A Golden Glow

A makeup look that I've been really into ever since I started building up my collection a little more has involved some sort of golden glow. A goldy-bronze eye look can be worked all year round, and 100% of the time looks pretty and sophisticated. This is the way I like to do mine - super quick, and super simple - incorporating a nude-pink lip to take us right into SS17. 

First things first, a fresh face is a staple Springtime makeup trend. I applied one of my all-time faves MAC Studio Face and Body Foundation using a MAC 190 Foundation Brush. This is a great foundation for this look because its got a very sheer coverage, but has a definite glow. Underneath my eyes and in the inner corners, I used the MUA Pro Base Prime & Conceal Correcting Cream in Peach just on my little finger. Colour correctors are a must when you want a perfected base that doesn't look too cakey, and peach ones combat the inevitable darkness under my eyes well. I don't use concealer on an everyday basis, but when I do I use the MAC Mineralize Concealer just around my nose and on any spots that have popped up to say hello. Once again, this concealer doesn't have huge coverage, so it ties in nicely with the natural-looking base, and I apply it using my fingers.  

Moving onto brows, I did my usual thang of taking the shade Bark from the Sleek I-Divine Palette in Au Naturel on a Real Techniques Slanted Brow Brush. This brush is bit denser and smaller than the usual Real Techniques brow brush, so allows for a stronger, more defined brow. 

Onto eyes, ya'll know if I'm going to be doing any sort of eye makeup, the likelihood is I'll be reaching for the MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Bare Study. Not only does this make for a gorgeous long-wearing wash of colour, or base for other shadows to cling to, but its subtle golden hue helps to intensify the gold tones of this eye look. I apply this using my fingers. Whilst the cream eye shadow dried, I took the shade Platinum from the Sleek Highlighting Palette in Precious Metals on my little finger and ran it lightly under the brow bone. Be careful with this one: it's very pigmented! 

Back onto the lids,  I took the shade Honey Pot from the Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette on a MAC 213 Brush all over and right into the inner corners - doing this really helps to open up the eye. I also took this underneath the eye on the tip of the 213 Brush, but only from the inner corner to the centre. Then, on a Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush I took a warm deep brown shade from an Elizabeth Arden palette that I can't read the name of (any warm deep brown will do) through the crease and to the centre. You can do this however many times you want; I like the intensity after doing it twice. The key to any eye makeup is to blend out the crease shade to make all the shadows look seamless - to do this I used a Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush. I took the brown shade underneath the eye too, from the outer corner to the centre, and blended this using the deluxe crease brush. For eyeliner, I used the Rimmel Soft Kohl Eye Pencil in Sable Brown, drawing the flick first, then the line at the lash line, before connecting the two. I also took this through the water line and tight line. When all that's done and dusted it's time for mascara, and I used my trusty Benefit They're Real Mascara for lengthened and volumised mega-black lashes. 

To begin the cheek makeup, I took the Benefit Hoola Bronzer on a big powder brush and swept it anywhere the sun would naturally hit; cheeks, temples, forehead, and down the neck a little too. To compliment that, I took the MAC Trip the Light Fantastic Powder in Highly Illogical (which is now in the goodbyes section so grab it while you still can!) on a Seventeen Cheek Brush. This is a very neutral, subtle blush shade so doesn't detract from the eyes or lips. It does have a certain shimmer to it though, so keeping it fresh and illuminating. To add even more glow, I used the shade Antique Bronze from the Sleek Highlighting Palette in Precious Metals on a ("clean") Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush to highlight the tops of my cheekbones, then took Renaissance Gold down the bridge of my nose and on my cupid's bow. To set all the makeup in place, I took the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Transparent all over the areas in which my makeup tends to wear off throughout the day, being careful not to go over the highlighter. I powdered using a MAC 129 Brush which is the softest powder brush ever. 

Lastly, we move onto lips. I used one of my favourite favourite lipsticks for this look: the Urban Decay Vice Comfort Matte Lipstick in Criminal. This is such a comfortable soft pink lipstick, which I patted into my lips rather than drawing it all over to make it a bit more of a natural nude shade. The matte finish pairs beautifully with the sparkly eyes and illuminated cheeks, and ties the look together perfectly. 

And there you have it! I love this look so much and it will be my go-to for any occasion I want to splash out a little more:)