Her thoughts: The hardest part was definitely the hair.

1. I tried rollers, but had never used them before and didn’t get much of a change from them. I might not have let them sit long enough?



2. I then switched to a large barrel curling iron and used volumizing mousse. I’m new to curling irons and definitely had trouble getting the timing right. After a few strands where nothing but the end was bent, I finally got my hair to curl to my will. I suffered from a few burns on my hand and one giant welt on my arm as I burned myself when putting the iron away. Beauty is pain though, right? Next time, I’ll definitely be more careful! In the end, my hair definitely plumped up, but it wasn’t the exact look I was trying for.

For my makeup:



1. I started with NYX HD Photogenic Primer, $14 as a base. I used Victoria’s Secret Concealer, $14 to cover blemishes and hide any darkness under my eyes.



2. I decided to do my eyes before applying the rest of my foundation in case any shadow got on my cheeks. I used the NP Set Smoke Signals Eye Palette, $9.99 to create the look. I applied a thin line of black shadow on both the upper and lower lash lines.



3. I then switched to a dark purple shade, applying a layer above the black lash line.



4. Then, I added a brown layer that extended from the center of my eyelid to the edge of my eyebrow and blended the colors to make it a subtle gradient.



5. Lastly, I added a white shadow to the inner corners of my eye to make them pop.



6. With the eyeshadow in place, I used Laura Geller Real Deal Foundation Stick with SPF 15, $28 to even out my skin tone and make sure no stray eyeshadow marked my cheeks.



7. To give my cheeks a bit of definition, I used Tarte’s Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed, $25.



8. For the nude lip, I used Avon Healthy Makeup Lip Conditioner with SPF 15 in Coral, $4.99. To get a bit more shine, I topped it off with a dab of gloss.

The hair looked good at the start of the day, but after a few hours the waves fell flat and it just ended up being a frizzy mess. Should I try this look again, I’ll need a more defining mousse so it will hold the look longer. As for the makeup, I loved the dramatic eye, but it’s more appropriate for a night out than a day at the office.

Everyone noticed the eye makeup! My fiance is usually oblivious when it comes to my makeup changes, but he noticed this one and thought it looked great. As for the hair, by the time most people saw it, it had already dissolved into a pile of frizz on my head, so not many people saw it at its best.