One Brand, One Look: e.l.f.

I had originally planned on doing a step-by-step makeup tutorial including Vine-esque videos for this post but halfway through I actually got called out to work (huge bummer).However, I still wanted to get something up today since I've been sticking to a pretty great schedule so far and that's how this little post came to be.

I was looking through my makeup collection (yes, there's so much of it I like to call it a "collection") and realized that I might actually be turning into an e.l.f collector. From the looks of it I had garnered enough e.l.f. products to use a single brand all over my face. 

Eureka! An idea was born. 

So here's a complete tutorial for this simple, summery, bronzed look that's perfect for a day out with friends or a summer night of adventure.
Since this was all a little rushed and e.l.f. products are generally extremely affordable and much talked about I've included little reviews of most of the products used.

I started with a clean, moisturized face and applied my favorite primer (which was not e.l.f. unfortunately but since I applied it right after my moisturizer I didn't really count it anyway).

Then comes foundation. I used the Flawless Finish Foundation with SPF 15 for this look and absolutely love it. First of all, I love the packing. Glass bottle with a pump? I'm all about that luxury especially at $6 a pop. 

The consistency of the product is exactly what I look for in a foundation and I would even go so far as to say that this foundation is definitely buildable to a full coverage product. I even used the e.l.f. Foundation Brush to perfect the coverage then blended with my finger tips.

Flawless Finish Foundation in Buff

I'm broken out in several spots on my face at the moment and have some serious undereye baggage so the concealer in this next step is key. I used the Stick Concealer in Ivory to cover my spots and dark circles then added the Under Eye Concealer before blending out with the Flawless Concealer Brush.

This brush is a recent purchase and has completely changed the way I apply concealer. I used to have to spend forever blending and covering my dark circles with my finger tips and mounds of concealer but this brush so makes things so much easier as it's the perfect size for under my eyes.

I finished things off under the eyes with a little bit of Glow from the duo end of the Under Eye Concealer in my inner corners and a bit of Translucent Mattifying Powder under my eyes to set everything. 

L to R: Blending, Eyeshadow, Foundation, Concealer

The next step was to fill in my brows a tad bit and I love how easy the Eyebrow Kit is from e.l.f. as it features a powder and a darker wax to set everything in place. I used the kit in Medium for this look and just filled in the sparse patches in the middle of my brows with the powder before going over them with the wax.

Using the Blending Eye Brush and the mini Eyeshadow Palette in Naturals, I started with a medium matte brown color (1) in the crease and blended out. Take your time with this step and make sure everything is blended out well so that you're creating a shadow in the crease for more definition. I then went in with a shimmery shade (2) on the Professional Eyeshadow Brush across the lid working out toward the outer crease and the shadow we just created. 

I made sure everything was blended well then realized that I really wanted to use the Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadow in Toast in this look because it was such a great color. So even though this shadow is a cream product I did apply over the powder shadow I had just used but sparingly.
 I just used my finger to tap the product around the center of my lid, blending more toward the inner corner. This gives a great lustrous effect to your eyes without messing with the set of your powder shadow.
I also added one of the lightest shades (3) from the palette to my inner corner before moving on. 

Now, we're to the point that I would normally apply eyeliner but this is actually the point when I realized that I didn't own any e.l.f. eyeliner so I decided to use Benefit's They're Real! Push-Up Eyeliner so that I could test it out for my review which you can keep you're eyes out for very soon. 

So, after you've applied your favorite eyeliner (I did a Cat-Eye Flick but you can line your eyes anyway you want for a little more definition) you can move on to mascara. 

I used the 3-in-1 Lengthen, Define, & Volumize Mascara which is actually my favorite mascara at the moment and runs for $3 which is a huge bargain in my book. It really does everything it says it does and leaves me with "Oh my gosh!" lashes. 

I topped off this look with blush and bronzer from the Contouring Blush & Bronzer kit in St. Lucia which I actually believe is a pretty good dupe for the NARS Laguna & Orgasm mini duo. I applied the blush from the kit just under the apples of my cheeks and lightly contoured with the bronzer around my temples and along my jawline. 

Now here's the final look!

SUPA CLOSE-UP

Let me know what you thing of this makeup look and tutorial in the comments below! 

until next time

xo

Merisa

New Year's Eve!!!

I can't believe another year has come and gone, it feels like 2013 just started yesterday! This year has been a crazy one and I am so excited to ring in 2014 with my family this year. 

New Year's Eve has always held a special place in my heart as far as holidays go and this year is no different so I thought it would be the perfect time to share my favorite NYE looks with you!

Now, I've been a lazy little thing during winter break (seriously, I'm so so so sorry for the lack of posts, forgive me!) so I've actually turned this into a New Year's Eve master post. By that I mean I had initially intended to make two different posts, one with fashion looks and the other with a makeup tutorial but this one is chock full of all of that so let's get started.

All of the looks featured below can be found on my Polyvore page!

For all you fabulous Monogrammed Magnolias out there I've compiled my favorite glam look for all those New Year's Eve parties that you're bound to find yourself at this holiday season. 

This year it's all gold everything, and not just gold...but gold glitter!

I love this classic, glamorous look and with all the glitz you're sure to shine brighter than Times Square at midnight!

Don't forget to check out this look and all of the items and products featured on my Polyvore page.

This next look is for all you couch potatoes, no worries though, I'm totally with you! There is nothing I love more than curling up on the couch to watch the ball drop in the comfort of my own home, call me crazy but nothing's better!

I love these cute little jammies! Especially the "A Little Party Never Killed Anybody" tee (I'm a little Gatsby obsessed!) and now perfect is that "Keep Calm and Ring It In" sweatshirt?! Adorable, I tell ya!

My plans are to turn my New Year's Eve evening into a spa night with my sister before channeling surfing between my beloved Anderson Cooper and the fabulous performances Ryan Seacrest is sure to introduce. 

Now, if you're not like me and you actually have fabulous plans that involve venturing out into the real world, I've got the perfect makeup look for any glitzy glam party you may stumble upon.

Glam Gold Eyes

Start with your favorite foundation and set with powder. 

Then contour the face with a bronzer a few shades darker than your skin tone. 

(Check out this video from Jaclyn Hill for some advice on how to contour.)

Next, apply a peachy blush (or one you feel compliments your skin tone best).  After applying the blush to the apples of my cheeks I primed my eyes with a cream nude primer but you can use any eye shadow primer you wish.

For my eyes, I stuck to shimmery neutrals because I plan on using gold glitter eyeliner and false lashes on my eyes. 

I started with the palest color in my inner corners and used a medium matte brown shade in my crease and outer corners. I think used a shimmery gold shade across my outer corners, keeping the mid lid and inner corners a pale shimmery color. 

I then used a black liquid felt tip eyeliner to create a winged look (check out this post on winged liner) and went above the line with a gold liner topped with gold glitter liner for sparkle. 

Next, I applied my favorite false lashes with a pair of tweezers for precise application. 

My final touch was a pale, shimmery nude pink lip. 

Here are pictures of the final look, sorry I forgot to take step-by-step pics. 

A close up of the winged eyeliner!

Fancy Merisa

Sorry these are kinda crappy quality, iPhone selfies were the best I could do at the time.

I hope you all have a fabulous and safe New Year!

until next time, lovelies.

xo

Merisa