Makeup Books Make Great Teachers

I was fortunate enough to receive some great makeup books this Christmas (thanks to my awesome father-in-law- yes, a man was brilliant enough to buy these for me!!) to add to my already stocked library!!

I love love love big ole picture books about makeup and how to apply it.  Being a predominately self taught makeup artist myself, these books are basically my teachers.  That's how I was taught to learn things in school and college, so real life should be no different, right?? Books are the best way to educate yourself on anything and everything, because you can learn at your own speed and if you forget something, you can just re-read it and learn it all over!

In one of the new books I received (and have already read front to back!) by Kevyn Aucoin "Face Forward" I admire some of the statements he makes in his introduction to the book:

• ...there is really no such thing as "normal"-everybody's different, and that is the essence of their beauty.  To forgive yourself your differences and cherish them instead, is incredibly liberating. 
• Appreciating (even highlighting) individuality is one of the great things about makeup.
• I'm not saying that putting on makeup will change the world or even your life, but it can be a first step in learning things about yourself you may never have discovered otherwise.  At worst, you could make a big mess and have a good laugh!!

Not only do I use all of my books as teachers, I also use them as inspiration for different looks.  

Example- the cover of my new Jemma Kidd book, Makeup-Up Masterclass $29 (above)  inspired my low maintence look (below) with a quick winged eye.  

Luckily, for Christmas I also received Kat Von D's Tattoo liner pen $18 (again, a gift by a man, my incredibly generous hubby!) This can be used as an eyeliner or to create fake tattoos-extremely artsy! It is super skinny and pointed which helped me to make my smooth winged look that mimiced the Jemma Kidd cover.  Without it- my line would have been too fat.  

I liked this look because it wasn't too fussy but the addition of the perfectly lined eye made it slightly fancy!  

Here are the main components (products) of my look:

Eyes:  Shadow- Too Faced "Heaven" ivory shadow all over, with Lancome's "Sunset" in the crease.  Liquid liner- Kat Von D's Tattoo liner in "Trooper" with a thin line of black shadow along lower lashes.

Cheeks:  Hard Candy Hide & Glow Cheek in "Pillow Talk" ($8).  I'm super excited Hard Candy is available at Wal-Mart now- they have some excellent cheap but fun makeup products.  This cheek stain is a duo, one really pink side and a more coral side that I actually layered one on top of the other to create a very natural flushed look. This product is super sheer.  

Lips:  I used my Rimmel London lip liner in "East End Snob" and filled in my lips with it then just added lots of MAC clear lip glass ($14.50) for a super shiny glassy looking lip.

I'd be interested to know- what makeup books are your favorite that you've learned the most from??  Share with me!