Blog Tour: Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

I was so excited to be part of the official Shadow and Bone blog tour - so excited that, apparently, I missed my posting date by five days. *hangs head* Fortunately, the lovely Ksenia Winnicki allowed me to post anyway. So if you were looking at the schedule and wondering why Sunday's post wasn't up...mea culpa. All the way.

Anyway, today we have Leigh giving us a few makeup tips that even a Grisha can appreciate; and, after that little snippet of wonderfulness, there's a giveaway of Shadow and Bone so you can have the awesomeness all to yourself. You can put it on your shelf or under your pillow so you can have sweet dreams of Ravka, or take off the dust cover and frame it...

Enjoy!

When I wrote Shadow and Bone, I was working as a makeup and special effects artist in Los Angeles. I still love to talk products and beauty, and there are a few questions that seem to come up again and again. So here are some tips and tricks inspired by the world of the Grisha Trilogy. (Just so you know, I don't rep or sell any of these products. They're just favorites that I can't do without in my kit!)

Problem: Fabrikator pallor

Too many long hours spent slaving in the Materialki workshops? Avoid the sun, and opt instead for my favorite bronzer, DuWop Revolotion (in Original). This lotion works on even the palest skin, and will leave you looking moisturized, dewy, and sunkissed. Plus, it's not too heavy on shimmer, so you needn't worry about glittering like a Cullen.

Problem: Chapped lips from the icy winds of Tsibeya

For soothing dry lips I like Smith's Rosebud Salve or Aquaphor. Tip: Licking your lips when they're dry only dries them out more. Press your lips together to release their natural oils instead.

Problem: Late nights at the Grand Palace

Too little sleep and too much champagne? When you're feeling tired or sickly, focus on perking up your skin. Benetint is a long-lasting berry stain that works for pretty much every skin tone. Posietint looks crazy in the bottle, but gives a subtle, pinky flush. It also has a creamier consistency than Benetint, so it's a little less intimidating. Tip: Posietint darkens slightly as it sets, so apply one layer and wait a few minutes before you add on.

Problem: Smudged mascara

If you just found out your regiment is headed into the Shadow Fold, you may have good cause to weep-- but at least you can look good doing it. Blinc and Fiberwig are both tube mascaras that don't require a base coat. They're easy to apply and easy to remove, and as long as you don't rub your eyes, they won't budge.

Problem: You aren't a Grisha

I like the idea that doing what you love and excelling at it make you beautiful. So, when Grisha use their power, instead of draining them, it just makes them stronger, healthier, and better looking. But we mere mortals must contend with spots, blotches, and wrinkles. My recommendation? Try FaceAtelier's Ultra Foundation. This brand takes a bit of work to find, but it gives a natural, radiant finish. (Also, unlike most cosmetic lines, they don't treat women of color as an afterthought. Their wide range of shades accommodates any and every skin tone.) Tip: Apply with a synthetic flat or domed kabuki brush from Crown.

Problem: There is no magic makeover

How many times have I heard or read that "confidence" is the real secret to looking and feeling great? Well, sure. But has there ever been a better example of "easier said than done"? Where do we get confidence and does it require a prescription?

I still struggle daily with insecurities about the way I look, so I'm not going to pretend to have it all worked out, but here is my best beauty advice: If you want to feel pretty and generally badass, you don't need expensive products or an elaborate skincare regimen. You just need to acquire skills-- take up a sport, learn to cook, master a language. Feel capable. Be competent. This is the mystical wellspring of confidence that trumps shiny hair and bee-stung lips. It's better than lip gloss, and it lasts longer, too.

 

Leigh Bardugo was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Los Angeles, and graduated from Yale University. She lives in Hollywood where she indulges her fondness for glamour, ghouls, and costuming in her other life as makeup artist

 L.B. Benson. 

Her debut novel, Shadow and Bone (Macmillan/Holt), is the first book in the Grisha Trilogy, a YA high fantasy series set in a world inspired by Tsarist Russia.

Places you can find Leigh:

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