{Beauty Bloom} The most perfect natural look for evening: Pacific green & metallics for the eyes.

I was going to go out on New Year’s Eve, but then recounted the number of times I’ve enjoyed a cozy night in with my fam and decided I might as well keep my life-long streak going. I couldn’t imagine a more fun evening than in with my crazy family, anxiously counting down ’til midnight, with 12 grapes and non-alcoholic cider in hand. It’s festive. It’s jovial. Never dull. And always ebullient; our personalities, that is. No one goes to my parent’s house all glitzed out or glammed up. But the happiness and excitement to close out another year and welcome a new one, full of promises (and in my case more travel, more work, and secure love), creates a house full of shine so sparkly, not even the the big apple ball could put us out. Seriously. The mood at our house is so infectious.

But! Had I gone out, I was ready to go all out with a fabulous look. I’ve been toying with the idea of breaking away from my every day beauty look which consists of black liner, charcoal mascara (L’Oreal and Estée being my no-brainer defaults), soft nudes shadows, slightly colored lips, and ligthly rouged cheeks. So I settled — in my mind anyway — on a more sultry, warm,  look that wasn’t so every day; a vibe that’d attract some questions and interest in recreating. For going out, though.

So, for my two new evening looks, I went to non-black colors for my eyes. Since I love dolling up my eyes more than anything else, I wanted to try other colors in hope of finding new iris obsessions. And, oh, did I ever!

For my eyeshadow option, I mixed two colors by Lancome color design pods for my lid. The ‘Colour du Jour‘ with its dark rose/purplish bronze metallic appeal looked superb with ‘Officially In,’ a shimmering teal. You’d think two greens (see below) would be too much, borderline kiddish with varying shades of green, but if you blend these two well, you’ll diffuse the green hue and the result will be exactly perfect; more a purply gunmetal with a peek a boo emerald shade. Plus, Bobbi‘s chocolate eye palette equalized my entire eye as the base with a bit of sparkle at the brow line to top it.

The prods to create the look. The rosey Lancome color is actually a bit darker than the pic depicts.

Bobbi Brown Chocolate Eye Palette

(Untouched via iPhone 4s; the left picture is the closest to the true live color and intensity of the shadow.)

I couldn’t escape my black mascara as much as I tried, so I went for Artistry Beauty‘s Signature Eyes Volume in solid noir. It just works. And I love how it just peels off your lashes when you wash it off. It actually doesn’t run! Fabulous. But after doing this look, I realize it’s better for everyday, day wear. When I do this look again, I’ll use Estée Lauder’s Sumptuous Infinite which has given sexy volume. Way more drama than Artistry Beauty‘s. And that’s what I was going for. I actually have pretty long lashes but sadly, these pics don’t reflect that :/

(Lightly touched up via iPhone 4s)

This was the first look I settled on and will apply the remainder of winter. It’s fun and attractive without looking like I’m overdoing it. And, it’s just the most awesome color combo. Had I not been still fighting this cold or sleep deprived, I would have taken better pictures (other than my iPhone) so you could really see the awesomeness in the green eyeliner and the subtle intensity of the teal/purple combo shadow. I think it’s hard to really detect in any of these pics. But, I’m loving it and will rock it again.

I’ll share the 2nd look next week. I’m tweaking it a bit, but it’s mostly designed with more golds, rose, and neutrals. Something about going neutral just works.

BTW, kudos you queens of selfies! OMG! Now I know why I never, ever take them! Not my thing or skill. I just can’t!

(I used Bobbi Brown’s ‘Berry’ colored blush and on lips, Revlon’s ‘Adore’ crayon (best color ever) topped with Aerin’s ‘Sequin’ lip color. Looks so much better in person!)

Eat well, love unapologetically, pray with true intention, and take care of yourself.

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