turn up the heat
Welcome to summer! (It officially starts today for those of us in the northern Hemisphere, in case you didn’t notice.) Although I’m not a fan of sweltering hot days (especially considering that we don’t have an air conditioner in our place at the moment), one thing I’ve always loved about summer is when the sun sets and everything cools down juuuuuuust enough so you can walk around easily in the evening wearing shorts and a tank top or a dress.

This look was inspired by hot summer nights, and by one of my favorite crimson lipstick colors to wear when the weather heats up: matte coral red. This particular shade is MAC Relentlessly Red, which is available in the permanent line.

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I normally apply matte coral reds like this one straight from the tube, but this time I made a decision to try something a little different by lining my lip line with a slightly darker red lip pencil and leaving the edges mostly unblended.

I’ve been into the unblended lip liner Kelly Clarkson normally wears on The Voice, so I wanted to dip a toe into the look! I haven’t worn unblended liner considering that 1998, so it was fun to try it again, even if the red-on-red combo is subtler than the stark dark plum liner-frosty pale beige lipstick combo I used to wear in college.

Oh, and did ya notice the cooler-toned olive taupe smudged on my lower lash line? I went for a foil to the warm shades on my eyes, cheeks and lips… I like those unexpected contrasts in makeup looks, don’t you?

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Eyes: lots of wander Beauty! Eye Primer, liquid Eye shadows (Brownstone and Amber Wave), Wandress Off task Palette, Mile High Club Mascara. everything else: MAC sun Soaked strip Bronzer and Coppertone blush (as transition colors in the crease), Nudestix Smoke, hourglass Dark Brunette Arch Gel, urban Decay Dark Drakes Brow Blade, NARS Numero 3 falsies (side note: These are lighter than air, but the ends poke my lash lines and itch.)

Face: It Cosmetics Oil-Free primer (not all that great), wander appeal nude illusion Foundation, MAC Strobe cream in Pinklite, MAC medium golden Mineralize Skinfinish natural Powder, Estee Lauder instant fix Concealer, MAC global glow MSF highlighter, MAC sun Soaked strip Bronzer, MAC Coppertone Blush, MAC artificial sure extra dimension Blush

Lips: MAC Relentlessly Red Lipstick, MAC Cherry Lipliner

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Your friendly neighborhood appeal addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF!