Beauty Blog
Categories
-
Pastel Romance 2012
While Spring makeup usually includes lots of color, this season it is all about pastels. From lilac and mint green eyeshadow, to petal pink cream blush, the look is ‘fresh’ as a a flower, and oh so romantic. While we have always loved this trend in theory, most of our initial reactions are: How to put on these colors without looking like you raided Barbie’s make-up stash?
Here is some refreshing news: Pastel make-up is actually one of the easiest trends to wear, says makeup artist Geoffrey Rodriguez. “Since you’re not mixing any shades and you’re just applying a very simple wash of the color on your features, there’s virtually no room for error,” he says. The catch, however, is to apply pastel colors in a soft way.
Great, so now I am totally on board… are you?To start, I am going to show you some new products that are making a stir in a make-up world right now, and how to use them to achieve a ‘soft, yet romantic look’ that is very wearable.
Laura Mercier creme pastel eye color in 3 grey, lavender (mauve), and green.
These cream shadows are so easy to apply, and give you a soft wash of color that really give you a beautiful serene, “non-makeup look”, that is fresh and soft. If you have brown eyes, try using any of the colors, for hazel and green eyes, the mauve/lavender one is lovely as is the green shade; I imagine the grey shadow is beautiful on blue eyes…very mod.
P.S. Don’t forget to compliment your pastel shades with long, lush, black lashes.
Lilac is one of the easiest pastels to wear, either on the eyes or lips, because it compliments both warm and cool tones. By wearing lilac on your lips, you don’t have to worry about wearing any other colors or make-up on the rest of your face for that matter, just the lipstick will make you look polished. Its a very modern, but soft look.
Lilac lips? Its more wearable than you think… Here are a few you could try:
Dior Addict gloss in Party Lilac
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics in Vapid (lip tar)
If you don’t already know that blusher is the most beautifying product out there, well then now ya know. It looks anyone look ten times fresher, more awake- in fact, lets just say prettier.
Placement is crucial, however, you need to sweep the blush from the top of your cheekbone upwards and bring to the corner of your eyes to achieve that radiant, ethereal ‘glow’. If you have pink undertones in your skin, try a peachy colored blush; if you have more yellow undertones, then steer towards the pale pinks this season. Naturally, pink is the most approachable hue for most of us out there.
Here are a few that are really worth trying out:
NARS Gaiety- a cool toned pink.. so beautiful, and have been wearing it every single day since I got it
Bobbi Brown cream blusher in Pale Pink. Perfectly natural looking flush.
NARS blush in Sex Appeal. A soft, true peach that is super light but so beautiful
All three of these makeup looks are more than just trends to me; they are gorgeous fashion statements that I hope stick around beyond spring and summer. Hope you all try them out, and see how wearable they truly are!
-
The ‘lazy girl’ make-up routine
Hello people;) I know it’s been quite a few weeks since I’ve blogged about makeup or skin care, mainly because I have been very occupied with moving into a new apartment, working, and being pregnant, but it’s also because I have really not been in the mood to put much makeup on (or any for that matter), and I have been even more lazy when it comes to my skin care routine.
Whatever the reasons may be, I am completely satisfied with downgrading to little to no products right now, and I think I will continue to stick to this quick, little routine.
I will share with you guys what I have been doing morning and at night, really because there are only a few steps, which shouldn’t take long at all (when will this laziness end??!)
Here goes:
Morning Routine: (skincare and makeup)
1. Bobbi Brown Brightening Serum (which I am using as a moisturizer too, since my skin has been more oily lately.
2. NARS Tinted Moisturizer in Alaska (this stuff rocks if you haven’t tried it. Go get a sample!!)
3. Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Airbrushing Pressed Powder Spf 30 in Beige
4. Tarte Park Avenue Princess Bronzer (applied all over), and then I mix it with my MAC’s blush in Breath of Plum for my cheeks. I’ve been lovin this mixture! Its just enough not to have to wear any eye make-up.
- MAC Breath of Plum
Tarte Bronzer in Park Avenue Princess
5. Chanel Inmitable Intense Mascara
6. Smith’s Rosebud Salve
Night Routine: (If Im lucky to even take my make-up off…i know, I know- I’m being bad, and I can’t help it!)1. Kiehl’s Blue Astringent Herbal Toner (easy, and makes my skin feel so clean and fresh)
2. Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate
3. I like to switch every other night between Cane + Austin’s Retexturizing Moisture Cream (10% Glycolic Acid), and Lancome’s Genefique Repair Youth Activating Night Cream.
4. My favorite eye cream, Kiehl’s Cryste Marine Firming Eye Treatment.
Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to gain some inspiration and energy soon:0 -
5 Beauty Tips For Everyone- Looking Flawless Everyday
Hi guys, I thought I would share with you some quick tips and tricks for looking stunning everyday. Anyone can follow these 5 tips that I think can help everyone look more polished, and put together, everyday.
1. Have beautiful skin. I know this seems really easy to say, but really, having smooth skin that is nicely hydrated makes ones appearance look a lot more put together.
Even if you have acne, redness/blotchiness, sunspots, wrinkles, etc.. you can still wash your face with a gentle cleanser, hydrate your skin with a moisturizer, and protect it with an SPF 15+more. Once you prep your skin, you can then go on to use your face makeup and concealer to even out your skin tone. This is what is going to make the biggest difference overall. This process overtime will help keep your skin balanced, smoother looking, and helps prevent the look of aging skin.
2. Do your eyebrows. It is crazy how much of a difference eyebrows add to your overall look. Our eyebrows are one of the most important facial features yet many women pay little attention to them and even neglect them. Eyebrows frame our face, adding shape and balance, helping to define our expressions and show our emotions (who would of thought eyebrows did all of that?)
For those people who don’t have very visible eyebrows, you may wish to use pencil eyeliner or a brown eye shadow with an angle brush to make them look more visible. By filling them in like this, you will draw a lot of attention to your eyes because you will look a lot cleaner, bolder, and more polished now. However, if you do decide to do this, you will want to make sure that you use a light hand.
Another important thing is knowing how to properly “shape” your eyebrows. This is why a lot of people will choose to get their eyebrows threaded, waxed, or tweezed, to get them to be the “right” shape. Having the right shape really will alter the look of your face. So please go to a professional if you have no idea how to shape your own eyebrows. You will thank me later.
3. Use Mascara. Playing up the eyes is always important for eye-catching attention. You may not think mascara makes that big of a difference, but it really helps define the eyes by thickening and darkening the look of your lashes. This adds a more youthful look and gives your eyes, which are the “windows to the soul”, some much needed attention. Plus, who doesn’t love luscious, voluminous lashes?
4.Contour and Highlight. Contouring is one of the oldest practices in the makeup industry. Now, you can’t even look at a model in a magazine without seeing her face contoured and highlighted. Contouring creates a sense of balance, by slenderizing a fuller face, making a larger nose appear more slim, by creating the look of cheekbones, and more. To contour, you must always use some shade of brown, preferably matte vs shiny, and a little deeper than your natural skin tone. Contouring your makeup is usually applied on the temple area, nose, eyes, hollows of the cheeks, and chin area.
Highlighting is another effect that works ‘hand in hand’ with contouring. It helps add lightness to the areas that are not being contoured, such as the upper cheekbones , down the bridge of the nose, foreheads, and underneath your brow bones. This concept balances the contouring, and makes it look a lot more natural and subtle. It is beautiful at night especially; makes you look like you are “‘lit’ from within”.
5. Good Hair. I am not saying that your hair has to be thick, long, straight, and flowing to look good, because mine is most certainly not. But what makes hair look good is the condition it is in. Having dry, damaged hair is not a really cute look. So what you should do is try to use a hair mask a couple days a week, or try not to put your hot iron to it every single day. Just having healthy, natural looking hair helps you to look more polished as well.
Just remember: Beauty is mostly internal. Think about a girl who is overweight, yet all the guys love her. Why? Because she is confident. If you aren’t wearing makeup, and your toes haven’t been repainted in weeks, as long as you’re happy and smiling, you will be 10 times prettier than the mopey , long haired model- type you sit next to at work. Trust me (wink
-
Kissable Lips On Valentines Day
Valentine’s Day is the perfect holiday to experiment with your look and to impress your true love. Whether you are hitting the town after work or spending a romantic evening with your man, looking your best is the key to a beautiful night. Your makeup should be fun and flawless with an emphasis on natural beauty… the same beauty he fell in love with.
If you are going to wear a bright colored red lip:
1. Even out your skin tone with a tinted moisturizer or light-weight foundation to remove any redness from the skin
2. Fill in those brows with a soft taupe pencil to add balance to the strong lip.
2. Use a neutral toned light brown or taupe eyeshadow just in your crease, to enhance your eyes a bit, yet still keeping the look very natural.
3. Apply brown or black liner lightly (just on the lash line), and of course, mascara.
4. Instead of blush, just use a bronzer on your cheeks, and a highlighter on the highs of your cheekbones.
Now for the lipstick:
1. Make sure you choose a shade that best suits your skintone; whether its a red-orange, blue red, or a brick red, always go with your gut. If you love the way it looks, he will too.
2. If wearing lipstick is a little out of your comfort zone, then try dabbing the lipstick onto your lips with your fingertips. This gives your lips a nice, softer hint of color; more like a stain, and it won’t kiss off on him either;)
3. Top it off with some gloss if you’d like, or not. I love a good matte lip in the winter time though.
A few of my favorite red lipsticks:
NARS Dragon Girl
Christian Dior Rouge #999 Ava Red- a beautiful, warm toned red.
Chanel lipstick in Gabrielle
Thank you and have fun!!! xx
-
New Product Review: NARS Make-up Removing Water
For all you lazy girls who go to sleep without washing your faces (you know who you are)…this product will be your best friend!
This new cleaning product, which should be coming out everywhere in February , is on point with the “cleansing water” trend that both MAC and Sephora has come out with recently. Well, now that I was able to try NAR’s Make-up Removing Water, I am 100% sure that I will be purchasing a big bottle of this bad boy!
Not only did it remove all of my eye and face make-up from the day, but it also made my skin feel completely clean, which a cleaning oil or toner never does. I usually have to wash my face afterward to remove any left over residue.. Well, not with this.
This cleansing water is soap-free, oil-free, and alcohol-free. It promises to remove all your make-up and tone your skin all at once. The formula is so very gentle that it did not sting my eyes in the slightest, or strip my skin by making it feel dry. It felt great.
I urge everyone to get a bottle of this when it comes out. It will make your life a lot easier at night, I assure you. It retails for $28.
Thanks for stopping by;)
-Leslie
-
How to do wedding makeup the modern way, using mostly Chanel makeup
The most common request I get from brides-to-be is ” make me look naturally beautiful, with glowing skin.” To achieve this, I start with a wonderful skin care regimen that creates a flawless base for their make-up. I usually use Chanel’s Hydramax serum since I get tons of it from work, ,but it is a wonderful hydrating serum that instantly seeps into the skin and plumps it up (amazing for dehydrated skin). I then use a primer and a long lasting light reflective base, such as Chanel’s “Le Blanc de Chanel” , which helps to minimize redness, even out skin tone, and add some luminescence as well.
Chanel Hydramax Serum
Chanel's: Le Blanc de Chanel (Sheer Illuminating Base)
After prepping the skin like so, I begin doing the eye makeup (yes, I add the foundation and concealer at the end. It’s sort of my “tah dah” moment, and easier since eyeshadow and liner can smudge and fall down on to the skin). For the eyes, I like to use 3 monochromatic type colors in the brown family, and start with the lightest shade all over the lid to brow bone, medium shade on the lid, and darkest shade (usually chocolate brown or taupe color) in the crease to add depth and definition to the eyes. My favorite eyeshadow palettes to use for a natural look are by Chanel and they are: Winter Nights, Demure, and Prelude. I then pair soft-defined eyes with long, fluttery, natural haired eyelashes. I use Laura Mercier’s or MAC.
Chanel's "Winter Nights" Quad
Laura Mercier False Lashes
For blush, I like to stick to a rosey pink cheek or a peachy pink one, depending on your skin tone. I like Bobbi Brown’s Rouge Pots. This is a nice balance between the softness of the eyes, and a kissable color to the lips.
Bobbi Brown Rouge Pot (cream blush and lip color)
For the skin ( the most important part, in my opinion), I use a range of different foundations depending on your skin type. However, I love the natural finish of Chanel’s Vitalumier Aqua. It is oil-free, but contains hyaluronic acid which is a water molecule that helps smooth out lines and wrinkles while also making your skin feel and look hydrated all day long. I apply Laura Mercier’s secret camouflage concealer under the eyes, and on any redness, acne, or discoloration. I finish everything off with a translucent loose powder and spritz your skin with a hydrating, herbal toner which sets the make-up and keeps it looking fresh and youthful for your big day!
Laura Mercier Camaflage pot- very smooth and creaseless
Hope this helps anyone who is doing their own makeup on their wedding day. Please feel free to ask any questions if necessary;)
Have a wonderful day!
-
Red Lips For The Holidays!
It is very festive and fun to sport the sexy red lip, especially during the holiday season. When I am working for either Chanel or NARS, I hear a lot of people saying ” I just can’t pull off a red lip”, or when I say, I am going to find you a new lip color, they reply , ” Just NOT red, it doesn’t look good on me.” Well, honestly ladies, you just need to find the right red!Finding a red lipstick to suit you can be a hard task (especially when you think no reds will look good on you), but there is a red for everyone’s skin tone, I assure you that. I will teach you how to find it…just read on.
Step 1: Take off every last trace of your make-up, and try to determine whether you are pale, yellow, olive skinned, dark skinned, or combination of any of these. * If you don’t know, then just ask me..I am right here!
Step 2: Determine what your “undertones” are. Do you have a lot of pink or yellow undertones? Check the veins on your inner wrists to see what color they primarily are. If you have blue veins, you probably have blue undertones (rosy or somewhat “pinker” complexion, and if you have greener veins, you probably have more warmer or yellow complexions.
Step 3. Once you know your skin tone, you can start finding that perfect red lipstick for you! Here are some more tips that I have found very helpful, and I hope you will too:
Step 4. If you are pale, going for the BOLD red lip is not the answer. Instead look for shades that are more of a mix of coral-red, peach-red, or a light blue red. Don’t over do it.
Step 5. If you have darker skin, then you can get away with darker more obvious reds.
Step 6. Olive skinned or yellow skinned people should go for “brighter” reds, maybe even a “fluorescent” shade, which could really work on a tanner skin, but “purplish-reds”, dull or “matte” reds, may not suit.
Step 7. Asian complexions look best with red lippies that have a bluish or purplish undertones.
**Please ask the makeup artists that work at the counters if you want to be sure if the color you are wearing truly suits you.
Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!! Thanks for stopping by 
-
The Best Beauty Essentials Of The Make-Up Kind…
I like to think my mantra is “less is more” when it comes to make-up application, but that hardly seems true when you look at my vanity area. I mean, I am a make-up artist, so I can justify it, but I am obsessed with trying new cosmetics. Here is what’s most popular and beautiful on the beauty market today, and what really works for me and my clients, and what I can’t live without. This is in no particular order…
Eyeliner:
Since being a Regional Make-up for Chanel, I have come to love most of their cosmetics (I mean, who doesn’t?), but my favorite is their eyeliners. Their colors, the way they apply so smoothly, and how long lasting they are.. worth every penny!
P.S. I am also a huge fan of NARS newest eyeliners called ‘Larger Than Life’ eyeliners (I’m not just saying that because I freelance for them too;), but they are so long lasting- no smudging, ever.
Mascara:
When it comes to mascara, I like to use 2 different kinds together. Right now I am using Maybelline Falsies Flared(waterproof), which is good for volumizing, and I am using Chanel Inmitable Intense for even more ooomph! But really, I love Maybellines Falsies Flared, and think its just fabulous for the price point. I will continue buying this until I can no longer find it.
Concealer:
This is the one product most people won’t leave home without, or without using. Its one of the most important products to help you look more refreshed and awake . I have been using Bobbi Brown’s corrector first, and then Laura Mercier’s secret camouflage in the pot for years now and think it really does a great job in diminishing the look of dark circles. HOWEVER, the one product that really does the works, along with your concealer, is the original YSL Touche Eclat, highlighter pen.
I have all of these pens in my train case for my clients, and I won’t finish their look without it. It ties everything together, and really brightens their skin. It photographs beautifully, and takes years off, in my opinion. GET IT!
Eyeshadow:
I am obsessed with eyeshadow, and always have been. I love trying new colors all the time, especially when its a color I have never seen before (which is getting harder and harder since I have been collecting eyeshadow’s since high school). I just love to experiment with color, and keep up to date with creating ‘modern’ smokey eyes.
I find that using eyeshadow in the right way can really enhance your eye color, and make your eyes stand out. Or it can do quite the opposite, making your eyes look more red and tired. So , its best to try on the color first in the store.
To be on the safe side, I would stick to neutrals: taupe’s, and soft grays are subtle enough to just enhance in a natural way.
Lipstick:
Must have reds and pinks, go with NARS lipsticks. I love Schiap, Jungle Red, Funny Face, and Dragon Girl. Those a flatter most skin tones, and are modern and classy all at once.
For nude lipsticks, MAC has the best ones. My must haves: Creme d’ Nude, Hue, and Blankety.
Blush:
NARS or Chanel…hands down, best quality and pigmentation. I love them all, but if I were to recommend one of each to someone, I would say NARS Orgasm (in the summer), and Sin ( in the winter). For Chanel, I would recommend Tempting Beige, which goes with everything!
For creme blusher, I prefer Bobbi Brown. Great selection of color and lasts all day.
Foundation:
By Day… I like to use a mineral powder either by Chanel or NARS, which gives me a very natural finish. I make sure to moisturize well before buffing the powder into my skin with a kabuki brush. I then spray a hydrating toner afterward to ‘set’ it.
By Night…I use Lancome’s Teint Miracle in Buff N5. It is so beautiful, light reflective, and gives me that glow from within. I love the way it makes my skin look, like I’m not wearing anything.
**Blending foundation is a skill, and I find when you use your fingers it really helps to make it look more natural because of the oils in your mixes with the foundation and melts it into the skin.
These products are the constants on my dressing table and in my make-up bag…the never travel withouts and the never go out withouts…
I know that there are products that I didn’t put on this list, such as lipgloss, bronzer, and eyebrow product, but I am sort of in a rush. I do hope that someone finds this helpful though;)
Tell me your secrets…what can’t you live without when it comes to make-up?….
-
How To Get Energized Looking Skin, Naturally.
The key to obtaining beautiful skin, like Charlize Theron is simple. It is by being consistent with you skin care routine, and by getting facials whenever your pores looks congested, or your skin dull and lifeless.
When my clients come to me looking for products to use to boost their skin health and radiance, I tend to ask them first what they are using at the moment, and how long have they been using those products. This will give me an idea of what their skin is lacking, and what products will benefit their skin right away.
I recommend starting a fresh, with a new skin care line (or various products from separate lines). For optimal skin health, for men and women (preferably in their 20′s and older) you really don’t need to go further than your local drugstore to buy wonderful products anymore…
Here is a list I would recommend anyone who is seeking a good regimen that will help keep their skin is the best conditions, especially once winter comes along:
-A gentle cleanser that will clean your skin, without stripping it of its natural oils. I generally like using creamy milky cleansers to remove all of my make-up, and then I use a more deep cleansing one in the shower, with my skin cleansing brush which exfoliates as well.
- 2 good moisturizer’s, one with SPF+30 for the daytime, and one night cream which will contain more anti-oxidants, hydroxy acids/retionols( if you use them), and moisturizers than your day lotion. Your skin regenerates the most when you are sleeping, which is why it is so important to use nourishing, effective ingredients at this time. You will see results faster this way.
-A great exfoliator, which helps to remove dead skin cells that are clogging your pores and making your skin lack luminosity. This also prevents blackheads and pimples from forming.
-A nourishing/brightening serum which to me is a very important product, because this is going to be your everyday treatment. This treatment is going to make your moisturizer more effective, and help to repair your skin from the inside out. If your skin is lacking firmness, you should get a serum with peptides in it, if it is lacking clarity and brightness, try something with glycolic acid, or Vitamin C; and if your skin is dehydrated and just blah looking, try a hydrating serum with hyaluronic acid in it (which is a water molecule that helps keep water in your skin “longer”, hence keeping your skin hydrated all day.)
The final step in a healthy skin care regimen is rest and relaxation. Sleeping for 8 hours or more a night can make you look as much as 3 years younger (proven studies) . Sleep deprivation lowers circulation, which is why you lose facial color and look washed out, and people get dark circles around their eyes.
Here are some other celebrities that definitely take the time and effort to keep their skin looking youthful by following a strict beauty regimen:
Kate Bosworth always has an amazing complexion
Mila Kunis
Susan Sarandon does not age!
Hope someone found this post somewhat helpful. If you have any questions or need any recommendations on a products, please let me know.
Thanks!
-
Want To Look And Feel Younger…SMILE More!
Smiling is a great and easy way to appear more ‘youthful looking’ and attractive. Aside from that, smiling also has been known to improve your health, your stress level (which everyone can lower!), and to help you live longer. People who smile more often are seen as happier (duh!) and draw more people in, versus someone who looks annoyed or unhappy (ex:frowning, grimaces, etc..) can do quite the opposite.
So this year, I am really going to make an effort to smile more, just so I could reek all the wonderful benefits that comes along with this simple, but wonderful gesture.
Some Other Benefits Of Smiling:
Boosts Your Immune System- When you smile, your immune function improves because you are probably more relaxed, and less worrisome.
Releases Endorphins (Natural Painkillers and Serotonin)- So basically, smiling is a natural drug that will make you feel better; and its free!!
Lifts The Face And Takes Years Off- These muscles used when we smile helps ‘lift’ the face, by creating an ‘instant’ type of face lift. Who doesn’t want that? You will look younger, and feel better to.
Smiling Makes You Seem Successful- I never knew this, but smiling makes you appear more confident, and more likely to get promoted. I love this one, and I find it very true and I will tell you why. As a Freelance Makeup Artist I am constantly smiling at all customers when they are walking by in order to attract them, or draw them in so I could get them in my chair to do their make-overs. 9/10 times this really seems to work because that person can sense that I am confident in the service I am going to provide them, and perhaps this makes them feel more at ease that they are in good hands with me:)
**As you can see, there are many reasons to smile! Although you may not be in the “smiling” mood, just try to smile anyway and see how it makes you feel, and who YOU attract.
Thanks for stopping by
