Again I apologize for the technical difficulties yesterday. I still haven't gotten my computer working properly, but I've at least found a workaround that lets me access Paint. That was a joy to edit photos in, let me tell you!
Anyway, last month when I read the clue for this month's i+t alchemist theme was "Cephiro", I squeed pretty hard with excitement. Cephiro is the name of the land in Magic Knight Rayearth that the three main characters are called on to save, and Magic Knight Rayearth is one of my favorite anime of all time. I even asked for a Sega Saturn for Christmas one year, just so I could play the game! People talk a lot about how "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" is such a subversive take on the magical girl genre, and while that's true, I think MKR was really my first experience in taking the magical girl formula and putting a new twist on it. The entire series is currently available on Hulu and I highly recommend you check it out!
 |
| It didn't come with the Hikaru doll, that's my own. You can tell how old it is by how much her hair color has faded. |
Let's move on to the makeup! In case you are unfamiliar, i+t alchemist is the name of the monthly subscription service from Innocent + Twisted Alchemy. There were recently some changes in the subscription service and, starting in July, it will be just one size for $18.00 per month, including shipping. Each month's subscription is based around a particular theme and contains at least three products made just for subscribers, plus a coupon code. The subscription is currently sold out, but new spots open up on the first day of every month, or you can snag a one time trial subscription, which is the same price but does not include S&H. For more details and release times I would suggest following the I+TA facebook page.
This month the subscription include three deluxe sample size loose eyeshadow pigments, one full size pigment from guest indie Shiro Cosmetics, and a sample baggie from a second guest indie, the new-to-me Eccentric Cosmetics. It also includes an information card and some really cool planner stickers that have the same lid artwork as the shadows. I didn't know until now, but the owner of Innocent and Twisted is actually the one who does the artwork as well! She mentions in the information sheet that CLAMP (the authors of the Magic Knight Rayearth Manga that the anime was based on) influenced her drawing style and I can definitely see that!
The first pigment is called "Red Lightning". This color is based off the character Hikaru, a lively and optimistic girl who looks younger than she really is. Her element is fire, and this sparkly marsala base with a pinky purple sheen really captures her energy. "Red Lightning" is the second spell that Hikaru is able to use as she grows in power towards becoming a Legendary Magic Knight.
The next pigment is "Icicle Blades", and the mysterious blue green base with a pale blue shimmer perfectly showcases the lovely and graceful Umi's personality. Lovely and graceful until you annoy her or threaten her friends anyway! Like her ocean namesake, Umi's moods can shift without warning but she is fiercely loyal and protective of Hikaru and Fuu. "Icicle Blades" is Umi's most powerful spell.
I love all the characters in Magic Knight Rayearth, but if I had to pick a favorite it would be Fuu. Fuu is quiet, gentle and intelligent, the strategist who keeps the others grounded. The pigment based on her is called "Healing Wind", after the first spell Fuu learned in order to keep her friends safe. The color is a green-gold with a lovely golden sparkle.
Next up is the full-sized pigment from guest indie Shiro Cosmetics. (Look for a review of some great stuff I picked up at their recent anniversary sale coming soon!). This pigment is called "Not the Enemy" and it's a deep blackened purple with purple sparkles a silver sheen, as mysterious as Zagato, the character it represents. Nominally the villain of the first series, the Magic Knights struggle against Zagato at every turn. But of course, things are not always what they seem, and Zagato has his own reasons for doing what he does.
The other guest indie this month is Eccentric Cosmetics, and their pigment is called "Unyielding Wish", which was also the title of the main theme song of the first season of the show. A great song and one of my favorites! This color is a strong orange red with a silver sheen. I didn't think I would like this one much at first, but it's actually quite gorgeous when swatched out.
For the look I wanted to make sure I incorporated the three girls' colors. I primed and prepped my eye as usual, then used my Kat Von D Shade + Light palette in the shade Latinus to set. Then I picked up Succubus from the same palette to deepen the crease and act as a transition shade.
I first applied Red Lighting dry to the outer half of my lid, taking it up into the crease as well. Then I used Notoriously Morbid's Shadow Bind (a sticky base) all over my lid, packing Red Lightning onto the outer half to intensify the color, and packing Healing Wind on the inner half, doing my best to blend them together in the middle.
For my lower lashline I used a wet angle brush and Icicle Blades, moving the brush back and forth to bring out more of the greenish base. I lined my tight and waterlines with my hourglass 1.5 mm gel liner and created a wing using Physician's Formula liquid liner. After that I used my new favorite mascara - Charlotte Tilbury's Legendary Lashes - on my upper and lower lashes.
For my brows I used my new Darling Girl Ka-Brow clear brow gel, followed by the brow powder in "Mae". (This stuff is the BOMB, guys!)
For the face I laid down another new Charlotte Tilbury product, the Magic Foundation in Fair 1. (Is it magic? Yes. Yes it is.) I set that with the Catrice Prime and Fine powder, and then used my Charlotte Tilbury blush in Ecstasy. (I'm having a minor Charlotte Tilbury moment right now, can you tell?) For my lips I decided to hell with it, I'm going bright and used my Urban Decay Sheer Revolution Lipstick in Sheer Ladyflower. Not actually that sheer, but I'm not actually complaining. And that is the finished look!
Final Thoughts: Ok, so obviously I loved the theme, and the pigments are so rich and gorgeous. I have one huge problem though.. and that is that I want this to be a full set! T_T I want colors for so many of the other great characters from MKR like Clef, Mokona, and of course Presea, Ferio, Emeraude, and everyone from the second season as well! Am I too greedy? Yes I am.
What did you think of this month's i+t alchemist? If you were a Magic Knight, what would your element be? Let me know in the comments!
And, as always, thanks for hanging out!
No comments:
Post a Comment