Playing Cinderella at the Ball

I got all dolled up for the Mardi Gras, and since it's a rare occurrence for me to be this fancy, I thought I'd share it with you guys. I also thought it might be helpful to prom-goers, since I did this on a very tight budget, using stuff from the drugstore, along with some very popular higher-end items that a lot of you guys already have, or can either dupe or acquire on the cheap. If you want to skip this one, though, I'll understand.

*sniff*

Thomas took this picture of me after we got back, so so I'm super proud of my hair for not falling completely flat. It was close to midnight, and I was a little bleary (I'm a 10:00 pm bedtime kind of girl), but I actually squeezed into this dress and needed visual proof.

Again, this is end of the night makeup, but it proves that Urban Decay All-Nighter Spray is a freaking miracle product. I'll list products used at the end of the post, in case you're interested in recreating.

Here's a close-up of the eye makeup. It was created using a white base, then silver and navy cream shadows layered on top. Over that, I blended silver, blue, black, and muted purple shadows, and finished with a warm white highlighter at the tear duct and browbone. The coolest part, to me, anyway, is the crystal accent. These came as part of a set called Eye Rock, and I found it at Ulta for about $6.99. Technically, you're supposed to apply these as you would a temporary tattoo, and they come in pretty designs. I didn't want that much going on around my eye, so I just used a pair of tweezers to pick a couple off of the sticky backing (they come pre-glued), and applied them only where I wanted a little extra sparkle. They're not the easiest little suckers to work with, and I did lose a few along the way, but once they were on, they were on. They're also re-usable, if you want to save them and re-stick with a little spirit gum at a later date. (The original sticky back is a one-time-use kind of deal, just to be clear.) If you would like to see a real tutorial on this look, let me know in the comments.

My hair is long, damaged, and unruly. Think: Merida from Brave, but with fewer curls and more frizz. It does what it wants, when it wants, and I'm really beginning to think it's sentient. Anyhoo, to get through the night I decided, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, and let it do it's own thing...with a little guidance.

I started by hot rolling my hair, using Bumble & Bumble Prep. This helps extend the life of the curl, but in a soft, touchable way. I wanted waves, not curls, and this helps achieve that look much better than hairspray can. Once the curls set, I took down the rollers and finger combed the curls to break them up. Then, I twisted two sections on the side where my hair is parted, pinning them to the back of my head. After that, I took the remaining length and divided it so that all of the hair on the non-twisted side would remain down, and the bit that was left on the twisted side was loosely twisted upward to meet the other twisted sections (good Lord, I hope that makes sense). I made a loose bun with the now twisted length, and used it to cover the pins I'd used on the first two twisted sections. I added a sparkly comb for interest. So, the left side of my head was all twisty, and the right side was completely down and curled. It's like a really fancy-schmancy side pony, without the ponytail holder. I used Aquage hairspray to finish.

So that's my glammed-up "Goin' to the Boom Boom" (as it's referred to around here. Because the parades are loud and have marching band drums throughout. I'm totally serious.) formal look. If you're getting ready for prom (or any other formal event) and want to DIY your hair and makeup, I hope this helped. The only thing I had to buy was a blue eyeshadow base and the crystals, so I only spent about $12 or $13 total. Here's that promised product list:

Touch in Sol Feels Like Honey Moon Skin Base (from a past Glossybox--any non-mattifying primer will work)

Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation (Check out the Revlon Nearly Naked for a decent dupe)

Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Eden

NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Electric Blue

Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in Silver Spoon (Maybellline Color Tattoo in Silver Strike is almost identical)

Urban Decay Naked Palette (Gunmetal, Creep)

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette (Verve, Blackout)

MAC Apres Chic Eyeshadow in Fireside (any muted plum will work. You're only blending out the edges with it.)

MAC Apres Chic Eyeshadow in Ice (I really don't have a dupe for this one. Mixing a little peach and gold glitter into a shimmery white eyeshadow might be a good place to start, though.)

Buxom Insider Eyeliner in Onyx (liner--any black cream/gel pencil will work)

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Pencil in Zero (waterline)

Buxom Lash Mascara (or any black mascara that you like. Add false lashes, too, if you want!)

Anastasia Brow Wiz in Brunette (E.L.F. Brow Kit works well, too)

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

Tarte Bronzer in Park Avenue Princess (on cheeks)

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Dollface (on cheeks--you can get this and the bronzer in a travel set and save A LOT)

Benefit Hoola Bronzer (contour--look for a deluxe sample of this in the mini-kits Benefit is so fond of putting out. The sets run about $10-$15 and offer several products. A mini of this will last for-freaking-ever)

Eye Rock crystal tattoo (or rhinestones and spirit gum)

Buxom Big & Healthy Lipstick in London (or any matte baby pink)

Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lip Liner in Rose Quartz

Victoria's Secret Color Drama Lipstick in Enamored

LORAC Perfectly Lit Pressed Powder in Spotlight (for highlighting contour. Try Hard Candy Baked Blush in Pin Up)

Times Square Crystal Ball-Inspired New Year's Eye Look

I am trying very hard not to get sick, but I think I'm losing the battle. I'll be staying in tonight, but if you're lucky enough to be ringing in the New Year somewhere fabulous, here's a pretty silver smoky eye for you.

I started by using my finger to dab a little Benefit Creaseless Cream Eye Shadow in Silver Spoon across the inner half of my eye, including inner corner, and blending upward to the browbone. I filled in the entire crease to brow area by blending that one little dab. Then, I popped Benefit Creaseless Cream Eye Shadow in Strut across the outer half and blended upward to the browbone. I also ran a small amount under my lower lash line and across the top lash line. Next, I grabbed my Urban Decay Naked, Naked 2, and Naked Basics palettes for the rest of the eye. I patted Verve across the inner third of my eye and over the silver in the inner corner. Then, I added Pistol to the center and crease, and Gunmetal to the outer third and above the Pistol in the crease, then blended all of them together and up toward the browbone with a fluffy brush. I used the same fluffy brush to blend a little Creep into the crease, then ran what was left on that brush under the lower lash line (that's a blend of ALL of the colors, since I didn't change brushes. If you want to change brushes, just run a light layer of each color under the lash line). Using a small, flat brush, line the upper lash line with Crave, and run a small amount of that color under the outer quarter of the lower lash line. Clean up the browbone area with a light dusting of Foxy. Finish with loads of black mascara. I like Buxom Lash.

If you don't have Naked Basics, sub Blackout for Crave. You can also line your waterline (which I think would look amazing) with a black liner. I would have loved to, but I have small eyes and it just closes them up. A silver liner would look cool there, if you have small eyes, too. I don't have a silver liner, so I'm still S.O.L. Oh, well.

This is not a glittery look, but it is super-duper shimmery. I finished the look with a demi-matte foundation, matte powder, matte cool pink blush, matte bronzer (see the trend?), and just a very light amount of pale pink highlighter on the cheeks. The lips are also a pale, glossy bright pink with just a hint of shimmer. A pink gloss would work just as well.

Happy New Year, guys!

Pink and Girly Eyes Featuring Urban Decay

I bought the Urban Decay Rollergirl palette for one color, and one color only: Woodstock. I knew that the shocking pink would be tough to wear, but it was just so gorgeous (and the palette was on sale so cheap!) that I had to give it a shot. Happily, I have been able to pull off the color in a couple of party looks, but, you know, sometimes a girl wants to wear Barbie pink eyeshadow during the day. Sometimes, you just need that little pick-me-up that only girly, shimmery PINK can provide. Today is one of those days. So, with the desperate need for pink as motivation, I came up with this look that I will now show you, step by step. Yes, you do start out with hot pink, but in the end, you have this soft, sweetly sexy, not overly made up eye. Think: Victoria's Secret Angel. That wasn't the goal, necessarily, but that's what I got. Please let me know what you think in the comments, and also let me know if you'd like to see a party look with Woodstock. Thanks!

Start by smoothing Sin Primer Potion all over the eye area, then applying Woodstock to the outer third of your eye, and bringing it up into the crease.

Next, apply Virgin (from Naked) to the inner two-thirds of your eye, inner corner, and browbone.

Apply Sin (from Naked) to the area where the two colors meet, and blend.

Apply Toasted (from Naked) to the crease and area directly above.

Blend the colors, then line the upper and lower lashes with Creep (from Naked). Wing the top line out slightly.

Blend out the liner, so there are no hard edges.

Fill in your brows and apply black mascara to top and bottom lashes. This is Buxom Lash. Brows are E.L.F. Brow Kit.

This  is the same look in daylight.

To finish the look, I used NARS Orgasm blush, Too Faced highlighter form the Spun Sugar Glamour To Go, and Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy Lipstick with Dervish pencil from MAC. Foundation is Urban Decay Naked. Concealer is Maybelline Age Rewind.