My Ivy Closet : beauty

I'm beginning to give up hope that spring will ever arrive in Seattle. It's already May 1st (happy May!) and things are still gloomy as ever. I'm not going to pretend that the overcast skies and the monotonous rain doesn't bring me down from time to time. One thing I can almost always count on to make me feel a little better is doing my makeup. There is something soothing about applying makeup and something gratifying about successfully achieving a look.

Today's look is fairly simply, though I had fun with it because I used fresh colors that are reminiscent of spring- or, you know, what spring should look like. I used a simple pearl eye shadow to keep things really light. This color comes from the L'Oreal Palette Nude 01 and is one of the less pigmented shades in the bunch. It provides just enough noticeable shimmer without being too overbearing or bold. Atop this pearly shadow, I applied my signature small wing eye liner look. Unlike most of my looks, I did not apply black pencil liner to my lower lash line. Instead, I took the same pearl eye shadow and dabbed it underneath my eyes for a fresh, doe-eyed look. I emphasized my mascara by applying multiple layers on both my top and bottom lashes. Without the typical liner under my eyes, I can look a bit washed out, so the emphasis of the lower lashes helps frame my eyes.

As for my face, I ignored all my blushes, which is hard to do with all the pretty pinks and peaches I have! Instead, I just focused on a bit of light contouring, particularly just below my cheek bones and my jaw line. Unfortunately the lighting in these photos makes my face appear much darker than my neck and chest. There may be a slight difference in shade, as I've stuck with my same foundation shade since I was sun-kissed last summer. However, it's very obvious in these photos. Disappointing, but I will have to play around with my camera to see what makes the contrast so noticeable!

Anyway, the final touch is this gorgeous purple pastel lipstick. When it comes to fashion, purple is pretty low on my list, however I love, love, love purple lipsticks. Strange how things work like that! This purple is called Power by NYX. It's a bit difficult to wear as it doesn't have much staying power, but if you're in a position where you can reapply throughout the day, I would recommend this one! It's moisturizing and just plain beautiful.

So, this is how I combat the pain of overcast skies and the lack of pretty spring blooms- bring the fresh feeling to my face! Hope you enjoyed. xx

Hello! I'm back with another beauty look. I've always been intrigued by 60s fashion and as my love of makeup has grown throughout the years, so has my interest in 60s makeup. There is something so cool and fresh about mod makeup and the techniques used, despite the fact that the trend is some 50+ years old. I love a good mod look, especially some of the more extreme looks worn by Twiggy and Pattie Boyd. I did this look before I headed off to work, so I did keep it a little more subtle. This look has more "shades" of mod beauty, rather than being a full blown mod glam look, however it's a good starting point and I've got all the basics down. Below I've outline what's important for achieve the look.

In order to create a good mod beauty look, there are a few general rules that will help you succeed. First, the most important aspect of the whole look is the eyes. The goal is to enhance the eyes and use techniques that make them look really big. This is why there's often a significant amount of white around the eyes, as the color helps make the eyes "pop" and subsequently look bigger. In my particular look, I applied white to my waterline as well as on the inner and outer corners of my eyes. Dramatic eyeliner helps in keeping the look fresh and bold, another characteristic that makes mod makeup unique. Below I've linked to the Maybelline eyeliner I used to achieve such a thick, crisp line. Some of the more dramatic applications include drawn on lashes on the skin just underneath the lower lash line.

As for the face, it's best to keep things subtle. I used a light hand when contouring, as mod looks play up the youthfulness of the face. I also only applied an under eye brightener to minimize the circles under my eye. Other than this, I added no highlighter or bronzer, as a matte face, again keeps you looking youthful.

Last but certainly not least, the lips. The lips can make or break the mod glam look. As with the face, a matte lipstick is a must. I went with a very light pink with a slight purple tint, as the color works really nicely with my skin tone and compliments the white eyeliner. Anything light would be a good option, including pinks, peaches, or nudes. It's best to follow the natural shape of your lips to maintain the youthful feel. No overdrawing! After this I dabbed my face with a pressed powder, and voilà, the look was complete!

Hope this helps for anyone who's looking to glam things up with a 60s inspired beauty look!