Temperatures have dropped, holiday decorations are on display, and Elvis Presley’s rendition of Blue Christmas plays in practically every store. We’re in the midst of the holiday season and as you conquer the hustle and bustle of crowds for last minute gifts and holiday preparations, what if you run out of time to get yourself ready on the day you’re receiving guests? It could easily happen!

Don’t worry, we’ve put together a 5-step soft smoky eye look you can easily do and not have anyone be the wiser of how quickly you got ready. This look will compliment any eye colour and outfit because it’s timeless and universally flattering. 

Step One: Prepare your eyelids with an eyeshadow primer or a quick swipe of concealer. Priming your eyelids beforehand will increase the staying power of your eyeshadow.

Step Two: If you prefer to not use black (although the MarieNatie loose mineral eyeshadow in Noir is a pretty soft black with subtle shimmer), try the loose mineral eyeshadow in Chocolate, a shimmery copper brown.

Empty some of the eyeshadow into the underside of the cap and take a flat compact eyeshadow brush and damp it slightly. Applying the loose mineral eyeshadow wet will ensure an intense colour payoff and a quick application. Dip the brush gently into the loose eyeshadow and pat the colour all over your eyelid making sure to avoid harsh lines, which is key to a smoky eye. To soften harsh lines, use your finger or a blending brush to blend outwards into your crease. Tip: If you would like a deeper colour, add another layer of eyeshadow.

Step Three: Use the same brush (if it has a tapered point) or use a smudge brush, pick up a small amount of eyeshadow that remains in the lid and gently drag the brush under your bottom lashes.

Step Four: Apply a thin line of eyeliner or a thicker line (it’s as you prefer) with the MarieNatie gel liner in black by using an angled eyeliner brush (or your preferred eyeliner brush). Line your waterline and tightline with the MarieNatie eyeliner pencil in black to intensify the look and define your eyes even more.

Step Five: To finish the look, use an eyelash curler before applying the MarieNatie Perfect Lash mascara in black on your top and bottom lashes. Tip: Add a set of false lashes for extra fullness and length.

Your guests will never know how quickly you put this polished and glamorous look together.

Happy holidays from everyone at MarieNatie!

Guest author Natacha Cole is a former professional makeup artist and an advocate of cruelty-free cosmetics. 

View Post

Fall is a transformative season. The air becomes crisp and leaves change colours right before our eyes, so why not transform your lip colour routine to include some darker shades than what you’re used to. Usually when fall comes around, dark vampy lips are on trend with berry shades dark enough to look black at first glance. If you’ve been hesitant to try a dark vampy lip because you think it doesn’t suit you, here are two different ways to wear a darker shade this fall without going too dark, nor compromising your comfort level.

Layer a pale lip gloss on top of a darker shade of lipstick. To lighten up a dark lipstick and add dimension to a matte formula, try the LoveMarie lip gloss in Posh. It’s a perfect beige nude to wear on its own or to lighten a darker shade of lipstick. Begin by lining your lips (optional) with a clear lip liner or in a shade that matches your lipstick. Apply your dark shade of lipstick (darker shades can be controlled better with a lip brush), blot with a tissue to remove any excess product, then apply a tiny bit of Posh in the centre of your lips and blend outwards. Since you’ll be applying a lighter lip gloss and don’t want to transfer your dark lipstick onto the applicator, I suggest that you use a clean lip brush to apply the gloss. 

Now, we’ll do the reverse. Try the new MarieNatie’s gluten-free and vegan lipstick in the shade Giselle, which is gorgeous and bright on its own, but to bring it to a sultry level, top it off with LoveMarie lip gloss in Lust, a dark raspberry shade. If you prefer only wearing gloss, wear Lust on it’s own, it’s a pretty option instead of a nude lip. If you’ve tried the LoveMarie lip glosses before, you already know that they have a delicious vanilla flavour, tempting you to lick it off your lips. 

When you have lipsticks and glosses in light and dark shades, the different combinations are various. Makeup is playful and can always be washed off, so try different shades, even the ones you say “Oh, I could never wear that colour”.

Guest author Natacha Cole is a former professional makeup artist and an advocate of cruelty-free cosmetics. 

View Post