Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Week 4 Mabs Drawlloween Nail Art: Bigfoot

 Greetings, dear readers! I hope this post finds you well and you enjoyed a relaxing weekend! It was a busy one around here and I felt like I was going nonstop, and yet I don't think I have much to show for it. I'm finding myself pulled in several directions right now, and as much as I am trying to do it all, I'm exhausted and overwhelmed a lot of the time lately. Part of me thinks it is silly to have nail art in my priority list when there are other more "important" things I need to do, but creating nail art, especially for my favorite holiday, helps to calm the crazy in my head. Painting is one of the few activities where I can focus entirely on the task in front of me and wow, is it nice to not have a care in the world for that short time!



I'm back with the fourth and final nail art design for the weekly #MabsDrawlloweenClub2020 challenge! The prompt for Week 4 is "Cryptid", and my mind went immediately to the beloved fury humanoid, Bigfoot! I have never encountered anything resembling Sasquatch, but I do believe his existence is entirely possible. I may have hung up my lab coat for the past several years, but science has taught me that we know so little about our planet. Healthy skepticism is still a large part of who I am, so I cannot say for certain whether or not Bigfoot actually does exist. Now the Loch Ness Monster, on the other hand, I have very set feelings after a childhood experience, but that's a story for another post. On to the Bigfoot nails!



I would have thought designing nails inspired by Bigfoot to be difficult, but this design came together immediately. I took inspiration from a Halloween painting I created last year on canvas and went with a green forest with an eerie glow.


Products used:

LeaLaC LLC-B


I adore these nails, and I love that it is something different than my usual Halloween looks. I really enjoy this challenge as it has made me come up with looks that are different for me; here's hoping I can participate in next year's challenge and create a new nail art design every three or so days!


Have you ever had Bigfoot on your nails? What design are you planning to go with for Halloween this year? I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!
XO!


Connect with me on Social Media!






Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Goddess Project: Isis with the GlōGirl Cosmetics Goddess Palette

 Greetings, dear readers, and happy hump day! I hope you have been enjoying your week thus far! It's hard to believe that it's already this late in October and Halloween will soon be here. I've been working on trying to get my costume completed, but my kids' costumes are far more important. There has already been a change in plans once, and I'm still trying to figure out the details on the others. Good times!


Last month, I opted to have a Goddess Week and create a goddess inspired by a cosmetic item in my collection that included the word "Goddess". I found that I own a few more things in my collection that would suit the theme, so why not turn it into a whole project? Scheduling and life is difficult enough right not so I'm not going to have a set plan on exactly when these posts with be coming, but I'm going to continue to pay tribute to a specific goddess with each product as I come across them in my collection and time allows.



One of the items in my stash is the Goddess eyeshadow palette by GlōGirl Cosmetics. I actually have both the original and Goddess II, but for the purpose of today's look, we're just going to focus on the first palette.


This is such a pretty palette, and the shades are perfection for those warmer fall looks that I'm feeling right now! The shades in the bottom row are all named for Egyptian goddesses; I knew I needed to go that direction with this palette! After contemplating on this and changing my mind a couple times, I ultimately settled on the supreme Egyptian goddess, Isis.


Isis was the most powerful goddess in Egyptian history. While many of the gods and goddesses were honored at shrines in a localized location, hundreds of temples were built throughout the Mediterranean to celebrate this deity. Isis was important as she was involved in virtually every aspect of life. She is the wife, mother, mourner, and protector of both the living and the dead.


Creating a look that suits such a powerful goddess is daunting, and I went through many reiterations until I found a look I felt was most appropriate. As much as I've been loving colour lately (and the Goddess II palette does have a lovely shimmery lilac hue named Isis!), I ultimately decided I wanted to keep my Isis look soft, neutral, and glowing.



When you search for Egyptian makeup online, it is flooded with a variety of looks with one thing in common: graphic eyeliner. In designing my look, I went through four different graphic eyeliner designs, and I was not happy with any of them. They just didn't fit with the light look I was going for, not to mention I didn't find any of them to be particularly flattering with my eye shape. In spite of that limitation, I actually like this a lot.


I also like that this look can easily be worn any day!


In addition to the makeup design, I also put together this headdress to complete the look.


Other products used:



I'm really happy with this look and hope to finish sewing up the dress portion so I can wear it on Halloween!

What do you think of this look? Do you think an ancient Egyptian look has to include graphic eyeliner? What goddess products should I use to pay tribute to a deity next?

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!
XO!


Connect with me on Social Media!











 








Monday, October 19, 2020

Week 3 Mabs Drawlloween Nail Art: Frankenstein's Monster

 Greetings, dear readers, and happy Monday! I am on the ball with nail art at the moment (and believe me, I am enjoying this moment because I know it will never last!), and I have already created my nail art look based on Mab Graves' Drawlloween series! To briefly catch you up, Mab is an artist that has created a daily art prompt throughout the month of October for the past several years. There is absolutely no way I can keep up with it, especially this year, and this time around she created a weekly version for those who still want to participate but are limited in time. I opted to join the series this month so I can stay on top of my Halloween nail art and get at least four designs completed this month, and I like that the prompts have challenged me to do something a little differently than I might normally do. Thus far, I have completed weeks 1 and 2 with the prompts of "Werewolf" and "Vampire".



The prompt for week 3 is "Frankenstein"! Of course I had to create this little lab-inspired display so showcase the products I used to create the nail art in today's post!


As much as I was tempted to stick to a more sciency-looking design, in the end, I just couldn't resist paying tribute to Dr. Frankenstein's monster on my nails.


While the previous vampire prompt may have taken me far to many attempts and hours to complete, this design with thankfully simple and much quicker to get on my nails.


Products used:




I don't believe I have ever created Frankenstein's monster nails before, and I am thrilled with how they turned out! My five year old is also excited because he has a shirt with his face that matches, so that is all he wanted to wear all weekend long!

What Halloween nail art looks do you want to sport on your nails? Are you participating in the #MabsDrawlloweenClub2020 with me? I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!
XO!

Connect with me on Social Media!













Saturday, October 17, 2020

Highlights from the Beauty Spotlight Team


Boxwalla just launched a Limited Edition Beauty Box: A Very Fine Feeling ($64.95 for a $165.00 value) featuring three full-sized skincare products from Fine Cosmetics. Lola’s Secret Beauty Blog is swooning over their High Potency Nocturnal Renewal Face and Eye Masks, and thinks that their Peace Body Serum is just heavenly! 



With flu season on the way and COVID on the rise, Never Say Die Beauty uses Grip Guard Touch Protector when she’s doing errands as an additional layer of protection. Plus it’s a cool gadget!



Jen from Laugh, Love, Contour is at it again with nail art for the #MabsDrawlloweenClub2020! This week’s prompt was “vampire”, and her design is a step away from more traditional vampire looks. Check it out and see if it is a look you would enjoy wearing on your nails this month!



Any Pokemon fans here? The Polished Gamers Box this month has Pokemon as the theme! Red Eyed Lacquer created Mega Evolver inspired by Charizard and Kristi over at BeginNails has swatches.



Stacie’s taking a class online to become a certified makeup artist. See her review of the course she’s enrolled in over on The Makeup Obsessed Mom blog.



Beauty Info Zone wants you to know that you have options in beauty – how about 403,788? With Nectar Mix-In Mask collection you get choices galore. Such a unique way to beautify.



Connect with me on Social Media!

Friday, October 16, 2020

THE MAKEUP SHOW WENT DIGITAL AND CELEBRATED THEIR FIRST VIRTUAL SHOW EVER

A picture containing clock, dark, largeDescription automatically generated

 


 

3 days of LIVE Sessions ● Almost  2000 attendees  ● Over  50  Beauty  Brands  ●  Over 35  Educational  Opportunities

● 7  Virtual Main Stage Presentations  ●  Dozens of Countries  Attended 

 

The Makeup Show kicked off their first show of 2020 beginning September 12th to the 14th. With the working world of many artists upended and left jobless, unsure of where to turn to or what to do next, The Virtual Makeup Show was created so that artists from all over the world can come together under one roof for a virtual experience. The Virtual Makeup Show set out to discuss the current state of the industry, offering insight and advice to working artists, even explore ideas on what moving forward looks like in these unprecedented times.

 

The Virtual Makeup Show brought a great platform for attendees to network, learn, get inspired and receive pro-discounts from a wide range of brands, from indie to the top beauty brands, all from the comfort of their homes. Bringing in almost 2000 attendees from more than a dozen countries including the United States, Australia, England, Denmark, Ireland and Germany, The Virtual Makeup Show had over 50 beauty brands participate and offered more than 35 educational opportunities featuring seven virtual Main Stage Presentations. Attendees had 24/7 access to The Virtual Show platform where they were able to watch pre-recorded education on their own time and availability.

 

“The Virtual Show brought the beauty community together, in this time where so many of us feel alone. It was a way to connect and feel together, while watching so much education and connecting with top brands in the industry. It was so successful and we are so happy we had a chance to connect the industry virtually.” Shelly Taggar, Owner of The Makeup Show

 

Below you will find the highlights of what the weekend had to offer…

 

International Stage – “Beauty Reimagined” Featuring Isabelle DeVries and Marie Dausell, hosted by Danessa Myricks: Danessa Myricks hosted her second International Stage. She brought icon artists Isabelle DeVries and Marie Dausell. Together, they discussed what creativity looks like from three different countries and how they find inspiration, develop unity and create unforgettable artistry. Isabelle De Vries is a true creator with innovation and overwhelming passion for her art form. Isabelle’s work challenges trends and stereotypes of beauty and has gained recognition from the industry’s elite. Marie Dausell is in many ways a great example of the new generation of makeup artists with starting and building her own career through Instagram. She has created her own unique style and place in the makeup world, and her talent was quickly noticed and praised by some of the most influential people in the industry. Sponsored by Danessa Myricks Beauty.

 

Art and Illusion Featuring Mimi Choi: From the Met Gala to global makeup campaigns, Mimi Choi has brought her unique and unforgettable makeup style to the world stage. Recognized for her pioneering illusionary work, Mimi has captured the hearts of the professional makeup community and garnered the attention of international magazines, television shows, music videos, and social media. Mimi took attendees through the process of creating one of her iconic looks while showcasing her ability to completely transform her canvas.

 

Girl Interrupting – We Need to Have a Conversation Featuring Joy Fennell, Michela Wariebi, Delina Medhin, Renee Garnes, hosted by Danessa Myricks: Black women are some of the most prolific artists in today’s industry. By the sheer number, they are one of the most represented groups in our industry, however the number of black female artists represented in our agencies, unions and editorial and executive roles does not reflect. Girl Interrupting was hosted by Danessa Myricks where she talked to some pillars in the beauty community: Joy Fennell, Michela Wariebi, Delina Medhin and Renee Garnes. Together, they shared their personal experiences; examined possibilities for pushing forward and gaining a better understanding of what we could do to be better allies in the beauty community.

 

Over 50 Beauty Brands: The Virtual Makeup Show brought in an exclusive range of pro-driven and indie brands featuring Pat McGrath Labs, Kevyn Aucoin Beauty, MAKE UP FOR EVER, Urban Decay and MYKITCO. For two hours each day, LIVE demos were created by the brands and their artists. Attendees were able to virtually chat and network with the brand owners and reps. Supporting Sponsors Alcone Company, Glamcor, Perfect Corp., Crown Brush, Lumify Eye Drops, LimeLife by Alcone and Riot Beauty.

 

ABOUT THE MAKEUP SHOW

The Makeup Show is one of the largest professional makeup events in the United States offering artists the ultimate Beauty Experience.  The show brings together more than 120 of the most exclusive beauty brands in the industry, an average of more than 5000 artists in each city and individuals from all over the world to learn techniques from master artists, mingle with peers, and shop their favorite brands.  The show focuses on career building and networking within the makeup community by presenting an unparalleled lineup of education and appearances from top beauty professionals, with 6-8 stages of education from legendary artists and industry experts, it provides a unique experience for the makeup professional to network directly with the best in the business. Owned and produced by Shelly Taggar and Alan Boss, The Makeup Show travels to NYC, Chicago, Houston, and Vancouver.

 

Stay tuned for more show updates and announcements coming soon. Be sure to connect by signing up for the show’s newsletter at www.themakeupshow.com, and by visiting FacebookInstagramTwitter, and YouTube.


Connect with me on Social Media!

 

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Week 2 Mabs Drawlloween Nail Art: Vampire with ASP Nail

 Who would have thought that vampire-inspired nails would be so difficult? The problem I had is I had two conflicting ideas: do I go with the more traditional scary vampire, or do I go with something cute? I suppose I can attempt to do both this month, but I still needed to come up with my "official" vampire nails for the prompt.

Press Sample


Day Dream, Think Pink, He Makes Me Blush, Enchantment, Ooh La La, and Pink Whisper

I had this selection of mostly pink-hued nail polishes by ASP Nail sitting on my desk that kept catching my eye, and since I was feeling pulled more towards a cute take on a vampire, I decided these would be perfect for my nail art look! I had several random pitfalls throughout the day creating this look, BUT the final look is as adorable as I envisioned. I hope you enjoy it!



When I think of vampires, I think of the vampire themselves, coffins, and bats. I wanted to include all these elements in this look, and I think I got them all in perfectly, if I do say so myself!


I did have a little issue with bubbling, as you can see with these photos, and I actually removed polish and repeated painting multiple times with extra cleaning, alcohol swipes, and more in between. I had initially used the ASP base coat, but I found it just doesn't seem to work well with my body chemistry.


To create this look, I used multiple images from the UberChic Beauty Halloween-03 stamping plate. The reverse stamping of the coffin was a labor of love in particular as I used ASP Nail Enchantment with the plate and it was not particularly stamping friendly. I obviously made it work, but it took many attempts to get it to work with the image. I was definitely committed to making it work!


Shades used:

Day Dream
Ooh La La
Think Pink



Shades used:

He Makes Me Blush
Enchantment
Day Dream



Shades used:

Day Dream
Ohh La La
He Makes Me Blush
Pink Whisper
KBShimmer: Total Eclipse


As I had already mentioned, I initially used the ASP Nail Long Wear Base Coat, and it caused serious bubbling issues for me. I ended up removing my polish three times and settles on a different base coat, but it's not unusual to find the chemistry of some base coats just don't work for some reason. I also used the ASP Nail Long Wear Top Coat when I was done, and again there was still some bubbling. I tend to float a fair bit of top coat over stamped nails to not mess up the design, and I think it was just too thick for this particular top coat. It's something I'll have to keep in mind when I use it again while stamping!


What do you think about my cute vampire nails? Is this something you would wear, or would you prefer scarier vampires? What Halloween nail art looks have you been enjoying so far? I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!
XO!














Thursday, October 8, 2020

Show Your Holiday Spirit with the KBShimmer Halloween Trio

 Press Sample



Greetings, dear readers! I hope you've been having a wonderful week! For today's post, I wanted to share the new KBShimmer Halloween Trio! This trio is limited edition and only available until this Halloween. If one of the shades speaks to you, be sure to pick it up before it is gone. Now on to some swatches!

Hey There Pumpkin

Halloween is a beloved holiday for many children. Nothing was better than the thrill of picking out a costume, perfecting the path to maximize the haul, and then later deciding what the best candy was to eat first. Some carried pillowcases, some grocery bags, but nothing was more iconic than the neon orange, plastic Jack-o'-lantern that was the perfect size for petite trick or treaters. Hey There Pumpkin is a neon orange polish loaded with flakes that show off shades of gold and green. A hint of sparkle completes this holiday hue.





Swatches are shown with two coats plus Clearly On Top top coat.

Coulda Had A Bad Witch

Green skin, wiggly nose, or robe and wand, the characteristics of our favorite fictional witches may vary, but the idea of casting spells and brewing potions captivates many. Coulda Had A Bad Witch is a nod to the classic Halloween character. A grape purple is loaded with color-shifting flakes that magically shift from hues of green and aqua, to fiery red, gold, and orange. A hint of holo sparkles like magic for a perfectly festive polish.





Swatches are shown with two coats plus Clearly On Top top coat.

Bugs & Kisses

Creepy crawly things are not something that people normally want in their homes, so it's no wonder why they are a favorite for Halloween décor. Fake webs showcasing spider rings, plastic cockroaches and lifelike snakes are all strategically placed to surprise and frighten. Bugs & Kisses is a nod to those things that slither in the night. A deep black base sets off color-shifting flakes in burnt orange, gold, green and red. A scattering of micro holo flakes adds a hint of sparkle to this spooky shade.





Swatches are shown with two coat plus Clearly On Top top coat.

Each of these shades are available for purchase now from KBShimmer here. Shades can be purchased individually for $10 a piece or you can purchase the trio for $29. If you purchase the trio, it will also come with a witchy KBShimmer magnet. Just be sure to pick up your favorite shades before it's too late!

Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!
XO!


Helpful Links

Connect with me on Social Media!

On Instagram

© Laugh, Love, Contour. Made with love by The Dutch Lady Designs.