue, turquoise and bright blue underneath
• Used Coastal Scents 88 Ultra Shimmer Palette

Courtesy of: Instagram/@MakeupBySand

2. Pop of Purple

• Soft Vanilla and brown shades created the look on the eyes
• Added a thin to thicker pop of purple underneath the lash line
• Used Vasanti Cosmetics Kajal Extreme Intense Eye Pencil in Purple Gem

Courtesy of: Instagram/@MakeupbySand

3. Pop of Green

• Beige, Vanilla, Gold and Soft Pink to the top lid plus added Drama with Ardell Lashes
• To add this pop, I mixed a few Green shades and smudged underneath
• Used Coastal Scents 88 Ultra Shimmer and Matte Palette

Courtesy of: Instagram/@MakeupbySand

Just some of my favourite looks with a pop of colour. It's so easy to do, you can use eye liners or shadows and create something thin and soft to super dramatic! Try it out for the next big night out :)

Beauty Look | #FOTD/#MOTD Sexy Navy using the ItsJudyTime Palette!

I had so much fun creating this look! I used the ItsJudyTime palette which I must say I was in my happy place when I first bought this palette. I love the options and versatility I have with this to truly create a million looks! I love Navy tones on brown eyes and wanted to create a sexy navy look. The look breakdown is below along with the pics!

PRODUCTS USED:

Eyes

ItsJudyTime Palette

Navy Blue - All Over Lid 

Bronze - Middle of the Lid

Gold - Inner Corner
Warm Matte Brown - Transition/Crease

Matte Vanilla - Brow Bone

Brows

Giorgio Armani Eye & Brow Maestro in Wedgewood

Face

Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer in #4 (Yellow Gold) mixed with Luminous Silk #6.5

Giorgio Armani Bronzer #100

Vasanti Cosmetics Blush in Himalayas

Lips

MAC Cosmetics Angel Lipstick

MAC Cosmetics Lipglass in Posh It Up
MAC Lip Pencil in Spice

Navy is a gorgeous option for a smokey eye and pairs perfectly with bronzey/gold tones! Have fun trying this instead of black or brown and you will be in LOVE! This is a PERFECT night out look!

Product Love | My Must-haves from Giorgio Armani Beauty

I recently looked at the Giorgio Armani collection and wanted to share the few items that are ideal staples from the line. Since Giorgio Armani is a higher end makeup line, this may help you pick the few items you may want to add to your own personal collection.

Here is the list and the gorgeous product shots below: 

1. #1 Eyes to Kill 4 Colour Eyeshadow Palette
2. #6 Eyes to Kill 4 Colour Eyeshadow Palette
3. #12 Smooth Silk Eye Pencil
4. #11 Smooth Silk Lip Pencil
5. #502 Scarletto Rouge Ecstasy Lipstick
6. Blender Brush

Smokey Eye Must-Have: #1 Eyes to Kill Eyeshadow Palette: For all of us, we always want the basic smokey eye and this particular palette allows you to do just that. A mix of silver/grey toned shades with the dark grey and black matte colours, you can create a soft to a very intense traditional smokey eye with this palette!

A Neutral Everyday Palette: #6 Eyes to Kill Eyeshadow Palette: Not everyone is comfortable with a dramatic eye makeup look and we all need an everyday palette. What I love about this one is that these colours look good on all skin tones! Also, you can wear this one everyday and make it more dramatic when you need to! A perfect starter shadow palette for anyone who is new to make up and the mini aspect of this compact make these quads perfect for travelling!

Everyday Liner that is a multi-tasker: #12 Smooth Silk Eye Pencil: A black eye pencil is a good staple to have, but having the chocolate version is also a must for many reasons! It provides a softer, diffused look to all eye colours and it's more comfortable to wear because the colour is not as dramatic as black. The smudger that is included gives you versatility as well. You can also use this pencil as a base for your eye shadow so that the shadow on top is more intense and you can CONTOUR your cheekbones with this pencil too!

A liner that can double as a lipstick: #11 Smooth Lip Pencil: This deep plum toned pencil is my obsession! The pencils are smooth and super pigmented so you can fill in the entire lips and not have to add lipstick. Keep it Matte or add a gloss on top and you are good to go, a great shade for the season!

Hydrating and Full Colour Lipstick: #502 Scarletto Rouge Ecstasy Lipstick: This colour is HOT! It looks great on everyone! This lipstick is a CC Lipstick which is Colour + Care, with Vitamin E and Shea Butter. It gives you smooth lips each time you wear it, a perfect shade to wear for a boost!

The perfect Foundation Brush: Blender Brush: This brush is my perfect tool to use with Luminous Silk Foundation. The rounded shape and the sable bristles leave a blended and smooth finish. I find that I use less product since the brush does most of the work! It really gives you a flawless and airbrushed look.

Be sure to check these must-haves out and add to your own collection!

Product Wish List | 2015 Winter

I have come across some really gorgeous things in the last few weeks that I want to pick up for myself. Some are already available and others are yet to be launched which I am patiently anticipating.

Here is a quick snapshot of a few things on my Wish list for the season, and why I love them!

1. Hourglass Modernist Eye shadow Palette

• Artistic palettes in multiple colour combinations
• Colours look very pigmented
• Gorgeous Ombre wave pattern

2. Nars Palette

• These shadows are gorgeous as singles
• The top ones were put together in this convenient palette
• Great item for a new makeup user or a Pro

3. Anastasia Liquid Lipsticks

• The "Brow Queen" has launched these gorgeous liquid lipsticks
• Amazing colours
• Beautiful pigment

4. Kate Spade Eat Cake for Breakfast Mug

• Cutest statement mug ever :)
• Starts your day happy
• Love anything (EVERYTHING) with statements

5. Moleskin Sketchbook

• I currently have a moleskin note book which I absolutely love
• Sketchbook would force me to draw and doodle more
• Brings out creative expression

I am looking to get these goodies in next few months and of course I will share with you the pretty details of these lovely items!