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Thursday, May 14, 2009

How To Get Bella Swan's look in Twilight...on a budget!


Ok. So the point of this post is to get Bella's natural look with products that you can find pretty much anywhere and products that don't cost a ton. I don't know about you, but I can't really afford MAC makeup right now...and even if I could, I'm too cheap! If I can find something similar at Wal-mart, I'm going to buy it at Wal-mart!
So here's what she wore in the movie:

Face: SK-II Air Touch Foundation. The starter kit (which you have to have) retails for around $165. The refills retail for $90. She also wore MAC Blot Powder in Light which retails for $21.

Eyes: Eyes were prepped with SmashBox Photo Finish Lid Primer which retails for $20. Three neutral shades of MAC eyeshadows were used: Blanc Type (creamy beige, matte finish), Flute (which isn't even available! Try Girlie, a rosy-pink with subtle shimmer and a satin finish), and Wedge (soft muted beige taupe, matte finish). Each retails for $14.50 for 0.05 oz.

Blush: Visiora compact powder in PC 103 which retails for around $33.

Lips: Smashbox lip and lid primer which retails for $24 and Benefit Silky Finish Lipstick in Good-to-go which retails for $18.

So...all together the whole look would cost you $304.50 - that doesn't include tax or the refill for the foundation. Plus, you won't even have the exact look because the MAC eyeshadow in Flute isn't available anymore. So here's what you do instead:

Face: Find a foundation that matches your skintone perfectly. For a natural look, like Bella's, you need something that isn't too matte, isn't too shimmery, and isn't too dewey. Try Almay Nearly Naked Liquid Foundation (for normal skin), Almay TLC Truly Lasting Color Makeup (for oiliness and long lasting), or Almay Pure Blends makeup. I'm not biased towards Almay, I'm just using them as an example. Plus, they have one of the best shade selections available. Set with a loose powder in TRANSLUCENT, not in the same shade as your makeup (such as Ivory, Nude, Buff, or Mahogany). By setting with translucent, you avoid that "made-up" look. Translucent powder looks much more natural and you don't have to switch it out to match your foundation shade. You can also use mineral foundation for this look, but be careful which brands you choose. Many brands tend to make you look washed out and dull your complexion. The idea is to look glowy and natural.

For a good way to make your foundation look natural, apply it with a dampened wedge sponge. I always run mine under cold water (to add some glow) until it's full of water and squeeze it out. Then I wrap a dry washcloth around it and squeeze it out again. Dot foundation on your forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin. One little dab for each area. Blend together using the sponge. Blend outward and down on to your neck - watch for the dreaded jaw-line of demarcation! Blend, blend, blend. Then, dust on loose powder with a large fluffy brush, not a puff. A puff will apply too much powder and make you look too matte.

Blush: Try mark. Good Glowing Custom Pick Powder Blush in Afterglo. It's very natural and will look good on just about everyone. It's similar to NARS blush in Orgasm. Just dust it very lightly on your cheeks - not on the apples, like many women do. Place the blush in the hollows of your cheeks (you can see the hollows when you suck your cheeks in, like a fish). It looks less blush-like this way. Look at the picture above. Bella does NOT have blush on the apples of her cheeks, but there is a darkening underneath her cheekbones.

Lips: You can prime them with a little foundation or concealer with powder patted on top if you want. To match Bella's lipstick, try either Avon's Pro To Go Lipstick in Pink Passion or TiGi's Bed Head Joystick Lipstick in Indulge - in color charts, it looks brown but it's really a pretty pinky-plum color.

Eyes: For long-lasting color, prime with L'Oreal Decrease Eyeshadow Base. Use Maybelline Expert Wear Eye Shadow Trios in Almond Truffles 10. The shades in this match almost exactly to the MAC ones. They won't be as highly pigmented though. First, dust on the lightest shade from lash line to brow bone. Don't dust on a lot of color past the crease, there should only be a tiny amount. Wing the shadow out past the corner of your eye like you're creating cat-eyes. Then dust on the medium shade all over the lid and into the crease but NOT past the crease. Wing this shade out as well. Blend very well. Blend the last darkest shade onto your lid. The darkest part of your eyes should be at the outter corners. Blend this shade out slightly past the corners as well. Smudge with your fingers if you have to. If the color looks a little dark to you, blend on some of the medium shade. Make sure to blend all of the colors so that it is unnoticeable that you used 3 shades. Then curl your lashes and add a couple coats of a natural looking mascara (i.e. - nothing too thick or with primers or lengthening fibers - the key is to look flawlessly natural!). Try L'Oreal Bare Naturale mascara in either Black or Black Brown - don't go with anything called Blackest Black, Royale Blue, or Navy. Those colors are either too dark or too unnatural.

And there you go! A similar look for a fraction of the cost. I estimate this look to cost roughly $65 to $70 depending on where you buy the makeup and assuming you have the necessary brushes and tools...and also assuming that you don't own any of these items. The most important items are the lipstick and the eyeshadows. You probably already have a decent foundation, powder, blush, and mascara. It isn't essential that you have these EXACT items, they are used as examples only. If you already have a great natural looking mascara, use it instead! Just remember to stay as close as possible to the shades for the lipstick, blush, and eyeshadows - otherwise you'll probably end up looking totally unlike this look.

Just remember that Bella always keeps things simple and natural. Don't over do things. Don't be tempted to darken the lipstick or throw on a little liner...because that's not natural and not Bella. Less is more!

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