I...don't have a lot of duochrome eyeshadows.

50+ palettes...a total of thirteen drawers of eyeshadows, and I maybe have two or three duochrome colors, and two of them are damn near identical. How is that even possible?

Why am I even talking about this?

I'm sure that's the question on your mind, so let me answer it for you.

Today's #CreativeSwirls Thursday! (I almost forgot again). Codi came to the group with the reminder about a look, and after a very halfhearted discussion on what theme to do, we decided on a look revolving around a duochrome eyeshadow. I was like, okay, cool, I can do that, and then I sat down at my vanity and realized...

I don't have any damn duochrome eyeshadow. 

There's one color in the 35O palette that can barely pass for a duochrome, and then there's one in the 35T palette, that looks almost exactly like the duochrome in the infamous Comfort Zone palette from Wet 'N Wild; actually, the WNW duochrome looks better. So there wasn't much that I could do in regards to options or this week's theme, which helped with narrowing a color down, but was a little disappointing; I mean, who has this much damn eyeshadow and only two duochrome colors?!

Okay, okay, I'm back. Here's my look for the week:

And here's me giving you some of that old Hollywood/Victorian photograph with the flash dust/sepia finesse realness in the mirror:

A closeup on the eyes:

And a video, featuring King Daddy himself.

I was a little iffy about this look when I finished it, but the pictures didn't come out too bad, if I do say so myself. Alright, here goes!

FACE:

Primer:

• L'Oreal Magic Perfecting Base Primer on my cheeks
• I forgot to prime my face, y'all

 Concealer:

• Mouth: L.A. Girl HD Pro Orange Corrector with the L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer in Toffee under the foundation, and L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer in Toffee over the foundation
• Nose, Chin, and Uneven Skintone on Cheeks: L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer in Toffee
• Under Eye: L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer in Toffee

Foundation: CoverGirl Queen Collection All Day Flawless 3-in-1 Foundation in Q825 Golden Honey

Face Powder: Black Radiance Pressed Powder in Golden Cashews

Bronzing Powder: Black Radiance Pressed Powder in Warm Hazelnut

Setting Powder: Black Opal Deluxe Finishing Powder in Neutral Light

 

BROWS:

Filler: ColourPop Brow Pencil in Black 'n Brown

Browbone Highlight: L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer in Fawn

 

EYES:

Primer: LORAC Behind The Scenes Eye Primer

Base: The Sculpt powder in the Black Radiance True Complexion Contour Palette in Medium to Dark

Shadows:

• Transition: Burnt and Olden, in the Makeup Revolution Flawless Matte Palette
• Crease: Earth, in the Makeup Revolution Flawless Matte Palette
• Lid:
• Overall: #8, in the Wet 'N Wild Color Icon Comfort Zone Palette
  
• Inner Corner: #7, in the BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Palette
• Lower Lash Line (Gradient from Outer to Inner): 
• Olden and Earth, in the Makeup Revolution Flawless Matte Palette
• and #7, in the BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Palette

Eyeliner:  

• Wing: Wet 'N Wild ProLine Graphic Marker Liner
• Top Lid: NYC Big Bold & Precise Eye Liner 

Mascara: L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara on the top lashes; Ruby Kisses Very Sexy Mascara on the bottom lashes

 

CONTOUR:

Black Radiance True Complexion Contour Palette in Medium to Dark

 

HIGHLIGHT:

Makeup Revolution Vivid Baked Bronzer in Bronzed Fame, with #12, in the BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Palette over top

 

BLUSH:

L.A. Colors Mineral Blush in Spiced Rum

 
LIPS:

Lipstick: Ruby Kisses Creamlicious Triple Butter Matte Cream in Aren't U Jealous? (so. fucking. COMFORTABLE.)

Liner: Smashbox Always Sharp Lip Liner in Nude Dark

 

Success! To me, at least. I'm so obsessed with those matte creams from RK that I'm going to have to go scour the city for more of them in flattering colors, and kudos to Wet 'N Wild for coming through with the quality yet again. Okay, I have a few hours before I need to shut it down for the night, so I'm gonna go make use of them! Good night!

x Ashlan

Hello, Summer

I just took my last final of the semester, which means I am DONE for the year! No school, no long ass, hot ass commutes across town and no extra money spent for the next three months!! (I'm doing an independent study with my professor, and an online class in July, but that's neither here nor there).

The point is that I'm finally free of bullshit assignments and readings in excess, and most MOST importantly is that I'm DONE WITH SPANISH YES GOD THANK YOU JESUS WON'T HE DO IT.

On top of that, I should be able to do more looks for you guys! Hopefully. I'm hoping for it. We'll see.

Speaking of looks, today is Creative Swirls Collab Thursday, and though we skipped a week last week (it was a hot mess), we are back in action with this week's look, the theme of which was a smoky eye. I honestly feel like I always look like I've gotten punched in the face if I do a true dark smoky eye, so I decided to do a rose-mauve look instead, and here we go!

Finessing in the mirror:

A closeup on the eyes:

 Le video.

I really think that this is the only way I can successfully do anything remotely resembling a smokey eye - except for that blue one I did once - and I'm okay with that! Baby steps, you guys, baby steps.

FACE:

Primer:

• L'Oreal Magic Perfecting Base Primer on my cheeks
• E.L.F. Mineral Infused Primer on the rest of my face

 Concealer:

• Mouth: L.A. Girl HD Pro Orange Corrector with the Ruby Kisses Pure Mineral Concealer in Chocolate Brown under the foundation, and L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer in Fawn over the foundation
• Nose, Chin, and Uneven Skintone on Cheeks: Ruby Kisses Pure Mineral Concealer in Chocolate Brown
• Under Eye: L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer in Fawn; Ruby Kisses Pure Mineral Concealer in Chocolate Brown

Foundation: Maybelline Fit Me! Matte + Poreless Foundation in 340 Cappuccino

Face Powder: Black Radiance Pressed Powder in Golden Cashews

Bronzing Powder: Black Radiance Pressed Powder in Warm Hazelnut

Setting Powder: Black Opal Deluxe Finishing Powder in Neutral Light

BROWS:

Filler: L'Oreal Paris Brow Stylist Definer in Dark Brunette

Browbone Highlight: L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer in Fawn

 

EYES:

Primer: LORAC Behind The Scenes Eye Primer

Base: The Sculpt powder in the Black Radiance True Complexion Contour Palette in Medium to Dark

Shadows:

• Transition: #6, in the Sonia Kashuk Grand Bazaar Spice Market Palette, followed by #9, in the L'Oreal Paris La Palette Nude 2
• Crease: #10, in the L'Oreal Paris La Palette Nude 2
• Lid: #10, in the L'Oreal Paris La Palette Nude 2
• Inner Corner: #2, in the BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Palette
• Lower Lash Line: 
• #6, in the Sonia Kashuk Grand Bazaar Spice Market Palette
• with #9, in the L'Oreal Paris La Palette Nude 2 over top
• and #10, in the L'Oreal Paris La Palette Nude 2 towards the outer corner

Eyeliner:

• Top Lid: NYC Big Bold & Precise Eyeliner
• Wing: MUA Professional Dual Ended Cat Eye Liner in Midnight Black 
• Water Line: The Balm Cosmetics Mr. Write (Now) Eyeliner Pencil in Scott

Mascara: L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Million Lashes Carbon Black on the top lashes; Ruby Kisses Very Sexy Mascara on the bottom lashes

CONTOUR:

Black Radiance True Complexion Contour Palette in Medium to Dark
 

HIGHLIGHT:

#14, in the BH Cosmetics Carli Bybel Palette, with the Wet 'N Wild Limited Edition Megaglo Highlighting Powder in Crown of My Canopy over top

BLUSH:

#24, in the BH Cosmetics Blushed Neutrals Palette

LIPS:

Lipstick: #21 and #28, in the BH Cosmetics Nude Lips Palette, with a little of #20 in the center (though you can't really see it)


Okay, that's it for me! I'm going to spend the rest of my evening writing and enjoying the fact that I get to stay on this side of town all day tomorrow! Later!

x Ashlan