Pinks & reds have always been eyeshadow shades that I shy away from.  Unfortunately, the word “Geisha” comes to mind.
But while I was working backstage for Ruffian the other day, I noticed an Asian sistah rocking a very matte, magenta eye, and I thought I’d give it a whirl.

• the Usual on the face: Studio Sculpt NC30

• MAC Eyeshadow in Passionate on the outer half of the eye
• MAC Style Black Mineralize Eyeshadow in Cinderfella from the inner to mid-eye
• MAC Powerpoint Pencil in Engraved

What would fashion week be without a dark, rich lip colour?
After seeing a lot of bold lips backstage, I decided to dig through my makeup bag this morning to see what I had. I pulled out ALL my dark colours: Film Noir, Cyber, Diva and Sin. I chose Sin because it just spoke to me — it’s a really darkened, rich burgundy red. AND (most importantly), it was a matte finish.
In my experience, matte texture finishes tend to hold up really well — they don’t budge! Which, when you’re running around all day without much mirror time, is JUST what you want.
The key to a dark lip is a perfectly LINED lip! Luckily MAC Cremestick Liner in Velvetella seems like it was made to be used with Sin Lipstick!

Kept the eyes pretty minimal: just Nylon shadow on the lid, Powerpoint Pencil in Engraved on the waterline. No blush (bc admittedly, I forgot!)
Happy Day 5!!

I’ve admittedly always had issues using the Greasepaint stick. The reason: I like a RICH, pigmented color payoff, that I’m used to getting by layering the product on itself. You can’t really do that with the Greasepaint stick. So I was always confused.
I definitely wanted to do a more graphic eye, but sometimes I’m not great a free-handing it.  So I pulled out my trusty MAC Penultimate Liner, and I drew the outline of the shape I wanted.
For me, when I want to do this shape, I normally draw a line straight from the outer point of my eye, then extend it on either side…hard to describe, but here’s what it looks like below:

But this morning, I had a brainchild! Heat it up, baby!
I took a lighter and heated up the tip of the greasepaint, but only for a second. Waited a bit until it cooled before gliding it across the eyes. The heat seemed to soften it, and make the color go on even more rich and black.
Afterwards, I took a Q-tip, and smudged the product deep into the skin and winged it out.

Happy to report the look lasted all day!!

It wouldn’t be a NYFW without Lady Danger Lipstick! I first got hip to this phenomenal shade a few years ago, when MAC Director of Makeup Artistry, Gregory Arlt used it as the lip at the Twinkle runway show.  Since then, it’s become a staple in my makeup bag.  I never NOT have it on me!

• MAC Studio Sculpt NC30
• MAC Powerpoint Pencil on lower water line in Engraved
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in By Candlelight
• MAC Lipstick in Lady Danger

I’ve never been one for light lipstick shades.  I naturally have a pretty good amount of pigment on my lip naturally, so I never felt comfortable lightening it.
But after seeing Lady Gaga rock her new Viva Glam Lipstick shade ALL day (AND, she wore it at the Grammy Awards!), I felt inspired to give it a try.
So this morning, I went for a “pastel” look. I tried to keep everything soft so I could match the tone of the lipstick:

• MAC Strobe Cream as a base with Studio Sculpt NC 30 on top\

• MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre: my ultimate cream eyeshadow shade.  A non-pearly, creamy cream shade.  I use it as a base on the eyelid to anchor Pigments & Shadows
• MAC PRO Reflects Gold Pigment patted on the lid
• MAC Liquidlast Eyeliner in Point Black on the lower lashline only

• LIPS: MAC Viva Glam Gaga!! It’s nice and sheer for buildable color, great satin finish without being too drying.  I was pleasantly surprised!

www.maccosmetics.com

After our EPIC Viva Glam press day yesterday — and being “on” for 21 hours straight — I wasn’t sure if I had anything left to do the first #NYFWMUC look.
But I put on my electric purple American Apparel bra today, and got inspired!
Here we go:

• MAC Studio Sculpt in NC30
• MAC Eyeshadow in Daisychain on eyelid
• MAC Powerpoint Liner in Engraved on lower lash line only
• MAC Hello Kitty Eyeshadow Quad — Too Dolly (the blue shade) brushed over the liner and winged out

• MAC Warm & Cozy Mineralize Skinfinish in By Candlelight (MY NEW OBSESSION for cheeks!! – just a hush of peachy glow…not too much, and JUST enough)
• Nothing on the lips.

What’s your look today??

Confession: I’ve been debating as to whether or not to anniversary the NYFWMUC (New York Fashion Week Makeup Challenge).  Work has been SO crazed and has been SO drainiing….I wasn’t sure if I had enough creative juices to carry me through 10 straight days of the NYFWMUC.
But after a few encouraging tweets from my Twitter homegirls, I quickly became re-inspired!  So it’s ON, baby!!
For those who want to join in on the challenge, here are the rules:

• New day, new makeup look.
• You can repeat products, as long as they’re used in a different way.
• You can’t repeat looks!
• If you tweet it, please use the #NYFWMUC hash! (with pics, naturally)

When you’re around some of the most creative and fashionable folks in the industry for Fashion Week — we all need a little motivation to keep our makeup game fresh & inventive.
See you at the shows!!

What can I say???! This is the LAST DAY of my NYFWMUC. Of all the seasons, a part of me wishes I didn’t take this challenge on…this was particularly brutal on the mind and body.
But in order to celebrate, decided to go with a purple smokey eye for the last look:

• MAC ES in Blu Noir
• MAC ES in Parfait Amour
• MAC Pearlglide in Black Russian