Instagram images that have inspired me, Vol. 5

Hi friends!

It’s been over a month since my last post featuring inspiring beauty images from Instagram, so I thought it was high time for another installment. If you’re new to my blog, every month I post a few beautiful and eye-catching images that I’ve cherry-picked from IG to share with you all. I feature anything from big beauty campaigns, to the work of MUAs, to product flat-lays and other things of that nature. But I do like to throw in a “wildcard” image or two, unrelated to beauty, just to keep things interesting and varied.

Catch up on all my previous IG lists: Vol. 1, Vol. 2, Vol. 3, Vol. 4.

So without further ado, here are January’s picks!

I love most of the images that @beautypie uploads to their IG grid to be honest, so I could have picked any one of them. But I just loved the black against the rose gold color of this particular highlighter, and the play of light and shadows together. I also love the type Beauty Pie uses for their logo; very clean & modern. There’s just something to be said about simple, yet effective photography, and that’s what I feel Beauty Pie does really well on Instagram.

I didn’t even read the caption on this image from @patmcgrathreal, I just immediately snapped a pic of it! How gorgeous and beautiful is this?? Even though one of their glitter lipsticks did end up on my December anti-wishlist (which you can read here), I still do appreciate just how striking a shiny, glittery lip can look on camera. Pat McGrath Labs probably does some of the most beautiful cosmetic imagery on Instagram (in my opinion), so it was only a matter of time before one of said images made it to this list.

@KIND-LY is a natural Australian brand known for their deodorants, in case you were wondering. But this image has nothing to do with deodorant, and I love that! The caption definitely says it all here. It’s funny because I’m really not one for affirmations personally, but this one struck me and made me stop scrolling for more than 5 seconds (which is always a telling sign). I think it’s because the photo has an almost retro feel to it.

OK, so truth time: I’ve never tried one product from @drunkelephant (yet). Everyone else and their mother, sister & grandma seem to be obsessed with this brand, and I don’t know what it is. Does it seem like they came out of nowhere for anyone else, or is just me? Anyway, that’s besides the point in this case. Despite never having tried anything from them, I do really appreciate Drunk Elephant’s packaging and overall style. I picked this image because – hello – there’s pink everywhere, and again I love the play of shadows & light. I also love the different textures here, like the basket, the candle, the magazines, etc.

I’ve been following blogger Kelsie Marie from @clumsy_girl_makeup for a while now, and she does some really awesome looks. Her account stands out to me for two reasons: she often features indie brands, and she plays with color in a lot of interesting ways (something I’m trying to do more of). Case in point: this image. I love the interplay of the warm tones on the top lid and the cooler tones underneath the eye; it’s like color theory in action, totally cool! She also does some amazing swatch photos, so if you’re into that definitely follow her!

Isn’t this just the most amazing eye look?? The colors are just beautiful: intense but kinda soft at the same time. And the dimension created by that silvery, almost pewder color on the inner corner of the eye? Perfection! I also love the brushed-up, full brows and the draping of the pink blush high up on the cheeks. I haven’t tried any cosmetics from MUA @lindahallberg’s range yet, but I really want to! I’ve only heard good things about her products so far.

And now time for the non-beauty images! I follow cookbook author @shaunasever over on my personal IG account (@erica10803 if you’re interested in following me over there), and her account is filled with the most delicious, scrumptious-looking baked goods! Who doesn’t love a streusel-topping?? And with icing as well? Forget it, I couldn’t resist!

I’m just loving all these Bird Box memes, aren’t you? There’s one funnier than the next! (P.S. if you saw Bird Box, what did they think??)

What images have inspired you recently, on Instagram or elsewhere? I’d love to know!

Xo, Erica

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