Character + Inspiration

Character Name: Garnet

Series: Steven Universe

It’s February, which means it’s Black History Month! Obviously, I had to cosplay an iconic Black (Black coded? 

She’s got reddish-brown skin and a glorious fro. She’s voiced by the talented Estelle. We know what’s up). cartoon character, and of course I decided to go with Garnet from Steven Universe. I’ve been a huge Steven Universe fan from the start of the show, and I’ve always been in love with Garnet’s character design.

For this look, I decided to go with colors that were part of Garnet’s overall aesthetic/color palette, which typically consist of reds, purples, and a touch of gold/yellow! There’s also the presence of stars in her outfits, which is where the little star freckle comes in! I also think I was subconsciously channeling some “e-girl” aesthetics (the blush, the eyeliner, the star freckle, and even the choker) as that style of makeup most closely aligns with my personal style. 

I practiced this look a few times before filming because I wanted to make sure I was happy with the final result. I also wanted to improve upon my first attempt at doing a Garnet makeup look from last year (in May 2019). I’m definitely pleased with the improvement and changes I’ve made! Here’s a comparison photo:

Product List + Mini Reviews!

Anastasia Beverly Hills

• The Jackie Aina Palette 
  • Great for everyday looks as well as more dramatic looks. Very pigmented, easy to blend, and super Brown/Black skin friendly in terms of color payoff! No ashy shades! 
• The Norvina Vol. 1 Palette 
  • Perfect for anyone who wants a versatile palette filled with vibrants mattes, pressed pigments, and beautiful shimmers and glitters. Probably not the most beginner friendly or “everyday” palette, but ideal for those who are adventurous with their makeup (especially if you’re into bodypainting and such, like me!). 

NYX

• Total Control Drop Foundation (TCDF16)
  • I have very sensitive skin and it doesn’t break me out! YAY! It also comes in a wide variety of shades with various undertones. As the name suggests, you can control the amount of coverage based on how many “drops” you use! I don’t wear foundation on a daily basis, but this is my go-to for conventions and special occasions. My skin is also on the oilier side, and I’ve never had issues with it breaking down or contributing to the oiliness. I typically pair it with a matte primer and a matte setting spray, and it stays in place all day! 
• Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Setting Powder 
  • I just started using this, and I like it so far! Not much to say just yet, but I do think I’ll probably try it in a different color. I’m currently using the “banana” shade. It’s very sheer, but there must be different colors for a reason.
• That’s the Point Eyeliner – Super Sketchy
  • The best felt tip eyeliner I’ve ever used. Probably the best eyeliner I’ve ever used, period. It’s waterproof and smudge proof. I use it for everyday eyeliner, and I’ve even used it to draw special effects and details for body paint and cosplay makeup (I used it all over my face and upper body for Tank Girl)! 

ELF

• Powder Blush Palette (Dark)
  • My favorite blush palette. It compliments darker skin tones so nicely! 
• HD Powder (Sheer)
  • Adds a nice finish to the skin. Uh, not much else to say! Feels silky rather than powdery, which is pleasant. 
• 3-In-1 Mascara (Black)
  • Very affordable, separates, lengthens and lifts lashes without clumping! I use it every day. 
• Stardust Glitter Eyeliner (Pink Opal)
  • Perfect for adding glittery touches to your eye makeup without the risk of scratching your eyeballs. It’s subtle but when the light hits it, it’s magical. 
• Eyeshadow Primer
  • I don’t use eyeshadow primer much, but I’ve found it gets the job done when needed! 

Colourpop

• Good Two Shǔ Super Shock Highlighter
  • Very cool on a sensory level. Easy to apply and blend out with fingers. More of a subtle highlight than a blinding one. 
• Avenue of the Stars Glitter Gel
  • Smells nice. Very pretty. I own the entire “mini glitter vault” and I love all of them so much! Stays on well and doesn’t leave any weird film/residue that other brands of gel glitter have for me in the past.

Nicka K New York

• Perfection Highlighter (Cleopatra)
• Clear Rosehip Lip Gel
  • Best lipgloss ever. It’s like .99 cents. Not heavily scented, which I consider to be a plus. Very T H I C C and ultra moisturizing. Goes great on its own or on top of lipsticks, stains, etc.

Ruby Kisses

• White Liquid Eyeliner
  • Very opaque! A little goes a long way, and the firm applicator (a pointed, inflexible tip rather than a bristled brush) is great for drawing little details. 

Eyelure

• ProMagnetic Magnetic Eyeliner & Faux Mink Volume Lash System
  • The liner…is magical and game changing for someone like me, who hates lash glue and normally takes a good 20 minutes to put on false lashes. With this magnetic liner, I can pop on and perfectly place a pair of magnetic lashes within a few minutes! The only downside is that the eyeliner does tend to flake a bit, so I don’t use it to do wings or cat eyes. Instead, I apply a regular eyeliner as I normally would, then I go over my upper lash line with this in the place where I want to apply my magnetic falsies. You can use any brand of magnetic lashes with this magnetic eyeliner, so don’t limit yourself to just using Eyelure’s brand of lashes! I honestly prefer KISS magnetic lashes, hehe.
  • The lashes…they’re…nice. I like the length but the band is a bit too thick/prominent for my taste. They do look nice and stay in place all day (the longest I’ve worn them is for an entire work day of about 7 hours). Like I said before, I prefer using KISS brand magnetic lashes because the band is much more discreet and they look more natural, but I wanted to use the lashes that came with the eyeliner kit for this tutorial! 

Starlit Studio Beauty

• Starlit Studio Ink Me Body Stamp Star

  • Doesn’t smudge. Perfect for adding cute little details to your makeup in a matter of seconds. I own the star stamp, the moon stamp, and the heart stamp! It saves a ton of time with drawing out tiny little details. 

Wet n Wild

• Color Icon Lip Gloss – Capricorn
  • I love the color, but I wouldn’t really categorize this as a “gloss” at all. To me, a gloss means intense, reflective shine. I use this as a more of a metallic topper, or something to wear under a clear lipgloss (as I did in the video!). It’s a very pretty color, but it looks odd on it’s own. Bonus points for being Capricorn themed, though. I love my zodiac sign! 

Contact Lenses!

My contact lenses are from Uniqso.com! They are my favorite cosmetic lens supplier, and I even have a discount code with them for 10% off of your order! Using my code with your purchase not only saves you money; it helps me earn money as well so that I can keep creating cool cosplay content for everyone to enjoy! The best part is that this code never expires, so you can use it again and again!  Who doesn’t love a good deal? 

Discount Code:

DELADOLL19

• Blue Lenses: Sweety Anime Blue
• Red Lenses: Tokyo Red

Both pairs of lenses are incredibly comfortable! I worn them each for several hours at a time without any issue, and the colors show up very well on my eyes, which are a very dark-brown (bordering on an obsidian color that I have come to love, personally). They also come in both prescription and non-prescription, which is cool for peeps who need it! 

Closing Thoughts

I’m really happy with my journey so far as a content creator! I started making videos last summer, and I’m finding that it’s something I want to stick with and do more consistently. What I really enjoy about making videos and posts like these that focus on the creative process, and I like that I get to introduce my fellow creatives to products, techniques, or characters they may not have heard of previously. If you’re familiar with my other posts, it’s no secret that I write about a variety of nerdy pop culture topics, ranging from the silly to the controversial, so it’s nice to write something that’s just me vibing and enthusing about artsy stuff every once in a while! I pride myself on my versatility and trying my best to deliver content that people want to see.

With that in mind, if you have any character suggestions for me, or want me to make a specific video or post, please don’t hesitate to let me know; I love making things that I know people will enjoy! Additionally, if you want to support my content and get access to exclusive content that I don’t post anywhere else, consider joining my “pick-your-price” Patreon! There’s only one tier, and it allows you to give whatever you’re comfortable with for full access to all my patron-only content!

That’s all for now! I’ll be back soon with 2 (or 3?) more iconic Black characters to celebrate Black History Month the nerdy way! I’m honestly playing catch-up since it’s already February 16th…so please send thoughts and prayers so that I finish my projects ^_^! 

Thanks for reading,

~DeLa Doll

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