Thursday Favorite Things: Eye Shadow Palettes

OK...anyone who knows me knows that I am a make-up junkie!

I'm not going to go into the pros and cons of wearing make-up, how much is too much, etc.  I only know that as a "woman of a certain age," looking my best inevitably involves applying a little paint to the old barn, if you know what I mean.

As he sometimes does on my December birthday, my husband gifted me this year with Estee Lauder's Blockbuster gift with purchase.

It was a make-up lover's dream.  Among the stand-outs: the eye shadow palette.  The colors are absolutely lovely, go on beautifully, and fulfill just about any eye-shadow needs a make-up lover could have.

Here's a closer look:

I am absolutely loving this palette.  Here's me wearing a few of the colors (click to make the picture larger):

On my lid: Estee Lauder Ivy Envy, Satin
In my crease: Estee Lauder Lavish Mink, Matte
Under my eyebrows: Nude Fresco, Satin

While this palette is no longer available,  you can buy the individual colors at your Estee Lauder counter.  Which is what I plan to do with the Lavish Mink color.  It's exactly the deep, dark shade I love in a brown eye shadow.

Are you a cosmetics junkie too?  I'd love to hear about your favorite palettes and products!

I'm taking part today in Katherine's Corner's Thursday Favorite Things blog hop!

Visible Monday: Emerald Eye Shadow Tutorial

Did you know the fashion and make-up Powers That Be have declared emerald to be the color for 2013?

With yesterday being St. Patrick's Day, I decided to go all out...green everything, including my eye shadow.  Yes, the Make-up Powers That Be often tell you not to match-matchy your clothes and eye make-up, but I chose to ignore them.  Above is the finished look.  If you'd like to know how I accomplished it, read on!

This ELF palette has been may go-to palette since I got it for FIVE DOLLARS--yes FIVE DOLLARS--half-price at Walgreen's right after Christmas.  For my festive emerald St. Paddy's look, I chose to build the look around the emerald shadow that's in the fourth row up from the bottom, three shadows over.

Prep for the look:

I started out with a clean, moisturized face.  Before beginning with the shadow, I shaped my eyebrows with a dark brown shadow and a tiny angled brush...used ELF eyelid primer all over the lid...and a neutral skin-toned shadow all over the lid, all the way up to the brow.

Why, you ask?  I know it seems like a lot of steps, but if you're like me and want your eye shadow to stay put all day, it's worth it.

Now for the color:

Step 1:  I applied my emerald shadow all over the eyelid itself.

Step  2:  This is one step in which I deviated from ELF.  I love the gray in my Lancome eye shadow palette so much, and that's what I used in the crease and as a contour on the edges of my lid.

Step 3:  I blended it out with a brush, and even used my finger a little.

Step 4:  I used Estee Lauder black eye pencil above and below my lashes.  (I don't put liner on my water line, because I think it makes my eyes look smaller.)

Above my eye, I smoothed ELF black eye shadow over the eye pencil for a slightly more smudge look.
Beneath my eye, I smoothed the emerald eye shadow over the black pencil.  (As you can see, it doesn't look crazy-green.)

Step 5:  You can't see it very well in the pic, but I used eyelash primer on both sets of lashes.  I'm convinced it makes my lashes look a bit longer and thicker, (although naturally they're neither.)

Step 6:  In the center of my eyelid, I put a small smudge of a much-lighter green and blended slightly.  I think the little bit of bright in the center of the lid makes you look more wide-awake somehow.

Step 7:  I then put 2 or 3 coats of Estee Lauder black mascara on my upper and lower lashes.

Below:  I put a light shade of neutral with the tiniest bit of shimmer right below my brow.  You have to be careful with this, especially if you're older like me.  Too much shimmer, too much light stuff below the brow can end up looking tacky.  Use a very light touch.

Below:

The finished look.  Hope you like it!

I'm linking up today with Visible Monday, hosted by Not Dead Yet Style!

Front Porch Photo Shoot

I think I've decided that I'm the best person to take pictures of myself.  I took all the pictures in this "front porch photo shoot," and I think they turned out decently.  I wanted to pose with some of our potted plants and hanging baskets to complement the floral top I'm wearing.

I also wanted to show my "face o' the day," especially the eye make-up look I came up with.

All the eye make-up prodcuts I used were ELF, except for the mascara, which is Clinique High Lengths.  My daughter Elizabeth, who is a Clinique associate, gave me a sample of this mascara, and as soon as I can afford a full-size tube, I'm getting it!

The ELF shadows I used were a light pink under the brow, and a charcoal one on the lid and in the crease.  (Sorry, not sure of the actual names.)

I always start my eye make-up look with ELF eyelid primer, then a swoosh of a neutral shadow to set it, before applying the rest.  It ensures that my eye make-up stays put all day!

Visible Monday: Neutral Smokey Eye, all Ulta!

You know I don't happen to believe that after you reach a certain age, you can only wear neutral eye shadow.  But sometimes it just makes sense, and can be really pretty.

Recently I took advantage of an amazing gift-with-purchase at Ulta, one of my favorite places to buy make-up.  If you spent 17.50 on Ulta make-up or make-up tools, you got a gift bag with 13 Ulta make-up items!

What an awesome deal...oh, and you could choose from three color families.  The bag I chose was called "Lavender Fields," but it wasn't just purple stuff.

It also included a lovely neutral eye-shadow quad, and that's what I used in these pictures...along with the mascara that came with the gift.

So here's what I did:

--I used ELF eyelid primer (the only non-Ulta thing I used) all over the lid, all the way up to the brow..

--I then used a fluffy brush to apply Ulta "bone" all over the lid, all the way up to the brow.

--I used Ulta "mystique" on the eyelid itself.

--I used a small brush to apply Ulta "espresso" in the crease and the outer corner of the eyelid, then used a blending brush to soften and blend it, making it "smokey."

--Oops, I forgot, I used one other non-Ulta thing.  Above my lashes,  I used Clinique cream liner in black.

--Under my eye, I used Ulta eyeliner in deep brown. I then smudged espresso eyeshadow over the line (that helps keep it in place for the duration.)

--I used Ulta Voluptuous Volume in black on both my upper and lower lashes.  As you can see, my lashes aren't very long, which bugs the heck out of me.  I don't want to pay for some expensive drug to make them longer, so maybe I'll try to get more adept at using false lashes!

A few more views...

I'm linking up today to Visible Monday, hosted by Not Dead Yet Style!

 

Also, for the first time, linking with Monday Mingle!

Visible Monday: What I Wore to a Winter Wedding

Jacket: Macy's clearance

Shell:  Gordman's

Skirt: Notations from Gordman's

Shoes--Victor, Bergner's clearance

OK, so I'm having a tough time figuring out the best way to take my own Outfit of the Day picture with my trusty little point-and-shoot. (Yes, I cut off the top of my head.)

 I do have a little tripod now that attaches to my camera, so I can perch it on things and self-take my picture. 

 However, I guess I'll never get those awesome magazine-quality shots that many of you get with your wonderful SLRs (not that I'm covetous or bitter. :))

Anyway...this is what I wore to the wedding of a co-worker Saturday.

I love the dark turquoise velvet jacket.  I got it last week on a 75% off clearance rack at Macy's...it was just under $15.00.  Saturday was unseasonably warm for Northern Illinois, so I didn't even have to wear a coat!

I love the way the jacket flares out in an almost peplum-fashion...it's flattering. 

I fiddled with some effects here to let you see just how pretty the color of the jacket is.

Here is my make-up look for the day.  (I once again broke fashion rules by wearing eye-shadow the color of my jacket.)

 On the lid I'm wearing  Estee Lauder Peacock Blue.

  On the crease (which you can't really see), I have black ELF shadow.  

Under the brow is something I'm loving, that my Clinique-selling daughter gave me for Christmas (among many other Clinique treasures!) It's an under-the-brow illuminator that gives just the right touch of shimmer for a fancy occasion. 

Mascara is Estee Lauder Sumptuous in black.

Eyeliner is (under eyes) Estee Lauder pencil liner, (above eye) ELF eyeliner.

Foundation is Estee Lauder Double Wear in Fresco.

Blush is MAC Mineralize in Gentle.

Lipstick is Estee Lauder Pure Color in Candy.

Lip gloss is Clinique Longlast Glosswear in Bamboo Pink.

Do you ladies have any ideas on other things I can do with this velvet jacket? This is the only way I've worn it...ideas are welcome!

I'm participating today in Visible Monday, hosted by Not Dead Yet Style...click on the icon to join the fun!

Visible Monday: a beauty-full birthday gift

Saturday was my birthday. And while I don't relish the idea of admitting to being another year into middle age, it's a lot better than the alternative :), and I'm just shallow enough to enjoy being made a fuss over on my special today.

Hubby came through. He took me out to a lovely brunch at one of my favorite eateries, Egg Harbor. A high school musical ensemble was there, serenading the diners with gorgeous Christmas carols.

Afterwards, we went to the mall and he bought me what I asked for: a bottle of Estee Lauder Sensuous Nude perfume, and the blockbuster make-up kit that's an Estee Lauder Christmas season special.




As I get older, it's even more important to me that my make-up look pretty, appropriate but as enhancing as possible. I'm a make-up junkie, so I'm like a kid in a candy store with this kit!

Not shown in the picture is another sweet little bag that looks like a clutch (it would be perfect for a Christmas party), an assortment of make-up brushes and a pretty purse mirror.

My family in Texas had already celebrated my birthday when I was there a week ago, so I had a really wonderful birthday this year.

Another year older, I'm even more committed to be the very best woman-of-a-certain-age that I can be...and one of the things that has been helping me lately is following the bloggers who take part in Visible Monday, hosted by Not Dead Yet Style. Check out the fabulous participants!

(Oh, a quick word about what I wore. The beautiful and comfortable gray V-neck sweater is from the Ann Taylor outlet in the Round Rock Outlet Mall. The scarf is from one of my favorite accessories places, Charming Charlie's. Love!)

Texas Beauty Mini-Haul!

Source: flickr.com via Cindy on Pinterest

All right, you know me. I never met a cosmetics counter I didn't like. So imagine my delight when I found (well, actually was directed to by my sister) two awesome discount cosmetics stores at the Outlet Mall while visiting in Round Rock, Texas.

You have to be careful with these outlet stores...sometimes their prices are just a fraction less than they would be ordinarily. Just as with other shopping, hit the clearance racks and you can get some amazing deals!

One store was mainly devoted to Lancome products. There, I found a Tresor in Love gift package that, after 50 per cent off the outlet price, came to a little more than 20 dollars. It includes a 1.7 oz. bottle of Tresor in Love (which smells absolutely yummy), and 1.7 ounce tubes of lotion and shower gel.

Source: search.swagbucks.com via Cindy on Pinterest

I also got a Lancome Renergie night moisturizer (sorry I don't have the correct name--it was too big for carry-on, so my mom is sending it to me) that is 93 dollars in department stores. At 65 per cent off outlet price, it was also not much more than 20 bucks.

My sister has used this and says it's absolutely wonderful. She's crazy about Lancome skin care products, and only gets them at this outlet...which she says often has even better deals than the ones I found!

Also at the Lancome outlet, I got my husband a good-sized bottle of Armani Diamonds for Men after-shave for only 10 dollars on a 75 per cent off table.

The other outlet store featured mostly Estee Lauder, Clinique and MAC. I got a MAC loose powder and a MAC blush. I can't remember exactly how much I paid for them, but I'm in love with both products. (Believe it or not, it was the first time I've ever purchased MAC cosmetics, although I've bought their amazing Turquatic cologne.)

We currently don't have an outlet mall where I live. If I lived in Round Rock, I think I would be addicted to those cosmetics stores!

Visible Monday: Breaking the rules with eye shadow

(OK, first off, don't laugh at me for another self-taken picture in my car! This time with my seatbelt on, no less!) This usually happens because my make-up is freshly done, I'm getting ready to leave for work, and somehow the lighting tends to be good. Whatever works, you know?

All right...to the subject of eye shadow and sometimes breaking the rules.

The make-up Powers That Be will often tell you:

--not to wear eye shadow that matches the color of your eyes

--not to wear eye shadow that matches what you're wearing

--older women should only wear neutral eye shadows

On this occasion, I brazenly did all these no-no's, and I liked it fine!

I resisted the urge to photo-shop so I could realistically show you what these colors looked like, by the way.


Also, note to self (I'm still learning...), next time, take a picture of your eyes CLOSED as well.

Here's what I did:

--used a tiny angled brush to apply Clinique eye shadow in "slate" to define my eyebrows

--applied Elf eyelid primer to my entire above-eye area (more on primer in a moment!)

--brushed Estee Lauder matte eye-shadow in "sandbar beige" over entire above-eye area---this sets the primer and gives you a nice canvas for the rest of your shadow look

--applied Ulta eye shadow in "envy" in eye crease and outer corners of the lid, blending carefully

--went over the crease with Clinique "slate" eye shadow, blending carefully

--applied Elf cream eyeliner in "gunmetal" above the upper eyelashes

--lightly went over the eyeliner with Clinique "slate" eye shadow to set it

--below the "water line," applied Ulta Kohl Eyeliner Pencil in "emerald"

--lightly went over that with Ulta eyeshadow in "envy" to set it

--applied Estee Lauder black mascara in "Sumptuous" both on top and bottom lashes

(I know it sounds lengthy, but it actually doesn't take that long to do.)

Yes, there are some eye shadow rules that older women should not regularly break. For instance, highly frosted and shimmery shadows are best avoided or kept to a minimum (I do use them sometimes, sparingly.)

And remember, blend, blend, blend. You want to avoid a "striped" look at all costs!

But some rules are made to be broken. Do it with class and discretion, but take a chance every once in a while!

OK, about primer

If you haven't yet discovered primer, let me introduce you to what will become one of your best cosmetic friends!

As you've already surmised, I'm a make-up girl. I pretty much never step out of the house without a full face of it.

For years, though, I was a prisoner to constant touch-ups. It just never stayed the way I wanted it to! Eye shadow gathering in the crease...smudges left and right...my face make-up needing regular touch-ups as well. A pain!

When I started watching YouTube beauty tutorials, I learned about primer. Primer assures that you can put your make-up on in the morning, and by noon it looks pretty much the same as it did when you stepped out!

On my eyelid, I usually just use Elf eyelid primer. It costs ONE DOLLAR at Target (and some other locations.) I usually go over that with a matte color that's close to my own skin color. The rest of my eye make-up then stays on beautifully.

There are other, more expensive eyelid primers, but Elf works fine for me.

On my face, prior to putting on my foundation, I usually use Rimmel Fix and Perfect Pro. It's not expensive, you can get it at most drugstores, and it makes a world of difference.

I'm participating today in Visible Monday!

My favorite beauty guru, Emily Eddington, talks about ELF

I admit it. I love make-up. I never met a cosmetics counter I didn't like.

I eschew the "natural look," because I think that's the domain of young girls who still have flawless complexions and rosy lips and cheeks

Being a woman of "a certain age," I employ such tricks and tools that are at my disposal to help me look my very best.

That's kind of how I got started on YouTube beauty tutorials. One of my favorite YouTube beauty gurus is Emily Eddington, whose Beauty Broadcast usually focuses on the more affordable beauty items that can be found in drugstores, at Target, Wal-Mart, etc. (Read my 2-part interview with Emily here and here.)

I think it was through Emily that I found out about ELF (eyes lips face) cosmetics, and they have become a staple in my budget-conscious make-up collection.

Many ELF products cost only a dollar--ONE DOLLAR!--and I've been very pleased with the majority of products I've bought.

But I'm going to let Emily tell you all about them, because she's really good at doing it!



Be sure and check out all the helpful videos on Emily's YouTube channel!

From the Archives: Part 2 of My Interview with YouTube Beauty Guru Emily Eddington

"I've gotten emails that have brought me to tears. From the teenager who said her mother was fighting cancer and they used my videos as an escape-- to the overworked mom who said a new makeup look she tried brought about the first compliment from her husband in years.... this is big stuff."-Emily Eddington, Beauty Broadcast

26-year-old Emily Eddington is a TV news anchorwoman in southern Illinois, but her YouTube beauty tutorials may be what really brings her fame! She recently marked the 50-thousandth subscriber to her Beauty Broadcast YouTube channel, and her Facebook page and blog draw thousands too.

In Part 1 of my interview with Emily, we talked about how she became so interested in cosmetics, and her philosophy of beauty--there's a real connection between looking good and feeling good.

Here's Part 2...

CINDY: One thing people love about Beauty Broadcast is that you usually feature very affordable make-up. I know it's trial and error, but do you find the less expensive products are sometimes just as good as the really expensive ones?

EMILY: Absolutely! When I first started watching YouTube videos, I didn't see a lot of people offering budget-friendly advice. That was a void I felt I could fill by posting reviews about all the great inexpensive products I had tried. Sure- that $35 prestigious foundation from the department store might be great- but what's the fun in discovering that? I am practically addicted to the act of going into a drugstore, finding products, trying them out, and reporting on an unexpectedly AWESOME piece of makeup. I love seeing others get excited about the affordable options I recommend. Still, I do like to try out high end items here and there to have a frame of reference for how the cheaper things stack up.



CINDY: Have you always been a bargain hunter?

EMILY: I think so. When mom saw my interest in makeup steadily grow throughout high school, I don't think she would've wanted to get me near a department store makeup counter! She tolerated my interest in makeup, but considering that she was funding this obsession- she wasn't going to let it leave the walls of the drugstore. I was always happy spending a good half hour in the aisles of Wal-Mart, picking out a new item or two every now and then. It was basically all I knew-- my mom always wore drugstore makeup brands and looked great... so why couldn't I?

CINDY: You have thousands of subscribers. How do you feel about having such a huge audience? Any feedback that surprised you, touched you, or otherwise sticks out in your mind?

EMILY: I really can't fathom the amount of people that view my videos. To think that more than 50,000 people have clicked the "Subscribe" button after seeing me sitting in my small extra bedroom rambling about the latest must-have eyeshadow primer is beyond me! YouTube's format is such that feedback can be posted alongside every video. And in the somewhat anonymous world of the internet where an abstract username is your only source of identification- people are very free with their opinions! I'm fortunate to say that the support has been overwhelming. I've gotten emails that have brought me to tears. From the teenager who said her mother was fighting cancer and they used my videos as an escape-- to the overworked mom who said a new makeup look she tried brought about the first compliment from her husband in years.... this is big stuff. It makes any hesitation or fear of a large audience less of a factor, because I know the videos are making a difference.




CINDY: What would you say to encourage someone who has never really used make-up, but wants to learn how?

EMILY: It's never too late to learn, and your routine can be as easy or as complicated as you want it to be. I'm not a big "makeup rules" person. You will probably never see me make a "makeup do's and don'ts" video, because we all have different methods and preferences- and like art- I don't believe there's any one right way to get it done. I like providing suggestions that have worked for me, but I hope people understand that it's not the only way. In this day and age- there are SO many ways to learn about makeup. Books, magazines, online forums, videos, blogs... they offer so much instruction. Start drawing inspiration from the people and the world around you. Start small, practice, and use the beauty resources that are available to you. You'll be glad you did!



(This was originally posted May 3, 2010)

CINDY: How do you envision the future of Beauty Broadcast? (I could see you becoming your own brand, even writing a book!)

EMILY: I would love to expand Beauty Broadcast! Right now my full-time career (anchoring morning news) accounts for a lot of my time, but I would love to one day take what I do in videos- and do it in person. Perhaps some sort of seminar where I could meet the people that have been watching, and really communicate with them face to face. Or what if Beauty Broadcast made it's way to your TV screen? THAT would be awesome :)

From the Archives: She Broadcasts Beauty: My Interview with YouTube Beauty Guru Emily Eddington

I'm a firm believer in the connection between looking good and feeling good on the inside. We all naturally seek acceptance and love from others-- and ourselves. If makeup can be a small tool to bring that out- I think that's great.--Emily Eddington

(This interview was originally posted May 1, 2010).

Emily Eddington is a TV newscaster, but her YouTube beauty tutorials may be what brings her fame

When I recently decided to try using velcro rollers in my hair, I did a Google search for video tutorials on the subject. (By the way, in case you didn't know? You can find a video on how to do just about ANYTHING on YouTube.)

One of the videos I happened upon was a YouTube tutorial on using velcro rollers by "emilynoel83."

I was intrigued by this lovely young woman with her straightforward, down-to-earth approach, so I checked out some of her other YouTube videos--most of them explaining make-up techniques, reviewing beauty products, and showing how to use inexpensive make-up to get a great look.

In no time, I was hooked--and I became one of over 50-thousand people who suscribe to Emily Eddington's YouTube channel, Beauty Broadcast.

A TV newscaster with a penchant for beauty



26-year-old Emily Eddington is a morning news anchor for WSIL-TV in southern Illinois. That fact resonates in her articulate, factual but friendly and approachable manner in her tutorials.

It doesn't hurt that she's downright gorgeous, and that her lovely face is the perfect canvas for the many make-up looks she demonstrates.

So far, Emily has parlayed her tutorials into a popular blog and Facebook page, and I'm thinking the sky's the limit for Beauty Broadcast.

How did a relatively small-town newscaster end up with a YouTube channel that boasts 50-thousand subscribers? I was curious, so I asked Emily to take part in an e-mail interview, and she graciously answered my questions.

Here's Part One of our interview:



CINDY: How far back in your life does your interest in make-up, hair, and beauty go?

EMILY: I remember always being somewhat intrigued by my mom's makeup collection, and whatever makeup she was carrying around in her purse. My mom & sister are beautiful ladies- and always seemed to have their hair & makeup looking good (my mom is a former cosmetologist)- so I knew I would one day get involved with makeup as well. I believe that day came in 7th grade when I joined the cheerleading squad and put on some very minor makeup for a game (powder, lip gloss, blush). Magazines like "Teen" and "Seventeen" became my main sources for beauty education, and in high school I reached that phase where I was somewhat of a "collector" of drugstore makeup.

CINDY: Why do you think it's a good thing for a woman to use the tools available to her to try to look her best?

EMILY: I'm a firm believer in the connection between looking good and feeling good on the inside. Makeup is an extremely affordable way to enhance your natural beauty, and put an extra spring in your step. I always hear from viewers who say they tried a particular product I suggested and they got "so many compliments". We all naturally seek acceptance and love from others-- and ourselves. If makeup can be a small tool to bring that out- I think that's great. For those who get especially interested in makeup- it truly does become an art form for expressing your creativity. You don't have to be a professional to have fun with that!

CINDY: Tell me about the evolution of "Beauty Broadcast"...how did your interest in make-up, etc, end up being regular videos on YouTube?

EMILY: Shortly after I began working at the TV station where I currently anchor, I noticed this incredible beauty community on YouTube. I was practically frustrated with myself when I tapped into this vast makeup resource- because it could have been SO useful to me- had I discovered it in college. I remember sitting on the couch one night, randomly looking up some info on a product I wanted to try- and a link to a video came up... about a dozen videos later, I realized- I can do this! I love to talk, and I love makeup... maybe I can contribute to the YouTube world of beauty as well! I consistently started posting videos for a short time, and then work really got busy for me and I took a short hiatus from YouTube. At that point, I didn't think all that many people were watching... so, why bother, right? Well, people were messaging me, saying, "Where did you go? I miss your videos!" At that point I realized- this needs to continue. Well over 300 videos later... I'm still here! :)

CINDY: Do you ever have trouble coming up with ideas for your videos?

EMILY: Thankfully, no. Through emails, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook- subscribers are constantly telling me what they want. With these requests coming from literally *thousands* of different directions- I always have some sort of idea floating around! Plus, new products are always hitting the market, so there's always something for me to review. Makeup offers endless creativity in terms of the looks you can create, so I don't think there's any limit to the types of tutorials I can create.



CINDY: How important to you is the feedback you get from your Beauty Broadcast facebook page?

EMILY: I especially value what people have to say on the Facebook page, because I know these people who are willing to seek me out in numerous forms of social media really care about Beauty Broadcast. A number of times- people on the Facebook page have referred to the group as their "Beauty Broadcast Family". I love that! I get a lot of enjoyment out of seeing people answer each other's questions on the Facebook page. It's like we're all a big bunch of friends on there.

Next time: In Part 2 of our interview, Emily Eddington talks about why it's important to her to show how you can look great on a budget--and what could be in store for Beauty Broadcast in the future

Friday Fabulousness: The Joy of Primping

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Elizabeth Taylor

Friday Fabulousness! From the "I enjoy being a girl" file...The Joy of Primping (and yes, that's primping, with an r. )

Definition from MerriamWebster.com: "to dress or groom oneself carefully "

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Kim Kardashian

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Grace Kelly

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Deborah Kerr

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YouTube make-up guru Emily Eddington

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Elizabeth Taylor