thecaitlynlee: Steal My Look: Birthday Makeup 2017

Aloha Friends! Like I mentioned a couple posts ago, it was my birthday not long ago and uhm, not to toot my own horn, but my makeup was BOMB.

This look honestly took me sooo long, like A REALLY LONG TIME, like TWO HOURS, but uhhhh take a look at how gorgeous it is!!!!

I wanted a smokier look but because I am the owner of monolids, it can be difficult to create a smoky eye without making my eyes look smaller, but after almost 8 years of wearing makeup, I've figured out the best way to do a smoky eye on my eye shape. Maroon and burgundy shadows go really well with my skin tone and is perfect for me because I'm not a black or grey smoky eye kinda gal. Every product I mention will be linked AT THE END of this post for easier access. So without further ado, let's get into the details!

So fun fact, I usually do my foundation first when doing my makeup, but for some reason, I didn't this time and started with my eyes. I started with my favorite Urban Decay Primer Potion all over my lids and lower lashline to assure that my shadows would stay in place all day. After primer, I used my ring finger and applied ColourPop pressed shadow in Cute Alert on my lids, mostly focusing it near my lashline and then blending up. Doing this is SUPER IMPORTANT to this look, because it creates sort of a backwards gradient that is better for those with mono or hooded lids. Cute Alert is a gorgeous matte burgundy shadow that is incredibly pigmented, so definitely be careful when you're using it because you can go overboard really quickly.

To allow for a smoother transition between colors, I used Unconditional from my favorite Lorac Unzipped palette with a fluffy crease brush in the crease as a transition color and to help blend any harshness from the burgundy shadow. Then from the same palette, I used Unspoken on a fluffy angled shadow brush in the outer and inner corners but avoided touching the center of my lid to create a subtle halo. Doing this adds more depth to the look. And then in the center of my lid, I applied ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in Birthday Cake. Birthday Cake is GORGEOUS glittery rose gold that's perfect as the point for this look. I used my finger to apply it, since these types of ColourPop shadows are best applied with your fingers, but just patting it on my lids. I've had this shadow for a while but saved it to use on my birthday because ya know, Birthday Cake... it's fitting! Unfortunately, this was a special promotional shadow and ColourPop doesn't sell it :/

At this point, the overall shadow look is done, so we move onto brows! I use my HG Etude House Drawing Eyebrow pencil every day because honestly nothing else compares. Then I highlight my browbone with Undercover from the same Lorac Unzipped palette I mentioned earlier.

Then I move onto eyeliner. I use Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama gel eyeliner in Blackest Black to create a wing on my upper lashline. I really love this gel liner because it stays put throughout even the hottest, sweatiest of days, and even holds up to any amount of tears, which is why I always wear it to concerts. I use an angled liner brush for the pointiest wing. Then on my bottom lashline, I apply a small amount of Rimmel London Kohl Kajal Waterproof liner in brown then take a small brush with a mixture of Unbridled and Untamed from the Lorac Unzipped palette to smudge the brown liner out. I also like to add a little bit of the same Rimmel liner but in nude on my bottom waterline to brighten up my eyes.

Moving onto lashes... Falsies are my favorite so of course I had to wear them on my birthday! To prep my lashes for falsies, I start by using my Shiseido lash curler to give my lashes a slight curl, just enough to help hold up my falsies once I apply them, but not enough so that they are sky high. Then I apply my FAVORITE falsies from Daiso Japan with Kiss Strip Eyelash Adhesive in clear, and after my lashes are dried, I take my lash curler again and give my real lashes and falsies a quick squeeze, then apply a bit of L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly mascara in waterproof blackest black to combine my lashes all together. For my bottom lashes, I like to use Holika Holika Magic Pole mascara in the waterproof formula.

To finish off my eyes, I use my HG L'Oreal Super Slim liquid liner to cover up the lash band and apply a bit of Unreal from the Lorac Unzipped palette with a small brush on the inner corner of each of my eyes. And for the last step for eyes, a take my favorite Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Golden Pink in my bottom inner corner to add a some sparkle and brightness to my eyes (aka my signature 애교살 look).

Now it's time for face (it took a while to get here huh... I warned you lol)! Just like with eyes, I always prep my face with primer. I usually start with either the Benefit POREfessional primer or the Soap & Glory One Heck of A Blot primer, and to be honest, I can't remember which I wore on my birthday, but I can promise you that it was one of those two lol. For foundation, I mixed my new HG NYX Total Control drop foundation in shade 07 Natural with BECCA Shimmer Skin Perfecter liquid highlight in Opal. I always mix these two together because although matte foundation is great, I like to add a little glow for the summer. I use a damp RealTechniques Miracle Complexion sponge to blend the foundation into my skin.

I'm a tired af college student, so of course I have to brighten up my under eyes with NYX HD Studio Photogenic concealer in CW03 Light and blend it in with the same RealTechniques sponge. I'm not a huge fan of baking, referring to baking my face... I like baking cookies and stuff lol... but when I'm going all out with makeup, I always bake my undereye. For my bake I use e.l.f. High Definition Powder in sheer.

While I bake, I use Benefit Hoola bronzer to add more color to my face; I apply it to the hollows of my cheeks, along my jawline, and along the top of my forehead. After I bronze up, I sweep away my bake and then use Urban Decay Afterglow blush in Rapture and move onto highlight. I had such a hard time deciding which one of my highlighters to use because I love them all so much, but I decided on BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfecter in Champagne Pop in the end. I applied it to my cheekbones, nose bridge, cupid's bow and a tiny bit on my forehead.

WE'RE ALMOST DONE! Before we set everything, I applied my favorite lippie ever, Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in Marvelous Mauve, then I set my entire face with Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray and we're done! Here's a few shots of the final look (I'm not wearing lipstick in all the photos because I ate off a lot of it lol)...