Playing with My Makeup, Part 2

This look was inspired by several things: the two products in my makeup loot that I have yet to test-drive (Make Up For Ever's Aquarelle #4 Dark Blue and Bella Il Fiore's Double Agent Lip Tint in #003 Rich Rose); vintage pin-up looks (like this one), and in particular a 1940s-inspired photo of The Scribe (taken by Mr. Scribe, of course) in a navy-blue sailor dress that she bought at our last trip to Marshall's, which I compared to one of Alberto Vargas' paintings. Ultimately, however, I thought I'd trot this look out because it's the Fourth of July - and what better way to celebrate it than to take a few cues from the all-American pin-up?







Eyes: I couldn't swing out for the false eyelashes (especially since I'm wearing this to dinner out with my sister) so I decided to concentrate instead on the typical pin-up look of shimmery eyelids paired with strong eyeliner. The lids got a base of creamy white eyeshadow, then highlighted with shades of bronze and gold. As for the eye line, this is where the blue Aquarelle comes in: I applied it with a square-tipped brush (Stila #16b, dual-ended) and then went over the line with a Q-tip to smudge the line a little bit, since the Aquarelle did go on pretty wet - and made sure to wing the sucker all the way out into the outer corners for a blended, balanced look.



(NOTE: Next time, I'm not going to do the "push-line" technique with the Aquarelle - this stuff requires a more languid line, which means I'll have to use a more pointed applicator.)



Lips: I went with the darker stain, which I thought would give me more of a "sucking on a cherry popsicle" effect. Imagine my surprise, then, when the stain turned out to be a brick red - perfect for the all-American pin-up look that I was aiming for in the first place!



The complete look:

• FACE: Sephora Professionel Perfection Makeup Base as primer; L'Oreal Bare Naturale mineral foundation; BareMinerals All Over Face Color in Warmth as blush and bronzer. I had to use the minerals with primer because I'm still woefully toasted from all the swimming I've been doing at the pool.


• EYES: Rimmel All Over Pencil in #007 Destiny (discontinued) as a base; L'Oreal Wear Infinite Eyeshadow Single in #825 Gilded Bronze as midtone on lid and crease; Stila eyeshadow in Wheat as highlight; Make Up For Ever Aquarelle in #4 Dark Blue as eyeliner on upper lid and outer corners. Lashes were defined with Maybelline Lash Expansion Mascara; brows were darkened with Stila Eyeshadow in Rain (discontinued)
  
• LIPS: Bella il Fiore Double Agent Lip Tint in #003 Rich Rose


• HAIR: The pin curls that I planned with this look didn't work out, so I shook them all out, applied Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Smoothie all over for a smooth but beachy look, then pinned the front sections back with two plain bobby pins.


• OUTFIT: Mossimo for Target brown linen empire dress, supported by Cacique strapless convertible bra


• SHOES: Black peep-toe kitten wedges from Charlotte Russe


• NAILS: Woefully bare - but I swear I'll correct that soon!

Best part of it all: My makeup - including the lip stain - held up throughout dinner, dessert, and an unexpected nighttime drizzle! Definite thumbs up.