radioactive // a makeup tutorial

Remember when I did my first makeup tutorial inspired by a song here? Well, after being slightly obsessed with the song "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons (don't ask me why, it just sparks a "revolution" feel within me, it speaks of strength) I decided to do one for this song too. I knew I had so many different options for this makeup, whether it was loud and colorful and bold, or a grungy, dark smokey eye.
But I wanted it to be wearable for everyday, so I decided on a slightly minimalistic, sleek, and yet still eye-catching look.

•••RADIOACTIVE•••

Products Used:
Lorac Behind the Scenes Eye Primer
L'Oreal Infallible 24 Hour Eyeshadow in Iced Latte
Wet n Wild Mega Liquid Liner in Black
Madison Street Beauty Mineral Eyeshadow in Gold Leaf
Maybelline Volume Express Mega Plush Mascara in Black
Coastal Scents 88 Original Eye Palette (for brow powder)
L'Oreal True Match Super Blendable Crayon Concealer in Fair/Light N1-2-3
M.A.C. Studio Careblend Pressed Powder in Light
Physicians Formula Organic Wear Natural Origin 2-in-1 Bronzer & Blush

 Of course, start with a clean face!

step 1: Prime your eyelids

step 2: Pack a cream-colored shimmery shadow on your whole lids

step 3: Do a thin cat-eye with black liquid liner on your upper lashline

step 4: Taking a gold metallic shadow or liquid liner, draw a thin line with it above the black one. I used a mineral shadow and wet it down to turn it into a liquid liner.

step 5: Finish off the eye look with generously coating your upper and lower lashes with black mascara. See, I told you it was pretty minimalistic!

step 6 (optional, but recommended): Fill in your brows with a powder that's 2-3 shades lighter than your actual brows. (Yes, I know, I'm in desperate need of an eyebrow grooming :/)

I covered up any blemishes with concealer and then set it with powder. Then I just used a light peach blush on my cheeks to go along with the warm tones of the gold on my eyes.

Seriously guys, LISTEN TO THIS SONG. It is uh-maze-ing. I even made a post about it yesterday. Yep, this song is being featured on the blog twice. Big. Deal. And did I mention that I literally listened to it 17 times while making this post? 17 times.

What's your favorite song as of late?

xo,
hannah

define your eye || gel eyeliner review+tutorial

No, I have not fallen off the face of the earth. I have been overloaded with homework and tennis. I guess it's a typical "beginning-of-the-school-year" thing, but to be honest, it's quite annoying. Anywho, I'm so glad I'm finally back and writing a post.

Today I'm going to be reviewing wet n wild's creme eyeliner in 886 Black.

In general, I like this eyeliner. Some people have compared it to MAC fluidline, but since I've never gotten my hands on that product I can't tell you you how it compares.
It's very black, and it definitely defines your eye nicely, but.... I don't know. It seems to dry out somewhat quickly.
It lasts all day, including through 5 hours of playing sweaty tennis matches. Since my eye isn't necessarily oily it didn't slide around at all.
It retails for $3.99 and comes with .13oz of product PLUS an angled eyeliner brush.

So here are the overall pros and cons:

Pros:

-Very black
-Stays for a solid 12 hours
-Sweat-proof ;)
-Easy to work with
-No funky scent
-VERY reasonably priced

Cons:

-Product dries out in pot pretty quickly
-Doesn't come in more colors


Here's a quick look that brightens and defines the eye using this eyeliner:

As always, prime your lids first. Then sweep a light cream-white eyeshadow all over your lid up to your brow-bone.

Next, clean your waterline with a q-tip. This prepares it for eyeliner and gets rid of all the oils, which makes the liner last longer. Line your waterline lightly with white eyeliner

Brush a medium-matte shadow into the outer half of your crease.

Smudge a shimmery brick red/burgundy eyeshadow onto your upper and lower lashlines.

                                                              

With the same white eyeliner you used to line your waterline, highlight the inner-corner of your eye.

Line your upper lashline with black creme liner, winging it out slightly. Then apply mascara and you're done!

Hope you guys liked this! Hopefully once the highschool tennis season slows down I'll be able to post more :)

xo,
hannah

fog || a makeup tutorial

This makeup would be perfect for a dinner date because it's a little smoky, yet still wearable. I actually wore it today when I went to my brother's tennis tournament because I thought it was light enough, and it was! I had so much fun thinking this up :)

Products Used:
UD Primer Potion
Wet n Wild eyeshadow trio in "Don't Steal My Thunder" (lid color)
Profusion Palette
L.A Colors Auto Eyeliner in Charcoal
Wet n Wild Pencil eyeliner in "Deep Blue"
Coastal Scents 88 Original Palette
CoverGirl Professional All-in-One Mascara in "Very Black"
Maybelline Dream-Lumi Concealer in "Radiant"
Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Face Powder

As you can see in this last photo, it's not that dark. If you try this out, post a photo of it on your blog or flickr so I can see how it turned out!
-hannah

april beauty favorites

Hey guys! It's been a while since I've done a makeup post, so I thought I'd post my top 5 beauty favorites for the month of April :) if you're interested in my March favorites, just click here!

1. Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Eyeshadow in Bad to the Bronze

Wow guys. Just wow. In my March faves, I posted about this product in the color "Too Cool", but this... This was part of my everyday makeup routine for about three weeks. 

Three weeks. I don't know if you guys know this about me, but I usually don't use the same makeup look two days in a row, let alone three weeks. I used it as an all-over-lid color and then dusted a champagne color on top. Apply a little winged eyeliner and a coat of mascara and I was ready to go! This product has definitely been one of my top favorites of April.

2. Wet n Wild MegaLiner Liquid Eyeliner in Black

I've been using this eyeliner every single day this month. No look is complete without black liquid liner, and this is great quality for an amazing price. It dries matte and super black, and the brush is easy enough to use, it just takes practice. I would totally suggest going out to get this liner, you won't be sorry!

3. Wet n Wild Mega Volume Mascara

Okay, so maybe this doesn't give me the most volume, but I love what it does to my lashes. It gives them the perfect amount of "umph" and lets face it, no matter how amazing our lashes are, we all want some extra "umph".

4. Coastal Scents Original 88 palette

I love this palette. It's just so stinkin gorgeous. I love how I could make my face look like I walked through a rainbow if I wanted to. I use this palette everyday for my brows, and I've been using it on my eyes a lot too. 

See the very first row on the left? Yeah? Check out the second color down. I use that as an all-over-lid color. And that gorgeous gold on the second row from the right is my go-to crease color. And for some reason I go for a lot of the pinks in the palette too. I guess it's just a fun way to warm up a look and really make it pop :)

5) Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Retractable Eyeliner

I thought this product deserved an honorable mention in this post because this black eyeliner has been my favorite eyeliner ever since I got it, which was about seven-eight months ago (I have the trio for green eyes). This liner is smooth, creamy, long-lasting, pigmented, and almost gone. No, almost gone is an exaggeration. 

Hmmm.... okay, find a freckle on your body. Seriously, find a freckle. Okay, see the freckle? Well the length of that freckle is the amount of eyeliner I have left in the retractable-thing. I know, it's sad. But I'm gonna get as much use out of it as I can, which will probably only be about two more uses :P

That's it! And yes, I do realize all of these are eye products, but eyes are my main focal point in makeup.

What were your favorite beauty products and/or trends for April? Would you like a review of any of these products? Or a makeup tutorial with them?

-hannah

makeup tutorial: holiday look #1

I've decided that all my tutorials up to Christmas will be holiday looks, so here is look number one!

Holiday Look #1

Products used:

Revlon Cream Shadow

Stardust, Cherry Blossom, Red Currant, and Cocao by Madison Street Beauty

Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Gel Cream Liner in Black

Lancome Le Crayon Kohl (eyeliner)

CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Blasting Waterproof Mascara

 step 2: take a shimmery white shadow and pat it on the lower half of your lid.

step 3: sweep a pink shadow onto the other half of your lid and into your crease.

step 3: apply a darker pink/red into your outer corner and bring a little bit into your crease.

step 4: to deepen the color even more, apply a darker brown/burgundy color into the outer corner

step 5: take a black gel or cream liner and line your upper lashline, and with the excess on the brush smudge it into the lower lashline/lashes.

step 6: line your waterline with black liner apply mascara. *a quick note* remember in my favorites post when i was saying I didn't like the covergirl lashblast volume mascara? 

Well, I was thinking to myself, "hey, you just ripped on a beauty product you haven't used for a long time. Give it another chance." so I did, and I am officially eating my words. It's way better than I remembered. It didn't clump, and even though I would have rather seen more volume from it, I love the length it gives my lashes.

step 7: enjoy!

-hannah

p.s. Breanne, your eyeshadows wil be shipped when the other winner responds! Julia M., you have about 34 hours until I have to pick a new winner :/ please email me with your address!