Halloween Makeup: Red Jesterina

Happy Halloween, folks! 

I'm well aware for some it's just the October finale and another day trying to adjust to the clock change, the 5pm moon rise and the drastic drop in temperature but for me it's my favourite time of the year; a real opportunity to release my inner child, to spend unnecessary money on tacky novelty accessories, to gorge on too many sweets, carve pumpkins (badly), sit in watching classic horrors with candles burning and Thriller playing, take advantage of the dark, eery, breaching cosy atmosphere, and most of all get creative with fancy dress and play about with makeup - both new and old.

A New Years Eve Party Glam Makeup Look

In my eyes, even as I grow to become a bit of a scrooge - Christmas isn't over until it transcends into New Year. The tree and the trimmings aren't taken down until you've ended the festive celebrations with that final piece of sparkle and glam, and once the clock strikes midnight it's a chance to show off the potential of your passed year as a whole. Whether you're out partying, with the company of prized friends, following on with family bonding, embracing the fireworks, or you're sat at home in your pyjamas with zero plans telling yourself you'll start your diet in January (like me most years), the option is still open for you to make the most of the last day of the year. If your decision is to go wild, or enjoy it from your home comforts, you can still use the 31st as an excuse to make yourself look and feel amazing to ensure you go out with a bang!

The Charlotte Tilbury Vintage Vamp Palette: A Red Toned Makeup Look

I enjoy make-up. My expensive tastes are arising which means I don't always have access to the cosmetics I've saved in the note section of my phone from the influencing vloggers but experimentally enjoying make-up and aiming to improve my amateur skills is a canon fact. My everyday make-up usually consists of the same products, maybe an eyeshadow colour switch up here and there but ultimately, I'm a plain Jane throughout the week. That's why when on the extremely rare occasion I go out, I like to up the glam level and really spend time making an effort; bring out the high quality stuff and feel a million dollars (opposed to the trashy look I'd secretly like to be rocking whilst sat at home in my pjs).

All eyes on me

When it comes to makeup, I'm not one to overcrowd my eyes. To be quite honest, I rarely wear anything but mascara on a day to day basis. However, as I've mentioned in previous posts; I've wanted to expand the amount I wear and experiment with a different range of products; mostly the ones I've been persuaded to test out from blog reviews and recommendations. I'm always inspired and influenced when browsing both blogs and the world wide web when it comes to creating colour and enhancement around the eyes, either for casual wear or the more glitz and glamour; and the perfect opportunity arose for me to do this when I was kindly asked by Roch and Tash if I'd like to take part in their eye makeup competition. It can be as simplistic or as drastically creative as you'd like to but as I'm not the most experienced, I stuck with the simply smoky eye and I thought I'd share with you all how I've created and achieved this look.

Firstly, I prepared and primed around my eye area. Before I started, I applied my usual moisturiser (La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo) around my entire face, then took extra care of my intended eye base. I am yet to invest in a Eyeshadow primer, so I used my Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation with the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush as a replacement to cover the whole of my eyelid and to make it smoother and easier to apply. I also added a smidgen of Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Light using the ELF Flawless Concealer Brush around my brow bone and under my eyes where the distinctive dark circles are visible. I then powdered my brow bone and lid with the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder and the ELF Small Stipple Brush to ensure my makeup lasted longer and did not crease as quickly. 

Next up, I concentrated on highlighting the top and the bottom of my eye for that extra widened glow to the finish. I used my creamy white section of the ELF Shimmer Palette and dabbed a small amount around my tear duct and at the side of my eye and emphasized my brow bone from left to right with my fingers. After this, it was time to start on the eyeshadow base. Using the MUA Undressed Palette and the ELF Eyeshadow Brush I swept the shimmer golden brown colour across the whole of my eye, blending into shape and adding depth as I leveled it out. Then, within the crease of my eye I contoured with the shimmer, pink toned shade, using the Eyeshadow Brush again. By doing this, I carefully mixed the two shades together to create a natural look with a hint of lightened colour. 

To finish the shadow, I used the ELF Defining Eye Brush and the matte brown shade of the palette to apply the colour on top of the base, where the brow bone begins. Following the line of my brow, I blended it within until the colour intensity matched that of my base. I also used the same brush to reach the awkward parts of my eye, but I did not merge the eyeshadow within the end of the eye where the winged eyeliner will conclude and in the corner, until I had painted the liner on. This is the next step, using my Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner I started drawing a thin line, then moved on to thickening the liner until it reached the eye and I finished off by winging the flick. After this was complete, I could finish off and spruce up my eyeshadow. I added the shimmery brown to the corner of my eye to make sure the eye was fully covered and once again took the matte brown shade to inline with the flick of my eyeliner, blending entirely right up to the point. Beneath my lower lashes, I then applied the eyeshadow in the order of exertion with the Defining Eye Brush; beginning with the shimmer brown and sealing with the matte brown. This then doubled the colour and gave the bottom of my eye that extra sparkle.

Last but not least, I added a couple of coats of the L'Oreal False Lash Telescopic Mascara to lengthen the bottom and top lashes and complete the look. Obviously the remainder of your face needs to be built up but regarding the eye makeup, it is an effortless, uncomplicated way of magnifying the eyes. Another bonus is adding definition and structure to the brow. Typically, my eyebrow pencil ran out the day I was planning this so that's why my brows weren't included but a soft, natural look using any eyebrow wax, HD kit, powder or pencil would work (just a heads up, I've just purchased the Soap and Glory Archery Brow Pencil and love it!)

I hope this was helpful in even the slightest way and I hope you're able to follow my guide to recreate this or even something similar. You can vote for my eye makeup look by commenting my full name 'Bridie Kirsopp' on the Competition Blog Post. I would be SO grateful if you were kind enough to do that for me, as taking a step I don't usually take and it becoming a success would be a major boost. Thank you in advance if you decide to be an absolute darling (not like you aren't already though!)