Category Archives: Makeup

Makeup

The Make-Up-Matte Review

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I am always looking for great new makeup products to share and to make life a little easier.  I was recently made aware of a new product that was designed to keep your counter tops clean and make doing makeup easier.  “The Make-up-Matte is a mineral and powder workspace solution and portable carryall for your cosmetics and brushes when you are on the go.”

While a cosmetic bag can carry all of your products, I do not like them as a brush carrier as the brushes tend to get bent and are not always in great condition after long term use.  With the matte I noticed immediately after unrolling mine that the brushes have their own pockets and rolled up they do not smooshed or bent.  For those gals who use loose mineral powder or loose glitter, then you know the second you open the lid there is always the chance of getting some on the counter, your clothes, the car, wherever you open it.  With the Make-Up-Matte, if you get some on the micro-fiber no problem.  The Matte’s  are machine washable for easy-care convenience.  I took my Matte out on the road with me, as I am always on the go, and that is what the Make-up-Matte advertises.  It rolls small enough to get into a handbag, diaper bag, suitcase, or whatever you carry with you.  I loved that when I opened the roll everything was visible and I could get immediately to my brush and product that I needed versus digging into a cosmetic bag.  I also was pleased that I didn’t get loose glitter and powder all over myself or anything.  I would recommend the Make-Up-Matte ($22.95) as a time and space saver as well as a clean way to keep all of your makeup.  It comes in a variety of stylish styles and could be a great gift for your mom or girlfriend.

Makeup

MAC Cosmetics Spring 2012 Collection

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I had the pleasure of being invited to a MAC cosmetics sneak preview last night of the new collection. The line to get in the store was wrapped around the mall, all with eager MAC lovers waiting to get the first look at the new spring line. Once in the store amidst the cocktails and hors d’oeuvres were flowing and there were stations set up to look, try and see what will be available in a few weeks for everyone.

Photo Courtesy of MAC Cosmetics

The new line is called “Shop, Shop, Shop and Cook, Cook, Cook” Spring 2012 Collection.  The color palette is bright, vibrant, fun and will catch your eye when it lines the store shelves.

The Shop, Shop, Shop collection is a Shop ’til you drop with a tongue-in-cheek collection that elevates the everyday into the extraordinary.

The Eyeshadow Quad Palettes are as follows:

  • Call Me Bubbles – cool-n-spicy coral eyeshadows
  • Shop & Drop – violet inspired quartet or eyeshadows
  • Colour Added – a mixture of teal, white, charcoal and yellow.

SHOP MAC Cremeblend Blush is creamy and easy to blend:

  • Optomistic Orange – a bright orange
  • Florida – a bright coral/pink
  • Restore Dazzle – rich plum
Photo Courtesy of MAC Cosmetics

Spring Lips dish it up with these shades of color:

  • Innocence, Beware – light yellow pink
  • Watch Me Shimmer – bright pink-orange
  • Naughty, Saute – bright pepto pink
  • Quick Sizzle – bright pink
  • Dish It Up To Shop – berry pink
  • Runway Red – rich red blue

MAC Kissable Lipcolour has a creamy look and feel in five colors:

  • Enchantee – light blue pink
  • Woo Me – light pinky nude
  • So Vain – muted dirty coral
  • Scan-delicious – blue fuchsia
  • Flaunting It – grey mauve
Photo Courtesy of MAC Cosmetics

COOK MAC Collection brings the gourmet glamor.  The recipe for kitchen kouture in savory shades for eyes, lips and dishy nail lacquers.

Fluidline Gel is a simple way to make a gourmet ling with a silkier finish than a regular eyeliner:

  • Midnight Snack – soft black
  • Added Goodness – blackened mauve
  • Wholesome – blackened brown

Tendertone Lip Balm is the next generation of lip conditioner that combines the look of a gloss and lip balm:

  • Tread Gently – soft lime green with yellow pearl
  • Purring – sheer tangerine with pearl
  • Hush, Hush – sheer gold with yellow gold pearl
  • Hot ‘n’ Saucy – soft cherry red

Not Yet Dishy Enough? Nail Lacquer will finish the look of in one of these three colors:

  • Al Fredo – bright acid green
  • Kid Orange – coral
  • Salad Dressing – midtone dirty aqua

As with all special edition MAC Collections these are limited and once they are gone they are gone.  So, if you find one you love don’t hesitate with purchasing, or you may miss out!

Makeup

MAC Cosmetics Reveals Spring Lip Line And Releases Tour De Fabulous

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Although mother nature is gearing up for a chilly winter and isn’t ready for spring to bloom, MAC Cosmetics is coming out with some great new lip colors for the spring season. In trending with spring, the pastels are going to be a huge seller!

Photo Credit: MAC Cosmetics

The Lip Palette debuting was used by M∙A∙C Artists backstage at fashion weeks in New York, London, Milan and Paris. It features six Spring/Summer 2012 shades including Warm to Bare, Preferred Pink, Fully Ripe, Louder Lilac, Make Me Melt and Pulse. The palette is not available in stores yet, but will be soon.

What is available now is MAC’s new line “Tour De Fabulous” with eleven new shades of lipgloss and eight coordinating lip pencils, because lips speak louder than words.

Lipgloss Collection

  • Casual Air (frosted pale pink)
  • Check This Out (coral shade)
  • It’s a WOW (a midtone blue pink)
  • Rich & Witty (neutral pink & beige)
  • Comfort & Joy (frosted mauve)
  • Famously Fab! (lavender with pearl)
  • Tour de Fabulous (Bright yellow pink with pearl)
  • StylePacked (fuchsia)
  • Knockout (Red with shimmer)
  • Rich Bounty (deep red-brown)
  • Real Posh (berry with pearl).

Lip Pencil

  • What Comes Naturally (Nude color)
  • Hip ‘n’ Happy (Mauve)
  • Have to Have It (warm cinnamon)
  • Just Wonderful (plum)
  • Entertain Me (orange coral)
  • Lasting Sensation(more red coral)
  • Embrace Me (fuchsia)
  • Just my Type (warm brown)

“Tour De Fabulous” is a limited edition collection, so if you are in love with a colour get it now because once it is gone, it is gone forever!

Makeup

How To Achieve A Hot Summer Makeup Look

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(Photo Credit: She Knows)

With this summer’s record-breaking heat and humidity at an all-time high, what is a girl to do to keep her makeup from melting away? Here are some tips to achieve a hot summer look that is gorgeous, fashionable and sure to be a hit at the summer parties.

1. Start with a primer both for your eyes and your face.  There are some great products out there, one of my favorites is the Smashbox Anti-Shine Primer. It mattes your skin and then helps your foundation stick.

2. Next I apply eye makeup, before foundation.  To get a great smokey eye try using Lorac’s 3-in-1 Waterproof Eyeliner Pencils. The color is fantastic and they go on smooth and don’t budge so your smokey eye stays smokey.  And it has a smudger on the end, to give you a little smoke in the corner.  For shadow try Make Up Forever’s Aqua Cream. It goes on creamy, dries into a powder that is waterproof and does not crease.

(Photo Credit: Make Up Forever)

3. When it comes to foundation for a hot summer look, less is more.  Think about using a tinted moisturizer instead of foundation. However, you will need to find one that still has strong coverage for even skin tone and longevity.  My personal pick is Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Tinted Moisturizers.  They are thin enough to feel light, but thick enough to look like foundation in pictures.

4. Instead of blush, I go with a bronzer to get the sun kissed look that reminds me of summer.  Add it to all the places the sun naturally hits your face: forehead, cheeks, bridge of nose and chin.  use a light touch and if needed you can add more than one layer.

5. Lips is a matter of taste, however, with a great smokey eye, I go light on the lips so as not to look overly done.  One option is to use a waterproof lip pencil, so that you are not constantly reapplying at the party.  A great option is Make Up Forever Aqua Lip Pencil, which you can color the entire lip with and add a touch of color without the hastle.

6. Finish the look off with MAC Fix +, it is a great spray and will set your makeup.

Stay cool and beautiful!

Celebrity Beauty, Makeup

August 2011 Cover Of Vogue: How to Get Sarah Jessica Parker’s Makeup Look

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(Photo Credit: Vogue.com)

If you are like me, then the cover a magazine is all about the look that the model is wearing.  I also always look to Vogue magazine for the season’s next look and then look to the makeup to see what is trending and how to get the cover look.

Sarah Jessica Parker is the American Vogue August 2011 Cover Girl.  Her look is classic both in clothing and makeup: flawless skin, a heavily lined eye and a natural pink lip.

Here is how to get SJP’s look for yourself.

1) Start with prepping your skin with a great moisturizer and a primer.

2) All about the eyes.  First what sets her eyes off is the well shaped and shaded brow.  Use a brow brush to shape and then a brow pencil or powder to define the brow.  Pick a light neutral shade of shadow and apply below the brow.  The eyeshadow on the lid that was used is ExpertWear Eyeshadow in Night Sky by Maybelline, which is a shimmery dark shadow.  However, you could use a chocolate brown to get the same effect and use a light hand on application as the lid is not heavily shadowed.  Line both the upper and lower with a black.  In the picture, the makeup artist used Unstoppable Eyeliner in Onyx.  Mascara is an important feature and use the darkest black you can find.

3) Sarah Jessica Parker’s skin looks flawless and a great way to get yours to look the same is to choose a matte foundation.   To get the great shimmer that is seen in the photo use a product like MAKE UP FOR EVER Uplight. It is a silky gel that reflects and diffuses light to give you a natural but radiant skin.  I mix this with the foundation so that the skin looks flawless and a great finish.

4) As for cheek color with this look go very light both in color and application.  It is really gong to be more to contour fabulous cheekbones. In this photo no cheek color was used, just foundation and lighting.  However, you can add a little if you would like to add some glow to your skin.

5) Her lips are in a lip color shade that is very close to her natural shade with a light pink color.  If you want to amp this color add a lip liner in a brown to add a little bit more color.

Makeup

Concealer That Does Cover Your Dark Circles

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I am constantly looking for an under eye concealer that really will cover the darkest under eye circles.  As a makeup artist I need something that will work on almost everyone, so that I do not have seven or eight products that I have to pick through with each client.  I need one product in several shades that will make my job easier.

While I have worked with and used several different lines and types, I have found that many of them are a yellow based concealer which only makes the circles look gray or darker.  I am also need a product that is not too thick so as too draw attention to what I am hiding.

While I was at The Makeup Show NYC, a trade show of classes, products and fun, I came across a brand line that swears by its concealer.  In fact, it is what has made their line famous.  Eve Pearl Cosmetics founded by Eve Pearl, who is a makeup artist for the entertainment industry.  Eve Pearl Cosmetics has a “salmon” concealer, that is lightweight, creamy and comes in shades to blend in to a variety of skin tones.  I was impressed by Eve and her company as the products are: cruelty free, paraben free, petrolatum free, oil and mineral oil free and fragrance free.

Photo Courtesy of Eve Pearl Cosmetics

I purchased a concealer trio and decided I would use it on all my clients as well as myself this week and really see what this concealer can do.  On myself, I noticed that the concealer blended well covered up my circles and finished off my look.  My clients this week have been impressed with my skills in covering there dark circles.   Which I know is a testiment to the product.  However, the best moment was I had a client this week who is severely sensitive to products and if she has a reaction she either breaks out into hives or her eyes constantly tear.  I used the Eve Pearl Concealer and she had no allergic reaction.
I am so excited with this purchase and who recommend this product to any consumer professional or makeup lover.  I love finding new products that hold up to the test.

Makeup

MAC Cosmetics Has a Super Hero This February

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MAC Cosmetics is releasing it’s Spring Colour 2011 line, and it has gone with a female Super Hero icon “Wonder Woman”.  I had the pleasure of going to a release party to see the new line up close.  The MAC store was transformed into a super hero haven complete with billboards of her in action, the cocktails and desserts were shades of red, blue and gold.  And then there was the actual product line that took the bright blue, metallic reds and the gold to another level when it came to the product packaging.

The MAC makeup artists were doing makeovers and showing all of the new colors and products in action.   The product line consists of MAC’s famous Lipglass in four colors; “Athena’s Kisses”, “Wonder Woman”, “Emancipation”, and “Secret Identity.  There are Powder Blush Compacts, “Superhero” Mascara in jewel tone colors and eyeshadow compacts in several different color choices.  I of course went crazy for the Wonder Woman Pigment in “Bright Fuschia” and “Marine Ultra” which are truly eye popping.  There are also metallic red and blue makeup bags with a wonder woman medallion.

Whether you are a subtle makeup wearer or like to take it to the edge, their is a color in the line for you.

Anyone that is a Wonder Woman fan needs to check out the line for all of the graphics and packaging, and if you are a makeup junkie or love MAC Cosmetics then you will appreciate the color palette.  Just remember this line will sell out so do not hesitate to buy your products and release your inner Wonder Woman powers.  The Wonder Woman collection will be out in MAC stores starting February 10th.

Makeup

Red Lipstick: What Shade is Right for You?

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With the holidays around the corner and one of the fiercest makeup trends seen on the runways, television, movies and award shows here are some tips to help you find the perfect shade of red lipstick to rock.

Everyone can wear a red lip it is all about the shade that will compliment your skin tone.

If you have a warm skin tone with brown or hazel eyes, golden or reddish hair tones, golden skin the shade of red that is best for you would be a wine red.  Celebrities that are in this category are: Charlize Thereon and Lindsay Lohan.

If you have a cool skin tone with  rosy or olive skin, blue, green, brown or hazel eyes, and your hair does not have any golden or red tones.   The red lip shade that would look best is a blue based red.  A celebrity that is in this category is: Angelina Jolie.  A  great choice is MAC Russian Red or MAC Ruby Woo.


 If you are fair skin or often describe yourself as being pale, then your choice of red is a  Wine Red.  A celebrity that you relate to is Nicole Kidman. A great choice is NARS Tamango.

If you have olive  skin, then your choice of red is a Coral Red.  Celebrities that are in this category are Kim Kardashian and Penelope Cruz.

If you have medium skin then your choice of red is a Scarlet Red.  Both Jessica Alba and Paris Hilton have medium skin tone.  A great lipstick choice is NARS Afghan Red.

If you have a darker complexion burgundy shades and bright red look great.  Jennifer Hudson is a celebrity that wears both these colors well.

No matter what your skin tone or coloring everyone can wear a true red or a brick tone red.  Clarins Joli Rouge or Chanel Passion are two great choices for everyone.

Makeup

How long should you keep your makeup?

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I get asked quite frequently how and when should you discard your old products, or if lipstick has a shelf life. While I understand not wasting products and the money that you spend, your makeup can breed bacteria if you keep it past the expiration date.

Whether you buy top of the line makeup or hit the local drugstore for your products, they all have the same shelf life. Here are the universal guidelines of expiration on your favorite products. However, keep in mind if your product starts to look or smell off, then it is time to toss and have fun shopping.

Face Time: Cream or gel clensers (12 months); Concealer (12 months); Water Based Foundation (12 months); Oil Based Foundation (18 months); Loose Powder (3 years); Pressed Powder (2 years).

The Eyes Have It: Eyeshadow (3 years); Pencil Eyeliner (3 years – sharpen regularly); Liquid Eyeliner (2 years); Mascara (4 months).

Kiss Me: Lip Liner (3 years – sharpen regularly); Lipstick (1 to 2 years – if you notice that it is starting to smell off, then it’s time to toss).

Finishing Touches: Brushes (years with proper care – clean them weekly and the better the brush set, the longer it will last for you); Sponges (wash weekly, discard monthly); Nail Polish (18 months – shake regularly).

Makeup

Retro Makeup Looks for Your Wedding

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Every year as a makeup artist, I have brides (and other clients) bringing in pictures of Hollywood starlets or telling me that they want to look like a television or movie character. This Fall I have seen an increase in brides wanting a retro makeup look. Specifically, I hear “I want to look like Joan Holloway, Peggy Olson – or the highest request – Betty Draper.” These are characters from the hit show Mad Men.

I personally had not seen Mad Men, so I researched the characters by watching an episode to get a feel for the trend. After doing the looks several times, I can share some tips on how you can achieve them for your big day.

Joan Holloway is a character who is sassy, put together and sexy. When creating the face, be sure to keep the skin matte. Use a cream blush with is a little richer than powder, and place it on the apples of your cheeks. Smiling while applying makes it easy to place in that perfect spot. Liquid eyeliner is a must as it was in the ’60s, but only line the top lid. And of course false eyelashes, which help make the eye pop. For lips, choose a shade of coral or a pink red, keeping in mind that while you are emulating a look , it still needs to be the right shade for your skin.

Peggy Olson is a business woman who has what people describe as a ”barely there” look. This look is actually one of the trickiest styles as the technique requires flawless skin. The most time spent on this look is the foundation – put it on in several coats rather than one heavy liquid or swipe. By building and blending it will help achieve the flawless, barely there feel. Keep the cheek color in a more neutral shade, as well as the lipstick.

Betty Draper of Mad Men

Betty Draper is famous on the show for her daytime  housewife look and then her evening one. The evening look is a light cream eyeshadow, thicker black liquid liner or a gel line, lashes of course, a pinkish cream blush, and then a rich red lipstick to finish. When doing this look you are going to want to use a matte lipstick for a true ’60s flashback, so forget the shimmer.