My eyes eat purple and other nonsense

For anyone who is interested,

I love my new violet eyeshadow but I will say, purple is not a color that fades well (or evenly) over the course of a long day.

One of my eyes faded a lot more than the other making the difference between a punch in the face and a fun make-up choice barely discernible.

Something about that just made me think of the years I would go to Peace Fest with Sandi. It was a good cause/message and I was into peace and vegetarianism at the time. I wasn't eating any meat or fish. Only junk. I was very serious. I guess I'm still into Peace. However, I am eating fish now, but it isn't like I like it.

It is pure vanity.

Dr. Perricone said it would improve my skin (wrinkles), and it has.
I'm a horrible person.

Something about that makes me think about Peace Fest again and I'm suddenly nostalgic about hemp and wooden jewelry and tie dye.

Uh oh.

I know it sounds gross but it is really quite pretty.

For anyone still counting, I haven't given up my dream of purple and blue eyeshadows. I realize most hues oxidize on my lids and make me look kind of tired and corpse-like but there are thousands of different shades and I'm certain I will be able to wear one of them. I've been told that perhaps I should stick with violets instead of eggplant so I went and got that (Mac Creme de Violet) and I also found a dark purple/reddish color if you can imagine. Stila Pigalle. Sephora online describes it as a "deep shimmering wine." Here is a picture of it but you should really see it in person to get the effect. It looks much lighter here:
So, I put both on my lids and I have to say I love it. The effect is kind of bruise-like but a really pretty bruise. Ummm let's see, more like a fresh bruise as if someone just clocked you super hard. Deep purple red.

Who would have thought?
The really important lesson here is sometimes you just have to keep experimenting because you never know what you will end up loving.

Shades of Grey, worlds of difference

Does anyone else agonize between two colors of eyeshadow that really, if you took them into separate rooms, you would think were the same color? And if you really thought about it, if you bought either one, you'd take it home and realize you have 10 other VERY similar shades?

Just me?

I'm telling you that you can because you can, I know you can and deep down you know it too.

I cannot tell you how many times I have heard a variation on the following:

"I love your eye makeup. You always wear the best stuff. I could never make that happen"

"Why?"

"Well the effort for one and I just don't wear eyeshadow and I don't know how to put it on and I don't know what colors to get and I just don't think I can pull it off..."

It is my life's mission to demystify eye makeup. Sure it can be complicated and time consuming if you are trying something really involved but for the most part applying eye make up takes under 3 minutes. And anyone who has 3 minutes can "pull it off." It takes more time for me to put concealer under my eyes and try to even out my skin tone than it takes to put on eye makeup. And not lame eye make up either. Really nice looking shit.

I can wax poetic about different eye shadows and liners and mascara. I have things I love and things that don't work for me. Getting the correct tools is important and finding colors you love to wear is beyond fun. Once you have the stuff you need it is just a matter of waking up 3 minutes earlier. The vibe of your whole day can improve with a little excitement on the lid.

I think I am going to start a recurring "What I'm in love with now" feature because I not only love products, I LOVE to share my findings with anyone who will listen. I also love to hear other people's favorite items as well. I can understand Oprah's desire to give perfect strangers her "favorite things." If I was Oprah I would totally do that too. Or if I had Oprah's money I would give all my blog followers raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens and brown paper packages tied up with string. Inside that brown paper package tied up with string would be:

A gorgeous neutral colored eyeshadow. Benefit's creme eye shadow in "Birthday Suit" is my current favorite.
Urban Decay eyeliners. It would be the gift set of bright colors.
Dior Show mascara.

That is literally all you need to make a great eye.

Smear the creme shadow from your lash to just above the crease. Let it dry for a couple of beats. Then take the urban decay eyeliner in electric blue or the teal one and draw a line from the outer corner of your lash line to 3/4 of the way in (toward your nose). Make the line thicker on the outer end and taper it as you drag it in. Put a thick coat of Dior Show mascara on (start at the base of your lashes and wiggle the wand upward and out). That's it. You are good to go. Not hard AT ALL.

I'm going to make a "How to" video and post it on ehow. Seriously. I am. There is absolutely no reason anyone should think eye makeup is beyond their reach. It's ridiculous and I will not hear of it.

In Search of...

I’m currently in search of the perfect brown eyeshadow. A neutral lid is a refreshing change from the vibrant colors of spring or fall. You would think it would be simple, but not so. Of course I saw it in the bible (Allure) and now I want it for my own self. The trouble is creating the same effect but on my oddly transparent skin tone. I need to find MY perfect brown.

I do currently love Laura Mercier’s cream shadow in gold and Smashbox’s Cinnamon Toast shadow. Pretty close but not perfect.

This is going to top off my dream outfit of head to toe monochromatic neutrals.

I’m fairly certain that no one in cyber heaven cares about this but I’ve decided to try and use my blog as a vehicle for “the secret”

I’m starting small universe. Brown eyeshadow and an all neutral outfit.

I believe like I believe like I believe.