Archive for July, 2009
Top 10 (ok, maybe 12) Bridal Makeup Products
Posted by Wendy in Top 10 Lists, Weddings-101 on July 29th, 2009
Primers:
1. Smashbox Photo Finish Primer or Photo Finish Light – I love primers because they not only smooth out your pores and fine lines, but they also allow your makeup to last much, much longer!
2. Laura Mercier Regular Primer or Oil-Free Primer
3. Urban Day Primer Potion (eyeshadow primer — your eyeshadow will not budge!)
Foundations:
4. MAC Face and Body Foundation – a fantastic, water-based foundation that gives a little more coverage than a tinted moisturizer, but looks just as luminous
Cream Blush:
5. Stila Convertible Color in “Gerbera” or “Lillium” – a consistent award-winner, these convertible colors provide a natural flush
Powder Blush:
6. NARS powder blush in “Orgasm” – a dozen magazine editors can’t be wrong
7. MAC powder blush in “Pink Swoon” (women with cool undertones) or “Peachykeen” (women with warm undertones)
Highlighters:
8. MAC Cream Color Base in “Pearl” – blend on your cheekbones with fingertips, and voila, hollywood cheekbones
9. Benefit “High Beam” highlighter -Benefit didn’t nickname this highlighter “Supermodel in a bottle” for nothing – dab a few dots on your cheekbones with the applicator and blend with fingertips for super chiseled cheekbones
Gel Eyeliners:
10. Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner – this eyeliner continues to rack up the awards. Apply with the Bobbi Brown Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brush to achieve a thick or thin line.
11. MAC Fluidline – apply with a small-angle brush, such as MAC #263 or #266
Waterproof Eyeshadow:
12. Dior Diorshow Waterproof Mascara
-Images from maccosmetics.com and sephora.com
Avoid Wedding Day Meltdown — How to Make Your Makeup Last
Posted by Wendy in How to..., Weddings-101 on July 29th, 2009
Ah, ’tis the season of bridal bliss. At last count, one of my friends was in 6 weddings this summer. Living in Chicago, one of the most frequent questions I receive is, “How can I make my makeup last on my wedding day?” I’m pretty sure only Texas is more humid. In any case, never fear! Here are a few of my basic tips:
–Prime! Take the time to prime your face and eyelids. This will not only smooth out your pores and fine lines, but it will also help your makeup last as long as possible. If you know you are going to be outside for an extended period of time, you might want to opt for an oil-free or lighter-weight primer, such as Smashbox Photo Finish Light or Laura Mercier Oil-Free Primer.
–Layer! Instead of applying one layer of powder blush, try applying a thin layer of a cream blush. After you set your makeup with face powder, add a second (thin) layer of your powder blush. The same idea can be used for your eye shadow. After your eyelid primer (I love Urban Decay’s Primer Potion), apply a thin layer of a cream eyeshadow, followed by your regular powder eyeshadow. For lips, an old trick is to apply your lipstick, gently blot a thin layer of face powder on your lips, followed by another thin layer of lipstick. If you stick to thin layers, you will still achieve a flawless, natural look, only it will last much longer 
–Use a gel eyeliner or a transformer! Gel eyeliners (such as Bobbi Brown’s Gel Eyeliner or MAC Fluidline) have a great lasting power. However, if you really want eyeliner insurance, try mixing a transformer/sealer with your eyeliner. I usually put one or two drops of Make Up For Ever Eye Seal on a small-angle brush and then dip it into my MAC Carbon eyeshadow. (*Note: The transformer/sealer will change the texture of your eyeshadow, so you might want to buy one black eyeshadow just for this purpose).
–Try waterproof mascara! We used to be cautioned that waterproof mascara would dry out our lashes or give us a “spider-leg” look, but with all the innovations that have been made over the years, there are countless waterproof mascaras that work beautifully. I’m a big fan of DiorShow Waterproof Mascara myself
-Images from sephora.com, bobbibrown.com and nordstrom.com
Congratulations, Lauren Luke! — Web Phenom Lauren Luke Launches a New Collaboration with Sephora
Posted by Wendy in Makeup Collections/Launches on July 28th, 2009
Congratulations to Lauren Luke — a YouTube blogger who gives hope to makeup bloggers everywhere! Thanks to her overwhelming following (her YouTube tutorials have been visited by hundreds of thousands of viewers over the past 2+ years), Lauren was given the opportunity to collaborate on a makeup collection with Sephora. “By Lauren Luke” consists of 5 full-face palettes that each contain 3 eye colors, 2 lip colors and 1 cheek color. Best of all, there are 2 shades of eye primer included with each palette as well!! Lauren has already made YouTube videos (also at Sephora.com) that demonstrate how to use her new palettes, and from the looks of it, the palettes all have nice, rich pigments. The collection includes:
–“My Smokey Classics Palette” – $32.50
–“My Vintage Glams Palette” – $32.50
–“My Fierce Violets Palette” – $32.50
–“My Luscious Greens Palette” – $32.50
–“My Sultry Blues Palette” – $32.50
-Image compiled from Sephora.com
Add A New Depth to Eyelids with Gold
Posted by Wendy in How to..., Latest Obsessions on July 23rd, 2009
Go and take a close look at your eyes (irises). I’ll wait…… When you look closely enough, you notice that all eye colors — blue, brown, green, hazel — have a subtle, golden color in them. Adding just a touch of gold eyeshadow on the part of your eyelid above your iris (aka the center of your eyelid) will bring out this subtle golden color, adding a new level of depth to your eyes. Some of my favorite combinations include (1) a neutral shade on the lid with a taupe in the crease, popped with a touch of gold added just above the iris, and (2) a lilac shade on the lid with a deeper amethyst in the crease, popped with a touch of gold (this last one looks amazing with hazel eyes). So the next time you’re doing your makeup, take another minute and add a subtle pop of gold to the centers of your eyelids
My golden recommendations:
-Bobbi Brown Shimmer Wash in “Gold”
-Laura Mercier Lustre Eye Color in “Gold Dust”
-MAC Cosmetics Eyeshadow in “Gorgeous Gold”
-Image from bobbibrown.com
How to Create a Smoky Eye
It’s the holy grail of makeup looks — the smoky eye. Done right, it gives you an alluring, sultry look. Done wrong, you look like you were socked in both eyes. I was recently asked to participate as a makeup artist in the Spa Suite at the BlogHER conference here in Chicago. In a pamphlet I put together for attendees, I attempted to tackle the formidable makeup look with a list of easy steps (see Maybelline diagram above for help):
–Step #1: Prime your eyelids!
–Step #2: Line your upper lash-line with an eye kohl pencil (for example, black). You don’t need to be worried about precision.
–Step #3: Smudge the eyeliner in small, upward strokes using your smudge brush (or a Q-tip if you don’t have a smudge brush). I highly recommend MAC’s #219 brush — it is PERFECT for this.
–Step #4: Using an eyeshadow brush, blend a light gray shade all over your lid.
–Step #5: Using a tapered eyeshadow brush, blend a medium gray shade into your crease using a windshield wiper motion. *If you want, you can also blend a dark grey shade into your outer corner using a small eyeshadow brush.
–Step #6: Using a clean eyeshadow brush, lightly blend the entire eyelid area.
–Step #7: Line your lower lash-line with the eye kohl pencil from Step #2 and very gently smudge with either a smudge brush or Q-tip.
–Step #8: Gently apply a light layer of the medium gray shadow from Step #5 slightly under your lower lash-line with a small eyeshadow brush. Voila!!
***Still feeling a little timid? Then try one of the new Expertwear Stylish Smokes eyeshadow quads from Maybelline. Each quad is clearly labeled with the colors that go on the lid, crease, brow bone and outer corner. In order not to look too “color-by-numbers” on your eyelid, I would suggest taking a clean eyeshadow brush and blending it all together as your final step.
-Images from Maybelline print ads
Top 10 Chanel Rouge Allure Lipsticks
Posted by Wendy in Top 10 Lists on July 16th, 2009
Here is a list of Makeupalley.com’s Top 10 Chanel Rouge Allure Lipsticks (with 10+ reviews):
- Voluptuous Rouge Allure (11 reviews, 100% would repurchase) — One reviewer described it as a “beautiful cool red…a very wearable red even for ppps.” (pale porcelain princesses)
- Sexy Rouge Allure (13 reviews, 100% would repurchase) — Considered a perfect shade of berry red. One reviewer adds, “If you are fair, DON’T be afraid to give it a go and try it.”
- Prodigious Rouge Allure (12 reviews, 100% would repurchase) — One reviewer said, “It has just enough pink to brighten up your face, just enough red to make it stand out and not make you washed out, just enough sheen to make your lips look healthy and plump… .”
- Admirable Rouge Allure (12 reviews, 100% would repurchase) — Many reviewers call it the perfect light-beige, pink nude.
- Darling Rouge Allure (10 reviews, 100% would repurchase) — Considered a “beautiful, warm, rose-pink shade” with a touch of brown.
- Genius Rouge Allure (17 reviews, 94% would repurchase) — One reviewer said it was, “ the perfect balance of golden peach and warm pink with just a hint of coral.”
- Naive Rouge Allure (15 reviews, 93% would repurchase) — Noted for being, “a totally wearable pinky-nude–just a beautiful, “innocent,” clear color with the finest, softest gold shimmer that lights up my face, yet is subtle.”
- Desirable Rouge Allure (13 reviews, 92% would repurchase) — Considered a “lovely deep pink color with a touch of rose.”
- Delicate Rouge Allure (12 reviews, 91% would repurchase) — Described as a delicate “warm nude beige.”
- Lover Rouge Allure (20 reviews, 85% would repurchase) — One reviewer said, “[T]his slightly more pink shade of red is AMAZING! It makes my eyes pop, and it looks just as great dabbed on with my finger on top of some lip balm for a light colour, or for full on 40s va-va-voom style.”
-Image from Nordstrom.com
Top 10 Chanel Glossimers
Posted by Wendy in Top 10 Lists on July 16th, 2009
If you haven’t already gotten sucked into Makeupalley.com, you should pay it a visit. With over 1 million members, this beauty-networking site is the place to go for a thorough catalog of beauty reviews.
Here is a list of Makeupalley.com’s Top 10 Chanel Glossimers (with 50+ reviews):
- Pagoda Glossimer (75 reviews, 89% would repurchsae) — Described as a “beautiful medium rosy shade.”
- Unity Glossimer (143 reviews, 87% would repurchase) — Noted as being a “nice bronzy-rosey metallic neutral.” Many medium to dark-skinned reviewers say it is the perfect neutral.
- Sirop Glossimer (165 reviews, 86% would repurchase) — One reviewer said it’s a “gorgeous sheer watermelon pink.”
- Force Glossimer (119 reviews, 84% would repurchase) – Considered a “very sexy” deep berry/burgundy color with gold shimmer.
- Giggle Glossimer (138 reviews, 83% would repurchase) — Described as a pink gloss that is “plummy…with a bit of soft brown.”
- Spark Glossimer (a whopping 235 reviews!, 82% would repurchase) — Many reviewers call it the perfect berry color.
- Jaipur Glossimer (102 reviews, 79% would repurchase) — One reviewer described it as a “pretty pale pink/peach colour with lots of gold shimmer.”
- Blizzard Glossimer (233 reviews, 75% would repurchase) — Noted as a “neutral-cool frosty plummy mauve that works with many skintones.”
- Twinkle Glossimer (125 reviews, 75% would repurchase) — One reviewer described it as “a beautiful, pinky-peach gloss with a just the right amount of golden shimmer,” while another noted that it was “a very fresh, polished lipgloss for fair skinned ladies.”
- Pin-Up Glossimer (134 reviews, 73% would repurchase) — Considered by one reviewer as “a perfect ballet shoe pink with gold shimmer.” She adds, “It is just gorgeous. I can wear this on its own and actually prefer it that way, it just gives my lips a little something extra.
-Image from beauty411.typepad.com
Vintage Alert! – Boots Original Beauty Formula Collection
Posted by Wendy in Latest Obsessions on July 9th, 2009
When it comes to skincare, we love choices. We love the security that comes with knowing that if Product A doesn’t work, there is always Product B or C or D. However, Boots took the opposite approach with their new Original Beauty Formula Collection ($8-$14), and the result is a truly charming, vintage-inspired range of products. The new collection is based on formulas found in the Boots archive dating back to the 1800s that experts then gently reworked using traditional ingredients such as lavender, rose and geranium. Looking at the collection can’t help but evoke images of women arranging their treasured beauty products on their vanity. The best part? Each product comes in gorgeous, vintage-style packaging and reusable glass bottles. Available at target.com.
-Image from beaut.ie
Fall 2009 – Lancome “Declaring Indigo” by Aaron De May
Posted by Wendy in Makeup Collections/Launches on July 6th, 2009
While Chanel and Laura Mercier looked to Italy for their Fall 2009 makeup inspiration, Aaron De May turned to the revolutionary history of France for Lancome’s latest collection. This is what the Lancome website has to say about the new collection:
Aaron de Mey declares for Lancôme his new vision of free beauty. A collection modeled after the free spirit of a woman. She is Irreverent, Empowering and a Trend-Setter. The statement is French Irreverence – a mix of insolence and charm, femininity with a twist and elegance. His inspiration is of magnificent heroines, women of convictions and emotions that journey through life with a free state of mind and spirit. The Fall Color Collection is a declaration of beauty, the beginning of a new era… introducing Declaring Indigo.”
The collection includes:
- Color Design Liberty Eye Shadow Quad ($42) in “Indigo Charm,” “Golden Audacity” and “Nude Elegance.
- Ink Artliner ($23.50) — a longwear calligraphy gel eyeliner in “Indigo Charm,” “Noir Magnificenc,” and “Brun Elegance.
- Virtuose Lasting Curves Mascara ($24.50) in “Indigo Sparkle.”
- Le Crayon Lip Pencil ($22) in “Rouge Liberty” and “Berry Sensual.”
- Color Design Sensation Effects Lipcolor ($22) in “Paris Rouge,” “Berry Sensual,” and “Rouge Liberty.”
- Color Fever Gloss ($25) in “Berry Glamour,” “Raspberry Glimmer,” “Rouge Magnificence,” “Declaring Gold,” and “Golden Rouge.”
- Le Vernis Nail Color ($18) in “”Indigo Paris,” “Golden Audacity,” and “Rouge Liberty.”
- La Rose Liberte Highlighting Bronzer ($40) in “Goldenescent Glow.”
- Blush Subtil ($29.50) in “Rouge Glow”
Viva la France!
-Image from lancome.com
Fall/Winter 2009 — Jin Soon Nail Lacquers for MAC
Posted by Wendy in Makeup Collections/Launches on July 4th, 2009
I’m usually pretty reserved when it comes to nail polish, but the F/W ‘09 collaboration between MAC and nail artist Jin Soon has me counting down the days until its launch on August 27th!
Many thanks to www.temptalia.com for the following descriptions and pics:
Nail Lacquers ($11)
- “Rich Dark Delicious” = rich, blackened brown
- “For Fun” = rich purple
- “Dry Martini” = khaki olive green
- “Beyond Jealous” = blackened blue-green
- “Cool Reserve” = mid-tone grey/lavender
- “Dance All Night” = brick red
Rich, Dark, Delicious * For Fun * Dry Martini
Beyond Jealous * Cool Reserve * Dance All Night
I personally see “Beyond Jealous” and “Cool Reserve” becoming staples
-Images from alllacqueredup.com and temptalia.com
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