Hi hi,

Another 'detailed' LOTD where I talk you through the products which I am using in this entry.

Instead of another neutral brownish eye makeup look using this palette, I went for a greyish dark smokey eyes, with classic nude lips.  You can definitely re-create this look with any another brand of eyeshadows... since the colors here aren't terribly unique anyway.  If you have the Naked palette, all the colors are in that palette too.

Eyeshadows:

I first primed my eyes with UDPP, and then I dusted some of the blending colors (indicated in the picture below) on my crease to build a contour shade.  Then I used a tapered brush (MAC 226) to apply and blend the 'lids' shade all over the lids.  I blended this quite high up, and as this color blends upwards, it goes into the matte blending shade, so this gives you some gradient of colors, and no harsh lines.  To deepen the look, I used the matte black shade on the outer corners of the eyes.

Liners:

I heavily rimmed my eyes with Stila's Smugepot in Golden Noir, and finished off with two coats of mascara for lower lashes.  I used rather natural false lashes on my upper lids, because since the eyeshadows are already quite dark, any 'big lashes' will not show too much.  I just wanted some definition to my eyes.  I also cleaned up around the eyes by dusting away any fallout, and using NARS Nico to subtly highlight around the eyes area.

Here are the colors I used:

Close up of eyelook

Foundation/ Cheeks:

I used mainly Clarins face products in this LOTD.

I wanted to create a very flawless and slightly glowy look, and  I didn't want any blushes to compete with the eyelook.  I used Clarins Beauty Flash Balm as a base - which tightened my skin just a little, and make it look smoother, followed my Clarins Skin Illusion foundation in 104.  I used my usual concealers (Shu Uemura pro gel cealer, and MAC Prep+Prime highlighter) to hide away any imperfections.

I also did not want to look too bare and pale, so I dusted Clarins Mosaique bronzer on my forehead, sides of my face and also lightly on my chin.  This is turning out to be one of my absolute staples, whether it's summer or rainy, regardless the season.  I then used Dior's Aurora bronzer on my cheeks for some natural color.  I also used Giorgio Armani Micro-Fil light pink powder as a glowy highlight just at the top of my cheeks.  I am falling in love with this loose powder, it gives just the most subtle and glowy pearlescent finish to your skin.  It is simply divine.

Lips:

I applied MUFE Rouge Artist Intense lipstick in #22 which is a creamy matte nude color directly from the tube, and then I used my fingers to dab and blend out the color.  I didn't really like the matte effect, so I slapped on some Clarins Color Quench Lip Balm 01 over it.  It adds moisture and some sparkle to the lip color without changing the original color of the MUFE lipstick.

Overall, this is really a classic smokey eyes that is easy to create in a short time.  The application and blending of the eyeshadows is really simple and effortless... I have never been into complicated placement of colors, often preferring to blend one main color all over my lids, and pop some blending and/ or outer colors if I am feeling a little fancy.  Other than that, with just a dense fluffy brush, and a beautiful shade, you can pretty much do anything you want with just simple tools and skills.  Practice makes perfect (not saying that I am, but you get the drift) and you just find out along the way what works for your eyeshape and what type of look you want to achieve.

Summary of all products used:

Base: Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, Clarins Skin Illusion liquid foundation, Ettusais Mineral Loose Powder

Concealers: MAC Prep+Prime highlight, Shu Uemura Pro Gel Cealer (my HG concealer for the past few months)

Cheeks: Clarins Mosaique Bronzer, Dior Aurora, GA Micro-fil Light Pink Loose Powder

Lips: MUFE Rouge Artist Intense #22, Clarins Color Quench Lip Balm 01

Eyes: Stila Natural Eyes Palette, Stila Smudge Pot Golden Noir

That's all, and thanks for looking!