{ Architecture of Beauty / FOTD } Summer Coral & Pinks

Click the photos for larger views.

Coral and Pinks for summer are wearable, even for yellow/medium toned Asian girls like me. The trick is to keep it simple, light, with a more coppery coral than a red, ruddy, pinky coral. If you go for super pinky coral, or ruddy reds, your eye lids could end up looking like the weird color of sickness, without the swelling.

Keep it natural, light and simple. A little bit of shimmer, but not too much.

  1. Blend the shadow with a fluffy brush into the socket line (or crease).[L'Oreal Desert Sunrise Eye Quad]
  2. Line your eyes with a dark brown, black or navy blue liner and wing out the ends, aiming the end of the cat eye toward the ends of your eyebrows. [NYX Felt Liquid Liner Pen in jet black]
  3. Line your water line with a flesh colored pencil. [Pixie Eye Bright Inner Rim Liner]
  4. Curl, curl, curl those lashes to further open up your eyes. [Tarte Cosmetics Picture Perfect Eyelash Curler]
  5. Use a coat of a lengthening mascara, and get it to the roots of your lashes, and wiggle it up, zig-zagging it back and forth to the tips of your lashes. [NYX Cosmetics Doll Eye Mascara]
  6. Follow it up with a second coat of a volumizing formula mascara to enhance and fan the lashes out. [Urban Decay Skyscraper Multi-benefit Mascara in Jet Black]
  7. Apply Bronzer on the high points of your face: cheekbones, above the temples, a little on your forehead and down the chin. Also apply on your neck… since your face might be darker than your neck. [Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Golden Light]
  8. Fill in your brows very naturally–make sure there are no visible lines.[NYX Cosmetics Eyebrow Cake Powder in Brunette]
  9. Apply a creamy but matte bright pink to your lips (not hot pink). [NYX Cosmetics Soft Matte Lip lipstick in Milan]

Pretty, right? And so !@#$-in’ easy!

If you try this look, be sure to comment back and let me know!

See the rest of my FOTD beauty posts.

Don’t forget to enter my $300 GUCCI/NYX COSMETICS/THE BODY SHOP/BLUE LAGOON SKINCARE/ORIGINS/CLINIQUE/DR. HAUSCHKA/CHANEL GIVEAWAY BONANZA! [ends July 1]


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{ FOTD / Architecture of Beauty } Spring Green Sea Shimmer



Eyes:
Bobbi Brown Cream Shadows in Stone (light, natural brown) on lid
Bobbi Brown Cream Shadows in Sandy Gold (pale gold beige) on brow bone
Laura Mercier Sateen Powder Shadow in St. Germain (Sea Foam metallic green) on inner corner to highlight
NYX Eyebrow Cake in Brunette
Tarte Cosmetics Eyelash Curler
Decay Skyscraper Multi Benefit Mascara
NYX pencil liner in Dark Brown

Face:
Bobbi Brown Corrector (under eyes) in Light Peach
Bobbi Brown Touch Up Stick foundation in Natural (4)
Urban Decay Surreal Skin mineral powder foundation in Nirvana
Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Golden Light
MAC Powder Blush in Fever

Lips:
Burts Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Red Dahlia

If you try this luminous, natural look, I want to see pictures!!


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Vinyl Record Vintage notebook or $20 GIFTCARD CODE from Reware Vintage! Ends May 6th!


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{ Architecture of an Outfit/OOTD } Mixing Prints #25(?)- Zebra Sailor Panty Shot


{Outfit Architecture: Black drape cardigan, H&M. Striped ruched shoulder gold button shirt, Anthropologie. Zebra print zipper skirt, Club Monaco. YSL knock off platform heels, Dolce Vita Aprils. Lace tights, Target. Purple bow waist belt, Go Jane.com. Necklace, Jessica Simpson (Gift from Laureality). Gold Antique Key ring, House of Harlow 1960 via Shopbop. Marc by Marc Jacobs locket heart watch. Twig & CZ earring, gold infinity earring, Sole Sisters, a Royal Oak, MI boutique… }




I’m not completely certain if my personality is accurately imbued in my content. When I write, I try to infuse as much of myself as I possibly can, because, more often than not, I’m posed like a total vain-glorious vag in my photos. More often than not, I feel awkward in front of the camera, much preferring to be behind it, snapping the photos myself. I pose in stiff postures, a small number of canned poses I rotate through regularly, because posing in anything other than Hand on the Hip, Slightly Cocked Hip, Slightly Pigeon Toed style is actually really, really difficult. Where do people come up with these different poses? I don’t know. I feel contrived if I try to get too creative with posing, as if I’m trying to be a living work of art like some of those full-time bloggers with beautifully captured photos by a live-in professional photographer boyfriend.

So, these stiffened, mannequin-like poses might actually belie the fact that I’m rather silly, over active, vivacious and loud. Ask anyone. I talk a mile a minute–drunken on my own verbosity, if you will; I can be rather explosive, extraordinarily coarse (I swear like a sailor), and prone to saying the words “like” and “so” much too often. I also tend to break into song spontaneously, sing along to most tracks whenever I play my music (much to the chagrine of my husband, who thinks the music is intolerable enough already), and am ready to talk about all things nerd related.

Luckily for me, I met my match when I met my husband on MySpace all those years ago, and we jived through letters over our mutual love of nerdery and all things quirk-ridden. Imagine my surprise when I found him to speak as fast as I do, if he tended to lapse into pensive, awkward silences every now and then when he needed time to formulate his thoughts properly, and someone who could break into random fits of giggles and hissing laughter and was riled with delight when he discovered I could play videogames for hours and hours and not bat an eyelash. So when I tell you N and I are rather giddy and absolutely childish with each other, I can’t emphasize it enough. Our humor is positively juvenile.

When coaxing him into taking photos of me, he usually does it with the condition that he can fart about with the camera… which results in attempted panty shots and photos of me mocking the weird faces he makes to get me to smile.

There’s nothing better than taking all the seriousness out of life, and as well with seemingly vain endeavors as taking five ga-jillion photos of yourself and your shoe collection.


Better view of the front.


Accessories. More mismatching earrings.


Art Directing the photos. (“Portrait… try attempting an angle… get the shoes!”)


Making faces.


Attempted Up Skirt. FAIL!

{Life is too short to take it seriously, and not collect shoes.}


Enter my $100 Shopbop gift card giveaway! FREE CLOTHES.

Open internationally. Entry closes Friday, March 11. GO GET IT. Tell your friends!


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Sundays are for #2… Playing with makeup! {Architecture of Beauty/FOTD} Asian Doll Look

I’ll admit it, I’m growing into a bit of a beauty junkie. The hours I spend browsing the white floors and colorful aisle of Ulta, the black, white and pink aisle of Sephora and the crowded makeup section of Target, they are innumerable. I actually spend more time reading beauty blogs, browsing makeup websites and watching YouTube beauty and skin care videos more than I do online window shopping fashion sites, or reading fashion magazines. I absolutely love fashion, it’s true. But in the world of style, beauty is my queen and skin care is my king. Fashion is just my princess in the hierarchy. As it should be. Whereas fashion is an outward expression of my creativity, it only just SITS on my skin. My obsession with beauty and skin care stems from the fact that I have had many a battle with skin issues and finding the right makeup for me–a battle that rages on today. The skin I’m in, well, it’s right there. I was born with it–I can’t say that about clothes. Seems stupid to say it out loud, though.

So yes, Sundays will find me sitting on a couch or breakfast nook stool, hunched over my iPad or iPhone, watching beauty or skincare tutorials on YouTube, mostly those of esteemed celebrity makeup artist, Lisa Eldridge. Hot damn, I love her work.

Inspired by her and Michelle Phan’s eye liner tricks, I decided to go for an all over thick eyeliner with a kick.

Because of how I looked in these photos, I name this Asian Doll look, very plastic, very porcelain, almost artificial. The only thing missing is fake lashes.

Click photos for larger image.


Architecture of beauty: Chanel Teint Innocence Foundation + Sonia Kashuk translucent setting powder + NYX Eyebrow Cake in Brunette + Lancome Color Design eyeshadow quad in neutral colors + Maybelline Lasting Drama Eye Studio Gel Liner + CoverGirl Lash Blast Fusion Mascara + NYX Eye liner in Electric Blue + Stila Kajal Eye Liner in Topaz + NYX Cream Blush in Boho Chic + Laura Mercier Lipstain in English Rose + Burt’s Bees chapstick for sheen

Here’s a close up.

{How to get this look}

  1. Blend a neutral brown/taupe all over your lids into the crease.
  2. Apply a highlighter shade into your inner corners and along the brow bone.
  3. Fill in your brows.
  4. Take a gel liner and line a thick line along your top lashes. Really work it into the roots of the lashes, and then create a cat-eye shape at the outer corner. I used Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner.
  5. Next, take a flesh colored pencil [here I used Stila Kajal Liner in Topaz] and line the water line. This not only disguises the red, it also perks up your eyes and makes you look alert and more awake.
  6. Take a brightly colored eye pencil. Here I used a bright turquoise liner by NYX, and I lined 2/3 of the way along my lower lashes.
  7. Curl your lashes. I use Tarte’s crimp eye lash curler. It’s brilliant, and it’s got refillable pads. Green.
  8. Finally, use a lengthening formula mascara. A good one for both volume and length is CoverGirl’s LashBlast Fusion mascara.
  9. Keep your cheeks pretty neutral, nude coral blush, nude peach lip with a bit of gloss.

And that’s it! Easy, right?

Read the rest of my Beauty Posts here!

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{ Architecture of Beauty / FOTD } Revlon Super Pink to Save the Day

Awhile back, I got this SUPER DUPER PINK lipstick to make my day better. It is well advertised on this blog that I am a big fan and often-times wearer of scarlet lips. I often wear pink lipstick often enough, yet I have never, ever ventured into hot fuchsia or neon magenta side of the color family.


Makeup Products used:
Stila One Step Foundation in Medium
Benefit Stay Don’t Stray Concealer & Eyeshadow Primer
Tarte Eraser 4-in-1 Natural Concealer in Bisque
L’Oreal Wear Infinite Eyeshadow Quad in Desert Sunrise
Ulta Eyeshadow in Stardust (highlighter inner corners)
Benefit High Beam highlighter
NYX Jumbo Eye Shadow Pencil in white
NYX Slim Eyeliner in Brown
Tarte lights, camera, lashes! Natural Clinically Proven Mascara (volume & length)
Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara (Length + curl + water resistance)
Laura Mercier Lipstain in Mulberry as cheek stain
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Fuchsia Fusion

Like red, fuchsia takes absolute cajones to pull off. An erect spine. Shoulders pulled back. Chin up. A ready grin. More so than red, this bold pink screams color; it enters the room before you do. Reds do demand attention, and thereby are demanding colors to wear, but reds can be subtle, like a fine mulled wine. Hot pink is like a double D rack under a cropped angora sweater.

In.
Your.
Face.

If you’re having a terrible day, it probably makes your face look 200% better. Hot pink is a happy color. Red, you can wear with a sullen expression. Or, you know, that whole goth thing. But try doing that with pink. Red can be vampiric, sultry, dark, sexy. Pink is a cyber punk, dancing hard, alone, to the music blasting out of her gigantic earphones. It’s a bouncy, lift-your-spirits type of color, and that’s the type of attitude it requires. Even if you don’t have it, if you swipe the color on, it can imbue that all over your face, instantly picking you up… at least to those around you. Who can hate that?

{ Review }

Revlon lipsticks are amazing. The Super Lustrous Line is just that, Lustrous. Great color payoff with high pigmentation. Streamlined packaging, unlike the lipsticks of yesteryear. Moondrops? Not only a silly name, ugly packaging! The formulation is matte, but moisturizing enough. I don’t have to glop on the Smith’s Rosebud Salve or Burt’s Bees balm like crazy when I remove my lipstick. It’s not so hydrating that it bleeds and feathers, either, so lip lining isn’t necessary. It lasts pretty much all day at the office. I hardly have to retouch, except for when I’ve drank about 7 glasses of water and 2 mugs of coffee. I love the longevity so much I’ve started using some of my dark reds as cheek stains, which also last pretty much all day.

I don’t know why some beauty gurus claim powders last longer than creams.

I love the Revlon Super Lustrous line. I have 2 reds: Black Cherry and Raisin Rage. I love them both. And I also have Fuchsia Fusion. These are all regulars on my face.

And, the best part is the price. It’s $6.99 USD. I die.

Happiness.

Lipstick source: Google Images.

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{ Architecture of an Outfit } Q: What’s Cookin’, Good Lookin’? A: New Year’s Eve Dindin, son.

What I wore on New Year’s Eve, on our night in.



{ Outfit Architecture: Backless cross sweater, Victoria’s Secret. Slip, vintage. Multi-layer, reversible lace petticoat/tutu, American Apparel. Socks, Target. Platform YSL styled pumps, Dolce Vita Aprils. Satin Bow Belt, ModCloth. }

{ Architecture of Beauty/FOTD }


{ The Look: Neutrals with berry red lip. Urban Decay Surreal Skin Mineral Foundation in Nirvana + Tarte Eraser 4-in-1 Natural Concealer + Lancome Colour Design Quad in Haute Sunset + Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner + Laura Mercier Lipstain in Mulberry (as base) + Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Black Cherry (deep red) + Tarte lights, camera, lashes! 4-in-1 Clinically Proven lengthening mascara + Clinque High Impact Curling Mascara + Anastasia Brow Pencil }

I never, in my wildest dreams, thought that I would own a blush pink tutu, let alone wear one. But here I am. Since American Apparel released the Mini lace Petticoat, and I saw it on Sandra B of Niotillfem months and months ago, I have lusted after owning this extraordinarily feminine, somewhat sensual, whimsical and charming-without-being-overly-sexual item. After enrolling in school for Esthetics on New Year Eve, I dropped into the local AA and purchased one of my very own, along with some necessary key pieces for work and school, as a treat for doing something constructive for myself for 2011!

I hardly entertained the idea of wearing outdoors, so I wore it inside instead. What is the point of owning glittery, backless sweaters and frilly micro-mini tutus if you’re not going to wear them?

Do you have anything you’d never or be unlikely to wear outside, but decided to buy anyway?

I’m also guesting over at Monochromachic.com while Kristy is away (again). I wrote about “Power Items”. Please go visit and comment! Let me know what you think!!

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