icyabstract makeup

Tutorial: Neutrals With a Dash of Color

icyabstract — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:52:04 SGT

Hello everyone, first of all a Happy Chinese New Year to those who celebrate this festive season! As I'm typing this up the reunion dinner preparations are going underway and I really should head over to help soon.

In the mean time I managed to to do a tutorial featuring a look that I wear pretty regularly to work now. This would probably be the direction of my upcoming CNY visiting looks if I'm in a rush. I've explained more within the video so no lengthy essay here. The difference in colors is also explained in the video!

Products Used:

EYES
Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer
Maybelline Eye Studio Quad in Autumn Spirit
28 Color Palette
K-Palette Liquid Liner in Black
MAC Powerpoint Liner in Engraved
NYX Eyeshadow in Atlantic (Blue), Purple (Purple)
Revlon 3D Extreme Mascara

CHEEKS
Canmake Powder Cheek in PW11

LIPS
Revlon Colorburst in Soft Nude

Alright, dinner's starting, time to lay everything out, hope everyone is enjoying their reunion dinner or just dinner if you don't celebrate CNY (:
Thanks for reading/watching!

Tutorial: Natural Peaches (Selena Gomez Inspired)

icyabstract — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:18:27 SGT

It's about time for a tutorial!

This is one for the Selena Gomez series, but like I always say you don't have to be a fan of hers to watch this tutorial.

The reason why I chose this photo to make a tutorial of would be to sync it with a current makeup phase I am going through. I have been loving the crisp, clean and sharp line look that you typically achieve with liquid liner or gel liner. This look so happens to encompass that so voila~ Enjoy!

Here's my rendition of the photo above:

Products Used:
EYES
Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer
MAC Eyeshadow in Brule
Za Eyeshadow Trio in E2
88 Color Palette
K-Palette Liquid Eyeliner (Non-waterproof)
MAC Powerpoint Liner in Engraved
Majolica Majorca Lash Enamel Glamour NEO Mascara
K-Palette Real Lasting Volume Mascara

CHEEKS
MAC's Blush in Eversun

LIPS
Canmake Lipstick in 22

Click the link below to watch the tutorial:

YOUTUBE// Tutorial: Natural Peaches (Selena Gomez Inspired)

This video tutorial is in partnership* with Selenastyle.com
* = By partnership I am simply providing distributor rights.
I am not getting paid or sponsored for anything in this video

Tutorial (past LOTD): Purple-Hued Navy

icyabstract — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:03:39 SGT

If you have ace memory, you would realize that I don't have a past LOTD
that was titled Purple-Hued Navy.
So why is this a past LOTD? Well it's because I renamed it to best suit the tutorial outcome.

The LOTD entry is titled Royal Blues, but I figured that the end result does not resemble a Royal Blue so much, hence the decision to name it something more appropriate. I had also taken better photos since in the LOTD entry I took photos using my Mac's Photobooth.

Click here to see Original LOTD

Products Used:
EYES
- Urban Decay Primer Potion
- Silky Girl Blockbuster Quad in Smokey Charm
- Revlon 12 Hour Colorstay in Sultry Smoke
- Revlon 12 Hour Colorstay in Nude Elements
- 28 Color Palette
- MAC Powerpoint Liner in Engraved
- Lancome Fatale Mascara

CHEEKS
MAC Blush in Eversun
ELF Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in Luminance

LIPS
NYX Round Lipstick in Circe
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Raisin Glaze

Click the link below to watch the tutorial:

YOUTUBE// Tutorial: Purple-Hued Navy (LOTD)

Thanks for reading (:

Tutorial: Silver & Brown Smokey Eye (Selena Gomez Inspired)

icyabstract — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:40:39 SGT

This look is inspired by this photo of Selena Gomez.

Aside from this just being a Selena Gomez inspired look, I had also received requests to do a brown smokey look.
So here is a rendition of it, paired with silver for that brightening effect.

Products Used
EYES
- NYX Eyeshadow base in White and Skintone
- LA GIrl Platinum Eyeshadow in Snowflakes
- Red Earth Tier Set in Bird of Paradise (silver)
- 88 Color Palette (colors mentioned)
- Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner in Black
- Covergirl Lashblast (Waterproof)

CHEEKS
- NYC Bronzer in Sunny
- LA Girl Blush in Natural

LIPS
- LA GIrl Superlicious Moisturizing Lipgloss in Happy

To find out how to get this look done, watch the video tutorial!

YOUTUBE// Tutorial: Silver & Brown Smokey Eye (Selena Gomez Inspired)

This video tutorial is in partnership* with Selenastyle.com
* = By partnership I am simply providing distributor rights.
I am not getting paid or sponsored for anything in this video

The... Outer-U?

icyabstract — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 23:07:04 SGT

This is a little tutorial styled entry featuring another method to achieving an outer corner effect.
I will probably adapt this to a video tutorial sometime in future because I am not satisfied with the way the photos here turned out. This will suffice for now as one of my readers who requested for this is in urgent need for it, hence I'm posting this up though it's not as perfected as I want.

Never did I know it was this hard to do photo tutorials! Juggling the camera and all... it definitely takes some practice.

Way back, I had posted an entry with some a rough and simple guide on how to locate your 'Outer-V' (read it here) which is a phrase you have probably heard.

I always stress that I am not implying the methods or guides I showcase are the only way. They are merely - as stated - guides. It would be most ideal if you adapt it to best work with your own eye shape and structure. However, I understand that the outer-v does not encompass all eye shapes (even some days I feel it looks funky on me). I had also received enquiries from some asking if there was another outer corner method, as the outer-v didn't look quite right on them. I remember having explained this other method in words over e-mails, but now I am attempting to portray it through a series of photos.

I would like to call this technique the Outer-U, because of the (rough) shape that the outer corner assumes. It is not very far off from the Outer-V, but I find that this outer corner style would probably suit rounder/almond-shaped eyes a little better. That's just me though! As always, this is yet another method that you should try on and fine tune to fit your own eye shape.

So let's begin the pictorial tutorial (bit of a tongue twister there!). I tried to make it informative yet short and simple.

1. The very start, a 'clean' lid - dusted a nude shadow from lid to brow. I took the libery to throw on eyeliner, just cause

2. Get whatever crease color you want on your crease brush. I'm just using a medium-dark brown
(LA Girl's Radiant).

3. Now the tricky part. Half open your eye and what you want to do now is 'trace' the brush over where your eye socket is. Start from the outer edge of your eye and drag it inwards (following your socket line). This would create a sort of sem curved shape on your lids.

4. This is what you should end up with after marking your crease in the above step (pre-blending).

5. Now blend, blend blend that line out! Try blending the color slightly above the crease to give that 'lifted' effect.

6. This should more or less be your final blended outcome. A lot more refining and tuning can be done to get the look that you want, but this is a rough guide to the Outer-U method.

You don't have to stop there. You can also add an even darker shade just at the outer corner of the eye, not blending too far into the crease, like so:

A very minor difference, but you can see how adding a slightly darker color
gives the look a bit more depth.

So that's the tutorial section for the Outer-U technique. I know it's a bit 'doh' for some people who have probably been using this method for awhile now, but this is for the benefit of those who are still facing problems with outer corner methods. I do understand the struggle to get the right outer corner effect as I have been through that and to this date there are days where my eyes are just not working right with a certain outer corner look.

But just to show a wee comparison, here is the outer-u alongside the outer-v.

The outer corners are quite similar, though you can still differentiate the color placement and all.
It might not seem like the look varies a whole lot on my eyes, but If the outer-v does not work for you, give the outer-u a try, you just never know. It might not be impressive but a simple thing like changing color placements can make a world of a difference in a look.

I personally alternate between the Outer-U and Outer-V,
though I tend to lean towards the Outer-V a little more.

So this concludes my mini tutorial-styled post. I hope this was of help to some of you guys!
Again, I will be doing a video tutorial version of the Outer-V and Outer-U sometime in future so if the photos themselves aren't enough, I hope I can better explain things then. Also if anyone has anyone questions (that require demonstration) feel free to list it below so I can address it in the video.

Thank you all for reading!

Tutorial (past LOTD): Crushed Cranberries & Snowflakes

icyabstract — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 05:23:55 SGT

Another tutorial of a past Look of the Day.
I've been trying to clear the requests for past Look of the Day tutorials as I already have photos for those so in general they are a little faster to get done.

View original LOTD blog entry.

Products Used (in this tutorial):
EYES
- Urban Decay Primer Potion
- MAC Artifact Paintpot
- LA Girl Platinum Eyeshadow in Sterling
- LA Girl Platinum Eyeshadow in Snowflakes
- LA GIrl Platinum EYeshadow in Crushed Cranberries
- 28 Color Palette (colors mentioned)
- Magical Tannsu Gel Liner
- MAC Plushlash Mascara

CHEEKS
- MAC Mineralized Blush in Merrily
- MAC Refined MSF (highlight)

LIPS
- NYX Round Lipstick in Circe
- Majolica Majorca Lipgloss in BE 205

To see the youtube tutorial:
YOUTUBE// Tutorial: Crushed Cranberries & Snowflakes (LOTD)

Tutorial (past LOTD): Soft Everyday Purple

icyabstract — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:43:26 SGT

Here's a tutorial of a past Look of the Day, titled Soft Everyday Purple.
Click here if you wish to see the original LOTD entry.

I might be trying to get through some requests for past LOTDs right now. Mainly to clear up the requests a little since I have owed some past-lotd tutorials for awhile, I thought I'd get through them first. Plus they are also a littlle faster to do.

Products Used (in this tutorial):
EYES
Urban Decay Primer Potion
28 Color Neutral Palette (color mentioned in video)
88 Color Palette (colors mentioned in video)
MAC Powerpoint Liner in Engraved
MAC Plushlash Mascara

CHEEKS
L'oreal Blush Delice in Rosewood
ELF Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in Luminance

LIPS
Maybelline Shine Seductress in 203

To see the tutorial:
YOUTUBE// Tutorial: Soft Everyday Purple

Tutorial: Copper Spice (Back to school look using drugstore products)

icyabstract — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 21:18:40 SGT

So here is yet another neutral look.
I was requested on youtube to do a Back to School tutorial and though I know I am a little late (as most schools in the US started about a week ago), here it is nonetheless!

I know there are tons of Back to School looks on youtube covering a range of different techniques and yada, so I wasn't sure if I wanted to do one. But as I was requested, I thought I would just do my spin on it.
To make it a little different from my other tutorials I have decided to only use drugstore products in this. The only thing I used that wasn't drugstore would have to be Urban Decay Primer Potion as I honestly didn't have a substitite for that.

Tutorial link at the end of the entry!

Products Used:
EYES
- Urban Decay Primer Potion (sorry! I don't have a drugstore primer)
- Canmake Color Stick in white (NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk works too)
- Revlon Colorstay 12 hour quad in Copper Spice
- Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner in Black Brown
- Cover Girl Mascara (Waterproof)

CHEEKS
- L'oreal Blush Delice in True Rose
- ELF Healthy Glow Bronzer Powder in Luminance

LIPS
- Revlon Colorstay Mineral Lipglaze in Neverending Nude

YOUTUBE/ /Tutorial: Copper Spice (Back to school...

Tutorial: Lime Zest

icyabstract — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:41:58 SGT

Thanks to annalingc for the name!

Products Used:

EYES
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Silky Girl Funky Eyelights Pencil in Lime Green
88 Color Palette (colors mentioned in video)
MAC Powerpoint Liner in Engraved
Za Cutie Curl Mascara in Volume

CHEEKS
MAC Blush in Eversun

LIPS
Revlon's Colorstay Mineral Lipglaze in Never-ending Nude

To find out how to get this look done, watch the tutorial:
YOUTUBE// Tutorial: Lime Zest

Finally, a little color in my tutorials! I'm definitely loving this look.

Re-inventing your 'clear' gloss

icyabstract — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:15:13 SGT

I am sure most of you are familiar with the different methods in which you may add pigments to clear lip balms such as Vaseline etc to create your very own custom lipgloss/balm. I have personally tried mixing pigments or lipstick chunks with Vaseline but I've never been happy with the results. Often times, the end product gets tossed aside, unused and unloved.

I guess you could say that I have almost given up on the whole custom mixing of lipgloss/balm idea.
That was until I chanced across this video by Keri (aka GlimmerGlossGlow).
The idea of mixing pigments into a gloss is similar but the way it is done is different so that definitely intrigued me to try it out for myself.

I decided to use this method to make my Sally Hanson's Lip Inflation a little more pigmented. Reason being that I love how this gloss tastes, smells, it's applicator, also it's awesome lasting power, which is basically everything but I can't get over how it's just like a clear gloss when applied.
To help aid the pigmentation process, I decided to toss in a pigment sample I got from Coastal Scents in the shade Peach Ochre. This is a really pretty beige-gold shade but I don't find myself reaching for it very often as it's kind of a blah color when worn as an eyeshadow.

So here was the process:

First up, the materials required. 1 gloss, pigment of your choice and paper for mess-control.

Before I get on with the process, here's a swatch of how the Sally Hanson's Lip Inflation looks like.
Not very interesting is it. It's almost clear... and to think it looks so pretty in the tube.

I start by pouring out some of the pigments onto the piece of paper. Start out with a little bit and slowly add as you go along.
Remember, it's easier to add then to remove!

I picked up the pigments with the applicator as there is a little bit of gloss on it, enabling the pigments to stick.

Once you've gotten your pigment on the applicator, put the applicator back into the tube and swirl it about. Mixing the pigments and gloss together.
Repeat this till you get your desired pigmentation.
I'm not going to lie and said I repeatedly did that, as halfway through I got a little impatient and used the paper as a funnel, funneling the pigments directly in the gloss and using the applicator to mix.

After having mixed enough pigments in, this is what the tube looks like now:

As you can see there is a bit of a difference in tone from the 'top' part of the gloss and the 'bottom' part.
Reason being, the applicator wasn't long enough to mix it all the way through, but fear not, over time it would eventually mix together.

Now let's see what the swatch of this newly formulated gloss looks like!

A lot more pigmented, right am I?

And here's a lipswatch just for the fun of it.

I know it may seem that it's settling into the lines of my lips etc, but that's cause the camera is zoomed in and all. In person it's a nice light milky wash on the lips and the settling isn't obvious, especially since this is a rather thick gloss.

So that was my little experiment using Keri's method of re-inventing clear gloss.
Hope this was interesting for you all!