tutorial

How to Get the Perfect Smokey Eye

image1-1.jpg

It's fascinating that every time I get a woman in my makeup chair, she wants to look glamorous. But as I add the glam, she starts talking about how she really just wants to know how to do eye liner for every day, or how to do makeup that also makes her look like the best version of herself. So I created Electra Lane, to bring you all my tips and tricks and knowledge and hands-on info I learn from painting faces, in the hopes that you could have a resource for the more practical side of makeup since there is so much over-the-top makeup inspiration out there.

But guess what?

While folks need to learn practical makeup, I think they want to at least know how how to get the enchanting smokey eye and chiseled contour.  So, in my attempt to bridge the makeup gap between inspirational and attainable, I will be posting more in-depth blogs, videos and posts mixed in with the basics.  To make sure you don't miss any of these goodies, please subscribe to this blog, to my YouTube channel, and follow me on Instagram or Facebook.

This week, I'm sharing the two things you need to know in order to get the perfect smokey eye, as well as a video tutorial for a classic smokey.

image2-1

Blend Like a Pro

You hear it all the time - the perky YouTuber chirping, "Blend, blend, blend!"  So you "blend," only to have shadow all over your eye and no distinction between the colors you've used. To blend properly, make sure you're blending with a clean brush, or at least a brush you used on a shadow lighter than the one you're trying to blend (you'll see this in the video - I only use one brush for the whole lid). Then, you want to keep your blending just where you want your shadow to be. A good rule of thumb is to not go below your top lash line or beyond the tip of your eye brow.

img_3405

Layer Appropriately

The biggest "Aha!" moment I had in makeup is when I started layering my eye shadows. In my opinion, the best eye makeup I do uses a minimum of six colors. Seriously (if you want to see how to create this gradient of color, this Jaclyn Hill video is a great example - start at 1:45). A big mistake I see is when people start with a really light color, then go in with a really dark color.  You have to have something for the darker shades to blend into (which you'll also see in the video below), so make sure to gradually go darker with your shades.

And now, the tutorial:

~~~

Thanks so much for stopping by and, if you like what you see, please feel free to like and share this post!

Trick or Treat (Yo Self)

image1-2.jpg

This weekend is HALLOWEEEEEEEN! As noted last year, I'm not the type who gets all fancy with the makeups on Halloween - some glitter and fake lashes make me happy.  I love Halloween because it's the official start of the Holiday Season, and I couldn't be more excited.

This year, I'll be a ballerina princess for two reasons: 1) who needs an excuse to dress up like a ballerina princess? and 2) I've been working with an amazing organization, called The Tutu Project, that helps men and women offset the costs associated with fighting breast cancer that aren't covered by insurance.  What's so remarkable about this organization is that one of the co-founders is still undergoing breast cancer treatment herself.  Check out the website and, if you feel compelled to donate (even $1 helps!), you can do that HERE.

And to see the ballerina princess makeup, be sure to follow me on Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook, all under ElectraLane!

So on to the tricks...

While I may not get all into Halloween glam, here are some videos showing those who do:

  1. Kandee Johnson's Edward Scissorhands, Marilyn Monroe Painting, and all of her Everyday Disney Princesses are incredible inspirations, as well as her ideas for kids' costumes
  2. Byrdie.com rounded up three lovely tutorials by MAC makeup artists
  3. My favorite looks are those from makeup artist Shonagh Scott's #HappilyNeverAfter series.  You can follow her on Insta @ShowMeMakeup.

Finally, you should treat yourself to the new NARS Audacious Mascara.  It's the best mascara ever.  While in NYC, I stopped by the NARS store to pick up a tube, but they were sold out (because it's that good).  So the lady gave me a sample tube.

And it's mind-blowing.  You can see a demo HERE.

It's super black.  It coats every. single. lash.  It doesn't flake.  My lashes are still soft.  It's buildable without getting gunk-y or clumpy.  It's incredibly lengthening.  And, this is really important, when you're ready to remove it, it slides right off.  Perfection.

I hope you have a fun and safe Halloween!

Friday Flash - Episode 5

IMG_5011.jpg

It seems like EVERYONE wants to know how to do a brown smokey eye. You're welcome.

Just kidding (kind of).  But really - if you can finger paint, you can do this.  Smudge a brown eye liner on your lash line, then dust on a lighter brown shadow over the liner, from lash line to brow bone.  Finally, take a pale shadow and, starting under your eye brow, blend that color down into the brown shadow (products are listed below the video).

You got this.  Happy weekend!

YouTube

  1. Make Up For Ever Radiant Primer
  2. Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint in Golden
  3. NARS Matte Multiple in Anguilla
  4. La Mer Translucent Powder
  5. MAC eye liner in Costa Riche
  6. Make Up For Ever Mat Bronze in 40 (as eye shadow)
  7. MAC eye shadow in Shroom
  8. Black eye shadow pressed into lash line
  9. Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer in Light Golden
  10. Fill in brows with MAC Brun eye shadow and set with clear brow gel
  11. Curl lashes and apply one coat of Estee Lauder's Little Black Primer and one coat of volumizing mascara
  12. NARS Laguna Bronzer
  13. Make Up For Ever Lift Concealer in 3
  14. MAC Omega eye shadow for nose contour
  15. Urban Decay All Nigher setting spray
  16. Hourglass nude crayon in 3

 

PSL-Insprired

IMG_4664.jpg

Yes, I went there. No, I do not like Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Lattes.

Yes, I know that we're not officially even in the fall season.

But since everyone seems to have an opinion about the PSL - including a blogger who changed the recipe and a fellow grad school classmate completing a brilliant marketing project on the subject - I thought I'd share what makeup comes to mind when I think of the sickeningly sweet beverage (IMO...just saying).

For the skin, I kept it clean with tinted moisturizer, concealer, bronzer, and a bit of highlighter on my cheekbones.  For lips, I went with Whirl lip liner from MAC, NYX Cosmetics Butter Gloss in Creme Brulee, and a little dot of MAC's Sugarrimmed Dazzleglass gloss in the center of my lips.

On my eyes, I started by prepping the entire lid with MAC's Soft Ochre Pro Longwear Paint Pot:

"The Milk"

Next, I buffed MAC's Amber Lights shadow from the lash line into the crease:

"The Pumpkin"

Then, I tapped Galapagos by NARS on the outer corners (blend well!) and under the bottom lash line:

"The Cinnamon"

Using my pinkie, I applied a bit of Cream from the Lorac Pro Palette to just the center of the lid and blended outward:

"The Whipped Cream"

Finally, I lined the top lash line and bottom waterline with MAC's Coffee eye pencil ("The Coffee." Yes, I did.).

IMG_4654

 

Friday Flash - Episode 1

IMG_4402.jpg

Welcome to our first Friday Flash!  This will be a little something fun, very unstructured, and a way to usher in the weekend.  Also, we had two very special guests join us, Clark and Kent Beagle - if you'd like to follow their (mostly lazy) antics, please check them out on Instagram: @thesuperbeagles. Here's the Friday Flash, and the products I used are listed below:

Happy weekend!

Face (not filmed):

Murad Invisblur SPF 30 primer

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 6.5

Eyes:

Base - Urban Decay Foxy

Outside corner/bottom lash line - Brown Script, crease - Soft Brown, lid - Amber Lights, corners - Corduroy, all MAC

Liner - top, Smolder, bottom, Coffee, both MAC

Mascaras - Illegal Length and Falsies, both in Blackest Black and by Maybelline

Brows:

Urban Decay Faint eye shadow, MAC clear brow gel

Concealer:

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in 07 and Make Up For Ever Lift Concealer in 3

Bronzer:

Bobbi Brown in Medium

Blush:

NARS Orgasm

Highlight:

Jaclyn Hill x Becca Champagne Pop

Nose Contour:

Urban Decay Faint eye shadow

Lips:

Hourglass nude lip pencils in 3, MAC Subculture liner, Charlotte Tilbury gloss in Blondie

Set:

Spray - Urban Decay All Nighter, Powder - Laura Mercier Brightening