Mon 12 Jan 2009
Here’s some inspiration for Your 80s Alterego Contest! :)

The 80s, also known as the decade of decadence, were the time when looking festive on a daily basis was the norm. This quintessential 80s look combines all major makeup trends from the era – the intensity of colors, eyeshadow up to the brow, strong contouring, bushy eyebrows and, of course, frosted lips! Can you imagine rocking this look every day??? (I bet your parents did!)
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INGREDIENTS
- Eyeshadows: Pompadour, Poodle Pink
- Eyes: eyeshadow primer, black liquid eyeliner, black pencil liner, black or blue mascara.
- Lips: light-pink OR nude lipstick + Crystal Ball for frosted effect!
- Face: Foundation Primer in Twinkle-Twinkle, concealer, foundation, bronzer and dark blush
Eyes
Apply eyeshadow primer all the way to the eyebrows. Pack Pompadour onto the top lid with a short-bristled brush as bright as you can, than wing the color alllll the way out with a medium-sized brush. Using a larger brush, sweep Poodle Pink across the brow bone, blending into the blue. With a smaller brush, apply Pompadour onto the lower lid. Line the eye with a black pencil under the lower lashes. Wing out your eyes with liquid liner (optional) and fill the waterline with black pencil (also optional). Apply 2-3 coats of black OR blue mascara.

Face
Moisturize skin. Apply Foundation Primer in Twinkle-Twinkle, to give your skin a bit of a sparkle (remember, this is the 80s – every day is a holiday!). With a wedge sponge, apply your favorite foundation all over the face, starting with the area under your eyes and around nose and working your way to the rest of the face. Apply concealer where needed.
Suck in your cheeks (“the fish face”) and fill in the hollow parts with bronzer (use a shade darker than your normal shade, remember, you want it to be dramatic!). Apply dark-rose (or almost brick-red, whatever you’ve got) blush on the apples of cheeks.
Eyebrows
In the 80s, they didn’t have tweezers, so women wore their eyebrows really bushy. (Haha, ok tweezers did exist, they just weren’t getting a lot of use. ;)) Chances are, your eyebrows are properly groomed, so we’ll have to fake the ‘bushiness’ with a pencil. Brush your natural brow hairs up and seal with eyebrow gel. This will be your guide as to where your eyebrows should be/ Starting at the beginning of the brow, draw quick, short lines with a sharp pencil, imitating hair. Drawing outside the lines (i.e. your natural eyebrow shape) is not only permitted but encouraged! When your eyebrows start to look like they could give Hermoine Granger a run for her money, you did a good job!
Lips
As far as lip products go, frosted lipstick was an 80s staple! You’ll have a hard time finding a properly frosted lipstick these days, but it’s easy to make with one of my lip-safe magic eye dusts. Paint your lips with a light-pink (or nude) lipstick. Pick up some Crystal Ball onto a brush and pat it on the lips. Mix with a lip brush or finger. Now you’ve got a perfectly frosted pout – rock on!!!
24 Responses to “ 80s Alterego: makeup tutorial ”

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January 12th, 2009 at 11:33 am
There’s a reason I was born to live in the 80s! The big, big make-up… it was so, so good. (I only wish my make-up had been more visible in my submission– I was rocking Prima Donna!)
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January 12th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
PLEASE make your line available in the UK :(
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January 12th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
I love your make up tutorials, you have really good ideas, and a good make up! those eye shadows are so beautiful! good job, lots of greetings!
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January 12th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
♣ Ashe Mischief
I know, I know! Sometimes I wish I could somehow transport myself to 1985 Europe or 1987 LA!
Great submission, by the way! :)
♣ Kirsti
I do ship worldwide and have lots of customers from the UK. :)
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January 12th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
You & me both, doll! I’m sure I would have followed Billy Idol and Duran Duran on tour (and probably been groupies for them both ;)
We’d have had such a blast back then!
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January 12th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Oh! :D This one reminds me a lot of David Bowie! :D
Kisses from Portugal
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January 12th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
What products/tools did you use on your hair?
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January 12th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Even though I’m not a huge fan of the 80s myself, you really rock the look!! Beautiful photo as well!
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January 12th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
I’m a girl from sweden who really looves your blog!! i think every picture and makeup-looks are amazing. And i really like your red hair!! take care!
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January 12th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
ajjajajaja love the brows!!!! you look so different love it doll
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January 12th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
I love the 80s. I’m not exactly a fan of the particular hair, fashion and makeup choices but I just love how festive they were. Imagine going out with poofy hair, big shoulder pads and blue eyeshadow up to your eyebrows! I imagine it would be so much fun and just awesome.
I have old photographs of my mom in the 80s. lol. She wasn’t too interested in fashion or makeup, but she still looks exactly like this.
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January 12th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
“she still looked exactly like this.” my mom has since ditched the hair and eyeshadow, thank god.
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January 12th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
<3 Awesome!
I love the eighties. The crazy bold makeup, big hair and tacky fashions!!(haha leg warmers are my best friends, seriously)
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January 12th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
I know, I know! Sometimes I wish I could somehow transport myself to 1985 Europe (or 1987 LA!).
E’ possibile! It’s still essentially 1985 in parts of Europe, you know ;)
The juxtaposition of the fashion and hearing the Smiths in the grocery store is so surreal sometimes….
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January 12th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
To those of you who love the 80’s…
Check out Once Upon a Win. It’s a website dedicated to the epic “wins” of the 80’s! Labyrinth has been featured, the Rubiks cube, and an assortment of shows/toys/etc.
I was born in ‘82…and I really miss my banana clips/jellies/slap bracelets I had growing up. I wanted them for my submission but did the best with what I have. At least I have my bangles and plastic bracelets…and my lace socks to wear with my heels!! :)
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January 12th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Grr….I’m having a bad week for coding….
Here’s the link again:
Once Upon a Win
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January 12th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
I’m so excited about my 80s alter ego. After I hit the thrift store tomorrow, I think I shall be set. I even made my own pair of leg warmers. : D
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January 12th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Gorgeous!
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January 13th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Seeeeeeee…. that was what I was talking about how you reminded me of my youth! I was a teen in the 80’s and seriously….it was the very best time of my entire life! I still have a few pieces of neon clothing and this wicked pair of boots that are electric blue! You have the makeup that we wore down to a tee! I had frosted lipstick in about 40 shades! LOL not to mention the violet and blue eyeshadow and the frosty blue eyeliner!
Ohhhh I just love this blog! Thanks for the great tutorial
Huggs
LoriBear
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January 13th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Can you imagine rocking this look every day??? (I bet your parents did!)
LMAO ok, now I feel like I must be your oldest reader by far…….and I’m only 34. :P
I wore eye shadow pretty close to what you’re sporting there for a huge part of my teenage existence. If I can find a photo that shows it well I’ll be happy to send it along for historical purposes. ;) I do have plenty of the big hair though.
Now I’m a theatrical makeup artist/wig builder but I do enjoy a lot of your aesthetic so I try to keep up with your postings. I think you put some really good work out there in a time where there is just so much mis-information available. I haven’t done it yet, but I’m looking forward to ordering some of your new line and trying it out!
oh! since you’re going with the 80’s theme this week I thought you might want to give a huge nod to designer Zandra Rhodes. I’m not sure if you’re familiar with her, but she is responsible for Cyndi Lauper’s look in the 80’s. I think she’s right up your alley and you’ll enjoy her work thoroughly!
I worked with her recently and just to show that you never really grow up here’s a photo of her and I together, she’s simply marvelous!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v446/foxxfire9/work%20portfolio/100_0196.jpg
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January 13th, 2009 at 11:45 am
That look is so freaking awesome!
hehehe… you fill me with glee doe! I want to enter the contest.. but frankly I’m afraid that I’ll like the look too much and want to rock it all the time. I don’t know if that will be a good thing. =)
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January 14th, 2009 at 4:35 am
You have an amazing face!!! I can’t believe your features! And the look is really cute too! I would definitely wear it :]
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January 14th, 2009 at 5:55 am
Lovely pictures! And great tutorial.
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January 26th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Hey!! I did a 80’s kinda look for my latest self-promotion campaign, you can see it here
Is not absolutely “80s” it have a little personal touch, but the concept was “Jem and the Holograms”. Comments will be appreciated!! thnx
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