If I cast my mind way back to when I first discovered this crazy little space on the Internet full of beauty enthusiasts, I can recall that one of the bloggers I found most inspiring was Magpie Sparkles. Long before I had a blog of my own, hers was bookmarked and poured over regularly. I loved her writing and admired her sense of style. When she started making YouTube videos I was thrilled, she shared some great looks and make-up tips and displayed a real creative and technical flair for make-up.
Now… if it wasn’t for Magpie Sparkles I wouldn’t even own the wonder that is MAC’s Vex e/s, and that, my dear readers, would be a tragedy. Nor would I have in my possession some of my favourite ways to wear Vex e/s, for she must take credit for those too. If her YouTube channel was still in existence I’d link you on over… but it aint.
With this in mind, I feel obliged, no…. I feel it is my duty to pass on to a new generation, the deep love of Vex e/s that Magpie Sparkles bestowed upon me. And besides, Laura asked me to.
L-R: Vex over UDPP and Vex over MAC Greasepaint Stick in BlackMAC describe Vex as ‘a soft pale green duochrome with pink opalescent shimmer‘. In my opinion, it’s that duochrome that makes this shadow so darn gorgeous, and so incredibly versatile.
Here’s one of my favourite ways to wear Vex…
I’m wearing my usual base (have a look at my list of Everyday Essentials if you’re curious about what that is), a Shu Uemura blush in P Pink 30 and Maybelline Watershine Lipstick in Juicy Bubble Gum.
For the eyes, after applying UDPP I firmly pressed Vex on to my entire lid. I then blended MAC Smoke & Diamonds into the crease and used Vex again as a highlight on my brow bone. I then smudged MAC Print along the upper and lower lash line. After lining my waterline with Bobbi Brown gel liner in Caviar Ink I applied my trusty Max Factor mascara. I can slap this lot on very quickly of a morning and look half-way decent in time for the school run. Result.
A few other suggestions for ways to wear Vex:
- With Parfait Amour. This is probably one of my favourite make-up looks full stop. It is seriously quick to do, you only need the 2 eye-shadows, some eye liner and some mascara and you’re good to go. (In fact, Vex and Parfait Amour are never far away from one another in my make-up collection. I keep then in a quad with Print and Phloof and these 4 are easily my most worn eye-shadows.)
- With Satin Taupe in the crease and lashings of black liner.
- When I’m feeling really lazy I apply a light wash of Vex all over the eye, right up to my brow bone, before applying a smudgy line of Print e/s along my upper lash line. If I’m in the mood, I’ll wing it out slightly at the outer corner. I usually team this with a sheer red lip gloss for, what I like to call, my lazy pin-up look!
- Vex look amaaaaaaaazing over a black base. I tried to capture it’s beauty in the swatch above but it’s near impossible to do it justice. It gives off the most amazing pinky purpley sheen which is just perfect for a smokey evening look. I find this works well with shades like Black Tied or Young Punk MES from the Style Black collection.
- It’s not exactly an e/s combo but Vex always makes me want to wear MAC Up The Amp lipstick. You can see my gorgeous baby sister wearing them together here.
So ladies, who loves Vex? How do you wear yours?
Loveaudrey xxx
Thank you SO much for doing this, and so quickly too, you are an angel indeed 🙂
I LOVE the FOTD, you look gorgeous, your eyes are incredible 🙂 I love that lippy too…the only problem is, young Franky, is that you’re making me wanna spend my pennies…and “I ain’t got none”, hehe!!
I officially need: Print, Parfait Amour (is that LE, please say no!) and a black base!
I really don’t like UDPP though, isn’t it funny how some things work for some people and not others 🙂 Beauty of beauty!
I’ve never paired Vex with Greensmoke, I think I might try it, it’d probably really set off the green ‘duochrome’ really well…why didn’t I think of it before?!
Thanks so much again, I literally squealed and loved this post 🙂 xxxxxxx
Could I also ask (at risk of sounding like a crazy stalker!) how you style your hair? I have quite a large forehead, but I love how you have styled your hair and how it frames your face…I think our foreheads might be quite similar (not saying yours is huge, haha!), but my hair makes me look horrible (in my opinion!) xxx
Awwwww I’m glad it was helpful hun!!
Thank you for the compliment hun. I do actually quite like my eyes…. when they’re not looking tired and sleep deprived that is!!
The maybelline lippy could be a cheap treat? Boots points perhaps… you must be racking them up buying things for the bambino!! Parfait Amour is a perm e/s so you could always save up for it.
I remember you saying you don’t like UDPP… I’ve never really tried anything else. What do you use as a base? My eye-lids get mega oily so I need something to stop creasing.
xxx
HeHe. Yes I do have a mahoosive forehead. Mean kids at school used to call me spam’ead!!
I normally have quite a sweeping side fringe (you can see it in old FOTDs) which makes me feel better about it. Because of all the hair loss post baby it’s not quite as full as it usually is but I basically have a side fringe and long layers cut in to frame my face. But your hair isn’t horrible hun… you looked gorgeous in your OOTD post recently!!
xxx
You made me put it on my eyeshadow list a loong time ago… And I will get it next time I’m at MAC and have some pennies to spend! I agree with Laura, you do have amazing eyes, and my forehead is quite prominent as well, but I like it, I always remember how I was learning to draw and the books advised that ideally, when you draw an oval, you should start drawing the eyes in somewhere at the half line, making the forehead look really big – but hey, it’s considered classic and ideal, ok? xxx
Oooh this look is gorgeous- great FOTD. Will be buying! x
Thanks for this it looks gorgeous on you x
I love Vex and in fact wore it only the other day. I totally agree that it’s a gorgeous colour. I swatched it and as I could only see the green whilst in the shop I walked away without buying. Once I saw it outside I was hooked!
Thank you so much for the other colour combinations. I’d never have thought of putting it with purple. I’ve just got Up the Amp too so I’m dying to try that pairing now!
Jane x