By: aspooniesmakeupbag May 11, 2021May 10, 2021

Traditional Smokey Eye Face of the Day

Hey doll hey! How’s your day/night going. Mine day’s going good so far.

I felt like playing with some of the new eyeshadow creams that I hauled on Saturday so I chose a traditional brown smokey eye look.

Today’s Scent Is:

Liz Claiborne Realities was released in 1990 and is no longer in production, though you can find it sold at Walmart and Amazon.

Top Notes: Chamomile, Sage, Osmanthus (as known as Devilwood) and Bergamot

Heart Notes: White Lily, Bulgarian Rose, Carnation, Freesia and Jasmine

Base Notes: Peach, Sandalwood, Vanilla and Amber

My thoughts on this scent: Whilst this scent is super sophisticated, there is a fresh crispness to this bottom of the scent that pairs perfectly with jeans and a little black top. I have never not gotten a compliment when I’m wearing this little beauty and I’ve learned that a very little is all you need… this is one of those scents that stay around all day.

Now on to the walk through for today’s face of the day……

Eyes and Brows:

I started with my brows first. I used Beauty by Rihanna Brow MVP Ultra Fine Brow Pencil & Styler ($20 for 0.0024 oz / 0.07 g at Sephora) in the shade Black Brown. I then carved out my brow line and primed my lids using the Beckysue Eyeshadow Primer ($7.49 on Amazon) in the shade Medium (flesh shade). For today’s classic smokey look I used the Huda Beauty Brown Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette ($29 for 7.5 g/ 0.26oz of product making each shade around 0.03 oz/ 0.83g and $3.22 at Sephora) along with the brown shade of the The Handaiyan Matte Eyeshadow Cream Set 6 Colors by BELLESKY ($16.89 for 15 mL/0.34 fl oz each tube on Amazon) in the color way A. I started by applying the cream eyeshadow all over the mobile lid and quickly blended the harsh line up over my crease. I then went in with the 9th shade – deep dark plum based brown – matte all over the mobile lids. I then took NYX Long Lasting Glitter Primer ($6.50 for 0.33 fl oz at Ulta) over the 1/2 of my mobile lids closest to my lash line and then I patted the 3rd shade -dusty medium deep brown with a slight hint of coppery red – speckled metallic over the top of the glitter primer and then I topped that with more of the 9th shade just to add a hint of movement to the deepest part of my smokey eye. I then took the 6th shade – medium reddish brown – matte into the deepest part of the creases and buffed that all the way to the brow line. I then set my brow lines using the 7th shade – medium bright peach – matte. For the lower lash lines I first used what was left on the brush I used in my creases and then I laid down the 2nd shade – medium brown with a rosy flip – metallic and then used what was left on the lid brush to add some depth. I highlighted my inner corners of the eyes using a combo of the 8th shade – light rose gold with a slight peach flip – metallic and the Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter ($36 for 2 x 0.12 oz/ 3.5 g at Sephora) in the shade Hu$tla Baby (supercharged peachy champagne shimmer). I then lined my lower water lines with NYX Slide On Eye Pencil Waterproof Eyeliner ($8.00 for 0.04 oz at Ulta) in the shade Golden Bronze. I coated my lashes in L.A. Girl Jetsetter Mascara ($6.99 for 0.32 oz at Ulta) and popped on a pair of KoKo Lashes ($7.99 on the Lady Moss website) in the style Chloe.

Complexion:

I primed my face using Rare Beauty by Selina Gomez Always An Optimist Illuminating Primer ($14 for 15 mL/ 0.5 fl oz and $26 for 28 mL/ 0.94 fl oz at Sephora). For my foundation I used the SmashBox Halo Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturizer Broad With SPF 25 ($36 for 1.4 fl oz at Ulta) in the shade Fair Light (fair light with neutral undertones). I then contoured my face using Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Contour Wand ($38 for 0.40 oz/ 12mL at Sephora) in the shade Medium Dark and then bronzed using NARS Limited Edition Sunkissed Bronzer Cream ($38 0.67 oz/ 19 mL at Sephora) in the shade Casino (medium brown). I highlighted the high points of my face using NARS The Multiple ($39 for 0.50 oz/ 14 g at Sephora) in the shade Copacabana (glistening pearl). For blush today I am using NARS Air Matte Sheer Cream Blush ($30 for 0.21 oz/ 6.0 g at Sephora ) in the limited edition shade Torch (coral red). I then color corrected my under eyes using L.A. Girl HD Pro Corrector Concealer ($4.99 for 8g /0.28 fl oz at Ulta) in the shade Peach and concealed them using L.A. Girl HD Pro Concealer ($4.99 for 8g /0.28 fl oz at Ulta) in the shade Light Ivory.

Cheeks, Lips, Lashes and Touch Ups:

I set my under eyes using Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder for Under Eyes ($28 for 0.14 oz at Ulta). I set the rest of my face using Flower Beauty Miracle Matte Translucent Finishing Powder ($10.99 for 0.28 oz at Ulta). I touched up my blush using ColourPop 4 Pan Blush Palette ($12 for 8.6 g/ 0.30oz making each shade $3) in the color story Cookie Cluster (a warm metallic gold highlighter and 3 soft and buildable powder blushes in a range of warm-toned peach and coral) using the shade Shortbread (neutral peach – matte), my bronzer using Laguna bronzer from the NARS Limited Edition Mini Bronzer and Blush Set ($39 at Sephora) and my highlighter using a combo of both shades from Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter ($36 for 2 x 0.12 oz/ 3.5 g at Sephora) in the shade Mean Money/Hu$tla Baby (soft champagne sheen / supercharged peachy champagne shimmer). I lined my lips using ColourPop Lippie Pencil () in the shade Shot Clock () and topped the lips off using Huda Beauty Power Bullet Cream Glow Hydrating Lipstick Sweet Nudes Collection ($25 for 0.1 oz/ 3 g at Sephora) in the shade Honey Bun (medium pink nude). I set my face using ColourPop Pretty Fresh Hyaluronic Acid Setting Mist ($12 for 3.72 oz/ 110 mL at Ulta). For face touch-ups I chose to use J. Cat Aquasurance Compact Foundation ($11.99 at Ulta) in the shade Natural.

Final Thoughts:

The Handaiyan Matte Eyeshadow Cream Set 6 Colors by BELLESKY ($16.89 for 15 mL/0.34 fl oz each tube on Amazon) in the color way A. Color way A comes with the shade # 01 – #06…. The colors are true blue, berry, coffee brown, pure white, light pink and true purple.

I give the brown cream shadow a solid A+++!!! : I used just 1 little dot to cover both eye lids and not only did it go on smooth, was it easy to blend and buff out, but it also dried quickly and evenly. It helped the dark brown shadow cling and really pop. This cream looked so good by itself that I really didn’t need the shadow over the top but I really liked the look non the less. It was such a joy to work with that I can’t wait to use the other 11 shades I purchased.

NARS Limited Edition Mini Bronzer and Blush Set ($39 at Sephora) is billed as a travel-size set that includes a Laguna Bronzing Powder, an Orgasm Blush, and a brush.

I give the Laguna bronzer a solid A+++!!! : I really didn’t think this bronzer was going to work for me…. I of course was wrong. Not only was the shade the perfect bronzed color, it had the perfect amount of pigment and had a slight sheen to it that just made my skin look glowing from within. I am so going to purchase the full sized once I’ve used up this mini.

Huda Beauty Power Bullet Cream Glow Hydrating Lipstick Sweet Nudes Collection ($25 for 0.1 oz/ 3 g at Sephora) is billed as an ultra-hydrating, ultra-comfortable lipstick that gives lips a natural, fuller-looking pout with a dewy finish and comes in 14 all new shades… I chose the shade Honey Bun – medium pink nude.

I give this lipstick a solid A+++!!! : I wish I had a higher grade that I could give this lip color! It is the PERFECT nude pink shade EVER!!! I typically gravitate to corals and peach nudes but this pink is stunning and had changed my mind about pink in general. It was creamy, did not travel outside the lip line and I got heaps of compliments about the shade.

Huda Beauty Brown Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette ($29 for 7.5 g/ 0.26oz of product making each shade around 0.03 oz/ 0.83g and $3.22 at Sephora) is billed as a highly pigmented mini eyeshadow palette featuring nine velvety hues in four delectable finishes that look ravishing on every skin tone to take you from daytime soft and sweet to after-dark rich and smoky. It comes in 3 color stories: Chocolate (a modern edit of milk and dark chocolate mattes blended with decadent fudge metallics, sprinkles of brown sugar, and berry shimmers), Toffee (a silky smooth blend of caramel, buttercream and golden toffee mattes paired with shimmering honey and sugared almond metallics), and Caramel (a spicy combination of burnt caramel, hazelnut and maple mattes accompanied by molten copper apricot and rhubarb shimmers). I chose Chocolate.

I give this eyeshadow palette a solid A+++!!! : The formula of these Huda shadows is perfection! There was no kick back in the pans and no fallout on my face. The shades worked well together and even blended well with the cream shadow I used under. It did not take long at all to put this eye look together and (even though I find the price tag of her larger palettes astronomical) I totally plan to purchase more of her palettes.

NARS THE MULTIPLE ($39 for 14 g/ 0.5 oz on their website… also at Ulta and Sephora) is billed as THE ORIGINAL MULTI-PURPOSE STICK FOR EYES, CHEEKS, LIPS AND BODY and comes in 8 shades plus 2 highlighter shades. I chose the shade Copacabana (opalescent pink pearl highlight).

I give this stick highlighter a solid A- : The shade is heavenly and gave the high points of my face a beautiful glow, however the product was a bit troublesome to apply with a brush…. I did end up having to use my fingers to pat extra product on because the product is a bit stiffer in the tube.

NARS SUNKISSED BRONZING CREAM *limited edition* ($38 for 10 g/ 0.67 oz on their website and at Ulta and Sephora) is billed as A LIMITED-EDITION CREAM-TO-POWDER BRONZING HYBRID WITH A SOFT-MATTE FINISH AND SUNKISSED WARMTH. It comes in 2 shades. I chose the shade Casino (medium brown).

I give this cream bronzer a solid A+++!!! : This cream bronzer is stunning!! It’s the perfect shade, the perfect undertone, the perfect consistency and an amazing formula. I barely tapped my brush into the pot and yet somehow that was the perfect amount of product to bronze my cheeks and forehead.

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna BROW MVP ULTRA FINE BROW PENCIL & STYLER $20 for 0.0024 ounces of product on their website) is billed as an ultra fine, retractable brow pencil made for hair-like precision, born in a groundbreaking range of 14 longwear, waterproof, smudge-resistant shades—plus a built-in paddle brush for effortless blending and styling. This pencil comes in 14 shades and I purchased the shade Black-Brown (for dark brown hair neutral undertones).

I give this brow pencil a solid B+ : If you have been reading my blog for any amount of time than you know my love for the Fenty brand, sad to say I found a product that didn’t knock my socks off… This pencil is a nice pencil, the shade is perfect, but it just did not seem to want to lay down on the bare patches of my arches and I did have to apply product to my brows 3 times. That’s just too fiddley for me to give a higher score.

Fenty KILLAWATT FREESTYLE HIGHLIGHTER ($36 for 0.24 ounces of product on their website) is billed as weightless, longwear cream-powder hybrid highlighters that range from subtle dayglow to insanely supercharged in solos and expertly paired duos. This duos comes in 5 shades and I purchased it in the shade MEAN MONEY / HU$TLA BABY (soft champagne sheen and supercharged peachy champagne shimmer). It also comes in 4 single pan shades.

I give this highlighter duo a solid A+++!!! : The glow from the combo of the 2 shades in this compact is top level perfection! I love that I have the option to use either or both and get 3 different looks from 1 compact.

Flower Beauty MIRACLE MATTE TRANSLUCENT FINISHING POWDER ($11 for 0.28 ounces of product on their website) is billed as the ultimate finishing touch to minimize shine and provide a blurring effect. Set and perfect your t-zone or anywhere you want to stay matte and provide an optical blurring effect. Set your look or use alone to help minimize shine and the appearance of pores for a FLOWER flawless finish. *Awarded: Allure Best of Beauty Award.

I give this setting power a solid A+ : It’s not my favorite finishing powder but it’s also not the worst. It felt smooth and did blur the pores around my nose. It didn’t feel cakey or look heavy and my face makeup stayed on all day without needing to touch up.

LA Girl HD Pro Corrector Concealer ($4.99 for 0.28 fluid ounces of product at Ulta) is billed as a crease-resistant concealer with opaque coverage in a creamy, yet lightweight texture. The long-wearing formula camouflages darkness under the eyes, redness and skin imperfections. Provides complete, natural-looking coverage, evens skin tone, covers dark circles and minimizes fine lines around the eyes. It comes in 11 corrector shades and I purchased Peach.

I give this color correct a solid A+++!!! : OK….. I get it now…. all the hype around these concealers…. they are easy to control, blend out quickly and smoothly and the peach just really brightened my under eyes so well that I really didn’t need to use a concealer over top.

LA Girl HD Pro Concealer ($4.99 for 0.28 fluid ounces of product at Ulta) is billed as a crease-resistant concealer with opaque coverage in a creamy, yet lightweight texture. The long-wearing formula camouflages darkness under the eyes, redness and skin imperfections. Provides complete, natural-looking coverage, evens skin tone, covers dark circles and minimizes fine lines around the eyes. It comes in 30 shades and this one is Classic Ivory.

I give this color correct a solid A+++!!! : OK….. I get it now…. all the hype around these concealers…. they are easy to control, blend out quickly and smoothly and the shade was perfect for me… not overly pale but also not my exact skin shade. When I tapped it in using a beauty sponge that I sprayed with setting spray this concealer just sunk right into my under eyes beautifully.

SmashBox Halo Healthy Glow Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 25 ($36 for 1.4 fluid ounces at Sephora) is billed as an all-in-one, SPF primer-infused tinted moisturizer with lightweight, natural-looking dewy coverage that hydrates skin for up to 24 hours. It has rose extract, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, goji berries, gold, and peptides. The breathable, vegan, and oil-free formula moisturizes, conditions, and protects and comes in 12 shades 4 for light 4 for medium and 4 deep skin tones. I purchased Fair/Light (fair light with neutral undertones).

I give this tinted moisturizer a solid A+++ : This foundation is very pretty and left my face with a beautiful glow to it. I only lightly set my face today so I didn’t give it a chance to last aroudn the mask area, other than that it’s a great product.

LA Girl Jetsetter Mascara – Black ($6.99 for 0.32 ounces of product at Ulta) is billed as being able to create long full lashes worthy of a jetsetter lifestyle. The wand holds full bodied bristles that coat lashes from root to tip for sky high length and lift. Buildable and smudge-proof, this formula is long wearing enough to outlast even your red-eye flights. Lash & Go, you’ve got places to be. Pair it with Jetsetter Liquid Liner for lined and defined eyes! It claims to have Sky High Lift and Length and to be Water & Flake Resistant.

I give this mascara a solid A++ : This mascara was great for my lower lashes but didn’t really do much for my upper lash, at least not that I could tell with such a dark shadow at my lash line… I’ll have to test it out again…. but for now it’s a really great mascara for the lower lashes.

Beckysue Eyeshadow Primer ($7.49 on Amazon) in the shade Medium (flesh shade).

I give this eye primer a solid A+++!!! : This is not exactly a spot on dupe for the P.Louise base but it’s the closest that I’ve ever come to a perfect match. It held my shadows well, did not crease, and a little went a very long way.

LA Girl Set It Clear Brow Gel ($7.99 for 0.08 ounces of product at Ulta) is billed as a long wearing invisible gel that will not only keep your brows in place but will give them a fuller and more defined look. The water based formula is lightweight, flexible and will not leave a residue. The brow applicator will coat brows 360 to ensure they stay in place. Can be combined with other brow products or used alone for a natural look.

I give this brow gel a solid A : It’s a pretty good brow gel. It didn’t make my brows crunchy, did keep my brows in place for the most part. I mean there isn’t much to say… it’s just a good brow gel.