Here’s the make-up stuff I was talking about. I guess it’s not a tutorial, but it’s how I put on subtle make-up… My theatrical make-up would have made for a more interesting post, but maybe I’ll post some pictures of that after Halloween! I think I’m going to be a pirate or something. Anyway, as a note, anything I say regarding anything is my own personal experience and may not work for everyone.

First start out with a clean, moisturised face!

I wash and exfoliate with Dr Bronner’s Magic soap. This stuff is crazy. Three drops lathers like a handfull of soap! I have a 9:1 mix of water and soap in the bottle since it’s so concentrated. After that, I mist my face with a mixture of tea tree, lavender and rosemary in water. These three essential oils are natural antibiotics. Rosemary is supposed to stimulate blood flow and lavender is supposed to calm it. Using this helps keep pimples from external elements at bay. Doesn’t save me when I eat dairy products, though! :(  Last, I use unrefined shea butter as a moisturiser. Shea is full of nutrients and is easily absorbed into the skin so it doesn’t clog your pores.  It’s helped even out my skin tone, and I actually don’t wear make-up as heavily or as much as I used to before simplifying my routine. These are the only things I ever put on my face as far as product goes!

I was going to put a picture of my clean face to start with, but it was all red from scrubbing, so I think I’ll save your eyes and move on. ;)

Colours!

Here’s what I decided to use, minus my shadow colour. From the left, MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork, Eye Shadow in Sumptuous Olive, Sushi Flower and Sketch (not pictured) and eye shadow brushes from The Body Shop. I use synthetic brushes because I hate the feel of animal hair on my face. xP The Body Shop brushes are the softest synthetics I’ve used so far. I forgot to take a picture of the powder, but it’s my mum’s old Prescriptives loose powder. I’m planning to go in and buy their All Skins Mineral Powder though, because I really like the coverage of the regular loose powder, but they don’t sell it anymore! I use powder instead of liquid because my face always looks oily by the end of the day with liquid make-up. Plus, it just doesn’t feel nice.

Un: Foundation

I use a large brush to apply my powder. It gives really light and even coverage, so it never looks like I’m wearing a mask. I like to start at my jaw and work up in circular motions. I brush all over, even over my eyes and lips.

Deux: Eyebrows!

I have naturally thick (very thick), naturally arched eyebrows. I like to keep most of the fullness and accentuate the shape just a little bit. I used to do my brows thinner than this in high school, but looking back on old photos, it definitely was not a good look for me! Ah, youth! Haha. This is usually where I stop most days now, plus mascara. When I use eyeshadow, that comes last. :) I use Rimmel.

Trois: Groundwork

This paintpot by MAC is very appropriately named. I apply it with my finger over the whole eyelid. This helps my make-up look more vibrant and fresh. I have gone up to 10 hours without creases!

Quatre: Main Colour

This may be a bit hard to see… photographing eyeshadow is tricky. Anyway, here’s the Sumptuous Olive colour applied from the inner right to the middle. I love to wear green, but on me, it makes me look dead, so I have to get warmer greens (more yellow) and pair them with warmer shades on the spectrum. I use the stiff brush for applying colour.

Cinq: Contrast Colour

My warm colour is Sushi Flower! It’s candy pink, but a widely flattering colour. I apply this from middle to outer eye. No blending at this point, so you can clearly see the demarcation.

Six: Shadow Colour + Blending

My shadow colour is Sketch, and I apply this from the outermost part of the lid into the crease. As a general rule, all of my dark, dark colours are warm shades. Sketch is a deep red-purple, and anytime I do a smokey eye, I use something similar, with touches of red or purple in it because cool colours, unless very bright, don’t work for me! Blend it all together. I use the soft brush for blending.

Huit: Mascara

I use Aveda Mascara + Rose. This picture is of one eye with mascara and one eye without it. I love this mascara because it smells like roses! However, it is one of the flakier ones I used, so I make sure to rub it a bit after it dries. It’s not terribly bad, though, and it comes off really easily with a wash, which is nice! It goes on really nice and evenly too, and you don’t need too many overlapping strokes to get full coverage.

Fin!

Lastly, I put on lip gloss and I’m done! The gloss here is The Body Shop Lip Dot in Billberry Juice. I like to wear blush, but I really only wear it when I’m going for a more natural look– that is, no eyeshadow and a natural or nude colour gloss. Since my skin is dark, I use a vibrant orange or pink colour. I’m not wearing any here but it kind of looks like it anyway!