Sunday, August 10, 2014

FOTD | 90's Neutrals


I just finished doing a light blog makeover using my old header in emerald green (shout out to Kristin at Craftiments for the adorable free social media icons!) and changed my About Me picture (--> over yonder).  I really loved the way that makeup look turned out and it was beyond simple to do.  I'd watched a bunch of Living Single episodes the night before and was inspired by all of the neutral makeup and classic 90's brown lipsticks.  Born in 1980, I was 10-19 during the 90's so I definitely came of age makeup-wise during the era of playing up the features softly using neutral earth tones.  This picture of Winona Ryder with makeup by the legendary Kevyn Aucoin kind of summarizes the 90's look in a nutshell for me.
The 90's influence is still very present in my makeup routine all these years later.  I still gravitate toward softer, more diffused looks using pinky brown lipsticks and brown eyeshadows.  Below is a *beautorial* (ha ha!) for a soft neutral look that plays up your natural features.  Put down your pager (143 - that's for you 90's kids!), stop staring at your poster of JTT, and join me for a little face of the day tutorial!

Here's some sweet 90's music to get you into the spirit!
FOTD: 90's Neutrals


1. Apply a medium coverage matte base.  I used Lumene Time Freeze CC Cream in Medium {review here} applied with a Real Techniques Expert Face Brush.

2. Apply a matte bronzer like Too Faced Chocolate Soleil {review here} to the hairline, tops of cheek bones, jawline, and down the bridge of the nose.  You're bronzing here, not contouring, so hit the high points of your face where the sun would naturally fall.

3. Using an eyeshadow blending brush (I love this one by Sonia Kashuk), apply a bit of powder luminizer in a C from the top of your cheekbones to your temples.  I used MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade.  I prefer to apply highlighter with a domed shadow brush because it allows for more precision and helps you keep the product away from areas you don't wish to spotlight (hello beside-the-nose pores!).

4. Apply a neutral blush to the apples of the cheeks and blend upward toward the temples.  I used the lovely and impossible-to-overdo Dallas by Benefit.  A few of my other fave neutrals include Tarte Exposed, MAC Blushbaby, and Clinique Plum Gorgeous.

5. Apply a red-toned shimmery brown shadow like Clinique Black Honey to the lid and diffuse the edges with a blending brush dipped in the same matte bronzer you just used on your face.  This is such a saver of time and space and delights this lazy gal like you wouldn't believe.  No need to hunt down a matte brown shadow when you've already got one sitting right in front of you in the form of a matte bronzer!

Don't own Clinique Black Honey shadow?  Here are a few similar shades and combos from my stash:
Anastasia Beverly Hills: Rum Cake topped with Pink Sapphire (from the Lavish palette)
Estee Lauder: Raisins Pure Color EyeShadow Duo (right side)
LORAC: Sable topped with Garnet (from the Pro palette)
MAC: Swiss Chocolate topped with Cranberry
Maybelline: Pomegranate Punk Color Tattoo
Too Faced: Hazelnut topped with Cherry Cordial (from the Chocolate Bar palette)
 
6. Curl your lashes and apply two coats of black mascara.  I used Maybelline Volum Express The Mega Plush Mascara in Blackest Black.

7. Fill in your brows and soften any edges using a spoolie.  I used Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Blonde.

8. Pinky brown lips finish the look and balance out the eyeshadow without overpowering anything.  I find Maybelline The Buffs Lipstick in Touchable Taupe flattering on my neutral light-medium complexion (for reference, I'm NW25 in MAC foundation).  A lot of people write off brown-toned lipsticks as unflattering or aging, but when you find a shade that truly flatters you, it enhances your lips without competing with the rest of your makeup.  If I was wearing bright coral lipstick in this photo, would you even notice my eyes?  Your eyes would go straight to my lips.  Pinky browns allow your lips to say hello without shouting, "HAI!  I'M POPPIN' LIKE A GREASEFIRE AT BURGER KING!".

What decade most influences your makeup style today?  What's your favorite neutral lipstick?

34 comments :

  1. I just completely love you! For me 90's makeup also included using my trusty Maybelline brown eyeliner (softened using a lighter) lol!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you so much, Sunny! I like to change things up every so often. :)
    And thanks for the 90's makeup kudos! I still think there's a pinky brown out there in the universe for you. Have you ever tried MAC Modesty Cremesheen? For some reason, I think it would be sensationally lovely on your gorgeous lil face! :D

    ReplyDelete
  3. LOL! Thank YOU, Sarah! I love you, too! And YAS to the BIC lighter-softened brown liners! I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Actually, no! But you are right: I just Googled Modesty, and it looks like something I can pull off! I don't see that much brown in it though, which is probably why it is promising ;)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Absolutely! It's def more pink than brown. I first heard about it several years ago from Karen / Makeup & Beauty Blog and it's a beaut! Happy Sunday to you, boo! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Beautiful, Kristen!! I love my Black Honey eye shadow too :-) And those comparisons are certainly helpful. I never wore much makeup back in the 90s, but I do remember those brown lipsticks. Brings back memories!

    ReplyDelete
  7. LOVE it! I need to try a 90s look! I didn't wear much makeup in the 90s since I was a young mum and way too busy playing playdough lol!

    ReplyDelete
  8. LOL! Playdough was the freaking JAM! It was actually during a Playdough sesh that I was caught swearing the first time. We'd just accidentally dropped an entire TUB of Playdough down the stairs by accident. My 10 year self jubilantly exclaimed that we were "getting sick of this G.D. Playdough!" My mom rounded the bottom of the stairs right at that very moment, LOL!!! OMG, thank you for sparking that memory back to me, that is cracking me up. I'll have to ask her if she remembers that moment. I'm sure she was deeply proud! You should try rockin' a 90's look. I know you could pull it off with gusto! :) Maybe we should do a look for every decade starting with the 50's!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you, boo boo! The Black Honey eyeshadow is a real beaut and SO smooooth. And thanks - I LOVE it when a blogger shares a few comparisons. It's so nice when one of them is something I already own! And yes! Shout out to brown lipsticks! :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Aaaah so pretty Kristen! Luv this look on you! Thnx for the helpful beautorial too lol ! Your eyes are soooo gorgeous you lucky duck! You remind me so much of Evangeline Lily but you probably get that all the time ;) while I don't like browns on myself I do like pinky browns! Ur earings r gorgeous too btw!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love the eye look! <3 Your eyes looks stunning.

    ReplyDelete
  12. You look so flawless and beautiful, Kristen! Being an 80's baby as well, I clearly remember the makeup looks of the 90's -- I subscribed to Teen and Seventeen magazines, and to this day I still remember the Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick ads with Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, and other supermodels (do you know what I'm talking about?). I can't pull off browns as well as you, but I really like peachy nude lipsticks for neutrals :).

    ReplyDelete
  13. LOVE your black honey stash duplicates!!! That was a STAPLE in my Caboodle back in the day - looks like I need to invest in another one stat! Winona was one of my idols - thought she was gorgeous, especially in Reality Bites!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love the look of the new website design, Kristen! Good job!!! :D

    You totally nailed this makeup look. It's actually spot on! I like how each color looks pretty intimidating on its own in the swatches but when paired together, they create this really soft and very feminine result. Well, with your makeup application skills, anything will look good! :D

    I can't get enough of your eye makeup. SO beautiful. <333

    ReplyDelete
  15. i loved this post!!! so creative!

    ReplyDelete
  16. YAYAY I love that you've told us what you've done!! YAY for step-age to an awesome 90's look. And I'm so glad you added a soundtrack, listening to it now, I swear, hahah! It's a good choice ;)


    AMEN to using bronzer on the lid. WHY NOT? RIGHT? I've used Hoola in several eye looks. I also love that you included similar colors, that is an awesome idea. Why don't more people DO THAT? I dig.


    How do you like the pomade? I will be working on a brow-filling-tutorial but I don't use the pomade and everyone is swooning over it... I'd be interested to see your reaction!


    And I'm all on the brown-lipstick-band-wagon! LOLOLOL HAI I'M POPPIN..... BK. Yep. It is impossible for me to not love your craziest expressions.


    SO MUCH LOVE,
    -BBBF

    ReplyDelete
  17. GIN BLOSSOMS AND WINONA RYDER FACE <3


    I'm actually a little traumatized by 90s makeup because I wore it well into the 2000s, lol. By the time I realized brown lips were aging, I was boarding the orange red train and not looking back. I'm sort of on a quest for a new neutral lip colour though! You know, that sort of MLBB shade that is just right based on your unique individual skin tone and colouring. I might have found it in Armani of all places. x___x


    Oh, and I almost bought Clinique Black Honey shadow the other day but remembered the shade in LORAC Pro, so thanks for the swatches! Recently picked up Maybelline Pomegranate Punk too because garnet eye shades rock. Love your final look!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow, Dee! Thank you so much! No, I definitely do not hear that all the time! In fact, only 1 other person has ever told me that and I was beyond flattered! So thank you for making my day! <3<3<3

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thank you so much, Carolyn! You are too kind for words! YES to the Revlon ads with Cindy and Co.! She rocked "Toast of New York" HARD. I actually bought that shade a few months ago when I was thinking about those old ads and now I'm going to go get it out and use it! Thanks for the reminder! What is your favorite peachy nude lipstick? I really don't think I have one. If you asked for my favorite pink though, we'd be here all night. :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. OMG! YES! You busted out a CABOODLE mention! Jennifer Duvall for the win! Winona was SO pretty in that movie, and in general. I loved her fresh face, big eyes and pixie hair!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thank you so much, Jaa! <3 You are the sweetest! Seriously, that means a lot coming from such a talented and kind human being such as yourself. :) Much love!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thank you, Hannah! I really appreciate that! :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. LOL! I'm so glad you were actually listening to the music! I kind of thought you might, you zany fun platypus of presh! Wha?! Bronzer on the lid is one of the best shortcuts ever! And thank you! I live for comparison swatches, so I decided to do my own! They are so handy! The pomade is pretty awesome. I only use a teensy tiny lil bit and I'm able to get a defined look that's still soft without giving Bert n' Ernie a run for their money (though it can totally be used for that, too)! I really love the ABH Brow Wiz pencils b/c they are just so fine and never need to be sharpened. And last a LONG time. Highly love those items! So exciting that you're doing a brow post! YAY!
    Love ya like poppin' BK grease fires!
    KB / CF2 ;)

    ReplyDelete
  24. OMG yes, Toast of New York! That's it!!! Those were some of the most memorable makeup ads of the 90's for me! Ah, such good times -- I miss those days. LMK how you like Toast of New York!


    I recently got Givenchy's Le Rouge in Beige Plume and love it for its peachy nude color. What is your favorite pink lipstick?! :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Oh man, I'm trying to resist Black Honey but you just put it out there like that! It looks amazing. Wish I could wear brown toned lips. I wasn't wearing any make up for most of the 90s. I thought I was being daring with mascara and lipgloss! I really like 50's make up (very unoriginal I know).

    ReplyDelete
  26. Love it girl! I wanted to let u know that I added your link on my "Blogger love page" since I love your blog so much! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Kristen, I had to share this with you! My sister sent me this article: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/21/fashion/makeup-makes-a-return-to-the-1990s.html?_r=1, and it brought back so many great memories!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Great article and great memories, indeed! While re-watching Pulp Fiction this weekend, I fell in love with Mia's lip color and nail polish, both by Chanel (I did my research)! One 90's makeup trend I'm comfortable letting slip by is glitter gel on the face, lol! I was very into that in 9th grade!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Aw! Thank you so much, Julie!! That means a lot to me!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Oh yes, 50s makeup is very appealing! There's a reason it's a classic look; it always looks good! Black Honey is a beautiful shadow. I'm really happy I grabbed it!

    ReplyDelete
  31. You're welcome, lady! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  32. HA HA! "Boarding the orange red tain and not looking back". You have such a way with words, Liz! Armani, you say? Going to need more information on that!
    I'm glad I helped swerve you away from a purchase that was so similar to a color you already own! YAY! And garnet eyes definitely rock harder than Ozzy on a Friday night. XOXO!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Oh my goodness, I totally forgot about the glitter gel! I totally did that...goodness. hahaha. Thanks for the memories!! :)

    ReplyDelete

I love your comments! Thank you for leaving me a little note!