Thursday, April 26, 2012

Acid Wash Nails

For these nails I took the idea of distressed nails and made it to look like jeans! Enjoy!


1) Paint your nails with a blue color. I used Revlon Colorstay in Indigo Night.
MINI RAVE- this nail polish is great! After one coat (first pic) the nails where almost opaque. If I applied a thicker coat I bet that's all I would've needed if I was just wearing this color.
2) Apply another coat of the blue. This will help to not get to your bare nail as fast.
3) Apply a white color on top of the blue. I used Sinful Colors in Snow Me White.
4) Dip a Q-tip in nail polish remover and gently swipe away the white. Be careful not to get to your bare nail. 
5) Top coat! I used OPI Nail Envy Matte because it gives a nice natural finish- I didn't want something super glossy or completely matte.
And you're done!

Thanks for viewing!
~Beth


Monday, April 23, 2012

Distressed Nails

Last night I had some time on my hands (no pun intended), and decided to do a distressed nail look. It's easy and has endless possibilities. Enjoy!


Basically all you do is paint your nails several different colors in different layers. You can apply some colors to only some parts of the nail to create  a less uniform look. 
After you've done several layers, take a Q-tip that is soaked (and I mean soaked) in nail polish remover. Gently rub it across your nail to reveal the different layers of the polish. Remember what color you did first so when you start to see it you don't keep rubbing (because then you'll just take all your polish off). 

Product List:
Zoya Pippa
China Glaze Papaya Punch
China Glaze Starboard
Revlon Indigo Night
POP Ultraviolet
Wet N Wild Casting Call/Rose Sage
Sinful Colors Unicorn

Thanks for viewing!
~Beth

Friday, April 20, 2012

Jennifer Lawrence Hunger Games Premiere Makeup

Jennifer Lawrence looked absolutely stunning at the premiere of the Hunger Games, and my roommate recently asked me to do her makeup inspired by her look. Enjoy!

Jennifer Lawrence's makeup at the premiere of The Hunger Games
1) Start with a cleaned, primed eye.
2) Use a bronze cream base all over your eye. I used Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze
3) Apply a dark bronze shadow all over the lid. I used Urban Decay's Smog
4) Apply a slightly warmer bronze into the crease. I used MAC Woodwinked.
5) Use a pencil brush and bring Smog beneath the eye. Use a dark brown at the outer  third of your lower lid. Take the brown into the outer corner of your upper lid as well. If you want to go darker, use a black.
6) Apply your blackest eyeliner to your waterline (Urban Decay in Zero).
7) Line your upper lid with liquid liner. Take a smudger brush or cotton swab and apply black shadow over the liner. This will give the eye a nice, smokey look.
8) Apply a highlight color below your brow and in your inner eye (MAC Shroom). Curl your lashes and apply your blackest mascara. I used L'oreal Voluminous. 
And you're done! Pair with a nude-peach lip and you're all set!
Tips:
This look is ALL about blending. Feel free to mix and match different bronze/brown shadows to create the perfect shade.
Take a Q-tip or smudger brush along your lower lash line to really smoke out the eyes.

Thanks for viewing!
~Beth

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Feather Manicure

I did this manicure once last summer, but it didn't turn out so well and I ended up peeling it off within 24 hours. I decided to try it again, this time with more success. It's super simple and inexpensive.


First paint your nails with a base color (I used Nicole by OPI "My Lifesaver").

After they dry, apply a thick top coat (I used OPI top coat). Take a feather (I got these in a pack at Michael's for around a dollar- the pack comes with tons of feathers too) and apply the top of it at the base of your nail. You can apply the feathers diagonally if you choose, but I did mine straight. 

Press the feather into the top coat.
Take manicure scissors and snip off the end of the feather. It might take a couple of trims to get the feather close to where your nail ends.

Apply the thick top coat over the nails (going from the tip of your nails to the base as to not disrupt how the feathers are facing).
And you're done!

Tips:
You may discover that the feathers fray after a day or so, so just apply the top coat again to keep them put.
Using a thick top coat holds the feathers better than a thin one (usually quick-dry top coats are thinner).
Resist the urge to peel your nails! It will be tough because with the feather and multiple layers of top coat you may really want to just peel it off- but don't! It'll be worth it, promise :)


Thanks for viewing!
~Beth

Monday, April 9, 2012

Some Spring Ideas

Here's a few Springtime makeup and nail looks that I've tried over the past couple of weeks. I didn't have enough good pics to make tutorials out of them, but here's some ideas if you're looking to try something new :)


Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Lana Del Rey Inspired Look

I've really been digging this vintage-y look inspired by Lana Del Rey. It's very neutral and 
wearable, and you can tailor it to suit your own features. 

One of Lana Del Rey's looks. The look I created is inspired by her as a whole, not just this specific picture.
First the hair. To create vintage waves, pull your hair to one side and curl as normal. When you are done, gently brush your curls and then spray with hair spray. I love how this makes curls so soft and touchable. 
The eyes are nice and simple.
1) Prime your eyes and swipe a skin-toned matte color all over your lid and up to your brow bone
2) Using a crease brush, take a taupe color and use a windshield wiper motion to apply the shadow.  This is about creating natural shadows and depth, not obvious color. Take the taupe and apply under the eyes as well.
3) Create a black winged liner. You can go as extreme as you'd like, however to make this wearable during the day I'd suggest not going past your eyebrow.
4) Apply a skin-toned eyeliner (I used Stila's Kajal liner in Topaz) on your water line. Curl you lashes and apply mascara.

Contour your cheek bones with a matte bronzer. You can also use a taupe-y blush.  Stick to natural colors for that vintage feel.
Line your lips with a deep nude color (I used Urban Decay's Naked). Lana is known for her plumped-up lips. For this effect, smooth out your cupid's bow with the liner. Try not to make your lips look bigger by lining too much outside your lips. You can line just slightly out though. Shade slightly into your lips with the liner as well.
Take a nude lipstick (MAC in Creme d'Nude) and fill in the middle of your lips. The lighter color being focused in the center will create the illusion of fuller lips.
Tip: Feel free to fill in your brows a bit heavier than usual with this look. 

Thanks for viewing!
~Beth

Monday, April 2, 2012

Alternative Peacock

I love peacock makeup. I think there's so many ways to go about it, and you can truly generate a unique look from colors inspired by those awesome birds. I saw a pin on pinterest the other day with a different take on the peacock trend in makeup. I decided to recreate this look, and here it is! I love is because the whole lid is neutral, so the color doesn't overtake the eye. This is great for day (if you're adventurous) or for night. Fun and spunky!


All products used:
From upper left: Coastal Scents 88 palettes in Warm and Shimmer, fluffy blending brush, flat shader brush, small angled brush, dense pencil brush, eyelash curler
From bottom left: Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencil in Electric and Delinquent, Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliners in Covet and Zero, NYX eyeshadow in Luxor, Too Faced shadow in Moon Beam, Bourjois shadow in Intense Black, Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! mascara.
Use the purple liner in the first third of your lower lash line, the blue on the second third, and the green on your outer third. This provides a base for the shadows, making them much, much brighter. 
Using a small brush, apply a bright purple-pink over the purple base. If your shadows don't seem vibrant enough when you put them on, dab your brush in water to dampen it. The colors will definitely pop more. I would recommend only putting a damp brush in one corner of the shadow, because it can change the texture. Also, do not use this technique with matter shadows.
Using a combination of two blue shadows, apply over the blue base. (Make sure to wipe off the brush first!)
Using a combination of two greens, apply over the green base. I also used a third very dark green at the very end of the shadow to give more depth.
Use a black liner to line your waterline. 
For the lid use a shimmery light brown. For this look I combined a light and a medium brown. I then used a bit of the medium brown on the outer corner of my eye to give more depth. Use a champagne color on your inner eyes (I dampened the brush before this to make the eyes really pop), and an iridescent cream color under your brow bone. 

Line your upper lid with the black pencil. Use a cotton swab or small brush and smudge black shadow over the liner to make it stay put, and to soften it out. Curl your lashes and apply mascara. And you're done!

Thanks for viewing!
~Beth