Keira Knightly Inspired Makeup - Part 2

I've come to realize how helpful collages can be to recognize colour patterns, so I decided to create a collage of the makeup colours I used in my previous 'Keira Knightly Inspired Makeup' post - this way if you're interested in the look, you have a better idea of the shades I used - it also gives more of a visual comparison between Keira's makeup look and the one I created on myself - Keira has a very delicate, light complexion, while my complexion is more medium-warm - its important to remember that if you want a particular look to work for you, you may need to tweek it to work with your skintone.  I also added in a pic of diamond stud earings, simply because they are so elegant and go with this look so well:

Makeup show in this collage:

Chanel Boy Lipstick (I used this lipstick with Soar Liner for this look)

Chanel Tweed Rose blush

MAC Soar Lipliner

MAC Coquette and Carbon eyeshadows

Chanel Nude lipliner

Chanel Organdi Rose lipstick (one of current favourite lipsticks for everyday - I pair it with Chanel's Natural Lipliner and the combination is divine!)

Keira Knightly Inspired Makeup

SInce my last two posts have been about how much I adore Keira Knightly's look and makeup, I decided I would try her elegantly smokey eye with a more natural-rose lip.  I've recently gone on a Chanel makeup shopping spree (their products are expensive, but there is nothing like them - the lipsticks feel like a second skin on - creamy, luxurious and the colours are so unique and second to none - actually the makeup artist said that Chanel's colours are ICONIC - with other makeup companies trying to re-create similar colours, but nothing compares to the original).  Before I post my pics, here is a list of the makeup I used:

I started with my 'basic face': foundation, concealer and bronzer as powder. I then used Tweed Rose blush by Chanel as a contour, Borjouis 'rose' highlight and MAC's Dame blush in the centre of cheeks. For the Smokey eye look, I started with the rose highlight all over, used MAC's Coquette on the lid into the crease and Woodwinked on the lid. I then used a black eyeliner from Lancome and smudged MAC's Carbon into the upper and lower lash lines - I really smudged out the bottom lash line (something I don't normally do) - I finished with Loreal's Voluminous mascara. I then used the rose highlight again in the brow-bone and in the inner tear-duct! On my lips, I used MAC's Soar lipliner with Chanel Boy Lipstick (my current favourite lip colour)!

Chanel Allure - Part 2

I love creating collages!  I could do it for hours - I literally get lost in images, colours, harmonizing patterns etc etc - its like scrapbooking, but via the computer!  I have been mesmorized with Keira Knightly's makeup looks and have taken some time to study the elegant colours of the palette that she wears - so I decided to create a collage!!!  Here is a great visual of the type of colours that are used to create a timeless, classic makeup look - not all the shades are Chanel, but many are - I will list all the shades/swatches I used in this collage below:

Blush: NARS Madly, Chanel Tweed Rose
Eyes: MAC Brule, Soba, Coquette and Smut shadows
Chanel Brun and MAC Coffee eyeliners
Lips: Chanel Nude and Rose Cuivre lipliners, MAC Soar lipliner
Chanel Boy, Organdi Rose and Vendome Lipsticks
* All these shades are represented in this collage in one way or another (some as colour swatches, some as photos of the actual product)

Chanel Allure - Timeless!

Regardless of what is in fashion or what trends are currently making the rounds, the look of Chanel will always be timeless, alluring, stylish and elegant.  Not only is Chanel's style and fashion timeless, but Chanel cosmetics and the looks created for each season are just as elegant and classic.  Kiera Knightly's look has really changed since joining the Chanel team - her look has gone from natural tom-boyish charm to uber elegant, feminine and charming.  Here are some of my favourite makeup looks inspired by Chanel:

What I love about these looks is how the makeup is perfectly balanced - a defined/smokey eye, natural rose-infused lips, subtle colour on the cheeks - nothing is 'too' nude or pale, the colours are in the neutral palette, giving off a quality of rustic warmth together with shades of pink, mauve, rose - the look is truely 'timeless'! 

Bronze Autumn/Divine Diva Archetype

I have written many times about David Zyla and his concepts about finding your best 'power' colours and style archetype.  I've been on a mission to discover my ultimate best palette and have spent quite a lot of time creating a collage that I feel is the most accurate to date of my Zyla power colours - I'm very excited to share this one with you - I hope that you like it:

Nude vs Warm Rose

I have always admired women who can wear a nude-beige lip and not look like they have swiped concealer on their lips.  I think the nude lip is just so feminine and pretty and it looks amazing with a smokey eye.  For some reason, it just doesn't seem to work on me (at least I don't think so) - Check out this makeup look I tried today, my moms comment to me was that I looked 'dead and blah' - not necessarily the type of feedback you want - lol:

For this look I used my usual base, mineral fusion foundation in warm, NC 30 concealer, MAC's bronzer (this time I used refined Golden).  For my eyes, I used brule as a base, copperplate shadow from lid to crease, coffee eyeliner and smudged deep truth shadow into the upper lashline.  I used Zoom lash mascara in lofty brown.  I then applied NARS Madly blush and used Lancome's Bronzelle lipliner with MAC's Honeylove lipstick.

Although, this look is okay, the richess seems to be gone, something is lacking, so I went back to using more of a golden-brown on my eyes, by re-applying coffee liner and smudging NARS Bengali into the upper lashline - I then changed the lip colour to Chanel's Rose Cuivre lipliner topped with MAC's Plink lipstick:

I think that this last look with a warm rose lip brings a little more colour to my face - the lipstick seems more elegant looking to me - I seem to handle a little bit of colour much better than a nude-beige lip - but I would love to hear your opinion - which is better on me - the nude? or the warm rose???

True Autumn Soft???

One colour analysis source that I have found helpful is the website 'Pretty Your World' - Lora Alexander, the creator of the website and blog does a fantastic job at creating looks for the different palettes.  She has her own makeup line, which is fantastic - the colour and quality of the products are amazing and you can shop by season - a huge bonus and takes out the guess work if you know your season.  On her blog and website, you will also find information on the new 16 colour seasons.  Some seasons are expanded further, for example, there is now: Soft Summer Deep, Deep Winter Soft, Toasted Spring etc - My question is, is there a possibility of a new 17th season called 'True Autumn Soft' - This season would clearly be deeper than the soft autumn palette, but has a level of warmth that the soft autumn deep needs???  I have to throw this question out there since I've made some new recent observations - since doing some more colour experiments, I've discovered that my eye colour has a definite level of softness and the eye-makeup look that is the most harmonious on me matches a warm-soft palette - check it out (the background of this photo is a collage of my actuall eye colour - I took photos of my eyes, cropped them, magnified the colour, then cut and paste the colour into a collage):

The first thing that pops out at me is that this collage definitely seems warm, muted and soft, but with hints of grey-blue - a subtle cool-softness that True Autumn palette lacks!  I then decided to play around with this collage a bit more and added my favourite blush and lip combo:

Madly blush and Spice lipliner match the true autumn palette perfectly and the honeylove lipstick (pictured here) adds en element of softness when paired to the spice liner - the effect is very natural and pretty - I really like it!  Honeylove is a light beige with pink undertones.  I seem to handle a neutral palette quite well, need a level of warmth, but also a level of softness with a hint of cool - yet at the same time, my colouring is too deep to fit into the soft seasons???  I'm a bit stumped!!!  So far, In terms of the 12 seasons, I personally feel that True Autumn works the best - but its still not 'perfect' - there are colours in the True Autumn palette that are lacking or missing and there is a level of softness with a hint of cool that I need as well!  Interesting and worth blogging about!