Friday, March 12, 2021

Esme | The Grim Grotto: Part 2 | A Series of Unfortunate Events | Makeup Tutorial

Ultima Beauty wearing blue & gold eyeshadow holding an 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' book. Text reads: A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Grim Grotto Makeup Part 2”

 Dear Reader,

Just when you thought it was safe to read my makeup posts again, you are subjected to another miserable makeup tutorial.
 I haven't finished all of the makeup looks from Netflix's adaption of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events yet and it is my solemn duty to do so. 
So unless you have an affinity for disaster and woe, you are better off reading a post with glittery, fluffy animals in it, such as these: Too Faced Foxy Neutrals Makeup Set  &  Too Faced Unbearably Glam Makeup Set





It's been a while since the last installment of my ASOUE makeup tutorials.
But this is like my pet project. I love these books and I love the Netflix series, so I'm seeing it to the end📕
Plus, I recently read that Netflix plans to film an adaption of Lemony Snicket's second book series All the Wrong Questions and I'm hoping the "prequel" has some over the top makeup as well.

 
I actually recorded the video tutorial for this makeup in April of 2020, edited and posted it on YouTube in October of 2020 and now here in 2021 the blog post.
This ASOUE look has definitely been a labor of love.😅

(Picture via my Netflix account. Lucy Punch as Esme Squalor from A Series of Unfortunate Events S3 E4 The Grim Grotto: Part 2. For tutorial purposes only)
(Picture via my Netflix account. Lucy Punch as Esme Squalor from A Series of Unfortunate Events S3 E4 The Grim Grotto: Part 2. For tutorial purposes only)

Intense navy blue eyeshadow with pops of gold glitter are what bring "Captain" Esme's look to life while they search for the illusive sugar bowl in a submarine far below the surface.🌊


You'd be happier if you didn't watch the video tutorial here


 


What You Will Need:


1. Primer & Shimmery Navy Blue Eyeshadow + Black Eyeshadow: Apply an eyeshadow primer from lid to brow bone for a smooth canvas. 
Sweep a navy shadow on the outer 1/3 of your eye and inner 1/3 of your eye, leaving the middle of your eyelid blank for now. 
Trace some black eyeshadow around the inside of the outer 1/3 navy shadow for extra dimension. 
Ultima Beauty applying black eyeshadow next to blue eyeshadow with a small eyeshadow brush.




2. Blending Brush, Concealer, Gray & Nude Eyeshadow + White Shimmer Pigment: Use a blending brush to soften edges of the navy shadow. 
Apply concealer to the middle of your eyelid with a small brush to carve out a clean round area. 
Then dust a pale gray shimmer shadow over the middle lid and add a pale nude shimmer on top of that. For extra shimmer and pop dab an off white shimmer pigment over the center of the lid.
Ultima Beauty applying silver eyeshadow to the eyelid with a blending brush.



3. Snow White Shadow, Copper Bronze Shadow & White Liner: Brush a pearly white eyeshadow on the brow bone just to give a highlight. 
Run a shimmer copper shadow just through the inner half of the crease for extra definition. 
Then Trace a white eyeliner along the lower water line to make eyes appear bigger.
Ultima Beauty applying copper eyeshadow to the crease of the eye with a crease brush.



4. More Navy Shadow, Liquid Liner, Gold Glitter, Lengthening Mascara & False Lashes: Trace the navy eyeshadow along the lower lash line and also strengthen the other sections of your eye where you have already applied it. 
Run a liquid eyeliner along the top the lash line in just a thin strip. 
Mix a silver and gold glitter shadow and press it in the middle of your lower lash line, then drag it down significantly onto your under eye (in some scenes Esme's glitter is not as pronounced on the under eye and stays mainly on the lash line, in others it is dramatically cascading downwards).   
Swipe a lengthening mascara on top and bottom lashes. Then finish off eyes with full false lashes.
Ultima Beauty applying mascara to the top lashes.

 

5. Contour, Highlight, Pink Blush & Peach Shimmer Gloss: Take a matte light bronze contour shade and run it under your cheek bone stopping under the apple of the cheek and blend it out for a less harsh line.
Take a shimmery white highlighter and hit the top of your cheek bones and bridge of your nose.
Then add a cool pink blush and dust it right onto the apples of your cheeks.
Finally, glide a shimmer gloss in a peachy color onto your lips.
Ultima Beauty applying peach lip gloss to lips.



Which gives us...




Ultima Beauty’s finished Esme Squalor The Grim Grotto Part 2 makeup look, eyes closed

Captain Esme's makeup. I don't have the captain's hat or jacket, but you get the idea ⛵

Ultima Beauty’s finished Esme Squalor The Grim Grotto Part 2 makeup look, eyes opened

Navy eyeshadow and gold glitter eyeshadow are the major players in this unfortunate look.

Close up of Ultima Beauty’s eyeshadow inspired by Esme Squalor in The Grim Grotto, eyes closed

Blending is a big part of achieving this eyeshadow from The Grim Grotto: Part 2.




Again you can watch the miserable tutorial for this look here


Products I used:

MAC: Studio Fix Fluid in NW10
Too Faced: Shadow Insurance Eyeshadow Primer
Too Faced: Pretty Rich Palette
Too Faced: Eyeshadow in Set the Jewel Tone
Beau Gâchis: Concealer Brush
Too Faced: Eyeshadow in Coal Under Pressure
Sonia Kashuk: Small Eyeshadow Brush No.7
MAC: 217 Blending Brush
AURORA: Pro Cover Up Concealer in Pale
Sheer Cover: Concealer Brush
Urban Decay: Mushroom Eyeshadow
Elizabeth Mott: Blending Brush
Urban Decay: Sin Eyeshadow
MAC: Pigment in Vanilla
Urban Decay: Polyester Bride Eyeshadow
Coastal Scents: Ipsy Pearl Medium Shadow Brush
Urban Decay: Smog Eyeshadow
N.Y.C Color Cosmetics: White Eyeliner Pencil
Luxie Beauty: Rose Gold Flat Definer Brush 221
Mellow Cosmetics: Liquid Precision Pen Eyeliner
Maybelline: Fit Me Concealer in Ivory
Too Faced: Eyeshadow in Diamonds 4 Breakfast
Beau Gâchis: Eye Shader Brush
Too Faced: Eyeshadow in Fluent in Diamonds
Sugar Cosmetics: Uptown Curl Lengthening Mascara in Black
e.l.f.: Natural Lash Kit
NYX: Highlight & Contour Pro Palette
Beaute Basics: C405 Contour Blush Brush
Beau Gâchis: Illuminator (Highlighting Brush)
MODELCO: Blush Cheek Powder in Cosmopolitan
Luxie Beauty: Dreamcatcher Tapered Highlighter Brush 522
N.Y.C.: Liquid Lip Shine in Brighton Beach Peach



You can see Esme's dastardly Grim Grotto: Part 1 makeup look here
Ultima Beauty wearing red & blue eyeshadow. Text reads: “A Series of Unfortunate Events, Esme The Grim Grotto Makeup Part 1”



Thanks for checking out my ASOUE Grim Grotto Part 2 navy & gold makeup look.
To avoid subjecting yourself to further despair, don't sign up for my emails so you can be the first to see the rest of these grim makeup tutorials.


If you're a glutton for punishment and want to expose yourself to more terrifying tutorials:

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

ipsy | January 2021 | Glam Bag | Review with Swatches


Collage of 5 photos: text reads "Ultima Beauty ipsy January 2021 Review". Photo 1: Violet Voss: Single Eyeshadow in Bare it All; Photo 2:Stila Cosmetics: Stay All Day® Liquid Lipstick in Patina; Photo 3: FIRMA BEAUTY: 403 Round Blending Brush; Photo 4: SOO'AE: HangBang Sheet Mask Duo in Collagen & Hyaluronic Acid; Photo 5: BELLE EN ARGENT: 8 Free Nail Polish in Love and Attention

Hey Beautiful People!

 First Glam Bag of 2021!
I was so stoked and then: Wah-Wah.
It was overwhelmingly 'Meh' for me.😑
Don’t get me wrong the quality of the products are top notch, but the type of products and/or shades aren’t for me. But there is one that is a total star🌟 Read on to find out.


January 2021 glam bag: BELLE EN ARGENT: 8 Free Nail Polish in Love and Attention, FIRMA BEAUTY: 403 Round Blending Brush, SOO'AE: HangBang Sheet Mask Duo in Collagen & Hyaluronic Acid, STILA COSMETICS: Stay All Day® Liquid Lipstick in Patina, VIOLET VOSS: Single Eyeshadow in Bare it All


Quick Stats:

Empty ipsy January 2021 glam bag; the 'dream' is printed across the bag repeatedly

Number of Products I'll Use Regularly: 1

My Overall Star Rating for January's Glam Bag: ⭐⭐⭑⭑⭑ (2 out of 5)

Thoughts on January’s Glam Bag: Not their best product selection… Not a 'dream' bag for me. Majority of products are not my taste, but there are some bright spots.




1. BELLE EN ARGENT: 8 Free Nail Polish in Love and Attention

BELLE EN ARGENT: 8 Free Nail Polish box

BELLE EN ARGENT: 8 Free Nail Polish in Love and Attention bottle

Top of BELLE EN ARGENT: 8 Free Nail Polish brush

BELLE EN ARGENT: 8 Free Nail Polish in Love and Attention open bottle and brush

Product: Nail Polish
Brand: Belle En Argent
Name of Shade: Love and Attention
Color: Nude
Finish: Cream
Number of Coats to Get Bottle Shade: 2
Lasts for: 1 ½ to 2 Weeks

 Pros: Long lasting and a lovely cream finish. 
Plus it’s free of eight nasty ingredients: Dibutyl Phthalate, Toluene, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Camphor, Xylene, Ethyl Tosylamide, & Triphenyl Phosphate. 
And it is cruelty free, as well as vegan. Definitely a game changer in regards to ingredients.

Cons: The only real con for me is that the shade is not my cup of tea ⛾. More of a con for ipsy than this polish.


Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭑⭑ (3 out of 5)
Would I Purchase: Not in this shade (but the shade ‘Bore Someone Else’ looks gorgeous!)


Final Thoughts:  A nice nail polish with good staying power. If you like nude/cream shades this one is lovely.





2. FIRMA BEAUTY: 403 Round Blending Brush

FIRMA BEAUTY: 403 Round Blending Brush

Close up of FIRMA BEAUTY: 403 Round Blending Brush

Brand: Firma Beauty
Name of Brush: Round Blending 
Feature for Brush: Eyes
Feature I Use it for: Eyes, Under Eyes
Formula it Works Best with: Powder
Blends Makeup Well: Yes
Bristles Splay: None

 
Pros: A small fluffy brush with a rounded tip that is super soft. It is the perfect size for blending out and diffusing shadow through the crease of the eye for a beautiful smoky eye look. It also works well for dusting setting powder under eyes.

Cons: None


Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 out of 5)
Would I Purchase: Yes


Final Thoughts: A well-built brush that lives up to its name and blends eyeshadow and makeup seamlessly. 




3. SOO'AE: HangBang Sheet Mask Duo in Collagen & Hyaluronic Acid

SOO'AE: HangBang Sheet Mask Duo in Collagen & Hyaluronic Acid

Brand: Soo'ae
Product: Sheet Masks
Quantity: 2
Formula: Firming & Moisturizing  
Skin Type It Works Best For: Combination to Dry


Pros: I don’t use sheet masks; just have never been my thing. I gave these away so I can’t really say good or bad.

Cons: I can’t say if there is a con with the product.
 
But as for ipsy: I constantly make it clear on my ipsy profile, through re-taking their beauty quiz and rating each bag, that I don’t use or need this type of skin care. So, that’s a con for subscribing to ipsy.


Star Rating: Can’t say, gave it away.
Would I Purchase: N/A


Final Thoughts: This could be the holy grail of sheet masks but I don’t use them so I can’t in good conscience say one way or the other. 



4. STILA COSMETICS: Stay All Day® Liquid Lipstick in Patina

STILA COSMETICS: Stay All Day® Liquid Lipstick in Patina tube

STILA COSMETICS: Stay All Day® Liquid Lipstick in Patina open tube and brush

Close up of STILA COSMETICS: Stay All Day® Liquid Lipstick in Patina lip brush

Swatch of STILA COSMETICS: Stay All Day® Liquid Lipstick in Patina

Brand: Stila Cosmetics
Product: Lipstick
Name of Shade: Patina
Color: Dusty Rose
Finish: Matte
Formula: Liquid
Smudges/Drying/Sticky: No/No/No
Lasts for: 12+ Hours
 

Pros: This cult-classic totally lives up to the hype! 
It glides on so soft and smooth and it sets to a matte finish. 
It is one of the most comfortable matte finishes I’ve ever used! 
It isn’t drying at all and it truly does last ALL day. 
Even through eating and drinking it stays put and doesn’t smudge or budge. 
It comes in 20+ shades and in shimmer and sheer finishes as well. 
Patina is a gorgeous dusty rose shade, perfect for every occasion.  

Cons: None!


Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 out of 5)
Would I Purchase: Yes! (And the shade Fiery looks amazing too!)


Final Thoughts: This is a totally fabulous liquid lipstick that is the perfect everyday shade and is so comfortable I forget I’m wearing it. It is crazy long lasting and it does not disappoint!




5. VIOLET VOSS: Single Eyeshadow in Bare it All

VIOLET VOSS: Single Eyeshadow in Bare it All closed box

VIOLET VOSS: Single Eyeshadow in Bare it All opened compact

Swatch of VIOLET VOSS: Single Eyeshadow in Bare it All

Brand: Violet Voss
Product: Eyeshadow
Name of Shade: Bare it All
Color: Bronze
Finish: Shimmer
Formula: Pressed Powder
Fallout: Minimal
Chalky/Flaky: No/No
Blendable: Yes
Lasts for: 6-8 Hours

 
Pros: A pretty, shimmery powder eyeshadow. It sweeps across lids with a lovely wash of bronze and stays put for a pretty decent amount of time. There is minimal to no shadow fallout.
 
Cons: It’s a nice shadow but it’s not better (or worse) than other bronze shimmer eyeshadows. 
My con is more for ipsy (again) for the record number of bronze shadows I’ve received in the last few months.
 
 
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭑⭑ (3 out of 5)
Would I Purchase: Probably Not
 

Final Thoughts: It’s a good eyeshadow and it does last a good long while before creasing. It just isn’t anything that hasn’t been done before.





Here is a makeup look I created using a couple of the products from ipsy's January glam bag:

Collage of 4 photos all over Ultima Beauty wearing VIOLET VOSS: Single Eyeshadow in Bare it All andSTILA COSMETICS: Stay All Day® Liquid Lipstick in Patina

STILA COSMETICS: Stay All Day® Liquid Lipstick in Patina
VIOLET VOSS: Single Eyeshadow in Bare it All




And that is my review of ipsy's January glam bag.
Definitely not my favorite, but I loved the Stila lipstick!
I'll give ipsy a mulligan on this one; after all, they are coming off of the year 2020.
Looking forward to better product selections moving forward!

Thanks for stopping by!
If you like makeup reviews and tutorials be sure to subscribe via email 📧
I'll catch you next time! 😎


Collage of 6 photos: text reads "Ultima Beauty ipsy January 2021 Review". Photo 1: January 2021 ipsy glam bag; Photo 2: Violet Voss: Single Eyeshadow in Bare it All; Photo 3: Stila Cosmetics: Stay All Day® Liquid Lipstick in Patina; Photo 4: Swatches of Violet Voss and Stila; Photo 5: SOO'AE: HangBang Sheet Mask Duo in Collagen & Hyaluronic Acid; Photo 6:FIRMA BEAUTY: 403 Round Blending Brush





Multiple makeup products and makeup bags. Text reads: "Ultima Beauty Best of ipsy 2020"



XOXO

Ultima Beauty




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