I think layering and blending are things that it has taken me forever to start to learn. I finally learned some tricks with blending by practicing every day, as well as watching youtube videos. Layering has taken me a lot longer to feel like I ‘get’ it.
I don’t always think to layer. While I know most people think about doing a lip liner, a lip stick and then a lip gloss, I tend to only think of doing a lip liner and then a lip gloss, or a lip liner and a lip stick. I eventually learned that I could change how a lipstick or lipgloss looked by what sort of liner I used. For example, I tend to use Aromaleigh’s lip creme in Lollypop with my MAC Cherry lip pencil, to intensify the red, for a strong red look. If I want a softer red look, I use Too Faced’s Borderline lipliner in clear. With Cherry or Clear, I will fill in my lips to help the color stick around longer.
It was only recently that I realized that you could really layer glosses on top of lipsticks to achieve some cool effects, like when I used Avon’s lipstick in Golden Wine and carefully layered Revlon’s Creme de la Chrome lipgloss in Spice it Up on top of that for a sort of gilded look.
The same thing goes for eye shadows. Originally I thought that Paint Pots and Shade Sticks were meant to be worn on their own. I realized in the past year or so that while they may look good on their own, you can truly do some amazing things with them as a base to intensify other colors.
I used to not ever think about layering colors on top of each other but I finally have started to do that. To use a teal on top of a purple to make a blue shade, to use a black to deepen a color, to add an iridescent shade to make it easier to blend the edges between two colors.
To anyone who is needing help with blending and layering, definitely watch youtube videos. That’s where I’ve picked up a ton of ideas, and then I experimented on myself 
I’ve also found that having the right tools really helps with blending and layering.
For Blending, I like my MAC 224 brush, or my Sonia Kashuk crease brush, or my ecoTools crease brush. I also use my tiny little chisel detail brushes to blend seams.
For layering, I like my fluffy Sonia Kashuk eye shadow brush, or my Aromaleigh Fiber Optic Pointed Crease Brush.
It’s fun to be continuously learning. I know I enjoy it.
Now that you know something I’ve spent a lot of time to learn, share with me what you’ve been learning recently.
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Hello Cotton
Thanks for sharing! I'm still learning to blend better. And I'm trying to learn to not be so afraid of blush.:)
-L
Hi Laura,
I didn't wear blush AT ALL really until I found one of those. On occasion, before that I'd use a cream blush but I was always afraid of looking clown like.
Fiber optic blush brushes can help with the blush thing
You're right about everything. It just takes practice…experience is the best teacher,isn't it?
nice post,hun!
^_^
Hi ~tHiAmErE~,
Thank you
And yes, you're right, definitely takes practice!
I've been trying to work on my lines. I tend to stay away from eyeliner, because I can't achieve the smooth, perfect lines that I see a lot of people pull off with ease, but more recently, I've tried embracing it more, so that I can work on getting them smoother (though it's still quite difficult). I've also been struggling with eye watering. I have a big problem with it (especially with my left eye), and it tends to ruin the corner effect of whatever look I've created, and it's usually exacerbated by me trying to tightline, or line my lower waterline.
I've also been trying to layer gloss over lipstick, but whenever I do, I end up with either a lipstick-stained gloss wand, or a lipstick-stained finger. >.<
Hi Lindsey,
If your eyes are watering, maybe you're having allergy issues, or an allergic reaction to what you're using?
For the lip gloss over lip stick, I recommend applying the lipstick with a lip brush, then sort of patting the gloss on with the wand and gently pressing your lips together to spread it around.
It's not an allergic reaction, I think it's just that I have really sensitive eyeballs. Because it's only a very slight watering, but it's just enough, and last just long enough to be a serious pain.
Hi Lindsey,
Doh!
That would be annoying!
Even when I get stuck somewhere or want to learn something youtube is my rescue point
Thanks for the info! I only seem to layer when I'm not happy with the original color on me then I keep adding until I achieve something that does look good. Isn't Youtube is a great learning tool!
Oh, I did figure out how to have your new named blog on my reader. I just removed the old and added the new, since the change didn't work, but this does!
Hi Harsh Agrawal,
Same here!
I go search youtube
Hi Lyndsey,
Gratz on getting the reader updated!
And glad you liked the info
I bookmarked that avon wine lippie with chrome gloss look. One day! That whole look was great.
Aww, thank you Tally!
i have really sensitive lids/eyeballs as well. i used to get really tired or dry eyes when i wear mascara or certain brands of e/s but i realised that it could be due to the dust settling on my lower inner lashine. so i almost never tightline the lower lashline, since i'll tear and wash away everything. i like glitter a lot but they irritate the outer corners of the eyes so i end up wiping away the corners as well so my best bet is always to wear gradual e/s shades without the sharp winged ends. sigh. and i haven't found the perfect small enough crease brush for my eyes.
anyways, Phyrra, you're an inspiration and i love checking you out daily.
Hi Suzie,
Have you tried the pointed crease brush sold by Aromaleigh? Or the angled crease brush sold by Meow? One of those might work.
I'm sorry that your eyes are sensitive! Mine seem to be sensitive depending on how bad my allergies are at that time. I actually don't ever put mascara on my lower lashes because I end up with raccoon eyes, myself. I'm glad that you like the blog
So I just bought the two lippies you used in that look referenced above, LOL! I'll send you some pics and/or wear it on AL when they both finally come in
Hey, btw, maybe you should mention it on you blog, Avon is having a great lippie sale. Two lippies for $6.99, the 14k's included. I picked up 14k wine (obviously) and 14k gold.
Golden Wine and Spice it up? Golden wine is awesome.
I'll go check out Avon's lippy sale. I was surprised by how much I loved their lip glazes.
Ooops! Yeah, I meant the 24k lippies. Guess I have AL 14k on the brain. Yep, I got Golden Wine, and Spice it Up! I also picked up 24k Golden. I checked, and the glazewear gloss is half off!
Hi Tally,
Yeah I checked out the glazewear, but it looks like they got rid of all the colors that I bought last year. Hmm.