Fall Eye Candy Trend: Jewel Toned Liner

As I look to have more great moms share their content in the Chicbusymom space I'm happy to share this beauty post by Amber Dorsey of From Carpools to Cocktails blog. With NYFW going on here it only seemed right to post a beauty trendwatch story to go along with. Thanks Amber!!

Check it out and Amber over at her blog (see below), on Twitter: @Carpl2Cocktail and Instagram: @fromcarpools2cocktails

Contributed by Amber Dorsey of From Carpools to Cocktails Blog. Images from  my Pinterest via Essence.com

One of the perks of being a brown eyed babe is that the "it" colors for fall look great on us and really make the eyes pop. In perusing the September issues  I noticed a lot of celebs rocking the jewel toned eye liner on their lower lash lines so I pinned a few looks as  I knew it was something I wanted to recreate at some point.

Lucky for me that opportunity came sooner rather than later when my husband surprised me with last minute Friday night drinks. I literally had just over 20 minutes to pull myself together, clothes + hair & makeup included.

Fortunately for me I work well under pressure and since I already had ideas, it was no big deal.

I began by quickly dusting NARS Bronzer on my upper lids to block shine residue and assist the shadow in staying put (normally I would have prepped my lids with an eye shadow primer but there was no time!).

First, using a light cream shadow I softened my upper lid with all over color. (Shroom by M.A.C)

I then used a black eyeliner to outline the shape of both my upper and lower lash line ever so lightly. 

Next, I lined my upper lid with black liquid liner and winged out the edges just a tad to give a slight cat- eye.

I then used a soft metallic turquoise crayon liner (Metallic Mermaid by Too Faced) to trace my lower lids just under neath my eye lashes.

   

 

I went over that with a similarly hued shadow (Tilt by M.A.C) that I dipped my wet brush into. I also mixed in a touch of  purple shadow for fun. (Plum by M.A.C) 

 

I then traced back over the black liner on my lower lash line and threw on a few coats of mascara. (wait 10 seconds between coat applications).

 

After quickly changing I applied bronzer liberally and used a highlighting wand to give me a glow. A dusting of NARS blush in Orgasm on the cheeks and I was ready to go!

 

Voila! a complete celeb inspired look in just over 15 minutes that had me feeling on trend and chic all evening! What celebrity beauty trends do you want to try this season?

BONUS!! Amber (Chicbusymom here) you’ll be happy to know that I was so inspired by your jewel tone story that I stopped by the Colgate Optic White Beauty Bar today and got MADE! I even added a turquoise liner like in the photos above.

MADE, launching in early 2014 is a new makeup lounge concept. Think what Dry Bar did for hair and Manicube did for nails. The net/net is you can get a professional makeup look in 40 mins for $40. 

If you have an event right after work or a pop-up photo shoot (stranger things have happened) or just want get glam this is right up your alley. Even better, you can schedule the MADE team to come to your office, event or party. Check them out at mademakeuplounge.com and remember you heard it here first. 

Mama Got a Fall Facelift

Now that we are back-to-school, my mornings are jammed with making breakfast, lunch and if the leftovers run out--the occasional dinner . If I’m feeling extra supermom-ish, I might get in a load of laundry. So, while my look is important to me, most would be surprised by the lack of time I have to put myself together. Aside from prerequisite panty line/Spanx check I usually focus these four things to get my-own-bad-self out of the house:

1. A work appropriate and hopefully clean outfit
2. A statement necklace (kind of my thing)
3. Pulling my hair back or running my fingers through it (5 minutes tops)
4. And making sure my shoes are either in my bag or under my desk at work

So the other day when I rushed past one of the mirrors in my house and caught a glimpse of myself I was caught off guard by the woman looking back at me. She looked tired and lacked color in her skin. It occurred to me that I hadn’t been drinking a lot of water and haven’t been to the gym lately but I also was in desparate need of a skin-pick-me-up.  Not one to wallow, I decided to do something about it. It was time for a Fall Facelift (no surgery required).  I had a day off coming so I set off for my favorite stores to re-stock my makeup kit with a few beauty essentials. Check out a few things from my haul:

1. Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Black Eyeliner, $7.99
2. Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturizer in Deep Tint, $42.00
3.  NARS Marnie Lip Pencil, $22
4.  NARS Lipstick in Vendanges,  $24
5.  Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer- SPF 20, Illuminating, $43
6.  MAC Powder Blush in Raizin, $20

Fast forward a week or so later and I’ve been using them to create a nude look (primarily inspired by June Ambrose’s Instagram) and just a more finished face. Here’s my routine:

1. I put the Illuminating Moisturizer on first (cheeks, nose, forehead and chin)  but while the shiny pigment in it has a highlighting effect  its needs to be toned down a bit for my skin so I put the Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturizer over it .
2. This is followed by a sweep of the MAC Raizin blush.
3. I use the eyeliner on the tops of my lid to do a hybrid cat eye that isn't too severe for work but still gives my eyes a bit of a pop.
4.   Lastly, I line my lips with the Marnie pencil followed by the Vendanges lipstick (I put a little of the illuminating moisturizer on my lips pre-color because the formulation is trained to sit in place and to give my lips a little kick, and keeps them from drying out as well).

Guess what happened, I’m not tired looking mommy anymore.  I did something for me and it made me happy. There was also a bonus which came in a wave of compliments from the peeps around me. I want to point out that  it may seem like a lot of work but  it's very easy and doesn't take me more than 10-15 minutes once I get to work to do (TRUST, I wouldn't even bother if it required more).  I’m quite pleased with my Fall Facelift and you busy moms out there can get one too. We deserve to look and feel our best right?! So tell me have you done anything recently to wake up your look? Leave a comment and let me know.

Smooches,

Chicbusymom