Smokin'

The holidays are right around the corner and it's perfect time to get glammed up!  The Smokey Eye is one of the most popular makeup techniques around.  Many think it's a hard task but Maybeline has made it easy for us!  I bought a couple of eye shadow quads  from CVS  that made this timeless look a cinch to do. CVS is great, they let you try the products at home and if you're not satisfied then you can bring it back for a full refund.  Since you can't test the products in the store this is a great way for you truly get what you want and never be stuck with products that you'll never use!

*First Step*
M.A.C paint pot Indianwood $16.50

A little thin for me but still Fab!

To pull off this look your eyebrows must be fierce, I go to Cute Hair and Nails in Panorama City.  Now this place is a Hot Ass Mess, but I've been going since high school (when it was $5 now $8) and I have never come out with jacked up eyebrows. So after you tell Kim that you do have "boyfren"and you let her give you  "flowa" go head and let Ming Lee hook up them brows! So after we get that out of the way you should start on a clean face and exfoliate, an inexpensive way to do this would be to add some sugar to your favorite cleanser.  You also don't want to forget the lips, nothing's worse than dry, cracked, flaky lips, Yuck!  Apply Vasoline and sugar to your lips and then wipe off with a cloth or tissue, now you have smooth moisturized lips!  Now we're ready to get started, the applicators that come in the eyeshadow sets suck, so invest in a good set of brushes.  M.A.C has their holiday brush sets in stores now, at $49.50, it's a great way to get all the brushes at a fab price. Start by using a base, a base helps the shadow stay in place and prevents the shadow from creasing.  I used M.A.C paint pots in Indianwood as my base, at $16.50 it's a bit pricey but it will last forever! Coat the entire eye with a base using a flat brush.  Another helpful tip is to put loose powder under your eyes so that the residue from the dark colors won't stay on your face.

*Second Step*

*Third Step*

The next few steps are easy, Maybeline Expert Wear® Eye Shadow Quads($7.79) has an imprint on the colors to tell you where it goes, genius! Using a flat brush, start with the color that says lid and then apply the brow bone color just below the arch of the brow and blend. Then get an angled brush and use the crease color on the crease of your eye and then blend.  The darkest color goes on the outer corner, use with a rounded brush and voilà you're done!  The key to any makeup application is blending!!!!To complete the look fill in your eye brows with your favorite eye brow pencil, I like to use a brown eye shadow and an angle brush.  Use your your favorite black eyeliner under eyes and

*Fourth Step*

*Look #1* Eye color: Charcoal Smokes $7.79

right on the lash line and smudge the line so it's not so defined, I again like to use black eyeshadow and an angle brush. Add blush to the apples of your cheeks, here I've used L'oreal True Match Blush Subtle Sable ($10.99) and a nude lip.  Here I've used Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Color in Sugared Almond ($8.79) and Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Gloss Touch of Toffee ($7.49).  Apply your favorite mascara, use a loose or pressed powder to set your make up and you're done! The first look is a classic smokey eye, but you can do a smokey eye in any color from greens to purples.  The second look is in the brown family and not as dramatic as look number one. Each step is repeated from step one just using a different color, it's fool proof!  Vamp it up with color, I chose Revlon Just Bitten lip stain in Beloved($9.29) Lip stains are used for a hint of color.  The concept is good but the application was not easy and was a little uneven, but the lip balm on the other side of the pen is fab!  This did not deter me from lip stains, next time I'll just try a different brand.

Just Bitten lip stain color: Beloved $9.29

*Look #2* Eye Color:Natural smokes $7.79

These looks are easy and affordable and like anything else practice makes perfect, you may not get it on the first try but believe me it's not as hard as it looks. Start your trial run so you can perfect it by the holiday season!