Recreating FrmHeadtoToe

I have so much respect for YouTube beauty gurus who take not only the time and effort, but the creativity, dedication and skill, to routinely share their expertise and experience to inform and entertain. While I love watching tutorials of looks, I rarely (if ever) attempt to replicate one. Most gurus I watch don't have the same eye shape as me, so I physically can't just copy a look they've done. The main exception is Jen from From Head to Toe, who has monolids like me. I love that she embraces her monolids and finds ways to really enhance and play up her eyes without resorting to drawing in an artificial crease or complicated eyeshadow shading. I recently came across this Makeup For Glasses tutorial she posted, and somehow wanted to try it out for myself. The frames she wears are similar to mine, and I had most of the eyeshadows she used, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to see just how well I could follow a tutorial.

I didn't have the Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner she used, so I opted for Maybelline EyeStudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Blackest Black instead. I used the included mini brush, since I didn't have anything better and an angled eyeliner brush seemed like a trickier option. I found it really difficult to get both eyes even and I wasn't sure exactly how far I should extend the eyeliner, except for the vague notion I should go for a bolder, more dramatic look than I normally would.

Then came the eyeshadow part. I started with Gunmetal from the original Urban Decay Naked palette, except I didn't have the Sigma E30 Jen used. That turned out to be problematic, since you really do need that kind of small, dome-shaped brush for precise enough application. I ended up using my usual Sportsgirl dual-ended flat eyeshadow brush, which made a bit of a mess. I couldn't get a fine tip at the end, but I did my best, soldiering on and applying Creep near the outer corner for a gradient effect. It was then that I remembered my Ecotools Smudge Brush from the Bamboo 6 Piece Eye Brush Set, which is the closest thing to the Sigma E30 that I have. I attempted to fill in and refine the tip so it more resembled a clean, pointed end. I then concentrated Sidecar on the centre of the lid, though I probably should've created more of a rounder shape and applied it higher. I did go back and draw over the original Maybelline gel liner, but it seemed a bit of a redundant step that barely made any difference, because it wasn't as inky black as the Eyeko Jen used.

Rather than the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion, I went for my Maybelline gel liner again. Instead of Yeyo, I used the white end of the CoverGirl SmokyShadowBlast stick in Onyx Smoke. It definitely isn't as pronounced as Yeyo, especially on the lower lashline. Mascara was CoverGirl LashBlast, and I finished off with wonkily applying a pair of flimsy, barely there falsies purchased from Daiso ages ago.

The end result wasn't exactly the same, as I really needed an inky black eyeliner and something like the Sigma E30 to get closer to the look. Sidecar is such a pretty, bronzy taupe on Jen, but on me it's more cool and frosty. Overall, the eyeshadows she used are darker and much cooler than the warmer, bronze tones that I usually go for, so I'm not sure if they really flattered my skin tone. I had fun with it anyway, and the basic premise (winged shape, colour gradient, highlighted inner corner) is simple enough that you can play around and come up with your own version.