Many moons of October: Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven inspired look (using Kat Von D Beauty)

​"Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
​In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore..."
The Raven, Edgar Allan Poe
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Oh, Edgar Allan Poe, how I adore you...
For this final Halloween look, I was inspired by one of my favorite Gothic writers and his most well-known poems about the raven.​

(Here I am about a year or two ago visiting one of his homes in what is now the Bronx, NY).
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For this look, it's important to use high-pigmented and super long-lasting formulas - and for that, I choose no other brand than Kat Von D Beauty. Her products give one-swipe flawless coverage, with colors that are out of this world - not to mention her tattoo-inspired packaging which she hand draws herself. Next time you're in Sephora, swatch some of her fully vegan stuff - but beware, you might break the bank once you do...
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+ Lock-It Foundation in Light 44, Kat Von D Beauty
If you are looking for a complete coverage foundation with a demi-matte finish, you absolutely need this in your life. For this look, I wanted a velvetty finish that easily covered all blemishes, birth marks, redness - EVERYTHING. With this foundation, I find that I seldom need concealer, but may pat on a little extra product in certain areas if I need it. And a little goes a long way, about 1/1.5 pumps gives you a perfect canvas.

+ Shade + Light Face Contour Palette, Kat Von D Beauty
For a natural contour that can build to something a bit more contrasted/dramatic, this powder palette is your new best friend - and it works for most skin tones. For this look, I began contouring my cheekbones and bridge of my nose with the lightest and more grey-toned shade called Sombre. For my light skin, I find this shade is my perfect natural "shadow" shade that doesn't add warmth to the skin, but simply deepens the contours and hollows of my face. This product is completely buildable and blendable, so stop there if that's enough contour for you, but make sure to pat on a little extra on the nose than you normally might. 

+ Tattoo Liner in Trooper, Kat Von D Beauty
Now, for the fun part... For the eyes, I wanted to leave some negative space (the nude space around each eye) so the black around the eyes looked like a masquerade mask and not crazy panda eyes. Begin outlining the natural crease in your eyelids (if you aren't naturally hooded, you can create them), and fill in completely all the way up to your brows. Follow your face's natural shape and begin slimming the nose even more with your liner in order to make it look like a raven's beak. This part can be a bit time consuming, but know that's it's okay to be a bit messy once you have created your outlines. Get creative - you can follow the wing-inspired shape I created below the eye, or go for something a bit different! Once you have filled in both the top and bottom parts of your "mask," start feathering with soft strokes to create a bit more texture above and below each bit.

Now that you are completely "blacked out" in your Trooper liner, pump out just a bit of your Lock-It Foundation and grab a tiny makeup brush. Time to add some dimension... Begin using the same feathering technique to break up all that black liner and create a base where you can add some color (any shadow you add straight onto black liner won't be seen all that well, so this step will help). If your foundation is a bit darker than mine, the contrast may not be as drastic. Instead, try using a white face paint to really get some nice color payoff.

+ Star Studded Eyeshadow Palette, Kat Von D Beauty
For my mask's highlight, I wanted to go for a more jewel/purple toned look (though shades of blue or green would look lovely as well), so I first went in with Fascination Street, the deep matte purple in this palette. Go right over the little foundation flicks we have created with a dabbing motion, completely covering it. I then went over those same areas with the shade Gothica, a more smokey purple with some serious glitter. I then dipped into Black Star, a glittery black, and feathered the top and bottom of my mask even further, all the way up to my hairline and down to the hollows of my cheeks. And last but not least, I took a fluffy blending brush with the shimmery white shade, Anti-Star, and highlighted the tip/bridge of my nose, my cupid's bow as well as a touch on my chin. I also used the same shade to fill in those negative spaces we created on the eye lids, the lower lashline, as well as the spaces inbetween the top and bottom pieces of our mask. Don't be afraid to go in with a heavy hand - the more white in those areas, the more brightness, contrast, and intensity we bring to the look.

+ Immortal Lash 24 Hour Mascara, Kat Von D Beauty
For soft lashes that don't distract from the look/hide our white lids, I used two layers of this mascara. The bristles are perfect for separating your lashes without clumping, and the tip of the brush is perfect for those hard-to-reach lower lashes.

+ Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Witches, Kat Von D Beauty
To make the eyes the star of the show, I would recommend swiping on a nude lippie, but for this look, I wanted to make my lips just as interesting. This liquid lipstick formula dries completely matte and literally lasts forever - but make sure you are super careful when putting it on - the drying time is faster than you may be used to, and any little mishap is very difficult to fix.

And voila! Masquerade, costume party, or cosplay ready!
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​What's your favorite poem/story by Poe?