Profile Pic Makeover!

In all my avatars (you know, the little profile pics we have on Twitter, Facebook, etc.) I always rock a natural, glowy makeup look. My goal was always “accidentally pretty,” like I just rolled out of bed and ended up with a sleek blowout, flushed cheeks, and artfully placed concealer. This has been my look for years. Your avatar is supposed to signify who you are, right? And that’s who I am. I write about makeup in an over-the-top way, but in real life, I keep it cazsch.

And frankly, I’m bored, bored, bored.

So, I decided that, in honor of the new year and everything, I’d get an avatar makeover—and turn myself into a dramatic diva queen. Smokey eyes, luscious lips, and even my big, bodacious natural curls! I wanted to look like a cross between Jennifer Beals in Flashdance, the hottest Pointer Sister, early Whitney, and one of the more realistic-looking queens on RuPaul’s Drag Race. I knew exactly who to call: Brandy Gomez-Duplessis, a self-described “glamxurious” makeup artist who’s worked with the Kardashians, Kerry Washington, Jennifer Aniston—everyone major. Brandy has a partnership with the super-glam Erno Laszlo Institute in Soho, so I met her there last week for my avatar upgrade (crystal chandeliers, epic winding staircases, flawless lighting; email bookings@bgdmakeupartistry.com for bookings). Here’s what we did with the makeup. As for the hair, it was au naturel!

Skin

To give my skin a soft-focus effect and even out my complexion, Brandy applied L’Oreal Paris RevitaLift Miracle Blur ($8), a multi-tasking primer. Then, she blended on Stila Stay All Day Foundation & Concealer ($44) in Medium #9 and Dark #11. And to warm up my skin, she dusted Flower Beauty On with the Glow Blush/Bronzer in Gloriously Golden ($8.99) along the perimeter of my face and cheekbones.

Eyes

The eyes had to be dramatic! Brandy used L’Oreal Paris HIP Studio Secrets Concentrated Shadow Duo in Flare/Charged ($8), sweeping the champagne shade at my brow bone, and the copper hue on my lids. Then, she rimmed my top and bottom lash lines with Nicka K HD Eye Shadow ($1.99) in #3020, a sexy dark cobalt.

Lips

We wanted my lips to pop without upstaging my eyes. So Brandy picked a slightly metallic, petal pink shade: Flower Shine On Lip Gloss in Hibis-kiss ($5). Ladies, I think I found my signature shade.

Voila! A totally new, hot-stuff raowwr avatar. It’s a great way to kick off 2014! 

Tia Williams has been a beauty editor for 15 years, at publications like Elle, Glamour, Lucky, and Essence.com. Back in 2005, Tia created one of the first beauty blogs, Shake Your Beauty, where she wove her love of products through hilarious vignettes from her life as a beauty expert and mom living in Brooklyn. She’s also written several books, including the best-selling novel The Accidental Diva and supermodel Iman’s The Beauty of Color. Follow Tia on Twitter @shakeyourbeauty.