11.4 million viewers tuned in to watch the 2010 VMA’s on September 12th, myself included. I was glued to my TV drooling all over myself as I watched all the gorgeous celebrities strut their stuff up and down the “white” carpet. Some stunning and some…. well shocking… cough cough (Lady Gaga!) cough. Gotta’ love her though! There was one person in particular that stood out to me, Ashley Greene. Beauty just radiated from her that night, therefore, inspiring this celebrity tutorial.
Setting the Stage
Apply a medium to full coverage foundation to conceal any flaws. Stila One Step Makeup Foundation works as a primer foundation and concealer all in one step.
Next, apply a soft sliver shadow all over the rest of the lid
Apply your deep navy color along the lash line and in the outer corners of you lid. Then continue to carry the shadow into the natural crease of your eye to add definition, Stila Eye Shadow in Azure is a great color for this step.
On the inner corners on your eyes, apply a shimmering neutral Gray and blend into the crease.
Now for the eyeliner. Ashley has a dark, thick and slightly smoky liner, use one that smudges easy to create that sexy smoky look. bareMinerals Big and Bright Eyeliner Pencil Black works perfectly for this step. Apply the liner in and above the lash line, make sure to get in the water line on both the upper and lower lid and in between your lashes really well.
Smudge the bottom liner to soften the look and then go over the bottom with the soft sliver shadow and in the inner corners to add highlight.
Her brows are kept natural and understated as in to not upstage her eyes. To keep it soft, use a buildable powder for the brows. This way you’re able to gauge how little or how much to use. Billion Dollar Brows Brow Babe Kit comes with everything a brow queen would need.
Keeping with the theme of her brows, her cheeks have just a healthy, natural hint to them. bareMinerals Blush in Dusk is great for this job. Apply on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upward to the temple.
And last but not least the lips! To stay with consistency, the lip color follows suit with the rest of the supporting roles. Natural, nude, soft hint of subtle rose, Too Faced Lip of Luxury in Celebrity Meltdown is perfect for this part.
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Don’t be a hot mess this year. Leave the greasy products at home and try our tried and true beach favorites that’ll keep you looking and feeling oh-so-sexy, not ugh-so-sweaty.
SPF (duh!) Even if you’re dark, or don’t burn, you still need to use a broad spectrum sunscreen to shield from the sun’s harmful rays. We love the new La Roche Posay Anthelios SPF 45 Ultra Light Sunscreen. It soaks right in and leaves a matte finish so you don’t look greasy, and best of all don’t feel sticky!
Waterproof mascara is another beach staple to keep your luscious lashes looking fabulous. We’re digging bareMinerals Flawless Defintion Waterproof Mascara, it separates every lash and creates a natural look that’s perfect for a day at the beach! Now you can swim, sweat and laugh until you cry.
Body bronzer is a must have if you’d like to look sun-kissed without being sun-damaged. NUXE Huile Prodigieuse Golden Shimmer Multi-Usage Dry Oil Splash gives baby-oil sheen without the slick, and the golden particles make you glisten like a goddess. Layer over sunscreen for a gorgeous glimmery finish.
If you’re wearing lip gloss on the beach, sand is guaranteed to stick and who wants that sort of muddle? If you want pink, kissable lips without the mess then stick to lip stains. Stila Yumberry Crush is a pretty pink that’s fresh and fun. Always remember to protect your pucker with SPF too! We like MD Formulations Lip Balm because it’s not sticky, but is really hydrating.
If you love your tresses (and treasure that money well-spent in a salon) then you must protect your hair with sun protection too! The sun is not only drying and damaging to the skin but it can wreak havoc on your hair. Parched hair is gross… therefore douse with Alterna Summer Hair RX Spray Shine, it will make your hair shiny and will shield it from those sun rays!
And now you’re ready to put your best Baywatch babe foot forward!
Do you have an angel on your shoulder or the devil in your head?
Are you feeling naughty? Do you want to vamp it up? Do you want to dance on a table top tonight? Are you wearing your leather pants? Channel Kat Von D. Bring out your inner Bettie Page. Sex it up, kitten! Make those boys howl. Here are our favorite bad gal picks:
Stila Smudge Pot in Black; use as a liner to achieve a sexy cat eye look, or apply all over the lid and crease for a high-impact smoky eye.
Stila Eye Shadow Pan in Pewter; rim the inner corners of your eye and use as liner on the bottom of the eye to achieve a sultry, smoky look.
Too Faced Lash Injection in Pitch Black; create a powerful lash with this high-impact mascara. With a flick of the specially-designed wand your lashes will be injected with massive volume and length. Wink wink!
DuWop Lip Venom 2nd Sin; pump up the volume on those juicy lips sans injections. In a matter of moments you’ll feel and look as sexy as Angelina Jolie.
bareMinerals Vanessa Buxom Big and Healthy Full Color Lip Polish; red lips are the epitome of sex appeal. Add depth and oomph with a rich burgundy wine hue to yours, and since you’re feeling bold and daring mix red lips with smoky eyes for a Goth-inspired bad gal look.
Are you feeling girly? Are you baking cupcakes? Are you a refined, elegant girl at the Kentucky Derby? Drinking high noon tea with mother? Wearing your Tiffany jewels? Channel Audrey Hepburn and Jackie O, my doll. Make your prince swoon. Here are our favorite sweet angel picks:
Classic beauty withstands the test of time. Starlets like Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, and Princess Diana all share a common grace and elegance. Images of them today remain as iconic and in style as ever before. Idealized for their beauty, we can follow their lead, incorporating effortless style into our own daily make-up regimen.
Timeless make-up is youthful and fresh. Try to avoid colors that are either too bright or too dark and steer clear of outlandish trends. Neutral colors that enhance your natural skin tone are best.
Face: The right foundation lays the groundwork for a timeless look. First, prime and prep the skin. Make-up goes on smoother and lasts longer when you apply a moisturizer and make-up primer. Moisturizer hydrates and plumps the skin, while a primer camouflages large pores and imperfections. Keep in mind, less is more with foundation. Apply foundation sparingly, while paying special attention to areas that need more coverage and blend outward. For liquid foundation users, set with a translucent powder for long lasting coverage.
Eyes: The trick is to play up the natural shape and color of your eyes. Neutral shades of beige, gray, brown, gold, champagne, pale pink, mauve, and plum are best. Start by applying a light to medium shade of beige, nude, champagne, or pink as the all over base color. Next, accentuate the crease and outer corner of the eye with a darker shade. A medium gray, brown, or plum that is two to three shades darker than the base color creates perfect definition. Lastly, add highlight just below the brow and to the inside corner of the eye. A very light nude, white, or pale pink with a hint of iridescence works beautifully.
Next, accentuate the shape of your eyes by lining the top eyelid following closely along the lash line with a dark brown, gray or black liner. Leave the bottom eye unlined for a fresh faced look or line sparingly from the bottom inside corner of the eye and darken in color towards the outside corner of the eye. This draws more attention to the outside corners of the eyes, making eyes appear larger. Finish off the eyes with a few coats of dark brown or black mascara to the top and bottom lashes.
Insider tip: Black liner and mascara will make the whites of your eyes whiter and brightens tired eyes.
Cheeks: Often disregarded, yet one of the simplest ways to brighten your complexion is by applying blush. A rosy flush gives cheeks a youthful healthy glow. Select a color that matches your natural flush or if you were to pinch your cheeks. Sweep the color from the apples of the cheeks towards your hairline. Remember to build the color gradually, to avoid applying too much.
Insider tip: To slim the face blend a contour color to the hollows of your cheeks, just below the cheekbone. Select a matte bronzer or powder foundation that is slightly darker than your skin tone. Finish with a touch of highlighting powder on the top of the cheekbone for added pop.
Lips: Lip color should enhance and brighten your natural tone. The key is to pick a color that is one to two shades darker than your natural lip color. To create fullness, line your lips with a lip liner that matches or is slightly darker than your lip color. For added dimension add a bit of gloss in a lighter shade to the center of your pout.
Brows: Polish off your timeless daytime look by grooming your brows. Fill in with a neutral toned brow pencil that matches your natural hair color. Start from the head of the brow using light feathery strokes as you make your way towards the arch and tail of the brow. Next, define the shape of your brows by tweezing stray hairs. Lastly, apply a clear brow gel to set your hairs in place.
Insider tip: Plucking too many hairs at once can leave holes or gaps in the brow. For better precision, use tweezers with a slanted tip for plucking one hair at a time.
Use liner to make lips appear fuller. Pick a shade that matches your natural lip tone. Line just outside of your natural lip line and apply a lighter colored gloss on top. Perfectly pouty lips in sixty seconds or less! I love, love, love DuWop Liptone Tempo liner paired with Stila Kitten Silk Shimmer Gloss.
Select hues that make your eyes pop. Apply color theory techniques: Rich browns make blue eyes bluer, purples make green eyes pop, and brown or hazel eyes shine in gold or bronze. DuWop EyeCatcher Shadow comes in three different shades, each utilizing basic color theory to bring out the best in blue, green, and brown eyed beauties.
Lip stain is an easy apply and forget about it product. It withstands a full day at the office and even extends into happy hour! The color stays put, simply refresh with a sheer gloss on top. We like Stila Cherry Crush for beautiful berry stained lips.
One thing that will always be in fashion is healthy glowing skin. To obtain this you must first establish the basics. You can start off with a gentle yet effective cleanser, a treatment, moisturizer, and eye cream. Also a weekly exfoliating product will keep your skin soft, smooth, and makeup ready. You can use peel pads that contain AHA’s like glycolic acid, or a retinol treatment for a skin boost. For sensitive skin types try lactic acid or an enzyme peel. After you have used the right skin care products, check out these easy makeup looks that will have you looking great just in time for summer.
Watercolor for eyes – This trend is hitting the runways, but would also look great for anyone who wants to add a little pow to their makeup routine. Watercolors in soft pastels are a great way to layer on colors, making sure to blend properly of course. Shades of pink, blue, and purple are among the most popular colors on the canvas this season. TryStila Eye Shadow Duo – Orchid.Also think cream or mineral shadows for a soft easy to blend look.
Pop of color on lips – the rest of your face should look sheer and muted. From magazines to makeup bags, the use of rich bold lip colors and sheer cheeks with minimal makeup on the eyes is among the most popular trend. The look is almost pin-up girl like, but you can be more modern by adding a coral or deep pink to your lips instead of that fire engine red. For a rich red try NUXE Lip Gloss Prodigieux Nutri-Protector Lip Gloss in Charismatic Red.
Loads of mascara- extra long lashes. This look never goes out of style, who wouldn’t want glorious lashes! Try this one- Too Faced Lash Light.
Blushing cheeks – in rose tones. The rose tones take the color pallet this summer. They look great on eyes, but especially lovely on the cheeks. Anyone can pull off a subtle yet romantic look with just a few swipes of blush using an over sized brush for easy application. Try Colorescience Retractable Blusher Brush – Apple Of My Eye. This is a medium rosy red with a built in brush that will provide a flawless finish.
Sculpting make-up- This technique has been used in movies and on the red carpet for years. How do you think check bones appear out of thin air? They get contoured and sculpted. Round cheeks can also be camouflaged, and the results are dangerously stunning. The trick is to use a foundation and light powder, then highlight cheeks in brownish shades. Try bareMinerals Warmth All Over Face Colorfor a cheek contour.
Also take note that apparently sparkle and glitter are so last season. You don’t want to look like a 1980’s senior prom queen so remember less is more. Pick one main trend and keep the rest understated. You will be on your way to glowing skin and whimsical summer nights in no time.
Inspiration comes from many sources. I find mine through literature, fashion campaigns in glossy magazines, music and film, sunny weather, tasty food, and good company. I found my latest inspiration while shopping H&M’s new garden collection. It’s fresh and pretty, ultra feminine, sultry, and bohemian. Shopping is my vice, and when I shop I must have one of everything, so let’s just say my summer wardrobe is complete (as of now). But my summer make-up kit is a bit lacking. So I’ve taken this opportunity to tailor some pretty summer make-up looks and share them with you and inspire you to make this summer your best.
Daytime
Dewy skin is pretty for summer, and hydration is key. Use a water-based tinted moisturizer to even out your skin tone and impart a natural glow to the skin. I love Somme Institute Treat and Tint; it provides a sheer finish and has anti-aging benefits as well as sunscreen protection, a must for summer!
Use a cream blush on the apples of your cheeks to bring your face to life. Stila’s Convertible Color cream blushes create a healthy flush and buildable coverage for as much (or as little) drama as you like. I’m digging Peony and Lillium.
Dust a bit of powder all over your face and brighten up with a bit of bronzer to complete your canvas. BareMinerals Mineral Veil is a great choice of powder as it’s light and breathable and provides a very smooth, silky finish to the skin. NUXE Poudre Éclat Prodigieux Multi-Usage Compact Bronzing Powder is a customer favorite because it provides a true tan tone, versus the orange hue that’s typically associated with bronzing powders.
Use shimmery beige, nude or champagne shadow all over the lid for a natural look. Winter’s smoky eye and spring’s brown eye are a bit harsh for the light summer weather, so keep the eyes simple and fresh. Stila Eye Shadow Trio Bronze Glow has three neutral, shimmery shades that outlast the hot weather. Apply a little mascara to the upper lashes to make your eyes really pop. I like bareMinerals Flawless Definition Mascara in Black.
Keep the lips simple and kissable. Korres Lip Butters give a sheer wash of color while softening the lips; I can’t resist Jasmine and Pomegranate.
Evening
Sexy it up a bit! Your skin should be dewy and soft as in the daytime- but if you prefer a bit more coverage for the evening, incorporate a primer into the regimen. Layer it on top of your tinted moisturizer, before you apply the cream blush. We like Colorescience About Face, which reduces the appearance of fine lines and pores, while leaving skin looking youthful, soothed and radiant. Skip the mineral powder and apply a bit of shimmer powder instead- I absolutely love Too Faced Absolutely Invisible Translucent Powder in Candlelight, it provides a really gorgeous glow and makes the skin look youthful and polished.
Choose either a dramatic eye look or a dramatic lip for the evening. For eyes, layer on a shimmer shadow and contour the eye area with a deeper tone, Stila’s Twig is a really pretty shade of shimmering earthy brown. Line the eye with a brown liner to bring out the eye a bit further, and finish the look with two coats of mascara. If you want extra drama apply some falsies to the end of the lash line for a wispy, flirty look.
If you want a sexy pout, pump it up with a plumper first. DuWop Prime Venom is a matte balm that will smooth and plump the lip while providing a great canvas for lip color. Berry shades are sexy for a sultry summer night, Too Faced Lip Of Luxury Lipstick – Living In Sin is a pretty color that makes teeth look super white.
Keep the eyes soft and simple (like the daytime look) if you’re sporting a berry pout.
Wedding season is upon us and weddings are arguably the most important moment in most women’s lives. They are opportunities to make memories that will warm our hearts and last a lifetime. Of course there are always those disaster moments and horror stories we hear about. Although we can’t control everything that happens, here are some of my suggestions as a makeup artist on things to avoid when buying and using makeup for your wedding.
Less is more! Remember this is your wedding, not high school prom! Try to keep things simple and don’t go overboard. Avoid harsh lip colors, heavy eye shadowing, glitters and shimmering bronzers.
You get what you pay for! Your makeup doesn’t have to be expensive; there are bargains to be found! But as a rule of thumb the cheaper the product the lower the grade of ingredients…which means you’ll need more product to get the desired look…and that equates to that heavy caked on look…not good!
Go classic! Times change and what may be in style today may be very out of style 10 or 20 years from now. You want to be able to look back on your wedding photo album and adore the pictures, instead of “OMG what were we thinking?” Choose shades of eye color, blush and shadow that are more neutral.
Get a professional consultation when choosing your foundation. This will help you best match your color tone for the season. Avoid foundations that have a built in sunscreen like titanium dioxide. While these are great for everyday use, the titanium can reflect the light from a flash and give you a ghostly look in pictures!
Eyes or lips, but not both! If you choose to go with a more bold (red) tone to your lipstick instead of a more neutral coral color, keep in mind you should avoid doing dramatic eyes and lips. Dramatic eyes and lips will call attention to your makeup, and not your overall look. Be sure to use a lip liner first, and then lipstick color, then a neutral powder on top. This will help set your lip color so it doesn’t smudge when you kiss your man. Most lip glosses would not be a good idea since they will smear on those you kiss and create problems.
Be sure you choose water-proof mascara! Your wedding is a day packed full of emotional moments and the last thing we want is the Tammy Faye Baker look!
Schedule an appointment about a week before your wedding for a dress rehearsal on your hair style and makeup. Once again don’t go overboard. Work with your hairstylist to design a more classic elegant look. Once you’re done with your hairstylist go to your makeup artist (or bring them to the salon) so you can do a dress rehearsal on your makeup as well. When you’re done take pictures from various angles. This will help you judge your final look from the view of a camera, and help your hairstylist and makeup artist remember exactly what you agreed on once that big day arrives!
Keep these simple tips in mind and your wedding day will certainly be a success!
New York Fashion Week is the pinnacle of modern style and flair. The latest trends often start on the runway and end in the hands of fashionistas everywhere. The runways have not disappointed this season by producing hot new fashions and makeup trends for the spring and fall.
Vibrant green eye shadows lit up the ISSA runway show. Hues of rich jungle greens, gold and smoky black were intoxicating. The allure of the tropics inspired a green makeup frenzy. Acclaimed makeup artist Pat McGrath created the look with a high contrast between an effervescent green all over lid color and a smoldering charcoal on the outside corners of the eyes. He finished off the look with a splash of gold on the inside corners of the eyes and a few coats of mascara.
Chic shades of brown nail lacquer also made their debut on the Chanel runway. Brown is the new neutral that everyone can wear! It’s especially fashionable paired with accents of gold jewelry. Think of hues like cappuccino, desert sand, cocoa, brown sugar and taupe. Short polished manis are they way to go for an updated modern look.
Bold Eyeliner – Straight off the spring runway of Nanette Leopre and Balenciaga is Aqua eyeliner. A throwback to the seventies, this pop of color is not for the faint of heart!
Extreme Lashes – Bigger is better this season! Add false lashes for extra oomph and sex appeal. Follow up with a few coats of Too Faced Lash Injection- Pitch Black for maximum fullness and length. If falsies aren’t your cup of tea, stimulate your natural lashes to grow in thicker than ever before with RapidLash Eyelash Renewal Serum, a customer fave. Need help applying false lashes? Read another one of my articles here for great tips!
11.4 million viewers tuned in to watch the 2010 VMA’s on September 12th, myself included. I was glued to my TV drooling all over myself as I watched all the gorgeous celebrities strut their stuff up and down the “white” carpet. Some stunning and some…. well shocking… cough cough (Lady Gaga!) cough. Gotta’ love her though! There was one person in particular that stood out to me, Ashley Greene. Beauty just radiated from her that night, therefore, inspiring this celebrity tutorial.
Are you feeling naughty? Do you want to vamp it up? Do you want to dance on a table top tonight? Are you wearing your leather pants? Channel Kat Von D. Bring out your inner Bettie Page. Sex it up, kitten! Make those boys howl. Here are our favorite bad gal picks:
Are you feeling girly? Are you baking cupcakes? Are you a refined, elegant girl at the Kentucky Derby? Drinking high noon tea with mother? Wearing your Tiffany jewels? Channel Audrey Hepburn and Jackie O, my doll. Make your prince swoon. Here are our favorite sweet angel picks:
Classic beauty withstands the test of time. Starlets like Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, and Princess Diana all share a common grace and elegance. Images of them today remain as iconic and in style as ever before. Idealized for their beauty, we can follow their lead, incorporating effortless style into our own daily make-up regimen.
Running late for a very important date? Keep these time saver beauty tips in mind and you’ll be gorgeous on the go!
One thing that will always be in fashion is healthy glowing skin. To obtain this you must first establish the basics. You can start off with a gentle yet effective cleanser, a treatment, moisturizer, and eye cream. Also a weekly exfoliating product will keep your skin soft, smooth, and makeup ready. You can use peel pads that contain AHA’s like glycolic acid, or a retinol treatment for a skin boost. For sensitive skin types try lactic acid or an enzyme peel. After you have used the right skin care products, check out these easy makeup looks that will have you looking great just in time for summer.
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