Does your makeup bag have the same brand of mascara you’ve been using for years, along with the same eyeshadow palette in four neutral shades? Sometimes we get stuck in a rut, but even if we’re comfortable with our beauty routine, there’s always room for improvement. MAKE UP FOR EVER toured across eight American cities and stopped in Toronto at Yorkdale Mall last weekend for the Makeup Bag Remix. Guests could bring in their makeup bags for a complimentary consultation with a pro makeup artist. The focus on the event was educational, and makeup artists gave tutorials to guests on how to use their favourite products-regardless of brand, and gave shade and product suggestions as well.
I brought in my makeup bag and filled it with my most essential and daily beauty products. Lijha Stewart was my makeup artist and taught me how to use my everyday brown neutral shades and turn it into a sultry smokey eye. While she could have used my pur minerals shadow trio, I gave her full license to use MAKE UP FOR EVER products in this tutorial. Watch the video below or read on to learn how to achieve the look.
First, she took off my shadow with some makeup remover on a makeup sponge. It’s a pro tip for absorbing makeup without getting cotton pad fibers all over your lashes and eyelids.
Next, she used a cream shadow – #15 Aqua Cream all over my lids, and under to line my eyes as well.
For the crease, she used #311 in Burgundy. To blend it, she would pick up the product and place it in the crease while my eyes were open, then blended the product along the crease and along the outer V of my eye. Keeping your eyes open gives you more control, and allows you to see exactly where you’re placing the product, so you can ensure you’re shadowing the proper locations.
She went in with a darker shadow in # along the outermost V of the corners of my eyes. She used a thinner brush for this step, and then used a large fluffy brush to blend the outer edges of colour.
For extra definition, she lined my eyes with a black eyeliner pencil in #1 Aqua Eyes.
To highlight, she used star powder along my browbones and inner corners of my eyes. She also used a clear brow gel and brushed my eyebrows up to give my brows a natural shape.
She swept HD Concealer in #315 to get rid of my post-work bags.
For my lips, Lijha did a more natural look to counteract my strong eyes. One amazing tip she gave me was how to line lips. She used #2c Aqualip. First, you trace the corners of the lips like North, South, East, West. Then, you start to connect the lines in short strokes in the direction towards the centre of the lip. She says it’s more like tracing, and less like drawing. Finally, I can wear matte lipstick with confidence.
She applied a nude lipstick colour in #22 Rouge Artist.
Last, she added some more Star Powder in #940 to highlight my cheekbones and forehead.
After my bronze smokey eye make up look was complete, she wrote down all the products she used and mapped it out so that I could replicate the look. I loved how Stewart took the time to teach me how to use everything so that I can pull it off with makeup I already own.
I love the way my makeup turned out. I don’t usually go for a nude lip, but it was done in contrast to the dramatic smokey eye. I’ve definitely adopted the smokey eye technique with some makeup I already own, but I’m yearning for the creamy #15 Aqua Cream shadow. The event was an exclusive opportunity for people to get complimentary make up lessons, and I hope that more people can take advantage of another event like this soon.
