Introduction to New Lighting with Le Métier de Beauté Nouvelle Vague

can you tell I'm really excited about my new setup?

If you've been following the blog from the start, you'll notice that the lighting on Messy Wands changes with the seasons. Not only does the sun make intermittent appearances, but I've had the misfortune of needing to uproot myself every four months or so the past year. Not anymore! ...for at least nine months.

Anyway, it seems that fall is already tickling tree branches because the leaves look just about ready to hit the ground. Today I walked out in my boots and a sweater and I still felt cold. Winter this year promises to be miserable, but my pictures hopefully shall not!

I decided if I was going to take this blogging thing seriously (and you should know I take it very, very seriously) I will need to invest in some good lighting equipment. I popped by B&H Photo with my boyfriend in tow - and this was where I got ecstatic about his film degree - and came out with a light, a stand and some background paper. Some complicated-looking rigging later, I have a mini studio in my room.

I'm pretty happy with the new pictures (see below), but it does mean there will be some adjustments around here. For one, my close-ups may look different from now on, and um, I might play with my hair a lot more because it's now in full view. I'm hoping to change the layout of the site so it can accomodate bigger pictures. Little things like that.

As for now, I finally got around to playing with Le Métier de Beauté Nouvelle Vague (for swatches, see here) from the brand's fall collection. The three layers of pink are not nuanced enough for my liking, but it does make for a pretty barely there sort of eye look.

Cheeks: Chanel Rose Ecrin; Lips: Le Métier de Beauté Marrakech Lipstick topped with Sweet Creme Lip Creme

That said, the fourth shade is a decadently rich black shadow that spices up the palette. Below, I applied the three pinks over my eyelids to just a little past the crease, then layered the black only on the lid area. I messily swept some leftover black shadow on the bottom lashline, just for kicks.

Lips: Guerlain Rouge G Guerlinade topped with LMdB Creme de la Creme

I went a little hair crazy for this shoot because it was just so fun, but I'll (try to) tame it down next time. Hope you like the new look!

Le Métier de Beauté Nouvelle Vague* will retail for $95 and should ship to counters nationwide in October.

Product(s) marked with * is provided by the company for editorial consideration