Trish McEvoy - Warm Pastel Look

I have officially discovered the beauty of Trish McEvoy makeup (thanks to the news Saks Fifth Avenue at Sherway Gardens Mall).  I had the pleasure of talking with Saks' beauty consultant today.  He showed me two products in particular that I am now officially in love with.  The first product that he introduced to me was the Sheer Lip Color in the shade 'Milan'.  It's a beautiful warm light coral pink.  To really enhance this shade, the Saks beauty consultant also recommended the 'Peony Pink' blush (a light pastel warm pink shade).  The combination of these two shades was so pretty and perfect for spring:

I decided to pair this makeup look with a pastel warm blue-green scarf and 'spring sea green' top.  For some reason my camera decided to pull the bright blue out (but the top is in fact a bright blue-green).

For my eye-makeup, I wore a sheer swipe of NARS Orgasm blush on the lid into the crease and then used Urban Decay eyeliner in Mushroom.  I finished the look with L'oreal mascara in a brown-black shade.  I find that the brown-black has a certain elegance vs the black which is better for a more dramatic, evening look.

I really like the warm pastel coral-pinks.  I think they will be a staple for me this spring/summer :)

Revlon Candy Apple Lip Butter

I've been experimenting with some clear reds lately, as it's such a perfect look for spring colour types.     I also wanted a look that isn't 'too bright' for everyday.  I wanted a 'classic', wear and go red.  When I learned that Revlon's Candy Apple is a spring toned red and that it's a 'lip butter' texture, I thought perfect!  Tonight I'm going to a local theatre to see some awesome Ukrainian dancing, so I decided to put together a look of a warm cream top and a red blazer.  I went with some pearl accessories and thought that the Candy Apple would be perfect - it most definitely is pure spring chic!

For this look, I used NARS Orgasm blush, Urban Decay Mushroom liner and black mascara.  I decided to forgo the lip-liner and simply apply the Candy Apple lip butter by Revlon :)

I am very happy with my self-discovery of the light spring colour palette.  It feels so weird to even say it because I feel so far removed from the stereotypical light season, but there is something so accurate about this palette for me even though I'm a dark brunette :)  Perhaps I'm just one of those rare colour types!

Do It Yourself - Light Spring

I don't know if I'm just inspired by the light spring palette because 'spring is in the air', or if there really is something to be said about 'intuition' when it comes to colour.  A few weeks back I got very frustrated with the 'business of colour analysis'.  I always enjoyed the experience of getting draped, but my own conclusions always ended up different than the results of my analysis.  Anyhow, long story short, I 'gave up', surrendered, saw that colour is subjective and that you already intuitively know what palette works for you.  I decided to TRUST my own advice and something really 'profound' started to happen.  I began to 'listen' to how I feel around certain colours, really look at the colours that were presenting themselves in my skin.  I even asked myself - what are your favourite colours?  I kept getting light peach, camel, tan, light aqua.  I was taken aback because all these colours that I intuitively loved I never considered before as a palette because I never thought of myself as a 'light' season.  I mean, how can I be???  I have dark hair!  Right?

Well, since listening to my own advice, this has happened - a new look that I absolutely LOVE:

These photos are taken in as natural light as possible - I've 'never' seen my eyes pop like this, not even in my autumn drapings.  I would never have 'seriously' considered Light Spring as an option for myself, but this just feels SO right.  The best part about this - I did it myself.  I listened to my own inner voice, I didn't ask anyone any advice, my opinion wasn't 'swayed' by someone else's opinion.  I think that any woman can do this herself - it just takes patience, self-trust and a desire to wear your best colours.  Wow - Welcome Light Spring!!!

For this look I'm not wearing 'any' foundation/concealer.  I used a mix of NARS Torrid and MAC Warm Soul blush on my cheeks, a touch of Laura Mercier 'rose' highlight.  For the eyes, I used MAC expressive pink shadow, Urban Decay Mushroom eyeliner and black mascara.  For the lips, my classic NARS Barbarella lipstick :)

Revlon Softsilver Rose

I am embracing the beautiful sunshine that is beaming from the sky today.  I was thinking about what colours and look to create today and realized that I wanted to wear the spring greens.  I pulled out my true green cardigan and lime green scarf.  What better way to play up the beautiful warm weather greens than a warm pink lip and coral peach blush :)

The first thing I realized when I embraced this look, was 'wowzers' look how the greens bring out the blue-green tones in my eyes.  I'll have to start wearing these greens more often.  For this makeup look, I decided to try a new lipstick shade that I picked up on sale a few days ago - it's Revlon Softsilver Rose.  It's such a unique colour because it's not quite pink, peach or coral, but rather an interesting combination of all three (if that even makes any sense).  It also morphs on my lips depending on the different lighting.  It appears lighter peach-pink in some lights and then a brighter rose-coral in others.  I decided to wear Chanel Angelique blush and a coat of black mascara to finish off the look.  I still have a tearing issue with my allergies, so I'm going very minimal with my eye makeup these days.  Anyhow - this is my spring-greens look :)

Natural Spring Look

Ahhh Spring - the lovely season of fresh flowers, warmer weather and 'allergies'!!!  I don't know about anyone else, but this season has been brutal for me.   So brutal in fact, that I've been tearing almost constantly and my regular makeup routine has gone out the window.  I haven't been able to wear concealer, foundations, heavy liners because I'm constantly putting drops in my eyes or wiping away tears.  In a way, it's been a little bit freeing, sort of a makeup break.  My look lately has been about a neutral blush, a touch of shimmer, black mascara and a natural lipstick, which is exactly what I created here:

For this look, I by-passed by regular makeup routine.  Instead, I'm wearing just a touch of Laura Mercier shimmer powder in rose, bobbi brown blush in sand pink, black mascara.  For the lips, I applied Lancome Bronzelle lipliner and then applied L'oreal Ballerina Pink lipstick.

One thing that I've noticed is just how interesting my natural skin tone is without applying any concealer, foundation.  It's definitely a neutral shade with a blend of yellow and a touch of pink.  My eyes, most definitely leaning grey,  It's interesting how wearing a lot of makeup makes you biased towards wearing a certain makeup palette.  However, when you're able to be more natural and get to know yourself in a more 'natural light', you discover a whole new concept of beauty and makeup :)

The 'Dark Brunette' Returns

Although I enjoyed playing around with the copper-browns, reds and highlights, I was happy and ready to say 'good-bye' to those hair colour experiments.  I decided that I wanted to return to what feels natural and right - a dark brown shade.  I wanted a colour that matched my eye-brows and brought out my natural skin tone.  After I got my colour done, my hair stylist was amazed and how much my skin-tone literally transformed.  With the colour I had before, I looked very 'yellow'.  The dark brunette, brings out the neutral-rose glow that my skin naturally has. Even my makeup looked much better with the dark brunette vs the brassy copper-brown/highlights.  I look forward to embracing this shade long-term :)

It's always amazing to my how much hair colour can transform your look.  The wrong hair colour can weight you down and you literally 'feel' drained.  With this shade, I automatically felt uplifted, like a weight had been listed off my shoulders.  I felt immediately 'myself'.

My makeup in this pic: Chanel Angelique blush, Adrienne lipstick, a plum liner from rimmel and black mascara.

Neutral Makeup - Chanel Inspired

Today I had an amazing shopping experience.  I decided to check out the new Saks Fifth Avenue store at Sherway Gardens in Toronto.  I was of course in awe of the makeup counters and had to check out the Chanel counter.  I ended up having the best conversation with the makeup artists there and learned so many interesting things about myself.  At first, my intention was to have a 'casual look around' the store.  I ended up with a whole new makeup wardrobe :)

One of my a-ha moments today came when I realized that I actually don't need a ton of products, but rather the right ones.  It was so clear to me today that the colours that really accented my facial features the best 'neutrals' that lean warm.  The Chanel artist noticed that something very 'pretty' happened to my face and eye colour when she applied the soft coral/peach shades.  In the past, my mind would have gone straight to the question "What season would this palette be?".  However, instead, I realized that my skin tone truly is 'unique' - the makeup artist pointed out that I'm not olive toned (as I originally thought), but rather a yellow-neutral skin tone which has a touch of pink.  She explained that the neutral-warm shades are the best.  A cooler complimentary lipstick for evening would be very chic.  The look that she created on me today was very simple, yet everything I always wanted in a look - natural, fresh, day classic:

For this look, I'm wearing two products that aren't from Chanel.  The first is a Dior eyeliner in a brown/black shade.  The second is a Laura Mercier highlight shade that the Chanel makeup artist recommended.  I always appreciate when a makeup artist is honest like that and recommends a product that works for a client, even if its from another line.  The shade she recommended is the Baked blush illumine in 'Rose'.  She applied this shade on the bridge of the nose and above my cheekbones.  She then applied Chanel's Angelique blush and Natural lipliner.  The lipstick she adored on me the most was a shade called 'Adrienne'.  I'm not wearing it in the photo, but I will most definitely do another post with that shade.  In this photo, I simply applied the Natural liner.  

I've decided to really embrace this more natural me.  My hair has turned a little bit brassy with my last colour combined with the fact that I've been coaching a girls varsity softball team and the sun has created an orangey tinge that I'm not liking right now.   However, the good news is that I'm getting done this next week and it's back to my natural dark brown :)  I really feel that my look is starting to really fall into place in a very natural, yet chic way.  I'm embracing this new me without getting caught up with having to fit into a certain season.  It's a new feeling of freedom :)