PROJECT 2013: My Face of the Month for January

JANUARY : New Beginnings 

and Fresh Starts

When you think about the month of January, people automatically think New Year.  Indeed, it's the time of the year wherein resolutions and bucketlists are created; visions and dreams are most vivid.  There is regained strength, renewed faith, and almost all hurts from the previous year have been buried under the hatchet (or used as inspiration for the upcoming trials to survive)  Basically, New Year makes us feel the most alive because it gives us the possibility of new opportunities, hopes, and just plain optimism for the long journey ahead.  

My friend, Jairah Alto, is the kind of friend who makes you feel just like New Year's every time that you're with her.  After spending an afternoon of coffee with her, you will certainly feel a sense of being "refreshed" and renewed.  She is always so happy and jolly; and she never fails to see the silver lining (no matter how thin it may be) in the very stormy cloud.  She gives you a sense of hope and faith -- the kind that doesn't want to make you give up because you know that she's counting on you and praying for you.  And, most of all, she will always remind you that eventually.. things will pass; no matter how hard the situation.  Such a strong, brave heart inside this small package.. and underneath that beautiful smile lies an even more beautiful woman. :)

And here she is. :D

Make-Up and Styling by: Me! (Arielle Alvarado you can contact me through facebook: http://www.facebook.com/alvaradoarielleeee or on twitter: @airshies)

Photographer: Juric Cancio (http://www.facebook.com/pages/JRC-Photography/141007355965341 or  http://juricphotography.tumblr.com) super awesome photographer, btw! :D You can contact him at the link if you like his shots. :) Very nice and talented photographer. :)

                  

That's basically the theme for the January Look: fresh, pastel, bright, floral. :)

Here are the full body shots of my very beautiful friend :D

  Make-Up Brands Used: Elf (Moisturizer, Eye Primer, Eye shadows, and Brushes), Maybelline (Blush), Clinique (Eyeliner), Ever Bilena (Lipstick), Revlon (Foundation and Powder)

Thank you, Jairah, for always making me feel renewed. :)

"Therefore, we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16 and 18

Taylor Swift Inspired Look (for less!)

Taylor Swift is really cute, and she practically looks good in almost anything; but, one of the looks that I really loved on her was the whole black liner, gold shadow, and red lips look. :) So, I tried my best to copy what she had on but for the red lips, I changed the shade because the red on her didn't work out for me.. so it's really important to choose the shades that suit your face and to not just keep copying :) So, here's how I did the look :)

1. Foundation. Powder. Concealer. Of course, the usual. Read my previous blog entries :) Same same. :)  And, same products also by E.l.f.

2. Primer for the eyes. also by E.l.f.  (love their primer! haha)

3. Eyeshadow. For this look, Taylor just made use of one shade and that was a gold shade. So put that all over your lid, and make sure to find the perfect shade of gold for your skin and eyes. :)  Here, I made use of the brand,  L.A. Colors :) They had the perfect golden shimmer that I was looking for and their eyeshadows last, also :) Pretty good brand :) and also not very pricey :)

4. Eyeliner. Now this is the tricky part because you'll have to line not just the top and bottom lash but also the waterline on the top of the eye and on the bottom, as well.  It's quite painful and tricky to do, so do it carefully! And be sure to take extra care in doing this step because you wouldn't want to poke your eye in the process. Line all the areas of the eye until it's dark enough to contrast the golden shadow. :)

5. Mascara. Put on both the top and bottom lashes. :) Still made use of Covergirl's Lashblast Fusion. :) 

6. Blush. I still made use of E.l.f.'s Shy Blush :) 

7. Lipstick. For this look, I mixed up 2 colors of red. The first one I applied was Revlon's 677 Shade (orange-y red color) and then afterwards I applied Prestige's red matte lipstick on top.  Put my lips together and then, voila! :)

BEAUTY TIP: When putting on red lipstick or any bright colored lipstick.. or any lipstick for that matter! haha. Be sure to outline the lip first and to erase any traces of lipstick that go past the line of the lips so that you look really neat, classy, and pretty :) heeheehee :)

Hope you guys like this look! :) Thank you for reading :)