COLOR ME DEADLY [beauty blog]

CUSTOM ORDER WITH GLITTERSNIFFER COSMETICS!

2012-02-09T22:25:00.000-08:00

photo courtesy of Glittersniffer Cosmetics via Facebook

I think at some point every make-up fan dreams of creating their own line of cosmetics. I am lucky enough to have a great relationship with Lela Warren, owner and operator of the indie pigment company, Glittersniffer Cosmetics. She had suggested the idea of creating a custom line of eye shadow pigments for me and I immediately jumped on board. A lot of time was spent putting together pictures for her of colors I liked, ranging from the fabric of a dress worn by Nicole Richie to the color of Billie Joe Armstrong's eyes. After putting together photos for her, she used her expertise to tell me what colors would work well together and what would be the easiest and most realistic to make. My custom line of pigments was born!

Click below to read more about creating a custom line of pigments! Photos included!

PLACING MY ORDER

Here are some examples of the colors (in this case, Blues) I sent her:

I separated all the colors by category (purples, pinks, greys, etc.) Lela used those pictures as guides to create my custom pigments!

I received the pigments by mail, packaged securely in pink bubble wrap, with a cupcake printed wrapping, tissue paper and tulle bow. Half of my order was in plastic 3g pots and the other half in baggies. I had agreed to this with Lela ahead of time because I said I had my own containers to fill. All of the pigments were labeled by number and I was given blank labels to use for when I wanted to give the pigments names.
I purchased stackable containers from Wal-mart, which I planned to use by organizing the pigments (the ones packaged in bags) by color-type, the same way I had organized the photos to send to Lela.

PACKAGING

Lela is known for including samples of various products with her orders. In this case, it was three pigment samples and a piece of one of my favorite products, the Heating Massage Bar.

Once the pigments were transferred from baggies to containers, it was time to start naming them. Some were easier than others. I found myself coming up with names quickly for the neutral colors, but when it came to pinks and purples, I was having trouble. A lot of the names were inspired by song lyrics, movies and fashion images. It took days to come up with names for each shade - lots of swatching and comparing.

ORGANIZING & LABELING

The pigments in these stackers (purchased from Wal-mart for $8) were originally sent in bags (as seen in the series of photos above) and were organized by shade. Pennies From Heaven, Little Lamb, Pillow Talk and Rocky Candy are all from the official Glittersniffer line, and I happened to have enough product left of these colors to add them to my stackers. They were not included in my custom order. I'd like to add that Marie Antoinette is a dupe for Cornflower by MAC.

The two photos above are the pigments that were sent to me in jars. I simply added labels to them.

SWATCHES (WITH TAGS)

This concludes my adventure with Lela and Glittersniffer for today! I will post all of the information below for you to get the ball rolling on creating your own custom line of pigments!

Glittersniffer Cosmetics on Facebook
Customer Order Information for GS Cosmetics

xoxo
Jane

REVIEW: Glittersniffer Cosmetics! VIP Mini Tour Kit

2011-11-18T18:08:00.000-08:00

GS Cosmetics VIP Mini Tour Kit $15

Glittersniffer Cosmetics isn't all about loose pigments and mineral eyeshadows. They also provide a series of primers and potions to enhance your experience while playing with color. The following entry is a review of the 4 face products and 4 sample pigments included in this kit.

RICE POWDER: This product is to be used as a setting powder after your foundation, contouring shades and blush have been applied. I love the consistency of the product, a little goes a long way, and it leaves my skin feeling soft. I like a matte look to my foundation and this helps strip any extra oils from my liquid foundation. It also helps prevent any flaking or shifting of your make-up. After a few hours, I notice my skin looking more dewy, but still soft and not oily. I adore this product.

FACE PASTE: Honestly, I have never put this on my face, only the back of my hand. It has an interesting texture, oily but powdery at the same time. It reminds me of the facial primers made my Hard Candy. I knew ahead of time that this product was not intended for those of us with Acne prone skin (as advised on the GS website). I don't dislike the texture at all, it dries to a soft powdery finish and feels smooth and light, I just don't want to risk a break out.

DUST PRIMER: This is an interesting product I have never seen before and really like. It is a clay powder that is used by mixing it with a facial moisturizer, thus making a primer. It has no odor and mixes well with any lotion I've experimented with. Advised by GS President, Lela Warren, to use about a 1:4 ratio, I actually did a 1:2. I like my primers a little heavier due to some Acne scarring. I love this product! It is so light feeling and my skin can breathe. It contains no oil (because it's clay based) and helps control shine all day. I am definitely a fan.

CHROME SERUM: Probably my favorite and most used GS product, Chrome Serum is my favorite foiling medium for not just pigments but pressed eyeshadows as well. I have often used it to thin out cream eyeliners that have gotten dry. My favorite feature of CS, is its ability to take any make-up product and turn it into a SUPER pigmented cream. Depending on the brush I use, I can create very sharp lines or precise shapes and placement of color. This is my #1 Top Rated product I've discovered this year.

Note: The NYC Concealer Stick was used in the pictures featured in this entry but does not come with the kit.

In my kit, I recieved samples of the following pigments: Pillow Talk, Rock Candy, Pennies From Heaven and Head Case (not pictured). Lightning Storm is shown as one of the possible samples you may recieve on the GS website and I already had this sample, so I figured I would use it. I didn't want to use Head Case (a yellowish green) for any of the looks I came up with for this entry.

LEFT TO RIGHT: Rock Candy, Pillow Talk, Pennies From Heaven, Lightning Storm (swatched over NYC Concealer Stick in Light).

LOOK #1

Lightning Storm (all over), Rock Candy (liner), Pillow Talk (lower lashline)

GS Chrome Serum was used with Rock Candy and Pillow Talk

LOOK #2

Lightning Storm (highlight), Pillow Talk (inner corner)

Rock Candy (outer corner), Pennies From Heaven (lower lashline)

GS Chrome Serum use with Rock Candy and Pennies From Heaven

So, here it is: two different looks using the same products. The VIP Mini Tour Kit by Glittersniffer Cosmetics is one of the most convenient packages I've seen in a while. It's great for customers who aren't yet familiar with loos pigments and those (like me) who were looking to use their primers as well. The pigment sample bags will give you several looks worth of pigment and the primers are the standard 5g jars that GS offers their pigments in.

As I said before, I am absolutely IN LOVE with GS Chrome Serum and use it almost everyday. If you're not interested in the entire kit, at least get a full sized Serum!

xoxo

Jane

DRACULAURA: Monster High Make-Up

2011-11-14T14:41:00.000-08:00

I am absolutely in love with Mattel's Monster High dolls! The web series is hilarious, the characters are all fabulous, but there is a special place in my heart for Draculaura. Not only are we both tiny, but we're both vegan and our fathers are from Romania! She is my perfect alter ego. This look was inspired by the original Draculaura doll. All product information will be listed here in the blog but the how-to portion is on YouTube. Enjoy!

PRODUCTS USED

FOUNDATION

Rubie's Cream Make-Up in White

Glittersniffer Cosmetics Dust Primer

Glittersniffer Cosmetics Light Pink Pigment

Glittersniffer Cosmetics Medium Pink Pigment

SETTING POWDER

Stila Eyeshadow in Platinum

Glittersniffer Cosmetics in Medium Pink

BLUSH

Maybelline Fit Me Blush in Medium Coral

SETTING SPRAY

e.l.f. Make-Up Mist & Set

EYE BROWS

Sally Girl (Sally Beauty Supply) Liquid Liner in Brown

Claire's Cosmetics Liquid Liner in Brown

EYE SHADOW

L.A. Colors 3 Color Eyeshadow in Tiki Punch (inner and outer corner)

ColorMates Palette in 01 (inner and outer corner)

ColorMates Palette in 04 (highlight color)

Maybelline Eye Studio Color Explosion Palette in Pink Punch

EYELINER

Love & Beauty Liquid Liner in Black

LASHES

Ardell Fashion Lashes in 119 Black

NOTE: The L.A. Colors and ColorMates palettes were purchased at Dollar Tree. Love & Beauty is a cosmetics line from Forever 21, available online and in stores.

PRIMERS AND POTIONS

2011-11-09T17:48:00.000-08:00

I remember the days before I used cosmetic primers. My oily teenage skin made my foundation bleed, warp and flake and my eyeshadow lost its intensity before I even got home from school. Make-up primers have become more prevalent in the cosmetics industry and are a must have for any occasion.

I have a pretty decent primer and base collection from a few different brands. In this post, I will be displaying the primers and bases I use most often and why I think they're either awesome, or something you don't necessarily need in your daily routine.

FOR THE FACE
STARTING FROM LIGHTEST TO HEAVIEST

Clean & Clear Shine Control Moisturizer is probably my favorite facial moisturizer of the moment. As the product states, it really does help control oil and shine and makes for a great foundation base IF you're not looking for it to last all day or into the evening. The reason I like it (for a quick fix) is not only the oil control, but it helps the liquid foundation I use blend better by creating a smoother surface on the skin. This lotion is very light but hydrating at the same time.

MAC Prep and Prime for Skin is definitely my favorite facial primer of all time (MAC also makes a Prep and Prime product for Lips). Not only is it light but leaves skin in the best condition for any kind of foundation. It goes on as a light lotion but dries as a powder finish on the skin. It has a reflecting shimmer which helps skin look great in natural light! It is pretty expensive for such a small amount of product but worth every penny! I use this primer for special occasions, or when I'm having a horrible skin day, mix it with a less expensive primer to try to make it last longer. It works well mixed with the Clean & Clear moisturizer shown above.

Hard Candy makes a few different primers and this is the only one I've tried. Sheer Envy Skin Perfecting Primer is my LEAST favorite of all my primers. It has an extremely oily texture and even though it has a powder finish, my face feels oily underneath and the make-up spreads instead of blends. I definitely DO NOT recommend it. Sometimes I mix it with my liquid foundation to give it a sheerer finish, but other than that, it has no purpose for me!

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base is an awesome product! It gives me skin the smoothest feel and creates an awesome and sleek canvas. My only complaint is the texture: extremely thick! It doesn't blend well, so I have to use a lot of product to cover my whole face and it comes in a small container. I also use this one sparingly and mix it with other lotions to make it last longer. It has a slight pink tint to it and shimmer to give the skin a youthful glow. The matte finish is gorgeous and leaves skin feeling soft. A+ for sure!

FOR THE EYES
FROM MATTES TO METALLICS

#1: e.l.f. Eyelid Primer - I love this product! It's light, slightly tinted, blends awesomely and really helps hold color.

#2: Rubie's Cream Make-Up in Beige - This product helps to create an even skin tone on the eye area and to help shadows and pigments stay in place longer.

#3: Cinema Secrets in Light Flesh - Another awesome base, a thicker version of Rubie's, but harder to blend.

#4: MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork - One of my favorite products of all time. If you haven't used a Paint Pot before, please try one. They're great on their own or with shadows and pigments over them. This is a shimmery taupe color, which I like to use under light pinks and whites.

#1: Rubie's Cream Make-Up in White - This is one of my most used bases. It's awesome with mineral pigments - allowing the bright color to show through as "true" instead of against a flesh tone.

#2: Rimmel Kohl Eyeliner in White - I love this as an eyeliner AND a base. It's very similar to NYX's Jumbo Pencil in Milk but at a fraction of the price. It blends smoothly and creates a great opaque base.

#3: Rubie's Color Stick in White - Awesome for the lashline underneath bright colors!

#4: Rubie's Base Make-Up in White - A thick pure white base - awesome for pigments and bright colors. Doesn't crease or cake...just a little difficult to work with.

#1: Anna Sui Eye Gloss in 201 - An awesome and extremely sticky metallic base. This works best with loose shadows/pigments as well as glitter.

#2: e.l.f. Cream Eyeliner in Plum Purple - I love using this as a base for purple pigments and shadows more than I do as a cream liner. It's a little bit on the sheer side (unlike MAC Fluidline) and is great under other purple tinted powders.

#3: Cinema Secrets Cream Make-Up in Undead Purple - This is my favorite when it comes to horror make-up, it makes the most realistic looking bruise! I also love the consistency, it holds powders really well.

#4: Lancome Color Dose for Eyes in 305 Maupiti - I use this more for fantasy looks - it's very sheer and metallic but looks great under shadows and gives an extra pop of color.

#1: Rubie's Cream Make-Up in Silver - Just like the other creams by Rubie's only this is metallic! I love using this under gray and silver shadows.

#2: e.l.f. Cream Eyeliner in Gunmetal - One of the most beautiful cream liner colors I have ever seen. It's full of shimmer, extremely metallic and is incredibly easy to work with, blend and apply.

FOILING MEDIUMS

#1: Prestige Line Creator Liquid - This came with an eyeshadow trio and I have had trouble finding it for sale by itself. It's one of the coolest products I've seen yet. The applicator is shaped like a felt tip pen. All you do is dip it in a pressed or loose eyeshadow and the liquid formula turns it into a gorgeous liner!

#2: Glittersniffer Cosmetics Chrome Serum - A great product for loose pigments. A little bit goes a longway! Just dampen your brush or a Q-Tip with Chrome Serum, then use your moist tool to apply eye shadow. It gives it a rich and creamy look then dries to a powder finish. It really helps with control and accuracy.

#3: Equate Original Redness Reliever (Visine Original Formula) - This works a lot like the Chrome Serum but doesn't give you the same intensity, just allows more control. It works great for turning pigments into a liquid liner. I use it mostly for creating sharp lines in the outer corner of my eye.

GLITTER ADHESIVE

Hard Candy Show Girl's Secret Glitter Glue is by far the greatest adhesive for loose glitter I've found. It comes with a thin brush for accurate application, great for making small designs or lining the lashes. Though it states its used for the body, I have had no problems using it around the eye area. I would do a test first to see if you have an reactions to it before committing a whole day to this product. It can be a little runny so a little bit goes a long way. I've had it hold loose glitter for over 12 hours without fallout.

Sally Girl (Sally Beauty Supply) Gel Adhesive for Glitter is definitely for use on the body. It is extremely runny and has a slightly alcoholic scent. I had a pretty severe reaction to this on my eyes that lasted a few days, even though there is no warning label that states this is only for use on the body. I would save this for the cheek area or for a fantasy look. I'm assuming since it's not great for the eye area it wouldn't do very well on the lips either.

Well, that's all for today and my collection of primers and bases. I hope this helped and you have gotten some great ideas!

xoxo

Jane

GLOOM & DOOM SMOKEY EYE

2011-11-05T02:49:00.000-07:00

I wasn't originally planning on using this look for the blog, so unfortunately, it wasn't photographed or recorded in tutorial format, but I will do my best to share all of the steps!

In this post you will find all the information you need to recreate this look including products and tools used. Enjoy!

LET'S GET PREPARED

I'm extremely picky about the brushes I use for eye make-up (I have over 60 of them), some are professional and others I have picked up here and there at drug stores and larger retail outlets. I find that just because a brush has a fancy price tag, it doesn't always work for me and the look I'm going for. I tend to also use brushes in unconventional ways. For example, using a lip brush for eye brow shading or eye liner application, etc. I tend to keep the brushes I use most often in my tool belt and the others kept aside for specific occasions. I am not particular to any one brand of brushes, but as a vegan, I try to avoid animal hair as often as possible.

These are probably my most used brushes (as you can see by the wear!). I have labeled them in the photograph according to where I used them for this look.

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM

MAC 242 Brush

Lancome 8 Brush

Essence Of Beauty Small Crease Brush

Essence Of Beauty Large Crease Brush

LET'S GET TO WORK

I will not be including my foundation, blush and bronzer routine in this post.

Just know, that I always finish my face and eyebrows before moving onto my eyes (this is a matter of preference and is just easier for me).

PRIMER/BASE

I'm also pretty unconventional with primers. When using mineral pigments, I like to stick to something in the "face paint" category, whether it be cake or cream. Depending on the products used, it can work a lot better than even the most expensive primers. In this case, I used Rubie's Cream Make-Up in White (which cost me $1 and can be purchased at party stores all year round) and Chrome Serum by Glittersniffer Cosmetics which is a pigment foiling medium I use when I need the color to appear more rich and most importantly, to have more control, which can sometimes be difficult with loose eye shadows.

Using my finger to apply Rubie's Cream Make-Up in White, I blended from my eye lid to my brow bone, covering my entire eye area, but excluding the lashline. I knew I wanted to have a defined shape and didn't want to soften any lines with a highlight color. Using a white cream creates a lighter color which appears as a highlight but is actually a base at the same time.

PIGMENTS (Handmade by Glittersniffer Cosmetics)

Lately, I have been using many products from this brand. I have always had trouble with loose eye shadows and pigments, but once you get the hang of working with them, it becomes quite easy and you discover new ways to make them even more workable. The following 3 pigments were used in this look and labeled accordingly. Unfortunately, these pigments were not named so I don't have specific product information to share. I do know, that these are probably in my Top 5 of the 30-something Glittersniffer pigments I have.

MAKE-UP APPLICATION

Here is a video with more detail of the pigments themselves.

They contain so much glitter that it's hard to see it in a still picture.

INNER CORNER: After the entire eye area had been primed with the cream base, I took the MAC 242 Brush and applied the lightest silver color from my inner corner to the middle of my lid (as well as using the Essence Of Beauty Small Crease Brush to line the inner corner of the lashline to mid-lashline). I made sure to apply it to just the inner corner at first because I wasn't sure how dramatic I wanted to go with it just yet. I used the same brush to apply more pigment over the same area to add strength, blending towards the middle of the lid and crease line each time I applied more product. This method and placement would determine the application of the other two colors used.

LID: Next, the dark gray color. Using the Essence Of Beauty Large Crease Brush, I applied this smokey gray color to the middle of my eyelid and blended towards the crease and outer corner.

OUTER V: For the final step, using the Glittersniffer Cosmetics Chrome Serum, I dampened the Lancome 8 Brush just enough so it would turn the dark purple pigment to a slightly creamy texture when applied to the skin (almost like a gel eyeliner). Following the curve of my bottom eyelid, I drew a line extending from the corner of my eye towards the direction of the tail of my eyebrow (in the same way you would with a cat eye or liquid liner). Then, using the same damp brush, I drew a line that connected the previous line towards my crease, creating a "V" shape or triangle. Using the Essence Of Beauty Small Crease Brush, I filled in the "V" and blended it into the bottom lashline and lid color.

SIDE NOTE: I have had this discussion with other make-up artists, and most I have met believe that you should always line the waterline when doing smokey eyes. I almost NEVER do this. Why? Because I want my eyes (or my clients eyes) to look wide and awake. Lining the inner eye with a dark liner (black, gray, purple) will make the eyes look smaller because dark colors create the illusion of recession. I can appreciate the look, but it's my personal preference not to do it. I do like white or silver liner though!

FINISHING TOUCHES
I tend to use false eyelashes for almost all of my looks, wearing them at least 5 days a week. Applying false lashes easily can take a lot of practice and I have to say, this was not my best effort! This was a new pair of lashes from a company I had never used before called Salon Perfect. These were horrible to work with! They kept bending awkwardly and didn't work well with the eyelash adhesive. All in all, I tried to mask how much of a mess they turned out! I won't be purchasing from them again, but I have to say I am in love with the Revlon Precision Lash Adhesive. It's the only one I've used that actually dries clear! Before applying the false eyelashes, I used MAC False Lash Mascara in Black on my top and lower lashes. MAC Eye Pencil in Spiked was used for my eyebrows.

THE FINAL LOOK

Now of course, you can always go in and clean up any "fall out" with a Q-tip and some make-up remover.
Pardon my brows, they're growing out!

Thanks for reading and enjoy the look!
xoxo
Jane

DEATH BY CUPCAKE

2011-11-04T01:04:00.000-07:00

Not only am I obsessed with make-up, but I have a strange affection for cupcakes as well. This Halloween, I decided to go ALL OUT with my creativity. I even colored the cake and frosting, bought little ghost and bat sprinkles, along with fake fingers and little bones as cake toppers. Inspired by these colors, I had to do something similar to my face!

PRODUCTS USED:

Glittersniffer Cosmetics Halloween 2011 Collection ORANGE (lower lashline)
Glittersniffer Cosmetics Halloween 2011 Collection GREEN (inner corner)
Glittersniffer Cosmetics Sugar & Spice Collection PURPLE (outer corner)
Glittersniffer Cosmetics Halloween 2011 Collection PURPLE (highlight)
Wet N Wild Mega Last Lipstick in Vamp It Up!

WILD AT HEART

2011-11-03T20:53:00.000-07:00

A good friend of mine, Amber Cedroni, recently got a job as a music journalist for the international online magazine INSPIRER.nu. She wanted to put together a photoshoot for a feature she would be involved in and asked me to be her stylist! Of course, I said yes! We did a series of make-up and hair tests to see what would work best for the photo shoot. The actual shoot didn't take place because she reloacted to Florida (we will miss you, Amber) but at least we got these great tests shots I took for practice with my camera phone!

In this post you will find detailed descriptions on the make-up used and how her hair was styled. Enjoy!

AMBER'S EYES
After testing several color pallets, we decided we liked a cranberry/purple scheme. Not only did it work well with her complexion, but the purple made her brown eyes POP!
PRODUCTS AND PLACEMENT:
After applying Amber's full foundation and concealer, I applied e.l.f. Eye Shadow Primer and blended it up towards her brow bone. Once her eyes were primed evenly, I applied MAC Eye Shadow in Cranberry to her entire lid and lower lashline, blending slightly towards the crease. Then, MAC Eye Shadow in Trax was used as a crease color, starting from the outer corner of her eyelid and blending towards her inner corner. Next, I used MAC Eye Shadow in Star Violet for her outer corner and lower lashline, using a flat brush to sketch the shape of a V that followed her natural eye shape. This was blended outwardly for a more dramatic look. No highlight color was used, instead I took MAC Eye Shadow in Gleam and washed it over her entire lid, outer corner and towards her brown bone. It added a nice golden shimmer to the entire look and lightened it up. Using an eyeliner brush, I used MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack along the lashline and extended it outwards to create a subtle cat-eye effect. Amber's eyebrows are thick, dark and in perfect shape so she needed no shadowing for this look. Instead, I used Lancome's Clear Brow Mascara to smooth any stray hairs and keep them in place. For a final touch, I had her apply MAC False Lash Mascara (two coats) instead of false lashes.

e.l.f. Eye Shadow Primer
MAC Eye Shadow in Cranberry (all over lid and lower lashline)
MAC Eye Shadow in Trax (crease)
MAC Eye Shadow in Star Violet (outer corner and lower lashline)
MAC Eye Shadow in Gleam (all over wash)
MAC Fluidline Eye Liner in Blacktrack
Lancome Brow Mascara in Clear
MAC False Lash Mascara in Black

AMBER'S LIPS

Everyone has their own opinion about balance on the face, but I've always felt it was better to add more drama to one area of the face. In this case, the focus was on her eyes, so I wanted to use a light lip color that wasn't going to be distracting from the final look. I lined her lips with MAC Lip Liner in In Sync and colored in with the same shade. Using a lip brush, I filled in the entire shape of her lips with MAC Lipstick in Hue followed by an all over gloss using Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in #20 Shiny Perfect Nude.

MAC Lip Liner in In Sync
MAC Lip Stick in Hue
Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in #20 Shiny Perfect Nude

AMBER'S HAIR

We had already decided to use a faux fur vest as the main focal point for her outfit, and I wanted her hair to look a little wild and disheveled but still modern. To get this look, I sectioned Amber's hair into 4 quadrants (center parting and ear to ear). Starting at her nape area, I took 1" sections and wrapped them around a 1" curling iron. I decided to wrap the hair instead of using the clamp in order for the ends to look a little straight. We weren't looking for banana curls! Each section alternated (wrapping left to right...then right to left for the next section). This process was continued throughout her entire head. Around her face, I wrapped the hair in the same direction (away from her face) so all of the hair would lay constistant and not get in her eyes. No product was used PRIOR to heat styling, to give it a more natural look. Once her hair was curled, I sprayed it lightly with hairspray and allowed it to set. Using my fingers, I picked up each curl and back combed. This added a slight frizziness to the curl without losing its shape. I back combed more heavily at her crown area for more volume. Once I was happy with the amount of volume I had achieved, I sprayed lightly again and she was all set!

THE FINAL LOOK