The Unconventional Statement Lip

Now when I say statement lip I don't mean red. Red is a whole post unto itself. I practically have a library of red lipsticks.

When I say statement lip I mean maybe a color that isn't quite commonplace just yet. Maybe some of them are getting there *cough* Orange *cough* but maybe some of them are still shades you wouldn't try in a million years.

Well you should and, I'm going to tell you why and some of my favorite ways to do it!

First up we'll tackle the orange. As this is the closest to the red family I think the orange lip is the most easily worn of the three shades I have here. 

My orange of choice is the Make Up Forever Rouge Artist Intense in shade 40. It is a true Crayola orange with a comfortable satin finish.  I love to pair warm shades with warm shades and layer up matte bronze-y tones with an orange lip. I take a matte warm brown (MAC Kid or Soft Brown are good here) and sweep it over the lid. Heavily at the lash line and more blown out near the crease. Then I layer on mascara and that's it for the eyes.

Seriously. 

Then I apply a bit of bronzer to the cheeks whack on my orange lip and call it a day. I think this is both a quick and easy way to sell the orange lip.

Next is our neon pink. This one is fun!

You have to reach for MAC's Candy Yum Yum for this. It's the perfect white based matte neon pink.

 

This is the out there shade that I treat most like a red. I like to do a twist on a classic pin up look basically by substituting a neon lip in for the red. 

I do like to stick to a nice strong winged liner and no shadow on the eyes for this though; I think it makes the look seem more effortless. 

I also like to stick with just some bronzer on the cheeks here as well. I think it's a good idea for all three lip colors because it won't compete with the statement. 

...but it's your America and you can put whatever you want on your cheeks. This is just my method.

Finally is the violet lip. This one is maybe a little more out there but once you get the hang of it you won't want to give it up! I think the blue tones wake up the face but the presence of the pink tones make it very user friendly. 

I like this with a rose gold or amber-esque shade on the lid to balance things out. I usually reach for L'Oreal's Infailliable in Amber Rush with Bite Beauty's Violet Pastille on the lips. (This is discontinued but this is a nice alternative.) Then I layer on mascara to define the eyes and add a few sweeps of bronzer to the cheeks.

I think the pairing brings the right amount of drama and balance while still making the look interesting. 

I hope this gave you some ideas about how to test out some shades you hadn't thought to try before. 

Let me know if you give this one a go!

Apples of Your Cheeks

The one kind of blush color I always come back to when the weather is cool is a bright red-toned berry shade. 

When applied lightly these give a wind bitten flush on the cheeks that is really brightening and flattering on the skin. 

The added bonus of dramatic blush colors like these is that they work on every single skin tone no matter how light or dark.

Very unusually for me two of my three favorite shades for this kind of flush are creams. I think it adds to liveliness of the shade and as this is a look I go for mostly in fall and winter I don't have to worry about the product migrating.

Hostile Takeover

I have never had a brand weasel it's way into my collection the way Hourglass has. Considering the financial impact of that I feel like that really says something about the quality of the product. Not only have I amassed a  lot from the brand but they are products that I reach for every day without fail. 

Adventures in Contour

For a few years now I have been meaning to pick up the Illamsqua Cream Pigment in Hollow. Touted as an amazing natural contour color for the fairer skinned amongst us.

After hemming and hawing for an eternity I decided about 6 months ago I was going to get it. Just in time for Sephora to stop carrying the line. (Why Sephora? Da Fuck?) Luckily Bloomingdales still happily stocks their products so to the Upper East Side I went.

ABOUT FACE 4_21_14| TheUnanimousMolly

Ever wonder what it's like to listen to me sit around and wipe stuff on my face every day? Sure you did!

*Insert Arch Pun Here*

Brows are a tricky thing. Don't fill them in, apply makeup as normal and you risk looking strangely unfinished. Go a little over board with the tinted gel and look like an angry cartoon character all day.

The balance between finding the right product and applying it properly can be a hard thing to find, but after 5 years of dallying with my own I think I have come to some very important conclusions.

A Nude Alternative

When I was a kid I was all about the colorful makeup. Teal, purple, green you name it, it was part for my routine. These days, not so much. 

That isn't to say I'm not adventurous in my own ways but, it is certainly not the same thing. These days though I have been playing around with a new way to make my eyes look big, bright, and awake. (I'm nothing if not consistent) 

I'm Awake. I Promise.

Sometimes its hard to even pretend to be awake first thing in the morning. The urge to roll over and give yourself "five more minutes" is irresistible some (read:all) mornings. Not to mention the internet black hole that is beauty blogs and YouTube.

 

RIP Sleep.

 

Although as a result, I have become the master of hiding the sleepless evidence.

 

Cheap Refelctions

I LOVE a good eBay find. Now it doesn't happen to me all that often. I prefer to shop closer to home whenever possible but, sunglasses are another story for me. I am the most clumsy, ham-fisted, neglectful sunglass owner on the planet. I leave them on checkout counters, in cabs, buried under my reusable coffee mug in my purse. My rule of thumb for this very reason, is that I will NOT spend more than 10$ on sunglasses. Will not.

Like everyone else I fell in love with the Ray Ban Flash Lense Aviators that were really popular around this time last year, and went in search of the bargain basement alternative. Let me tell you, eBay is the land of the cheap sunglass. I had so many options for these and at $2.53 a pair, I almost bought every color they offered. I did refrain though and opted for the Golden Hot Pink and the Golden Green shades. The shipping was free but the statement is expensive.

I will 100% be in these all Spring and Summer long. The seller lives here if you want to check them out, although I believe these are now out of stock. You can find a similar styles here.

The One Sweep Sensation

I love a good no-brainer, early AM friendly, one sweep wonder shadow. In the last year, with the 9-5 job, the commuting, the suddenly swinging again social life, I have been really into the no fuss eye shadow look.

On any given day, I max out at about 2 shadows on my eyes. I actually think, and this is just me, that fewer colors on the lid looks a little bit more fashion forward and lived-in. When I think about makeup these days that's  a phrase I think about a lot. Lived-in.

On the menu,

Eye Bright- L'Oreal Infallible in Amber Rush. The best part about this budget friendly one and done shade is that it instantly makes you're whole face look alive and well. On my hazel eyes it works it's magic and makes them appear that bit more blue-green but, for you blue eyed gal's this is an 8$ can't miss color.

Instant Contour- The praises of this MAC classic, Woodwinked, have been sung since the beginning of the build your own palette phenomenon. With some dense application and generous blending, this is the color that invented the one sweep wonder. It mysteriously takes on the qualities of two colors when packed on to the lid and lightly blended into the crease, making(up)* your Monday mornings a whole lot easier.

Never Enough Sparkle- Now some days it's hard to pass up some glittery temptation. The Urban Decay Moondust Shadows create the most beautiful, shiny, wet looking effect on the eyes that is surprisingly daytime appropriate. The shade Diamond Dog (David Bowie is the man!) is a nice cool toned brown, that comes off much lighter on the lid than it appears in the pan. When generously patted on the lid with fingers and blended into the crease with a brush it makes for a nice easy smokey day look in mere moments.

The Delicate Delinquint

H&M has kind of been killing lately with their accessories. Not so much the larger ticket items but some of their dainty accessories have been sending me the perfect "Wear Me" messages lately.

 

The most recent buy, and probably the only one still available, is the ring set. For $5.95 you get about a dozen rings in shades of copper, silver, and distressed gold, in an array of sizes. It is the perfect way to get to that Stevie Nicks-esque, folk rock vibe that I am Oh. So. Excited. to wear come the warmer months. I may or may not have already bought a pack or two more for nights out when I really want to overload my look. (Or for when I inevitably lose them ;) )

 

The second buy, a very teeny tiny skull charm on a small ball chain accompanied by a paper thin infinity chain. It looks like a plain gold ball at first glance but, upon closer inspection it has the cutest, almost Lego-like skull shape. This one was acquired in the post holiday sales, so if you live in a place less traveled, you might get lucky and come across this for a good price. If not though, it could prove to be some great inspiration for some serious eBay-ing!

Don't Call It A Statement Piece

I never really jumped on the statement necklace bandwagon. Bandwagon's not really being my thing aside, I refuse to give into the J. Crew trend, OR part with that much money for some gold plating and plastic put together in China...Sorry.

I have however found a few new, inexpensive, and unique pieces that have me changing my tune.

Silver Chain Choker-- Swapped For!

As I mentioned in my recent beauty purge video here, a friend of mine was having a bit of a clothing swap in preparation for the changing seasons. I generally don't hoard clothes, so my contribution is almost always accessory and beauty related. However, this year I did manage to find myself a pretty cool statement necklace amongst all of the t-shirts and never returned slightly too big jeans from H&M.

It came along in the form of an oversized chain link center with some infinity-type net chain along the sides it had just enough size to really stand out around the neck, but not so much color, texture, and size that it made my head spin. It was the first thing I spotted and it immediately went into my bag to bring home. I have been wearing this a lot with sweaters and heavier layers that stand up quite well to the size of this piece.

Crystal Pendant Necklace from the Broadway Silk Shop -- More about that HERE

Following that find was an unexpected local find from a shop I had never step foot into before. The Broadway Silk Shop in Astoria was a place I'd always passed but never shopped, until a few weekends back when I was out enjoying the unexpected 60 degree weather and sunshine.

It has such a nice selection of Etsy-esque finds for a fraction of the price. The above crystal and triangle pendant came in at just around 15$ and is a much more budget friendly way to work the raw crystal trend. (Although if you haven't seen the stuff over at BCP Jewelry yet, you are missing out!) The best part is you still get the satisfaction of supporting a small business while finding a nice affordable trinket for yourself, minus the shipping.

:)

That Springtime Sensation

With mother nature cruelly holding out on Spring for us east-coasters I have been desperately trying to duplicate a warm weather glow with my makeup.

Call it wishful makeuping.


^ Name that movie reference and I'll love you forever^

Crown Brush Stippling Brush--Link | Milani Baked Blush in Bella Rosa--Link | Illamasqua Cream Blusher in Lies--Link


This cheek pairing has really been keeping me optimistic about warm weather eventually making it's way to New York.


 The new Milani Blush in Bella Rosa is an insane pink-toned red matte blush with a pigmentation so insane it REQUIRES application with a duo fibre brush. Without it you will be forever stuck in the land of the Aunt Sally cheek.

To bring a little bit of glow to the party I've opted for the forever beautiful Illamasqua Cream Blush in the shade Lies. A Pixiwoo suggestion from WAY back that I recently resurrected from the back of my beauty closet. It imparts a very high shine glow that almost looks like gloss, or even wetness on the cheek. It creates such a glow that it looks like the light is simply bouncing off of an incredibly reflective surface, and not a highlighter. 

Hopefully continued use of this cheery little combo will make it feel a little more seasonally appropriate around here until the sun finally makes it's long overdue appearance.

;)

Contouring for Lazy People

Don't get me wrong. When the time is there contouring the face can be an invaluable makeup technique or tool. For big nights out or costumes or if you're having lots of photos taken that day it's a nice extra step that gives you some control over the shape of your face and what features you prefer to highlight. On a daily basis though. there is NO contouring happening on this face. Some days lately its magic if I can make time for under eye concealer (a step I NEVER used to skip).

My little cheat for creating a sculpted face is all about blush color and placement. A nice warm, brown rose shade swept from the ear, along the cheek to below the apples of the cheeks. It is an easy way to create some shape to the face, while adding warmth and color in a single step. Pictured above from R-L.

NARS Sin: Hard Candy Smooth Talker (d/c): Tarte Stellar (d/c): Milani Sunset Beach: NYX Mocha: Laura Gellar Pink Grapefruit

What are some of your favorite morning beauty cheats?

The Fall Mani-cure

Easily the best fall manicure combo ever, I am in love. First up (post base coat) is OPI's Muir Muir on the Wall from their most recent San Francisco collection. I nearly passed this color up but, after wearing it I am so glad I caved. Its like all the hidden shimmer vampy shades that I love for this time of year amped up with a bit of a (very apparent) green bronze shift.

On top of that I applied Orly's Digital Glitter. This one was a surprise on the nails. It looks like a multichrome with glitter in the bottle but in reality it is a sheer pink shimmer base, with  bronze/gold/green small hex glitter. Thrown in for good measure are some holographic squares and some red micro glitter. These two just layer so well together and, while it seems like all the effects would work against one another they just come together to create a beautiful, complex, and harmonious Fall manicure.

If you get anything from the salon brand fall collections this year, make it these two colors.

BOTB #3

This week in lippies. Clockwise from the top.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Adore is a warm brown red stain that works well both on its own as well as a base for under red lipsticks. (Especially for night out longevity!)

 Lancôme Rouge In Love lipstick in Cocoa Couture is a very deep cool brown red. This formula is just stellar. It glides on smoothly, and dries down to a very comfortable long-wearing finish.

Kat Von D Foiled Love Lipstick in Adora. This color is not for everyone. Its a high shimmer metallic finish that I love in this neutral red shade. In any other color I think it looks a bit dated.

Maybelline Vivid Lipstick in Pop of Cherry. This one was LE but I encourage you to investigate your drugstore. I've seen it around quite a bit still and this is a fun pink red shade in a stellar budget formula.

Jack Black Lip Balm in Lemon & Chamomile. My lips needed a day off and while I love the Nuxe Reve De Miel for nighttime, this is both wallet friendly as well as wonderfully effective. I want the grapefruit one next!

Last up Illamasqua's Magnetism. This is an absolute favorite Fall berry shade. It straddles the line between subtle and bold with absolute perfection and is so unbelievably comfortable and fun to wear. Get it.

What did you wear this week?

Reporting for Beauty



Me, I love a good bargain hunt. I think that's why my selection of products is a 50/50 high low split. This palette from Wet n' Wild is a stellar drugstore find, especially if you are looking for a basic everyday eye palette that will transition you easily into nighttime.

Here I have the satin finish, golden taupe (eyelid) all over the lid, the deep matte brown (liner) in the outer corner, and the beautiful matte peach-brown (browbone) as my transition color. Swap the taupe for the deep brown and the peach brown for the taupe et voilà instant smokey eyes.

If you can nab this palette while the display is still floating around I highly recommend picking it up. If you like warmer hues Spoiled Army Brat is a beautiful mauve/peach trio that is equally beautiful if maybe a little less versatile.

Found anything good for a bargain lately?

Instant Smokes

I have fallen in love. I'm sure this is not the first time I've uttered a statement like that here at The Unanimous Molly. This time though, I mean it. (I meant it last time too I swear...) I have come up with the recipie for the worlds easiest five minute, five product smokey eye! The best part? This is the perfect day to night eye look!

1. Highlight inner corner and browbone(if you want) with a shimmery flesh toned cream shadow or liner. (I used Urban Decay's 24Hr Shadow Pencil in Sin.

 

2. Apply a warm brown cream shadow to your lid and blend up into the crease. (I used MAC's Quite Natural Paint Pot. I am OBSESSED with this, more on that later...)

 

3. Smudge a bit of black liner right up against your lashes all along the upper lash line and about halfway along the waterline. (Stila's Smudgestick in Stingray here.)

 

4. Blend out your liner with a matte deep brown eyeshadow. (Joe Fresh in Espresso)

 

5. Lots of Mascara! (Jordana Best Lash Extreme in Black)

 

The star of the show here is really the Paint Pot in Quite Natural. I think it is the neccesary component to this look. It makes this the express route to sultry, smokey, five minute heaven. If you don't already have this (or something like it) in your makeup rotation you need to. It can even be used in place of a liner for super easy makeup days...

 

xoxo

Molly

FOTD: Warm and Glossy

I look extra goofy in this picture but I so loved how this combo turned out. It was a bit of Maybelline (Color Tattoo in Gold Shimmer) and Revlon(Not Just Nudes darkest shade) cream shadow layered together with some of L'Oreal's Infalliable Eyeshadow in Eternal Sunshine. A bit of Stila Stingray on the upper lashline and Nars Rue Bonaparte on the lower waterline.

A bit of Tarte Stellar and Angelic Amazonian Clay blush on the cheeks and my new love the YSL Glossy Stain in Brun Glace. I wrote a brief review of the blushes and the lipstain here (link!) and here (link)!

I find that this type of color combination is something that I work with often. They are warm and easy to wear together. I think it sends a really polished message without going overboard (although I'm sure some would disagree). It is a go to look for me especially in the colder months and this eye combo in particular is something I will keep in the record books for particularly early mornings.

xoxo

Molly

Forever and Always

 

 

I should never wear any other makeup combo on my eyes as far as I'm concerned. Do you ever have that morning where you put on your makeup and then look in the mirror and think "why didn't I do this sooner?". I just threw these products on to run out on Saturday and wound up falling in love with the combination. The combo is as follows...

 

MAC Paint Pot in  Dangerous Cuvee

L'Oreal Infalliable Eyeshadow in  Liquid Diamond

MAC Quarry Eyeshadow

Inglot AMC Gel Liner in #77 (Black)

NYX Slide On Eyeliner in Silver (lower lash line)

 

I have used and enjoyed a combination of these things on the eyes before but in this order I just fell in love.

Honorable mention goes to the lipstick. NYX Matte Lipstick in Euro Trash, the nicest, strangest, gray mauve and my favorite fall nude lip.