A Ten Minute Face With Almay, And Win It All!

I'm back, Kids, and I missed you guys!

The last month has been busy, and it's been great!

I went to Scotland for the first time in 20 years to visit family.  It felt like I had just been there last week as soon as I got to my cousin's house!  We all just picked up where we left off.  I'm desperate to go back again!

Today, however, I'm going to tell you guys about an event I was lucky enough to attend the day before I left. 

The cutest lunch bag ever, right?

 

 

I had the pleasure of spending the evening at the Almay Practice Makes Perfect Picnic.  It was an evening at The Drake, which featured a tutorial from makeup artist Jacquie Hutchinson.  If you aren't familiar with "The Jacquie", you need to change that ASAP!  She's phenomenal as both an artist, as well as a person!  This lady knows her business, and is not shy about telling you about it!  I was greeted with mimosas, watermelon, and the most adorable little lunch bag from Keep Leaf filled with personalized products for the workshop!

 

The main focus of the tutorial was the Ten Minute Face, and how it can be done easily by anyone!

 



All you need for a quick, polished face!  Honest!

First thing you'll need is the Smart Shade CC Luminous Primer.  This primer is an ultra-comfortable pink-toned, pearlescent cream which neutralizes discolourations, leaving a fresh radiance behind.  This oil-free primer is really nourishing, and is the perfect product for a flawless canvas.  I absolutely adore this primer!  I wear it under everything, and sometimes on its own!  It really is that good!

Follow the primer with a thin layer of Smart Shade Skin Matching, or Anti-Age Skin Matching, Foundation.  The foundation goes on white, but quickly adjusts to your skin tone.  It has "shade sensing" beads which activate once applied.  The coverage is light-medium, and buildable.  The best finish is achieved with the heat of the fingers.  Just smooth it on and blend!  It also gets rid of the need for multiple shades, since it will adjust to a bit of a summer tan!  If you go Snookie-dark, then I can't help you.  You're on your own, but we will need to have a talk about that sitch.

Primer on top, Foundation bottom.  Cool, huh?

A smokey eye could not be easier with Almay!  The Intense I-Colour Bold Nudes Collection is curated into three-colour palettes which are differentiated by eye-colour.  The shadows are even separated into sections which correspond to the placement of the shadow on the eye!  No guesswork whatsoever!  The shadows are velvety in texture which make application a breeze, and they wear really well!  Jacquie had us apply the shadows with the sponge-tip applicator during the workshop.  Wouldn't you know, it actually worked!  Couple tricks to it though.  Pick up the colour from the pan with a swipe, and press it into the back of your hand to prevent fall-out from the pigment.  Place the sponge onto the centre of the eye and gently move back and fourth with it like a windshield wiper, never lifting it  from the skin.  When applying the crease colour, extend it up onto the browbone a bit if your eyes are deepset.  Best trick ever!  Thank you "The Jacquie"!

Follow that with the Intense I-colour Liquid Liner.  Again, this couldn't be easier.  The four shades are co-ordinated to eye colour, and the design makes the application really simple.  The applicator is nice and thick at the handle, while the tip is a nice stiff point.  It's a shorter length which gives a good amount of control.  The formula dries quickly and wears a long time without smudging.  To get a perfect cat-eye, be sure to hold the upper lid taut.  It should be as straight as possible when the liner is applied.  Before you dip the liner to do the other eye, apply to the bottom lashline holding the applicator vertically.  That way you won't deposit too much product for a softer line!  This was probably my favourite of the evening!  Follow up with the co-ordinating Intense I-Colour Volumizing Mascara for thick, lovely lashes, and brighter eyes!

LOVE this liner!

 

For adding some warmth to the skin, the Smart Shade Bronzer is a beautiful powder.  The mix of three shades swirled together leaves a glowy, bronzey sheen.  The powder isn't sparkly or muddy.  Its just soft warm goodness!  Use this on the planes of the face where the sun would normally hit, instead of blush.  Easy Peasy!

 

Finish up with a swipe of the Colour and Care Liquid Lip Balm for a punch of colour and comfort!  The texture is rich and comforting, while it's quite pigmented and glossy!  This hybrid does exactly what it says it will!  The wear time is a bit shorter than other glosses, but it's more than worth it for how great your lips feel.  And can we talk about the scent?  Man alive, I want to eat it!  The warmest vanilla ever!

 

So, there it is.  Everything you need for a ten minute face!  Thanks to Almay and Jacquie Hutchinson, you can sleep in.  A little.

 

Did I mention you can win it?  All of it?

 

The lovely folks at Almay are giving a customized prize package worth $115.00, containing:

 

Smart Shade Skintone Matching Makeup

Smart Shade CC Luminous Primer

Smart Shade Bronzer in Sunkissed

Intense i-colour Volumizing Mascara

Intense i-colour Liquid Liner

Intense i-colour Smoky Shadow Kit

Colour Care Liquid Lip Balm

Shadow Softies by Intense i-colour  (I talk about these here.  LOVE!)

Oil-Free Makeup Remover Pads

Makeup Remover Towlettes

 

Canadian residents can enter by leaving a blog comment and using the Rafflecopter widget. (Holy Moly do I love this thing!)  You can gain more entries through social media, and enter daily! 

 

Good luck everyone, and I'll be back soon to tell you guys all about my trip!  I found a few new gems in the UK makeup world I want to show you guys!

 

Donna Xoxo

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Soft And Pretty Radiant Orchid Eyes! Some Lancome Love

I always find this time of year can be a little awkward as far as makeup goes.  I'm sooooo over winter, but I still have to wear boots and heavy sweaters.  I just cant rock a turquoise eye look and a furry boot at the same time! 
I really want to though!
Instead, I'm going to do something soft and pretty.  Thank you Radiant Orchid!
Along with Pantone's exclamation of this year's colour, came a myriad of purple shades!
Just in time!

 

 

I started with Lancôme's Brightening Palette in Lavender Grace.  I applied the base colour all over, and the shimmery lilac shade on the lid.  For a contour, I used Lancôme's Colour Design Zip Me Up since I wanted something with some warmth to the shade.  I went back to the palette for the liner.  It's a really pretty violet which I applied close to the lash lines just to anchor the whole look.  A little definition, not drama, is what I'm after!

I did a sheer rosey blush, and a soft hilight for a glowy finish to the skin.  I used L'Oreal's new Extraordinaire liquid lipstick in Purple Prelude for a sheer mauve stain on the lips.  I really like the new hybrid formula lip gloss\balms that are hitting the shelves these days!  I'll be talking about this in a post soon.  I have to get a Maybelline Elixir in my arsenal first so I can make a more informed discussion.  (I'm so full of it, I just want one, really!  Whatever gets me through the day!)

 

Just to switch it up a bit, I added some bubblegum pink shadow to the lid, and changed the lip to a sheer petal pink.  The shadow is Lancôme Colour Design in Makeover and the lipstick is Benefit Hydra-Smooth Lip Colour in Air Kiss.  Pretty too, non?



Ladies, if you haven't used Lancôme shadows, you have to do it immediately!  They have such a great formula!  The texture is smooth with an ah-may-zing colour payoff.  The price point is only a bit higher than a MAC shadow, and the texture is worlds apart.  It's really worth it to take a look next time you need a shadow.

What do you guys do to cheer yourselves up when winter feels like it will never end?

And, yes, I'm having my hair coloured this weekend.  The grey is out of control!  It's terrifying how little brown is left under all the red!  Next time you see me, I'll be my fiery redheaded self again.

 

Donna Xoxo



Makeup Looks for Saying Goodbye to 2013

Happy Holidays!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, and has been enjoying some time off.
Most of all, I hope everyone has their power back on!
What the HELL was that????!!!!
We lost power for about 36 hours, and after the first 10 or so, Ray and I were bored, delirious and freezing!  Even my poor doggie was cold!
We were pretty lucky though.  I can't imagine having to leave my home for a week, or going through that with young kids.  (I did however get a text from a friend, who has a 10 week old and had to pump breast milk in her Subaru.)
Now, to the subject at hand.
New Year's Eve!
No matter what you have planned, New Year is always an opportunity to be fancy!
Try something a little gutsy and colourful!
I have a few looks here that are fun!  A little colour goes a long way towards brightening your face, and making you feel confidant.
Go for it!!!

I love a smokey-ish eye in something unexpected, like turquoise.  It brings such an inherent sexiness to the look without being obvious.  I have a taupe and gold combo eyeshadow on the lids, and I also have black liner very close to the upper lashes and the lower waterline.  This gives some depth to the eye and makes the whole thing a little Rock and Roll!  For the turquoise liner I used a beautiful waterproof liner from ArtDeco.  I brag about this in more detail here.  I applied a heavy line of the Art Deco above the black on my top lid, and a nice  thick one along the bottom too. This is not the time to be subtle!
Add lots of mascara, a good dose of hilighter along with a pale, shiny lip and Sexy is your middle name!

We all know how much I love Lippy right?  Love the feel, the richness, the elegance!  There is no way I'd discuss NYE looks without offering an option which involves a bright lip!  I went with a fuchsia shade instead of red for a more unusual feel this time of year.  Red is classic, while this feels like a more modern choice.  The best thing to do while wearing a dark or bright lip is prep like a champ!  Too Faced Lip Insurance is an amazing primer!  It gives hours of wear.  A good lip liner is a life saver too!  Make sure it's waterproof, like Sephora's Waterproof lip liner.  Makes a huge difference!  After that, apply your lipstick from the tube, or with a brush.  I'm wearing Lancôme's Colour Design in Fuchsia Clutch.  It's a gorge satiny shade, non? 
All you need to go with this is mascara, brows, and a sculpted cheek!   HOOOOTTT!
Well, Happy New Year Guys!
Thanks so much for all of the support I've gotten from each and every one of you in the past year!  It means more to me to be able to write this blog than I can say, and I couldn't do it without you!
 I wish you all the best for 2014, and I'd love to hear any plans for New Year's Eve, or resolutions for next year!  An Occasional Redhead has a few interesting things coming up!

Donna Xoxo

Sunset Eyes!

Hey Kids!  

I don't know about where you are, but we have finally had some summer sun!  A little rain was thrown in so we don't think we're too fancy, but at this very moment, it feels like summer!

Days like this make me want to have dinner outside and drink mojitos!  

All while looking glamorous, of course!

This is where the "sunset eye" comes into play. A friend did this look on me a few years ago and I loved it! (Thanks Jenny G!)

It's basically a smoky eye with a few tweaks in the technique, and colour choices. 

Think of the eye in three separate sections. 

After applying the base of your choice, start with a bright gold on the lid. 

Blend a bronze, or copper onto the outer third of the eyelid, and blend a hot pink, into the inner third. 

The colours need to be separate on the lid, but it should look like they melt into each other!  

I applied the hot pink around the entire eye,  as its very on trend. It's also a lot of fun!

Finish it off with a soft pink or white hilight under the brow bone and that's that!

It can be as vibrant  or as soft as you like.  The gold in the centre brings a lightness to the eye, while the pink is unexpected. Keep the rest of the face relatively soft. I did a sculpted cheek, and a nude lip. 

If I'm out for the evening, I tend to do a fun eye and soft lip, simply for the easiness factor. I'm not one to spend all night touching up my lip colour. I like to throw on some gloss, or balm through the night and go!

What's your fave "date" look?  Do tell!!!!