I just had the surprise of my life. I'm not using my regular Canon DSLR camera for these photos, because a) my camera is five years old and shows it, and b) I need to maneuver it so much to capture the look that it's highly cumbersome. So there I was, taking photos with a little ELPH point&shoot, cursing under my breath because my hair was insane, my skills are iffy, and the light was all wrong. Then I discover that my little innocent camera also recorded a video of the entire thing. And oddly enough, it kind of shows the makeup a bit better than any of the stills. who knew?
So despite my better judgement I've uploaded the video and you'll be able to see me pose within an inch of my life. But let's go back to the makeup. I wanted to show how I wear blue eye shadows by using Guerlain Beaugrenelle Fall 2015 Écrin 6 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette. I had to use about twice the amount of color I'd use for a face-to-face encounter (see crappy lighting), but I think you get the idea and the placement. I've actually used all the colors in the palette, including the cream liner even though its texture is not my favorite. Here's the breakdown of all the stuff on my face:
Face:
Estee Lauder New Dimension Shape+Fill Serum (again, instead of a primer. Still not sure about the whole thing)
Guerlain Lingerie de Peau foundation (#3). A holy grail and a recurring repurchase over the years.
Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage #2. Another holy grail that tethers me to Laura until the end of times.
Shiseido Translucent Loos Powder (because it was there in front of me)
Laura Mercier Secret Finish
Cheeks
Addiction blush in Rose Bar (applied with Hakuhodo 210, because I wanted it to show in pictures. I usually go for a small Yachiyo)
Eyes
MAKE eye primer
the aforementioned Guerlain palette (applied with two Hakuhodo G515 and an ancient MAC 217). Also used a random flat eyeliner brush. Probably a Sephora brand.
Lancome Hypnose Drama mascara
Brows
A touch of NARS brow gel only at the tails, which have always been sparse (weird for someone born with a unibrow)
Lips
MAC Soar (I really like this one)
Ciate Olivia Palermo in Praline. I told you it's my version of nude.
Top: Elie Tahari, necklace: a random thing I bought in a shoe and accessories store in Paris over ten years ago.
So there it is. No editing, filtering, no photoshopping. A completely unintentional video.
You look so cute...even more so in the video :D I can just imagine all the faces I must be making trying to get a decent photo! I rely on natural lighting for my photos, so I know just how frustrating it can get. You seem to have a lot of window area - natural light, and I am sure a few more days at this and you will find your perfect spot.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Radhika. I hope to figure it out eventually. And just when I do I'll have to switch rooms as the seasons change and that side of the house is north and won't have enough light ;)
DeleteWant to add - love your FOTD posts. Your photos do show the makeup quite clearly.
ReplyDeleteSorry if I posted the same comment a bunch of times. I haven't yet mastered the art of browsing on the phone :P
Commenting from my phone is nearly impossible unless I'm wearing my glasses and enlarging the font...
DeleteI love your brown eyes with blue shadow. I haven't as yet been brave enough to try the color with my green eyes- but I have purchased all the latest blues out there as I love the color! Also it is so very awesome that you are posting pics and now this video- I value your always honest opinion- now I can connect it to a real person who looks a lot like me!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could be more helpful finding the right blue for green eyes. There's has to be one that works, just as even I can usually find that right purple that doesn't make me look bruised. Which gives me an idea for an upcoming FotD.
DeleteGaia, you are adorable.
ReplyDeleteThanks :)
DeleteYes, so adorable. And the amazing thing is I didn't spy ONE cat in the whole photo shoot! Maybe it was naptime. BTW, I recently bought Nuit de Cellophane and Bas de Soie with the belief that I would really like them and the further support of finding your reviews urging me on. LOVE them (I'm a Serge girl and love almost all of them - except Chene - in such different ways).
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to hear about your love for Serge. I do enjoy Chene, but dislike a couple of others.
DeleteAs for the cats, that room is usually off-limits for them, except for Lizzy who can be trusted with things like makeup brushes and various accessories. She probably was napping at the time.
i like the fact that you are posting more with shots of your face, it really gives a much better idea as to how the product sits, how it look in real life and also give your posts a unique voice, good on you!
ReplyDeleteThank you. I do hope to keep doing that for this very reason.
DeleteBeautiful! Blue eye makeup can look so very elegant (which I found hard to believe for years because in the Seventies my aunt and many others wore aqua/turquoise eyeshadow from eyebrows to eyelashes and looked 'orrible).
ReplyDeleteChateepatee, I have green eyes, too, and blue eyeshadow works just fine, and even accentuates the greenness, you just need to find the right shades.
Thank You tigrushka for your encouragement. Today I will experiment!
DeleteI remember those frosty blue eye shadows from the 70s and weird neon blue from the eighties. Not our finest hour.
DeleteThankfully I had forgotten all about the 80's electric blue mascara &kohl combo, now THAT was even worse look than the 70's frosty eyeshadows! The white/pink frosty lippie and earth powder worn as blusher (or all over the face for "tanned" look) completed the ugly picture. :shudder:
DeleteLike PrincessTonk, I was keeping an eye out for cats in your video. :) Not a one--but it was so helpful to see the makeup in action. And nice to see more of your face after all these years of reading your words.
ReplyDeleteI promise to include a cat or two in upcoming posts. Lizzy will make an appearance, for sure, and probably Bob and Katie. Though I'm not letting any of the triplets anywhere near my makeup brushes. Gemma has already been caught carrying an errant one between her teeth.
DeleteThose blue eye shadows just look fabulous with your big dark eyes!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, my friend. Blue eye shadows tend to be flattering on brown eyes, as long as they're used responsibly ;)
DeleteWas that your playroom?
ReplyDeleteYes, it is, Marsha. It's one of the spare bedrooms at the front of the house (our master is in the back), and has two large closets (the storage bins you can see in some of the shots are for my dreaded project of sorting through my clothes). As you can see, the elliptical takes a massive space in the middle, so I can't wait until we build an actual gym and move it out of there. The walls not occupied by windows and closets are lined with Ikea Alex units. I can't sau that it's my dream setup, but nothing rivals the efficiency and modular versatility.
DeleteThe large TV is to make working out a bit more tolerable (I can even project You Tube videos to the TV from my iPad. There's nothing like Lisa E, looking larger than life). Underneath it there's a book case that mostly holds fashion, makeup, perfume, and entertainment books, as well as royal biographies.
Gaia, I have so much respect for you posting these photos and videos during your learning curve! It feels so much more personal and realistic, so much more what I think blogging was originally meant to be, than the way many blogs are done these days.
ReplyDeleteI love blue eye shadow with my brown/hazel (brown mixed with olive green and gray) eyes. I find I can wear true blues, blue/violets, true greens, and some yellow greens (mainly olive) as eye shadow, but blue/greens (like teal and turquoise) clash with the olive in my eyes and look weird, and pinky-purple eyeshadows tend to bring out too much red in my eyes and complexion. I love my Make Up For Ever eyeshadows, which are wonderful quality and have a great range of different blues and greens (not so with the violets, although a couple of nice purples). I want to try the Kjaer Weis eye shadow Blue Wonder (as well as Cloud Nine, Grace, Divine, Green Depth, Pretty Purple... )
I think you hit the exact reason of why I'm doing this. Making beauty blogs personal again, online spaces of real women sharing their ideas and experience, instead of being a small publisher/marketer who owes brands to produce the most professional looking images that would sell the products for them.
DeleteThese posts are wonderful and it was great to see the video. Your eyes are absolutely gorgeous and ideal for perfectly showing eyeshadows. I especially love seeing the blues - my favorites. I'm going to have to try the NARS brow gel -mine are in need of real help and sparse throughout.
ReplyDeleteSo cute about Gemma and the makeup brush! :-)
And, since I'm accessories obsessed, you know I immediately focused on that Ellie Tahari necklace, which is fantastic!
Anna
Anna, I'm planning a little brow gel face-off post. I recently bought two of the newer ones with the teeny tiny brushes. They give excellent results. I'll test them more and let everyone know.
DeleteToo adorable! I have been considering that palette, and may spring for it during the Sephora sale (coming up soon, right?) I have great big old brown eyes, and never really used navy shadow until your encouraging blogs...now I love it. I looked for kitties during the whole little film also, so glad to hear you might let a few in next time. Your warm personality really shines through with the video. Love that you're venturing out into this new world!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you're experimenting with blue shadows. The Sephora sale is supposed to start around November 6th, give or take a day, and I'm twitching to click that "place order" button. My cart is full and loaded.
DeleteLovely shade of blue on you, I have to hunt for this lovely shirt colour. Love the pics :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Patricia! Much appreciated.
Delete