The Gilded Lily Special Event: Exclusive Sneak Peak at MAC’s Marilyn Monroe collection

Hello everyone! I have something a little bit different for you today. I’m doing this week’s review a bit earlier to bring you all a little preview of MAC Cosmetic’s new Marilyn Monroe inspired line, which will be available for purchase at the beginning of October at all MAC locations and http://www.maccosmetics.com

When I learned that the new collection would be featuring one of my favorite style icons, I was thrilled! So last night myself and other members of the Gilded Lily crew trekked out to the launch party at a local mall to try the new products for ourselves.

Yours truly with soon-to-be-featured Gilded Lily Beauty, Lisa!

Bro-fist with our VIP stamps. 

And we were not the only ones!

So...

Many...

People..

We got to see the new products used on a very Marilyn-esque model and got a few swatches of our favorites. MAC events are always so exciting and fun and this one was no exception!

Happy Beauty Blogger is happy. Oh so happy with new products. 

A fan tries on one of the new lipsticks. What a great shade!

MAC employee poses with the lip color she’s wearing. I think hands-down the lipsticks were my favorite part.

Without further ado, lets get on with the review of the new line:

Bad news first…

#1 Blushes (Legendary, The Perfect Cheek): I gotta say, these were my biggest let-down in the entire series. They were very powdery and showed off little to no pigmentation, which is sad because the colors (soft pinkish beige) looked as if they would have been nice.

#2 Beauty Powder (Forever Marilyn): Soft, pinky highlighter with a hint of shimmer. Liked the product, but it’s not for tan complexions (like mine.) Paler girls might have better luck, a total Lend It.

#3 Dazzleglass (Phiff!, Little Rock): What could I honestly say about these two? They weren’t bad, but they were very underwhelming and plain. Just clear lip gloss with a little glitter, nothing I could get excited over, at least not from MAC.

But fear not, MAC and Marilyn lovers! Now that we got those three off our list, we can move onto the good news!

#1 Penultimate Eye Liner (Rapidblack): Super pigmented felt tip liner with seamless application and good control. I was very impressed by this product.

#2Eye Kohl (Smolder, Fascinating): Smolder was nice, pigmented black with good smudge ability, but Fascinating (pure white) blew me away with how well the color applied. It’s hard to find a white pencil liner that doesn’t come on too sheer. I am definitely a fan of this one.

#3 Lipstick (Deeply Adored, Charmed I’m Sure, Pure Zen, Love Goddess, Scarlet Ibis): I absolutely loved these! Rich, full color in sexy tones and a velvety texture. Charmed I’m Sure (a) is a berry red, Pure Zen (b) is a creamy nude,  Love Goddess (c) is a pinkish/fuchsia red, and Scarlet Ibis (d) is an punchy reddish orange. Deeply Adored (not photographed) is very similar to Charmed I’m Sure, but it’s more of red mixed with wine, rather than berries.

#4 Eye Shadow (How to Marry, Preferred Blonde, Silver Screen, Show Girl): These were a little bit shimmery/sheer, but the colors were still nice. I would very much like to use the lighter ones as highlighters in different eye looks. Showgirl (a) is a nice gunmetal, Silver Screen (b) is sparkly silver, How to Marry (c) is shimmery white, and Preferred Blonde (d-fave!) is shimmery champagne.

#5 Lip Pencil (Beet, Cherry, Redd): Though I only got to try Redd, it applied nicely and looked as if though it would match some of the lip colors very well.

#6 Mascara (False Lashes Extreme Black): Super smooth application without any clumps in an elegant jet black shade. 

Not tested:

Nail Laquer (Vintage Vamp, Stage Red, Flaming Rose, Kid Orange)

Lashes (35 Lash)

Penultimate Brown Marker

Brow Finisher

As a whole, I am very happy with this product line!

Final Verdict: Love It!

You may ask how a Beauty Blogger, her photographer, and a Gilded Lily Beauty might relax after an exhilarating event such as this? How about being fascinated by the strange tentacles that appeared in the Louis Vuitton display window?

The Gilded Lily’s photographer, Stacey, appears to be completely enthralled.

Followed by a delicious dinner at an excellent sushi restaurant!

Lilies love sushi!

Enjoy!

Evian Facial Spray

“Hello! My name is Tashiro, the Betta. I am a round-tail bi-color betta fish who belongs to The Gilded Lily’s photographer. I spend lots of time watching the ladies of Gilded Lily working and, boy, do they work hard!”

“They also talk. A lot. I don’t understand many of the things they say. What’s exfoliation? What about leave-in conditioner? What the heck is an Urban Decay or a YSL?! They go absolutely crazy when they talk about those last two!”

“Now one thing I do understand is hydration. They love to keep their skin hydrated. Believe me, I know. I’ve heard them. What I don’t understand, is why they keep on visiting these weird sounding places (Lush? Sephora? Ulta?) to find things that will keep their skin from being dry. Why not ask me? I’m a fish! I know all there is to know about hydration!”

“Now, the best way to hydrate your skin (or scales, in my case) is to use plain, old fashioned water. I’d personally recommend walking around with your head in a filled fishbowl for the perfect hydration, but you gill-less humans with your silly little lungs probably wouldn’t like that too much. So what’s the next best thing?”

“Try the Evian Facial Spray! Not only is this funny little bottle full of hydrating liquid and those things called minerals you seem to think are so important, but it won’t ruin any of the paint you smear on your face. It’s a win-win situation, right? Of course I’m right.”

“And one last thing… someone tell that Karen to stop holding that weird, round, shiny thing that opens up to my fish bowl! I swear I see another Betta in there and that guy gives me mean looks and is trying to pick a fight, by puffing out his gills at me in my own turf! Now that’s just disrespectful. He should know better and so should she! Knock it off, Lady!”

Final Verdict: “Since I already have a bowl full of water, this is useless to me and would be a total Lend It. But for you humans, let’s be real. You should LOVE IT.”

PS (from Karen)- These facial sprays come in different sizes, but I prefer the two-pack travel sized ones. They fit perfectly in a purse. Stick them in the fridge for a while before you go out, especially if you’re going to spend a lot of time in the sun. It’ll be a very welcome cooling and refreshing treat for your parched skin in the heat.

PPS- Sorry about that, Tashiro!

Ingredients:

Pure natural Evian mineral water propelled by nitrogen.

Introducing Gilded Lily Beauties: Lady Gaga’s “Judas” Music Video Look

Hey everyone! Today I’m very happy to bring you our newest and most exciting feature (Albeit, a day late! D’oh!): The Gilded Lily Beauties.

My Beauties will be lovely ladies, whom I have either met or befriended, that are volunteering to appear as guests in tutorials. Remember, beauty can’t have only one face, so prepare to see many more of them in entries to come. My first beauty for this exciting tutorial (Lady Gaga’s look from her “Judas” music video) will be Rachel. We are happy to welcome her to the Gilded Lily family!

Pt1: Face

Tools:

Step 1-

Lady Gaga always has perfectly smooth skin in all her videos. Begin by applying a mattifying primer. Here we’re using Korres Pomegranate Mattifying Primer. Use a cosmetic wedge or sponge to cover your whole face, except for eyelids and lips. 

Step 2-

Use a good foundation brush to apply your foundation. Being used is Urban Decay Naked Skin Liquid Foundation. I’m using a color that’s a little bit light for Rachel because I want to give her that otherworldly look Lady Gaga has in the video. If you do this as well, don’t forget to extend the color down to your neck, or it’ll look like you’re wearing a mask.

Step 3-

Now use a high-pigmented concealer, like Amazing Cosmetics on any blemishes or under-eye circles.

Step 4-

Finish off your face by applying a translucent powder like Make-up Forever HD Mircrofinish Powder. Don’t go crazy with this one, though. The less the better.

Pt2: Brows and Lids

Tools: (also used for eyeliner steps!)

 Step 1-

Gaga’s eyebrows a pretty wild in the video. While I’m not going to copy the exact look, I am going to give Rachel fuller, oddly shaped brows that are reminiscent of the style Lady Gaga wears. If you already have pretty full brows, then skip this step. But if yours are like Rachel’s, then begin filling them out with a natural toned eyebrow pencil.

Step 2-

Now lightly fill your brows in with a black brow pencil or eye liner. If we’d done this step before it would have looked too harsh.

Step 3-

Use an angled brush to blend the liner and give it a softer effect.

Step 4-

Repeat the same step on the other side and add two little wings at the end of each brow. Don’t worry if they’re not perfect, you can always use hair and accessories to hide them.

Step 5-

Use an eyelid primer (here we’re using Nars Smudge Proof Eye Shadow Base.) This one is great because it won’ t crease and will make the color last all day.

Step 6-

Take a light nude and cover your lids. Here we’re using Virgin from Urban Decay’s Naked Palette.

Step 7-

With a tapered brush, apply a matte brown (Buck from Naked Palette) to the crease and blend it in with a fluffy brush. 

 

Pt3: Highlighting and Contouring

Tools:

Step 1-

Using a matte highlighter, like Anastasia Eye Lights, apply it down the bridge for your nose. Then tap it in until it’s blended. This will begin to mimic Lady Gaga’s nose.

Step 2-

Apply a shimmery, highlighting blush to your cheeks (The Body Shop’s Shimmer Waves) to make your skin look ethereal. 

                                                  Step 3-

Apply a liquid shimmery highlighter to the tip of your nose (make sure it’s one that really stands out!) and anywhere the light hits your face (cheeks, forehead, etc.) Make sure to blend it in. You’re now glowing!

Step 4-

Using a color like Buck from the Naked Palette again, take the fluffy brush and blend it into the sides of your nose. Don’t use a lot of product, as the point is to create shadow, not deposit color.

Pt4: Eyeliner

 See eye shadow tools.

Step 1-

Here comes the tricky part! Using a gel liner and angled brush, begin lining your upper lids. Extend the line past the corner of your eye, with a slight upward sweep (like cat-eye liner.) Don’t forget to dab a little color into the inner corner of your eye.

Step 2-

Begin making a thin line under your eye (not lining your bottom lid) with a felt tip eye liner pen. Add a little hook at the inner corner of your eye. Keep the line loose and curvy, following your eye’s shape. 

Step 3-

Thicken the line near the middle, but keep the shape rounded.

Step 4-

Repeat a similar line underneath the first one. Don’t worry if they don’t match perfectly. The make-up in the video is very loose and organic, not perfectly symmetrical. However, make sure that instead of the hook in the inner corner, there’s an outline of a tear drop shape.

Step 5-

Fill in the tear drop with black gel liner and a concealer brush.

Step 6-

Repeat on the other eye. Again, don’t worry if they’re not perfectly even on both sides!

Step 7-

Finish up your liner with lining your waterline with white. This will help give you Lady Gaga’s large eyes.

Pt5: Lips

Tools:

Step 1-

Her lips are luscious and full in the video. Start by applying a lip balm.

Step 2-

If you don’t have Lady Gaga’s full pout, rub on some lip plumper. But if you’re lucky enough to do so, skip this step! ;)

Step 3-

Apply a shimmery, pinky nudge like MAC’S Viva Glam V. Lady Gaga’s red lips have a slightly brownish tint to them in this video. This shade will help achieve that. 

Step 4-

Mix a little red lip glaze with the lipstick. Here I’m using Korres Lip Butter Glaze in Wild Rose.

Step 5-

Layer a deep red lipstick (like YSL’s Rouge Volupte in Red Taboo) over it.

Step 6-

Use a cranberry lip liner to line your lips. Employ the blending technique from this tutorial to achieve a pretty, blended effect. 

Pt6: Accessories

Step 1-

Now the really fun part! If you already have long, blonde locks, then go ahead and let them fly loose! If not, wear a lovely wig like Rachel (and don’t forget the wig cap we put on her at the start of the tutorial!)

Step 2-

Wrap a bandana around your head and pull some hair over it to one side, rock-star style.

Step 3-

With a pointy Q-tip apply some eyelash glue to your cheek. 

Step 4-

Press a little gemstone into the eyelash glue and hold it with your finger until it sticks. 

Step 5-

You are now ready to go out and party all night! Make sure to include “Judas” in your playlist!