EOTD: Stacked Teal Eyeliner

The drudgery of classes and interviews--and the boring, subdued makeup looks that are expected along with them--have really gotten me on a colour kick recently.

Last weekend, I pulled out a bright T-shirt, bright bandana and teal Urban Decay Flipside eyeliner.

Flipside, a bright blue-teal, has been discontinued, but Urban Decay's Deep End (in the Ocho Loco 2 set, which is now on sale) is close. Some other dupes are listed here.

Stacked liner looks are a good way to bring in colour, without getting too crazy (like with eyeshadows), and without stealing normal liner definition by completely swapping out the black/brown liner. These looks are a little better/cleaner with a liquid colour liner on top; but pencil liners, like the one I used, work fine, if you put in a little more effort.

Here's what I used:

• Light layer of e.l.f. Studio Cream Eyeshadow in Bronzed, set/contoured with an even lighter layer of My Pretty Zombie eyeshadow in Cookie Pants. This coppery-brown lid base warms up, and adds depth and contrast to, the eye. After application, I used a blending brush until the shadow was sheer; again, I wanted it light--not for it to get in the way of the colourful eyeliners on top of and below it.
• Black gel eyeliner, in a clean-edged thin-to-medium strip along the upper lashline, with an angled brush.
• Urban Decay Flipside pencil eyeliner directly above this, in a clean strip of equal to lesser thickness than the black line; ending in a diagonal wing extending slightly past the tail of the black eyeliner. Because it was a pencil rather than an opaque liquid liner, I had to go over the liner several times to build intensity, and had to be careful to keep the line clean-edged and even. I went back a couple times with the black gel liner when I accidentally brought the teal down too far.
• Urban Decay Ransom (also discontinued, but also dupeable) on the bottom lashline.

As usual, I didn't bother with mascara, though most other people would continue with that step.

What I wore to the end of the world - featuring Geek Chic Cosmetics

Happy Mayan end of the world! Hope you enjoyed many a bottle of La Fin Du Monde!

Yesterday, the eve of the apocalypse, I was going to go to Wedidit's world's-end concert at Echoplex. Due to some poor planning, I ended up sitting in the office until past midnight, playing Civ5 and being alone. But that's not relevant...

Having just received my Geek Chic Cosmetics order the night before (finally!), I decided that was a fitting time to try out my sample of the 'Stay Indoors' eyeshadow from their Geeks vs. Zombies collection--just in case the universe were to spontaneously erupt at midnight, in my arbitrary time zone.

Here's the aforementioned shadow:

Geek Chic Cosmetics - Stay Indoors, sample container. A very dark navy/charcoal.

As you can see, it's quite glittery. At first, I thought that maybe glitter was not a good choice in a survival situation. But glitter reflects light, and according to some interpretations/variations (Alan Wake, etc.) of the generic zombie premise, zombies are susceptible to light--right?
Or maybe that's the vampire apocalypse... I don't even know anymore, dude.

And of course it had to be a zombie apocalypse. What else am I going to do with all this zombie apocalypse gear and specifically-tailored survival-fantasy mental preparation I have?

Here's what I did for my eyes--a dark smokey eye punctuated by glitter:

1. Applied Urban Decay Cream Eyeshadow in Asphalt to my lids:
   
   Oh man. This definitely reminded me why I don't touch that tube, ever. It's far too much of a glitter-bomb to use more than one or two times a year (and that time is a sparkle party). Asphalt, compared to the other shades, is also very difficult to work with, as it doesn't apply evenly--a problem compounded by the product somehow managing to dry up during my time away from it.


2. Filled in my eyebrows with Wet 'n' Wild's ColorIcon pencil in Mink Brown, with the help of an angled brush.


3. Applied Geek Chic Cosmetics' eyeshadow in Stay Indoors.


4. Blended in the second (taupe) and third (grey) shades from the NYX Trio Eyeshadow in Rock and Roll at the edges, to fix my poor blending of the less-forgiving Stay Indoors shadow.


5. Applied black gel eyeliner (Wet 'n' Wild MegaEyes Creme Eyeliner) to the top and bottom lash lines. I applied using the e.l.f. Studio Small Precision Brush, as angled 'brush' that comes with the Wet 'n' Wild liner is rubbish for its given purpose.
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Used a black eyeshadow to set, and create a gradient leading into, the liner.


7. Wiped off the gel liner brush, to apply e.l.f.'s cream liner in Ivory--to the waterline and inner corners. You want to blind your zombies with your shimmery whites--You'll be slightly less delectable when they can't see their dish!


8. Used a light shimmery highlight on the browbone.


9. Curl lashes and apply mascara. When you're out of traditional weapons, you can still attempt close combat with your spiky eyelashes!

By the way: The photos don't really do justice in showing how abominably glittery this came out. Even at my office--where I can usually waltz in seven hours after everyone else has arrived, trouser-less and with blood slathered all over my face for foundation, with few fucks given--my boss commented, 'Wow, you have some crazy eye make-up'. And he's a bit crazy himself.

For the lips, I used Urban Decay's lipstick in Oil Slick--a sheer black/grey with a little glitter--over lip stain and neutral lip liner. I applied concealer outside my lips to make them appear smaller and more cleanly defined.

For the face, I used Revlon ColorStay foundation, set with Physician's Formula mineral powder. Instead of using blush, I contoured lightly with a matte bronzer (MUA one-quid bronzer, shade 3). You want a cold killer's tight-clenched jawline, not the illusion of awkward sustained sexual excitement!

Clothing: Basic, functional, comfortable.
T-shirt with zombie cheat sheet, in case you forget how to keep yourself alive. Thick jeans with pockets to hold essentials. Athletic socks and work boots for comfortable fleeing. Polyurethane jacket (for easy wiping-off of likely-infectious blood, and/or other bodily fluids).

Going to a fancier apocalyptic reception? See higher-fashion ideas here.

Until the next world's-end scenario!