Here is our latest installment of the best of our Idea Gallery for the month of April.  Whether you prefer bold colors that grab attention, or neutral shades that enhance your natural beauty, there is something here for everyone. (See our last few months’ roundups)

Just click on each individual picture to visit the original Idea Gallery post for a complete list of products and more pictures.  Under each image, we’ve also included some tips for each look to give you an idea on how to accomplish the look.

Enjoy these beautiful selections!

Minnie Mouse by olennka177

Blue, purples and pink create this stunning look. To mimic this look, make sure to keep the colors below the crease. Begin by applying a blue shade on the outer 1/3 of your eye. Next, with a flat stiff brush, place a purple shade of your choice on the eye overlapping where the blue ended. This will eliminate any harsh lines. Bring the purple color in until you have a little over ½ of the way. Next, apply your favorite pink shade just like you did the purple. Follow the same steps for under the eyes as well.  Pair with dramatic lashes and you are all ready.

Acid Sunset by Meredith Jessica

A combination of Makeup Geek and Sugarpill eyeshadows create this vibrant look. Begin with Sugarpill’s Poison Plum and a small dome brush such as the Makeup Geek Outer V Brush, place the Poison Plum in the outer v portion on the eye and blend up into the crease and blend out. Next, with a flat stiff brush, pat Makeup Geek’s Mango Tango onto the lid coming in 1/3 of the way. Repeat this process using Makeup Geek’s Manderine. Lastly, apply Sugarpill’s Buttercupcake to the inner 1/3. Apply a soft wash of the shades under the eye using the Outer V Brush. Apply false lashes to the top and you’re done.

Tropical Mood by Joanna

Using a combination of Makeup Geek and Inglot, our artist created a perfect colorful look for day or night. Using a flat, stiff brush, apply Inglot’s loose pigment #17, or for a perfect dupe, Makeup Geek’s Pixie Dust, all over the lower lid. Place a soft wash of Makeup Geek’s Corrupt in the crease and blend out with Makeup Geek’s Twilight. Use Shimma Shimma under the brow bone as a highlight and in the inner corner; place Makeup Geek’s Mermaid under the eye coming in ¾ of the way. Line the waterline and set by gently patting on Mermaid with a thin liner brush. (Yes, the Makeup Geek eyeshadows are safe for the waterline) Perfect for a soft, yet colorful summer look.

Natural Crease Cut by Kristianathe

Nothing is more stunning than a perfect cut crease and here soft washes of color help create a remarkable look. The key to this look is using the MAC #266 or any small angled brush for the cut crease. Pick up a small amount of black and draw a thin line following the natural crease of your eye. Place a dark purple from the 88 palette over the black and blend slightly upward. Pick up a taupe color and blend out with a pencil brush. Create a small cat eye effect by slightly winging out your liner. Line your waterline and blend out with a pencil brush. Apply your favorite lashes and you have a perfect, soft yet stunning cut crease.

Blue Jay by bitterstarlite

For you more daring Muggies, this one is for you. Using Urban Decay and Wet ‘n’ Wild helped our artist create this dramatic look. Begin by filling in the 1/3 of your eyebrow with a black eyeshadow using a small angled brush and the rest with a vibrant blue. The key to this look is those “feathers”.  Using a soft pencil like the Urban Decay 24/7 pencil in Zero, begin making short black strokes on the outer ½ to 1/3 of your eyelid, depending on the size of your eyes. On the bottom the marks should begin where your lashes begin. Create fewer in the inner part of the eye and make them wider coming out. This will give your eye and sort of cat eye appearance. Remember; don’t over think this…HAVE FUN!!!

Sweet & Sour Spring Look by Petja

The perfect look for perfect sunny day!  The key to this look is the bright, bold shades. Use a layer of NYX’s Jumbo Pencil in Milk all over eyelid. This will act as a base and allow the color to pop off the lid.  Make sure you blend the crease colors well to create a soft wash of color there. The star of this look is that pop of color on the lids. Add a white liner to the waterline to open the eyes, and add long dramatic lashes to bring this look together.

Lace Eye by MarilynMUA

Here’s another one for you not so faint at heart. Here our artist used a combination of Ben Nye, Inglot and drugstore makeup to create this spectacular look. This look is all about that lace! With a small angled liner brush, or with a felt tip liquid liner, create a strong dramatic line all the way from the inner corner of the eye just past the eyebrow. This line needs to be thicker than normal. Go back and create a curl at the inner corner of the eye. Now create a series of curls and circles mimicking a lace pattern. Apply a pair of wispy false lashes and you have lace eyes everyone will envy.

Carribean Accent by katosu

Just like a warm tropical island, this look is spectacular. Using one MAC eyeshadow and our very own Makeup Geek shadows, this look will look great on everyone. This look is all about perfectly placed pops of color. Put MAC’s Deep Truth under the lower lashline coming in ½ of the way. Brush on Makeup Geek’s Fuji where the Deep Truth ends and bring in the rest of the way. Apply a small amount of liner to your to your top lashline and add mascara. Easy and stunning!

Tamed Orange by Joanna

A soft, neutral eye can be just as stunning as a bold eye and here is the perfect example using Makeup Geek eyeshadows. Apply Shimma Shimma over the eyelid. Place Bada Bing in the crease and blend out with Chickadee.  Using a smudger brush, smudge Corrupt along the upper lashline.  Smudge the color Burlesque in the outer corner to darken the look up just a bit, and also just under the edge of the lower lashline.  Use Shimma Shimma under the brow bone as a highlight and under the eye where the Burlesque was placed. A stunning and simple eye for every occasion!

Juicy Pastels by Katosu

A perfect example of how to get a stunning eye using only 3 colors, this sunny, summer eye is captivating and easy! Here our artist uses our very own Makeup Geek eyeshadows. First, pat Wisteria onto the lid with a flat stiff brush to create a soft wash of color on the lid. Use a fluffy dome brush to sweep the shade Mango Tango into the crease making sure not to leave any harsh lines. With a small dome brush, place Yellow Brick Road all the way under the eye coming in to the inner corner. Add a small line of eyeliner to the upper half of your lashline. Curl your lashes and apply your favorite mascara.  A striking yet simple look!

Golden Sunrise by Meredith Jessica

Once again, our artist uses a combination of Makeup Geek and Sugarpill eyeshadows to create this stunning golden look. The look here is about creating an eye starting from the outside coming in to the center of the eye. Adding the perfect pop of color the waterline adds just the right amount of dimension. Use NYX’s Milk to line the waterline and set with Afterparty by Sugarpill. Curl your lashes and add mascara and you have a perfect sunrise eye!

Sea and Earth by MadamNoire

Perfect for you gals with hazel or brown eyes, this look is gorgeous.  This technique is all about using just few shades to give you a dramatic eye. Just remember not to leave any harsh lines in above the crease area. Use a white liner to line the rims of your eyes and set with Makeup Geek’s Gold Digger. Also, place a dot of the Gold Digger in the inner corner.  Stunning and easy, this eye is perfect for any occasion.

Portrait Ready by jessk

Simple and breathtaking, this look will turn heads everywhere. Perfect to pair with a bright red lip! This stunning look uses only two Makeup Geek eyeshadows and is perfect for those days when you don’t have a lot of time to spend on your makeup.  Lightly place Preppy all over the lid and blend the shade Mocha into the crease. By just using a couple of shades on your eyelids and winging out your liner you can achieve a striking eye in no time at all!

Wearable look with peacock and fuji by Silje Beate

For those of you who want a simple eye with some color then this is the ideal one.  Using only 3 eyeshadows by Makeup Geek, the secret to this look is to concentrate the color Peacock in the outer corner and blend it into the crease.  Blend the shade Fuji above that and under the entire lower lash line.  The soft wash of color under the eyes a winged out liner bring this look together effortlessly.

Inspired by the dragon from “Enchanted” by starryskies214

This colorful smokey eye is spectacular!  This look uses all Makeup Geek eyeshadows. To make sure this look is as remarkable on you as it is here, make sure you layer your colors well and blend well where two shades meet. Wing out the outer 1/3 of your top lashline and line your upper and lower waterlines. Curl your lashes and apply mascara. A stunning, colorful smokey eye!

Dark by nadinee101

Believe it or not, this dark, smoldering smokey eye only uses 4 Makeup Geek eyeshadows. So if you have always wanted to try something like this but always felt too intimidated then here is the perfect opportunity. To recreate this dramatic look, apply Corrupt under the eye from the inner corner to the outer corner. With the color Razzleberry, blend a small amount on the outer part of the eye right above the Corrupt only placing it on the outer 1/3 of the eye. Keep the line pretty crisp, you don’t want this to have a blended look. Use Vanilla Bean as under the brow bone as a highlight.  Add a pair of dramatic lashes and you are all set!

Unexpected Mermaid by Joanna

A soft, demure smokey eye is stunning and this is an eye-catching take on just that. Using Makeup Geek eyeshadows, our artist demonstrates how soft hues can be as alluring as dramatic ones.  Make sure your colors are well blended to create the perfect gradient effect seen here. Use a universal shade like Unexpected to blend out the crease color. Wing out your liner on the top of your eyelids, curl your lashes and apply your mascara or a set of false lashes.

Lime Green & Bright Blue Look for Spring by starryskies214

Sultry, smokey eyes don’t always have to be dark and this is a perfect example of that. Using Makeup Geek eyeshadows, our artist shows us a great way to create a colorful smokey eye. Apply NYX’s Pearl Mania in Lime or for a dupe Makeup Geek’s Pixie Dust to the lower lid coming up to the crease.  Use the same color all the way along the lower lashline. Use Makeup Geek’s Poolside and blend in the outer v and into the crease area coming up slightly. Use the same shade and apply it along the lower lashline just beneath the other shade that was placed there earlier coming in ½ to ¾ of the way.  Use a tiny bit of Corrupt to intensify the outer v section of the eye. Using a fluffy dome brush, place Gold Digger above the Poolside feathering out any harsh lines. Use White Lies under the brow bone as a highlight. Use a small amount of Shimma Shimma in the inner corner to allow the eyes to pop. A perfect eye for our MUGs who love some color!

Contributor:  Jangsara:   http://jangsara.blogspot.com/

Products Used:

• Palladio eyeshadow primer (Makeup Geek Store)
• NYX Jumbo pencil Milk – base (MakeupGeek Store)
• Sugarpill Midori – Lid (Makeup Geek Store)
• Sugarpill Bulletproof – Crease, lower lashline (Makeup Geek Store)
• Sugarpill Afterparty – Crease, lower lashline  (Makeup geek Store)
• Sugarpill Darling Chromalust – Blending  (Makeup Geek Store)
• Sugarpill Lumi – highlight (Makeup Geek Store)
• NYX Black pencil liner (Makeup Geek Store)
• Mascara
• Sugarpill Flutter false lashes (Makeup Geek Store)

Start with priming your eye, and then applying light/white base (I used NYX jumbo pencil Milk):

Then apply Sugarpill Midori to the lid:

Next Sugarpill Bulletproof to outer corner and crease:

Apply Sugarpill Afterparty, apply it slightly over Bulletproof too :

Blend with Sugarpill Darling chromalust:

Apply Sugarpill Lumi chromalust to highlight and line your lower lashline with black pencil:

Blend the lower lashline with Bulletproof and a hint of Afterparty:

Line your upper lashline:

Apply mascara:

Attach falsies, I used Sugarpill Flutter lashes. I also added some Lumi to lower inner corner:

Tadah, look is done!

I used some clear lipgloss and mix of Sugarpill Lumi & Darling chromalust to create matching lips:

One without the wig:

Youtube Link | Meredith Jessica’s Other Looks | Youtube Channel

Nothing is more intriguing than a smoldering, smokey eye. Here, Meredith Jessica a.k.a. Pigments and Palettes, has created a stunning deep green and gold smokey eye using Makeup Geek eyeshadows. Perfect for a night out with friends, or to grab the attention of special someone, this elegant and classic look is sure to become a quick favorite. This is also a good chance to use some of the Makeup Geek shadows you have had but haven’t been sure what to do with.

Face

	100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Chiffon Blush Available at: Amazon
	Too Faced Shadow Insurance Available at: Amazon, eBay

Eyes

	Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Pan – Corrupt Available at: Makeup Geek
	Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Pan – Envy Available at: Makeup Geek
	Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Pan – Mermaid Available at: Makeup Geek
	Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Pan – Sea Mist Available at: Makeup Geek
	Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Pan – Shimmermint Available at: Makeup Geek
	Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Pan – White Lies Available at: Makeup Geek
	NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil – Black Bean Available at: Makeup Geek
	Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Pencil – Zero Available at: Urban Decay

Lips

	Lancome Lip Liner – Ideal Available at: Sephora
	Nano Lip Liner – Native Nude Available at: Sephora
	Rouge Cream Lipstick – Cool Beigey Brown Available at: Sephora

Get the Look

• Begin with a good eyeshadow primer such as Too Faced Shadow Insurance, Urban Decay Primer Potion or Palladio Eye Primer and apply a thin even coat to the entire eyelid.
• With a small brush like Makeup Geek’s Detail Brush, transfer NYX’s Black Bean onto the inner and outer corner of your eyes coming in 1/3 of the way and connecting the color in the crease. Don’t worry if this looks messy, it will be blended out. This step is to help intensify the color of the eyeshadow that will be placed over it.
• Using a small brush like the Makeup Geek Small Crease Brush, blend the black color out to match your eye shape. When blended out properly the color should look faded to a light grey color. Remember, you are just using this as a base for your black eyeshadow.
• Now take Makeup Geek’s Corrupt and using the same small crease brush apply the Corrupt over where you placed the NYX’s Black Bean. It is important to remember that Corrupt is very highly pigmented and a little goes a long way. Start with a little, you can always go back and add more to get the intensity you desire.
• With a fluffy dome brush like the Makeup Geek Crease Brush, blend out any harsh lines from the black you have placed on your eye. You want the color to fade gradually as it goes toward your brow bone.
• Now with your Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Pencil in Zero, or any black eyeliner of your choice, line the inner and outer half of you lower lid. You are recreating the same effect on your bottom lash line that you did on your eyelid.
• Using a smudge brush like the Makeup Geek Eyeliner Smudge Brush, gently smudge out the eyeliner that you just placed on the bottom of you eyelashes. Make sure NOT to connect the color, you want an open space between the black.
• With the Makeup Geek’s Sea Mist, and a small dome brush like the Makeup Geek Small Crease Brush, or for smaller eyes the Makeup Geek Outer V Brush, begin to work this color above your natural crease over lapping the edge of the black.
• Apply the same color, Sea Mist on the outer corner under the eye where you have the black placed. Make sure not to completely cover the black.
• Now with Makeup Geek’s Mermaid and using a fluffy dome brush, blend the color right above where you placed the Sea Mist. Once again, you want this to barely overlap the previous color so it begins to create a gradient effect. Blend the color up to the brow bone fading the color as you go.
• At this point you may need to go back and retouch some of the shades you have already placed to get the desired amount of pigment you want on your eyes. You can make this as dark or as light as you want.
• Grab the stunning shade Shimmermint, and a flat stiff brush such as the Makeup Geek Flat Eye Brush. This brush is great for pick up and packing a lot of pigment onto your eyes. Place the color Shimmermint on the center of the eyelid between the black. Keep patting until it is blends seamlessly. Blending this shade with in the middle of the other two colors will give it a gold toned appearance.
• Wipe off your smudge brush and take a mix of Corrupt and Envy and place in the crease to help redefine it and add depth and dimension.
• With the same brush, and mixture of Envy and Corrupt, run the brush along the lower lashline to blend out the liner you placed earlier.
• Again, wipe off your fluffy dome brush or grab a new one, and place Makeup Geek’s White Lies to the brow bone as your highlight color and to blend out the color Mermaid you placed there earlier.
• Take Urban Decay’s 24/7 liner again, or a black liner of your choice, and line the top of your eyelid close to your eyelashes.
• Also, with your eyeliner, line the upper and lower waterlines. Lining the upper waterline (tightlining) will help create the effect of fuller lashes.
• To connect the upper and lower lids, take the shade Mermaid once again and your small dome brush and blend the color on the outer portion of your eyes going over the edge of the black coming in 1/2 of the way.
• Finally, for the inner corner apply the shade Shimmermint over the edge of the black to lighten up the eye and keep it from looking too dark. Blend the two colors together meeting in the middle of your lower lashline.
• Curl your lashes and add a couple of coats of your favorite mascara.
• Keep the cheeks delicate by adding a soft pink shade to the apples of the cheeks and blend back toward the hairline.
• For the lips, use a barely there nude color or even just a sheer gloss for a soft wash of color. Remember, the eyes are the center of attention with this look.

Endless Possibilities

Add a dot of Makeup Geek’s White Lies to the inner corner to pop open the eyes. A great pair of false lashes with this look will add depth and drama. You could also add a few individual lashes to the lower, outer corner of the eye for more intensity. If you want to add more gold to the middle of the eye, opt to use Makeup Geeks Gold Digger or apply a small amount over the Shimmermint.

And there you have it, the perfect dark green and gold smokey eye. Perfect for you brown, blue and even you green eyed babes. The colors work wonderfully with every eye color and draw out hazel eyes as well. No matter whether you choose to play it up, or tone it down, it’s the ideal smokey eye that will grab tons of attention.

The 6 shades in this collection are:
Anardana (azalea pink), Ratin Jot (orchid purple), Amchoor (bright yellow), Kutki (powder blue), Koliary (cyan blue), and Lal Mirchi (mandarin red, available only at NARS 413 Bleecker Street Boutique).

The shades that I was sent for review were Amchoor (not pictured below), Anardana, Koliary, Kutki, and Trouville (a seashell pink and not part of the Thakoon collection).

All NARS polishes have UV protection to prevent polish discoloration, an advanced polymer system to provide extended wear, chip resistance, incredible luster, shine, and are big three free. NARS is a cruelty-free brand.

Amchoor is a stunning warm yellow that really grabs your attention. Yellow polishes are notorious for being difficult to apply but this one applied fairly easily. I applied two coats on the nail wheel.

Koliary is a bright sky blue. It actually made me think of Makeup Geek Poolside as I always love eyeshadows this shade and this polish was easy to fall in love with it. I applied two coats on the nail wheel and two on my nails with ease.

Kutki is a light blue that reminds me of Tiffany blue. I don’t typically reach for this color in nail polish but I bet it would be great for layering.

Anardana is a raspberry pink. I really love this sort of bright loud pink, both in nail polish and lipstick. It applied like a dream.

Trouville is a sort of warm cotton candy pink shade that I unexpectedly loved when I put it on. I don’t usually reach for pale pinks like that. It applied easily and it’s definitely girly. It’s not part of the Thakoon collection.

While I didn’t start out as a fan of creme nail polish, I now see them as endless possibilities for layering. These polishes are utterly gorgeous and look stunning on their own as well. The NARS nail polish formula is great to work with and I really love the shine.

The polishes retail for $18 at NARS or Sephora.

My favorites out of the collection are Anardana and Koliary.

What do you think of the Thakoon for NARS nail collection? Do you see any must have shades?

Products sent for consideration. All opinions are my own.

Written by Phyrra of Phyrra.net

“What if I don’t own the Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Starter Kit?” Don’t worry; the Weekly Challenge will be back to normal next week! We just wanted to take the opportunity to thank our customers, celebrate the Makeup Geek brand, and get you guys some great prizes!

In case you couldn’t tell from the title of this post, the Challenge requires the use of at least some of the colors from the Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Starter Kit.   While the only shadows you can use in the look have to be from this lineup (Cocoa Bear, Mocha, Glamourous, Purely Naked, Shimma Shimma, Purple Rain, Unexpected, and/or Corrupt), you can use some other products such as eye liner, lashes, primer, etc as long as the Starter Kit colors are the primary color.  (Liners should only be accents).  Please be sure to list all the products you used in your look.

These are two categories you can enter into:  One is a more creative/dramatic look and the other is a more simple but glamorous look — something you might wear to work, school, or social gathering.   You can submit one entry for each category.

The Reward

The reward for this challenge is a unique opportunity to try out our yet-to-be released-to-the-public Makeup Geek Lipsticks! The lipsticks are due to be released in about a month, but the winers of this challenge will get to try these out before anyone else!

The two winners of this challenge will get 6 different preview units – which means the lipstick tubes will be missing their logo and cap screen-printing, (we are still working on this!), but they will have name labels and the artwork on the lipstick box will be completed.

Win Preview Units of the upcoming Makeup Geek Lipsticks (no printing on tubes)

Product Requirements for This Challenge:

• The only eyeshadows used can be from the Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Starter Kit: Cocoa Bear, Mocha, Glamourous, Purely Naked, Shimma Shimma, Purple Rain, Unexpected, and/or Corrupt
• You do not need to use all of the shadows in the kit
• You can use other non-eyeshadow products such as lashes, primer, etc.

Other Rules:

• Challenge begins Monday, May 7th and ends Friday, May 18th at midnight EST
• Post photos of your look here in the forum
• Only 2 looks per person, and the work must be your own
• You must list the full list of products used in your look
• Winner will be announced Tuesday, May 22nd
• Prize will be 6 preview units of Makeup Geek Lipsticks (only has name labels — no tube printing yet)
• The spirit of these challenges is to practice & create something new, thus to enter a look into a Weekly Challenge please create a look specifically for this challenge, i.e. do not upload a photo that was taken for another purpose.
• In one of your photos, please take a picture of yourself holding the products you used in the look (minus the lashes, if used)
• Do not edit or alter your images – images that have been altered will be disqualified.
• Only two entires/person. You may not create other user names to get out of this rule.
• Any entry that is suspected of violating these rules will be deleted, and the user disqualified. Repeat offenders will be banned from entering future competitions. If you have an issue with this, or believe you are not in violation of the rules, please contact Mariella or Jessica by pm.
• Two winners chosen — one for the most creative look, and one for the most elegant, but simple look.  Photography is VERY important with these entries (see our photography guide and how to choose a camera)
• This challenge is open to anyone of any age and from any country

To celebrate Marlena’s return back to the States and summer warming up, we wanted to offer an awesome discount of more than 20% off all the Makeup Geek Eyeshadows including select bundles

BTW: If you aren’t familiar with our new shadows, check out Marlena’s intro of the Starter Kit, her 10 favorite shadows, and these reviews from other Youtubers, bloggers, and fans.

We ship worldwide – International shipping starts at only $5 USD

This sale will run between Monday, May 7th through Sunday, May 13th and while supplies last. No coupon is needed for this sale.  Here’s the breakdown of the sale…

Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Pans – $4.79 each

[Regularly $5.99] These our easliy, our best-selling products now — and for good reason.  The quality of these shadows is in the same league as the big brands without paying the premium price.  And, if you’re planning on collecting a lot of these shadows, storing these pans in a palette (like Z-Palettes or MAC Pro Palettes) is much more afforable in the long run.

Shop for the Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Pans!

Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Compacts – $6.39 each

[Regularly $7.99] We now also have our eyeshadows in compact form. This is ideal for those of you who are uncertain about trying to fill a whole palette, just want a few to throw in your makeup bag and take with you, or don’t want to make a huge investment just starting off. These are the same impressive quality that is in our pans, just in a convenient compact. If you have completely fallen in love with Makeup Geek eyeshadow pans and want to get a few compacts for on the go, this is the perfect time.

Shop for the Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Compacts!

Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Pan Starter Kit – $32.99

[Regularly $45] The Makeup Geek Starter Kit is perfect for anyone who has yet to try these astonishing eyeshadows. These eight shades are the ones that are most frequently used in the videos. For those of us who have purchased this already and may be running low on several of these incredible shadows, this is a great opportunity to buy again.  At just a little of $4 per eyeshadow, this is the most cost effective way to begin your collection or refill you palette!

Shop for the Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Pan Starter Kit!

Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Pan Color Expansion Kit- $35.99

[Regularly $45] If you are looking to ramp up the colors in your collection this is a can’t miss opportunity.  Chosen specifically by Marlena herself, these eight shades are the ones she recommends the most in addition to the Starter Kit. If you have felt intimidated by bright eyeshadows in the past, or you want to try some of the more vivid colors in the collection, this is the perfect time to try them without worrying about the cost.  At an average cost of $4.50 per eyeshadow, this is a unbeatable deal for such pigmented shades.

Shop for the Makeup Geek Eyeshadow Pan Color Expansion Kit!

Bonus: All Remaining Makeup Geek T-Shirts – $4.99 each

[Regularly $12] We have just a handful of these fitted white T-shirts left. We over-ordered on a few sizes and would like to offer them to your below cost. If you are a true Makeup Geek then you are going to want one of these!  The shirts have a great v-neck cut and are fitted just enough to show off your curves. It sports a tapered neck and shoulders and is 100% cotton. Perfect for this warm summer weather.  You probably won’t find a Markeup Geek t-shirt this cheap once these sell out.

Shop for the Makeup Geek T-shirts!

We just updated our list compilation of reviews featuring the Makeup Geek Eyeshadows (now also available as compacts) — We’ve had so much love pouring in about our shadows, it’s been a challenge to keep up with it all.

We want to say a sincere thanks to those who have purchased the shadows so far, and we wanted to share a collection of reviews from around the Net for those of you who want some additional opinions of the quality of the eyeshadows before diving in yourself…

Review by BettyGirlMakeup:

Youtube Link

“Overall, I think the colors are divine!

It’s like the Makeup Geek shadows are filled to the brim; giving you all the product you could possibly have

Right now, across the board, I mean, it’s A+ for me”

Review by EmsLuv4Makeup:

Youtube Link

“Great pigmentation compared to MAC!

The price is wonderful!

I would definitely recommend trying a couple of colors from MUG eyeshadows! I do believe they have great potential, and they blend well. They’re smooth, and I just really,  honestly do love them!”

Review by ShadesOfKassie

Youtube Link

“They are very, very pigmented. And very creamy. They are very smooth, very blendible. I don’t find them to be chalky or have a lot of fallout.

I love that there are so many matte shades to choose from.

A lot of them are pretty unique shades… I find some of them to be more pigmented and a little bit more blendable and creamy than MAC.”

Review by TheBeautyBags

Youtube Link

“The eyeshadow quality is PHENOMENAL – completely comparible if not better than MAC.

What I love about these shadows: even though there are some that are shimmery they aren’t glitter-bombs, which is really nice.

I think because Marlena is a really experienced makeup artist, she kind of took all the really good qualities of brands like Urban Decay and MAC and incorperated them into her product and eliminated the bad things about some of those brands.

She has a wonderful mix of matte and shimmer and they are all pigmented regardless of the finish.

I can’t rave about these enough.”

Review by MakeupJunkieNikki

Youtube Link | Blog Review w/ Swatches

“It’s so creamy. It’s so Smooth. Very easy to work with. Very blendable. Absolutely gorgeous.”

“This is my my all-time favorite highlight color. If you have to buy any of these shadows, you have to buy Shimma Shimma. It’s the best. I love it.”

“I don’t think I’ve found a black that is this crazy-intense… [Corrupt] is just insane… it blends so nice.”

Review by kristingehm

YouTube Link

“Holy Pigmentation… BOY, that’s really nice!”
“Holy Payoff, Batman! That is some serious blackage!… [Corrupt's] blacker than [MAC] Carbon”

See Another Video from kristingehm with more swatching

Review by MakeupNirvana101:

Youtube Link

“I was SOOOOO surprised! Pigment payoff is awesome. They blend beautifully. The colors are absolutely gorgeous!

I’m just going tell you right now. I’m gonna run, not walk, and I’m going to purchase some more of these. I have been so impressed with these eyeshadows.”

Review by AnnieFinlandBeauty:

Youtube Link

“I intend to order more of the Makeup Geek shadows.

I’m like HALLELUJAH! Praise the Makeup Gods because I LOVE these!

Once I stop filming, I’m going to go and order more of these shadows.”

Review by Smashinbeauty

Youtube Link

“MUG shadows….amazing!

If you are a professional, seriously consider these shadows!”

Review by TBeautyBox

Youtube Link

“I can’t complain about the eyeshadows. They’re absolutely fabulous!

Congratulations to Marlena! I’m a huge fan of the Makeup Geek eyeshadows!”

Review by cosmoelectra:

Youtube Link

“The pigmentation is really, really good!

It’s just beautiful. I really love this color! [Poolsode].

It has really good color pay-off [Wisteria].”

Review by makeupbymsvalie

YouTube Link (embed not available)

“These are some of the best shadows I have ever come across in my life — and I have used a ton of different brands.”
“It’s an amazing deal”
“It’s unbelievable… I love, LOVE Cocoa Bear”

Other YouTube Reviews

• Helenemonblogdefille (French)
• AccioGlamour
• ThePoisonPlum
• collegegottodowithit
• girlybriditte
• SusieJoey (course language)

From Beauty Blogs

Musing On Beauty:

“Shimma Shimma:  the perfect inner corner or browbone highlight, also very nice wash shade to combine with a dark matte crease and some liner.
Pretentious: gorgeous all over color, I like to wear it on its own with dark brow liner, like I would do with UD Deeper, for example.
Twilight:  I do find it’s a very nice crease or blending shade, that reminds me a bit of Mac Style Snob.
Moondust: The pigmentation is absolutely awesome and the texture is really buttery soft. Not only is this color unique, I think the quality is also incredible.”  (Read Full Review and See Swatches)

Luuux:

“They are SO incredibly affordable! Each eyeshadow is only $5.99, a fraction of the price as MAC…. They blend like a dream!  … Wears ALL day, I personally have had no problems with fading or creasing. I definitely plan on purchasing more from [Makeup Geek], and soon!”  (Read Full Review and See Swatches)

My Makeup Issues:

“I have never seen a black like Corrupt before. This is hit me in the eye BLACK. If you are looking for a black eyeshadow with crazy payoff, look no further.
These are all high quality eyeshadows that could seriously pass for high end eyeshadows.  For $5.99 each, there is nothing on the market in my mind that can compare.
It looks like there is a new kid in town…” (Read Full Review and See Swatches)

Namaste Beauty:

The overall quality of these MakeupGeek Eyeshadows is very good. I did find differences from one finish to the next, but overall the quality is good. My favorite color is Cocoa Bear. I find it a unique warm reddish brown color… I love the quantity of eyeshadow that you get for the price. I found they really compare with the higher quality brands but at a fraction of the price, so Marlena might be unto something. The warm brownish colors were my favorite, simply beautiful. I didn’t get to try many of the bright colors, but the 2 I have I found ok, can’t say I was crazy about them, but didn’t dislike them either. Overall, I was impressed with the quality and the quantity, and would recommend them if you’re looking for an alternative to higher priced eye shadows out there”  (Read Full Review and See Swatches)

Squared Nails:

“Quality is excellent, as is the color range. I love that there are a wide selection of matte shadows. I also love that the shimmery shades aren’t a shimmer explosion like other brands can be. And unlike MAC, Makeup Geek has an excellent light to medium gray matte shade, which is harder to find than you might think.

Most of the shades I got I would repurchase – there are few shades that I didn’t think complemented my skin tone very well, but would work with tanner skin tones (Purely Naked in particular). Some were just a little too yellow or orange toned for me, but would work with other skin tones. I also love the names of these – very original and charming. I love the purples, and my favorite shade is Twilight, I’ve worn it twice, and already gotten a compliment! My only complaint is that there are so many cool colors – I want to try more!”  (Read Full Review & See Swatches)

GlittlerGirlC:

“ I absolutely love them <3 They’re extremely pigmented and the smoothest eyeshadows I’ve ever tried! They just feel like velvet on your skin. They’re also easy to apply and I have no trouble blending them. The colours Marlena has picked out for this kit are gorgeous and will work great for any occasion; There are matte colours you can wear during the day and more shimmery ones that you can use at night. Underneath you can see some swatches I did of the eyeshadows, but I don’t feel like the pictures do them justice!”  (Read Full Review & See Swatches)

Booyah Beauty:

“Overall rating:

Booyah!

(considering the price and pigmentation, not to mention the color choices) …

I can’t wait to try out the other shades of the 50 currently offered.” (Read Full Review and See Swatches)

Scarlet Hearts…:

“I am truly ecstatic to say that I have ZERO regret with my decision [...to buy the eye shadows]!

I have tried all eight shadows [Starter Kit] and love them all.

My favourite colour so far is Glamorous, a BEAUTIFUL golden brown that is a perfect dupe for LORAC’s Serenity eyeshadow at about a quarter of the price – amazing!!”

(Read Full Review)

Makeup Junkie Nikki

“These Shadows are high quality without the price tag! I would easily put them in the same category as MAC! Now that’s a bold statement! They are smooth, creamy & very easy to blend. You do need to buy your own palette to put them in, such as, MAC palettes or Z Palettes (which you can buy off of Makeup geek). I do wish that the shadow pans were magnetic so they could just be slapped right into a palette, but I can let that go because these are AMAZING!!!! Lets not forget about the adorable packaging. It’s so cute… Love it right down to the print on the eye shadow folder. Every detail was taught of.   ”   (Read Full Review & See Swatches)

Phyrra:

“The shadows lasted all day on TFSI, including through tears! I was impressed.

Like with the previous Makeup Geek shadows that I’ve played with, these are nicely pigmented. They apply easily and blend well.

I’m happy with my latest acquisitions, so you can expect me to continue to do looks with them.”

(Read Full Review #1 and See Swatches)

(Read Full Review #2 and See Swatches)

Facepaintisgreat:

“These shadows go on very easy without feeling chalky and have GREAT color payoff, especially when used with a base.

If your looking for a new line of makeup to add to your collection I would highly reccomend these shadows, oh and guess what…there $5.99 a piece and there are 50 shades to choose from!! That’s a deal for a shadow of this quality!!

(Read Full Review and See Swatches)

You’ve Got Nail:

“I am so impressed with these. 

Longevity wise, these last all day so long as you use a good, sticky primer as your base. I haven’t noticed any creasing during the day or fading when using a primer.

In the end, I’m happy to have supported Marlena but I’m ten times happier that I’ve found a great brand, that prices fairly, and where the products are the equivalent of MAC products in every way.”

(Read Full Review and See Swatches)

Fierce Makeup and Nails:

“ I have been playing around with these new eye shadows for the past week, and can I just say I love them! 

They are so vibrant, rich and pigmented. I can’t even begin to explain how awesome they are.”

(Read Full Review and See Swatches)

Make Up Like Graffiti:

“The colors are beautiful and there’s a great variety to choose from.

Bottom line, I really like them and I can’t wait to get more…”

(Read Full Review and See Swatches)

 A Brush With Colour:

“All in all MUG shadows, the ones I’ve bought so far, are awesome! Every single one has great colour pay off.

I la la love these shadows!! GO MARLENA!!”

(Read Full Review and See Swatches)

My Makeup Issues:

“[Moondust] I will be happily wearing this colour for months to come!

[Sensuous] I LOVE THIS COLOUR! This colour is gorgeous! It is by far my favourite MUG eyeshadow to date. It is smooth and looks amazing. It wears like a dream and doesn’t fade!”

(Read Full Review and See Swatches)

My Pintastic Life:

“So far I am really liking these shadows. They are velvety smooth, have great pigmentation and a little more affordable than Mac or even Makeup Forever…. Overall I really like these Makeup Geek Shadows. Will do a look with them soon for you all. Will def get more from the collection in the future!”   (Read Full Review & See Swatches)

Beauty By Lee:

“When I found out that Marlena (the face of Makeup Geek) was now selling eye shadows under the makeup geek brand I had to try them out and here is my honest thought on some of the shadows, “boy am I happy I tried them” these eye shadows are extremely Pigmented smooth and the colors are just to die for.”   (Read Full Review & See Pictures)

MakeupBulldog:

“The eyeshadows are very pigmented and are the same size as MAC’s refill pans, which is handy if you have an empty MAC palette lying around. In my case, I don’t so they are in the Z- Palette…Overall I think these shadows are great and thats not because I’m a fan of Makeup Geek. You definitely get your moneys worth on these and they are such good quality, unlike the others like Coastal Scents. MAC charges about $11.50 for their eyeshadows. I will definitely make more purchases of Makeup Geek Shadows. ”  (See Full Review & Swatches)

From Facebook

Susan:

“I just received ur stater kit and they are AMAZING!!! Luv them more than UD NAKED2 pallet and I’m telling all my beauties this on my YouTube channel!! U need more In Stock for the other single pan colors cuz I have to make a HUGE pallet!! THANK U!!! ”

From Ricklynn:

“MUG eyeshadows are the best shadows created! Bye-bye MAC, hello MUG ”

From Jessica:

“I GOT MY STARTER KIT TODAY AND THE LOOKS I HAVE ALREADY CREATED ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!! I think I will be switching from MAC to Marlena’s line!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for the the free Palladio Green eyeliner, it really makes my green eyes pop!!!!!! Great product, EVERYONE must purchase!”

From “Bandanas and Headbands by AmeeraDesigns”:

“Omg!!! I am just opening my mail box and my shadows are here!!!! Thanks Marlena! Really pigmented as Deborah said, cream texture can’t wait to use them all ??? All the colors are extremely beauty, can’t tell which one is my fav! They fit in my Mac palette as well, but need to add a little piece of magnet to stay in. Congrats Marlena, so far is what I expect and just luv them all! Thanks again ?”

Marine

“I’m in love with shimma shimma!!! So smooth, so sweet color!! A lil bit shiny!! And so classy to wear!!

Stefanie 

“Corrupt. So pigmented. Don’t even use eyeliner just the shadow.”

Jessica 

“I love sensuous for its beautiful shade of purple and the gold flecks in it.”

Julianne 

“ At first when I received chickadee I thought what a horrible looking color I will probably never use it, oh my was I wrong!! It is a PERFECT crease color to accent any type of look, I use it all the time!!!”

Barbara 

“Although I love all of the MUG shadows I own, Moondust is by far my favorite. It is so unique and gives a beautiful glow to my eyelids.”

From Hannah

“Got my makeup geek eyeshadows today and they are all so amazing. The pigmentation is awesome. Love them all and looking forward to making another purchase. I cannot wait for the blushes to launch:)”

From Tara:

“Just got my shipment of new eyeshadows in from MakeupGeek.com!!! Marlena you are AWESOME!!! I will be doing a review on these inexpensive shadows shortly!!! They r high quality just like MAC but without the price to go with them!!! What an amazing job you did Marlena!!!! Thanks!! ”

From Deborah:

“Just got the starter kit in the mail. Amazing quality – buttery cream texture, excellent payoff, gorgeous colors – can’t wait to play. Also, the packaging is awesome and it was shipped well with great care.”

From Meghan:

“Finally got my starter kit today!! Super excited to use them for work tonight… The texture is amazing!”

Prom season is here!  You’ve found the perfect dress and hairstyle. You even bought those killer heels you’ve been eyeing for weeks. Everything is ready except your makeup.  And with so many different looks to choose from it’s important to test them and see which one you like best. While getting ready for prom can be a bit overwhelming, it can also be a lot of fun.  Not sure where to start? Here are some pointers to get you going in the right direction.

Foundation

Let’s start with the basics, your skin.  It’s important to make sure your skin is in the best shape it can be for your big night.  This means hydrating your skin from the inside and out.  Drink plenty of water!  This will also help with breakouts before the big night. Also, make sure you use a good moisturizer to keep you skin from drying out.

Not all foundations are created equal and they won’t provide you with the coverage you need to really even out your skin for pictures. If you have one that you love and works well then stick with it. You don’t want to be trying one for the first time the night of the prom.

If you haven’t found one yet that gives you the coverage you want now is the time to try different ones.  Check out “The Best: Top 10 Foundations” for a list of great foundations, the finish and their price. You also want to make sure it perfectly matches you skin tone, don’t go a shade lighter or darker.

You can do this by visiting your ULTA or Sephora store and asking them to color match you.  On  clean skin, apply a swatch of the color down the chin line and onto the neck to make sure it will blend seamlessly.  If you are at a drug store and can’t open the product, hold the bottle up to your chin for a good idea of the color.

Decide On the Look You Want To Achieve

Are you all about the drama?  Than an intense smokey eye will be the look you want to go for.  Start with a universally flattering shade, our suggestion would be Makeup Geek Wisteria or any soft, matte purple. A pale purple will match any eye or dress color.

Step 1: Start by sweeping Makeup Geek Wisteria across the outer 2/3 of your lid with the flat shader brush. We’ll go in later to fill in the empty 1/3 you left blank.

Step 2: Time to amp it up a bit! Grab an Outer V Brush and fill in the outer 1/3 of your lid with any matte black. If you are opting for a simpler look then use a deeper shade of your lid color for the outer v and crease. Be sure to pull the color into your crease a bit for some definition. Play with the shape for a cat eye look, or keep it close to the lash line to fake thicker lashes. Once you’ve decided on a shape, blend out any harsh lines with a soft dome brush.

Step 3: Use a soft color such as Makeup Geek Unexpected to or any soft matte shade to blend out any harsh lines from your black.  Remember, you want this to be a soft transition, a gradient effect going from one shade to the other.

Step 4: Tap your MUG Pointed Crease Brush into Makeup Geek Shimma Shimma or any highlighting color and place it in your inner corner. This will catch the light and open up your eyes.

Step 5: With such a strong look, don’t forget your highlight shade.  Choose a color close to your skin tone and use directly under the brow to feather out any harsh lines left from your previous color.

Step 6: Add eyeliner to shape your eye if you want.

Step 7: Finally add mascara, and false lashes if you want some extra drama to the look. Don’t over-do it though.

You can also check out Marlena’s “Classic Black Smokey Eye” tutorial if you are going for a classic look.  But remember, not all smokey eyes have to be black. Maybe a fun look is what you’re looking for? Colorful smokey eyes are in right now.  Play around and see what you like best.  Look at pictures of your favorite celebrities and get some ideas about how you want to look and feel on your big night. You can also check out the tutorials and the idea gallery here on Makeup Geek to find a look that is perfect for you.

Do you appreciate natural beauty? Then stick with a nude palette on the eyes and a nude lipstick. You could even add some gold to the eyelid to not only make your eyes pop, but to keep them simple but add color. One way to look glamorous is to bring out that old Hollywood style. You can keep your eyes simple with just two or three shades of a neutral color and play up your lips with a rocking red.  Don’t let red lips intimidate you, if you are uncertain about how to pull off a perfect red lip then check out the “How to Rock Red Lips” tutorial.  This look is stunning with that perfect white dress.

For the rest of the face, we suggest:

• A neutral, everyday blush color like MAC’s Tenderling or a soft peach or pink color applied to the back of your check bones to add that hint of color to your cheeks.
• A no fuss lip product is best so try a lip stain. The stain + balm is perfect to stash in your handbag for quick touch ups.  But remember, if you choose to do smokey eyes keep the lips simple. You want to play up one feature and not over do it.  If you do decide to try your hand at red lips, then let the focus fall on them and keep your eyes a soft wash of color.

Prom is a special day in any teenager’s life.  It’s the last big social event before graduation! And who doesn’t want to end their senior year looking fabulous? The pictures will likely stay with you for the rest of your life. So you’re make-up needs to be photo ready! Prom is the perfect chance to make lasting memories with friends- so have fun!

Check out how each look is done and what products were used:

• Iron Man
• Captain America
• Thor
• Hulk
• Hawkeye
• Black Widow
• Nick Fury
• Loki

Watch Video Tutorial on Youtube

For many of us, picking the right blush may be one of the biggest challenges we face when it comes to makeup. With so many gorgeous shades on the market, finding the color that is right for your skin tone can seem like a daunting task at best. Even women experienced in makeup can feel overwhelmed at times. Blush is meant to be a natural and subtle looking makeup. Too much can make us look clownish, too little and we look washed out.

Knowing your skin tone is key to finding a shade that will work perfectly for you. To help you, we are going to break these down into 3 groups, fair skin, medium skin and dark skin. We want to help you pick the perfect shade to help add the ideal flush of color on your cheeks.

Each person should have at least two shades to pick from, a peach and a pink. This way you have a color to choose from regardless of the makeup look you are going for. In this tutorial we are going to give you the best options for both plus the perfect highlighter to add a flawless finish to your cheeks.

Fair Skin

Alright you fare skinned babes, you know who you are. If you burn easily, get freckles when your burn, or if you have porcelain skin then you fall into this category. When picking a shade for your stunning skin, remember, lighter is better.

Using a angled blush brush like the Makeup Geek Blush Brush, tap off the excess by “flicking” the end of your brush with your finger. This will get rid of any unwanted excess on your brush and keep you from applying to much on your cheeks. If you do apply to much, use a beauty blender and roll the area lightly, this will pick up any unwanted pigment on your cheeks.

Apply the color to the apple of your cheeks and blend back toward the temple. For highlighting your cheeks you want to pick something for fair skin that’s a light champagne color. Whether you choose liquid or powder form is completely up to you and really is a matter of what you are more comfortable using. With a highlighting brush like Makeup Geek Cheek Highlighter Brush, apply the highlighter right above where you placed the blush. This will add just the right amount of shimmer to the cheeks.

We recommend:

• Pink Shade: NYX Blush – Natural (Makeup Geek Store)
• Peach Shade: Nars Blush – Orgasm (Amazon) (Sephora) (eBay) or Makeup Designory Glow (Makeup Geek Store)
• Highlight: Lorac Perfectly Lit Oil Free Luminizing Powder – Luminous (Amazon) (Sephora)

Medium Skin

Medium skin tones are the most common with 80% of all women falling into this category. The best blushes for medium skin toned ladies are rosey pink and deep peaches. If you choose a color that is to light it can make you look ashen, anything to dark will make you look clownish.

With an angled blush brush like the Makeup Geek Blush Brush, apply the blush to the apple of the cheeks and blend back. Again, remember, if you apply to much you can go in with a beauty blending or sponge and roll across the color to pick up some of the excess pigment on the skin. For highlighting on medium skin toned, the best thing to use is a pale golden or warm gold. Don’t use a champagne color or a light color as it will look to frosty on the skin.

Depending on the kind of highlighter you choose, you can use a highlighting brush or CLEAN fingers, pat the highlighter onto the cheek bones right above the blush. The highlighter used here has a small amount of shimmer to it, using a matte blush allows you to control the shimmer and place it where you want it to be. You don’t want your cheeks to be overdone. Remember, you cheeks should look as if they have a natural flush to them.

We recommend:

• Pink Shade: NYX Blush – Mocha (Amazon) (eBay)  (yes that’s the name but we promise it’s pink)
• Peach Shade: Tarte Blush – Tipsy (Amazon) (Sephora) (eBay)
• Highlight: Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Natural Highlighter Duo – Gold Luster (Amazon) - This is dual sided compact, for medium skin you want to use the lighter of the two sides.

Dark Skin

OK you beautiful dark skinned dolls, it’s your turn. For your skin, choose colors from rose to deep oranges. Choosing a shade that is to light will make your skin appear washed out and pale. You want to enhance the natural beauty of your skin.

Just as before, use an angled blush brush like the Makeup Geek Blush Brush, remember to tap off an excess from the brush by tapping the brush with your finger. Gently apply the color to the apples of the cheeks and blend back toward the hairline.

Remember, you just want to make your cheeks glow. For cheek highlighting using a gold color is stunning. Using a champagne color will look to frosty against the skin. Using your two CLEAN fingers, apply the gold color to the top of the cheekbones above where you placed the blush. Use a beauty blender or a sponge and blend the color into the skin for a perfect dewy finish.

We recommend:

• Pink Shade: Tarte Blush – Amused (Amazon) (Sephora) (eBay)
• Peach Shade: NYX Blush – Cinnamon (Amazon) (eBay)
• Highlight: Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Natural Highlighter Duo – Gold Luster (Amazon) This is a dual sided compact, for dark skin you want to use the darker gold shade.

And there you have it, the perfect shade for any skin type. Having a couple of shades to choose from is necessary when it comes to trying different and new looks. We hope this guide helps you find the perfect shade to add just the right amount of color to bring out the natural beauty you all have inside of you.

Fair Skin

Medium Skin

Dark Skin