Make Eyes Pop: Defining Your Eyes in a More Subtle Way

Every time I watch YouTube makeup tutorials, I get a little bit envious of the gorgeous multi-color, blended eyeshadow looks I see some of my favorite beauty gurus creating. 

Most of you ladies know that I'm not an eyeshadow type of girl for daytime.  I do swipe a quick wash of MAC's "blanc type" all over my lid to even my eyelid skin out, but other than that, I don't use eyeshadow on the rest of my eyelid area.

I know there are probably some ladies in my boat---you love the look of defined eyes but don't want to spend the time using 4 different shadows and strategically placing them on your eyelids. I may just have the solution for you!

Something I've been doing for the past 2 years or so, is using eyeshadow in a different way: to line my lower lash line. I find it to give a softer, more diffused look to the eyes while still giving beautiful definition.

I prefer using dark or medium gray shadows (like MAC's "copperplate") and medium and dark browns (like MAC's "brun" and "satin taupe").  I use a MAC slanted liner brush to apply the shadow to my lower lash line before applying mascara. 

The best part about this technique? The shadow lasts all day.  I have no idea how, but it stays put all day, even through post-work sweat sessions with the trainer.

I love the softer, more subtle look of eyeshadow on the lower lash line.

The other benefit of using shadow as a liner on your lower lash line is that you can create a unique and dimensional look to your eye.  I always use a darker brown or black gel liner on my top lid and I love the look of using a different color and texture on my lower lash line by using eyeshadow instead of the same gel liner.

In the summertime, I've even popped a bolder color like a bright purple on my lower lash line. It's a very fun way to add a little drama and color to your look without having to do your entire eye in color.  I absolutely love it!

Have you tried this look before?  You can view my eye makeup routine here, if you're interested in a step-by-step.

Before I go, I wanted to leave you ladies with some of my wish-list beauty products:

• NARS Laguna bronzer (i'm almost out!)
• MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation (almost out!)
• MAC studio finish concealer (almost out!)
• Benefit "Life on the A List" lip gloss---one of my favorite beauty gurus, MakeupByAlli sang the praises of this gloss so I must check it out in person
• MAC Fix Plus--- I've been wanting to try this for awhile now as a makeup setting spray
• Laura Mercier "Lush Nectarine" blush---I saw another one of my favorite (and newly discovered) beauty gurus, pixi2woo rave about this blush so I must check it out in person
• MAC eye shadows in cork, wedge, mystery and woodwinked (all browns, for the lower lash line, of course!)
• Another Bobbi Brown "peony" blush---I heard from one of my readers that it's being discontinued---eeep!  okay, so maybe it's not!
  
• Kerastase hair products--- I pretty much want all of them, especially the deep conditioning masks

What's on your beauty wish list? Share your desires in the comments below!

Don't forget to enter my contest, it ends tomorrow at midnight!  Enter here.

xoxo,

Veronika.

Kate Beckinsale's Gorgeous Eye Makeup Look, and Motivation Mondays

Before I begin, I am going to be totally straightforward about the fact that I totally stole these pics from the Galmour.com Beauty Bloggers.

After seeing these, you will know why:


Hello gorgeous. Kate Beckinsale's makeup here is definitely going to be the next look I try for a special night out. It is so sultry, yet perfectly blended, which gives off a softer look. Be still my heart.

Aside from the fact that Beckinsale is as close to perfect as can be, her entire makeup look here is so stunning, it makes me want to run to my bathroom, wash my makeup off and try this look right this very second! I'm only resisting because it would be wasteful as bedtime is only a couple of hours away.

Ok, now that I've composed myself and managed to calm down after obessessing over this look, I can address "Motivation Mondays."

Yes ladies, I've been slacking. It takes a lof ot time for peope to fill out the Q&A, so I have to wait a few weeks sometimes to make a MM post.

In the meantime, I'l share with you my recent gym antics.

I've been going pretty regularly, about 4 days a week. On Saturday, I took a pilates class at Your Body Center and I am still in pain from the class. It is a full-body pilates workout, and you use one of those massive stability balls for the entire workout.

My body definitely got one of the best workouts I've had in a long time. I find that classes force me to work harder, and try new moves my body isn't used to, versus the "same old" routine when I use weight machines.

I still have one week of unlimited classes left, so I am going to try HOT (bikram) Yoga tomorrow. I will report back and let you all know how it was.

Have you been motivated lately? Do you think Kate Beckinsale's eye makeup is quite possibly the best you've seen (ever)? Let me know in the comments below!

Until tomorrow...

xoxo,

Veronika.

It's All About the Eyes

Have you ever been asked what one makeup item you would take with you if you were stranded on a deserted island...and then you are forced to weigh the pros and cons of each product?

For me, the answer is easy: eyeliner. Without hesitation, I would pick MAC's gel liner (and I would hope I could throw in the angled brush, for application purposes, of course).

In high school, I went through a phase where I used Bonne Bell's copper-toned eyeliner as a lip liner (yes, really). I had quite pale skin and these dark lips (I was not trying to look goth at all, it just so happened I was pale with a darker lip shade-not black, but darker than anything I would wear now). I still cringe when I think about my first experiences with makeup...it's not that I looked horrendous or anything, it is just so different from how I wear my makeup now.

They say that eyes are the "windows to your soul," so maybe eyeliner, eyeshadow and mascara are the eye's window treatments.

Actress Diane Kruger's eye makeup looks are always stunning. Everytime she is photographed, it's the first thing I notice about her. She also has youthful, thick brows that are just slightly shaped and arched. I love thicker brows on women. I really think it creates a youthful appearance to the face. Over-plucked brows are never in style.

Among my favorite of Diane's sultry eye looks is this one:

I love how far down the eyeshadow is on her bottom lash line. I definitely plan to try this bolder look the next time I have an event to go to. It is very sexy and smokey. I love how she kept the rest of her look neutral- glowy skin, with a soft pink blush and neutral pink lips.

Here are some more inspiration shots of her eye makeup:

I love that even when she wears a lot of eye makeup, she manages to keep the look bold, yet soft. She carries a smokey eye so well, that you forget how much effort is put in to achieve the look.


Who is your eye makeup inspiration? Which one make up product would you choose to have if you were stranded on an island?

Also...today is our 6th month wedding anniversary. I can't believe how quickly time flies!

Awhile ago, one of my readers mentioned she recently had a bad breakup and asked if I might give some advice on finding love and relationships. I'm not an expert on marriage or relationships, but the best advice I can give is to always say how you feel, what you want and what you expect. I know people will say it time and time again- that communication is key- but it is not just about communicating, it's about how you communicate and what you say when you do.

Some people hold back how they really feel because they feel embarassed (or for other reasons) but revealing your real truths- what you like and don't like, what you believe in, what's important to you- that's what makes the difference. I think that being able to tell the person you love what you really think and feel is so validating and can bring so many positive things to a relationship.

Thank you so much for reading!

xoxo,

Veronika.