Tutorial for Edgy Smoky

Here’s a slideshow tut for the Edgy Smoky look I did a few days ago.  One day I”ll get the lighting right so I can use my camera to do a live video.  But for now this works!

Thanks for watching!

Do-it-Yourself pigment sealant

Here is an easy all natural recipe that I found floating around on the internet for an alternative to Mac’s “Mixing Medium” that is used to help pigments stick (great for glitters and wet lining too).

I tested it out and it is fantastic!  It does not make the pigments waterproof but it does make them stick very well and makes them even more vibrant.  It is amazing for those glittery powders too.  The best part is you can make it at home inexpensively AND not have preservatives.

What you’ll need:

• bottled or distilled water
• vegetable glycerine (available at most drugstores for $3-5{this bottle will last a LONG time})
• a small leak proof bottle (I like to use an empty visine dropper)

Here’s what you do:

• Grab your measuring utensil of choice (teaspoon etc)
• Measure out 3 parts water to 1 part glycerine and put in your container
• Mix well
• Label with date a week from the day you make it
• Discard the solution after one week

Because you aren’t using preservatives it will only be good for a week or so.  I’ve read some say up to two weeks, but I’d rather not chance it with bacteria.  You can use it in several ways.  Use it to wet you brush then apply minerals.  I find that this solution is very blend-able whereas some of the more potent sealants, once dry don’t budge.  You can use it to make liquid eyeliner.  Just dip your lining brush in the liquid then pick up some powder and mix until you get a nice consistency and line.  It also helps glittery shades stick so you don’t lose your precious glitter!

On a side note, I also use the glycerine with floral waters to make a hydrating facial mist that makes an excellent finishing spray to set powder makeup.  I use about a teaspoon of glycerine to 4 ounces of fluid and put it in a spray bottle.  But you can play around with the ratios to suit your needs.

Be sure to use safe hygiene practices when using any wet cosmetics, especially around the eyes.  Make sure brushes and hands are clean.  And mix on a clean surface.

Try this out, you’ll be amazed!

First Video Tutorial.

Here is my first video tutorial!  I hope you enjoy.

It is for this look:

Here’s the video, more to come:

Using Loose Mineral Blush

Mineral Blushes are usually a lot more pigmented than pressed blushes because they lack the excess fillers and binders.  If you’ve ever ended up with clown cheeks instead of a sublte glow when you used mineral blush, you already know what I mean. 

Here are some tips to keep in mind when you use mineral blushes.  I hope they help you realize the amazing versatility and beauty of mineral cosmetics.

Tools of the Trade:

Generally speaking you want to use fluffy brushes with soft bristles to get a soft air brushed flush.  There is also a type of brush called a duo-fiber that works very well with picking up small amounts of the powder.  The key is you want to pick up a very small amount of the powder and go from there, so using the right brush is key to getting a nice soft focus effect instead of bright blotches.

Two brushes that I use regularly for my blush are a large fluffy powder brush and a duo-fiber brush.  Both pick up small amounts of powder so the color doesn’t get out of hand.

 

Large Powder Brush

 

 

 

Duo Fiber Brush (aka fiber optic brush or ’skunk’ brush)

 

Some other brushes can be used as well.  An angled brush is great for contouring the cheekbones (another tutorial otw!).  A standard blush brush is also good, although it doesn’t apply as sheerly because it is more dense.  A very affordable substitute for a duo fiber brush is a fan brush from your local craft store.  It picks up small amounts of powder so you can apply it sheerly, then you can blend with a larger brush.  For more info on brushes, check out my Brush Tips post.

Technique:

Keeping it simple, if you are working with loose mineral based blush with high pigmentation, the best technique is to stipple.  Stippling is done by ‘pouncing’ the brush against your cheek area to deposit the color gently.  Here’s how:

1. Load the brush.  You can do this a few different ways with loose blush.  You can tap a little of the product in the lid of the jar and pick it up that way.  Or you can dip your brush right into the jar and pick up a little then swirl it in the lid and tap off excess (this is what I do usually).  Once your brush is loaded, do a test ‘pounce’ on the back of your hand to be sure you don’t have too much color.
2. Stipple!  Smile.  You want to apply the color on the apples of your cheeks for a nice glow.  (There are other applications of blush but we are keeping it simple here!) Start ‘pouncing’ the brush on the apple.  Reload the brush as needed and build up the color you want.
3. Blend.  This is the step most people miss and is probably the most important no matter what technique you use for blush.  With a large, soft fluffy brush (kabuki works great here as well as flat top ‘buffer brushes’), go over your blush in circular motions to blend and ‘melt’ the minerals into your skin.   If you got too much color deposit, just pick up some of your finishing powder and use that to blend.  The finishing powder will soften the color and make it look fabulous!
4. If all else fails, do what I did when I first started out with highly pigmented blushes, apply it UNDER your foundation.  Apply as described above before you brush on your minerals.  Works amazingly. 

Overall, don’t be afraid to experiment.  If you have clown cheeks it’s not hard to fix, just add some finishing powder and blend it out.  The key is the right tool and to build up the color gently.

Good luck, I hope these tips helped!

Using Loose Pigments (shadows)

Loose Pigments

Loose pigments can be daunting to use at first if you are accustomed to using pressed makeup.  The upside to these gorgeous powders is that they are very versatile and a little goes a long way, meaning the color pay off is way better than binder laden pressed cosmetics.  To start you on your way to using pigments, I’ve compiled some tips.  Feel free to share your tips as well!