Leopard Costume

I love doing animal themed face paintings! I know that a leopard look is a popular one and I hadn't done it before so I thought it would be fun... and it was!

Pro Tip

Leopard spots aren't perfectly symmetrical and come in lots of shapes and sizes. As long as all of your spots are headed toward the same focal point (the centre of the face) your design will always have a cohesive flow!

Products Used

Make Up For Ever eyeshadows

WolfeFX Face Paint in Black and White

Buxom Inner Rim Eyeliner in Black

Lit Cosmetics Glitter Adhesive

Michaels craft glitter

Velour lashes in "Doll Me Up"

Silent Film Star Costume

I saw an image on Pinterest of someone dressed up as a silent film star and thought it was a really cool idea so I gave it a go for my Halloween costume on Saturday night. I wanted it to look like i just stepped out of a black and white film and I'm really pleased with how it turned out!

For the make up I mixed a black and white cream to create my base and applied it all over my face and neck. I used a grey eye shadow to set it in place and then used black and grey eye shadows to do my eyes and contour. For the lips I used a dark grey eyeliner.

For my costume I used an inexpensive black wig; a dress, necklace, gloves and shoes I already owned; and then grey stockings on my legs and arms.

My fella wanted to look like he got beat up so I gave him a few bruises and a pretty bloody nose! 

Hope you guys are enjoying celebrating Halloween!

Nars X Guy Bourdin

Guy Bourdin's colour-saturated photography insinuated a high-fashion world of dangerous women and sexually charged fashion photography of the 70's. Nars pays homage to Bourdin's seductive, suspenseful images with bold, uninhibited colour and high-impact finishes. 

If you know me, then it's no secret that I have a love affair with Nars Cosmetics - but I haven't been this excited for a collection in a long time. One of the coolest things about this collection is that all of the imagery is Guy Bourdin's original photography.

The bright pops of colour are a rebellious take on your traditional holiday collection and the limited edition textures of the eye shadows and lip colours are to die for!! We're talking rich, velvety pigment in these shadows... nothing like what we've seen in Nars shadows before.

I can absolutely see myself scooping up Bad Behaviour (pewter grey), Rage (glowing purple), and Cambodia (strawberry copper). Plus I'm a sucker for a pink lip and I've definitely got my eye on lipsticks in Goodbye Emmanuelle (bright pink) and Last Tango (rosy nude).

In addition, as a Sephora exclusive, Nars is launching a Guy Bourdin blush palette. Last time Nars launched a blush palette it sold out within the first few days!

What do you guys think of this collaboration? The DNA of this collection really speaks to me and I'm super excited about it! 

1960's Beach Bombshell

One of my favourite periods for makeup is the 1960's, where the eyes were big, the hair was bigger, and the complexion was flawlessly matte. Here I took inspiration from the beachy bombshells of the 60's and kept the look modern with glossy touches on the lips and cheeks.

Pro Tip
Use a thick eyeliner brush and light shadow to map out your shape before committing to a strong cut crease. When you're happy with the placement and symmetry, build the intensity of your colour slowly by using consistent pressure and small strokes. 

Complexion

Nars Sheer Flow Foundation

Benefit Fake Up Concealer

MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Natural in 'Light'

Givenchy Healthy Glow Powder #2

Benefit Boxed Powder in "Rockatuer'

Eyes and Brows

Shu Uemura Brow Pencil Hard 9 in 'Seal Brown'

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Natural in 'Light' - All over the lid

Tarina Tarrantino Eyeshadow in 'Butterfly Black'

Laura Mercier Creme Eyeliner in 'Noir'

Nars Eyeliner Pencil in 'Iceberg'

YSL Faux Cils Mascara

Lips

Buxom Full Bodied Lipstick in 'Nudist'

Nars Larger Than Life Lipgloss in 'Candy Says'

Starry Eyes

I really love the dimension that "bracketing" your eyeshadow gives. The touch of light in the centre of the eye really makes the eyes pop and sparkle when wearing a sultry smokey eye. And what better way to do it than in my favourite Fall shadow colour? Navy!

Pro Tip

Dark matte colours can be tricky to blend and have some fall down. Take your time building colour and try doing your eye makeup before foundation for easy clean up. Ensure you have a great concealer to keep the under eyes looking fresh and bright!

Complection

Bobbi Brown Stick Foundation

The Balm Time Balm Concealer

Tarte Smooth Operator Setting Powder

Hourglass Ambiant Light Powder in 'Moon Light'

Eyes and Brows

Shu Uemura Brow Pencil Hard 9 in 'Seal Brown'

Too Face Shadow Insurance

Make Up For Ever Eyeshadow in #60 and #00

Hourglass Ambiant Light Powder in 'Moon Light'

Too Face Starry-Eyed Glitter Liner

Stila Smudgestick Waterproof Eyeliner in 'Bluefin'

Nars Eyeliner in 'Iceberg'

Buxom Mascara

Lips

Bite Luminous Cream Lipstick in 'Retsina'

Nars Larger Than Life Lipgloss in 'Candy Says'

The Day I Met Alex Box

On Monday evening I met a Make Up Artist who has been one of the biggest inspirations in my journey through artistry. Her body of work is absolutely breathtaking and her instinctual knack for colour and placement is incredible. Meeting Alex Box was a dream of mine and I'm so excited to be able to share it with you guys.

(Alex & I rocking Lipstick in 'Box' - one of my favourite reds)

The Illamasqua counter at The Bay Queen Street was buzzing while dozens of us adoring fans crowded around to catch a glimpse of the infamous Alex Box - Illamasqua Creative Director and Co-Founder.

Julian Kynaston, Illamasqua Founder, gave a wonderful introduction and truly energized the crowd as he showed us how humbled he is at the success of his five-year-old brand.

Powder was smoking in the air and brushes were gliding all over. I watched Alex dig into Powder Eyeshadow with the blunt end of her brush to create a loose pigment and press it into the skin with exceptional prowess. It was so incredible to watch her work.

After the demo, Alex mingled with us and we were invited to shop the counter with the Illamasqua team. 

I'm so happy that I was able to take part in this event and hope that my path will someday cross with hers again.

Monochromatic Purple Paradise

Purple is one of my favourite colours to work with because it looks good on everyone! In this monochromatic look I used one of my favourite purple eyeshadows (Make Up For Ever #09) on my eyes, brows, and cheeks and gave the look dimension with complimentary cool toned pinks.

Pro Tip

With a fluffy crease brush, lightly apply your blush along the edge of your eyeshadow to create a cohesive look with a perfectly blended gradient from brow bone to crease colour! This tip works no matter what eyeshadow colour you're wearing.

Complexion

Diorskin Airflash Foundation

Tarte Smooth Operator Concealer

Laura Mercier Translucent Powder

Make Up For Ever Eyeshadow #09

Stila Eyeshadow in 'Key'

Dior Rosy Glow Blush

Eyes and Brows

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Make Up For Ever Eyeshadow #09

Stila Eyeshadow in 'Key'

Dior Rosy Glow Blush

Too Faced Perfect Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner in 'Perfect Black Orchid'

YSL Faux Cils Mascara

Lips

Revlon Lip Butter in 'Cupcake'