Contrast FUN - Bright Meets Deep!

I am getting really excited with the notion of just playing around with different makeup shades, particularily 'contrasting' shades or contrasting levels of depth/brightness.  Today I decided to try going with a brighter teal/aqua eye and pair it with a deep, dark rocker-chick inspired lipstick.  I just decided to 'go with it' - these days I'm moving away from colour analysis and towards embracing my colour-gypsy self - or as I've said before, embracing my inner colour-nomad!  I learned a lot about myself with colour analysis, but now its time for me to become truely authentic and just have FUN with colour, break the rules a little - become a little bit more of a colour-rebel!!!  Check out the look I created:

For this look I started with Mineral Fusion Foundation and concealer - I skipped the powder, as I find that the mineral makeup tends to set into a smooth, powder-like finish.  I used Raizin blush my MAC (my current #1 favourite blush on the planet).  For the eyes, I started with Arena shadow as a base, then mixed Copperplate and Kight Divine and applied to the lid and crease (all MAC shadows).  I then used MAC's eyeliner called 'Mountain Air' (an amazing teal/aqua shade) and applied a very thick line to the upper lashline, while using Smolder on the lower lashline.  I used black mascara (one of the Benefit ones) and finished the look with a very deep lipstick Film Noir, mixed with Ruby Woo (also MAC).  I love the depth of this lipstick look - its such a Femme Fatale, deep blood 'red' shade!!!

Time for a HUGE change.............

I realize that its been a while since I've posted anything - I haven't given up on this blog, I've simply been on a massive and life altering journey these days - its been a process of embracing the authenticity.  Interestingly enough, through this process I have had to let go or distance myself from some of the people I considered friends, while at the same time meeting new friends or re-connecting to people that I've lost contact with.  One thing is for sure, I've never been happier (even amoungst some serious turmoil which I can't talk about) - I feel the most 'myself' I've ever felt and that is an absolutely AMAZING feeling!  Its also about realizing that in each and every 'present' moment, I am creating my authentic self - this is still a process, its an on-going journey - and I've loving it - how amazingly cool is it to discover that you can continually choose to be authentic at every moment and live a life of authenticity!  I'm finally so in love with........ME (not in an egotistical way, but in a self-respecting way)!!!  I decided to mark this change with a bit of a transformation - I cut my hair to suit my personality and have embracing a new hair colour - a rich, deep burgundy red - I'm wearing it with 2 lipcolours Train Bleu liner by NARS and Diva lipstick by MAC.  I actually used the Train Bleu as a swatch to get this colour - my hair colourist was able to replicate the exact colour of Train Bleu on my hair - she's amazing!!!  Check it out:

This process of transformation has been huge for me, I'm emerging as a new, more authentic 'me' - Its almost like I've been cocooned for so long and now I'm emerging as the butterfly - its time to spread my wings and fly...........Its time to keep shining, keep moving forward, keep feeling good about myself.  I predict that amazing things are on their way to me - that I will continue to "match the frequency of the reality I want" to create!!!  Namaste and complete gratitude for every lesson, for my Angels who look out for me, for God and the Universe who are the ultimate creators - Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!

Tribute to Cobalt Blue

For someone like me who loves colour, its easy to say "I love this colour - this is my favourite blue, or green or red etc etc etc", but I do have to admit, that when it comes to blues, Cobalt blue truely is a favourite!  What I absolutely love about it, is that its not quite navy and its not quite royal blue - its somewhere right smack dab in the middle.  To me, its such an elegant blue - its a blue that is rich in colour, yet also slightly muted - I simply love this colour and I'm so happy that its showing up in all the stores lately - it seems to be the perfect transition colour from winter to spring!  Here is a little visual dedication/tribute to cobalt blue (I have also heard this colour described as 'Ink blue' if thats helpful at all):

I hope that you enjoyed this little visual tour of everything that cobalt blue has to offer - I particularily love cobalt in the form of a wrap dress or cardigan to layer over a blouse - cobalt is truely one of my favourite blue shades!!!

Deep/Toned WInter Collages

I wanted to post some collages that I have put together of both the deep winter and toned winter palettes - I'm going to try some soft summer palettes as well, but for now I'm still playing around with Toned Winter and feel the most at home here:

Navy meets up with Deep Berry

I think I am starting to develop a slight obsession with a deeper toned lip - I'm loving that rich burgundy, wine, mahogany and deep berry lipstick look - there is something mysterious, sophisticated, elegant, yet uber-creative and dramatic about it.  This look can be both rocker-chic and elegant city chic - its all in how you carry yourself, what you choose to wear and accessorize with this makeup look.  I decided to create a nice harmony by pairing the deep berry lipstick shade with a burgundy blush shade and navy/muted greys on the eyes - check it out:

Here is the makeup I used for this look - I started with my basic 'face' (mineral fusion foundation in olive, mineral fusion concealer in warm and translucent powder).  I then mixed MAC's Fever and Raizin blushes for the cheeks.  On the eyes, I started with brule as a base, used Smut on the lid into the crease and then applied Blooz eyeliner - I smudged the upper lashline with Nehru shadow and used Smolder eyeliner on the lower-lashline before finishing with mascara (all the eyemakeup products are MAC) - For the lips, I used MAC's Mahogany lipliner with Hang-Up lipstick!  Hang up is one of my all time favourite deep berry/burgundy shades - its slightly more 'berry-purple' than Diva, but looks amazing with Mahogany and Burgundy liners - LOVE this look!!!

Toned Winter Makeup Look - Deep Muted Magenta Lip

Deep Muted Magenta Look:

For this look I had to do a lot of mixing, esp for the eyes. I started with my basic base of sheer foundation, concealer and translucent powder. I mixed MAC's mineralize love thing blush with Fever blush for the cheeks. For the eyeshadow base, I mixed area and goldmine, then for the lid into crease shade, I mixed copperplate and shadowy lady. I then used goldmine again on the lid and applied to the inner tearducts and along the bottom lashline. I applied smolder eyeliner and smudged shadowy lady into the upper lashline before finishing wth mascara (all MAC). For a deep muted magenta lip, I applied MAC's Magenta lipliner and then blended in Media lipstick!!!

Toned Winter - Deep Winter Soft - Experiment

I decided to experiement with one of the new 16 seasons - Deep Winter Soft also known as the Toned Winter - The blocks of colour on the right hand side of this collage are colours taken from my actual eye colour!  I just ordered the Toned Winter colour swatch fan from Lora Alexander's blog 'Pretty Your World' - I look forward to using this swatch to play around with a lot of new looks - I'm so excited!!!  Stay tuned for more Deep Winter 'Soft' experiements: