Many moons of October: Kalypso of Homer's The Odyssey inspired look

​"I have no further spells to work against you.
But what I shall devise and what I tell you
will be the same as if your need were mine.
Fairness is all I think of. There are hearts
​made of cold iron - but my heart is kind."
The Odyssey by Homer, book V
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​Kalypso, also commonly written as Calypso, is a beautiful yet deceitful sea nymph, daughter of the Greek God, Titan Atlas. In her most popular story, she is bound to the island of Ogygia where she holds Odysseus captive for many years in the hopes of making him her immortal husband. Kalypso is written as a soft and kind woman, though as we come to find out, she is quite selfish and romantic to a fault.

Though there are a few different iterations of Kalypso (my fave version being Calypso in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End), I thought I would put my own spin on the character...
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​The name Kalypso means "she that conceals," so for this look, I wanted to create a simple, sunkissed canvas with an odd ombre of blue hues running down the neck and across the lips. In a way, it seems as if she has covered up her true self, hiding behind warm skin and soft eyes. It is equally pretty as it is strange and dark, which I believe is the true essence of Kalypso.
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As always, cleanse and moisturize your canvas...

+ Hydrating Face Primer, e.l.f.
For this look, I wanted a healthy and dewy base for the skin. This primer is perfect for a youthful look, working well with whatever moisturizer you usually use before, and is absorbed nicely into the skin with a slight velvetty finish. Make sure you prime your neck as well - we are going to be packing a lot of pigment in that area.

+ True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Makeup in N1-2, L'Oreal Paris
For my foundation, I went with a more buildable liquid that has a luminous quality, adding layers to any blemishes or redness that I had.

​+ Flawless Fusion Bronzer Powder in 05, Kiko Milano
With a big fluffy brush, I started adding dimension to my cheeks, forehead, and nose. Then with a little blending brush, I took a bit off pigment into my eye's crease to create a sunkissed depth and warmth to that area. For the look, I wanted the eye to be quite simple, understated, and bright.

+ Sheertone Blush in Peaches, MAC
Going in with that same big fluffy brush, I placed this soft orange/warm toned blush onto the apples of my cheeks and upwards, placed just above the bronzer. To create a seamless look, I again blended this shade just above the crease of my eyes to create a subtle glow.

+ Poured Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal, Becca Cosmetics
I don't know about you guys, but I am a bit highlighter obsessed - and this one has been my absolute FAVE. The creamy formula goes on smoothly and creates a natural sheen without adding too much distracting glitter, similar to the way in which a pearl shines. I popped this highlighter on my cupid's bow, on the high points of my cheekbones (just above the blush), at the innercorners of my eyes, below the brow, and a touch on the tip of my nose. The Becca formula has serious staying power, so I never have to worry about touch ups.

+ Brow Wiz Pencil in Dark Brown, Anastasia Beverly Hills
​If you all don't have this brow pencil in your arsenal, I seriously recommend you pick it up... With soft strokes, you can slowly build the shape of your brow, filling in any areas that may be a bit patchy. Personally, I have quite thin brows but have always liked my arch, so building the pigment and creating a natural finish is important to me. For Kalypso, I envisioned a softer brow, so I skipped setting it with a powder or gel.

+ Wonder'Lash in Extreme Black, Rimmel London
For this subtle eye look, I didn't want any over-the-top glam lashes, so I went with Rimmel's argan oil infused mascara that separates the lashes without giving you any clumping. I don't always go for a more natural-looking lash, but I think it works well with this look.

Now... here is where the look gets a bit more interesting...

+ Lip Pencil in Spice, MAC
I lined my lips and filled them in with a warm-toned, rusty nude. I loved how this liner matched well with the orange blush, but still comes across as a "your lips, but better" shade.

+ Matte Lip Color in Nearly Nude, e.l.f.
To create a slight ombre affect, I love patting this creamy nude pencil into the center of my lips. On my fair skin, some nude lip colorscan be a bit dark, so this is my go-to for softening any harsh shades.

+ Eyeshadow Trio in Truly Vibrant Ocean Blue, Honest Beauty
Now, for the MVP of this Kalypso look... To finish off the lip, I dipped into the darkest blue at the center of the palette with an angled brush and began carefully lining top of my upper lip. Make sure to tap any excess powder off your brush to avoid any unwanted fallout. I then took the same shade and placed just a touch at the center of my bottom lip. Dipping into the lighter turquoise shade, I softly and carefully blended out that work, making sure to never add too much blue. If you end up with too much blue on your lips (like I did), just go back in with your e.l.f. nude pencil to mask it.
Now, for th neck...
With the darkest shade and the same angled brush, I first carved out my jawline and began blending downwards. Once I had the "bare bones" of the jawline drawn out, I went in with a little cosmetic sponge and started fully covering the neck. About halfway down the neck, I switched to that lighter shade and blended like crazy to keep the edges (my shoulders/collarbone) as soft as possible. I began carving out my neck's tendons, placing the darkest shade in the hollows and the lighter shade on the bits that stick out. Lastly, I highlighted those high points with the silver shade in this palette which made the look come together perfectly, creating an almost alien-like quality.

Set with your fave mist, and you're done!
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What I love about this look is that it can work for any sea nymph, mermaid, or siren costume/cosplay!
​What character would you use this look for?