Magic: The Gathering Chandra Nalaar Inspired Makeup!

For Hallowe'en (and even going past the season) I decided that an interesting series to do would be Magic: The Gathering inspired makeup! I've wanted to do this for awhile now since my husband is *really* into the game and we often go to tournaments and engage in the community. My husband has done a lot of border extensions and artwork so I figured a good way to express my artistic aptitude for the game would be using the only canvas I actually know how paint on: my face.

Here's what Chandra Nalaar looks like in Magic: The Gathering:

Credit: Magic: The Gathering, Artwork by Steve Argyle

I took a series of photos that breaks down how to achieve this look if you're interested!

Start with a bare face, apply primer to your skin and a foundation that matches your skin-tone. Conceal your eyebrows using concealer (you can also use glue and light powder but I didn't think this was necessary for this look).

Then I used a burgundy red eyeshadow to fill in my eyebrows to get a better match to Chandra's auburn fire-burned brows. She has a brown undertone in the artwork, so my natural color played well with this, if you're a blonde you may want to mix brown and red eyeshadow to create an auburn effect.

I used Urban Decay's single eyeshadow in Freelove (golden vibrant peach) in my crease and applied an orange eyeshadow from the Coastal Scents 88 Original Palette. I used this nifty trick of applying some tape extending out in a line from my lower lash line to achieve a precise edge - make sure to press the tape on the back of your hand a few times before applying it around your delicate eye area to make sure the adhesive is weak.

Near the lashline, roughly apply a matte black eyeshadow, I used the one from the LORAC PRO Palette. Then, on my lid, between the bold orange I applied in the previous step and above the Black shade, I used Garnet (or a deep, shimmery red) from the same palette.

I defined the line with my Physicians Formula liquid eyeliner in Black to get a very crisp and bold edge. Then I used the Coastal Scents palette and put the yellow-most shade all around the inner corner of my eye.

I used the liquid eyeliner to create a second "wing" going downwards in a sideways "V" shape from the original wing. The final look is achieved by further smoking out only the top of the liquid eyeliner with more Black eyeshadow. I also accented my inner corner and inside the sideways "V" with NYX Loose Pearl Eye Shadow in Yellow Gold. I also applied falsies, e.l.f. Essential Dramatic Eyelashes to be exact.

I smudged black eyeliner along the lower waterline of my eye and then smoked it out with the same Black eyeshadow. Then I used the NYX Cosmetics Loose Pearl Eyeshadow Pigment in Rust underneath to connect and transition between the yellow color accents. I wanted to add the extra yellow to represent "sparks"!

You can use any red lipstick or lip-stain as long as it isn't pink-leaning as a base for the lips. After applying that all over, I used NYX Cosmetics Loose Pearl Eyeshadow Pigment in Rust and right in the middle, I applied the pigment in Yellow Gold (the same ones I used on my eyes).

To finish off the entire face, I used the Yellow Gold pigment as a highlight on my cheekbones, down my nose, forehead, cupid's bow and chin. Then I transitioned to the Rust pigment and used that contour my cheeks and create the "hollows" that add definition and create a more overall "fiery" effect.

I hope you like the look I created!

If you create a look inspired by this series, I really hope you show it to me on Twitter or leave a comment below the post linking to it!

"Of course you should fight fire with fire. You should fight everything with fire"

- Jaya Ballard, task mage

DIY Nail Polish Tutorial

Have you ever seen a nail polish color on TV or on someone else that you really liked? And yet you haven't been able to find that shade and purchase it? Or are you just sick and tired of paying $10-$20 for a decent nail polish. Here's a quick way to make your own colors... the possibilities are limitless!

This tutorial might be just the thing you need to spruce up your hallowe'en look this year, too!

You'll only need some very basic materials:

1. clear nail polish or top coat (preferably one that you like and has staying power for best results)
2. eyeshadow color you really love (or more! You can mix these together for unique color combinations) - this can be a pigment or just an eyeshadow in a pan/palette
3. empty container (optional) - this is only if you're making smaller quantities and you don't want to use your entire clear nail polish for one DIY color
4. toothpick
5. funnel made from a rolled up piece of paper and taped together

Steps to Making Your Very Own Nail Polish!

1. First gather all of your supplies.
2. Use your toothpick to pick off some of the nail polish you have and mix different colors together to achieve what you like. In the photo above you can see pink and brown were mixed for a coral hue.
3. Transfer your pigment or powdered nail polish into the clear nail polish OR if you do not want to contaminate your clear polish, funnel the pigment and some clear polish into another container with a lid.
4. Close the container and shake.
5. Apply your fabulous new color to your nails!

I highly encourage you to give this tutorial a try, it's super simple and fun. You'll be so happy with all of the amazing compliments you get and the surprise answer you'll give people when they ask you where you got that beautiful polish!

Happy crafting, everyone!