How to: Wear Glitter Eyeshadow

How To: Wear Glitter Eyeshadow

Okay, I admit it. I'm addicted to glitter eyeshadow of all colors when it comes to evening looks. But I always apply it the same way - on top of a darker color, blending it out from the inner corner to the vertical midline of the lid.

Then, I stumbled upon this webpage from BuzzFeed - not where I would typically go to find makeup advice, but they have quite a few unique and beautiful ways to apply glitter eyeshadow that I never would have thought to try. Check it out!

www.buzzfeed.com/alannaokun/26-ways-to-make-glitter-your-new-smokey-eye/

Here's a tip:
 - use a loose powder in a V shape underneath the eye to catch any of the shadow or glitter that will unavoidably fall from the lid. When you're finished, wipe off the loose powder for a flawless look.

A Light in the Heart

"Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart" - Khalil Gibran

Review: NARS Multiples

Review: NARS Multiples

Imagine this - you're a makeup artist on one of those new reality TV programs. They bring you to a fashion show and you have to create a look using just one item (lipstick, blush, eyeshadow, etc.). This is not far from the truth when it comes to Francois Nars' development of the new line of multiples. Designed for use on eyes, lips, and cheeks, the multiple is the ultimate weapon to keep in your makeup bag.

There are a variety of shades to choose from, but my personal favorites are the classic Orgasm and the new Undress Me. Orgasm is great for cheeks and flattering on nearly every skin tone (hence the popularity). I'm not convinced about using this on the lips and eyes for my fair complexion but in a pinch it would work! I do, however, prefer the creamy consistency of the multiple to the powder blush, which also comes in orgasm.

Undress Me is great for a number of reasons. Use it on your lids for a beautiful sparkle under your normal shadow that will really catch the light in a subtle yet gorgeous way. You can also use Undress Me as a great highlighter on your upper cheekbones and browbones to catch the light and make your look pop. I wouldn't recommend this shade for lips though, unless you're going for the 'middle school girl who just discovered lip gloss' look.

Get the Look for Less:
I am also a huge fan of Stila's cream blushes, which are slightly less expensive. The right blush pulls together your look and I believe is one of the number one beauty products, aside from skincare, that is worth splurging on. That being said, as always email me or post a comment if you've found a great blush for less that you love!

How to: Wear Bright Blush with Winter's Pale Skin

How To: Wear Bright Blush with Winter's Pale Skin

Here's a trick featured in Lucky Magazine's November issue for those of us who lose our tan and need new makeup techniques for pale skin in winter -

Lucky contributor Jean Godfrey-June suggests a makeup trick often used by Bobbi Brown. She says:

"Use two blushes, a bright, plus a neutral brownish pink...put the neutral on first, then pop a bit of the bright on top. It's one of the best makeup tricks in existence, and it warms up your whole face, making it more bright-friendly all around." - Jean Godfrey-June

Godfrey-June suggests Bobbi Brown bush in Pink Rose as a neutral tone, and in Pretty Pink as the bright pop of color.

For more makeup and style tips from the experts, pick up the November issue of Lucky (one of my personal favorite mags!!) on newsstands now!

How-to: Apply Makeup Like a Pro

How-to: Apply Makeup Like a Pro

By now, many of us have fallen into a routine when it comes to makeup application. But I've found that little tweaks in our habits here and there can result in a big difference in the final result! This website has a fantastic step-by-step guide for makeup application from start to finish.

Here are a few of the highlights:

1. Use a fluffy powder brush to blend your entire face once you have applied foundation, contour, blush, and highlight - it gets rid of any obvious lines or excess powders.

2. Use an eyebrow pencil that is close to your natural eyebrow color to fill in the gaps - okay, i have always avoided eyebrow pencils because of the drawn-on look I associate with them and older women. But honestly? I find that using a eyeshadow color similar to your natural eyebrow color brings out your eyebrows in a subtle and natural way that frames your face and creates a more striking appearance. Try it!

3. Apply a lip primer before lip color for longer lasting color with more vibrance. Confession: I have never heard of lip primer until now! I always find myself reapplying my lip color so I'm excited to get out there and try some primers. As usual, let me know if you have ever used a lip primer you love!

For the full article, check out the original webpage at: http://www.wikihow.com/Apply-Makeup

Have fun!

Christian Dior

"Zest is the secret of all beauty. There is no beauty that is attractive without zest." - Christian Dior

Live your life with enthusiasm and let your inner beauty shine through! 

Review: Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

Review: Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

Foundation Primer is another one of those products that I've recently become a believer in. Throughout high school and college I was always reapplying foundation after school and before going out; with reapplication you risk your makeup looking caked on at a certain point.

Here's the thing though - invest in a foundation primer and you will need so much less of your foundation for complete coverage all day long. Smashbox's Photo Finish Primer has won a variety of awards, including the Allure Best of Beauty award, Marie Claire's 25 New Beauty Products That Will Change Your Life, and the Best of Sephora award - and for good reason! This primer really smooths out your skin and makes foundation last forever. They even have a variety of color correcting choices that include:
Green: to minimize redness - this is my personal favorite!!
Apricot: to conceal under-eye circles, veins, and sunspots
Lavender: to balance out more yellow skin tones

If you're blessed with naturally beautiful skin tone, they also have the original clear version which works just as well. I've fallen in love with this product and I think you will too!

Get the Look for Less:
I have not stumbled across a long-lasting foundation primer like this for less as of yet. As always, feel free to let me know if you have a similar product that you love!

How-to: Contour Like a Pro

How to Contour (and Highlight!) Like a Pro
If you haven't seen this on popular pin on Pinterest yet, what are you doing with your life? Only joking of course :)

Contouring is a well-kept secret of many makeup artists and can make a huge difference in the final result of makeup application. I use the NARS illuminator in Copacabana to highlight as it has a really beautiful sheen and iridescence which adds radiance to your face no matter how tired you are or beat up your skin is feeling. I have light skin, so to contour I prefer NARS blush in Douceur.

TIPS:
 - I apply highlighter and contouring after foundation application but before setting the final look with powder.
 - For those with a naturally oily t-zone, avoid adding highlight to your nose and forehead. Your skin's natural oils and texture will be enough.
 - Often I like to avoid adding highlights along the side of the lower jaw as demonstrated in the picture. I find that blending out the counter from below your cheekbones enhances the appearance of their structure and provides a nice contrast to the highlight above.
 - When adding contour below my cheekbones, I suck in my cheeks and make a fish face - where your cheeks suck in, apply your contour color.
 - Use a light touch when applying the highlight; a little will provide a lot of radiance!
 - I also suggest applying a light pop of colored blush to the apples of your cheeks - it pulls the look together and never goes out of style.

Give it a shot! Try new things until you find what works best for you - that's what playing with makeup is all about!!

Review: NARS eyeshadow in California

Review: NARS Eyeshadow in California

Here's the deal. This is a really versatile, beautiful shadow that is rich in color and stays put for hours, especially in combination with the Urban Decay Primer Potion! (see previous post here). It has slightly more of a golden/orange tone than the picture suggests.

This color is fantastic on darker skin tones to add subtle sparkle, but also works incredibly well for those with fair skin and blue eyes - any shadows with bronze or orange tones will do the trick - to really make them pop. I love using this as an every day shadow or playing it up at night with the addition of dark brown liner and gold shadow. You can also get creative with hunter green or deep navy blue - have fun with it!!

Get the Look for Less:
I have found that L'oreal's new line of Infallible shadows work almost just as well! For around $8 a pop, you get long-lasting color that adds sparkle and dimension to your eyes. However, be sure to keep the grey tool in the eyeshadow pot to press down the shadow after use (you'll understand if you buy the product). The first time I bought Infallible I tossed this tool and ended up having to toss the eyeshadow as well because it clumped and crumbled within a week or two.

Pair these shadows with the Urban Decay Primer Potion for color that will last all day and all night!

Stained Glass Windows

"People are like stained - glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within." - Elisabeth Kubler Ross

Get the Look: Natural Beauty

While I do not usually use E.L.F. products (aside from their fake eyelashes - I love those!), I do love this look they created on their website.

Purple shadows are beautiful for green eyes, and the application of blush and foundation creates a very beautiful, natural look. A light purple shadow is great for experimenting with color during the day and can be intensified into a deep smoky purple eye at night.

For complete instructions on how to get this look and others, you can visit the E.L.F. website at:
http://www.eyeslipsface.com/looks.asp

Review: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

I had a roommate in college who swore by this primer, but I never so much as tried it until recently. BIG MISTAKE. Why?

This is single-handedly one of the most amazing beauty products I have ever owned (and trust me, I own quite a few). For $20, you get the most long-lasting eyeshadow application of your life with no need to worry about smudging or the colors fading or losing vibrancy throughout the day. I am absolutely taken aback by how well this works - if you haven't tried it yet, head to your local Sephora and check it out. You won't regret it!!

TIPS:
 - apply the primer after foundation and concealer but before eyeshadow application.
 - I add a little extra primer past where I want my eyeshadow to stop so that I can wipe off any mistakes without smudging - it comes right off with the primer for perfect eyeshadow every time!
 - I prefer the clear primer for its universal use, but the primer also comes in gold, matte tawny, and shimmering champagne. 

Get the Look for Less:
I have yet to find a comparable product on the market. If you are aware of one, let me know!

Always Remember

"A woman whose smile is open and whose expression is glad has a kind of beauty no matter what she wears." - Anne Roiphe

Review: NARS Sheer Glow Foundation

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation

As a diehard Bare Minerals Fan for years, I was hesitant to even consider trying a new foundation. That is, until a makeup artist suggested I try liquid foundation due to the dry tendencies of my skin. So, the other day I was at a local cosmetics boutique and decided to have some fun and try it out - and I loved it! Sheer Glow foundation gives you smooth, even coverage with a natural radiance and glow about it. My skin has never looked better!

TIPS:
 - apply with a light touch - a little of this product goes a long way!
 - begin in the middle of your cheeks, forehead, and chin and blend outward - this will give you the most coverage without looking caked on.
 - I start with a foundation primer and finish with a light coating of Bare Minerals Foundation or Mineral Veil depending on the amount of coverage I want to make the foundation last all day long.

Get the look for less:
 I am also a big fan of L'oreal True Match liquid foundation. It will give you similar results, especially if you apply a luminizing cream before the foundation!

True Beauty

“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.” - Audrey Hepburn